"I'm board," Galinda informed her roommate. Elphaba didn't look up from the book in her lap, having heard that phrase from her friend's lips one too many times. Galinda sighed loudly, but when that aroused the same reaction from Elphaba she jumped to her feet and trotted to the door.
"Come on, we're going out," she announced. Elphaba closed her book, but didn't stand up.
"What?"
"Let's go for a walk, it'll be fun," Galinda said excitedly. "Besides, we don't have anything better to do."
"Do I have a choice?" Elphaba asked.
"Nope!"
Five minutes later, the two were walking down the road of the village near Shiz. Galinda was wearing a glamorous sunhat, which had earned her a slight smirk from Elphaba, who didn't need to dress up for a smile walk outside. Elphaba had to admit that she was glad her friend had dragged her out of the room, for she had almost forgot how much she loved to feel the warmth of the sun on days like today.
"Ooh look," Galinda exclaimed, pointing to a playground. "It looks just like the juggle gym my school had when I was little."
Elphaba followed her as she made her way to the empty swing set. "Aren't you a little old for this?" She asked with a hint of humor in her voice.
"So? No ones here," Galinda replied, sitting down.
Elphaba rolled her eyes, but took the swing next to her. Galinda kicked up her legs, giggling like she was the age the swings were meant for. Elphaba shyly swung back and forth.
"I bet I can go higher than you," Galinda challenged.
"How old are you?" Elphaba asked, but began to pump her legs, going higher by the second.
"Get over it," Galinda roller her eyes, but her smile didn't alter.
As Elphaba's swing began to catch up to Galinda's, she began to loose herself in the steady motion of her swing. 'This was me in fourth grade.' She thought to herself.
For her whole childhood, she had always felt alone, weather she was at home or school, but the most that her solitude had ever stung was every school day during the twenty minute recess. All of the other children would run around laughing and telling jokes, some would even content themselves with thinking up rude comments to shout at her, but they all had little groups of friends. She was the only loner, and it stung.
She remembered always feeling like people were watching her out of the corner of their eyes, snickering at how out of place she looked. She used to try to read at her free-time, but once a boy had purposely tripped her making her book had fallen into the dirt. Not wanting to ruin any more of her belongings, she had decided to sit on a swing for the twenty minutes.
At first the swing set was a place for her to hide, something to do besides focus on how much she didn't fit in, but slowly she began to enjoy herself at recess. To young her, swinging felt like flying. She felt free and at peace with everything.
Elphaba began to smile, for, although she had been alone and felt unloved, she didn't cringe when she looked back at her childhood. It's funny how something as simple as a swing set can make you feel like theres a place for you in the world. Elphaba belonged in the sky and a swing helped her get there.
Hello my fellow Wicked fans! (Wow, never used that one before.)
This oneshot was based on a de ja vu moment that I had the other day at school when our homeroom period was spent on the structure. Having nothing to do I went on one of the swings and was transported to back to fourth grade (and fifth grade) when I spent the first part of the year friendless and swinging on a swing (and apparently I've stayed a loner into high school).
Anyway, thanks for reading, please review!