Chapter 17

Her morning had gone quite well so far. She definitely didn't think she could beat the start it had so far. Her first two lessons went without any surprises or difficulties and she couldn't stop but smile when thinking back to her morning with Galinda.

Elphaba made her way to the lab going to her usual back corner table and began unpacking her bag and setting her papers in order. Just when she started to sit down and go through her experiment steps again she noticed Jocalyn standing at the corner of the table. The girl was patiently waiting for Elphaba to acknowledge her before she spoke. Elphaba looked up her expectant face.

"Good morning, Elphaba," she said without making any further advancement towards the green girl.

"Good morning, Jocalyn. How are you doing," Elphaba asked making space on the lab table.

Jocalyn's smile beamed at her as she took this as an invitation to sit at the table with the green girl. She went around the table to settle on the stool next to Elphaba and swung her leather satchel around her to unpack it as well.

"I'm doing well, thank you, Elphaba. How has your day been? Are you ready to work on your experiment?"

Elphaba glanced over at the girl who was settling in next to her, trying to decide if this was such a great idea anymore. Maybe she should have approached this being more social thing a little slower. Baby steps of sorts. Looking up and seeing the girl smile as she greeted her now she knew it was too late in this case.

"My day has been good, thank you. I think if we read through the notes today and go through some of the procedures we might be able to start the experiment today. If not today we should be able to start Friday morning," Elphaba said sliding some papers over to Jocalyn. "If you would like to take down some of the notes I've already started, that would be a good place to begin. We can discuss from there what each of us should cover."

Jocalyn finally had all of her things settled and took the papers Elphaba had mentioned and started to get her notebook ready to copy the notes. She watched as Elphaba started reading and jotting down a few other things in her own notebook.

"Elphaba, I just wanted to say thank you for letting me partner with you. I know you usually don't and I've heard stories from those you've been forced to partner with. I just want you to know I will try really hard so you won't regret this."

Elphaba licked and pursed her lips while stilling her pens movement at the other girl's words. She hadn't really thought about how scared Jocalyn might feel about this partnership. She only thought about the possible inconveniences it might bring to her. Unfortunately, neither Galinda, nor her "How to be Popular" book had covered how to handle such a situation. She would just have to wing it.

"I'm sure I won't, Jocalyn. You've proven to be doing very well in this lab on your own. Who knows, maybe we'll learn from each other," Elphaba said, starting her notes again. "I'm sorry you've heard some lab horror stories from others but you seem more capable than some of the previous partners I've had. I enjoyed your last paper on your botany experiment." She risked a side glance over to Jocalyn's side of the table and saw a look of combined exuberance and determination on the girl's face. A small smile crossed Elphaba's own face guessing she had chosen the correct things to say. She felt even better when she realized not a word of it was false. Galinda's advice on focusing on being truthful but not just on the negative things seemed to be paying off.

With the end of class nearing the partners decided to hold off on starting the experiment until Friday. They started packing up the papers and notes knowing what each of them would have to do next time they met. Elphaba had actually enjoyed having someone to bounce some of her ideas off of and share some of the workload when she was more confident it would actually get done and done correctly. She looked up to see Jocalyn smiling at her.

"I think we're all set here, Elphaba. Did you want to go to grab some lunch or did you already have some plans? I know you've become kind of a hot topic lately," Jocalyn said as she shouldered her satchel again.

"Me, a hot topic, I'm not sure I know what you mean," Elphaba said, not moving from her stool.

"Well, I just mean you've become a bit of an overnight sensation. All the talk had previously been…well, not so great. But now it seems you have turned the socialite's world upside down," Jocalyn continued grinning. "I don't get much into the gossip chain myself but it's a bit of an achievement for any serious scholar if you don't mind me saying so."

Elphaba again wasn't sure on how to take this piece of information. She knew that she had started to change the minds of some of Galinda's friends but she would never consider that as world turning events.

"I'm sorry, Elphaba, I don't mean to embarrass you or speak out of turn. I guess I was just curious is all," the other girl said. The smile which had been there since Elphaba had seen her started to doubt itself.

"No, I'm sorry. I'm not so much embarrassed I guess. Just confused or unaware of the importance of my one evening of whim to Shiz's hierarchy," Elphaba said scrunching her nose while trying to convey her thoughts. "I mean, you go to these events too. I've seen you at the same tables as Galinda and the others. You are quite the scholar yourself, you and Cerav and some others. How am I different?"

At this Jocalyn's smile returned but became more of a smirk as she also raised her eyebrows at the green girl.

"Okay, okay. How am I different aside from the obvious," Elphaba corrected.

"We all serve our purpose in that group. Why don't you come to lunch with me and we can discuss it there? Again, that is if you don't already have plans? I just know I'm not going to last much longer without some nourishment."

Taking stock of her options, Elphaba gather her belongings and nodded.

The two girls made their way to the cafeteria. Picking up trays they went their separate ways to fill them up and then met up to pick a table off to the side of the crowded room.

While putting some spread on her bread round Elphaba looked up at Jocalyn expectantly.

"Wow, you get right to the point, don't you?" Jocalyn asked while putting a straw in her drink.

"I find it gets to the results the easiest, yes. I can let you enjoy your food a bit more though if you prefer. I sometimes forget my manners," Elphaba answered eating her bread.

"No, it's alright. It's just again, you're different. It's really intriguing," the other girl said as she began to eat her food.

Elphaba looked over to see if she was to take these comments as fault or as compliment. She watched the other girl eat really taking her in as she could without thoughts of her experiment going through her mind at the same time. Jocalyn was not really a girl who stood out in either an overly good or bad way. She kind of blended into the background. She had dark brown hair, a color she could compare to mahogany, that reached down the middle of her back when not pulled up and bangs that she kept swept to the left side of her face. Her hair was currently being held back in place by a dark blue headband. Her skin was fair but not as fair as Galinda's but might seem that way if only in contrast to her dark hair and almost almond shaped eyes which were a deep brown as well. Her eyes were a dark enough shade that you had to really look to see the difference between the iris and pupil. They were large though and seemed to take in everything around them when she looked up at Elphaba. Her round face was open, free of much expression so Elphaba didn't take offense to her comment.

"How's your meal?" Jocalyn asked when she noticed Elphaba looking at her.

"It's good, thank you. I enjoy that they have a lot of non-meat options to choose from. I was afraid I would have to eat salads every day or at most meals," Elphaba said continuing to eat.

"That's right; you don't eat meat, do you? I tried that for awhile, not so much as on your principles I would imagine but because I was trying a new nutrition trend. It didn't last much longer than a month though. I'm impressed you seem to have no troubles with it."

"To be honest, I've never really craved it but the principle of not eating things that use to breath and live is strong as well."

Elphaba saw a small hesitation from Jocalyn as she went to take a bite out of her sandwich which clearly had some form of meat on it. She cringed internally at her words.

"Not that I would force anyone to feel the same. I know my beliefs aren't of the popular nature here. But if one was curious I would discuss it with them," Elphaba said watching the girl put down her sandwich and pick up an apple instead. "Sorry, not exactly meal appropriate talk. Again, that whole manners thing sometimes slips me up."

"Well, you did have other things you wanted to discuss first. It's alright," Jocalyn said as she finished chewing her bite. "So, as I was saying earlier, we all have our place in that group and I'm sure the roles won't come as a shock to you. It is essentially preparing us for our roles in society outside of Shiz. Those nobles and royals will be the ones running things. Those with money but not nobility will own things. We scholars will be thinking, creating, building and inventing things. Those artsy folks will be creating and entertaining and so on and so on. I maintain my position simply because I know one day my research will need financial backing to go anywhere. Who better to back such research than say an old Shiz friend? And I'm not saying these things to be cruel or negative it is just how things are. Everyone in the group sees it and feels it. We've practically been groomed for this."

Elphaba can't deny she doesn't already know these things it is just odd for her to hear someone inside of the higher Shiz society vocalize her observations.

"It sounds like you all use each other. That you aren't even friends but more like business partners," Elphaba commented while taking a sip of cider.

"Well, we are friends but some may be friendlier than others. And there is something to that whole 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer'. But like I said, you've added a new dynamic to the group and I can't help but take notice. What will your role be Elphaba? You haven't really seemed dependant on anyone before, especially not the likes of our group. In fact, and not that I could blame you with some of the antics pulled on you, you seemed to dislike us."

Elphaba sat again choosing her words carefully. Again, all that her tablemate was saying was true. Elphaba knew Galinda had been the change but could she really come out and say that? She didn't know Jocalyn very well but she could already tell she was right in that this girl was intelligent but also observant.

She took a deep breath and said, "I was given an opportunity to see a different side of the group. In that opportunity, I think some saw a different side of me. Not that I'm led to believe that all is well and good with everyone now but I do know that I think there are more possibilities for it than there were previously."

Finishing her apple, Jocalyn watched Elphaba speak, seeing the thought put into each word. She nodded and put the apple down. "It is almost like an experiment in itself, no? I don't know if you've meant to be but you could be considered social scientist of sorts. I hope it goes well for you, Elphaba. I hate to eat and run on you but I should get going back to my room to grab my things for my afternoon sessions. I'll see you soon?" Jocalyn asked gathering her things and tray while standing.

Elphaba nodded and gave the girl a small smile. Left to her own thinking she couldn't help but finding herself with the same hope – which was things go well for her.