Elphaba was reading quietly, when she heard someone thundering down the hallway. She listened idly for them to pass by, no doubt running for their new perfume or some other such nonsense. But the footsteps slowed and came to a halt outside her door. There was a muffled knock, and Elphaba opened the door a crack to see who was calling before letting them in. Knowing her roommate, she had probably told all her friends that the green girl was in her room, alone. She did a double take when she saw -not malicious children- but a petite, flustered blonde outside the door, holding a meal tray in each hand. Elphaba sighed and helped the girl inside, wondering what had ever possessed Miss Popular to spend her lunch with The Green Girl.
"Hello there, Miss Galinda. My, is this unexpected!" I told her not to bother, thought the tall brunette.
"Hello Elphaba, I've brought you lunch!"
"So I see! Did you happen to check the menu, or are we to find out what this is by taste-testing?" No reply from the pink-clad girl. "Ah, the long-loved art of taste-testing!" Elphaba cried dramatically. "Let us put unknown substances into our mouths to see how they taste!" Galinda watched, giggling, as her roomie danced all over the room, sweeping arabesques, spinning tightly, and acting rather silly.
"I say, Elphaba, have you been reading a play?"
"I have. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: 'But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.' 'O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo... That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet; so Romeo would, were he not Romeo called.' " Elphaba quoted.
"Bravo, bravo!" Cheered Galinda, "Oh Elphaba, that was wonderful! What does it all mean?" And so the lunch time passed, with the two guessing at what they were eating, talking plays, and dancing like a pair of ninnies.
They were spinning around in between the beds, on a dare to see who had to sit down first. All of a sudden there was a knock on the door. Holding each other up, the pair went to see who was there.
"Well, I never! Elphaba, Papa will be very angry once he hears how you have been spending your study-time!" Nessarose was there, and very indignant. She had apparently seen Galinda leave with 2 lunches, noticed her sister's absence, and convinced Nanny to help her to the dorms. Elphaba immediately straightened herself, and started pleading with her little sister.
"Nessa, please don't tell Papa! You know he only cares that you're here, he'd be happier not hearing any word of me!"
"He will not be happier when he hears how you have been expelled for bad grades!"
"Nessa you know Papa and Nanny and I only want what's best for you! What if I get sent home and Nanny twists an ankle? Or you receive word that in Quadling country a bridge broke and I fell in the water? C'mon, Nessa, why don't you, I don't know, pray to the Unnamed God about it? If he decides it is right to send me home then I'll go."
"You will really listen to the will of the Unnamed God? Do you swear, Elphaba Thropp?"
"I will listen, will he speak through my pious sister, swear on poor Melena's grave." Nessarose appeared to be satisfied and leaned against Nanny more so than needed as she walked down the hallway.
"Elphaba, will you really leave? You know how Nessa's Unnamed God is!"
"No, pretty. I'll stay here; I always have Nanny's good graces and Frex's hatred to keep me away from home."
"But Nessarose-" She stopped at a slender green finger pressing on her lips.
"Nessarose won't send me home, but Nanny and the Amas talk. We might be getting some unwanted attention soon."
"Just because we answered the door like the ninnies we are?"
"Yes." Elphaba replied, despondent. Galinda thought back to her house, and how easily the help could be fired, for any little reason her Momsie and Popsical wanted. She realized that they couldn't afford to have fun when another might find them. The clock-tower rang out the time, and she dashed off, late for Sorcery.