Ch.4: - Lessons
Location: Emerald City
Disclaimer: WICKED ISN'T MINE... oh no!
A/n: UPDATES. No more "pov" type third-person chapters. Just full on third person because it's easier for descriptions etc.
Friends, Romans, Countrymen, Gelphie fans alike, feedback is required. Whether the plot is enjoyed or not, I'd love to know. S'il vous plait. (that means please ^^)
Also, kudos to Throppsicle for aiding my idea-mill. (shameless plugging for otherS: PS, go read her story 'Unadulterated Something' because it's awesome!)
The carriage rattled back and forth, jostling hard as it wheeled over a bump. Out of the rain-streaked windows travelers could see rivulets of muddy water lining the unpaved road. The Emerald City shone like a beacon of hope through the hazy grey clouds. Elphaba couldn't help the involuntary flutter of excitement that filled her chest as the carriage neared the city. A small pale hand gripped her own as the ride became bumpy again, fellow travelers lurched forward. Galinda's fingers lightly brushed the back of Elphaba's hand. To the blonde, if the road to the city had given any indication she would imagine a run-down, soggy mud-pit of a city. But it hadn't been. Despite the gloomy day the city was beautiful. It was a place where Galinda could easily see herself living her life; a place she could fit into perfectly.
Galinda's grip on her friend's hand tightened. "Oh Elphaba, look!" The green girl followed her roommate's gaze as the gates to the city came into view. Galinda noticed the sparkle of excitement in her friend's eyes. "Isn't it beautiful?" Galinda's eyes took in such amazing architecture, as she had never laid eyes on before. There were beautiful green skyscrapers made entirely of emerald-tinted glass whose spires seemed to glitter even on this grey day. There were elegant dress shops and museums and libraries, and hotels with flashing neon-emerald signs, with rooftop cupolas that lit up green and gold. It was simply breath taking.
Elphaba pursed her lips, brow creased in consternation. "Well, I certainly won't stand out." She replied.
Galinda elbowed the cackling Elphaba playfully. "You're not as funny as you think." The green girl winked, feeling cheeky. "Alright then you mean green thing, help me with these bags."
The carriage came to a screeching halt.
"All right! Last stop! Emerald City!" The driver called. Passengers streamed from the carriage like cattle. Breathless with excitement and perhaps a bit of nervousness, Galinda held her luggage in one hand and gripped Elphaba's hand in the other.
"C'mon!" The blonde insisted, glancing back quickly enough to see Elphaba's pinched expression.
"If I knew you were going to be this excitable, I would've insisted you stay at Shiz." Regardless of what she said Elphaba couldn't help the smile that splayed her purple-tinged lips. Due to Galinda's relentless urging Elphaba hurried along through the gates of the Emerald City. A city of wonder, that's what it seemed to the young women as they entered hand in hand, but the city could not be held responsible for the sensations it was irrefutably going to quell.
xXxXxXxXx
The cloudy weather had finally let up and it made sunset on the Emerald City streets seem all the more beautiful. The streets seemed to sparkle as Galinda and Elphaba walked down them hand in hand. Every shop was selling something beautiful or rare, and every restaurant and cafe smelled delicious. There were emerald cabs with horses of every color, and many of the city's residents had green glasses to dull the glare from the brilliant buildings. Galinda 'oohed' and 'ahhed' at the various jewelry stores and dress shops they passed. Elphaba would simply roll her eyes, but paused to look in every bookshop window.
Galinda giggled. "Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful?" She paused to look at a beautiful blue-sequined ball-gown that was on display in the Oz-dust Boutique window.
"Gaudy sounds more like it." Elphaba shrugged, tugging Galinda forward towards another bookstore.
"Oh honestly! How many books do you need?" Galinda sighed in exasperation as Elphaba pulled some change from her satchel.
"It's not for a book. We need a new map. I'll be right back, don't wander off anywhere." Elphaba instructed, glancing over her shoulder before ducking into the bookstore.
Galinda huffed and pouted. She was not a child and didn't need to be told from her roommate what to do. She glanced around at the busy city streets, muttering under her breath. Swinging her purse in her hand and stepping from the curb, Galinda headed down the street. Looking up at the spires of the city's tallest building Galinda didn't see the cart parked right in front her.
"Hey! Watch where you're going young lady!" The elderly owner of the cart scolded, shaking her fist.
Galinda's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "I'm so sorry, I was just admiring the..." The blonde trailed off as she noticed the wares on the cart in front of her. It was a cart full of flowers like she had never seen before. "What do you call these?" Galinda asked, taken with the flowers.
"Those Miss? Those are Ozian Roses. Rare though, they only grow here, near to the city. Lotsa the richer folks have bushes of 'um." The seller replied.
"Oh." Galinda muttered running her fingers over the petals of a rose. It was green all over; the petals were a light dusty emerald that grew much darker at the tips. It reminded her, well, of Elphaba's skin. Soft and green. There was no question. "How much?" Galinda asked, reaching into her purse.
The seller smiled broadly, taking Galinda's coins. "Got a sweetheart you're givin' that to?"
The blonde shrugged, smiling despite herself. "I guess you could say that." She waved goodbye before heading back off down the street, twirling the rose's stem between her fingers, which surprisingly, had no thorns. A sweetheart, Galinda pondered. Well, no. More like a roommate, now turned reluctantly friend whom I can't seem to get out of my mind. She froze in her tracks, startled by the thought, but it was true enough. She couldn't keep from thinking about Elphaba. But was that such a horrible thing? They were friends, after all. Albeit not great friends, but still... She found herself fond of Elphaba, perhaps more fond of her than she should've been. But it was nothing to loose one's head over.
"Where have you been?" Galinda was startled when she felt a strong hand grip her arm.
She blinked, staring back into a furious brown gaze. "I was just-"
"Wandering off like I told you not to. Galinda, this isn't Shiz! You can't just walk around un-chaperoned." Elphaba huffed.
Galinda rolled her eyes. "And you make such a fine chaperone, is that it? Besides, it was your crazy idea to come to the city, and might I just add that nothing happened!"
"You're lucky it didn't." Elphaba glanced down at the flower Galinda was fiddling with. "What's that?"
The blonde held the flower out, pouting. "Well, I bought it for you, but had I known you were going to fly off the handle..." She trailed off, muttering angrily under her breath.
Surprised, Elphaba's eyes widened as she accepted the rose. "Thank you." And she replied so sincerely that Galinda couldn't help but look up.
"You're welcome." Galinda smiled. "I'm glad you like it."
Elphaba returned her friend's grin. "I do." She slipped her hand in Galinda's, their fingers intertwining as they headed back to the inn they were staying at.
The blonde tried to quell the flutter that seized her heart. It shouldn't matter so much, Elphaba's approval, but it did. As the back of Elphaba's hand accidentally brushed the expanse of pale thigh not covered by her skirt, Galinda couldn't stop the shiver that traveled down her spine.
xXxXxXxxXxXx
The room was tiny, and not altogether clean. Galinda shuddered as she glanced over at the bed.
"Coming to bed?" Elphaba question, not bothering to glance up from her book.
The question made Galinda's heart race faster.Coming to bed. Yes, the one, tiny bed that we have to share. "Mmhm." Galinda squeaked, sliding in next to Elphaba.
The green girl glanced over as her roommate settled in, resting her blonde head lightly on her shoulder. "Comfy?" Elphaba smiled, moving the rose so she could turn the page.
"As I can be, in this tiny little bed." Galinda huffed.
Elphaba couldn't help but chuckle at the annoyed tone of her friend's voice. "It's not so awful as all that."
"But it is." Galinda whined, stiffening as she felt Elphaba's fingers brush back a curl gently.
"Just try to sleep. We'll be off to see the Wizard before you know it." Elphaba said softly, watching her friend nod and shut her eyes tightly before drifting off to sleep.
Elphaba, who didn't plan to sleep, continued to read as the blonde dozed off on her shoulder. The text was interesting enough, but she wasn't quite paying attention to it. In her shrewd mind the green girl was planning exactly how her meeting with the Wizard tomorrow was going to go. She had her speech planned to a 'T'. Things were going to go smoothly, Elphaba was sure of it. She ran her fingertips idly over the petals of the rose. Such a funny thing, how receiving one small gift made her heart do a flip. After all, the only other person to gift her with anything surely hadn't been her father, or her sister. Actually, Elphaba hadn't received any gifts since she was a toddler. What's more, to get a flower, a gift symbolizing so many things from the girl sleeping soundly in the bed right next to her. It was a silly thought, but maybe Galinda was already attached before they left. Maybe the person she was infatuated with was in fact, herself. Elphaba shook her head, dispelling the thought. Galinda would never be infatuated with another woman, let alone a green one. And the thought was pointless, it would go nowhere. After all, Elphaba considered herself incapable of love. It is impossible to love without a soul, and I have no soul. The green girl mused.
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Galinda woke covered in a cold sweat. Her heart was pounding. That dream was... Galinda shivered, unsure exactly how to word it, even in the privacy of her own mind.
"Bad dream?" Concerned brown eyes stared down at her.
"Uh hum, no. Not entirely." Galinda replied wiping the remaining sweat from her brow and cursing the tight quarters they were in.
"You've only been asleep for a few hours." Elphaba replied, going back to her book.
Galinda shifted over as far from her friend as she could. "Do you think you could...?" She gestured for Elphaba to move over.
"Only if you want to sleep on the floor." Elphaba laughed, only then noticing the blonde's distressed expression. "I could... if you like?"
Waving her hand dismissively, Galinda scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous." Although her heart was still pounding, and she could still feel Elphaba's hands ghosting over her skin, and green lips warm against her neck. Only a dream. Galinda insisted, catching a glimpse of the green rose. It was only a dream.
Elphaba cleared her throat, snapping Galinda from her thoughts. "I can read to you?" She offered.
"Yes." Galinda nodded, settling back against Elphaba's shoulder, hoping it would settle her nerves. "Yes, I'd like that."
And Elphaba read until Galinda fell back into a peaceful slumber.
A/N: Wow. so. I needed a chapter of relationship plot. I really really did, otherwise the rest of the story would've failed miserably. I was plotting wizard stuff too soon i realize. far too soon. Uhm, feedback is loved.
