That Girl, Ch 1 through 5!

[defyinggravity530]

Excellent work! I actually got chills reading that, it's so good! Wow...MORE PLEASE!!!

[Elphie]

<starts chanting> Chapter Three... Chapter Three... c'mon Aly we're all dyin here!

[SugarTherapy]

“Elphaba, what are you doing out here?”

Elphaba’s head shot up suddenly at the sound of her roomie’s voice. “Oh, I… nothing. Just enjoying the air.”

”I thought you were enjoying the air on the terrace.” Galinda moved to sit, then seemed to think better of letting her precious dress touch pavement and stayed on her feet.

“I was, but… It’s more quiet here,” she lied, guilt slithering through her when she thought of the real reason she’d fled the Ozdust Ballroom.

“Oh, honestly, Elphaba. Would it kill you to socialize?”

The slightly condescending tone had her spine stiffening. “Most people in there aren’t interested in socializing with me, Galinda.”

“Oh, don’t feel so sorry for yourself-“

“I don’t-“

“Fiyero and I have both deemed you worthy of attention. The others will follow if you don’t act like you’ll spit nails if they try.”

“I don’t act like that,” Elphaba muttered defensively, wondering if she actually did.

“Well, you certainly don’t make yourself approachable,” the blonde reprimanded. “Now, they’re about to start the-“

“Galinda, I don’t know any of the dances,” Elphaba interrupted before her new friend could chatter on about what complicated and potentially embarrassing dance was up next.

“Which is why I asked Fiyero to teach you,” she replied, sounding vaguely annoyed. “Oh, come on, Elphaba! I know you don’t like Fiyero much, but-“

“I like Fiyero just fine.”

”Well, then what’s the problem?”

“I…” Elphaba looked at her roomie, and sighed heavily. It was penance, she supposed. She’d go back in there and endure the humiliation of trying to dance a dance she had no idea of and then her moral slate would be clean and clear. “Fine.”

Galinda bounced excitedly as Elphaba pushed herself to her feet.

“But after this, I’m going home,” the green girl added, before entering the dreaded ballroom.

~~~~

It was a promise Elphaba wouldn’t keep. Galinda and Fiyero had pulled her to a corner and led her through the basic steps of the dance. She was a quick study in most things, but it seemed dancing took a little extra practice. She’d fumbled a few times, stepped on his foot at least twice, taken an extra step and nearly toppled her roomie. They had all laughed together at her sudden clumsiness, and Elphaba was charmed by the concept of laughter that wasn’t at the expense of someone. Eventually, she caught on, and by the time the dance they’d taught her began, her body swayed and dipped gracefully.

Nessa managed to coerce her sister into a dance, or the closest to a dance she could manage in her chair, and after that Elphaba had swayed to a tune with Boq. A few more numbers with Fiyero, and she and Galinda were both ready to call it a night. The blonde chattered the whole way back to Crage Hall, flouncing excitedly.

“Oh, wasn’t that just the most swankified party you’ve ever been to?!” Galinda gushed, flopping onto her bed with giddy exhaustion.

“It’s the only party I’ve ever been to,” Elphaba admitted.

“Your very first party? Ever?” the blonde gaped.

“Do funerals count?” the green girl joked.

“Ohhh, it was your first party!” Galinda was sure bouncy, Elphaba thought. “I know! Let’s tell each other something we’ve never told anyone – I’ll go first!” She settled next to Elphaba on the bed. “Fiyero and I are going to be married!” The announcement was punctuated with an excited, purely Galinda squeal.

Elphaba wasn’t prepared for the sting of that statement. Fiyero, her Fiyero – no, he was Galinda’s Fiyero, but sweet OZ, she’d been kissing him just a few hours before and it had been so… Pulling herself together she managed to question, “He’s asked you already?”

“Oh, he doesn’t know yet,” the blonde answered, unknowingly reassuring her roomie. “Now! You tell me a secret.”

‘I kissed Fiyero tonight. I think I’m falling for him. I’ve never fallen for anyone before, and I don’t know what I’m going to do about it.’ “Like what?” Elphaba replied.

Galinda stretched along the patched bedcoverings as she spoke “Liiiike, why do you sleep with this funny little green bottle under your pillow.”

Elphaba’s insides felt suddenly cold as she glimpsed the bottle of emerald elixir in Galinda’s hand. “Give that back!”

“No, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me,” she taunted, moving it constantly out of Elphaba’s reach.

“It was my mother’s!!” Elphaba exclaimed, wrenching the bottle from her roomie’s perfectly polished hand and clutching it against her. “That’s all.”

The resulting silence was tense, as Galinda settled back onto the edge of her own bed. “That’s not fair… I told you a really good one.”

The green girl had no idea what to think of her roomie, but she came up with an acceptable, albeit painful secret to share. “My father hates me.”

“Oh!” Galinda gasped, looking positively scandalized.

“That’s not the secret,” she insisted. “The secret is, he has a good reason. It’s my fault.”

“What?” Ridiculous pink ruffles settled once again next to a plain blue frock. “What is?”

“That my sister is… the way she is. You see, when our mother was carrying Nessa, our father began to worry that the new baby might come out… green.” She barely noticed that Galinda had said the last word along with her. “He was so worried, that he made our chew milkflowers, day and night. Only it made Nessa come too soon, with her little legs all tangled. And our mother… never woke up. None of which would ever have happened, if not for me.” The guilt and pain were years old, but still cut as if they were fresh.

“But that was the milkflowers’ fault, not yours.” The sympathy in Galinda’s voice was unexpected, as was the hand she placed over Elphaba’s. “That may be your secret, Elphaba, but that doesn’t make it true.”

Green gazes locked, and Elphaba was, for once, faced with someone who didn’t hold her responsible for poor little Nessa. Could Galinda be right? Could it really be that Elphaba wasn’t to blame? That she didn’t have to feel guilty or responsible for –

“Oh look, its tomorrow!” Galinda exclaimed, endlessly charmed by the fact, and breaking her roomie from her thoughts. Honestly, sometimes Elphaba had no idea what went on in that blissful blonde brain. “Elphie – is it alright if I call you Elphie?”

She cringed. “Well, it’s a little perky…”

“And you can call me… Galinda!” the blonde announced. “You see, Elphie, now that we’re friends, I’ve decided to make you my new project.”

Oh, now that was terrifying and oddly touching at the same time. “You really don’t have to do that.”

“I know. That’s what makes me so nice.” And so Galinda Upland proceeded to inform Elphaba Thropp that she would, without a doubt, become popular. Elphie couldn’t have stopped her if she’d tried. Galinda was in her element, giving compliments and unintentional barbs in equal measure until her roomie’s head spun. Before Elphaba knew it, her glasses were clutched in her lap, leaving her world slightly blurred, her hair was loose and draped over her shoulders, her cheeks pinched and lips rouged. Her roomie seemed delighted, but that said nothing about the rest of the students at Shiz…

“Listen, this is never going to work,” she protested.

“Oh, Elphie! You mustn’t think that way anymore! Your whole life is going to change. And all because of me. Let me show you how to toss your hair!”

It was ridiculous, but watching her roommate flip curly blonde tresses over her shoulders (“flip, flip!”), then flail wildly to demonstrate the full-body flip, made Elphaba feel more like a girl, more silly, more… popular, than ever before. She let herself be pulled to her feet, when Galinda insisted on “transforming that simple frock into a beautiful ball gown.”

After two failed attempts, Galinda was convinced it was the wand. “Is this thing on?” she griped, smacking it against her leg, and nearly making Elphaba dissolve into a fit of giggles.

“Do you want me to try?”

“No, no,” she insisted. “I got it…. Oh, just wear the frock, it’s pretty!” the blonde covered, tossing the wand over her head. Elphaba hoped it didn’t break when it landed; she didn’t see Madame Morrible being talked into another. “And now the finishing touch.” Galinda pulled the pink flower from her hair, securing it in Elphaba’s own dark locks. “Oh, pink goes good with green!” When she handed over her precious mirror, she seemed genuinely surprised, like she’d made some discovery she hadn’t been expecting. “Why, Miss Elphaba, look at you. You’re beautiful.”

Elphaba looked down and for a second didn’t recognize her own reflection. The girl in the mirror was softer somehow, and… beautiful. She was beautiful. Was this what Fiyero had seen when – Fiyero. Galinda. What was she doing? Why was she… “I – I have to go!” She tossed the mirror at the bed and fled for the third time that night, running until she was out of Crage Hall, then collapsing on a grassy knoll and staring up at her own window. “Yes, Galinda my whole life has changed, and all because of you. I just don’t know what it’s changed into.”
#nosmileys#nosmileys

[Cate]

You are truely amazing...this is the second time I woke up to multiple IMs containing good news. First the CD, then the Fic...

*hugs Aly* I love you!!! And I love this fic. It's amazing. Keep going girl. *tries to figure out what scene is next, Dr. D or the tutoring...or both*

[Elphie]

Ooooooooh, so happy!! Yay Aly! I am so loving this fic ;D Can't wait for more!

[gypsy]

Oh my, so good! I love that more detailed look of popular. This was so good. I'd love to see more of the whole Fiyeraba and the Glindero (hehe, word of my own creations) situation unfolding. You're such a freaking good writer!
-gyps

[ChancetoFly]

Love this fic, girl...LOVE...now get working on that 4th part we were talking about tonight

[Scarecrow]

Aly,

Your ability to add emotional depth and really get inside the motivational actions of our beloved characters totally impresses me! Bravo! You're an excellent writer!

[SugarTherapy]

Elphaba stayed on the lawn for what seemed like hours, ignoring the chill of the night air. She let her thoughts swirl and dance aimlessly, making to effort to hold onto a single one. Finally, the light went off in her dormitory, and she pushed herself up with a sigh. The door to Crage Hall groaned as she shoved it open, and the noise seemed nearly deafening in the silence of the building. Oil lamps in elegant sconces illuminated the Hall just enough so Elphaba could make her way to her room, but proved no help when she’d shut the door behind her. There wasn’t even a shine of light from under the door to guide her way in the inky blackness of the room. If there had been, she probably would’ve been able to avoid the science book that sent her sprawling onto the floor with a thud and “oof!”

“Elphie?” Galinda’s tiny, sleepy voice sounded in the darkness.

Damn. “Yes, Galinda. It’s me,” she replied, still face down on the floor. She’d really been hoping to avoid the inevitable questioning of her roomie.

Light flared suddenly in the room, followed quickly by a nearly-stifled giggle. “Oh, Elphaba, you’re so graceful.”

“Hush, you,” the green girl muttered as she pulled herself into a sitting position, and began unlacing her boots.

“You know, I don’t know why you wear those ugly old things.”

She stopped midway down one calf. “They’re practical. They’re warm. They’re comfortable.” Laces began loosening again. “If I wore your shoes, I’d probably break an ankle. Or worse.”

“It just takes practice!” The blonde tossed her pink bed coverings off, revealing an equally pink nightgown. “C’mon, I’ll help you.”

Elphaba was thrilled to have a definite way out of this one. “Galinda, your shoes will never fit me.”

“Oh… you’re right.” She looked horribly disappointed, before perking up again. “We’ll just have to buy you some! Ohhhh, shopping!” And again with the bouncing. Elphaba began to wonder what that much bouncing did to the brain cells…

Boots finally removed, she deposited them neatly next to her dresser before pulling out a simple grey nightgown.

“You need more color in your wardrobe,” Galinda announced.

“It’s a nightgown, Galinda. Nobody will see it. Turn that light out, I want to change.”

“Oh, please, Elphie. We’re both girls. And you don’t know nobody will see you in it. What if I have Fiyero over some night…?” She flopped back onto her bed at that, clutching her pillow and sighing dreamily.

Elphaba began to undress quickly, hoping to accomplish the whole task while Galinda was still staring at the ceiling. “Fiyero had better not be in this room while I’m in my nightclothes, Galinda.”

“Well, in that case… Fiyero, dearest, Elphaba wants you to leave!” she called.

Elphaba whirled around to face Galinda, clutching her nightgown to her front, her cheeks a deep emerald. Her roomie sat like a queen on her bed, looking pleased as punch that her joke had worked. “You wretched little thing!” Elphaba growled dangerously. “That wasn’t funny!” She pulled the nightgown on violently, swearing when it caught on the pink flower still clipped into her hair. She ripped the offending accessory out, throwing it at her roomie, before swooping up her textbook and throwing herself on her bed.

“It was just a joke, Elphie,” Galinda murmured.

“Don't call me Elphie.” She pretended to be thoroughly absorbed in the text, but the words had begun to blur from the tears welling in her eyes. Elphaba had no idea why this particular joke had stung so much, and it shamed her that she would cry over it, here right in front of Galinda.

“Alright, Elphaba,” her roomie nearly whispered. “I’m sorry.” The sound of one fat tear splashing on paper rang out in the room, and had Galinda moving to Elphaba’s side immediately. “Oh, Elphaba, no, don’t crypleaseI’msosorryIdidn’tmean”

Elphaba tuned her out as she wiped furiously at her tears, but when thin arms wrapped around her and squeezed she had no idea what to do with herself. A part of her wanted to snarl and fight as usual, another part wanted to run again, and the tiniest part, the part she always considered the weakest, wanted to curl against Galinda and just cry. For Fiyero, for the horrible embarrassment of her hat tonight, for the last 18 years of her miserable life. She decided that just this once she’d indulge that part, and turned her face into Galinda’s shoulder. For the first time she could remember, she was rocked and shushed and soothed until her sobs tapered into sniffles, and then into the heavy even breathing of sleep.

[ChancetoFly]

Wow, that was gorgeous....very nice to come home and read after a horrendous day of work. Can't wait to read chapter 5

[Scarecrow]

uh oh... the girls are becoming rather fond and affectionate... I can see where this is going...

[SugarTherapy]

Oh you're just saying that cuz you know what's coming! llam But that scene isn't gonna be for at least another chapter, anyway. It was supposed to be in four, but Elphie kinda ran off with the end of this chapter. Anf it won't be in five. I'm aiming for six.


And thanks for all the great comments, you guys!

[SaSa]

Aly....as your press secretary can I request more Fiyeraba...not that I don't heart the little blonde but Fiyeraba sizzle when you write them...to quote the annoying orphan oliver "Please sir, may I have some more..."

But you're not a sir, and I'm not an orphan...so that sentence only worked in the Please more part...

So yeah, Please...more.

Sa

[SugarTherapy]

Well, I didn't even read this until after I gave you a sneak peak of Chapter five, but for anyone else who's wishing for the same thing: Chapter 5 has Fiyeraba. No worries. Right, Sa?

[defyinggravity530]

That was so good. I'm actually crying. Wow, great job. Keep it coming! You're an excellent author! Especially with putting more depth in the story!