confusifying | wicked | book 3/3

Elphie

My sister sits before me, hair flowing and relaxed and for once she's wearing a lightly coloured dresses, it's white with a floral print, the sleeves trail all the way down her arms and she undoubtedly has white tights to match.
Nessa smiles subtlety, she seems at ease which is good, I hate arriving when shes not in a good mood or when she's struggling to remain collected.
I know my sister struggles so much so it's nice to see her calm mood reflected so pleasantly in her appearance, not that she doesn't always looks lovely, she does and it's infuriating.

"Well?" Ness chuckles softly "are you going to sit down?" She gestures pleasantly towards a chair, eagerly I lower myself into it and return the smile that she's giving me.
"It's good to see you sister" Nessa comments "your looking well"
I think for a moment about replying with some self deprecating comment about that I in fact look green but I think better of it.
"Likewise Nessie." I pause for a brief second remembering how much my sister loathes being called Nessie, I think about apologising but decide that I would just be drawing attention to it.
"Elphie," Nessa says turning her head to one side, her emerald eyes are no longer staring straight at me but now look just past my face at the door, once again my sister appears sad.
"Oh Nessa what's wrong?" I inquire hoping that she's well.
Nessa sniffs slightly and shifts her gaze to look at me again.
"I think i may be in love with Boc." Nessa blurts all at once.

My heart stops, trickles, waves, oceans of emotion fill my head.
I'm so happy.
She's finally said it aloud and I'm so proud of her.
"Nessa this is simply wonderful!" I cry with delight.
My sister places a hand upon her lips and I contain my excitement for a moment.
"Do try to keep yourself under wraps, this is an educational environment" my sister snaps but she grins excitedly.
I take no notice and fly up from my seat, swiftly moving around my sisters writing desk and throwing my arms around her.
"Are you alright Ness?"
"I'm happy Elphie." My sister whispers sweetly "I'm happy."
Nessa nods excitedly and for a short while I believe her that she is truly happy, but I know that for her, happiness isn't black and white, she can't just be happy.
Nessa places a hand upon her desk and rests her head upon it.
"Tired?" I ask, cautious to not sound condescending.
"Absolutely exhausted!" She huffs, singling down into her seat, "I feel this is enough excitement to last me a lifetime."

I let Nessa and I sit in silence for a while as my sister relaxes her eyes and lets her thoughts stop thinking for a while.
"I'm not sure how to tell him or even if I should tell him." Nessa whispers sadly, I cup her head in my hands, take a deep breath and prepare a speech that my sister has long needed to hear.
"Nessarose Melina Thropp, the world has been cruel to you. It has stolen your childhood, your future, some would argue that it has stolen your present but I know that you deserve to be happy and that out of the goodness of your heart you will tell Boc how you feel."

Nessa nods, she seems surprised by my long speech, usually we leave the pep talks go Glinda but I feel that my sister could use all the encouragement that she can get.
She nods happily.
"I think this is the day I'll do it" she chimes merrily.
My sister seems so confident, it's quite funny to hear her sound so sure and so happy.
"But sister you must not say anything to anyone." Nessa commands, I nod purposefully. "Because if anyone finds out before Boc then I will not have the courage to tell him myself."
I put my hand gently on my sisters shoulder.
"I have faith in you Nessarose." I smile "this is your moment to be really, truly happy"
She grins modestly at me, blushing softly as she does so.
"I do love you Elphaba." She chimes.
"I know that you do." I whisper under my breath.

All of a sudden my sister looks at her desk and proceeds to push herself away form it and into her bedroom, I follow eagerly behind.
She takes herself into the middle of the room and analyses herself in a floor length mirror.
This mirror has been here since the dawn of time by the looks of it, it has gorgeous gold plating just like the ones in munchkin manor.
"What if I'm not what Boc wants?" Nessa huffs.
It's infuriating, she is exactly what he wants, he's even said it to her face multiple times.
"Ness don't be like that."
"I'm scared Elphaba, I really want this to work." My sister continues to look herself in and down, she rests her hands upon her armrests and resumes her staring.
"Nessa you look lovely," I chime but Ness seems to not hear me as she carry's glaring at herself in the mirror.
"The dress really suits you."
Nessa tilts her head to one side and forces a smile but she still doesn't reply to me.
I grow inpatient.
"For Oz's sake nessarose!" I cry she looks at me like a rabbit soon to be hunted "your wonderful!"
She looks as though she may cry, she doesn't believe me.
She won't ever believe me.

"I want to go and see him now" Nessa announces after a long time of contemplation.
"Ness it's ten forty-five" I reply sympathetically "he's teaching."
Nessa nods and looks abound herself, she's placed her hands upon the wheels of her chairs and rocks herself backwards and forwards for a brief moment until racing towards her bedside table.
There, she applies a small amount of hand cream to her delicate palms and begins to wring her hands.
"Nessa are you alright?" I call, hoping that she's okay and not put off by having to wait.
"Elphaba I think I may need a moment alone."