A/N: Sorry for not posting last week! Things were a bit hectic and I didn't have internet most of the time. But anyway. Thanks for everyone who reviewed last week, and thank you so much to the lovely anon who messaged me on tumblr. You guys are awesome.

Enjoy!

Winter came suddenly to Shiz. Night started to fall in the late afternoon, and a chilling breeze kept up steadily around campus. Before anyone really noticed, the trees had shed their leaves, and the only green that could be found was on the few pine or holly trees that were placed sporadically around the lake.

The cold that settled in never seemed to bother Elphaba, although she was wary of the inevitable first snowfall. Glinda secretly worried about her roommate, who still had nothing but a single, thin blanket on her bed, but she was far too nervous to raise the issue.

Both of them were starting to, slowly, adjust to being friends. Glinda started correcting people with a gentle "It's Glinda," every time they greeted her incorrectly. She did her best to avoid Pfannee and the others for a couple of days, and when she did see them she would usually excuse herself after a few minutes. Some days were easier than others, and she could sit with her old friends for an entire lunch, chatting and laughing just like they used to. But there were also days when Pfannee's eyes glittered and the girls made endless snide comments about Elphaba. Those were the days when Glinda would mumble something about being cold or leaving something in a classroom. And although it made her feel sick inside, after that first conversation, she was too afraid to stand up to the girls.

At least, that's what she had thought until the day she was walking to history with Elphaba.

"So it's true," a voice called from nearby. Elphaba would have kept walking, but the little blonde next to her had stopped to look. Rolling her eyes, she turned toward Pfannee, raising an eyebrow.

Pfannee looked gleefully at Milla and Shenshen. "I thought it was a joke, this whole being friends with the vegetable thing! I thought Galinda was kidding!"

Glinda seemed rooted to the spot. She glanced, horrified, between Pfannee and Elphaba, silently willing the situation to go away.

"I still think it's a charity thing," Milla said, an air of self-importance to her voice. "I suppose someone has to feel pity for such a disgusting creature."

Shenshen looked wide-eyed at Glinda. "When are you going to drop this whole thing, Galinda? Is that thing really worth it?"

Elphaba had had enough. She grabbed Glinda's elbow and was about to lead her away, but the blonde pulled out of her grip. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the three other girls.

"How dare you?!" she demanded. "I've told you, Elphaba's my friend, and if you can't bring yourselves to be nice to her, the least you can do is give her some respect when she's around! Come on, Elphie." Without even waiting for a reaction, she grabbed the green girl's hand and marched off toward the history building.

Elphaba was speechless. She gaped at the blonde the entire way to class, and it wasn't until they had sat down together at a back table that she could begin to form words.

"I…you…Glinda, that—"

Glinda giggled. "Gosh, Elphie. I don't think I've ever seen you speechless before."

But her humor didn't last, for at that moment the rest of the class began walking in. They cast shocked looks back at the two girls, and it wasn't long before everyone was whispering to each other. Elphaba ignored them all and began pulling out books. After a moment, Glinda shook her head and followed suit.

Pfannee, Milla, and Shenshen walked in and took their usual table. Shenshen glanced at the back of the room.

"Aren't you going to sit with us, Galinda?"

"It's Glinda," the blonde said. Elphaba looked sideways at her.

"You don't have to…" she mumbled, not really sure what she wanted to say.

"Hush, Elphie."

"So, Elphaba," Pfannee called, turning around in her chair to face them. "What do you think of Professor Nikidik?"

The green girl stiffened at the mention of their new history teacher. "I think he's arrogant and cruel, and likes to hear the sound of his own voice."

"Well I like him," Pfannee began. "He's far better than that old Goat."

"It makes sense that you'd like him, seeing as you two have so much in common."

Someone snorted nearby. Glinda turned to see Boq covering his mouth and looking fixedly at his desk. Meanwhile, Pfannee's face was burning, but before she could retort their teacher walked into the room.

"Good morning, class."

Elphaba pulled out a pen and began doodling absentmindedly in the margins of her notebook. There was nothing Nikidik had to say that she was interested in. Her mind began to roam as the lecture went on, and she couldn't help but think yet again of the journal that was tucked into her bag at this very moment.

She had taken to delving into Dillamond's notes every chance she got. More than once, she had stayed too late looking through it at the library and was forced to sneak out in order to get back to her room. The more she read of the Goat's work, the more amazed she became. He wasn't at a definite answer yet—not anywhere near it—but he was closer than anyone had ever gotten before.

It fascinated her, and she couldn't stay away from the journal for long. In fact, as soon as they got out of history, she mumbled a brief goodbye to Glinda and hurried off to Crage Hall. She had barely stepped through the door to their room when she pulled the journal out of her bag. Elphaba moved over to her desk and sat down, her nose already buried between the pages.

There was so much to learn from Dr. Dillamond's research, and she was only just starting to completely understand everything he was trying to do. And the further she read, the more disturbing things were. She had known that the Animals of Oz were suffering, but not to the extent that Dillamond had described in his notes. And then, at the head of everything, was the Wizard.

The leader of Oz was iconic: adored and revered throughout the entire country. Elphaba, however, had always felt uneasy at the mention of the Wizard. People praised his magic skills, yet he couldn't do anything for the poor Munchkin farmers or the Quadlings being sold into slavery? He was wise and benevolent, yet the Animals under his rule were suffering, losing their rights, being pushed aside into nonexistence.

And now here he was, scribbled in the margins of Dillamond's notebook. No wonder they sent the Gale Force to escort him out of here, Elphaba thought. She wondered just how much the Wizard knew of the Goat's research.

The green girl was so deep into the journal that she didn't hear the footsteps outside her door, or the turning of a key in the lock.

Glinda opened the door. "There you are!" she said when she saw her roommate. Elphaba jumped a little and slammed the journal shut. "You left class awfully—wait, what was that?"

Elphaba had shoved Dr. Dillamond's notes into her book bag and strapped it shut. "N-nothing. Just some homework."

The blonde tilted her head. "Well, then, why are you trying to hide your homework from me?" Were Elphie's cheeks a shade darker than usual?

"I'm not," the green girl said shortly. "I was…I was just leaving, actually."

"Leaving?"

Elphaba made a noise of affirmation and slung her bag over her shoulder. "To the library. I need a book."

"Yeah, 'cause you have so few of those."

The green girl paused and looked back at her. "Was that sarcasm, Glinda? There may be hope for you yet."

"Hey, I'm sarcastic! This is just the first time I've used it nicely."

Elphaba flashed a quick grin at her. "Touché, blondie." She opened the door and slipped out of the room.

She really had planned to go to the library—and she probably would have stayed there until late into the night—but as usual, things didn't exactly go the way she wanted them to.

"Bewitched?" a voice said. "You really think the green bean has that kind of power?"

"Well, why else would a perfectly good girl like Galinda start hanging out with her?"

Elphaba paused, listening. She had taken a path that led away from most of Shiz's crowds, but apparently she couldn't avoid everyone. It sounded like there were four or five students just around the corner from her. Normally, she would have just kept walking and not have given it a second thought, but the way they were saying her roommate's name caused her to stop.

"I don't think the vegetable could do something like that. Sure, she's hideous, but she's not powerful."

"So why is Galinda being nice to her all of a sudden?"

"Who knows? Maybe it's for attention. Adopt a freak, become a saint."

"Maybe it's out of pity," someone mused. "Or fear."

Someone started giggling. "Maybe that Pfannee girl kicked her out of the group and she had no one else to hang out with." The group laughed.

"Oh, oh! Maybe she'll start dating that Munchkin boy soon. What's his name—Biq? He and the green girl seem like friends."

Elphaba grit her teeth. A week ago, the entire school practically worshipped Glinda. How could they turn against her so fast? She gripped the strap of her bag and walked away, the group's laughter still in her ears. Those people had no right to talk about Glinda—Oz, they couldn't even use the right name!

She didn't know why it bothered her so much, but it did. Maybe she was used to the gossip and insults, but that didn't mean Glinda deserved to deal with all of it too. Elphaba could just picture the blonde's face falling as she listened to people talking about her, her cheeks reddening, lip beginning to tremble, sapphire eyes widening and turning a few shades darker as she fought back tears…

The green girl shook her head, shoving the mental image away. She looked over her shoulder, although she knew the group was well out of sight by now. No, Glinda didn't deserve any of this. Especially not for someone like me, she thought.

And right then and there, she decided that she would do everything she could to keep her roommate safe from the torment Shiz had to offer.

Glinda took a deep breath, bracing herself. She was hovering just outside the café, biding her time before she had to go in. No doubt Fiyero was already waiting for her at a table. Her stomach jumped nervously at the thought, although not for the reasons one would expect. Instead of being delighted with Fiyero for asking her out to dinner, she was terrified.

Galinda would have been delighted. She would have spent all day trying on dresses and perfecting her makeup. She would have eased her nerves by making fun of Elphaba and gossiping with Pfannee and the others. She would have skipped joyfully into the café in an attempt to grab as much attention as she possibly could.

But Glinda was doing none of that. She was trembling from head to toe in her simple blouse and skirt, wearing only the amount of makeup she had felt like doing that day. Taking another breath, she pushed open the door and slipped inside, praying that no one noticed her.

Just as she had guessed, the Winkie prince was sitting at a small table near the back. He was looking down at the glass of water in front of him, his eyebrows furrowed into a slight frown. The expression seemed odd on his face, contrasting greatly with his usual carefree attitude.

He saw Glinda approaching and leapt to his feet. "Galinda," he said with a smile, pulling out the chair opposite him and offered it to her.

"Thank you, Fiyero," she smiled back, taking the seat. "But it's just Glinda. I've told you that."

His smile faltered. "R-right. Actually, Ga…Glinda." He cleared his throat. "I was kind of wondering if we could talk about that."

"That's why you asked me out?" she said softly. "You want to talk?"

He rubbed the back of his neck and avoided her eyes. "I think we need to, yeah."

She tried for another smile, although her insides were still shaking with dread. "Okay. Go for it."

"It's just…lately you…and Pfannee keeps saying…and that green freak—"

"Don't call her that," Glinda said firmly, cutting him off. "Look, I think we need to talk, too. But if you're going to insult Elphaba, then I'm leaving."

"That's just it, Galinda! Why are you so defensive of her all of a sudden? A week ago you were calling her a vegetable and saying these horrible things about her with the rest of us." Glinda visibly flinched, but he didn't notice and just kept talking. "And she really is horrible! She—"

"Have you ever actually talked to her?" Glinda asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Fiyero scowled. "Yeah. I introduced myself to her, and she was a terror! All I wanted was to ask her about you, but she couldn't even hold a minute of decent conversation. It's like she was raised by wolves, she's so vicious. There's that nasty look in her eyes, and that—that cackle she has, I swear…"

Fiyero kept talking, but Glinda was still thinking about the first part. All I wanted was to ask her about you. She closed her eyes and sighed to herself. A week ago, her heart would have fluttered at that. But now it didn't quite seem to matter.

"…and I just don't understand how she's so bitter. I mean, aren't I the most popular guy on campus? Any girl would be delighted to talk to me, yet she looks at me as if I'm some disease."

Glinda opened her eyes and stared at him. "Is that what really upset you? She wasn't charmed enough by you?"

The Vinkan stopped, his mouth hanging slightly open as he thought of an answer. "Well, I…I mean, it's nothing to be jealous of. No one could ever be attracted to something like that. It's just weird that she's not mooning over me or anyone else." He leaned in, suddenly excited. "What do you think her deal is, anyway? You know, Avaric was saying the other day that—"

"I don't care what Avaric was saying," the blonde said heatedly. "He's disgusting. And I'm not going to gossip about Elphie, even if I knew—"

"Elphie?" the prince snorted. "You gave that thing a nickname?"

"She's not a thing, she's my friend!" Glinda pinched the bridge of her nose in an attempt to calm down, but she wasn't exactly angry. She was just…sad.

Fiyero was staring at her, dumbfounded. It seems the handsome prince has run out of clever things to say, she thought to herself, but it almost sounded like Elphaba's voice in her head. For a moment, she just looked at Fiyero, taking him in. Here, sitting in front of her, was everything she had ever thought she wanted: a charming, good-looking, rich boyfriend who would dance carelessly through life with her. But the more she looked at him, the less appealing it all seemed. He was shallow, self-absorbed, narrow-minded, ignorant. None of that was exactly his fault, and none of it was intended to be harmful. He was just another fool born out of popularity, proving his worth by the most worthless means.

He was everything she was trying to get away from.

"Fiyero, I…I'm sorry." She folded her hands in her lap and looked down at them. "I don't think this is going to work out."

"You don't think…what is going to work out," he deadpanned.

"You…me…whatever this is."

"Are you…breaking up with me?"

Glinda fought back a smirk. How cliché, she thought, once again hearing Elphie in her head. "I just…I think we want different things," she said gently. "It's like you all keep saying. I have changed, and I'm still changing. Isn't that what college is about?"

He raised an eyebrow at her. "I thought you came to college to find a husband."

She bit her lip. "Maybe I did, but that's not what I want anymore."

Fiyero scoffed. "Oh, and what do you want? To become a sorceress? You know, that's another thing they've been saying about you. That you're only befriending the green bean so that she can teach you magic. Is that it?"

"What? No!"

"Okay, then what? Because you and I both know you don't really care about your classes. And you'll never find a better guy than me, so the marriage thing is out. So what is it? What do you want here?"

Glinda could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks. "There's no need to get angry at me. And who says I couldn't find a better guy?"

"A couple weeks ago you told Pfannee we were just perfect together, and that we simply deserved each other." His voice rose in pitch as he mimicked her.

Now the blonde was blushing furiously. She made a mental note to slap Pfannee the next time she saw her. But for right now, she simply stood up from the table. "I would have us still be friends, Master Fiyero, but not with the way you're treating me." She turned to walk out, but he caught her elbow, stopping her.

Glinda kept her eyes down, refusing to meet his gaze. She wouldn't cry over him. Not here, not to Elphie, never. Her tiny hand covered his for a small instant, and then she pushed his fingers away and left.

Fiyero stared after her, already regretting everything he had said. He buried his head in his hands. "You idiot," he muttered, loud enough for no one but him to hear.