A/N: This was originally a typical fluffyish one shot, for my friend's birthday, but due to the success of the chapter, I've decided to carry on and write some more! This story wouldn't have been created, but thanks to ElphieBubble!
It had been a little over 4 months since Elphaba Thropp was forced to be roomed with Galinda Upland (of the Upper Uplands). Sharing a room with someone like Elphaba was like sharing a room with a sour green apple. 'Or is the wrong shade of green?' Galinda thought to herself. Although their first encounter could only be described as a feeling of loathing for Elphaba, Galinda had grown used to her mannerisms. First impressions can be entirely wrong, and though Galinda was sure her first impression of Elphaba was completely accurate, she was still unsure about her. Elphaba seemed a cruel, rude, sour girl on the outside, but surely that was only due to Elphaba's skin colour? Galinda was sure that if under the correct circumstances, Elphaba could surely be nice. Even if it was just a small amount of kindness.
She was sat on her bed with her knees bent, reading a sleek magazine with the name 'OzBeat' printed over it in stylish lettering. Drops of rain were hitting the open window and Galinda looked at it nervously. 'I do hope it doesn't thunder...' she thought, getting off her bed to shut the window. She sat back on her bed, only to ponder the whereabouts of her roommate. Galinda had noticed that Elphaba has a strange affliction to water and was usually in the suite any time after it began to rain. The normal girls who cared about hair and make-up would instantly run inside, but Elphaba didn't come across like one of those girls, so why was she always inside so promptly like any other normal girl?
There was a low rumble outside and Galinda heart beat slightly increased. Slipping her feet under the cover, she grabbed the top of the quilt and slowly pulled it up towards her chest. A few minutes passed and another low rumble, louder than the other, rolled near the university. Galinda slowly slid under the covers as another deeper and louder rumble sounded, and pulled the quilt over her head.
About 10 minutes had passed and the storm was nearly overhead. Elphaba walked in, shutting the door behind her. She was greeted by the image of a small pink mound under the covers of Galinda's bed. Elphaba stood by the door staring at it over the top of her glasses for a few seconds, but then moved to her own side of the room, placing the books she held on the table. She sat on her bed, looking at the tiny pink ball. To be fair, it could be just as well described as a marshmallow.
"Galinda, what in Lurline's name are you doing?" Elphaba asked, still staring at the pink marshmallow.
There was a short silence. "N-Nothing," A quaint little voice replied from under the covers, "I was just...cold." Galinda knew saying something as stupid and childish as that is bound to cause embarrassment for herself and she felt her cheeks increase with heat. Another low rumble of thunder rolled over the University, the storm now over University itself, caused Galinda to flinch and tuck her knees closer to her chest than they already were.
It was considerably easy for Elphaba to piece the clues together. "Galinda... are you afraid of thunder storms?"
Galinda remained silent. Of course she didn't want to admit she was; Elphaba would think her immature.
Elphaba stood up and walked over to Galinda's bed, folding her arms. "Galinda, do stop being childish, it's just thunder." And as if on que another louder low clap of thunder sounded, and Elphaba could feel it deep in her chest.
A small but audible whimper came from under the covers, followed by another quieter one. Elphaba felt awkward. Of course she didn't care much for Galinda and had grown to put up with her, but the idea of Galinda crying, even at something as stupid as a thunderstorm was a little concerning, (although, Galinda had cried over something as small as not having the right shade of nail varnish to go with her colour theme). Elphaba stood there for a while, with no idea how to act. She walked closer to Galinda's bed and sat at the end on the very edge. Even with the noise of the rain hitting the window, nothing could disguise the awkwardness that hung about the room.
"Galinda... there's nothing to be frightened of. It's just thunder, caused by the hot and cold air in the atmosphere." Somehow, Elphaba felt that saying something like this would have no comforting effect on Galinda at all.
She stood up and faced the small pink mound. Grabbing the corner of the quilt, Elphaba pulled it off of Galinda who had her legs tucked up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them. Her soft, healthy blonde curls covered her face so Elphaba couldn't tell if the girl was crying or not. Elphaba sat next to Galinda, her green skin clashing with the bright pink bed sheets, awkwardly playing with her hands in her lap. "I can't stress enough that it's just thunder." Elphaba stated, placing her hands on the bed by her side and waited for a near impossible response.
Another thunderclap sounded. Something grabbed Elphaba's wrist and she tensed her body. She looked down and Galinda's small, soft hand was wrapped around it. The grip was tight and Elphaba could feel the girl shaking.
"Please... Don't go." Galinda whispered.
"I... I, uh, wasn't exactly planning on it." Elphaba said, her voice shaking ever so slightly. Her cheeks felt hot. Any other person that laid a hand on her, Elphaba would've pulled away and given them a piece of her mind, but seeing Galinda in this state made Elphaba herself a little weak. She'd grown used to Galinda's bubbly personality, no matter how annoying it had been, but her being so vulnerable, even if it was caused by something as silly thunder, seemed to have a knock-on effect on the green girl. Her head reeled with questions but there were no answers.
The thunder sounded again, and Galinda's grip tightened and she moved closer to Elphaba. Elphaba sat there awkwardly, her body tense, but a part of her told her to relax, to let Galinda move closer. One of Galinda's tears landed on Elphaba's hand. Elphaba gritted her teeth but tried not to make a sound.
"I-I'm sorry." The blonde headed girl sniffled, readjusting herself into a more suitable position and placing her free hand onto the area the tear had hit. She slowly removed it.
"That's... alright..." Elphaba said. How did Galinda know about her allergy to water? It never crossed her mind that Galinda would be as clever as to piece together any clues Elphaba may have accidently left behind. She hadn't mentioned it to her, and nobody would say sorry for something like that. But her heart was pounding for three reasons; enduring the pain without saying anything was a little stupid, Galinda had just touched her, twice, and Elphaba was being ridiculous, out of character and weak for letting Galinda touch her. It wasn't that the girl didn't like being touched, she just wasn't used to it. Being green your entire life makes you considerably isolated.
Galinda sat up and moved her knees to her chest again, still with her hand around Elphaba's wrist. The rain was still battering against the window, but the storm was slowly moving away. She would regret acting so childish and vulnerable in front of Elphaba, but the company of green girl was ever so slightly reassuring. In fact, whenever the girl was around, Galinda felt a slight reassurance and warm feeling. It was sane that Galinda would feel these feelings around anyone but Elphaba. In any other circumstances Elphaba would have just written it off as one of Galinda's temper tantrums, but why had she sat next to her? Why was she anywhere near the blonde's side of the suite? Another roll of thunder crashed, but further away. Galinda flinched again, but tried to compose herself. She let go of Elphaba's wrist and wrapped her arms around her legs.
A few moments passed until Galinda spoke, "I feel so stupid."
"Why?" Elphaba replied.
"Because it's childish for a woman of my age to be afraid of something as ridiculous as a thunderstorm."
"I'm sure you have your reasons..." Elphaba said, staring at the opposite wall.
Galinda hesitated. A part of her wanted to hold back from telling Elphaba anything, but another part, a stronger part, wanted to tell her everything.
"When I was younger, Momsie, Popsicle and I lived in a rather big mansion... My room was cut off from the rest of the house," Galinda's eyes slowly darted around the room, "So, whenever something as silly as a thunderstorm passed over, I was always... alone..."
Elphaba turned to face Galinda, she was looking at the floor, and Elphaba's chest ached. Whether it was because her heart had been thumping so hard for the past few minutes, or the fact that she realised she had more things in common with Galinda than she realised, she couldn't decide. She saw a small tear run down Galinda's soft cheek.
"I never had anyone to tell me that everything would be okay or that it was only a thunderstorm. Of course Momsie and Popsicle asked if I was okay the next morning but I always lied."
Galinda hesitated, "And this is the first time... I've ever told anyone." Galinda slowly turned her head towards Elphaba and their eyes met. Galinda's were bright red and bloodshot and her nose pink. Even looking like the mess she did, Galinda always seemed to look so pretty.
Elphaba stood up and walked over to her bed and put her hand under her pillow. Galinda took this chance to wipe her eyes and compose herself. Elphaba concealed whatever she had from Galinda and she stood there, still, for a few seconds until returning to Galinda's side. She held a small green bottle. She ran her thumb over the raised pattern, stroking it.
"This was... my mother's." Elphaba said, offering it to Galinda.
She moved so she sat crossed legged on her bed and carefully took the bottle from Elphaba's hand, observing it.
"It's the only thing I have left of my mother," she said, pushing her glasses back onto the bridge of her nose. "And my father... well... he hates me."
Galinda let out a tiny gasp and looked at Elphaba with caring eyes, even if they were still bloodshot.
Elphaba sighed, "When my mother was carrying Nessa, my father thought the new baby might come out... gree-"
"Green..." Galinda said with her.
"My father made her chew milk flowers, day and night... night and day. But, it made Nessa come too early, her little tiny legs all..." Elphaba held her hands awkwardly in her lap, "My mother never woke up, and that's why Nessa is the way she is. And it's my fault."
Galinda watched the girl's hands, "Elphaba..." she placed her hand on Elphaba's right hand, "That was the milk flower's fault. It wasn't yours. Don't blame yourself."
Would hugging be too inappropriate? Galinda had no idea what to do but she wanted to comfort Elphaba and hugs were always the best way to do so. In fact, had Elphaba ever been hugged before? She placed the bottle beside her on the bed and wrapped her arms around Elphaba. The girl was shocked and slightly taken aback by this gesture from Galinda. A few months ago, Galinda would have immediately washed her hands if she even brushed Elphaba's sleeve, but now she was hugging her. But it felt comfortable. It somehow felt natural. Elphaba slowly and awkwardly moved her arms around Galinda and across her back, returning the hug. Galinda squeezed tighter and put her head on Elphaba's shoulder. Elphaba cautiously allowed her to do so. She could feel Galinda's heartbeat against her own and they ever so slowly fell into sync with each other.
Galinda moved away and returned Elphaba's glass bottle.
"Thank you." Elphaba said, taking it from Galinda's hand.
"No, thank you, Elphaba..." Galinda replied, walking to the bathroom.
Elphaba sat there for a while, staring at her hand. She eventually stood up, walked to her bed and returned the glass bottle to under her pillow, not noticing the small, red burn on the back of her hand.