Author's Note: Plot bunny. That's all I have to say.

It was a beautiful day in Shiz and students were gathered in an open courtyard. The lovely Galinda Upland and several others from the most popular clique were auctioning themselves off to be someone's best friend for a day in order to raise money for some ball or another. Elphaba, Galinda's roommate, thought it absurd, especially since her class was on the other side of the courtyard and after ten minutes she still couldn't work her way through the crowd.

"Come now, Miss Galinda is next!" The host, another wonder golden girl, said loudly. Several students, girls of a lesser status, pushed to the front. Their dresses were fashionable but plainer than Galinda's blue gown.

Elphaba stopped fighting the crowd and watched to see which pathetic girl would win.

"Yes, we have ten, twenty, fifty! Do I hear one hundred dollars?" The host scanned the crowd.

"One hundred," a male voice rang out. Avaric, standing with Boq and some others, grinned, obviously proud of himself.

The crowd murmured nervously. It was entirely a different matter for a man to win and so far the winners had all been women.

Elphaba watched silently, remembering a night the week prior when Galinda had returned to their room complaining loudly of how lewd and downright creepy Avaric was. She wasn't his biggest fan by far either. It quickly became apparent that no one was going to challenge Avaric's bid.

"Going once?" The host sounded hesitant and unsure, but the rules of the contest stood. "Going twice?"

Galinda looked paler than usual and, glancing over, Elphaba saw Avaric's smug face. Cursing herself she shouted, "Two hundred!" cutting off the host's final call.

Everyone looked stunned. The green girl ignored them and tromped through the crowd, her boots loud on the paved sidewalk. She faced Avaric with a wordless challenge.

"Three hundred," he said, glaring at Elphaba.

"Five," she replied easily.

Galinda's gasp was audible to the assembled crowd. This was far more than anyone else had proposed during the contest. Avaric ground his teeth, his hands fisted at his side, but he said nothing.

The host called out that Elphaba had won. "Congratulations, Miss Elphaba, you shall have Miss Galinda as your best friend for a day."

Elphaba nodded and looked at her roommate. The blonde was awestruck, but gratitude shown in her blue eyes. Elphaba looked away and continued through the crowd to her class.

Jumping off the stage, Galinda ran after her green roomie. Grabbing Elphaba's arm she whispered, "Why?"

Elphaba shook her off. "Avaric is a creep."

"Yes, but you didn't have to—"

"I know that." Elpaba sighed harshly. "You don't deserve to be in a bad situation with him. Leave it at that." She walked away.

Galinda stood, confused and dismayed, wondering what she was supposed to do now. She owed Elphaba, surely, but how to repay her?