Life Could End Up Changing

With news of the Oz Dust Ball whispered in every classroom, Galinda and her friends were suitably hyped up when it finally came time to start getting dolled up for the party. During their makeovers, Galinda found an old, ugly, black, pointed hat in her trunk.

"Eewww! What is that?!" Galinda's friends crowed, laughing and making faces at the hat.

"It's not mine! It was a gift! From my auntie! I don't know why she sent it to me!" Galinda dropped it to the ground in disgust, making sure her friends knew that she wasn't in support of that hat either. She thought it was ugly, just like they did. It was just unlucky that it was in her wardrobe.

"Yeah, there's no one all in Oz I'd hate enough to give this to as a 'gift'!" Galinda scoffed. Suddenly, her friends turned on her, eyes wide.

"Yes you do!" they squealed excitedly, giggling and grabbing each other's arms in excitement. Galinda understood at once.

"No, I couldn't," she mumbled embarrassedly, but then that wicked light entered her blue eyes as well. "Could I?" she asked and her friends nodded, heads bobbing like chickens as they chattered out agreement and encouragement.

"Do it, do it, do it!" they giggled shrilly and Galinda nodded.

"Ok! I will!" the blond promised, and a few minutes later, she'd made good on that word. Elphaba had walked right past their dorm but the moment she saw Galinda, she beckoned for the girl to come out and talk to her. Galinda was surprised at how timely the whole thing was, but when her three friends all nodded, grinning wickedly, she gave a weak thumbs up and followed Elphaba out the dorm.

"Galinda, listen, Nessa and I were talking about you just now," Elphaba began.

"And I was just talking about you!" Galinda interrupted with a weak smile, resolve failing with every word Elphaba said. Before the green girl could say anything else, Galinda shoved the ugly black hat forward. "I thought you might wanna wear this hat to the party tonight!" she offered with a false smile. She continued to try and get Elphaba to take the stupid ugly thing and, at last, totally buying Galinda's little shtick, she agreed.

"Thanks Galinda," Elphaba muttered bashfully, taking the hat. Galinda managed another fake smile until she met Elphaba's eyes and saw genuine gratitude and... excitement? Hope? The kind of happiness that came with memories of pain? Elphaba hadn't exactly ever been popular or beloved before. What had Galinda's little "gift" opened up in her? Uh oh...

"Anyway, gotta go get ready!" Galinda cried, too loud and too quick, then she ran back into her dorm and slammed the door shut, her last sight of Elphaba being that agonizing, adorable little smile as she eyed the hat fondly. Oh, those eyes, those beautiful brown eyes. There was so much warmth, hope and expression in them, Galinda could see it even after she'd shut her dorm door again. Uh oh. Galinda's three friends were in ecstasy, however, having totally missed that look in Elphaba's eyes.

"That was fantastic!" they declared and Galinda put on a sheepish smile, uncomfortable as she accepted their praises.

The next time Galinda saw Elphaba was at the ball. She had just finished dancing with Fiyero when the green girl came in. Late. And wearing the hat. The ugly black hat. In front of all of Shiz. The music died and every head turned up to the green girl. There was no sound, no movement, just an uncomfortable silence. Elphaba tore the hat off in shame and entered the room with her head down, finally realizing this had all only been a prank at her expense. Then she looked up. Right at Galinda. There was anger, sorrow, fear, shame and disdain in her eyes and Galinda felt her stomach churn. Why did those eyes have to be so expressive despite how cold and emotionless Elphaba could be? Why did Galinda have to be able to read her eyes so well? But then Elphaba pulled herself up, firmly placed on the hat again and danced to the music that only she heard.