The next morning, Elphaba awoke to the sound of someone crying.
"Galinda?" she asked, slowly opening her eyes.
Galinda continued to weep. Elphaba slowly got up and felt her way to Galinda bed. She stopped when she felt a bump, probably Galinda's shoulder.
"Galinda?" Elphaba asked again, shaking the blonde awake.
"E-Elphie?" Galinda asked, choking back a sob.
"Are you feeling alright?" Elphaba asked, feeling the area in front of her and sitting down on Galinda's bed, careful not to sit on her.
"Mmhmm," Galinda sniffed.
"You were crying."
"I just had a bad dream, that's all."
"What was it about?"
"Elphaba…"
"I just want to help. You've helped me so much, and now I want to return the favor."
"You're so sweet. I dreamt that Avaric broke up with me. It was so horrible. He said that he didn't love me anymore and that h-he h-h-hated m-me," Galinda said, breaking into another wave of sobs.
"Oh, Galinda," Elphaba said, pulling the blonde into a hug and rubbing her back. "That sounds awful!"
"It was!"
"It was just a dream."
"But it felt so real!"
"I know."
"What do you do when you have bad dreams?" Galinda asked, grabbing a tissue and blowing her nose.
"Well, my father used to tell me to think good thoughts. Like wild flowers and presents at Lurlinemas. But, that was when I was only three years old. Now, I can just deal with the nightmares."
"Did it work when you were three?" Galinda asked.
"Well, yes, but I was a child."
"Does it still work?"
Elphaba nodded. "If you really want it to."
"I'll try that!" Galinda smiled. "Thank you, Elphie!"
"You're welcome, Galinda," Elphaba smiled as she went back to her bed.
"How did you sleep?" Elphaba asked a few hours later, when the sun was up.
"Better. You're suggestion really worked," Galinda said, leaning her head against Elphaba's shoulder.
The two girls quickly dressed and walked to breakfast.
"What's today's lesson going to be?" Elphaba asked.
"Well, I was thinking that I could teach you how to mingle with other girls."
"Didn't I already do that when we went shopping?"
"No, I mingled. You didn't want to socialize! But, all of that is going to change today. We are meeting Nessarose, the governor of Munchkinland's daughter, ShenShen, Milla, Pfannee, and many other girls for a social gathering."
"How fun!" Elphaba said sarcastically.
"I will be! Trust me!"
"Hello ladies!" Fiyero greeted the girls while they were on their way to Elphaba's mingling lesson.
"Hello, Fiyero! Elphaba has something that she wants to tell you!" Galinda announced, jumping up and down.
"What is it?" Fiyero smiled.
"Galinda!" Elphaba scolded. She took a deep breath before addressing Fiyero. "Galinda has decided that it is time to give each other nicknames."
"Oh?"
"Yes, and Elphaba is going to go first!" Galinda smiled.
"You have a nickname for me?" Fiyero blushed.
"Yero," Elphaba said after Galinda nudged her in the ribs.
"I like it, Fae."
"Fae?"
"Yes. That's my cute pet name for you. Fae."
"I like it… Yero!"
"AWWW!" Galinda squealed. "That's so cute, Fifi!"
"Fifi?" Fiyero questioned.
"Yes, Fifi! That's my cute nickname for you! It's so perfect!"
Fiyero and Elphaba laughed, which confused the blonde tremendously.
"What?" Galinda asked, not appreciating her best friends laughing at her.
"Nothing," Elphaba chuckled.
"I'll let that slide, Elphaba, but just because we have to hurry to the café. Goodbye!" she said, waving to Fiyero as she grabbed Elphaba's arm and pulled her towards the café.
The mingling lesson was a huge success! Although Elphaba kept a steady gaze on the ground, didn't say more than ten words, and Galinda had to kick her multiple times under the table, it was a major improvement in Elphaba's life.
Elphaba's relationship with Fiyero also began to blossom. They would constantly meet to go out to dinner and to study together. Elphaba was beginning to fall in love with Fiyero. Galinda would sometimes have to pull the two apart. Although Galinda was slightly annoyed, she was so glad that Elphaba was happy for the first time in her life that nothing else mattered.
Elphaba, Galinda and Fiyero were sitting under the tree that sunny afternoon after the lesson. Elphaba was giggling while Galinda weaved wild flowers into her long, raven hair.
"You're hair is really pretty," Galinda complimented her, gently placing a flower in her hand.
"Thanks," Elphaba blushed, sniffing the flower.
"Fiyero!" a voice called.
Fiyero looked up to see who called him. "Lemus!" he exclaimed, seeing his old childhood friend.
"Hello, Fiyero! Who's this?" Lemus asked, smiling at Elphaba.
"Oh, this is Galinda Upland," Fiyero said, gesturing to the blonde. "And… um… this is Elphaba…. my… um…" Fiyero stammered.
"Fiyero?" Elphaba asked, wondering why Fiyero was stuttering.
"Fiyero, have you forgotten?" Lemus said, suddenly turning serious.
Fiyero bit his lip, hoping he wouldn't say anything aloud.
"Fiyero?" Elphaba asked again, suddenly becoming worried.
"Have I forgotten about what?" Fiyero asked, hoping to play it off cool.
"About Sarima."
"Who's Sarima?" Elphaba asked.
"Sarima is Fiyero's wife," Lemus explained.
"His wife?" Elphaba gasped, standing up.
"Elphaba, please let me explain," Fiyero said, shaking.
"There's nothing to explain! You're married and you're pretending to be my boyfriend?"
"Fae…"
"Don't call me that!" Elphaba spat.
"Elphie," Galinda said, trying to get Elphaba to calm down.
"And you!" Elphaba shouted, turning to face Galinda. "You knew about this, didn't you?"
"Elphie, no! I swear, I didn't know anything about this!" Galinda said, grasping Elphaba's hand.
"Don't touch me!" Elphaba shouted, jerking her hand away from Galinda's touch.
"Elphie, please," Galinda begged.
"No! Don't ever touch me again! Don't talk to me ever again!" Elphaba screamed, covering her ears. "I hate you! I hate both of you!"
"Fae, you don't mean that," Fiyero said softly, taking a small step towards Elphaba.
"I do! Did you think that just because I can't see what's directly in front of me means that I'm stupid? That I'm just some toy that you can play with?"
"Elphaba, no," Fiyero said. "I –"
"SHUT UP!" Elphaba roared. "I hate you! I hate you! I hate –" Elphaba suddenly stopped. She fell to her knees as she began to cough. One hand was pressed against the grass as the other one was curled up in a fist, covering her mouth.
"Elphie!" Galinda said, running to Elphaba's side.
"Get… away… from… me!" Elphaba gasped in the middle of her coughing fit.
"Elphaba, please let us help you," Fiyero said, kneeling in front of Elphaba. "Oh Oz," he gasped when he saw that Elphaba was coughing up blood.
"Get help!" Galinda shouted.
Fiyero nodded and ran to get help.
Fiyero and Galinda were waiting patiently in the waiting room of the hospital. Elphaba had slipping into unconsciousness during the ambulance ride to the hospital.
"Where is she? Is she alright?" a man said, bursting through the doors.
Galinda and Fiyero turned around to see that it was the Wizard.
"Your Ozness," Galinda addressed the Wizard.
"Miss Upland, Master Fiyero," the Wizard said, taking a deep breath and calming down. "Is Elphaba alright?"
"We don't know. She's in the examining room right now," Galinda said calmly.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. We were sitting outside and she started coughing," Fiyero explained.
Galinda looked at him. He wasn't lying, but he wasn't telling the full truth.
"Oh, Fabala!" the Wizard said, blinking back tears.
"Your Ozness, let's just hope for the best," Galinda said in a forced comforting voice.
"You're right, Miss Upland," the Wizard smiled.
"Your Ozness?" the nurse said, coming up behind the group.
"How's Elphaba?" the Wizard asked, about to cling to the nurse's every word.
"I'm so sorry," the nurse whispered, looking down. "But Miss Elphaba has died."
Now, before you all virtually kill me, answer this question; Do you honestly think that I would kill Elphaba, in a multi-chapter that's not finished yet, without having a plan? The answer to that question better be "No"! Please don't have me for this chapter! A happier chapter is coming up next! I promise!