A/N Sorry for the long wait for the next chapter. I want to thank everyone for reading the story so far. Thank you very much to everyone who wrote a review. The story continues.
XXXX
In the morning Elphaba wakes up. She sees that Galinda is still sleeping. Slowly the memories of the previous evening come back. The hopeful feeling that she was having a wonderful evening. The realization that she has received her first real gift in years from a person she genuinely doesn't like. Then the feeling of shame and intense hatred towards that person. The thoughts of taking revenge still play in her mind. Then the feeling of disbelief that the person who caused everything comes next to her on the dance floor. The feeling of some kind of appreciation, from the person whowho almost ran her over that same day. Oz, if someone had told her this beforehand, she would have laughed at that person and called the crazy house. But it all happened and to her greatest surprise, she has become kind of friends with her roommate, whom she couldn't stand at first.
Glinda hears Elphaba moving towards the bathroom. She sits up with a sigh. She has already received a few notifications from her parents that they want to talk. Glinda already knows what they are going to say, she hasn't felt so small in years. But if she wants to become a spy, she must act mature enough to face the consequences of her behavior. Although she can't wait until she no longer has to justify her choices to her parents. She takes a pen and paper and writes that she went for a walk, she promises that she will see Elphaba again in the canteen. She quickly grabs her gym gear and walks to the gym.
She starts with her normal exercises first, she needs to have a plan of action before she can handle her parents. Oz, what have I done, she thinks despondently. My entire future thrown away for nothing, she thinks gloomily.
She feels her phone vibrate again.
"Yes," she says when she starts the inevitable conversation after three rings.
"What in Oz were you thinking?" Mr Upland asks, clearly holding back his anger.
"We watched the footage again because Butler told us to," says Mrs Upland.
Glinda closes her eyes. ''I had to do this. You were not present at the situation. She was humiliated in front of the entire school. I told you about our first day and her magical outburst, well that's what it felt like last night."
''But you humiliated her with that hat. We told you not to be friends, but you don't have to become her nemesis either. Just behave normally, without showing feelings We expect more from your Glinda Upland.''
Glinda feels her heart breaking. Although she now knows that it is all or nothing. ''That's what you come up with now. Do you know how difficult it is to achieve that with your own roommate? The whole school hates her just because she's green. Tell me that doesn't make you Wicked. I had to choose a different path for our mission.''
"Maybe we should take her off the mission," Mrs. Upland whispers, but not softly enough.
"No," Glinda shouts almost in panic. Glinda gets a suffocating feeling again at the thought of having to return to the house. Sitting on lockdown and helping her parents with the missions. Losing her freedom. No, never again. ''Please no. I will keep my distance. I have now found an opening to be closer to her, even outside school hours. She is very fanatical about the changes that are taking place for the Animals, and perhaps she also has side activities in addition to her studies. After all, she spends a lot of time away from her room."
Glinda surprises herself with this theory that she hadn't thought of it before. There is a moment of silence on the other end of the line.
"We haven't thought about that yet," Mr Upland says slowly. ''To say the least, we are not happy with these developments, Glinda, remember that. But you could be right."
"We have read all your reports about all fellow students, we are just waiting for Fiyero's."
Glinda is equally surprised that her parents know about Fiyero, in her experience she has said nothing about it. She is intensely relieved that her parents believe her made-up story. "So you agree that only Madame Morrible can take advantage of her?"
"She's an option, but Dr. Dillamond is also interested in her, maybe he has a different approach. We can't leave anyone out. According to Oscar, the perpetrator is very cunning."
Glinda sighs. That information is of no use to her.
"I can talk to Elphaba more about her past and home situationwithout my cover being discovered. Glinda suggests cautiously.
"That's right," says Mrs. Upland. ''Be careful and don't get too attached to her, we'll protect you before that Elphaba. Elphaba is not our problem, you are."
Glinda ignores the fact that her mother calls her a problem.
"What are your next steps, Glinda?" Mr Upland asks sternly.
''As you heard, I'm going to put Elphaba in touch with Fiyero. That will increase her popularity. No one is as likely to bully her anymore. Especially if I'm also there to protect her from the outside world. In the room I will keep my distance and talk more about Fiyero."
''I don't know.'' says Mr. Upland. "It all sounds way too dangerous for you."
''Maybe we should take over.'' Ms. Upland suggested.
"No," Glinda immediately shouts. "No", a little less panicked now. ''No, I can handle it. But it's my mission, maybe I should do it my way."
"No," Mr. and Mrs. Upland both say in the same way Glinda did a few moments earlier. "No," Mr. Upland says more calmly. ''We're protecting you from yourself Glinda, you should know that. We love you and we don't want you to become emotionally connected to that Elphaba, saying goodbye will only become more difficult."
Glinda nods and quickly realizes that her parents don't see it. "Okay, but please give me the options to carry out my next steps. Everything will be different than you thought, but new possibilities have also arisen."
"Okay honey, we'll give you the benefit of the doubt. We will look for underground activities for the Animals in Shiz, maybe that way Elphaba will become Wicked. In any case, we are on our guard. Also be careful."
''Naturally. It'll be okay.'' Glinda says quickly.
''We love you.''
''I love you too.''
Glinda holds the phone next to her leg. She can't believe the conversation. Should she feel sad, relieved, happy or angry? She doesn't know. All she knows is that she still has a chance. She's not going to screw this up. She distances herself from Elphaba.
Glinda quickly tidies the room and takes a shower. She makes sure she looks perfect again. She walks to the cafeteria where she can hopefully see Elphaba.
Elphaba sits alone at a table. Glinda ignores the popular table and sits with Elphaba.
Elphaba looks at her in surprise. "What are you doing here?" she immediately asks in a hostile tone.
"Can't I sit next to my best friend?" Glinda asks innocently as she takes a sandwich from Elphaba's plate.
Elphaba rolls her eyes. "Not if you eat my breakfast."
Glinda smiles. "I'll grab something to eat, do you want something too?"
"A new sandwich will be nice."
Glinda nods and turns when she hears her name.
"Galinda, thank you." Elphaba says shyly.
Glinda nods and walks away. She is immediately surrounded by ShenShen and Pfannee. A few seconds later the rest of their usual table follows.
"Hey, Galinda, maybe a strange question, but what in Oz's name are you doing?" Pfannee asks, slightly panicking.
"Did she do something to you?" ShenShen asks worriedly.
Glinda breaks free from ShenShen's grasp. "No, I have realized that she is also a person with feelings and that it is not okay how we treated her."
Pfannee starts to laugh, but stops when she sees Galinda's serious face. "But she doesn't feel anything, she's an abnormal, antisocial, nerdy frog."
"Maybe she's something more."
The entire group holds their breath and begins to mumble something. "She once helped me pick out a book," says a girl shyly.
"She saved me from Morrible once," one boy says confidently. "If the green bean hadn't come along to distract her, Morrible would have discovered me in the pantry."
Glinda nods approvingly, Elphaba may not have acted consciously in the last example, but as long as the rest of the school thought so, it was fine. "Maybe we should give her a chance." The group doesn't seem enthusiastic but nods cautiously. "If you don't mind, I'm going to grab my food now and sit next to her, maybe it would be wise if we don't all sit with her." Most of them sighed with relief.
"What about your popularity?" Pfannee asks challengingly.
"Friends are more important than popularity," Glinda says confidently. The rest of the group agrees with Glinda's answer.
"I don't know," ShenShen says nervously. "I don't want to be green."
"Don't try to spread gossip about her anymore, that's all I ask of you."
ShenShen nods. Pfannee still looks suspiciously at Galinda. "Galinda, are you sure she didn't do anything to you?" We are your best friends and we will always support you."
"Support me now."
Pfannee swallows slowly, "okay," she whispers.
XXXXX
Glinda arrives proudly, but her tray full of food. "Okay, let's continue with the lessons," Glinda says before sitting down.
''Were you lost? Or did you have to convince your fan club that I wasn't bewitching you."
Glinda starts to blush. "The latter, but that's not important."
'You don't have to come and sit with me out of pity. I can handle myself just fine.'
''I do not do that. I just want to get to know you."
Elphaba narrows her eyes. ''Are you sure? Because your fan club doesn't seem to support that. If this is some kind of joke again. '
'No,' Glinda says quickly. ''On my word of honour, I promise Elphie Thropp it's not a joke. I really want to get to know you.'' Glinda says solemnly.
Elphaba nods slowly. "I don't want pity." she whispers.
"You won't get that from me," Glinda says convincingly.
As a kind of arrangement, Elphaba accepts the plate with the sandwich from Glinda. Glinda starts calling for Fiyero when she sees him walking into the cafeteria. "Fiyero, honey, we're here."
"I thought you didn't like him."
Glinda looks surprised. "I don't do that either."
"Why do you call him honey?"
Glinda shrugs. ''Force of habit.''
Fiyero sits down next to Elphaba. ''What a party last night. You really made it, with your dance moves."
Elphaba starts to blush. Glinda looks around the cafeteria and sees a few students staring in their direction with open mouths.
"Anyway, we should go out more often." Fiyero finishes his story, which Glinda completely missed.
"No," Elphaba says quickly. "One party a year is enough."
Fiyero opens his mouth to protest, but Glinda beats him to it. "We're still working on it."
Fiyero looks at the girls in surprise but doesn't say anything more, instead taking a sandwich from Elphaba's plate and eating it.
Elphaba glares at Fiyero and then at Galinda, who giggles.
"What?" he asks with his mouth full.
"Nothing," Glinda says quickly, "but Fiyero, we have a question. How would you like to spend more time with our Elphaba in exchange for your knowledge of the social rules she will help you with your school work."
Elphaba is so stunned by Galinda's proposal that she forgets how to talk.
''Yes, why not. Shall we start after lunch?'' Fiyero immediately suggests, as if it were the most normal suggestion in the world.
"Um, what?" Elphaba says unwisely.
Glinda giggles again. "It seems like an excellent plan to me," she is happy that Fiyero agrees to it so quickly.
"Come on Elphie, let's go back to the room so I can get you ready."
Elphaba gets carried away by Galinda, who is surprisingly strong. "But my sandwich?"
"I'll take care of lunch," Fiyero calls after them, "see you later."
"Fiyero will take care of your sandwich, Elphie."
Elphaba has already turned her surprise into anger. By the time they reach their room, Elphaba breaks free from Galinda's grasp. "What are you doing?" she asks angrily. She creates a distance between her and Galinda.
"I'll help you become more popular. Of course you'll never be as popular as me, but you'll come a long way." Glinda turns to the mirror to touch up her makeup, but she's actually keeping a closer eye on Elphaba's behavior.
"Did you ever thought I don't want it?" she asks angrily.
"Everyone wants people around them."
"Not me." Elphaba says stubbornly.
''That's because you don't have the right people around you. Give Fiyero and me a chance. The students will treat you normally from now on, that's what you want. Nessa will no longer hear strange stories about you.'' Glinda knows that Nessa is Elphaba's weak spot, and sometimes she uses that to her own advantage.
Elphaba's anger slowly dissipates. "I don't know." Elphaba doesn't want to admit that the thoughts are scaring her to death, what if it goes wrong, what if it's just another joke, what if... keeps running through her head.
Glinda feels like she has almost won the battle. She sits next to Elphaba on the bed. ''Come on Elphie, Nessa is always complaining that you don't have proper etiquette. I see this as an opportunity to prove Nessa wrong."
Elphaba rolls her eyes. "Nessa complains and talks way too much."
Glinda nods. ''Nothing will happen to you. I promise.''
Elphaba nods slowly, not that she believes Glinda, but it feels like the right thing to do.
"So you're going to have lunch with Fiyero?" Glinda asks hopefully.
''I'm giving Fiyero a chance. Who knows, there may be more hidden in his brain than we think."
Glinda starts cheering. "Yes, come on, we have to get you ready." Glinda pulls Elphaba's arm.
"I do this my way," Elphaba says firmly.
Glinda swallows. She remembers the words she said to her parents, she didn't sound nearly as confident as Elphaba does now.
"Galinda, are you okay?" Elphaba asks worriedly, as Glinda has suddenly gone quiet.
"Okay, we'll do it your way, but if it doesn't work out, I'll help you."
Elphaba rolls her eyes. ''Fine.''
XXXXX
The days fly by. Everyone is surprised by the special friendship that has developed between Elphaba, Galinda and Fiyero.
Galinda tries to create some more distance when they are in their room, as she promised her parents. Her parents still kept a close eye on her, and still have no information about the underground Animals of Shiz.
Galinda tries to get Fiyero and Elphaba closer together, hoping that her parents will leave her alone a little more. Even though it makes her jealous sometimes.
Elphaba isn't sure yet what she wants to do with her feelings for Fiyero. She has a feeling that Galinda still has feelings for Fiyero. She's always bragging about him. Galinda always tells what to say and do around Fiyero, which often leads to arguments in their room, but outside their room Galinda is sweet, it only confuses Elphaba. She tries to control her paranoia, because despite everything, Galinda keeps her word. Nessa hasn't heard any bad stories about her anymore. The fellow students are quite friendly towards her. She almost feels happy, so she doesn't want to ruin the feeling with that one feeling that says Galinda isn't being completely honest. But she also has that feeling about Fiyero and Boq.
Fiyero enjoys every moment with Elphaba. He hangs on her every word at every homework session. He sees that Elphaba is also better at interacting with fellow students, he is proud of her and almost as proud that he taught her. He is often frustrated when Nessa makes another comment about him or Elphaba. He knows his scandalous reputation still haunts him. With every move he makes towards Elphaba, he receives commentary from Nessa.
Elphaba, who still obediently follows her father's orders, listens to her sister more often than not, much to Fiyero's frustration.
Boq is happy with Nessa's interest in Fiyero as it allows him to focus his attention on Galinda. He tries to get her attention as much as possible. Since he met her at the gym, he has been going there regularly in the hope of meeting her again. But she always trains in a private room. But he doesn't give up. He will catch Galinda's attention; he feels in his heart that they were made for each other.
XXX
Madame Morrible watches the group from her office. Elphaba is reading, while Galinda plays with her hair. ShenShen and Pfannee are engaged in conversation. Madame Morrible makes some notes in her student files. She needs to ensure that Elphaba doesn't accumulate too many friends. This is good for Elphaba's self-confidence but not beneficial for Madame Morrible's own plans. She scratches something out and writes something else. Then she sits behind her desk and reviews names of new professors to potentially replace Doctor Dillamond. That will take some thought, she thinks.
XXX
"Come on, Elphie, you need to show a bit of interest when Pfannee and ShenShen are talking to you," says Glinda for the hundredth time as they return to the room after lunch.
"Why do I have to be interested? What does it matter that Bella kissed Crope? They don't listen to my stories about the importance of equal rights anyway," Elphaba says, placing her books on her desk.
"Because you're communicating on a completely different level. You need to be the mature person here. That means swallowing your pride and pretending to care," Glinda says, kicking off her shoes and lying on the bed.
"Galinda, yours and Fiyero's lessons have helped me; they really do I talk with a smile now and I no longer immediately assume the worst when someone speaks to me. The students at Shiz are much nicer to me now, but what you are asking of me now is going a step too far. I just can't have a conversation with those airheads, I don't know how you do that," Elphaba says as she sits next to Galinda.
"Me neither," mutters Glinda, still clueless about the threat to Elphaba's Wickedness.
"Come, we have to continue with Doctor Dillamond's and Madame Morrible's homework. If we do it together, we'll be done before dinner," Elphaba suggests as she starts to stand up.
"You don't have the energy to listen to ShenShen and Pfannee, but you can read a couple of boring books?" Glinda questions. Still lying in her bed.
Elphaba shrugs. "Different interests."
Glinda sighs. "What are you doing tonight?" She has to admit that the mission is slowly starting to bore her. Yes, she has many more interactions with her peers now, but Elphaba is right, they are not interesting. The only one that's remotely interesting is off-limits. She feels something has to be done so that she can regain her parents' trust.
Galinda has crossed off her list everyone who might pose a threat to Elphaba, except Madame Morrible, Nessa, and perhaps the Wizard himself. But the headmistress is a mean old woman who pays no attention to her during her magic lessons. Nessa is a spoiled little girl, and the wizard would never let Elphie do anything harmful to her. She has taken her parents' advice to keep treating everyone as suspects, but it is so boring and unrealistic. That sweet professor of a Goat will never do anything to Elphaba. The fellow students are as lame as a sheep. In short, it is fantastic to work in the field, but now a boring period has begun.
Her parents usually finished the mission within a month. Her parents often came home with the coolest stories, so this is very disappointing.
Elphaba looks at Glinda curiously. "Nothing, the same as always. Keeping Nessa company and being glad you're gone."
Glinda playfully slaps Elphaba's hip. She is too lazy to get up from her bed. She exercised a lot in the morning and took a detour to avoid Boq "Maybe you should come along."
Elphaba starts laughing. "I think you've had too much to drink." She walks to her desk and grabs a book.
Glinda sticks out her tongue. "I'm serious. Maybe you're ready for the next step." Maybe it's not smart to take Elphaba to a place where many people can talk her into wickedness, but she wants action. Glinda Upland is a girl of action. She wants to do something. She also wants a nice evening for Elphaba or perhaps with Elphaba.
"As I said earlier, there are limits, and this is one of them. What would I do at the pub?" Elphaba questions.
Glinda shrugs. "Be social, talk to people, meet new people. Learn from each other. Learn something new about the world."
"Get laughed at, have people ask the same questions, people fainting, or people rubbing mine arms very hard to see of the green skin is real or spitting out their drink in hatred of disgust," Elphaba mutters as she opens her book.
Glinda sits next to Elphaba at the desk. "Don't be so negative. We've talked about this."
"You can't change someone in a few weeks," Elphaba says, pushing Glinda's arm off her shoulder.
"Think about all the progress you've made. Students are talking to you. You're even doing a project with Boq soon, he was really scared of you in the beginning," Glinda points out.
"Boq, only work with me because he was the last one left," Elphaba retorts.
"Yeah, but he hasn't run away," Glinda counters.
Elphaba sighs. "Can we focus on the homework?"
"Only if you admit that you've made progress and that you're coming with us tonight. I'll even arrange good company like Nessa, Boq, and Fiyero. Please, Elphie?" Glinda pleads.
Elphaba looks at Glinda, who is putting on her sweetest expression. "Sometimes you really are like a little child, Galinda. Have you ever heard 'no' as a child?"
Glinda shakes her head. She blinks a few times. ''Please Elphie. I have confidence in you.''
"Fine, but not for too long. Tomorrow we might not have classes, but I still want to prepare for Monday's lessons," Elphaba agrees.
Glinda starts cheering. "Come on, Elphie, stand up, we have a lot of things to do."
Elphaba is surprised by Glinda's strength. "Galinda, we still need to do our homework."
"Oh, tomorrow you'll want to study, so we can combine it, or there's always Sunday. This is more important. Stand in front of the mirror," Glinda insists.
"But don't we really need to read a chapter?" Elphaba tries again as she walks back to the desk.
Glinda pushes her back. "Don't be so stubborn and let yourself be pampered."
"Why do you always win these battles between us?" Elphaba asks, crossing her arms and pouting.
"Because I'm the smartest when it comes to social life. And that pout doesn't suit you," Glinda replies.
Elphaba rolls her eyes but obediently stands as Galinda approaches with a few dresses. Elphaba grumbles as Glinda puts a hat on her, but Glinda bursts out laughing. Elphaba grabs a pillow, and a pillow fight ensues. After half an hour, they both lie exhausted on their beds, laughing.
Elphaba never knows what to think at moments like this. Galinda seems like a completely different person. Carefree and a real friend. But Elphaba also knows that Galinda is sometimes gone for half days or writes things down that have nothing to do with homework. But at a moment like this she seems like a completely different Galinda. Her words are so sincere. Elphaba knows that Galinda has confidence in her. She feels that. At such a moment she trusts Galinda with all her deepest secrets. Elphaba has never experienced such an internal battle over a friend. That makes everything so difficult. She also can't talk to anyone about her feelings. "You know, Galinda, I'm glad you're my friend. Thanks for everything." Elphaba says before she can stop her words.
Glinda turns to face Elphaba. "No problem, Elphie. You know, you're my first real friend."
Elphaba turns around, surprised. "Really? What about the other two girls or friends at home?" Another new piece of information about the mysterious Galinda, Elphaba thinks.
Glinda shakes her head. "No, they're nice, and I have fun with them, but with you, I can truly be myself."
Elphaba smiles. "I'm glad we can be honest with each other."
Glinda bites her lip, unnoticed by Elphaba.
"I'll tell Nessa that we're going to the Oz Dust tonight. At least if I have to believe Pfannee, that's the only fun pub in Shiz," Elphaba says proudly, having remembered something from the airheads.
Glinda nods. "I'll ask Fiyero if he can come along as an escort. We want to make sure nothing happens."
Elphaba laughs. "As if anyone would dare do anything to the green monster."
"Elphie! What did I say about putting yourself down?" Glinda scolds.
Elphaba quickly exits the room, laughing. Glinda throws a pillow against the closed door.
XXXXXX
When the door is closed, Glinda quickly picks up her phone and calls her parents for the weekly update.
"Hey, nothing's happened yet. Elphaba seems to be turning into a good witch. My plan seems to be working'
"Yes, it looked very nice just now," Mrs. Upland interrupts her daughter.
"Mom, it was just friendly. I have no feelings about it,' Glinda sighs, she had hoped that her mother would not notice and that she would receive a compliment from her parents.
"Sweetie, we're just trying to protect you. You're still too young. You have to be more careful.' Mrs Upland says for the umpteenth time.
Glinda rolls her eyes.
"I can see that," Mrs. Upland says dryly. "If you want to prove yourself, you should listen better to your superiors and show less immature behavior," she says sternly.
Glinda swallows. She knew that her parents could be very strict and very harsh, but as a child she did not experience it that way. She often received a lot from her parents, because they could not give their daughter a normal life. The feeling of taking action only becomes stronger.
"Anyway, I followed your advice and kept an eye on anyone who was acting suspiciously around Elphaba."
''And?''
'No fellow students did anything to Elphaba. All contacts were made by me or her sister. I have studied the student files again."
"Madame Morrible's?"
''Yes.''
It remains silent for a moment. "Can these be trusted?"
"They are official documents from school, so yes," says Glinda convincingly.
"But you have already indicated that you do not trust Madame Morrible.
Glinda starts to blush. Her mother has a point. Why would you trust files from someone you don't trust?
"Maybe you should keep a closer eye on Madame Morrible," Mrs. Upland suggests, after being satisfied that her daughter has gotten the message.
'Do you have any idea why Madame Morrible might be involved? What does it gain if she makes Elphaba evil?' she asks to guide her daughter back on the right path. Sometimes she feels guilty about her daughter's treatment, but she also knows that it has to be done. It is a dangerous profession.
'I have no idea, but Elphie believes almost everything Madame Morrible tells her. Madame Morrible has been extremely kind to her since she discovered how much power Elphie has. She is constantly exploring how much magic Elphie possesses. She barely pays any attention to me. She often exceeds Elphie's limit. Sometimes Elphie is exhausted after a lesson with Madame Morrible. She acts as if she has her students' best interests at heart. But in reality, she doesn't care about anyone she doesn't see potential in.'' Glinda quickly sums it up, so maybe she can dazzle her mother with her ready knowledge and make up for her mistake.
''Elphie? You often call Elphaba by her nickname."
Glinda blushes. ''Sorry. I use the name so often that it keeps slipping away.'
Mrs. Upland sighs. ''Honey, promise me that you will keep your distance from Elphaba. Friendships are easy to make, but breaking them can cause pain. Promise me you'll spend less time with her and more research into what Morrible is up to. Elphaba and Madame Morrible must not notice what you are doing as it could jeopardize the mission."
Glinda knows it's pointless to argue with her mother. ''Of course, Mom, you're right. I have to go.'' Glinda feels a pang of disappointment. She finds it annoying that she has to end the conversation with her mother like this. She does a lot of good things, but the only thing her mother complains about is her friendship with Elphie.
"'I love you,'" Mrs. Upland says before hearing nothing more on the other end of the line."
Glinda drops the phone briefly onto the ground. She knows that her mother is definitely watching, so she must remain professional in her room. She quickly tidies up her things, puts on her shoes, and heads to Fiyero's to tell him what they'll be doing tonight. She hopes she can also stop by the gym to work out her frustrations. She needs to come up with a plan to convince her parents that she can handle the mission.
She knows her parents aren't happy about this friendship. She doesn't understand why her parents don't realize it happened spontaneously and she had to act quickly. The worst part is, she doesn't know if her parents are just concerned or simply disappointed in her. As she's nearly outside, she puts on her brightest smile. No one must know the truth about her, not even that she's dealing with conflicting feelings. Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands is perfect. In her mind she immediately turns serious again as she thinks about everything she still has to do. An additional investigation into Madame Morrible. It's an old woman, how hard can it be?
XXX