Chapter 7: Shiz University, Three Weeks Later
"Ugh, I'm never going to get this!" Galinda exclaimed, throwing her wand angrily down onto her bed with a huff.
Elphaba looked up from her sciences book, alarmed. She'd never once heard the blonde sound so upset. Usually her complaints were simple whines about petty things like the effect the weather had on her hair or not being able to find a store that sold her favorite makeup brand. But her eruption had been more than that this time, and it shocked her. "What?"
Blonde curls flew everywhere as the girl ran a frustrated hand through her locks. "I can't get this ridiculous spell to work! Finals are in two weeks."
She didn't need to be told the last part. The stress of final exams radiated around campus everywhere she went. Elphaba rarely left the room other than to work in the lab or do as her father asked. The rest of the time she'd spent studying. "What's the spell?"
"It's a simple fire spell. I'm supposed to be able to light a candle from several feet away." Her roommate looked forlornly at the candle sitting on her desk, unlit. "I've mastered every other spell easily. What is it about this one?"
Elphaba didn't know the answer, and she was slightly nervous about Galinda practicing sorcery in their room. If she lit the wrong thing on fire, water might be needed to extinguish the flames and if it spread… she shuddered. "Is there anything different about this spell?" She tried.
"The words are easy. And the wand movement is little more than a flick of the hand."
"What are the other spells you've mastered, anyway?"
"Temporarily changing the colors of small things like paper or bugs. And there's one for levitating small objects," Galinda said, counting them off on her fingers. "Then there's the one that causes little things to temporarily vanish…"
That actually sounded somewhat interesting. Elphaba had mixed feelings about the practice of sorcery in general. Science and sorcery were two things that were never linked, and scientists tended to have a disdain for such frivolous things as sorcery. But she knew sorcery was notoriously difficult, and had been impressed when Galinda had first told her that was her focus. "I don't know what to tell you," she said.
"I hate fire, anyway," Galinda muttered.
At this, she perked up. "Maybe that's the problem."
"What do you mean?"
"The other things you did were fun and cute and you liked them, right?"
"Yes. And?"
"Sorcery is a mental exercise. Perhaps, mentally, you are blocking yourself."
"I don't know. There are things I would rather not be able to do that I can do." Galinda commented. "But then again, latent powers are different."
"Latent powers?"
"Powers we are born with that develop later in life."
"And what latent powers do you have?"
"I'm still figuring that out," the blonde said quickly. "But you might have a point about the fire spell."
Elphaba wasn't completely socially inept. She knew the girl was changing the subject, though she didn't know why. And she didn't particularly care. "What is it you hate about fire?"
"The smell of anything burning. It gives me terrible headaches."
"Have you tried using candles with scented wax?"
"I've always avoided candles in general. Who needs that? That's what perfumes are for."
"But in this case, it might help."
"I suppose it might." Galinda considered. She gazed at her wand for a moment. "Well, it's a bit late to go out and find candles tonight, then. I believe Ama Clutch has already fallen asleep."
"Study for a different exam, then. Give yourself a break."
Galinda nodded at that and got up to grab another book, brushing against Elphaba's foot hanging off the bed. She flinched for a moment and her eyes widened.
"As far as I'm aware," Elphaba remarked sarcastically, "I don't give off poison. Don't look so shocked."
"No, no, it's not that." The blonde bit her lip. "I just… you wouldn't understand."
She cocked her head. In the weeks since the fall holidays, her roommate had indeed been acting a little different. Usually overly sociable and friendly, she seemed to be isolating herself a bit more. While she continued to talk to her friends, she held herself at a distance from everyone. Elphaba wondered if something terrible had happened to her that made her averse to touch, but she didn't want to ask. That was beyond her capability to discuss, and they weren't close enough for that kind of conversation, anyway. Still, she asked, "Are you well?"
"Well enough," Galinda responded. "Don't fret over me."
"I wasn't. You're just… odd."
"Ha! That's coming from you, Miss Elphaba."
"Well, I know I'm odd. But you seemed more normal to me, at least at first." She was not at all insulted by Galinda's comment. Elphaba knew she hadn't meant anything by it, and even if she had, it didn't bother her in the least.
"I was normal," Galinda huffed.
"Was? So now you aren't?"
Blue-grey eyes glared at her. "It's complicated. People change, Miss Elphaba, even stubborn people like you."
Elphaba ran her hands through her hair, wondering if she had changed in the last several months. She didn't look any different, but there were times she felt different. Her intimacy with Fiyero had changed her, she supposed. She'd begun to understand desire and sex. But she was still the same person, was she not? He hadn't really changed her. And school hadn't changed her. She'd always loved sciences and books. No, nothing was different. "Maybe," she shrugged.
Galinda tsked at her. "College has a way of changing people, Elphaba. You'll see."
But she didn't want to listen. Elphaba gathered her things. "It's about time I head over to the lab, anyway. We can talk later." Though she didn't really mean that.
Fiyero was already there, preparing a slide for Dr. Dillamond. "Good evening, Miss Elphaba," he said amiably, his eyes shining at her.
"Good evening, Prince Fiyero."
Dr. Dillamond was practically prancing back and forth. "I've discovered an Owl nest just west of campus. The mother's eggs should be hatching any day now. I'll have a chance to observe any early signs of what it means to be an Animal in infancy, when talking hasn't yet begun!"
"That's wonderful, Dr. Dillamond." Elphaba hadn't seen the old Goat so excited since the beginning of the semester.
"It does mean I might need you two to stay and continue preparing slides and drawing what you see here on nights when I go observe them, as Owls are nocturnal creatures." Dr. Dillamond added.
Fiyero looked at her for just a moment. "That shouldn't be a problem."
So far, they hadn't been left alone, and it had been awkward enough. The lab was small, and cramped. Every time they had to pass one another, they usually had to get extremely close. And the way he smelled distracted her, made her pause for a short moment and want to stay near him. She always recovered herself, and she wasn't sure even Fiyero noticed. But she did. And she didn't like feeling distracted.
"Can you hand me that beaker?" Fiyero asked, so softly that it made her shiver.
She grabbed the beaker and handed it to him swiftly, almost spilling the contents. Their fingers brushed for one tiny moment and their eyes met. He knew. He could tell. Even more, he felt it. This shouldn't be happening right now. Why was she feeling like this? How could anyone ever get her flustered? Elphaba looked away quickly. "There you are," she said shortly.
At least Dr. Dillamond didn't seem to notice. He was too excited by his discovery to concern himself with the subtle looks and glances going on between his two lab assistants. "This will be most exciting!"
"Of course, Sir." She replied dutifully.
Fiyero was still beside her, and even without touching her, his presence was obvious. "We will be sure to hold down the fort here, Doctor."
The Goat smiled at both of them. "You two have worked so hard so far this semester. I'm very impressed."
At that, Elphaba was finally able to forget about Fiyero for a moment, and she beamed. "Thank you, Sir."
"Yes, thank you," Fiyero repeated.
As they walked back that night, Elphaba looked around campus. It was later than usual, and she didn't see anyone else out. "Are you ready for exams?"
"I think so, actually." Fiyero laughed. "That was… interesting, wasn't it?"
"What was?"
"What Dr. Dillamond said. The two of us being alone?"
"We've been fine so far," she replied evasively.
"Oh, really? You tense every time you're remotely close to me." He observed.
"I do not!"
"You are not as subtle as you think you are, Elphaba," he told her. "I don't think Dillamond knows, but I can read you."
"Oh, please. You don't know me that well." Now she was feeling defensive. While part of her knew that he was right, she didn't appreciate having him bring it up. "What does it matter, anyway?" She demanded.
"Because we're going to be alone."
"We knew that was a possibly in the beginning," she shrugged.
"A possibility. Now it's a certainty."
"And what? You think I'm going tremble wantonly and beg you to have me? Because I assure you that will never happen unless I'm putting on a show for someone else."
"I didn't mean that, Elphaba. I just meant that you might be a little uncomfortable and I wanted to assure you that nothing would happen. I can keep my hands to myself. Besides, I don't think anyone would approve. It would be too big a risk to ever do anything on campus, anyway." His hand grazed her shoulder just slightly.
She did her best not to let his brief touch affect her. "I wasn't worried about it, actually. But that you for the assurance." They had arrived at her dormitory and she got her key out. "I'll see you later, then."
"It's late," he said.
"So?"
"So let me walk you to the room, in case there are any monitors in the halls and they need to know where you've been."
"Ugh!" But she didn't argue. Instead she simply flung the door open and stomped in, heading straight for her room. There was an Ama wandering the halls, but she didn't even notice them.
She fiddled with her keys, looking at him. "Satisfied?"
"I will be once you're safely in your room."
"Since when did you decide to be such a pain in the ass?" She grumbled, unlocking the door. "Goodnight, Fiyero." Elphaba slammed the door in his face. She took a deep breath and turned around, noticing her roommate sitting up in bed. "I didn't mean to wake you."
"You didn't. I hadn't yet fallen asleep."
In the darkness, Elphaba fumbled for her nightgown. "So you were just sitting here in the dark, then?" Galinda being up was odd, and she was already somewhat off-kilter. Fiyero insisting on walking her to the room had thrown her a bit, though she didn't want to admit it.
"Sometimes it takes me quite some time to fall asleep." Galinda informed her.
"Right." Elphaba began to change.
"Did you and Prince Fiyero work late tonight, then?"
"No," she remarked with sarcasm, "we just walked around campus for three hours and then came back." She scoffed. "Yes, we worked late. Dr. Dillamond was very excited and we had a lot of work to do." As she moved towards her bed, she tripped.
Galinda jumped out of her bed and helped her off the floor. "Are you all right? You could've turned on a light."
As they stood, she realized the girl was staring at her again, and she stepped backward quickly. "I'm fine. I'm tired. It's been a long night."
"At least you weren't alone. You and Prince Fiyero are friends, yes?"
"No. He's an acquaintance."
"He walked you back to the room."
"As he's been told to do when it's exceedingly late. That was the only way they'd let me work with Dr. Dillamond at such hours. He always has to escort me back. Sometimes he leaves me at the door to the building, but since it was so late he decided to come in for a moment."
"He's very polite to you."
"He's polite to everyone, if you hadn't noticed." Elphaba sighed and sat down on her bed. "What are you trying to say, anyway?"
"Well, he's a boy. You're a girl, whether you act like it or not."
"And it's illegal."
"That doesn't mean there aren't feelings. It just means you can't act on it."
"There's nothing there. I have to spend time with him. That's all it is."
"If you say so, Miss Elphaba. If that changes, though, you can talk to me."
"Great. Then I'll talk to you never." Elphaba pulled the blankets over her head and went straight to sleep.
