The green girl doubted it was guilt.
--
Chapter Eight: The Secret of Friendship
Galinda had excused herself as quickly as she could from her group of friends and headed, her heals clicking loudly on the floor, towards her shared room. The blonde felt incredibly guilty for what she had just been caught doing.
No, she didn't just feel guilty, she felt horrible and disgusted at herself. She had promised to help Elphaba, promised to make her popular. And yet less than twenty-four hours later she had broken that promise by spreading completely false rumours about her roommate to her friends.
"Elphie?" Galinda cautiously questioned as she opened the door to their dorm.
"It's Elphaba," the green girl curtly replied from the bathroom.
Galinda tried the door but it was locked. She sighed. "Elphaba, please, I'm sorry."
The door flew open and Elphaba stood, her face inches from Galinda's. "You're sorry, are you?" she questioned, eyes flashing and sarcasm dripping from her voice. "I can't fathom how I was stupid enough to actually believe that Galinda, of all people, was going to be my friend!"
"Elphaba, it's not that easy," Galinda tried to explain to the green girl, frustrated that her roommate couldn't seem to understand her predicament. "I want to be your friend but I can't drop my whole life for you! I have a popularity status to uphold. In case you didn't realize, you're not exactly the most socially acceptable person!"
Elphaba chuckled, a sound half way between a laugh and a sob. "I'm pretty sure I realized that a long time ago, Galinda."
The blonde frowned. "I'm not just talking about your skin! You're not exactly the easiest person to talk to and warm up to. Have you ever heard the way you talk? I can't believe the words that come from your mouth sometimes!"
Elphaba advanced forward, forcing Galinda to step backwards to keep her distance from her roommate. "I can't believe some of the words that come from your mouth, Miss Galinda," the green girl said in a low, dangerous voice. "I eat paper and drink ink? I eat bats! For goodness sake I don't even eat meat Galinda! I don't need you spreading such rumours about me, I already have enough to deal with!"
"You're crying."
The two simple words caused Elphaba to freeze in her tracks and she quickly brushed her tears away with the back of her hand. "There was something in my eye."
"You shouldn't lie, Miss Elphaba, it's unladylike."
The green girl raised an eyebrow in slight amusement. "And when have I ever expressed any desire to be ladylike?"
Galinda smiled slightly. "Look, Elphie… I'm sorry but I just can't drop it all. I'm not like you, I can't be that strong. Please. Can't we just be friends?"
"Maybe I was overreacting," Elphaba whispered, more to herself than to her roommate. "Fine," she said with a resigned sigh. "But only if you promise to stop spreading such vile rumours. I understand that you don't want to be seen as my friend outside of this room but you don't need to add fuel to the already raging fire."
Galinda's small smile turned into a huge grin. "Oh… we're going to be such good friends! I can just feel it!"
Elphaba let her own small smile grace her often stone-masked face. She realized that maybe, for the first time, she might actually have a friend. A slightly over-bubbly friend but a friend nonetheless.
Even if the friendship had to be kept a secret.
