Shiz looked the same as the day they had left. The only difference was that the windows were filthy, and ivy had begun to take over the walls and had engulfed the wizard statue. Glinda walked, looking for signs of life, or anything which would lead her to the messenger.
The great halls large wooden doors had been pushed slightly open.
As she approached she could hear a gentle sobbing.
Poking her head round she shouted. "Hello? Is there anyone there?" As Glinda entered she saw a black lump sitting slumped on a chair, there back towards her.
"Hello? Is everything ok?"
It was then she saw it. A green hand was reaching out of the black cloak, gripping onto a stretched out leg.
She stepped back, feeling like she had just seen a ghost. But this was very much real. She had only known one person with that coloured skin.
"Elphie?"
The cloaked figure turned, looking directly at her. Painful tears had filled her hazel eyes.
"It's good to see you Glinda"
They sat in silence, as Glinda tended to the wound on her leg. It was deep. She did the best she could to clean it, using some alcohol from her flask.
It had caused the green lady to shriek and arch her back in pain.
Now Glinda was gently wrapping it with a bandage from her first aid kit.
She looked up at the green face
" So... do you possibly want to tell me how in Oz you are here?" She had spoken gently, although Elphaba could sense anger in her voice.
" You died Elphie, I saw it happen".
Their eyes met. Glinda's bright blue irises clouded with fresh tears."
"It was all a plan". She answered almost in a mumble.
" I faked it Glinda. There was a trap door. I thought it was the only way."
Glinda stood up, her fists clenched, her mouth tight. She was angry, and with good reason.
"So you've been alive all this time and you didn't bother telling me?" She answered back, still not shouting but spitting out each word.
" I did it to protect you, Glinda-"
She went to stand, wanting to approach her friend, but her leg gave way beneath her.
Glinda walked over, reaching down pulling her back up onto her chair.
" You need to rest that leg for a bit Elphie."
Turning away and taking a deep breath Glinda picked up another chair and placed it next to her friend. A silence fell between them, each of them trying to figure out what to say.
After a couple of minutes, Elphaba felt a sea of blonde ringlets rest on her shoulder.
" So what's changed Elphie? Why tell me your ok now?"
Elphaba's dark eyes looked down at her.
" I've been watching"
Glinda immediately took her head off the black shoulder, sitting upright.
"Watching me? So basically you've been stalking me? Great!" She threw her hands up dramatically.
"It wasn't like that. I have an orb."
She pulls it out of her satchel, handing it to the wide-eyed girl beside her.
" I've seen how you've been coping"
"Coping?"
"Yes coping. The drinking".
With that Glinda stood up, making her way to the pink suitcase. She pulled out one of the hip flasks.
" How else am I suppose to deal with all this? The stress of Oz on my shoulders. I'm Glinda the bloody good! So I'm supposed to just do it and be happy! I'm lonely! This! This dulls the pain!"
Unscrewing it she tipped it into her mouth. Elphaba watched as she gulped almost manically.
Throwing the empty flask back into her case and wiping her mouth, she glared at Elphaba, waiting for a response.
She said nothing.
Glinda started sobbing.
Ugly face not holding anything back crying. She flung herself into her friend's arms. Her arms tightly wrapped around her black cloak. Wetting her shoulder with snot and salty tears.
"It's ok" Elphaba eventually said. Her hand running through Glinda's golden locks.
xxxxx
"Oh, my Oz Galinda it's so unfair horrible morrible making you share with that thing".
The group of girls where deliberately sat within earshot to Elphaba. All sat in the great hall, apparently doing study hour.
She did her best to not react.
Staring at her book, but not really reading.
" I know, but it's a sacrifice I shall have to make for my education" young Galinda smirked.
" Oh, you are so good".
" Why thank you" she patted her friend's arm in appreciation.
" Don't forget the party tonight girls. Whooo!"
Galinda threw her arms up and everyone laughed
" My room 8oclock. There will be punch!"
They all laughed and cheered.
Great... Thought Elphaba just what I've always wanted.
Galindas eyes met hers and she raised her eyebrows as if to say ' I've won'. Elphaba rolled her eyes in response.
xxxxx
The green witch awoke after being haunted by the past again in her dreams.
"Oh you're awake," said an overly cheerful Glinda. She was sat in front of a newly lit fire. Stirring a tin can.
Had she brought food and cooking utensils with her? Or had she raided the school canteen, Elphie wondered, looking at the small pink suitcase.
" You looked hungry," she said pouring what looked like soup into some bowels and handing one over.
"Try starving" she giggled grinning to her best friend and inhaling the tasty aroma.
Glinda sat down next to her again handing over some bread, they both tucked in. Glinda noting that her long lost friend was shovelling the food down as quickly as possible. She really was hungry. Glinda's milky hand gently dipped the bread into the soup, bringing it to her mouth in a ladylike fashion.
She was tipsy. A slight haze had formed around her vision.
She was alive. Elphaba, Elphie, her best friend, her best green companion was alive.
She wasn't alone any more. She had someone to talk to, to moan to, to complain to.
She had no need to feel that numbness of the alcohol anymore. But she knew she would have to work hard on not wanting the loving buzz it left in her body.
Elphaba had finished and was staring at Glinda's bowl. Smiling she handed over her bowl. Continuing to nibble on her slice of bread.
Elphaba licked the bowl clean.
She looked at her a big grin on her peachy face.
" What?" Asked Elphaba. " I did say I was starving" They both laughed. The green witch rubbing her full stomach.
" I've missed this"
" What, food or me?" Glinda asked raising her eyebrows in a cheeky fashion.
"You blondie !" Glinda laughed, it was good to see old Elphie again, laughing, smiling. Now they just needed to figure out how to give Elphaba the life she deserved, without the citizens of Oz grabbing their witch hunting equipment.