Thank you all so much for sticking with me on this! I have been having an entirely hectic few weeks/months, but work is slowing down and uni is over so I have time to get back into my hobbies! Also, I'm now 18! Yay responsibility! I also technically had four employers at one point, but I'm back down to three.
Thedoctor24601: Yay! I like to know I'm loved :P And you have just ruined Galinda for me with LSP singing popular!
New followers/favourites: WELCOME!
As part of Galinda's venture to become Elphaba's friend, she dragged the poor girl around the shops in search of something to buy her as an apology.
"How about this?" The blonde said, holding up yet another example of upper Ozmopolitan fashion, complete with garish colour and shoestring straps.
"No." Said Elphaba, bluntly, shifting her gaze from the window momentarily.
"You didn't even look at it."
"Yes I did." Beside her Fiyero sniggered behind his hand.
Galinda let out an exasperated sigh. "How do you know you don't like it if you won't look at it, let alone try it on?"
It was Elphaba's turn to sigh as she looked down at the little blonde. "Because I saw the colour and can honestly tell you that it will not be a pleasant experience for your eyes if I put it on."
"Oh really, Elphie." Elphaba winced slightly at the Galinda's pet name for her. "Don't be such a stick in the mud."
Elphaba was prevented from making a sharp come back as the tolling of bells rang through the square into the little boutique.
"Ah, saved by the bell." Muttered Fiyero, who had been preparing to stay his girlfriend.
"What's that?" Asked Elphaba. "The bells, I mean."
Fiyero shrugged. "It's the Bell Tower ringing high noon."
Elphaba snapped to attention. "Oz! Is it 12 o'clock already?"
"What's wrong, Elphaba?" Frowned Fiyero.
"We've spent three hours looking at dresses that's what's wrong!"
"It has not been three hours-" said Galinda, but she was cut off as Elphaba shot past her.
"Close enough!"
Elphaba hurried out into the street closely followed by a concerned Fiyero, leaving Galinda behind to deal with the pile of dresses they had left behind.
"Wait, Elphaba!" Fiyero jogged after the green girl, her long strides having already carried her a fair distance from the boutique they had been in. "What's wrong?
"I have three days to get a job and enough money to support myself otherwise I'll-" Elphaba cut herself off as memories of cold and fear and hunger resurfaced.
"You'll what? Elphaba?"
"I'll be on the streets." She said, finally.
Fiyero nodded, not willing to pry further into the green girl's situation. "Then I'll help."
"Why do you even care?" Elphaba asked. "You barely know me."
"Because I want to make it up to you for, well, what happened to your friend."
Elphaba's jaw clenched slightly before she nodded. "Alright, fine."
"There you are!" Came Galinda's voice as she clacked along the pavement as fast as her heels would allow her. "What was all that running about for, Elphie?"
"We, my dear," said Fiyero as he slung his arm around his girlfriend's shoulders. "Are going to find Miss Elphaba a job."
Galinda let out a high pitched squeal of excitement. "This is going to be so much better than dress shopping!"
A deep sense of dread settled in the pit of Elphaba's stomach from the sheer manic delight in the blonde's eyes.
Half an hour later the three new friends stood in front of a bustling coffee shop called the Emerald Bean.
"Now remember, Elphie," said Galinda. "Smile and be confident. Sell yourself."
"Last I checked this wasn't a brothel." Elphaba muttered, resulting in Galinda slapping her on the arm in shock.
"You know what I mean!"
Elphaba grinned wickedly before turning back to the cafe. "Well, lets get this over with."
Galinda squeal and bounced beside her, forgetting her green friend's crude humour.
Elphaba took a deep breath and walked through the doors of the cafe and strode up to the girl at the counter.
"Excuse me-"
The girl interrupted her with a scowl. "Sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to go to the back of the line."
Elphaba flushed dark green as she looked behind her to find a line of disgruntled Ozians. Muttering a quick apology, Elphaba shuffled back to wait in line.
Ten minutes later she was back at the counter.
"How can I help you?" Droned the girl at the counter.
"I'd like to speak to the manager, please." Elphaba replied.
The girl looked Elphaba up and down before turning and yelling into the kitchen. "Hey, Cherry! Got a hopeful!"
A loud crash resonated from the back room followed by an enraged shout as a plump mess of a woman stumbled out of the narrow kitchen doorway, her hair piled haphazardly atop her head and a large knife in her hand.
"What?" She growled at the serving girl. "I told you I don't have time to handle these things when it's busy!"
The serving girl shrugged unapologetically and nodded towards Elphaba who was watched with only mild concern. "This one wants a job."
Cherry turned her attention towards Elphaba with hawk-like intensity. She walked out from behind the counter and looked her new candidate up and down with pursed lips.
After a long moment she clucked her tongue. "Name?" she demanded.
"Elphaba Thropp." Elphaba replied with a slight raise of her eyebrow.
"Good name." Cherry paused for a moment. "You start at six tomorrow morning."
Elphaba stood wide eyed as Cherry walked nonchalantly back behind the counter and disappeared into the kitchen.
"She does that." Smirked the girl behind the counter, snapping Elphaba out of her daze. "I'm Fran. See you tomorrow."
Elphaba blinked in confusion before slowly turning and walking back outside where Galinda and Fiyero were waiting.
When she spotted her friend, Galinda leapt from the bench she had been sitting on and bounced in excitement, closely followed by Fiyero.
"So," Asked Galinda. "How'd it go?"
Elphaba didn't reply, but simply looked back at the cafe, her expression unreadable.
Galinda's perk gave way to worry at her her friend's expression. "Elphie?"
Elphaba looked at the blonde's furrowed brow and a slow smile spread across her face. "I got a job."
Elphaba and Fiyero quickly covered their ears as Galinda let loose the loudest happy squeal of her life.
This chapter was originally going to be so much more intense that what it turned out to be, but I'm saving that for later :) We've gone from life ruining angst to slice-of-life frivolity, what other places shall we go? Romance? We'll see…
10 points to Gryffindor! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is correct, congratulotions to vinkunwildflowerqueen!
Next Question: Which musical centers around the story of the King of Siam and an English teacher?
(Also, kudos to Ella Thropp for answering Chapter 9's Q correctly)
As an aside: This chapter is unbeta read so forgive and errors please :/ Currently looking for a new beta to read over my chapters and help keep me on track