Notes:

I haven't done a proper song-fic in an AGE, people. I kid you not, I went and saw Wicked recently, and I immediately saw Chaggie in this scene. (Literally, in the theater, thinking "My god, this is Charlie and Vaggie") The song has been bouncing in my head for a week, so I have to write it out.

Even though I tried to keep it in the spirit of the movie/play the scene is completely stand alone. No context. No other plot driver. You can read it as you will.

Popular

With a snickering smirk on his face Angel Dust waltzed out of the dorm room. He'd gotten all that he need from his friend for the party that night. The tall and lanky student gave a lazy and flippant wave over his shoulder as he passed Vaggie on his way out. He didn't say anything to her, which was just fine by the much shorter girl. "I'll see ya later, Charlie. Heh. Good luck with that." He rolled his head in Vaggie's direction with a snarky little smile before closing the door behind him.

Vaggie rolled her eyes. She didn't really care what she'd interrupted between the two. It was probably something stupid, knowing Angel, and her roommate. With a sigh she began to walk to her corner of the room and ignored Charlie as the blonde stood up from her vanity.

"So, I... uh... I wanted to thank you for earlier." Charlie muttered as she fiddled with her fingers nervously. Very unlike herself.

It was so quiet that Vaggie wasn't sure she'd heard correctly. She huffed. Taking it in stride and, really, pleasantly surprised at the princess's moment of gratitude. "You don't need to thank me for it. Really." Vaggie replied back with a shake of her head, books clutched tightly to her chest.

"Yeah, I do," Charlie argued back. She took a step forward and her tone left no room for disagreement.

The silver haired girl spared just a glance to the opposite side of their shared space, and it was apparently enough encouragement to have Charlie purposely block her way forward. Vaggie was forced into stopping with an annoyed huff.

Charlie stepped in front of her newest roommate, cutting her off from her own side of the room, and to force her attention to shift. "So, Vaggie. I can call you Vaggie, right?"

"N-" Vaggie began to say, but didn't get far, as Charlie blindly continued. She rolled her eyes with an unwelcoming glare.

"Of course. That's what friends do." The taller girl shook her head. Her long, blonde, hair bouncing around her shoulders. Apparently, either not paying attention, or not caring how unenthused Vaggie appeared.

"Friends?" Vaggie questioned skeptically as she was forced to halt in the middle of the room. Charlie, unmoving, in front of her. She didn't know what all this was about, but friendship was something she hadn't been expecting at the start of the day.

"So happy you agreed." Charlie, red eyes shining happily, and showing off her perfect teeth with a wide and open grin grabbed onto Vaggie's arm that was holding her books against her chest. So, maybe it was kinda sudden, but Charlie was known to be nothing if not impulsive and emotional. And Vaggie had seriously helped her out before. There was a certain amount of pride that needed to be repaid in that.

"Wait..." Vaggie tried to protest but once more was ignored by the bubbly blonde. Charlie's hands felt warm and solid on her arm. A strange sensation settled in her chest. The taller of the two who was also stronger, who'd a guessed, had a tight grip- as if Vaggie might bolt if she let go. Which truthfully Vaggie thought she just might.

It was odd from a girl that was, at best, a spoiled princess.

"Vaggie, now that we're friends, I've decided to make you my new project." Charlie told the girl with a firm nod of decision. Who asked for this? Well, the blonde decided that didn't matter so much, especially since it was a good choice anyway.

Trying to pull away, Vaggie came to realize how determined Charlie was at holding on. The princess was apparently determined to be as close as possible, with the books in-between them, at least. "No, I mean really. You don't have to," she emphasized clearly. She didn't want to be dragged around by Charlie's sense of repayment for common decency.

Deep red eyes sparkling with happiness and bright specks of excitement grew impossibly wider. "I know," Charlie exclaimed, "that's what makes me so nice. It'll be fun." Charlie moved around to Vaggie's side and placed an arm on her shoulders, definitely pinning her in place, lest she wanted to try and throw the much taller princess off her.

'Whenever I see someone less fortunate than I- and let's face it, right? Who isn't less fortunate than I? My tender heart tends to start to bleed.'

Placing a thin finger underneath one eye Charlie played pretend at wiping away a tear at the thought of such poor unfortunate souls. Or... or... maybe she was actually crying? Vaggie wasn't very sure at the moment.

'And when someone needs a makeover.'

Charlie pulled Vaggie in close and gone were the tears of the previous few seconds. In its place was a look like she's accepting a challenge.

'I simply have to take over. I know...'

Nose brushing against Vaggie's the blonde subtly slipped the schoolbooks from in-between their bodies. Their breaths mingled; they were so close. It sent all kinds of zings through Charlie's nervous system.

'I know...'

She half growled in determination and nodded once more with an intense expression. As Charlie pulled away slightly from Vaggie's inner space she had a wild kind of grin stretching across her black painted lips.

Vaggie's eyes were wide as she watched the other girl warily.

'Exactly what they need.'

Charlie straightened up as she suddenly took Vaggie and whirled her away from the door. She was trying to keep her shorter roommate from running away. She definitely looked ready to run at the slightest chance.

"Wha-Whoa!" Vaggie spun around and lost her balance. She landed on the stool that the blonde was occupying before. The vanity surface was littered with perfumes and make-up brushes. Charlie quickly followed suite and leaned over her shoulder. Her long blonde hair sweeping around them like a golden sheen. She smiled into the mirror and turned Vaggie around to do the same.

'And, even in your case- though it's the toughest case I've yet to face.'

Kneeling down next to her new friend, Charlie put them both on the same level. Even though the blonde was usually taller than Vaggie... not to mention their social difference. She twisted Vaggie's head back and forth with a concentrated frown and studied their reflections through the mirror.

'Don't worry, I'm determined to succeed. Just follow my lead, and yes indeed, you will be, ah...'

Pausing to take in Vaggie's appearance all the way from head to toe. Charlie internally approved. The girl was already very pretty. It wouldn't take much, just a touch.

'...Popular! Yeah, you're going to be popular.'

Getting very excited by the idea of Vaggie's makeover, and helping her newly christened friend, Charlie took both of Vaggie's hands in hers and pulled the shorter girl off the stool. Dragging her to the other side of the room. A few racks of cloaks and dresses and boxes of shoes were there.

'I'll teach you the proper ploys when you talk to boys.'

It was no secret that Charlie was highly regarded socially with both the male and female population of the school. She could point Vaggie in the right direction even though the quietest smallest voice in her head disagreed with the notion. The blonde resolutely ignored that inner-voice, since it was spouting nonsense anyway. This was about Vaggie, not Charlie.

'Little ways to flirt and flounce and ooh-'

Vaggie suddenly tripped over one of Charlie's discarded shoes, completely by accident by the way, and landed in the arms of her taller roommate. Before she realized what had happened Vaggie felt a secure and warm grip wrap around her. Charlie let out a little breath as she straightened Vaggie up. Then let her go to swoop down to pick the offending shoe off the ground. She held it up with a playful smirk.

'I'll show you what shoes to wear.'

She threw the red heel over her shoulder where it landed in one of her open chests near the clothes racks.

'How to fix your hair.'

With a light hum Charlie circled around Vaggie and, taking a chance, she lightly ran her fingers through the other girl's long silky tresses.

Vaggie shivered at the feeling of Charlie's long fingers running through her hair. Which is nothing to say of the joy Charlie felt at the same thing. Why did it feel so satisfying? So... so comforting and... Right? Neither could properly answer as Charlie let her fingers drop to her side again.

'Everything that really counts to be popular. I'll help you be popular.'

Once Charlie had done a complete 360, she nodded to herself, as if finding something she agreed with. To Charlie, there was a lot to agree with, but popularity wasn't just her. The princess turned her back to Vaggie and dug into the chest that the errant shoe had landed.

'You'll hang with the right cohorts.'

Charlie shot a smile over her shoulder, already thinking about trying to convince Angel and the others to let Vaggie come with them later. Her tone was light as she pulled a brightly colored ball out from the bottom of the chest. She tossed it toward Vaggie.

'You'll be good at sports. Know the slang you've got to know.'

Vaggie wasn't expecting the ball toss and fumbled the catch. The ball bounced away into the oblivion of the mess that was Charlie's side of the room. The blonde may be a princess but she was a cluttered mess to be around.

The blonde placed a hand on her hip and hmm'd as her lips quirked into a frown.

'Let's start 'cause you've got an awfully long way to go.'

Once again Charlie grabbed Vaggie's hand, before she could protest or pull away, and led her over to the bed. Charlie's bed. She was lightly pushed and let herself fall back onto the soft covers. Then, taking a step back, Charlie placed one thoughtful finger on her pouty lips. Looking way too cute to be the usual annoyingly spoiled princess Vaggie had been dealing with. Her eyes lit up again as they roved over her with inspiration, or something of that sort, Vaggie wasn't sure anymore.

Brow furrowing, Charlie considered her next move.

'Now don't be offended by my frank analysis.'

She grabbed a long piece of wispy fabric from where it was hanging on the end of the bed. It'd been thrown there a few hours ago as Angel Dust was sifting through her clothes to pilfer for the party. Charlie tossed it around Vaggie's body and teased it down her arms.

Vaggie stiffened as the piece of fabric floated around her. She thought it might be a scarf of some sort and it essentially pinned her arms to her side.

'Think of it as personality dialysis and now that I've chosen to become a pal...'

Charlie flopped down on the soft bedspread and proceeded to pull Vaggie that much closer with the scarf around her body.

'A sister and advisor, there's nobody wiser.'

Giggling and extremely happy with herself Charlie wrapped an arm around Vaggie's thin shoulders once more. She gestured with her free arm in a grand forward sweeping motion around the room like she had a whole audience in front of her.

'Not when it comes to popular. I know all about popular.'

Charlie then brought her hand back to place over her chest. Gesturing to herself with a proud grin. For probably the first time, Vaggie let a genuine smile show at the antics of her enthusiastic roommate.

'And with an assist from me to be who you'll be. Instead of dreary-who-you-were-'

Charlie nervously faltered for a heartbeat as she registered what she was saying.

'Uh, well... are-'

Vaggie rolled her eyes, her smile dropping back into her usual unenthused frown.

Charlie winced but waved a hand non-committedly.

'There's nothing that can stop you from becoming populer. Heh -lar.'

She chuckled at her own internal joke.

"This isn't going to work, Charlie," Vaggie tried to pull away. Her frown deepening slightly when she found that she still had the cloth wrapped around her. Also remaining within Charlie's grasp, as evidence by the blonde pulling her right back into her side on the bed. Vaggie couldn't even stand up to escape the bed anymore.

The blonde princess refused to let Vaggie up just yet. She was enjoying having her pressed into her arms. Charlie turned to face Vaggie, the shorter girl sighed, but met her gaze with a skeptical one of her own.

'La-la, la-la.'

Charlie hummed, vocalizing, and trying to get Vaggie more into the idea. It was a good idea. She just needed to be more hyped about everything. Definitely working on keeping her grounded and in the room with her as it appeared Vaggie was trying to make a bolt for the door again. Charlie was not about to have that happen now.

Not when she had gotten Vaggie to smile, at least once.

Playfully, Charlie leaned forward, into Vaggie's space... again. Not that there was a lot of space between them at the moment anyway. She couldn't help the excitement that led to the wide grin when Vaggie finally stopped trying to get out of her reach.

Then when a reluctant smile teased at the edge of her lips. For some reason Vaggie's lips were an intense focus of Charlie's right now.

'We're going to make-'

She booped Vaggie's chin.

'You-'

Her nose.

'Popular.'

Charlie completely leaned onto Vaggie for an instant. Putting all her weight into it, almost like the smaller girl was a support, but with a quick breath she pulled Vaggie up off the bed. In one smooth move she sent them both twirling around the large room. Then all of a sudden, she yanked Vaggie to a jerking stop next to one of her racks of clothes by the wall. Picking out a, too big and floppy hat, Charlie placed it over Vaggie's silver hair. She gave a pleased nod to herself with a teasing twinkle in her eye and quickly moved on.

"Just follow my lead, Vaggie." She continued to drag her pretty roommate by one of her free hands until Charlie stopped in front of the double balcony doors.

Like the overdramatic princess that she was Charlie threw them open and stepped outside. She tossed both hands uncaringly up into the air as she twirled on her heel to motion to the whole of the horizon and then down to the far sweeping grounds where the other students were busy going about their day below them.

The tall, pale, princess hopped up on the balcony railing and swung her legs over the side. She remained perfectly balanced even if Vaggie kind of freaked out a little bit. "No... wait, Charlie."

The last thing she needed was for someone to think she'd pushed her roommate to her death.

The teasing girl shot a wild grin and a careless shrug over her shoulder as she looked back with shining teasing eyes as Vaggie's hands hovered, outstretched, to... do something... if Charlie lost her balance.

'Now when I see depressing creatures. With unprepossessing features. I remind them, on their own behalf, to think of-'

Charlie then pushed off the railing with a bouncy hop and skipped back inside through the balcony doors. On the way she grabbed one of her schoolbooks, rarely used, Vaggie thought briefly and flipped it open. She pranced backwards, completely confident in her path around the room.

Vaggie slowly followed, somewhat glad that Charlie wasn't half hanging off the balcony anymore. Now watching carefully just in case she was to blindly trip over something in her backwards direction. She took off the hat and tossed it aside, just in case she had to dive to catch the blonde, if she should lose her balance.

She told herself it was because she didn't want to be blamed for hurting her or for causing an injury. The prim and perfect princess wouldn't've been called clumsy if she ACTUALLY did manage to trip over her own feet.

Pointing to a page in the book. Charlie had opened it to show a dark skinned, stern looking woman, with long curly hair. A crown of sorts was angled on her brow.

'Celebrated heads of state.'

Flipping to the next page there was a picture of an overweight man with a nasty looking smirk, spiked hair, and a scruffy goatee.

'Or especially great communicators. Did they have brains or knowledge?'

Vaggie, who had been paying attention in class and reading the required material, held up a finger to point out the historical facts of the people on the pages. Before she could, though, Charlie threw the book away into a corner somewhere.

'Don't make me laugh.'

Almost as if knowing what was behind her Charlie then enthusiastically ricocheted forward off of a large, pink, chest in her way. She grabbed Vaggie by the upper arms and half lifted her off her feet with a firm grasp. Her wide red eyes trained intently on the other girl.

'They were...'

She paused and stared at Vaggie. Waiting patiently with her warm gaze centered on her and her fingers digging slightly into Vaggie's skin.

The concentration of the taller blonde made tingles race through her blood. Vaggie's brow rose questioningly.

'Uhm, popular?'

A huge, approving, grin spread across Charlie's black lips.

It must have been the right answer for her.

'Right!'

Charlie slammed the book shut with an excited exclamation and tossed the offending item away. It slid halfway under the bed. Then, without a care for finding it again, she pushed Vaggie over to one of her larger standing wardrobes. The doors were already pushed open and there was a wide selection of dresses, pants, and blouses hung up inside.

'It's all about popular.'

Then, from the top of the dresser, the princess flipped open cases of jewelry: rings, necklaces, anklets, and earrings. Just about anything else you could possibly imagine needing for a social function.

'It's not about aptitude. It's the way you're viewed.'

Charlie held up some emerald green earrings to Vaggie's ears, shook her head, and then ruby red earrings followed. She shook her head at them too and put them away with the others.

'So, it's very shrewd to be-'

Charlie took a beautifully rich, shiny, and sequenced shirt off the rack. She held it up to Vaggie's chest, shook her head, and threw it away to the bottom of the wardrobe. Almost like it offended her personally.

'Very, very, popular like me.'

Glancing briefly at the silver haired girl, Charlie shook her head again, as she eyed the contents of her wardrobe. So much was playing behind that thoughtful, warm, expression. Then... surprisingly, she smiled.

It was much softer than any expression that been directed to Vaggie before. Her heart beat against her insides. She'd think it was ready to jump out and run to the farthest corners of the school grounds. She eyed the princess as the tall blonde moved a few steps from all the glamorous trappings to a nearby vase. Charlie plucked a brightly colored flower that sat there. It was enchanted, Vaggie suspected, to never wilt or die. With or without water or care.

She'd never seen Charlie water it anyway.

With sure fingers, and a gentle touch, Charlie brushed Vaggie's long hair to the side; placing the single flower behind her ear.

"There," Charlie turned Vaggie to look in the mirror behind them. "You'll be beautiful."

Vaggie felt tears come to her eyes as she looked at herself. No one had ever called her beautiful before. No one had treated her like she could be anything more than what they told her she was.

It was almost too much to bear...

It was too much to bear.

All the emotion, so sudden, threatened to overwhelm her. She couldn't cry. Not in front of Charlie. What would the princess think if she broke down like some unstable creature of pity? No. It couldn't be that way. Vaggie looked up and met Charlie's eyes in the reflection of the mirror. The usually excitable and hyper girl had a beautifully soft smile on her face as she looked back at her.

Breathless. Almost gasping. Vaggie felt everything start to close in. "Charlie," she choked out, "I can't do this. I'm so sorry."

Vaggie couldn't hide the regret and sorrow from her voice, even as she tried to. Pulling away from Charlie's grasp so suddenly she felt the loss of the firm and comforting feeling of having the larger hands on her arms. Holding her in front of the mirror so she could admire herself. Whatever beauty she was supposed to see... she didn't. Eyes closed, nose scrunched up with effort, she threw her head back and forth. Her fists were balled at her temples.

She couldn't even look at Charlie as she ran from the room. She had to get out, or she'd break down for sure, and that would be the end of everything.

Charlie let her go this time, she didn't try to stop the frantic girl. Stunned into silence as she watched her new friend flee from her image in the mirror. Frowning, with a concerned crease between her brows, Charlie looked back at herself.

Her reflection looked the same as it always did. Perfect complexion. Perfect posture. Perfect golden blonde hair and ruby red eyes. It was all the same. It was what had always been waiting for her, each day. Just herself.

"So... why does it feel suddenly different?" Charlie asked her reflection. The princess wasn't sure what she saw anymore as her gaze raked across her form and the suddenly obvious empty space next to herself. What did Vaggie see in the mirror? Why did she run? Charlie wasn't sure if she'd ever get those answers. Her pale fingers flexed briefly, skin still tingling slightly, where she'd held Vaggie's hands as they danced around the room together.