Rifiuto: Non Miriena

She searched for her sister for several minutes, before giving up and accepting the fact that she had forgotten her- most likely heading over to the Wilted Rose or holding up in the library after class to avoid socializing with anyone. Sighing, she rolled her eyes and moved down the path, the wheels of her chair moving slowly as she passed other students. That was so like her sister. Not that she minded, but it would be nice to spend some time with her, especially now that they were both at Shiz. They didn't get to spend time together at home, and now, it looked like they weren't going to spend time together at school either.

It didn't help that her sister was a third year, and she was a first year.

As she made her way down the path, one of the wheels of her chair hit a rock left in the middle of the path, and her books tumbled to the ground and out of her reach.

"Oh why?" She whispered softly, leaning down to grab the books, but unable to, she sighed, and sat back, wishing her sister hadn't bailed on her. It was times like these that she wished there was someone around.

"Here." Her head snapped up, to see a young man holding her books out to her. His hazel eyes locked on her green eyes, and he smiled softly at her. Slowly, she reached out and took the books, placing them back in her lap.

"Thank you." She whispered. He nodded, slinging his book bag over his shoulder before turning to go. "Wait!" He stopped and turned to her.

"Yeah?" It took a few moments, but she finally was able to catch up to him. As they moved along, she asked,

"Don't I know you?" He shook his head.

"I don't think so, but you look familiar." He studied her for a moment, before realization struck. "You're Miss Elphie's younger sister, aren't you?"

"Elphaba?" He nodded. She blushed. "Elphie?" She asked, after a moment of silence. He chuckled softly.

"Elphie and I used to be in a play group as children. Before you were born, I'd say. I'm sure she'd remember me. I'm Boq, by the way." He said, holding out a hand. She took it, shaking gently.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Nessarose." As they continued on, she said, "I don't know that Fabala would remember you. When she wants to forget someone or something, she forgets it completely, to the point that she's got amensia concerning a certain subject. It's really rather funny, actually. She's so smart, yet she's really rather dumb about certain things- especially about love."

Boq raised his eyebrows.

"Really?" She nodded.

"Yes. She could have gone to Emerald University, but she chose Shiz instead. I guess because everyone in our family has gone to Shiz. But now, there's a chance that she could meet the Wizard, and so she's focused on her classes and being more adult." Nessa rolled her eyes, before realizing that she was just talking to fill the silence. "It's wonderful that she's got a chance to meet the Wizard, but there are times when I just want my older sister back."

He chuckled softly.

"That sounds like Elphie. She was always the overachiever- to the point that it drove the rest of us crazy. We could never do anything- coloring, playing tag- without her having to be better than us. But it was understandable, with her skintone and all." He sighed. "It kept her apart from the rest of us, but eventually we all got to like her for her skintone."

Nessarose nodded.

"Fabala's sensitive about her skin."

He sighed, reaching for the door to the cafeteria and holding it open as she entered before he followed.

"I always wondered how Elphie was doing. We didn't keep in touch. I wish we had. I missed her."

"She was okay. Mama died after I was born. Fabala took over as mother not long after. She's the only mother I've ever known. I don't know what I'd have done without Fabala."

Boq listened quietly as she described his childhood friend. They got lunch and found a table, sitting down to eat and get to know each other before their next class.

"What are you majoring in, Boq?" She asked, before taking a bite of her sandwich.

"Education. I'm working on getting my Phd. History." She nodded. "And you?"

"Um... I haven't decided on what I'm going to major in." She whispered, embarrassed. He chuckled.

"I was like that my first year. Couldn't make up my mind. When I took Dr. Dillamond's history class, I decided that I wanted to teach. He made history so interesting."

"I don't think I've ever heard of Dr. Dillamond."

"He... he died in my second year. They said he'd committed suicide, but we all think he was murdered." Nessarose shivered, and reached for her cup of hot tea.

"Did they ever catch who did it?" He shook his head.

"No. The police closed the case, listing it as 'suicide.' I'd believe it was a paint war sooner than I'd believe it was suicide."

"Did you and Fabala have him?"

"We were both in the same class, but we never spoke to each other. Elphie spent more time that year trying to avoid people than she did trying to make friends."

"Sounds like Fabala."

He nodded, and got up, dumping the scraps from their lunch. Then, he grabbed his book bag, slung it over his shoulder, and turned back to her.

"It was wonderful to meet you, Nessarose, but I've got to get going or I'll be late for class. We'll have to get together again some time." She nodded, smiling at him.

"Definately. And you can call me Nessa."