With the ending of one Fairytale begins another.
Disclaimer: I do not own Wicked, these characters, or anything affiliated with it (besides my truckload of merchandise). That pleasure belongs to Gregory Maguire; I just play with the characters as I please.
Warning:
Author's note: Bonus points if you can understand the heading.
Two chapters in one night. How lucky are you? Enjoy!
"Miss Galinda, are you quite alright?" Elphaba asked sincerely. She had noticed that her usually perky roommate was less effervescent than usual and this worried her slightly.
"Huh? What?" Galinda startled. She was lost in her own thoughts when a familiar voice broke through. The one voice that always managed to break through. "Oh, yes, I'm fine thank you" she finally offered after regaining her bearings.
Unconvinced, but dropping the issue, the green girl gave a nod and a shrug. She reluctantly understood that she and her roommate weren't at the 'share everything' stage of their friendship yet... but it didn't stop her from wanting it though.
Thankful that where was no further inquiring; the less-than-perky blonde went back to her musings. There was something going on with her and she needed to work out what it was before it consumed her... a state that she feared wasn't too far off.
Elphaba watched Galinda for a few more moments before she turned back to the obnoxiously thick tome in her hands. She noticed how lost the small blonde looked amongst the pink and ruffles of her bed. "Hmm" she pondered, not realizing that it was out loud.
Suddenly, Galinda formed a plan. "It has to work!" she stated, forgetting that she was not alone. Not bothering to explain her outburst, Galinda bolted up off of her bed and out the door of their shared dorm room. She was in search of something. Or, more importantly; someone.
"Uh, alright?" Elphaba mumbled as she heard the door unintentionally slam shut. She had no idea what her roommate was up to, but thought it best to let her go. Not giving it another thought, the green girl returned to the tome in her hand, having nothing else to do but wait for the hopefully perkier blonde to return.
-xo-
Galinda walked frantically around campus visiting all the places that her friends generally hung out. "He has to be around somewhere!" she stated to no one in particular. The blonde socialite rarely had trouble finding Fiyero as he was usually in close proximity to her. Today, however, was his days with the boys as Galinda spent some quiet time 'studying'. Not ready to give up yet, Galinda headed to the one place that he knew all the boys associated with Fiyero frequented; the back of the Ozball field.
"There you are!" she exclaimed as she neared the group of boys, "I've been looking for you everywhere, Fiyero dearest". She knew she only spoke like that when she wanted something, and she was aware that others had caught on to that fact as well.
"Oooh" all the boys, minus Fiyero, cooed in unison before one boy added, "Someone's in trouble... or about to get lucky!" All the boys cackled at that whilst Fiyero tried to stifle a chuckle.
Galinda scoffed in disgust at the groups actions. She had no desire to help anyone get lucky... Well, maybe one person if she played her cards right. "Now, if you've quite finished!" She chastised, shooting a no-nonsense glance that made everyone quieten down. "That's what I thought" she smirked, and air of authority surrounding her.
Fiyero gently took his girlfriend's arm and led her a few steps away from the group of boys. "What is it, Galinda?" he interrogated, not pleased that his girlfriend was invading on his 'guy-time'. He kept his eyes trained on hers, prying for the slightest hint of information.
Without so much as a warning, the blonde rose on her toes and kissed the stunned boy with as much passion as she could muster. Trying to sort things out, she ignored the various catcalls coming from their audience. Moments later, Galinda lowered herself gently, a frown donning her face. "It's all wrong" she started mumbling, ""Everything I've known. What I've done. Who I am. Everything". Galinda was lost in her own tumultuous thoughts, oblivious to the surrounding world.
"Uh, Galinda?" Fiyero questioned cautiously, "Are you alright? What's going on?" The Winkie prince was concerned and curious about his girlfriend's sudden misplacement of her mind.
Hearing the male voice only made Galinda frown harder. After a few moments, her face softened and tears glistened in her determined blue eyes. "It meant nothing" she whispered. Seeing Fiyero's puzzled expression, she continued, "The kiss, us, and all of it... it meant nothing... I-I don't love you, Fiyero. I love someone else" she admitted, "I'm in love with another. I am so sorry!" By this time, the tears had escaped and started streaming down her rosy cheeks.
"I-I don't understand" Fiyero finally replied. He was shocked, to say the least. He thought they were perfect, but apparently the feeling wasn't mutual. "Who is he?" he asked tentatively after a beat, "Boq? Avaric? Tibbett?" He wasn't sure if he wanted to know, but he enquired anyway.
Galinda was a little taken aback. She didn't prepare for any of this, and moreso didn't plan on sharing who she was in love with. "I-uh... what does it matter?" She asked rhetorically, and a little defensively. She knew it mattered to him considerably, and she should have the decency to tell him, but she just couldn't; especially not since she just broke his heart. She wasn't ready to have her feelings publicised just yet.
"I see how it is!" he snapped, "Fine, if that's how you want it, it's over!" He went to turn, but an idea struck him. He never got to have his fun, and the most popular girl in Shiz just humiliated him in front of his friends. To say he wasn't happy would be an understatement. He turned back to the blonde who was still standing there. With a smirk on his face, he initiated his plan. "It's alright, bitch. I'm sure I'll have hundreds of girls at my door once they find out that I dumped you!" he taunted, "And once all of Shiz knows that you're impure, they'll ignore your sorry ass!"
"Impure? What are you talking about?" We. Never. Slept. Together" she reminded. She wasn't sure what was going on, but whatever it was, she didn't like it. She had noticed that their spectators had been quiet for quite some time, and was curious as to why. Little did she know that they had pre-empted what Fiyero's behaviour was going to be, and were waiting anxiously.
"The innocent social butterfly" Fiyero mocked. "Well, not for long" he added, resolutely. He was going to have her after all, according to himself and the bystanders, anyway. In a swift motion, Fiyero closed in on Galinda and held her hands by her side with his own. He knew that he could easily overpower her, even with all her struggling.
-xo-
Elphaba glanced at the pocket watch that she kept close. She noticed that her roommate had been gone for a good couple of hours and it was nearing sunset. Getting worried, the green girl unfolded herself from her desk chair and grabbed her room key. She was going to find the small blonde and finally find out what was wrong.
Thirty minutes of unsuccessful searching had passed and Elphaba was growing more worried. She had passed most of Galinda's friends and none of them had seen her all day. The worried green girl only had a few more places in mind to check and decided to try the sorcery building first as it was at the far end of the campus. Nearing the building near the Ozball field, Elphaba heard a familiar voice then the apparent noises of a struggle. Hesitating out of fear only for a second, she then quickened her pace in the direction of the distressing noises.
-xo-
"Please! No!" Galinda continued to repeat. The moment Fiyero's hand started making its way under the blondes blue dress, up her thigh, was the moment it registered to her what was going to happen. "Help" she shouted to the group of boys who just sat staring in fear, shock, and disbelief.
"You know you want this. Stop fighting it" Fiyero hissed as the girl tried to escape his grasp. He knew that no one would be game enough to stop him, and no one passed by the field unless there were classes or an Ozball game playing. "I'm just getting what I deserve" he informed the terrified girl in his arms.
The trembling blonde was ready to give up hope. She wasn't getting anywhere by struggling, and it was clear that the boys weren't going to help her. She figured that things would hurt less if she stayed still. Just as she was losing all hope, a familiar voice registered in her mind. A familiar, soothing voice.
-xo-
"I said, LET HER GO!"Elphaba ordered again. Stumbling across her roommate being sexually assaulted by her boyfriend was not something she had imagined during her search for Galinda. The green girl all but marched up to the struggling girl and Fiyero. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" she demanded, grabbing the boy by the back of the collar and hurling him backwards.
"This doesn't concern you!" he shot angrily as he stumbled backwards then landed unpleasantly on the ground. Elphaba had more force than he anticipated. Without missing a beat, he was back on his feet and within inches of the tall, gangly, green girl.
Galinda was terrified with the situation. One moment she was about to give in, the next moment Fiyero was on the ground and Elphaba was between her and the male that tried to assault her. "Please" she whimpered, "please just stop". She wanted everything to stop, to go away. "Elphie" she said, barely above a whisper, tears streaming down her rosy cheeks.
"You stay the fuck away from her!" Elphaba warned, hating that she felt the need to curse in front of her high-class roommate. She didn't know what had transpired between the couple, but she was going to make sure it didn't happen again. With rage flashing across her eyes, Elphaba gave Fiyero one last large shove and turned to her roommate. "Shh, my sweet. I'm here" she tried to soothe the distraught girl. Gently, the green girl took the small porcelain hands within her own and started to lead her back to their dorm room.
"No" Galinda squeaked, realizing where Elphaba was leading her. She had calmed down, but needed to stay outside. She needed to be convinced that outside was still safe. "The fountain please" she requested, this time leading her roommate. Reaching the fountain, Galinda pulled Elphaba down gently on to one of the surrounding benches, her eyes trained on the fountain, her hands still in the green ones.
Elphaba sat with her calming roommate in silence for several long minutes. She had no intention of pushing the blonde, and wasn't even sure if Galinda would tell her; given that their friendship was still new. She was more than willing to sit hand in hand in silence for as long as it took.
"Thank you" the blonde whispered after ten minutes of silence, "thank you for rescuing me". The ten minutes of silence were spent recapping the event, going over her feelings, and how to thank the girl that saved her. She saw Elphaba about to interject something but shook her head to indicate not to. "I mean it, Elphie" she continued, louder and clearer this time. Looking in to Elphaba's golden brown eyes, Galinda could recognize compassion, care, and sincerity, and this made her calm down considerably.
The green girl just listened, her emotions running haywire. She wanted nothing more than to gather the blonde up in her arms and protect her from the world; but wasn't sure that their relationship was up to that stage yet. "When I heard you, I had to do something" she admitted quietly, looking from the piercing blue eyes to the fountain. "I should have been there to protect you!" she stated resolutely, before standing and walking to the edge of the fountain.
"Hey, hey, hey" Galinda said quietly, standing up and joining her company by the fountain, "it isn't your fault in the slightest! If anything, it's my fault". She shifted uncomfortably on her feet before continuing, "I told him that it was all wrong, all a mistake. That I felt nothing when I kissed him, and... and that I love someone else". She was skirting around the person behind Galinda's breakup, but for a good reason at the moment. "We broke up" she finished with, "Besides; I'm supposed to be the mess here, not you". She gave a light chuckle to appease, although she was just as confused as ever.
Elphaba smiled despite of herself. She knew that Galinda wasn't to blame, and knew that deep down, the blonde knew it too. "Do you want to know what I see?" she asked rhetorically, "Close your eyes and trust me. Trust my voice and my touch". She understood that after Fiyero, Galinda would be hesitant about being touched, but she took the chance. Once Galinda complied, Elphaba stood behind the shorter blonde girl and ran her hands down her arms until they rested on her hands beside her body. "Open your eyes, my sweet" she whispered.
Galinda opened her eyes to see her reflection in the fountain with Elphaba standing behind her. She remained quiet, relinquishing these moments to her roommate. She leant back slightly so her back was against Elphaba's front. "I know what I see" she whispered, "Me as a mess, and you supporting me".
With ease, the green girl deflected Galinda's words quietly. "Now" she whispered, her arms encircling Galinda's waist, "What I see is a beautiful, spectacular, amazing, funny, smart, serious, caring, living person. Someone who gets up day after day and makes it her mission to make others smile. Someone whose smile can light up the dampest of days, and whose eyes sparkle involuntarily. I see a fighter, a survivor, you". With the ending of her speech, she gave a gently, lingering kiss on the blonde's temple.
Galinda was sniffling. Elphaba's admission was very moving, and unexpected. She understood the words, but needed to apply it to herself in order to believe and accept them. "It's now or never" she mumbled, turning to face the green girl. "Elphie" she whispered, looking up directly into the glistening brown eyes staring back at her. "I have to tell you something..." She was unsure as to how to tell her roommate that she was completely in love with her best friend. After a moment to collect her thoughts, she finally admitted quietly, "I'm in love with my best friend". She figured that blunt and straight out was the way to go.
Elphaba was a little taken aback by Galinda's admission, and it showed on her face. "You're in love with Shenshen?" she confirmed. Elphaba wasn't a fan of Shenshen; she was too shallow and self absorbed and no good for the Queen of the socialites. "Well... I'm happy for you" she stated, trying to form a supporting smile, although she was far from feeling it.
The blonde plastered a confused look upon her face. She had no idea what Elphaba was talking about. "What? No," she stated, "I'm not in love with Shenshen". Finally she caught on and gave a chuckle. The confused look on her roommates face now amused her to no end. "Elphie, Elphie, Elphie" she smiled genuinely, before turning serious, "Shenshen isn't my best friend, Elphie. I guess I forgot to mention... you are..." Now the truth was out, the emotional blonde felt more vulnerable than earlier with Fiyero. Scared, she quickly diverted her attention to the beautiful red and orange sun that was ready to disappear for the night.
Taking a second to register what Galinda had admitted, Elphaba was sure that she was dreaming. She had been dreaming, hoping, and anticipating that moment for the longest time, and now it had happened, it felt so surreal. "You mean...?" she asked hesitantly. Seeing the blonde slowly nod her head, a smile grew across the green tinted lips. Not thinking on it any longer, Elphaba placed two long slender fingers under Galinda's petite chin and guided her face back to facing forward. With a genuine smile of utmost affection, Elphaba guided Galinda upwards, bringing their lips together.
Feeling soft green lips against her plump pink ones, Galinda gave in completely. She brought one hand up and placed it on the smooth green cheek in front of her, the other hand snaking its way up to rest on Elphaba's shoulder to support herself. Galinda enjoyed the kiss for what felt like hours, days, or even years, only disengaging from it when air became a necessity. She stood mere inches in front of the green girl, gazing into her eyes as the sun went down around them.
"I love you, too" was all that could be heard around the girls, and that was Elphaba's whisper. Looking in to the blue eyes that she fell in love with, Elphaba could see all the possibilities for the future. She knew that together they would be unlimited, and in love for years to come. The world, and everything in it, finally seemed complete now the green girl finally got something she deserved.
