As Elphaba watched Galinda walk away, she found herself wanting to be there. She shook her head in self-disgust, and walked away from the window. She stopped at the closed door, there was no reason to leave. She swiftly stalked the other way, only to end up staring out to where that air-headed roomie of hers had gone off to. In no time at all she was pacing the short distance of the room, agitated that she couldn't find peace in the solitude. She wanted to be out there, learning, no matter how bundled-up she might have to be. She wanted to give quick comebacks to the ignorant children, help with his research, and explain the classwork step-by-step to that Galinda. When she thought of the bubbly, pink girl her innards felt odd. As if there was something alive inside her stomach. Is this what's called 'butterflies'? She wondered. No, she couldn't be feeling romantic toward the ditz; she was probably feeling motherly. As she continued to pace and puzzle this over, the girl of her thoughts was also thinking of her.
Galinda couldn't get over what that girl did. She was incredibly smart, but she was also quite stupid, the blonde concluded. Why else would you purposely expose yourself to an allergy? The thought of the green girl being hurt, even by her own hand, saddened Galinda considerably. So why did she do it? She obviously wanted to show Galinda the reason she hated the fog, but Galinda had no idea as to why she held her breath.
Huh, that's weird, she thought. When I thought of wrapping her hand my chest felt funny. Galinda tried it again, remembering the smoothness of the green skin, the elegant length of the fingers. There it was, that empty- no, hollow feeling where her ribs met in front. Like that spot was waiting to be filled. She touched it, pushed on it with her hand, and was about to try punching herself when that annoying little Munchkinlander boy ran up.
"Good morning, Miss Galinda!"
"Mister Bok"
"Err, 'Boq' Miss Galinda. I'm Boq."
"Hello, all the same." Galinda decided she would at least be polite to the poor, small fellow.
"How nice, your annoying roommate Miss Elphaba isn't here today!" Galinda bristled at his statement.
"She's not really all that annoying, you know. Most of the time she's quietly curled up with a book." Galinda didn't mention how funny it was to watch the green girl 'curl'. She looked like rusty hinges, only going so far, and getting stuck. Galinda chortled at the image of her roomie as nothing more than green hinges. Unfortunately, Mister Boq heard and immediately began pestering her as to the giggle's origin. She sighed, and walked along in a sort of trance, ignoring the munchkin boy and thinking about her green acquaintance. Again, that hollow spot in her chest! She resolved to ask Nurse Daae what it was, if her friends couldn't help her.