"So, how was your date with Fiyero?" Galinda asked when Elphaba returned to their room.
"It wasn't really a date. Fiyero was helping me research something," Elphaba answered, sitting down on her bed.
"Ooh!" Galinda sang, being as nosy as ever. She ran over to Elphaba's bed and sat down next to her. "What were you researching?"
"The green elixir."
Galinda stopped, thinking that Elphaba wouldn't want to talk to her about such a touchy subject.
"We found out that it causes a rare illness when consumed before conceiving," Elphaba continued.
"You don't think that…?"
"I do. I also think that it's the reason I'm green."
"How do you feel about this?"
"I'm fine… I guess. I mean, I'm glad that I at least know something about it.
"Really?"
"Yeah. It's better than being totally innocent about it."
Galinda tilted her head to the side, wondering if she could continue the conversation. "Do you want to start on the essay again?" she decided on asking.
"Sure," Elphaba agreed, a light smile appearing on her face.
It took three long hours, but Elphaba and Galinda were finally done with the essay. Galinda's hand was very sore from writing down what Elphaba dictated to her.
"Should we stop now?" Elphaba asked, sensing that Galinda was tired.
Galinda banged her head on the desk, a loud moan following. "Please!"
Elphaba giggled as Galinda slowly lifted her head.
"OH SWEET OZ!" Galinda exclaimed.
"What? What is it?" Elphaba asked.
Galinda slowly turned her gaze to Elphaba, who was giving the blonde a worried look. A smile slowly appeared on Galinda's face. They never had a chance to celebrate Elphaba's birthday properly.
"Nothing," she muttered, trying to sound believable.
"No, something's wrong. Tell me!" Elphaba persisted.
"Nothing's wrong, Elphie," Galinda said.
"Don't lie to me!"
"I'm not lying!"
"Then what's going on?"
This girl is impossible! Galinda thought. "I have to run and tell Nessa and Fiyero something! I'll be right back!" Galinda quickly gave Elphaba a hug and ran out the room.
"Galinda?" Elphaba called after hearing the door close. She sighed and laid down on her bed. Closing her eyes, she pondered over what Galinda was getting herself into this time.
"Fifi! Nessa!" Galinda called, running to catch up with her two friends in the hallway.
"Galinda, what is it?" Nessa asked, turning around.
"We totally forgot something," Galinda huffed.
"What?" Fiyero questioned.
"Elphie's birthday!"
"That's right!" Fiyero realized. "We never gave her a party."
"I still have her present," Nessa said, reaching into a pocket in her wheelchair and pulling a medium-sized, neatly wrapped box.
"Where should we go?" Fiyero asked.
"Well, I was thinking that –" Galinda started. She immediately stopped talking when Nessa placed her finger over her mouth, motioning for the blonde to be quiet. Fiyero made subtle hand motions across his neck and Galinda turned around and saw Elphaba slowly walking towards them.
"Galinda?" Elphaba asked, stopping a few feet away from the small group.
"Elphie," Galinda said, running to her friend and taking her hand. "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"
"What are you talking about?" Elphaba asked, pulling her hand away from Galinda.
"Shopping!" Galinda chirped.
Nessa and Fiyero gave her confused looks. Galinda looked over her shoulder and mouthed, 'We're buying Elphaba a new dress!'
"Shopping?" Elphaba repeated, still not believing Galinda.
"Yes, shopping," Fiyero said, biting his lip.
"We were just about to go," Nessa said.
"Would you like to join us, Elphie?" Galinda asked, smiling.
"I… well…"
"Please?" Galinda begged.
"Okay."
"YES!" Galinda exclaimed, grabbing Elphaba's hand and leading her out the door, closely followed by Fiyero and Nessa.
Fiyero tapped Galinda on the shoulder, causing her to turn around. We're buying Elphaba a new dress? That's the best thing you could think of? he mouthed.
I can't lie to her. I promised her that I wouldn't! Galinda mouthed back.
Well, then, tell her the truth!
And ruin the surprise?
Yes!
Brainless!
Perky!
Idiot!
Blonde!
Galinda shot Fiyero a death glare and he stopped talking.
"Which one?" Galinda asked herself, casually tossing dresses into Nessa's lap.
"Galinda, please! Pick one!" Nessa begged, tossing five dresses back at the blonde.
"Sorry," Galinda said sheepishly, grabbing a few dresses from Nessa's lap.
"Why are we going dress shopping again?" Elphaba asked as Galinda held up a dress against her body.
"We're all going out to dinner!" Galinda chirped in reply.
"We are?" Nessa asked.
"We are?" Fiyero repeated.
"We are!" Galinda clarified, finally choosing a dress and pushing Elphaba into the changing room.
Elphaba came out a few minutes later. She was wearing a thin sleeved, light purple dress that went down just passed her knees.
"Elphie, you look beautiful!" Galinda said.
Elphaba smiled and went back to change into her regular clothes.
"We're going tonight?" Fiyero asked, stepping closer to the blonde.
Galinda nodded. "I've managed to keep it a secret this long. I don't know how much longer I can hold in the secret."
"I'm ready," Elphaba said, coming out of the dressing room with the dress in her hands.
"Great!" Galinda said, paying for the dress and walking out of the store with Elphaba, Nessa and Fiyero.
"Where are we going tonight?" Elphaba asked, sitting on her bed.
"We're going to the Ozdust Diner. It's the fanciest place in all of Shiz," Galinda answered.
"Why?"
"Can't I take my best friend out to dinner just because she's my best friend?" the blonde asked innocently.
Elphaba shifted her weight on her bed. "Well… I… guess so."
"Great!" Galinda smiled, finishing her makeup and walking Elphaba out the door.
"Hello, girls!" Fiyero greeted, spotting the girls coming towards them.
"Hi, Fifi!" Galinda said, releasing Elphaba arm to greet their friends.
"You look beautiful, Fae," Fiyero smiled, taking Elphaba's hand and kissing it.
Elphaba blushed. "Shall we go in?"
"Yes!" Nessa exclaimed as her stomach growled. "Let's eat!"
The group walked into the restaurant and sat near the window.
"Now will you all tell me what's going on?" Elphaba asked, sipping her water.
"It's your surprise party!" Galinda squealed.
"What?"
"We never had a chance to celebrate you're birthday properly," Fiyero smiled, slipping his hand into Elphaba's. "Happy Birthday, Fae!"
"Thank you!" Elphaba smiled as Nessa placed a box on Elphaba's lap.
"What's this?" she asked, turning to Nessa.
"Your birthday present!" Nessa giggled.
"You really didn't have to get me anything," Elphaba said, slowly opening the box and pulling out a white, silk scarf. "Oh, Nessa, thank you! It's beautiful!"
"I'm glad you like it," Nessa beamed. The daughter of the Wizard liked the birthday gift she bought her.
"Did you enjoy dinner?" Galinda asked once the two girls were back in their dorm room.
"I did, Galinda. Thank you," Elphaba said, coming out of the bathroom in her nightdress.
Galinda smiled, but quickly frowned when she saw Elphaba still standing in the doorway, shifting her weight.
"Elphie, what's wrong?" Galinda asked.
"I… I was just thinking about something," Elphaba answered.
"What?" Galinda asked, noticing that Elphaba was quivering.
"I never said goodbye to my father," she whispered.
"Elphie, you were upset –"
"That's still no excuse!" Elphaba interrupted.
"Elphie –"
"Fiyero thinks that I should talk to him, but after finding out more about the green elixir and my mother, I don't think I can."
"You should. It might make you feel better."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I don't know. I just… can't."
"Would you like me to go with you?" Galinda asked, walking up to Elphaba and taking her hand.
Elphaba buried her head in Galinda's shoulder. "Please," she whispered.
Galinda rubbed small circles on Elphaba's back. "I'll come with you."
Elphaba looked up and smiled. "Thank you."