1
The small Munchkin boy gazes into the mirror, scrutinizing his reflection with a mixture of hope and determination. His fingers fumble nervously, smoothing over the creases in his dress shirt for what must be the fifth time. He exhales sharply, a puff of air aimed at his unruly hair, before shaking his head with decisive frustration. Tugging at the hem, he pulls the shirt free from where it's tucked into his pants. The crisp fabric offers little resistance, crumpling with a forlorn sag. Just as he’s about to sink further into his own thoughts, the clearing of a throat cuts through the silence, sharp as a knife. He whirls around, limbs flailing with the gracelessness of a startled Munchkinlander.
“It’s not going to happen,” the green-skinned girl pronounces with a flatness that belies her sharp gaze. Her eyes, cool and assessing, remain fixed on the small boy, pinning him with their unwavering focus.
“Elphaba, you can’t think like that!” he pleads, his voice rising in protest. “It’s our second year here! We’re no longer the awkward freshmen who are so overlooked when they’re not being made fun of.” He exhales with frustration, searching her face for any sign of concession.
“They overlook you, no matter what year you are, Boq,” she retorts, her comment punctuated by his exasperated sigh. “You’re also forgetting that I room with the woman your desired man is with.” Her statement hangs in the air, heavy with unspoken implications.
“So?” Boq counters, a flicker of determination sparking in his eyes. “I’m going to talk to Fiyero. It’s time.” He turns back to the mirror, taking a deep breath as he runs a hand through his hair, each gesture a testament to his resolve.
“Oh really, it’s time?” Elphaba mocks from her resumed perch on Boq’s bed, skepticism dripping from every word. “There wasn’t time when he used you every chance he got as he chased after Galinda?” She leans back, propping herself up with her elbows, a cynical smile playing on her lips.
“I was just building tension,” Boq insists, defiant. He swivels to face her, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You know, you could finally talk to Galinda in a more personable way.” He watches her reaction, eyes narrowing slightly as he senses a shift in her posture, a stiffness that betrays more than she’d ever admit.
“Yeah, okay, and just what would I say?” Elphaba spits back, sarcasm veiling a deeper vulnerability. “Oh, you forgot to change the toilet paper. Also, how was the summer vacation at your boyfriend’s estate? The future castle you claim you’ll be living in as royalty in just a few years. The very hetero standard that you have laid out for your future!” She punctuates her rant by throwing her head back and looking directly at the ceiling.
Boq looks on, unfazed but thoughtful. “You don’t know how that went,” he counters softly, seizing on the crack in her defenses. “Plus, the opening weekend festivities are like a completely fresh start.” It’s his turn to hold an unwavering gaze, imbuing the words with hope and possibility.
“I’m not doing that with Galinda,” Elphaba shoots back, her voice slowing as if she’s turning over some vast strategy in her mind. “I’m playing the long game with her, okay? We’ll keep our awkward yet livable living situation for the next two years. Then she’ll get to go live in her royal dreams with her prince, and then after happily ever after she’ll realize something is missing. Then Crope and Tibbett invite her to one of their five-star plays they’ll be in, and then I swoop in when we’re seated next to each other,” she continues, the plan growing in scope and audacity with every word. “After not having been in contact for years.”
Boq exhales a deep, incredulous breath. “That might be the saddest thing you have ever said to me, Elphaba, and that’s saying something. We can’t be sad and pathetic forever.” He reaches for his coat, casting a sidelong look at the girl sprawled on his bed.
“Given our fortunate circumstances, it’s hard not to,” she replies, a hint of mockery in her tone. But something else lurks there too—a shared understanding that runs as deep as their unrequited affections. “Let the green girl and Munchkin boy compete for the two most popular students at Shiz University. I’m sure this will end great.” Her laughter is dry, but not unkind.
Despite Elphaba’s familiar self-doubt, the two found themselves standing hesitantly at the threshold of the opening weekend events. The back half of the expansive campus sprawled before them, brilliantly illuminated with Shiz's royal blue and white colors, casting a festive sheen over the historic grounds. Twinkling lights spiraled up high gothic columns, and large shimmering banners draped elegantly over arched entrances. Unique attractions filled the spaces, from tents that housed a plethora of games to rickety amusement rides, each offering a playful contrast to the traditionally somber Shiz environment. The atmosphere hummed with a vibrant energy, punctuated by bursts of laughter and the distant strains of upbeat music.
Elphaba paused, eyes flickering with skepticism but before Boq had a chance to make any comments, she let out a disheartened sigh. "It's really not too late to turn around."
The resolve in Boq's voice was a determined thread. "Elphaba, we are not turning around. I think you wanna be here." There was an earnest hopefulness to his words, a belief that maybe, just maybe, this time could be different.
They continued to move through the crowd, Boq trying valiantly to start conversations with the students they passed. The vibrant social scene was a whirl of motion around them, but despite the extravagance of the event, it was as though an invisible barrier existed between them and the other attendees. Students brushed by with little more than cursory glances, leaving behind trails of giggles and whispered comments as they moved on. Boq's ears picked up on the sound, although he didn’t quite have the heart to decipher whether it was directed at him or at the stoic, sulking girl trailing just behind. He suspected, in the end, it was a combination of the two.
He turned to Elphaba, trying to mask the sting in his voice with humor. "It's never gonna happen. This school has such a gay problem."
Elphaba's reply was quick and cutting, lacking the sugarcoat he often wished she would apply. "None of the students here hate us for being gay, Boq. They hate us for being gay, untalented, and ugly."
Her assessment cut through the night air, and Boq was momentarily taken aback by her frankness, though he really shouldn't have been. Elphaba had a way of clinging to any perception that reaffirmed her cynical worldview.
He was about to respond, but she made a nod toward a cluster of students. "Look at Pfannee," she directed, her gaze steady on the boy who stood at the center of Galinda's entourage laughing along to one of the girl’s jokes.
The missing queen of the entourage quickly overshadowed Boq’s look at the boy, by making her way over to her friends. Turning quickly, he sees if Elphaba has noticed. He shouldn’t be shocked, Elphaba had noticed. He sees her dark eyes clearly fixated on the blonde, who is practically glowing under the bright lights of the fair. The rigid gaze she was normally known for seemed to soften under the intense light; it was almost as though the blonde had her own light source, a small sun beaming down and radiating all of the light and joy around her. That small, temporary lapse quickly faded as a pair of buoyant boys, practically flying into her immediate line of sight, swiftly broke her focus.
“Hey guys!” Crope brightly states as he smiles at the pair. Tibbett made a quick attempt to follow Elphaba’s point of view and landed on the blonde girl. He smiled gently at the green girl in front of him as an apology for the other boy’s actions.
“Hey you two, how was your summer?” Boq steps in and greets the two.
Crope quickly goes into how the two found themselves in the Emerald City for the entirety of summer. Explaining how they got to explore the theater district as a whole and quickly made connections few of the actors. Tibbett butts in with his own comments as well. However, fellow students quickly stopped him, directing everyone to look up at the fair entrance.
The Winkie Prince and his fellow friends, who could almost fit the description of the prince as well quickly approached the hovering students. Boq watches Fiyero’s movements the entire time as he flashes his bright smile at the surrounding students. However, he is quickly knocked away from his thoughts as one of the prince’s friends bumps right into him. Boq tumbles a bit, trying to right himself with his flailing arms, but is cemented into place as Crope and Tibbett ground him. As he finally sets himself straight, he quickly finds the prince again but is greeted with him, sweeping Galinda up into a kiss. Elphaba shoots him a look that says I told you so. That almost hides the disappointment in her own eyes.
“Oh well, isn’t that lovely? Shiz’s own royal couple is making their way right over to us,” Crope grins and clasps his hands together.
Elphaba and Boq quickly perk up as they both land their eyes on Fiyero’s arm around Galinda’s neck as he whispers something into her ear, only for her to laugh softly and lean further into him. The Munchkin sends a panicked look at the green girl as the two continue their way into the crowd of students.
“Boq. Don’t-” Elphaba retorts blankly.
“Elphaba stop-” Boq quietly responds before rolling into a loud call of, “Fiyero!”
The prince quickly perks up as he heard his name being called. He flashes one of his infamous grins to get people to move out of the pair’s way and quickly moves them over to the group of four.
It was definitely a sight to see the two most confident and popular people in the whole university paired up with the group of misfits. Crope and Tibbett would have normally been making a comment.
“Oh Fiyero! Look it’s Biq!”
“Uh, it’s Boq actually” Boq replies awkwardly as Galinda smiles politely at him before ignoring him for something more interesting behind him.
“Why, hello there Boq. It’s been a while”
“Ha, well, yes, it has. I like how tight your pants are!” Boq stumbles out inwardly, cringing. Crope and Tibbett try to stifle their laughs from behind him as Elphaba looks away in second-hand embarrassment.
“Uh, thanks, I guess,” Fiyero replies with a quip in his eyebrow as he processes the compliment.
“Well, Yero- Can I call you Yero?”
“I’d prefer if you just called me by my name.”
“Right. Right.. So Fiy-er-o”
“No, not that.”
“Right. Fiyero! Are you thinking of playing any of the fair games?”
“I wasn’t thinking about it, but I’m sure I could win something for the future misses at one of the shooting games! We go hunting quite a lot back in the Vinkus,” Fiyero replies self-confidently.
“Oh, Fi!” Galinda suddenly giggles, as if she wasn’t zoning out for the conversation. Elphaba rolls her eyes from her place, and Boq sighs lightly.
“Well, Miss Galinda, I’m sure Elphaba could help if you need it, bringing all the prizes back to your room.”
Elphaba’s eyes shoot up as Boq inserts her into the conversation. As she tries to stop him, she sees his focus on Fiyero’s cocksure smile at the mention of all the prizes. Galinda smiles over at her with Tibbet smiling from behind her and Crope, sending a small wave over. She takes a small breath in before making direct eye contact with the smaller girl.
“Well... Boq is right, I suppose.” Elphaba lets a small smile on, “I do know where you sleep.”
Galinda’s smile quickly turns into a confused frown, with Fiyero shooting a questionable look over in her direction. Before she can try correct herself, Crope jumps into the conversation to save herself from any more embarrassment.
“Here, take Tibbs and I’s tickets! We were just about to head out, anyway. I promise you guys can play all the games you want without worrying about either of these two following you home to watch you sleep.” Crope says as he hands Fiyero the rest of their tickets and is greeted with a head nod and a small thanks.
“I do live with her still…” Elphaba quietly says in response to Crope as the couple is out of earshot.
“I do hope that does not mean you watch your dear roomie sleep, Miss Thropp.” Crope smiles in response as he throws an arm around her shoulder to lead her away.
“Well, that could have gone better.” Boq sighs as the pair walk away from the festival.
“You think so? I thought it was a brilliant idea for me to make it look like I stalk my own roommate, who already resents me. Maybe this was good for me. Get over Galinda now, and finally accept that it is never going to happen for me. The only way it'll happen is if Crope and Tibbett push me into some lavender marriage of convenience with one of them. It'll be Crope, Tibbett, and some poor baby that I inexplicably agreed to be a surrogate for, and we can mess the kid up as much as my parents messed me up with their own version of it. Maybe it's just a lovely little Thropp family tradition to end up in a loveless marriage with another man involved in it all!” Elphaba shoots out as the two continue their walk.
“Wait, shut up!”
“Boq please—”
“No, look!” Boq pointed to the group that Elphaba had been strongly trying to ignore.
As she turned her attention, it became evident that Galinda was furiously storming away from the three devoted followers who always clung to her. One of the trailing figures shouted something indistinguishable at her, which caused Galinda to stop and spin on her heel, screaming back in an uncharacteristically animated fashion.
“Elphaba! Offer to walk her back.”
“No. She already thinks I watch her sleep—”
“Elphaba! She does not! Just offer!”
Galinda looked in their direction with a flash of surprise, catching Elphaba’s eye. Boq, unable to contain his anxiousness, was staring fervently. His little arms flailed, gesturing wildly, but Elphaba didn’t notice. Her whole being was too absorbed in the eye contact with the blonde, which seemed to ignite her blood like a fever. “Galinda! Would you like a walk home?”
Galinda huffed at the three who were calling after her. She marched decisively toward Boq and Elphaba, each step brimming with purpose. “Yes, thank you, Elphie.”
Before Elphaba could even process the shock of the nickname, her attention snapped back to the group yelling behind Galinda, “You seriously cannot be going with the green bean!”
The taunts flew fast and sharpened. The group continued their relentless verbal assault, no longer just on Galinda but now with their attention focused like daggers on Elphaba. Elphaba took a protective step forward, coming between Galinda and the insults, acting as an unwitting shield while Galinda crossed her arms. Her lips tightened in frustration, and her eyes flickered with something that seemed to be anger but could just as easily have been hurt. She flipped her hair back with defiance.
Before they could make their decisive break for the dorms, another figure appeared, charging out from the direction of the festival. It was one of Fiyero’s friends, unmistakable even at a distance and even in a crowd. The boy broke away from the groups of students lingering near the festival booths and made a speedy line toward them. Boq focused in, his eyes narrowing in suspicion and certainty, and he made the realization that it was Avaric, the same one who had so gracefully plowed him over earlier, leaving him sprawled in the path.
“What’s the green freak doing to you guys?” Avaric questions as he jogs over and makes a pointed look between Pfannee, ShenShen, Milla, and Galinda. “Galinda?”
“I think we should go,” Boq stammered out as Avaric came closer.
“Galinda, you cannot seriously be going with the artichoke,” ShenShen added, a mixture of shock and disbelief. Her face scrunched up, and she was almost laughing at the idea, hands on her hips and appalled.
“You can’t tell me what to do!” Galinda shot back, her voice the same high pitch as the others but with anger and frustration bubbling. She gave them a furious glare and began to walk, crossing her arms tightly over herself.
“Can they seriously not come up with new insults?” Elphaba asked dryly, leaning into Boq and keeping close to Galinda. They continued to taunt, and her mouth went tight. Her eyes were losing patience, and she looked bored of the whole situation, but there was a deeper sting there that made her want to go.
“Look, we’re sorry that we even insinuated that Fiyero would swing that way—or you, for that matter,” Pfannee said with a sarcastic drawl. He laughed at her own comment and shook his head with amusement. His lips smirked, and he turned to Avaric, a wink in his eye as he tried to get him in on the joke.
“What?” Boq sputtered. His eyes were huge as he caught the drift of what they were trying to say. He looked quickly at Elphaba to see if she understood too.
“They’re looking for a third?” Avaric questioned with a sly grin, as if the idea was scandalous but not beyond possibility. He raised his eyebrows and held back a laugh, amused with himself.
“Galinda, come on,” ShenShen pleaded, more urgent this time. She stomped her foot dramatically.
“Let’s just go,” Boq said, trying to get the two girls away.
“Move! You prick!” Galinda called out to Avaric.
“She said move... you prick,” Elphaba joined in more reserved, glaring at Avaric and adding to Galinda’s yell, like the two of them were on the same side for just a moment.
“Don’t talk to me, you green bitch, okay? I do not talk to girls who only wear black,” Avaric shouted, his voice loud enough for even more to hear. He was smug, and his eyes went dark as he looked at Elphaba, like she was trash. It was a jab that was not uncommon for her.
“I might be green, but my shirt is dark blue,” Elphaba replied curtly, cutting off the insult with a tone that was harsh and yet bitterly amused. She looked at Galinda, who was pulling her arm, making a face that was annoyed more than anything.
“Galinda, just get away from the freaks! Please!” Avaric pleaded as if he were begging her to see sense. His voice was full of drama, and his eyes wide as he brought his hands together in a plea.
“Let’s just go, Elphie,” Galinda pleaded, ignoring them and turning to Elphaba instead. Her voice carried a note of real determination, more than whining. There was a kindness in it, too. She was almost smiling, and it was clear she had made up her mind.
“They’ll move, just come on,” Boq said, looking worried but hopeful as he chimed in with Galinda. He gave Elphaba a nod and tried to break away with her, his heart racing with the moment.
Before Elphaba could even comprehend it, her magic was already at play and quickly took over, raising the dirt from the flowerpots that were surrounding the path. It all happened so fast, like she was barely involved. Clumps of dirt rose into the air, pummeling Pfannee, ShenShen, Milla, and Avaric. The dirt quickly hit Pfannee, ShenShen, Milla, and Avaric square in the faces and down their designer clothes that were probably as much as Elphaba’s tuition in itself. The group stood frozen with their mouths agape, trying to figure out what was happening. Avaric shrieked out the moment it hit him, resulting as much dirt to fall into his mouth. He coughed and gagged helplessly, clutching his throat and falling to the ground in dramatic fashion. As it continued to rain down on them, a bigger group formed around them, with Fiyero running over to Avaric. Pfannee, ShenShen, and Mila shouted in a panic as they tried to get the dirt off. “Did you see that?” A member of the newly formed crowd exclaimed in shock. “That girl is freak!” another called out. Behind Boq and Elphaba, who were stuck in place watching the embarrassment unravel, Galinda ran away from the crowd.
“What did you do to them?”
“You witch!”
“Elphaba, we have to go!” Boq screeched out as he grabbed her shoulder and pulled her away from everyone.
The two of them broke free from the crowd and headed back to Shiz’s main campus. Boq had a lingering sense that they were in a worse off position than before the night started. However, realizing that they made more progress in one night than they ever had the year before, a new sense of determination rose over him.