Chapter Seven:

She was proud and insulting, and you wanted to go away from her. Don't you remember?

Great Expectations, Charles Dickens.

Despite their combined best efforts, Galinda's ice queen ways proved to be too deeply engrained in her personality for her to change her ways. It seemed almost impossible.

Everyday at their lessons, Elphaba would work with Galinda to try and change her ways. She'd hold her hand, link arms, lean her head on her shoulder. But every time Galinda would retreat into her cold existence and snap at Elphaba or run off.

Elphaba observed it all, feeling as useless as ever. She knew that Galinda was attempting to not listen to her mother's teachings, but the older woman had been spending excessive amounts of time with the young girl ever since they had talked about Shiz.

It got to the point where Elphaba barely even saw Galinda anymore.

Their painting and piano lessons had come to an abrupt halt. Galinda and Larena started eating meals at odd hours of the day so that Elphaba and Galinda never ate together. The blonde's door was always shut and locked, even though Elphaba could hear the two women in there talking. She could hear for herself what lessons in cruelty and coldness Galinda was learning but she could not stop it. Elphaba was powerless to cease the teachings of Mrs. Upland.

All she could do was wait until Galinda was allowed to converse with her again.

As the weeks wore on, Elphaba had an abundance of time to herself. She mostly stayed in the library, reading through the collection of old books, just to pass the time. When she had found the numerous volumes on magic, she had eagerly immersed herself with them. But now she felt as if she could recite them from memory. She now was tired of them.

She hadn't dared to try out any of the spells, but the knowledge of them made her anxious, excited and she yearned to discuss it with Galinda. But the blonde girl never came to see her. Elphaba never saw anyone except Mr. Upland who was trying his best to make her comfortable and welcome in the ice castle they called home.

"It's almost Lurlinemas, Elphaba," Mr. Upland commented to her one morning as he sipped his coffee.

"When were you thinking about heading back home to visit your family?"

Elphaba nibbled absentmindedly on her toast, "I was thinking about leaving on Friday if that's alright with you. And then I would be back next Tuesday, the day after Lurlinemas.

"Good, good. We all will be glad to have you back," he said, nodding his head.

Elphaba smiled at him thankfully for his kind words. Galinda was lucky to have a father like him. He was a decent man, just trying to raise his daughter and control his crazy wife.

Elphaba had grown rather fond of Mr. Upland in the few months she had been here.

"How do you all celebrate the holidays?" she asked, feeling compelled to discuss it with him since he had asked her about her plans.

"Oh, well. A little of this, a little of that. But this holiday season I'm afraid I shall be on a business trip Saturday through Monday." Mr. Upland said with deep regret.

"Oh, how very sad for you," Elphaba lamented. But she could only imagine how miserable Lurlinemas would be for Galinda, all alone in this house with only her mother for company. Elphaba felt sorry for her just thinking about it.

"Yes, well, I'll make it up to my girls on Lurlinemas. I always try to, anyways."

Elphaba thought his gesture was commendable. Her own father had never once tried to make any uncelebrated birthdays or holidays up, at least not to her anyways. It was nice that Mr. Upland tried.

He left the table shortly after. Elphaba wandered back up to her room once she had finished her breakfast. The house was deathly still and quiet, as usual but now she had gotten accustomed to the silence.

She opened the door to find the mysterious young blonde sitting on her bed. Her complexion was snow white, almost translucent. Her face was horridly blank. She appeared as though all the life had been sucked out of her. Elphaba gazed upon her with pity, she looked so much more older than she was, so much more lifeless.

"I haven't seen you in a while," the blonde girl said softly, bringing her eyes to look up at Elphaba.

"Your mother has kept you away from me," Elphaba stately plainly. She did not want to play these games with Galinda, not today.

Galinda looked down at her hands which were tightly gripping her yellow dress. Her fingers were clenched as if she was holding on for her life. Her face was expressionless, tired, weak. She looked void of all emotion.

"She wants to speak with you before you leave," The blonde whispered the request so softly Elphaba almost didn't hear it.

Of course upon hearing the demand, the green girl made a face. She was confused. In the three months she had been here, not once had Mrs. Upland reached out to talk with her, to get to know her, and now this? It was all very strange but then again, here in the Upland house, strangeness wasn't uncommon.

"Why?"

Elphaba glared at Galinda intently as if she could coax the answer out of her.

Galinda bit her lip, "I don't know," she shrugged her shoulders but Elphaba could tell she was lying.

Her movements were listless, uncaring. She had turned into the cold monster she had feared to be and there was no turning back. Elphaba could see it in her eyes that the warmth in Galinda had been sucked out of her. There was no smiling on her face today, only a tight line.

"What has she done to you?" Elphaba asked in horror as she gazed upon Galinda's face. She looked so sad. It pained Elphaba to see her like this.

Her bubble gum lips parted to speak but she did not give an answer to Elphaba's question.

"You should go see her sooner rather than later," was all the blonde said before getting up and retreating back into her own room.

Elphaba went to go follow Galinda, but instead she came face to face with Mrs. Upland.

The older woman didn't look at all surprised to see her. Her eyes glinted with the slightest sign of amusement.

"Hello, Mrs. Upland," stammered Elphaba.

"Elphaba." She then slid her arm through one of Elphaba's, "Walk with me, will you dear?"

She had no choice but to obey. They walked down the hallway and then went into her room. Elphaba did not feel comfortable with one bit of this. She was anxious and fidgety.

"I've heard from Galinda that you are planning on leaving on Friday. Is this true?" She sat down gracefully on her bed, looking at Elphaba with an ever so suspicious look on her face.

"Yes, I am," Elphaba answered slowly as if she didn't understand what Mrs. Upland was getting at. She stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, wishing she was anywhere else but there.

A pretty smile spread across the older woman's face, and she fixed her hair which was done up in a tight bun. She then adjusted the buttons on her pristine white dress. Elphaba noticed that every move.

"And are you planning on returning?" Her fingers slid to the back of her neck, tangling themselves in the whisps of her hair that weren't on top of her head.

Her smile was startling and Elphaba was thrown off by the question.

"Of course, I am. Why wouldn't I be?" Elphaba narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

Mrs. Upland's smile disappeared from her face and her eyes grew sharp as well.

"Well, it's just you and Galinda haven't really been getting along. I think it's time you find better employment, Miss Thropp."

"You mean better employment elsewhere," Elphaba spat bitterly.

Larena Upland looked up in mock apology.

"It seems only fitting dear."

"Fitting or not, I want to stay. I believe I can help Galinda," protested the green girl.

"Galinda doesn't need help," Mrs. Upland snapped icily. Her eyes flashed but Elphaba was not afraid of her. Intimidated yes, but not afraid.

"Yes she does. She needs to get away from you. You are the one who is ruining her. You think you are helping her but you're killing her. You're taking away her life so that you can live through her."

Mrs. Upland looked as though Elphaba had slapped her instead of yelled at her.

"You do not get to tell me what you think I am doing to my daughter! I am protecting her, protecting her from the outside world!" Larena said coolly, though her tone was sharp.

"She doesn't love you!" Elphaba blurted out. She hadn't meant to say those words but they had slipped past her tongue before she could stop them.

Mrs. Upland's face dropped. She let down her guard for just a moment. Her fingers shook ever so slightly, and her eyes remained wide as if she couldn't believe what was repeating through her head.

"Do you remember," she asked a little while after, her musical voice quivering, "when you first came here. You didn't like Galinda at all. You two hated each other. You thought of her as proud, insulting... what happened to those thoughts?"

"I got to know the real Galinda, not the cold one you put on display to drive away strangers," Elphaba boldly exclaimed.

To her surprise, Mrs. Upland laughed.

"You are different than the rest of them, she was right," mused the older blonde quietly.

Her dull eyes looked up at Elphaba curiously.

"Fine," she said at last, "You are allowed to stay... but only because I like a challenge. And if my daughter has grown fond of you, I will gladly see how long that lasts," she smiled a sickly sweet grin, "But you must know dear, no amount of affection will win her heart. You can try, but my Galinda is ice cold. She'll drive you away eventually, like she does with everyone else."

Elphaba stood up straight and looked at Larena right in the eyes.

"I hope she drives you away too, at least then she can have a chance of being happy."

She didn't wait to hear a response. She ran through the door and didn't look back.

Sorry for the wait. Hope you guys are still interested!

Also just an FYI, the Annual Greg Awards nominations are going on now! It's being hosted by NellytheActress. Go and vote for your favorite stories and authors. :)

Another note, to Just A Guest: I'm not going to explain what "sort of" gelphie means right now just for the sake of plot. It's kind of fun to keep you guessing. But I promise all will be revealed at one point. :)

Bubble