The Green Girl and the Good Girl

New Professor, Terrified Kitten, and Auditions

I know it's been a while since my last update, but the good news is that a lot happens in this chapter! Enjoy!

Micaela's POV
"YAY! CLASSES ARE STARTING AGAIN!" Alyssa said very enthusiastically.
"I know right!" I exclaimed, gathering my things for biology.
"I wonder who the biology teacher will be," Alyssa whispered.
"I've been wondering that, too. No one could be as good as Doctor Darel," I admitted.
"Of course," Alyssa sighed.
I opened the door and walked out of our dorm room. We walked to biology chatting lightly. Other students we passed didn't seem nearly as happy as we were about classes resuming.
When we stepped into the new biology room, we could immediately tell how different the atmosphere was. It was boring and strict. The teacher stood in the front tall and stiff, as if the only reason her was here was to drill knowledge into kids and test them the next day. Both Alyssa and I shivered.
We silently sat down in our seats and got out our homework. Others arrived and did the same thing.
"You won't be needing your homework," The teacher said strictly. "I will be teaching far different things than your last teacher."
I wanted to shout, "she has a name!" but bit my tongue. That would be a terrible way to make a first impression. The class simultaneously put away their homework and stared at the teacher without talking.
The teacher pulled out a box covered in a blanket.
"For our first lesson, we are going to observe life in front of our eyes."
He pulled the blanket from over the box, but it wasn't a box after all. It was a cage. A small metal cage with an even smaller creature cowering in the corner of it. Gasps exploded throughout the classroom as the students saw what it was. It was a tiny kitten no older than six months old.
The Professor opened the cage and forced the scared kitten out.
"What its name?" A girl whispered.
"He has no name," The Professor answered in a dismissive tone.
He put the kitten on his desk.
"We are going to test how he reacts to certain environmental changes," The Professor announced.
No one knew what that meant, but it sounded scary. He took a flashlight, glanced at the students, and shined the flashlight in the kitten's eyes. The poor creature jumped back and meowed a tiny meow.
"Like us, cats can't look into the light," The Professor said plainly.
"No kidding," I mumbled
"Do you have something to say?" The Professor asked, staring me in the eye
"That's not scientific, that obvious. Of course he can't look into it when you're putting it right in his face," I exclaimed.
The Professor turned on the flashlight again and held it in front of the kitten's face for even longer.
"You're hurting him!" I shrieked.
The kitten tried to run away, so the Professor poked, prodded, and pushed him to get him back.
"Stop it!" Calls rang out.
"That's animal cruelty!"
Someone in the bag grabbed a bowl and threw it at the Professor. Why they did that, I don't know, but I wasn't wasting that chance. I zoomed over and scooped up the trembling kitten. Alyssa ran to the door, opened it for me, then followed me out.
Calls of "go!" and "run!" cheered us on. We didn't stop until we were in the garden.
"You poor thing," I cooed, cradling the small kitten in my arms. "What are we going to do with you?"
"Um...Micaela? What ARE we going to do with him?" Alyssa wondered.
"I don't know. It's not like we can necessarily keep it. Do you think it would be able to survive on its own?" I suggested.
"I don't know. What if we dropped it off at a pet shop. A kitten like that would probably get a home pretty fast," Alyssa offered.
"Yeah. That's a good idea. Hopefully, he doesn't get picked up by another person like that professor," I sighed, stroking the tiny bundle in my arms.
"Let's take him in a couple of days. For now, we can keep him hidden in our room so he can be nourished," Alyssa advised.
"Good idea."
We hurried to our room and set the kitten down on my bed. He sat there, trembling and looking around with wild, scared eyes.
"What are we going to feed him?" I questioned.
"I don't know. We could get some chicken or fish in the cafeteria," Alyssa shrugged.
"I guess."
A knock pounded on the door, startling both of us. I mentally prepared myself then opened the door.
"Madame Mawful, I will not hand over the kitten. The Professor was hurting it and-" I began.
"What? No, no, no. Miss Pine, I have come to tell you that a spot has opened up in the traveling Broadway cast of Wicked. I have set up an audition for you in Wicked," Madame Mawful announced.
"Really? Oh my Oz! Madame Mawful, that's great! Thank you!" What part is it?"
"Linda or something like that," Madame Mawful said dismissively.
"Glinda?" Alyssa exclaimed from behind me. "Glinda Upland?"
"Oh, yes. That was it. I got you an audition, too, Miss King," Madame Mawful informed.
"Thank you, Madame Mawful. I don't know what to say!" Alyssa sighed.
"Yes, yes. You'll be going to New York on Thursday. That's three days from now. Auditions will be noon on Friday. If you make it, you will stay there. If you do not, you will come back here for classes on Monday. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Madame," I said.
She nodded sharply then walked away.
"Oh, Micaela, isn't this wonderful?" Alyssa sighed.
"I guess. I wish it were for Elphaba, but that gives you a better chance of getting it. Also, we can't both get the part, so what happens if one of us gets it? I can't bare to live apart from you for so long."
"Oh, Elphie, stop being such a downer. If one of us gets it, maybe they can have you as a standby of the ensemble or something. Let's just concentrate on practicing for our auditions," Alyssa suggested.
"Oh, alright," I sighed.
We had three days to prepare before New York City.