Upon waking up the next morning, Galinda found herself in an unfamiliar bed, and it took her a few moments to realize she was still in Elphaba's bedroom. The blonde rolled over, her gaze falling on the green woman in question, who was currently sitting in her desk chair and looking very close to slipping off of the hand she was propped up on. The Frottican sat up slowly, doing her best to get out of bed quietly. However, her foot decided it would rather tangle in Elphaba's drab blanket and the blonde fell to the floor with a high-pitched squeak.
Elphaba let out a grunt, slipping off her hand and opening her eyes wearily. "Why am I being woken up at such an ungodly hour?"
"It's nine in the morning Elphaba."
"My point exactly." The green woman yawned and adjusted her glasses, which had become quite askew.
"Did I fall asleep here last night?" Galinda asked as she began struggling with the blanket in an attempt to free herself.
"Well, I didn't kidnap you from your bed, if that is what you mean." Elphaba approached and helped free the Frottican from the fabric. "You fell asleep, yes, and I figured you would be more comfortable in the bed."
"What about you?"
Elphaba shrugged. "Why should I be comfortable?"
Galinda got to her feet and was once again reminded of just how much Elphaba towered over her, despite being rake-thin. "Yes, well, hopefully the others are gone for the day…"
Elphaba grinned, reminding Galinda very much of a hungry shark (if sharks could be green, that is). "Yes, I suppose they would have all manners of questions if they saw you doing the 'walk of shame', as it were."
Galinda pinked at that, despite the fact that Elphaba had waggled green fingers in an imitation of air quotes. "This is hardly a walk of shame."
"You're wearing the same clothes as last night, aren't you? And you did not sleep in your own bed. I'd say you've already filled two of the three requirements."
The blonde's blush only deepened. "You get a sort of sadistic delight out of your little innuendos, don't you?"
"That was hardly an innuendo, Miss Galinda; rather, I stated that we did not engage in coitus."
"What did you just say?"
"Had you tuned me out? Don't worry, that happens to me all the time. I said—"
"No, I heard what you said. I meant the word you used for sex."
A dark eyebrow arched. "Coitus?"
"Yes, that."
"It means exactly the same thing—"
"I know what it means!" Galinda couldn't believe she was having this conversation with Elphaba, of all people. She paused, trying to gather her thoughts and come up with something that would end this conversation once and for all. Instead, she floundered and came back with, "Yes, well, if I lose my dictionary, I know where to find another one."
Elphaba merely blinked; it wasn't the reaction Galinda had hoped for, but at least it had shut her up.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go get ready for the day," Galinda added before turning on her heel and leaving Elphaba's room.
"Galinda, we were wondering when you were going to wake up."
"Sorry, I had a rather bad headache last night." The Frottican slid into her seat as she joined her suitemates for breakfast. If they had noticed anything amiss about her absence last night, they made no mention of it.
"You missed a rather good time," Pfannee said. "We invited Avaric over, and subsequently found out that he is rather terrible at poker, especially when stripping is involved."
Galinda had a feeling that Avaric was terrible at poker on purpose, especially when stripping of any kind was involved. "Sorry to have missed it," Galinda muttered into her coffee.
"Honestly, I never saw cabbage so squished before," Elphaba muttered to herself as she tended to the produce in the garden behind the kitchen.
"Do you always have conversations with the vegetables?"
The Munchkin looked up at the voice, finding Fiyero smiling at her from the other side of the fence.
"Oh yes, I find them far less arrogant than the fruits," Elphaba replied. "It really is appalling, how little this garden has been tended to. These are the saddest cabbages I have ever seen."
Fiyero let out a "hmming" noise, crossing his arms and revealing the tribal tattoos snaking over his muscular arms. "Elphaba, how have you been adjusting to life here at Shiz?"
The Munchkin shrugged. "As well as one can I suppose."
"And your roommates?"
"What about them?"
"You haven't had any trouble with them?"
"If you are referring to the incident in Madame Morrible's class, that was harmless. I survived being pelted with rocks as a child; I can withstand verbal lashings, believe me."
Fiyero frowned, obviously not pleased with that answer. "Yes, but for how long?"
The green woman turned to face the Vinkan. "Fiyero, I understand your concern, being RA and all, but you needn't trouble yourself. People will tire of gossiping about me, as they always do, and I will once again fade into the background. It is the way of my life."
Fiyero still didn't look convinced. "You know, my being concerned isn't just because I am the RA. I really do care."
"Oh, now you have lied, so go confess to the unionist ministers."
"I'm sure I have sins to confess, but lying is not one of them."
"What is it that you want from me?"
Fiyero sighed. "I just want to make sure everything is all right."
"Well, your mission is accomplished. Now please, I must tend to the grapes, arrogant as they may be." Elphaba turned away, indicating that their conversation had ended.
That night brought the first rain of the season, effectively trapping the residents of Crage Hall in their rooms. Galinda sat on her bed, her textbook open in her lap, but she was hardly getting any reading done. She found her thoughts wandering to Elphaba, and she wondered how the green woman was faring. Elphaba had slammed her bedroom door quite solidly upon arriving back to the room after classes, and had yet to emerge again. The blonde could recall the look of fear in her eyes that night Pfannee had poured the water on her; was it possible that Elphaba was afraid of water in general? Now that she thought about it, Galinda couldn't ever recall hearing the shower in Elphaba's room being turned on.
That brought up a whole new set of questions. If Elphaba didn't shower, how did she wash up? Her hair always looked clean; how did one wash their hair without the use of a shower? It was perplexing, really, to the point where Galinda was tempted to go over and ask the green woman about it.
A sharp pain followed by the feeling of wetness pulled Galinda from her musings, and she swore as she realized she had bitten her cuticle too far. The blonde pulled a tissue from the box on her nightstand, pressing it to the spot. She doubted Elphaba would just tell her, which meant she would have to find out some other way, if she really couldn't live without knowing.
"Honestly, Elphaba, stop pacing, you're making the camera blur and freeze."
Elphaba grunted in response, her pacing continuing.
"Elphaba, if you don't have anything to say beyond grunts, I am going to hang up."
"You won't."
"I most certainly will." Nessarose paused. "You haven't even asked about home yet."
Elphaba finally paused in her pacing. "Is that why you called?"
"Well, Father was wondering about you—"
"He could have called me."
"He feels as though you don't tell him the whole truth."
"What is there for me to hide? I go to class, I attend chapel per his request; what else does he expect me to do?"
"You keep secrets—"
"Secrets, secrets, what secrets? I am an open book Nessie."
"An open book written in a dead language, perhaps."
"That was only funny the first time."
"Are you going to ask about home or not?"
"Well, you seem to have something to tell me, so just say it."
Nessa let out a sigh and crossed her arms, her lips pressing tightly together. Silence passed between the sisters, and after a few moments, more out of guilt than anything, Elphaba asked, "How are your legs?"
"They are as fine as can be expected."
Another silence. Elphaba knew what her sister was waiting for, and finally, reluctantly, the elder Thropp asked, "How is home then?"
"You're just asking to appease me."
"Yes, appease; I thought that was the goal of your incessant guilting. I understand that the devoutly religious are rather good at that."
Nessa gave her sister an annoyed look. "It's all very well to turn your nose up at unionism when you have been given a nose by the Unnamed God—"
"Spare me your tirade; my computer will run out of power before you are out of words."
Nessa brushed at some imaginary piece of lint before she said, "Home has been relatively quiet. Father has gone off on another missionary journey; he expects to be gone for about a month. Turtle Heart has been caring for Mother, and the other day we all went for a walk around the grounds—"
"Mother actually walked of her own accord?"
"You don't give her enough credit, Elphaba."
"You haven't known her as long as I have."
"Three years, Elphaba, that is all you have over me. Perhaps you should start acting like the older sibling if you wish to lord it over me."
"I gave both you and Shell my childhood; do not lecture me about my maturity."
"Maturity? You are a five-year-old trapped in a six foot tall body."
Elphaba grinned toothily.
"My point exactly."
"Whatever did that cheesecake do to you to make you glare at it so?"
Galinda looked up to see Elphaba standing behind the counter, offering the blonde her usual crooked grin. "It has the audacity to be blueberry instead of strawberry," the Frottican replied.
Elphaba looked a bit caught off-guard by Galinda's equally witty response, but happily so. "Give me a moment; perhaps I can find a less audacious slice." The green woman turned and disappeared back into the kitchen, leaving the Frottican to wait for her.
"Galinda, we were wondering if we were going to see you for lunch."
The blonde turned to see her suitemates approaching, and she sighed internally upon noticing that Avaric was accompanying them. "Yes, well, here I am."
"We missed you at our poker game the other night," Avaric said, sidling up to the blonde.
"Yes, well, I was otherwise occupied," Galinda said, taking the smallest of steps away from him.
"Maybe next time?" He offered her a smile, which she was sure worked on other girls, but only repelled Galinda further.
"Perhaps." The blonde found herself thinking that she would rather spend another night in Elphaba's room than partake in anything Avaric was involved in.
"I couldn't find any less offensive slices, so I dolled up a plain slice for you—" Elphaba had returned, carrying a small plate with a slice of cheesecake, and stopped mid-sentence upon seeing the others.
"Miss Elphaba. How lovely to see you," Pfannee said.
The Munchkin didn't reply, and Galinda found herself wishing she had just taken the first slice of cheesecake, blueberries or no. She didn't want Elphaba to be tormented because of her.
"Making custom orders now, are we? How sweet." Pfannee looked between the two. "Perhaps you have a bit of a crush on Galinda, hmm? You needn't be embarrassed to admit it; you obviously want her to notice you."
Elphaba still hadn't said a word, her gaze hard and unblinking.
"Well, go on Galinda, don't leave her hanging."
The Frottican looked at Elphaba in what she hoped was an apologetic way as she took the cheesecake slice from her, muttering a "thank you". The slice had strawberry sauce drizzled over it, and Elphaba had added not only a strawberry, but a few raspberries as well. Galinda really was touched that Elphaba had gone through the trouble for her, and she knew this deserved a proper thank you, but as usual, Pfannee had to make Elphaba's life hell.
"Hey, I know you," Avaric said, looking at Elphaba.
"I would suppose so; I am the only green person at Shiz, as far as I know."
"No, I know you from somewhere else."
"How could you know me? I don't know you."
"I've seen you somewhere else." Avaric looked like he was concentrating hard. "Yeah, you were in that movie."
Dark eyes narrowed. "I have never been in a movie."
"No, no, I remember your face; you were in that movie the other night."
"Why Miss Elphaba, you never told us about your acting career," Pfannee said, looking beside herself at the level of Elphaba's discomfort.
"You are confused—I have—never—" Elphaba seemed to be having trouble getting the words out, and Galinda had had enough of this.
"It wasn't Elphaba in the film; it was her mother," Galinda said. "Honestly, Avaric, couldn't you figure that by the year it was made? Elphaba wasn't even alive then."
"Your mother is Melena Thropp?" Milla said, her eyes widening a bit in disbelief.
Dark lips pressed together tightly, and Elphaba turned away, disappearing into the kitchen once again.
"Well, that is a juicy piece of information," Pfannee said after a few moments of silence. "No wonder Melena Thropp dropped out of the public eye once she became pregnant." Pfannee turned her attention to Galinda and added, "How long were you sitting on that?"
"I only just figured it out," the Frottican lied quickly. "Once Avaric said he recognized her from the movie."
If the others thought she was lying, they didn't say anything.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lot of homework to do and I think I'll eat in my room," Galinda added before she turned and headed for where the take-out containers were kept. She glanced down at her cheesecake slice, which seemed to be mocking her now. Elphaba had done nothing to her, and yet still seemed to be suffering at her hands.
"Ozdamnit…"
Elphaba had kicked over two garbage bins so far, and was currently kicking a third into submission. The green woman knew it was juvenile to be acting this way, but she frankly didn't care. Living with her suitemates had been difficult enough, but now that they knew about her mother—
"What did that trashcan do to you?"
Elphaba looked up to see Galinda approaching, and her eyes narrowed before she turned away and began righting the trashcans.
"Elphaba… I'm sorry. I know I said I would keep your secret, but they were all ganging up on you and you brought me that cheesecake and I just… I wanted to help you." Galinda had reached the green woman, and she paused, waiting for a response.
Elphaba didn't seem keen on talking, instead sitting on a nearby bench with a sigh and running a hand through her hair. After a few moments, Galinda sat beside her, opening her take-out container and beginning to eat the sandwich inside.
"Want a bite?" the blonde asked after a minute or so.
"Aren't you afraid you'll catch it?" Elphaba asked bitterly, gesturing to herself half-assedly.
"Please, the only thing I could catch from you is biting sarcasm."
Elphaba let out a short laugh, looking down at her hands. Galinda could tell there were still more than a few unspoken words between them, but for now, she was content to just sit and share a meal with the Munchkin.
"Elphaba, it's midnight."
"I know."
Fiyero's brow furrowed and he approached the green woman, who was currently beating the punching bag in front of her mercilessly. "Well, the rec center is going to close, so maybe you should wrap up?"
Elphaba didn't reply, instead landing a solid kick.
The Vinkan crossed his arms. "I see you're refusing to wear your shoes."
"Don't need shoes."
"And your gloves?"
"I taped my hands; they're fine."
Fiyero rolled his eyes. "Are we going to talk about what's on your mind?"
The green woman merely grunted as she whipped around, delivering a sharp elbow to the bag.
"Elphaba."
The Munchkin finally paused, her breathing slightly ragged. "The others know about my mother. Melena." Another pause. "Pfannee thinks I have feelings for Galinda."
"Do you?"
"I don't know. How does one know what type of feelings they have for others when I barely have feelings of any kind for myself?" Elphaba gave the bag another solid kick.
"Elphaba, if you're afraid they're acting out because of your sexuality—"
"This isn't a matter of sexuality, and what would I care if they knew?"
"Then what is it a matter of?"
"I don't know what I'm feeling." Elphaba let out a sigh, running her hands through her hair.
Fiyero understood then. "And that scares you."
The very thought spoken aloud made Elphaba cringe and want to withdraw further within herself. "You needn't make it sound so dramatic. Honestly, this whole making friends business is such a hassle; I was better off before."
"And so, as you can see, much of the literature on the Kumbric Witch and the Fairy Queen was lost before the Great Drought. Unfortunately, all we have left are fragments from burial sites, and even those are near impossible to translate."
Galinda was doing her best to pay attention, she really was, but Morrible just wasn't giving her anything to hold onto. The blonde found herself doodling skylines in her notebook as Morrible droned on, absently biting at a loose cuticle.
"What did I miss?"
Galinda had to hold back a yawp of surprise as Elphaba suddenly slid into the seat beside her, setting her bag on the floor. "Where—I thought—you haven't been here?"
"I would have though the absence of verdigris would have been obvious." Elphaba pulled out a plastic bag of brightly colored sweet peppers, pulling one out and taking a bite. "Mini pepper?"
"No thank you…" Galinda glanced at Morrible, making sure she was busy before she added, "Where were you?"
"With Dr. Dillamond."
"The Natural Sciences professor?"
Elphaba nodded.
"But you've never been late before, what did he—"
"Is there something you'd like to share with the class, ladies?"
Both Elphaba and Galinda looked up at Morrible's voice, and Galinda colored a little upon realizing that everyone was looking at them as well.
"Not unless anyone wants a mini sweet pepper," Elphaba supplied.
Morrible's gaze narrowed slightly, but she didn't say anything else, instead turning back to the board.
"Those are pretty good," Elphaba said as she bit into another pepper.
Galinda looked down and realized that Elphaba was referring to her sketches. "They're just doodles."
"Well, if those are just doodles, then you must be rather talented." Elphaba paused. "You're majoring in architecture, right?"
Galinda wondered why Elphaba had picked now of all times to strike up a conversation, and she whispered back, "Yes. Now hush, you are ruining this lecture for me."
A dark eyebrow arched. "Are you really enjoying this lecture so much?"
Truthfully, Galinda wasn't. "I don't want to get into trouble, that's all."
"Scared of old Horrible Morrible then?" Elphaba said with a grin.
"Elphaba, you can't say that so close to her."
"Ladies."
Galinda winced at Morrible's harsh tone, and she looked up at their professor.
"Are you quite finished disturbing the class?" the Madame asked.
Before Galinda could mumble some apology, Elphaba spoke up, saying, "I don't see how we're the ones being disruptive. We were merely talking amongst ourselves; you're the one who has stopped class twice to chastise us."
Everyone in the class had fallen silent now, looking between Elphaba and Morrible.
"Regardless of whom you were talking to, Miss Elphaba, it is still disruptive to talk while I am teaching, and I do not appreciate your impertinence."
"I don't mean to be impertinent; I am merely stating a fact."
Morrible looked beyond irritated now, and she said, "You also came in late, which is a disturbance in itself."
"I was with Dr. Dillamond—"
"Ah yes, the good doctor. And you find being with him more important than being in my class on time?"
Elphaba's expression hardened. "I did not realize that you were also being oppressed by the proverbial noose of the Wizard. Shall I stay after class with you as well and discuss such?"
Galinda became aware of the fact that she had been shrinking back into her seat, and the class seemed to be holding its breath. It was obvious that neither party was willing to back down, and Morrible had had enough of having her class disturbed.
"I suppose being the child of a celebrity gives you a certain arrogance and air of superiority; it really is a shame to see such behavior from one so young and bright."
Galinda winced; Morrible had played her trump card by not only making a low comment on Elphaba's skin, but also by revealing her secret.
Elphaba didn't reply, instead covering her face with her hands and remaining that way until class ended, at which time she bolted from the room, leaving behind her bag of peppers.
"Honestly, I am going to be stuck picking up after her, aren't I?" Galinda muttered as she picked up the forgotten bag. Still, she understood why Elphaba was acting such a way, and the Frottican had a feeling she would need to talk to her suitemate once again.
Elphaba was nowhere to be found. She hadn't been in their room when Galinda returned, and a few hours had passed since then. It was beginning to darken outside, and while Galinda knew Elphaba was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, the blonde still found herself wondering where the Munchkin was.
There was the sound of the front door opening, and Galinda looked up from her laptop, recognizing the sound of Elphaba's heavy boots. The blonde quickly stood and made her to way to Elphaba's door, reaching it just as the green woman was unlocking it.
"And where have you been?"
Elphaba visibly jumped (something that surprised them both) before turning around. "I did not realize you were my keeper."
"Oh, don't start with me. The way you just disappeared after class, I was actually concerned for you, you know."
"Oh were you? How kind." Elphaba opened the door to her room and slipped inside, making to close it, but Galinda thrust her arm out, stopping the door.
"You know, when someone says they're concerned about you, the polite response isn't to slam a door in their face," Galinda said.
"Perhaps, but I had planned on changing clothes, and I have been led to believe that shutting the door is polite. I have no shame in my body, but other people have such a delicate sensitivities. However, if you have no qualms with seeing an abundance of verdigris—"
"And if I said I didn't?"
The sentence surprised them both, and Elphaba didn't seem to know how to respond. She was so used to people being put off by her acerbity, so to have Galinda respond in way that matched the green woman… it left Elphaba standing in her doorway dumbly.
"Well, are you going to change or not?" Galinda asked.
"I—yes—I'll change." Elphaba closed the door to her room, and after a few minutes, she re-emerged, wearing a pair of black slacks, a button up shirt, and an undone tie around her neck.
"And where are you going all dressed up?" the Frottican asked.
"What do I have to do to get rid of you?" Elphaba grumbled, though there was no real malice behind the words.
"You can't. I'm like a bad green penny; I always turn up."
"That's what people usually say about me."
Galinda approached the Munchkin and began to do up her tie. "I can't imagine why."
"I can very well tie my own tie."
"But you didn't."
"Because I don't want it done up."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"Leave my tie alone."
Galinda gave the green woman a look before she finished with the tie. "There, isn't that better?"
Elphaba grumbled something incoherent, and in that moment, Galinda made up her mind.
"Take me with you."
A dark eyebrow winged upwards. "You don't even know where I'm going."
"I don't care."
Dark lips pressed together as Elphaba considered. Galinda already knew one of her dirty little secrets; what was one more?
"All right, blondie. Down the rabbit hole we go then."
