Hey, so here't the thing. As I was writing this story, it occurred to me that it was not going in the direction I wanted it to, and that it was seriously drifting off course. So... I'm going to start over and do a better job this time. I apologize to everyone who read the original and reviewed. I really do appreciate it and I hope you enjoy this newer version! Thanks!

Well… here I am. Shiz University. I thought this would be exciting, but the minute I walked in, everyone looked at me as though I was the foulest creature to ever walk the Land of Oz. Still, I suppose that was to be expected… when one is as green as the grass beneath one's boots. I dealt with the situation in what I believed was the best way possible: I went in stood in the darkest corner I could find. They all soon forgot about me and went back to their no doubt mindless conversations, gossiping about who's who and what the latest fashion was. I scoffed at the sight; humans favor themselves so intelligent, yet we choose the least significant things to discuss with others. Such a waste of our brilliant minds.

It was at this moment that a blonde girl entered… or, more accurately, her luggage entered on a cart, with the girl perched on the top, swinging her legs in a very juvenile way that I suppose she considered cute. Everyone immediately turned their attention to her, which seemed to be her intention. She slid down from the tower of suitcases and was immediately sucked into a conversation with three particularly annoying girls. I rolled my eyes. I could tell already that she was one of the biggest airheads that I had ever seen in my nineteen years of existence.

I took my glasses off and wiped the lenses with my dress, causing everything to become blurry. I set them back on my nose, bringing the world back into focus, and also a woman dressed in extravagant robes. The blonde from earlier seemed to be pleading with her, spinning some story or other about her Ama. I couldn't help but smile slightly at that; the little spoiled rich girl didn't want to share. It reminded me of a comment my elementary teacher had once made to my father about me.

Does not play well with others.

No, no I did not "play well with others", but that wasn't my fault. What was the harm of me picking up a rock if they all had one too? It was simple logic, really.

"Well, we'll just have to find you a roommate for the time being," the woman, Madame Morrible as she had called herself, said. She looked down at her list of unfortunate names, and I pitied whoever would be called to be—

"Shall I invite the Thropp Third Descending, of Nest Hardings, Elphaba?"

I froze. No… no, I had to have heard that wrong. She did not just call my name, and with such an introduction, as if I was someone important. I would not be subjected to this sort of humiliation, to be forced to room with—

"Elphaba Thropp? Are you here?"

I sighed. Of course. This would happen to me. This was my life. Everyone was looking around the room, trying to figure out who this "Elphaba Thropp" was. Who indeed. The blonde looked especially nervous, and slightly hopeful, as if "Elphaba Thropp" was merely a phantom name on a paper, instead of… well, me. I pushed myself away from the wall with another sigh, reaching down to pick up my beat-up suitcase. I started approaching the two and the others parted, giving me a wide path to follow.

"Born in the Rush Margins, raised in Munchkinland, and I see you spent several years in Quadling Country. How fascinating for all of us," Morrible read. Dear Oz, did she have to tell everyone my life history? No one cared, I'm sure. I hardly cared! Besides, my attention was currently on the blonde, whose expression was changing from one of confusion, to realization, to horrified. I knew what was going through her mind.

It must be some trick of the light; she can't really be… wait… no… sweet Lurline, she really is green!

Yes, her face said it all.

"Madame Morrible, I… there must be… my Ama can't…" the blonde stammered.

"Miss Galinda, there is no mistake," Madame Morrible said, grabbing one of my hands in her own. Her other hand grabbed onto Miss Galinda's. "I'm sure you two will get along just fine," she said, bringing our hands together. The minute our flesh made contact, Miss Galinda jumped away from me in repulsion before fleeing, leaving some poor soul to lug her tower of suitcases to her room.

Yes, my stay here at Shiz had already started off wonderfully.

When I arrived at the room that I would be sharing with Miss Galinda, I found that she had already laid claim to a bed, most likely the more comfortable one. Not that it mattered much to me; luxury was a luxury that I couldn't afford. Miss Galinda herself was nowhere to be found… but her luggage was arriving in waves. I raised an eyebrow, wondering how she was planning to fit everything she owned in our shared space. I turned back to my own suitcase, which I opened gingerly. Had to be careful with this old thing; it was liable to fall apart at any mishandling. I pulled out my clothes, which were none too exciting, but I wasn't an exciting person. Besides, who was there to impress?

I hung my few dresses up in the closet, where they hung limply, looking shapeless and… somewhat sad, I suppose. I turned away from that pitiful sight and back to my suitcase. I pulled out a stack of books… and then another stack, and another. Okay, I admit it! I'm addicted to reading; it's an insatiable appetite, really. The words speak to me, connect with me in a way that I find impossible to do with other living, breathing people. I put all my books on the shelves provided before stepping back. Well… that was it. My unpacking was done. I looked back over at Miss Galinda's side, where the blonde was still curiously absent. Oh, well. She would return when she wanted, which may not be ever, based on her reaction to me earlier.

However, I soon discovered that I was incorrect in my assumption. I had just started reading, twirling the same piece of hair around my finger when she entered. I didn't bother to look up; I knew what she looked like well enough. I heard her moving about the room, sighing and making huffy noises occasionally.

"Be careful. I don't know whether this green is contagious or not," I said, my eyes still on the page, but a small grin was creeping across my face. Oh, that was a blatant lie, but if I was going to be forced to live with a woman like Miss Galinda, then I wanted to at least have a little fun.

I could feel her glaring at me and I finally peeked over the top of my book. Oh, she was spitting angry, practically bristling like a wet cat. "Miss Elphaba," she spat out my name like an unappetizing wine, "I would appreciate it if you would spare me your cruel jokes."

I shrugged. "Cruel jokes I will spare you, but I can't guarantee that all jokes will stay away."

Miss Galinda turned away, unlocking her first suitcase and pushing open the lid, revealing enough dresses to clothe every girl in Shiz and beyond, I'm sure. She pulled out the first dress and went to hang it up. She then went back to her suitcase and pulled out the next one, hanging it up as well. This process went on for a while, and while I knew I shouldn't be interested, it was oddly intriguing… and unnerving.

"Miss Galinda, surely you don't intend to hang up every dress that way?" I asked. "Perhaps I could be of some—"

"No, I don't want you touching any of my things with your dirty green hands! You just stay over there."

I raised an eyebrow. "I assure Miss Galinda, my hands are quite clean, unless you have something against my literature."

"I just don't want you touching my clothes, or anything else I own!"

"All right. If you feel so strongly about it, I'll stay in my corner." I looked back down at my book, pushing my glasses back up my nose, as they had been threatening to fall off.

"Good. Just… stay there."

I peered back up at Miss Galinda, trying not to smile. Perhaps this wouldn't be as terrible as I had thought.

A heel was suddenly rocketing at my face and I had to duck quickly to avoid injury. It hit the wall with a decent thud before falling to my bed, harmless. I looked back at Miss Galinda, who had the matching heel in her hand and looked prepared to make contact this time. "Stop staring at me with those emotionless eyes!" she shouted.

"Well, I do apologize, Miss Galinda, but I don't think that's a valid reason to throw footwear at me," I replied, picking up the almost-lethal heel. "Besides, you've caused me to violate one of your rules. I'm touching one of your possessions."

"Give that back to me. It's one of my favorite pairs."

"Perhaps you should have thought of that before you threw it at my head. I don't take kindly to objects that try to injure me, you know."

"Miss Elphaba—"

"Though I may reconsider if you ask… nicely," I said with a wicked grin.

Miss Galinda looked as though she'd like nothing more than to slap me silly… if she weren't afraid of catching my skin condition. "Miss Elphaba, if you would be so kind as to return my heel to me."

"You still haven't said the magic word, Miss Galinda."

"Please," Miss Galinda growled through clenched teeth.

"Well, when you put it like that, what choice to I have but to oblige?" I set my book down as I climbed off of my bed and approached the blonde.

"Stop! That's close enough," Miss Galinda said as she approached me. I stopped in my tracks and the blonde stopped inches before reaching me, glaring up at me as best she could, which was a valiant effort, I had to admit, seeing as I was a full foot taller. She reached for the shoe, which I held just out of her reach. This only seemed to increase her anger with me. "Miss Elphaba."

"Miss Galinda."

The blonde stepped on my foot angrily, but her heels were nothing compared the boots that I always wore. I just grinned, and she repeated the action, stomping harder.

"Miss Galinda, am I to be under the impression that you are trying to inflict pain upon me?"

"Yes, yes you miserable green thing, now give me back what's mine!"

"All right, all right. Calm your little pretty self down." I handed her shoe back to her, which she snatched up angrily before going over to her shoe rack and placing it beside its matching partner with a sigh of content. "Is all now right with the world?" I asked.

Miss Galinda turned to shoot me another glare, and I put my hands in front of me in my defense. "All right, spare me your scathing looks. I'm retreating back to my corner."

"That's the best place for you," Miss Galinda snapped back.

I grinned as I sat on my bed and picked up my book again. "Miss Galinda, I do believe that this arrangement may work out for us."

Her response back to me was another piercing glare and I buried myself back in the relative safety of my book… though the grin was still on my face. There was no doubt in my mind that Miss Galinda hated me… but I would expect no less from a girl like her. And she seemed fun to torment, but I wouldn't call it that. I'd call it… having a little fun. I deserved that much, didn't I?

Minutes ticked by, and they dragged on into hours as Miss Galinda continued to unpack in silence. The sky was growing dark outside and I was forced to light a lamp in order to continue reading.

"Miss Elphaba, I simply can't stand you!"

I looked up. "Did I hear my name?"

Miss Galinda was, surprise, glaring at me again, her delicate hands resting on her equally delicate hips. "How can you torment me the way you did, and then just sit there, reading your… book?"

"Quite easily, it would seem."

She was saying something else now, but I was no longer focusing on her words. My gaze had wandered to the tall shoe rack behind her… and the way it was leaning dangerously forward. Apparently Miss Galinda was not familiar with the idea of balance and proper distribution of weight… and the law of gravity. I considered not telling her and letting her discover it herself (after all, I wanted to see her use that brain for once), but then it started to fall forward… and the blonde was right in its path.

"Miss Galinda—" I started.

"Don't interrupt me! You—"

"NO!" I shouted, jumping to my feet and throwing my arms out. I watched as the rack suddenly stopped in mid-air, mere inches from Miss Galinda's blonde curls. Miss Galinda herself looked confused at my outburst and turned in time to see the rack going back to its original position against the wall. She turned back to face me and I let my arms drop with a sigh.

"Miss Elphaba, why did you do that?"

"I was expecting something more along the lines 'Thank you, Miss Elphaba, for not letting my obnoxiously large shoe rack fall on my empty head'. Then I would have replied, 'Why you're welcome Miss Galinda, but may I suggest you touch up a bit in the subject of physics?'"

Miss Galinda bristled at that, but didn't say anything else. "I'm going to change into my nightclothes."

"All right. Thank you for sharing."

Miss Galinda disappeared into the bathroom and I lowered my book, waiting until the door closed before I got off the bed. I might as well take this opportunity to change into my own nightclothes. I decided on a drab brown nightdress and pulled off the navy blue dress I was wearing. I stretched my arms up above my head, my skin pulling taut against my ribs and making them even more prominent. I sighed, lowering my arms. I slipped into my nightdress and turned to return to my bed when I saw the blonde standing in the bathroom doorway… staring at me with a strange look on her face that I couldn't read.

"Can I help you, Miss Galinda?" I asked.

"You… you don't wear a bra?"

"Were you staring at me while I was dressing?"

"Miss Elphaba, that's… indecent!"

"Miss Galinda, you don't wear a tie."

"Wh- well I have no need for one!"

"Exactly. Do you see the connection I'm making here?"

Miss Galinda stomped over to her bed before she climbed in, pulling the blankets over her and lying down without so much as a good night. I shook my head before climbing into bed myself, looking back down at my book.

"Would you mind putting out that light?" I heard Miss Galinda call.

"Yes, I would mind, but thank you for asking."

I heard her sigh in frustration and shift in her bed.

All in all, a decent first night.

When I awoke the next morning, I sat up, stretching. I reached for my glasses, which I had placed on my bedside table before falling asleep last night. My hand hit the table and I groped around for while before I made an interesting, and slightly disturbing, discovery: my glasses were gone. I squinted at the table, barely able to make it out, my hand still wandering, but my glasses were nowhere to be found. Strange… I could have sworn I had set them here last night.

"Miss Galinda? Have you seen my glasses?" I called, hoping she was in the room. I squinted towards the direction of her bed, but didn't see any movement, blurry or otherwise. I got out of bed, only to trip over my boots and come crashing down to the floor. I turned over onto my back with a low growl, giving my boots a kick before I stood up. I could dress without my glasses, but getting to class… well, it wouldn't be ideal. I went over to my closet and pulled out the same navy dress I had been wearing yesterday… at least I think that's what I pulled out. I slipped out of my nightclothes and into the dress before I put on the very boots that had tripped me. My next task was to get to Crage Hall, which I'm sure would be, in the nicest terms, "an adventure".

I stumbled towards the door and managed to get out… but the stairs, I wasn't ready for. One step, two steps, and down I went, tumbling all the way to the bottom and landing on my back. I grit my teeth as my body throbbed slightly, but I couldn't lie here forever; I had to get to class. I forced myself to my feet and put my hands against the wall to help guide me along as I walked. Having a wall to guide me was all fine and dandy, until I got outside and found myself stranded. I squinted in the direction that I thought Crage Hall was in and I started walking, doing my best not to run into or trip over anything. Thankfully I made it to the building without any mishaps and found that I had, in fact, guessed correctly. Inside, I could hear the others talking about which classes that had that day, and how their professors would be, but I couldn't make out anyone or anything. Still, I knew that my presence had not gone unnoticed as a strange sort of hush fell over the students nearest me. Yes, I suppose I didn't blend in as well with the others.

I could hear whispering coming from my right side, but I ignored it as I started walking again, doing my best to avoid running into other students. This turned out to be fairly simple, as they all moved out of my way, not wanting to be brushed up against by my scaly greenness. I felt my boot hit something and I squinted again. Ah. More stairs. How simply wonderful. At least this time I had a handrail to help guide me up to the third floor, where my classroom was… except that when I got there, I couldn't tell the room numbers apart.

"You appear to be lost," I heard a voice say. I turned towards in the direction I heard it coming from and found myself looking at… well, not a human, I could tell that much.

"I… I seemed to have misplaced my glasses," I replied. "I'm trying to find Dr. Dillamond's classroom."

"I see. Allow me to lead you there."

I took the arm that was offered to me and felt fur under my hand. So I was right; this person was an Animal. He led me into a classroom and I made my way to a seat in the back of the room, where I could sulk, if I felt so inclined. Soon enough, students started to trickle in, bringing their mindless gossip with them. Not that I cared to listen in on any of their conversations. I just pulled a book from my bag and made myself comfortable, only to be harshly reminded that I did not have the means to read at the moment. I sighed and closed the book, setting it on my desk. I looked towards the front of the room, but only to distract my attention away from the other students. It wasn't like I could actually see anything.

Soon enough, Dr. Dillamond, who was the Goat that had led me here, started his lecture, and he had only been talking for about five minutes before someone entered the room, distracting him from the board he had been gesturing to.

"Miss Glinda, is it?" Dr. Dillamond said.

"It's Galinda," the blonde replied, obviously irked that the Goat had gotten her name wrong. Hmm… I would have to remember that.

"Yes, well, you're late."

"Fashionably late!"

"Yes… please take a seat."

Miss Galinda chose to sit in the front of the room with what appeared to be other girls, but they were all still blurs to me.

"Now then, who can tell me what started the chain of events that led to—"

My hand was already in the air. Maybe I couldn't see, but by Oz, I could still hear, which meant I could still answer questions.

"Yes, Miss…"

"Elphaba, sir," I said, lowering my hand. "The Great Drought."

"The Great Drought indeed. Very good." The Goat turned back to his teachings, but I do believe that at that moment, Miss Galinda was looking back at me. Of course, I did not have the pleasure of seeing the look she was wearing; I'll bet she hadn't even noticed I was here until I had said something, but I saw her soon face forward again and the obvious realization hit me like a slap in the face. My glasses hadn't just disappeared, and I hadn't misplaced them. Miss Galinda had been so kind as to take them herself, a sort of payback for the shoe incident last night. So, this was the way she wanted it then, was it? Well, all was fair in love and war of course, but I did think it decent to at least warn the blonde what she would be in for.

Many unintelligent responses later (my favorite coming from my own Miss Galinda and her remark to Dr. Dillamond to "stop harping on the past and teach us history") the class came to an end, and the other students left much more quickly than they had entered. As I approached the front of the room slowly, I noticed that Miss Galinda seemed to be having some issues with her bag and whatever ridiculous item she was trying to fit in it. I moved so that I was right behind her, my presence still unknown.

"You're treading into dangerous water," I said in a low voice.

Miss Galinda whipped around and I took a step back. "Are you threatening me?"

"Miss Galinda, I wouldn't dream of doing that. I'm just giving you fair warning," I replied, holding out my hand.

"Surely you don't think you can scare me into giving you money, Miss Elphaba?"

"I'm sure I could if I wanted to, but right now, that is not my interest. I am more concerned with the fact that my glasses seemed to have disappeared, and I assume not of their own free will."

Miss Galinda didn't reply, and I cackled. "Oh yes, I know all about your meager act of revenge and I have to admit that practically blinding me was clever, but should something happen to me because of this, I'd hate to see you blamed."

Miss Galinda didn't look happy in the slightest, but she had to admit defeat and took the eyewear from her bag, but she didn't give place it in the hand that I so generously had open for her. She instead extended her arm to its fullest length above her head, obviously trying to do to me what I had done to her before. However, it appeared that Miss Galinda did not fully understand that this could only work for tall people such as myself. I was able to easily reach up and pluck my glasses from her delicate hand, and I grinned as I placed them back where they belonged, instantly bringing my world back into focus.

"Ah, it is you Miss Galinda. How nice to be able to see your pretty face once again."

"You and I will never again speak in public. I will not be associated with a green bean like you!" Miss Galinda said angrily before she swung her bag extravagantly over her shoulder. But, like the airhead she was, she had forgotten that it wasn't closed, and thus all her belongings went clattering to the floor in a flurry of papers and make-up.

"Perhaps you should spend less time focusing on me and more on your surroundings," I remarked as I kneeled down to help her pick up her things. It earned me a scowl, but Miss Galinda didn't reply as she gathered up a trio of pencils. I went to retrieve some papers that had drifted under Dr. Dillamond's desk, and when I extracted them, I found that they were pencil drawings. One was of a cat sitting on a windowsill, its chest muscles prominent and its gaze on some unknown object. The second was of an orchid, just coming into bloom.

"These are very impressive, Miss Galinda. Tell me, did you draw them yourself?" I asked, standing up. If so, then perhaps Miss Galinda did know how to use her brain, to some extent.

"Give those back!" Miss Galinda said frantically. Her tone told me that she didn't want me to look, but my interest was piqued now. She came at me and I just held the papers above my head, high above her reach. I flipped to the next picture and saw the reason of her resistance.

"Well, well, well, Miss Galinda. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that the woman in this drawing is me."

It was obvious that the drawing was of me; I could tell by the way my shoulders and back muscles looked when I stretched my arm above my head, my other hand grasping my raised arm. It must have been how she had seen me last night while I was undressing. Either that, or she had a great imagination.

Miss Galinda was stomping on my foot again and I decided that enough was enough. I handed her the drawings back, which she hastily stuffed into her bag, making sure that it was properly closed this time.

"Pray tell, Miss Galinda, why you chose to draw me," I prodded, but the blonde was hurrying from the room, leaving my question to hang out in the open, unanswered.

Now that my glasses had been returned to me, I was able to move about Shiz much easier and appreciate its beauty. During my lunch break, I chose to sit outside under an apple tree, leaning against its strong trunk with a book in my hand. Having finished my apple, I gnawed on the core as my eyes flashed across the pages, almost unable to keep up with my brain's growing appetite for the words. Sudden giggles floating on the wind caught my attention and I wouldn't have bothered to look up if I hadn't caught the words "green bean" and "prank". Well, that certainly got my attention and as much as I didn't want to, I tore my eyes away from the book, where they fell on that group of three annoying girls… plus Miss Galinda made four.

"It seems awfully cruel," Miss Galinda was saying. Aww, how sweet. She was looking out for my well-being. "I approve." Oh, scratch that. I reminded myself to stuff her pillow with garlic after class.

"Perfect! All you have to do is lure her out and—"

Their eyes fell on me, and my own dark eyes narrowed, letting them know that I had heard their conversation. Miss Galinda turned away from me sharply, her nose up in the air with a sense of dignity as she and the others walked off. I tossed my apple core aside as I stood, mentally marking my page as I stood. It was clear that there was more to Miss Galinda than meets the eye of the beholder… now about that garlic…

The minute her head hit the pillow, she let out a shriek that brought an inevitable grin to my face.

"Miss Elphaba, what is this?" she screamed, her eyes streaming with involuntary tears as she tore her pillow from the bed.

"That is a pillow, Miss Galinda."

The blonde gave it a shake and several cloves of garlic hit our carpet. "And what is that?"

"Well, considering the fact that there are more than one, those are cloves of garlic. Quite potent, wouldn't you say?"

Miss Galinda glared at me, which was becoming quite common these days, before she went to her closet and extracted a new, fresh pillow. She returned to her bed, setting the pillow in its proper place, but she didn't climb back in. No, she instead scooped the garlic up off the floor and started to pelt me with it.

"Oh, Miss Galinda, really! It was a joke!" I said, trying to use my book to defend myself because Oz, Miss Galinda could throw! "Besides, I heard you and your friends talking about some cruel prank you're planning to play on me!"

"That's different!" Miss Galinda said. "That was a private conversation, and I hadn't even done anything to you yet!"

"You stole my glasses!"

"You wouldn't give me my shoe!" Miss Galinda had run out of ammunition, and breath as well. She straightened up and brushed back a few strands of golden hair that had fallen out of place during her unladylike performance. "Anyway, I'm going to bed and if you know what's good for you, you'll leave me alone from now on!"

"You're assuming I know good from bad, and right from wrong. It's a question of morals, really."

Miss Galinda was already lying with her back to me, signaling that all conversation was to cease. I grinned and returned to my book.

I'd never admit to doing something as feminine as keeping a diary. Could you imagine the rumors that would sprout if it ever got out? Oz, I'd be ruined! No, the only reason I'm keeping this is to answer one burning question: why has Miss Galinda been drawing me naked?

I really hope that I did Elphaba justice… well, as usual, any feedback is appreciated. Thanks!

denpa wave chick saki