Now Elphaba was used to being slapped, her life with green skin made sure of that, but coming from the blonde it was very much a surprise. Her gut reaction was to slap the blonde back, but the sting on her cheek seemed to snap her out of whatever mood she had fallen into. Elphaba knew that she had in fact pushed her room mate too far, thus deserving the slap, this time.
Calmly, her expression stone, she released the blonde's skirts and took half a step back. "I should apologize, that was out of line." she said her voice flat. She stepped back away from the blonde fully before turning away to gather her books for class.
Glinda had started shaking when Elphaba turned her back She had nearly done it. It had been like…
She ran from the room, throwing herself into the bathroom and luckily reaching the toilet before she threw up. It had been a stupid idea, doing what she did to impress Fiyero. She shouldn't have done it. And now Elphaba had seen, had treated her like that, like he did. She wanted to scream.
Elphaba wouldn't have hurt her, she knew that logically. But her thoughts were scattered now and all she could focus on was the memory of that horrible night. What had been done to her.
She curled up on the floor, tears streaming down her face as the memories flooded back.
Elphaba turned back sharply when she heard the bathroom door slam and then grimaced as the sounds of someone vomiting came from behind wood. Walking slowly up to the door she could feel guilt eating away at her stomach.
"Great you really are mean green monster." She cursed herself for pushing the blonde and not stopping herself before it went too far. She debated just leaving the room, not wanting to upset the blonde further, but a sob caught her attention. Why would Galinda be crying? Carefully Elphaba stepped up to the door and knocked on the face of the wood.
"Miss Galinda, I- I truly am ashamed of my actions. I promise you that this incident will not be repeated."
Glinda couldn't compose herself enough to answer. She remained curled up on the floor shaking, unable to process what was really being said. All she knew was that there was a voice calling her name. She had forgotten where she was, who was outside the door. Her shaking stilled as she started blankly at the wall, in a state of shock.
When the blonde didn't reply Elphaba tried the handle, relieved to find it unlocked. She pushed the door open and her eyes widened as she found Galinda curled on the floor of the bathroom. She cursed herself again for being so insensitive, she should have known!
"Galinda," she spoke softly as she knelt down next to the blonde, making sure to not touch her. Elphaba held back a gag as the putrid smell of stomach bile filled her nose and she quickly flushed the toilet so she could try to help Galinda without throwing up herself. Turning back to the blonde Elphaba sat on the floor in front of her, bending to see her face.
"Galinda, look at me, can you tell me where you are?"
Glinda's eyes flicked up to Elphaba's but she didn't really see her. It was just a reflex, following the command. She wasn't really processing what was in front of her. The words scattered around her brain without making any connection. What was she meant to do with the scattered patterns of noise? She was far too focused on shutting down the memories and in doing so shutting down her ability to respond to the outside world. To think nothing was better than to think of what had happened, and that was what her body had decided to do.
Elphaba's gut tightened at the distant look in the blonde's eyes. She feared her words would not be responded to and acted on instinct, she knew she had to act fast before the blonde was lost further and more damage done. She pulled Galinda to her chest to try to make her focus on here and started to speak in a low voice almost directly into the blonde's ear.
"Galinda, you are safe. Focus on what I'm saying now, you are safe in our room at Shiz," She started to repeat in her low but firm tone, praying she was getting through to the blonde.
Upon being pulled into contact with someone the trance broke. Glinda screamed. Her hands flew into action, pushing the intruder away from her, slapping and scratching, doing anything they could to defend her. Her foot found something soft, and kicked it hard, propelling her away. She scrambled backward, eyes unfocused. As her back hit the wall they finally focused on Elphaba.
What had Elphaba done to her? All she could remember was a green hand lifting up her skirt, her thoughts to scattered to process the events past that point. What if she had done what he did? No, not again!
"Keep away" She screeched like a madwoman.
Elphaba groaned as she stood slowly, this could be a blessing and a curse.
She winced as she made it to her full height and looked to Galinda again, the pain in her gut where the blonde kicked her was far less painful then the guilt that only grew in her. What had she triggered in the smaller woman?
"Galinda, can you tell me where you are?" She hoped the fact that the blonde seemed to actually see her now was a good sign. Elphaba made sure to stay where she was but glanced to the side to ensure that she was blocking the exit, to hopefully keep the situation in the bathroom.
Glinda saw Elphaba block the exit and panic filled her. She wasn't going to let her leave, oh Oz, what was she going to do to her? What had she already done?
"You keep away from me" She said, voice quivering as she pulled herself into the corner. She couldn't believe Elphaba had done such a thing. And she was distraught that she appeared to be intent on doing it again. Why else would she block the exit?
"We're at Shiz" She said, trying to prolong whatever horrors Elphaba had in store for her, "And you have done terrible things"
That caught Elphaba's attention.
"Wha- okay Galinda, I'm going to stay over here and you are going to tell me what you think I've done?" Elphaba didn't even move her hands seeing the fear clearly written all over the blonde.
Oh Oz this was way out of hand and the angry guilty feeling swallowing Elphaba whole didn't help.
"You…" She struggled to get the words out. It was so wrong. all of it was wrong. It had happened again. Why, why had it happened again!?
"You touched me" She whimpered, feeling ill again, unable to be any more specific.
Just the words, the thought of what had gone on earlier made her sick. Made her scared. Made her sure that it would happen again.
Realization dawned on Elphaba and she almost dove for the toilet herself. Swallowing back her nausea Elphaba stared at the blonde as the full reality of her mistake fell over her. She fell to her knees on the floor of the bathroom, unable to stand as the guilt and regret grew to an unbearable amount.
"What?" Elphaba's voice was small and choked and she almost didn't recognize her own voice as she looked up to the blonde.
"Galinda, I would never-" Elphaba swallowed again as she tried to understand what had happened in the blonde head of her roommate.
"Galinda, I swear to you I would never harm you like that." Tears started to blur her vision but she fought to blink them back not wanting to have burns running down her face.
"I moved your skirt and you slapped me, nothing else happened." Elphaba winced internally as she realized she could have worded that much better.
Had she really only done that? She couldn't remember, it made her head hurt. But the suggestion brought back those memories again, and she had to force herself not to shut down again.
"How do I know. You said it yourself, you moved my skirt. Your intentions were clear. How do I know you didn't go any further." She gulped, staring at the way Elphaba, despite being on the floor still blocked the door, "How do I know you aren't intending to do it again right now"
"I-" Elphaba paused knowing she would have to word this better. "I did move your skirt but I can assure I had no intention of harming you. We were… bantering, in a way, and I pushed it too far and you slapped me, then I went to get my bag and you ran in here."
Elphaba paused as she swallowed again doing her damndest to keep from vomiting at the thought of the blonde being attacked in such a way.
"I have no intention of harming you now or ever. I'm so sorry," Elphaba fought back the tears as knew it was probably useless now but she had to try.
Knowing that her roommate thought that of her and was now afraid of her was the final push and she flinched hissing in pain as tears burned angry red trails down her face. She didn't move to wipe them away even as she could feel the burns deepen as more tears followed.
Let them burn.
She knew deserved far worse for what she had done.