The vast majority of buildings that spanned the grounds of Shiz were alike in their time of closing. When the ninth bell sang its melancholy lullaby, the doors were closed and locked until the sun once again peeked over the edge of the earth. This was true for each architectural wonder save the dorm rooms and one other; the Shiz Library. At this, Elphaba Thropp had always delighted. However, for the past three days, the constant availability of the building was infinitely more appreciated and utilized than ever before. In fact, a small alcove in a lesser known corner of the building had been serving quite nicely as Elphaba's make-shift dorm room. She had slept there with her feet propped up upon a small mahogany table, using a book to shield her eyes from the ever-flickering lights. This was not what she considered a comfortable means of rest, however, the green girl chose to forgo comfort in order to maintain a certain amount of distance between herself and Galinda Upland.

During the time spent avoiding her usual sleeping quarters, Elphaba had reached several conclusions in reference to the afformentioned female. In her mind, Galinda was using their recently strengthened bond as a temporary outlet for frustration, frustration that had stemmed from being cut loose by Fiyero. After all, the debutante was so unused to rejection of any kind that one of such magnitude would likely drive her to seek romantic attention from anyone she deemed emotionally vulnerable. She had noticed Elphaba's unintentional reaction to her so she had used it as a point of entry, feeding off the attention as a leech would an open wound. In Elphaba's opinion, the yellow-haired beauty queen had become nothing more than a desperate, calculating bitch.

In later weeks, Thropp mused, she would likely be used once more; this time as a character in a tale Galinda told, a tale of unrequited love. She, of course, would be described as being hopelessly infatuated with the girl. Oh, how her admirers would wail with laughter and mirth, commenting about how ridiculous she was for even considering that Galinda Upland could return her obtuse affections. Then Galinda would silence them, glancing around dramatically as if to search for the green woman, whispering to keep their voices down, lest she be overheard discussing such atrocious happenings. Elphaba could see it all in her mind's eye with vivid clarity, and it made her quake with rage. She would not be the butt of another cruel joke... Not if she could help it.

Galinda was a wreck. Elphaba had been absent for two nights thus far, and the small woman had been unable to sleep or eat since her departure. She had attended a smattering of classes, mostly out of a frantic hope to see Elphaba, but there was no sign of her. The circles beneath her eyes were so pronounced that even her most expensive creams would do nothing to mask them, and her skin had begun to take on a rather sallow tinge from lack of nourishment.

Pfanee and Shen Shen had observed this on the first day, and as per usual, had bombarded the poor girl with questions as to the cause, assuming of course that her break up with Fiyero had finally caught up with her. While this thoroughly annoyed her, Galinda confirmed their suspicions; as she had hoped, this satisfied them enough to, at the very least, cease their relentless attempts to unearth information. Unfortunately, in lieu of questioning, they had taken it upon themselves to comfort her. This consisted of following her nearly everywhere she went with somber faces, their hands rarely doing anything but patting her back or stroking her hair. It was just as infuriating, if not more so, than their previous activities.

On the third night of Elphaba's absence, Pfanee and Shen Shen had once again tailed Galinda, this time into her dorm room. There, they were dividing the labor between brushing Galinda's soft ringlets and bad mouthing Fiyero. Galinda could do nothing but nod occasionally and wait for them to retire to their respective dorm, finally leaving her in much desired solitude. This, however, was taking far longer than she had originally anticipated, much to the debutante's chagrin.

"After all, Miss Galinda," Pfanee was on Anti-Fiyero duty at the moment, though she was also assisting Shen Shen by handing her bobby pins from time to time. "He's never going to find a lady like you. Not one that possesses so many perfect qualities."

Shen Shen nodded her agreement emphatically, drawing Galinda's silver comb through tangle-less locks for the umpteenth time. Pfanee continued without waiting for Galinda to reply, which was just as well as she had no intention of doing so.

"He'll go through the motions. He'll acquire one loose woman after another. He'll have his fun. All men do, as it were." Again, Shen Shen nodded. Pfanee sighed and carried on. "But, in the end, he'll inevitably keep recalling you in his mind; marveling at the virtue you clung to and finding himself more and more intrigued by it. He'll- Oh. Miss Elphaba." Pfanee greeted cooly.

Galinda sat up stock straight, baby blue's snapping to peer at the door from within her mirror. There she was, in all of her green glory, kicking the portal closed with the heel of her boot. She grunted her reply, otherwise ignoring the group as she moved to her wardrobe. After all, she had only returned because she was in desperate need of a bath and a change of clothing.

"Ladies, I think that's enough for the night!" Galinda blurted rather curtly, earning shocked and reproachful stares. She cared not. They were very much in the way of the only conversation that she wished to have.

"Miss Galinda! Are you sure-"

"Yes, yes. I'm quite sureMiss Shen Shen. I am, after all, rather exhausted. I wish to retire for the evening." When the two girls did not immediately move to exit, she added, "Good night."

Exchanging hurt and somewhat suspicious glances, the young women nodded their consent and made to leave.

"Very well, Miss Galinda. Sleep well." Galinda repeated her previous statement slightly more forcefully. Offended and confused, the pair exited the room, shutting the door rather harshly behind them.

Alone at last.

Elphaba, who was doing a suburb job pretending her room mate did not exist, was gathering the items she required for one of her sandalwood oil baths, back ever-turned. Galinda stared longingly at the space between the green woman's shoulder blades, as if hoping that the intensity of her gaze would somehow become tangible. Obviously, this did not occur, and Galinda instead cleared her throat loudly. Still, no response.

"Elphie?" The verdigris woman stiffened slightly, her hand pausing in mid-air while reaching for her towel.

"Do not call me that." There were areas of the arctic circle that held more warmth than the voice that replied. So intense was the chill, in fact, that Galinda could not suppress a shiver. She was undeterred, however, and continued.

"Elphaba, please. A-...Are you alright?" The taller woman barked a laugh, finally grasping her towel and turning to face the blonde.

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" Her tone remained cold, though it was no match for the frost-bitten gleam that filled coffee eyes. Galinda could do nothing but shrug, averting her gaze to the carpet. Elphaba clicked her tongue, annoyed, and made for the bathroom. Before she could reach it, however, her roomie spoke again.

"I'm not."

In mid-step, Ephie paused again, but only for a split second.

"Oh." was her only reply.

Galinda couldn't endure it any longer. Violently she swung about in her chair, tears bursting from her lids as she cried out ardently.

"Oh? Oh!? For DAYS I've longed for you to return! I've ached and cried and missed you terribly, and all you have to say is 'Oh?!' Don't you realize how I feel for you? How much I lo-" Elphaba whirled about on her heel, blind anger replacing stoicism.

"Don't DARE say love! You fickle little thing! You were convinced not days ago that you 'loved' Fiyero! Then, when he tosses you aside, you conveniently discover your deep affection for me?! How pathetic! I am merely a toy to you; a temporary outlet for the deep-seeded and juvenile need that you have to love and be loved! I am NOT a plaything that you can just take out to use when it strikes your fancy! And when you grow tired of me, I will NOT be the butt of your jokes, your tales of the vegetable who fell in love with the rose! The recipient of relentless teasing when my back is turned, simply for your amusement!"

Galinda was floored; her slack jawed stare made this apparent. Suddenly, however, her shock gave way, and anger flared hot within. Leaping to her feet, she crossed the room in two mammoth steps, reaching to grip the fabric of Elphaba's shift roughly in her small fist.

"Listen to me, you thick, green thing! You are, in every sense of the word, wrong! My feelings are NOT fickle! They are real and steadfast and so bloody intense that they have consumed the furthest depths of my soul! No one has EVER caused so much discord within me! No one has EVER affected me to a point where I am unable to sleep nor eat nor live the way you have! Look at me Elphaba! Did FIYERO do THIS?" she gestured emphatically to the state of her appearance, eyes wildly boring into Elphaba's. "I crave you! I yearn for you! I love you, Elphaba Thropp, whether you choose to believe it or not! The past few days, I have never been surrounded by more people, and yet I have never felt so utterly alone! And you tell me that I will toss you aside... That I'll use you as entertainment for the sake of the insolent cows that I associate with? You cruel, cruel thing..." Sobs overtook the words bubbling from her chest and she pressed her face into Elphaba's chest, tears immediately soaking the fabric and lightly stinging the jade skin beneath.

It was Elphie's turn to blanch, stunned into silence, if only for a few clock ticks. When she spoke, her tone had softened considerably.

"What is it that you love about me, Galinda? Tell me that." The blonde did not have to consider this at all.

"Oh, Elphie, its you! Who you are! Your deep intelligence, your cool indifference toward social customs and norms! You are so different and you embrace it! You strive towards it! You don't crave acceptance the way the rest of this sheep-like world does! Elphaba, in all ways you are beautiful! Your laugh, your voice, your heart, your values, your face! You've embraced who I truly am with abandon, in spite of- or even more so for- my imperfections! And you! You've chosen me, out of all the people in this world to let your guard down for. To allow me into your mind and soul. That's why I love you, Elphaba. Don't ever tell me that I do not again! I don't think I could bear it!" Again, Galinda began to weep openly, clutching at Elphaba desperately.

The green woman was silent for some time, her mind whirring and clicking like the cogs of a clock. Then, with a tentative, thoughtful movement, she dipped her head. Galinda knew once more the perfect sensation of Elphaba's lips melding to her own.

Just outside the door to their dormitory, Pfanee and Shen Shen sat in stunned silence, their eyes wide. They had known something was amiss, and had remained to determine what it may be. And, sweet Lurline, had they made a discovery. As quietly as church mice, the pair rose and crept down the hallway. They needed to go and have a visit with Madame Morrible.

O-o-o-o-o-o-o

Sorry it took so long to update this. I have no excuses. I'm fairly, if not absolutely, certain the posts will be coming at a much more acceptable pace.

Please tell me what you think. I hope I haven't grown too rusty. _

OneWingedPegasus