GUYS! I bought tickets to see Wicked ON my birthday, Wednesday December 11th! That's right! I'm going to see Wicked on a school night! I'm a rebel! Now, enough ranting! It's new chapter time!

A storm was raging through Shiz. Elphaba was sleeping peacefully, until she heard the rumble of the thunder. She shot up in her bed, to afraid to scream. She heard the thunder again and shuddered.

Galinda, also hearing the thunder, awoke from her slumber. She looked over at Elphaba, who was quietly whimpering and rocking back and forth in her bed. She slowly got out of bed and walked to the crying girl. Slowly, she reached out her arm and lightly touched Elphaba's shoulder. Elphaba, feeling someone touch her arm, jumped away.

"Elphie, it's just me," Galinda said.

"I'm sorry, Galinda. Did I wake you?" Elphaba asked, slowly calming down.

"It's alright. I couldn't sleep anyway. Not with this storm."

Another rumble of thunder shook the room. Elphaba yelped and Galinda quickly wrapped her arms around her.

"Shh! It's okay. You're safe in here," Galinda whispered, stroking Elphaba's hair.

"I'm sorry," Elphaba said, wiping her eyes. "It's just that… I'm afraid of thunderstorms."

"Why?" Galinda asked, quirking her head to the side.

"They're just so… loud."

Galinda placed a comforting hand on Elphaba's lap. She knew exactly why Elphaba wouldn't like loud noises. Now she knew why Elphaba didn't like to be around a lot of people at once. She couldn't imagine not being able to see the pretty wild flowers that bloom in the spring, or the cute boys that walked around Shiz, or the many tints, tones and shades of pink the blonde had in her closet, or even what was directly in front of her. She couldn't imagine what Elphaba had to go through everyday.

"I admire you," Galinda said after a while.

"Why?" Elphaba asked.

"Because you're so strong. You probably have the hardest life in Oz, yet you keep going. I never would have been able to make it this far if I were you."

Elphaba chuckled. "I'm glad I'm the role model of at least one person."

"You are. I wish that I could be as brave and strong as you are."

Elphaba laughed, considering that she was cowering in fear over a storm and she was still very tired. "I'm not brave or strong, but thank you."

"You are!"

"Okay!" Elphaba smiled. "I guess I am!"

"Thank you," Galinda said in a satisfied tone.

The girls heard another rumble of thunder. Elphaba jumped and Galinda quickly wrapped her arms around her.

"It's so loud," Elphaba cried in fear.

"It's okay, Elphie," Galinda whispered, slowly rocking the green girl in her arms.

"Elphie, you got a letter!" Galinda said, jumping onto her roommate's bed.

"Hmm?" Elphaba asked, snapping out of her gaze.

"It's a letter from the Emerald City Palace!" Galinda said, admiring the green paper. "It's from your father! He's throwing a birthday party for you over the break and wants you to come home. Oh! A party!"

Elphaba shook her head. "I don't want a party."

"Why not? Parties are fun! There's cake and presents and dancing and -"

"I had a birthday party when I turned thirteen because it's a tradition. I didn't really have any friends, so only government officials were there. I was never more terrified in my life."

"Why were you so scared?"

"I don't know. There were so many people there and I just… I don't like it when a lot of people are around me at once."

Galinda didn't know how to respond to that. She knew that Elphaba wasn't a social person, but a party at the Emerald City Palace sounded fun.

"Galinda?" Elphaba asked. "Galinda?" she asked again, fearing that Galinda left her. "Galinda!"

"Y-Yes?" Galinda asked, blinking her eyes. "Shall I write back and say you don't want one?"

Elphaba's gaze dropped to the floor. "Well, I kind of want a party."

The smile that was on Galinda's face returned.

"It does sound like fun," Elphaba continued.

"YEA!" Galinda exclaimed, bounding up and down on the bed. "And you can invite our friends to come."

"I would like that," Elphaba giggled, neatly crossing her legs underneath her.

"Let's make a list," Galinda said, running to get her clipboard and bouncing back to the bed. "First, there's me. And Fiyero. And Nessa. Anyone else?"

"I think that's it."

"Great!" Galinda said, leaping off of the bed. "Oh, and Elphie?"

"Yes?"

"Do you really want a party?"

Elphaba looked up at Galinda in shock.

"Because," Galinda continued. "I don't want you having a birthday party that you don't want just to make me happy."

"I do want a party. I just want it to be a small one. With just you, Fiyero and Nessa."

"Why don't you tell your father? I'm sure he'll understand."

"C-Can you write to him… for me?" Elphaba asked shakily.

"Sure!" Galinda said, giving Elphaba a quick hug before returning to her desk to write the letter.

"Elphaba, come on! Hurry up! Fiyero and Nessa are waiting for us!" Galinda called, banging on the door to the bathroom.

"I'm coming!" Elphaba huffed. She came out of the bathroom a few seconds later, her hair tied back in a ponytail. She was wearing a light blue dress that flowed down to her knees.

"Elphieeeeeeeeee!" Galinda wined.

"Alright, I'm ready," Elphaba smiled.

"Great! Let's go!" Galinda exclaimed, grabbing Elphaba's arm and pulling her towards the door.

"Galinda, slow down! It's not like they're going to leave without us!" Elphaba said.

"They might? Who knows? We were supposed to be there half an hour ago!"

Elphaba relaxed as she and Galinda left the building.

"Sorry we're late!" Galinda said as the two girls approached Fiyero and Nessa.

"Finally!" Nessa exclaimed.

"We thought that you would never get here!" Fiyero exclaimed, locking Elphaba in a passionate kiss.

"There will be plenty of time for that in the carriage! Let's go!" Galinda said, pulling Elphaba towards the carriage, leaving Fiyero to help Nessa.

"Oh! I've always wanted to see the Emerald City!" Galinda exclaimed, bouncing in her seat next to Nessa.

"Me too!" Nessa chirped.

Elphaba smiled and leaned her head against Fiyero's shoulder. "Thanks for inviting us, Fae," Fiyero smiled, kissing her forehead.

"You're welcome. Thanks for coming with me," Elphaba smiled, closing her eyes to take a nap.

A gunshot snapped everyone out of their thoughts.

"What was that?" Elphaba asked, waking up with a start.

"Get down!" Galinda said, helping Nessa to the floor of the carriage. Elphaba and Fiyero also slid out of their seats and Fiyero wrapped a protective arm around Elphaba.

The gunshots grew louder and louder until they were rights outside the carriage.

"Is the Wizard's daughter in there?" a gruff voice asked.

The driver didn't answer as the ruffians pounded against the side of the carriage, scaring the green off of Elphaba.

"Make them stop," she quietly begged Fiyero.

"Shh," Fiyero whispered. "Don't make a sound."

Elphaba nodded as she buried her head in Fiyero's chest. Galinda and Nessa were also shaking.

Another gunshot sounded and the driver screamed. Elphaba tightened her grip on Fiyero.

"Halt!" a voice shouted. "In the name of the Wizard!"

"That name means nothing to us!" the first voice said.

The man ran to the carriage and knock out the ruffians with the butt of his gun. Galinda slowly peaked out the window and saw a guard with an Emerald City uniform. A palace guard.

"It's okay now," Galinda announced, gently prying Nessa off of her. "They're gone."

"Who were they?" Nessa asked, still very afraid.

"I don't know," Fiyero answered, still holding Elphaba.

"Elphaba!" the guard called.

"Colin?" Elphaba asked, recognizing the voice.

"Come on! We need to leave now!" Colin said, opening the door of the carriage and taking Elphaba hand.

"Sweet Oz," Galinda muttered, turning around and seeing the driver, unmoving on the ground.

Colin was running through the forest to the palace with Elphaba clinging to his arm and Fiyero, Nessa, and Galinda struggling to keep up.

"Colin, what's going on? Who were they?" Elphaba asked, almost tripping over a tree root.

"I'll explain everything when we get back to the palace," Colin said, catching her before she fell.

"What a way to start a vacation," Fiyero huffed, pushing Nessa's wheelchair over the rough terrain.

"You said it," Galinda huffed, tripping over her obnoxiously high heels.

The group quickly reached the palace. Colin shoved the door open and everyone hurried inside.

"Elphaba!" the Wizard exclaimed, wrapping his arms around his daughter. "I'm so glad you're safe."

"Papa," Elphaba cried onto her father's shoulder. "Who were those people who attacked us?"

"Ruffians looking to stir up trouble," the Wizard answered, ushering Elphaba and her friends into the parlor.

"Why are they trying to cause trouble?" Fiyero asked.

"They are trying to overthrow me," the Wizard said in a low voice so Elphaba wouldn't hear him. He slowly looked over at Elphaba, who seemed to be off in her own little world.

"But why did they attack us?" Nessa asked.

"I honestly don't know. I'm just glad you all got here safely."

"Come on, everyone! We have a birthday to celebrate!" Galinda said, sitting on the couch next to Elphaba and squeezing her hand.

"Galinda, my birthday isn't for another three days," Elphaba smirked.

"Stop ruining the moment!" Galinda playfully admonished.

Elphaba laughed, glad that she and her friends and family were safe.

BOOM!

"AH!" Elphaba screamed, sitting up in her bed. Oz, how she hated thunderstorms.

"Elphie!" Galinda called, running into Elphaba's room.

"I'm sorry," Elphaba cried, ashamed that she woke Galinda up yet again.

"It's alright," Galinda said calmly, walking over to Elphaba and sitting on her bed. She wrapped her arms around her, trying to get her to stop crying.

"What's wrong?" the Wizard exclaimed, running into the room. "Is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine," Galinda said, slowly rocking Elphaba back and forth.

Another rumble of thunder and Elphaba yelped. The Wizard slowly relaxed, knowing about his daughter's fear of storms, or anything that made a loud noise for that matter.

"Don't worry, Fabala. It's only a storm. It will be over soon," the Wizard whispered to his daughter.

"I know," Elphaba sniffed. "I don't like loud noises."

"I understand, Fabala. I really do," the Wizard said, trying not to cry out of pity for Elphaba.

Elphaba gave her father a weak smile.

"I'll stay with her," Galinda said, resting her head on Elphaba's shoulder.

"Thank you, Miss Galinda. Goodnight," the Wizard nodded, leaving the room.

A few minutes past. Elphaba was no longer scared of the storm now that Galinda was with her. She was sound asleep until she heard the faint sound of the door opening.

"Galinda," Elphaba said, shaking her friend awake. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Galinda asked sleepily, slowly opening her eyes.

"That! It sounds like the door is opening. I think there's someone in the house."

Footsteps could be heard coming from downstairs. The room door opened and Fiyero and Nessa entered, both looking very scared.

"You heard the noises too?" Nessa asked, wheeling herself next to Elphaba and Galinda.

Elphaba nodded. "Who's down there?"

"I don't know," Fiyero said, quietly closing the door. "Nessa woke me up and said that she heard someone outside. We thought that it would be best if we stuck together."

"You don't think its them, do you?" Galinda asked.

"I hope not," Fiyero whispered.

"What should we do?" Elphaba asked, scooting closer to Galinda.

"We need to stay here and say nothing," Fiyero whispered, walking over to the girls.

"Papa," Elphaba whispered brokenly. If they were the same people, she knew exactly why they were here.

"It's okay, Elphie. Everything's going to be okay," Galinda soothed.

A single gunshot sounded and everything went quiet.