Chapter 10!
Later that night, while Elphaba was lying in her bed, reading, Galinda was sitting on her vanity, brushing her hair. The blonde set down her brush and looked at the green girl.
"Elphie?" The green girl set her book down and looked at the blonde.
"Yes?"
"I just wanted to say that… I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being so selfish and shallow earlier. I realize now that I was wrong about you."
"Galinda, like I said, you don't need to be sorry. I can't remember you ever being mean towards me. You've really helped me out. Thank you." The blonde stood and went over to the green girl's bed. She climbed in beside her and put one of Elphaba's arms around her shoulders. The green girl smiled and pulled the blonde close. Galinda leaned her head on the verdant shoulder.
"What are you reading?" she asked.
"I don't know." The blonde wrinkled her nose, a gesture Elphaba had always found cute.
"You don't know and you're reading it?"
"I think it's about the history of Ozma regime. It gets a bit confusing at times."
"Read some to me." As Elphaba began to read aloud, Galinda closed her eyes. She didn't quite understand what the words meant, but that didn't matter. Just hearing Elphaba's voice was soothing and she found herself starting to doze off.
Elphaba looked down at the blonde and stopped reading, a smile playing across her features.
"Why did you stop?" Galinda mumbled, eyes still closed.
"You're falling asleep."
"Your voice is comforting. Keep going." Elphaba looked back at the page and found where she had left off. She was about to start again when there was loud knocking on their door. The blonde opened her eyes, irritated.
"Who is that?"
"I don't know."
"Tell them to go away. They're disturbing us." Elphaba got up from her bed and opened the door.
"Madame Morrible!" Galinda said before Elphaba could ask her who she was. That would be embarrassing and not only for Elphaba.
"Miss Elphaba, you must come with me right away. Come, your sister is already waiting." Morrible turned and started down the hall, expecting Elphaba to follow her. Galinda got up reluctantly and followed the two down to Morrible's office.
"Close the door, please." Morrible said once they arrived. Elphaba complied. She looked back and saw her sister. Nessa didn't look too happy to be there. She looked at though she had just been woken up. Elphaba took her sister to be the kind who didn't like to be woken up.
"What is this about?" Elphaba asked, standing beside her sister's chair.
"Your father has passed away."
"What?" Nessa said.
"When?" Elphaba asked.
"Yesterday. You two are expected to be at his funeral, which will be held in three days."
"When are we leaving?"
"Why, tonight, of course."
"Tonight?" both girls said in unison. Elphaba looked at her sister. Galinda wasn't too happy to hear this either.
"And I have some more news."
"Good or bad?" Elphaba asked.
"It depends on how you look at it. Since your father is now deceased, there must be someone to take his place. I'm afraid, Miss Elphaba, you won't be coming back to Shiz."
"Why not?!"
"You're the next Eminent Thropp. You have to take your father's place. Surely you remember that?"
Elphaba and Galinda looked at each other.
"Right. Of course."
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"All aboard!" The train let out a whistle, signaling that it would be departing soon. Elphaba turned to Galinda.
"Well… I guess this is goodbye." she said. The blonde wrapped her arms around the green girl, tears running down her face.
"I don't want you to go, Elphie! How will I live without you?"
"You'll be fine. And it's not like it's goodbye forever. You can come and visit anytime you want." Elphaba replied. "And after you graduate, we can live our lives together." After saying this, Elphaba's face turned a dark green.
"Elphie, do you really mean that?" the blonde asked.
"Only if you want to. I mean, you don't have to. I just thought-"
"Yes. Oh, Elphie, yes!" Galinda embraced the green girl again.
"Good. Here, take this." The green girl pulled a ring out of her pocket. It wasn't in the best condition, but to Galinda, it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
"Oh, Elphie…" she breathed as the green girl slipped the ring onto Galinda's thin finger and smiled at her. Galinda looked at the ring with adoration. "I'll never take it off."
"Elphaba, come on!" Nessa called, poking her head out the open train window. Galinda leaned in and kissed Elphaba passionately. The train whistle sounded again. Elphaba broke away gently.
"Hold out, if you can. Hold out, my sweet." she whispered before turning and getting on the train just as it started to move. She turned and looked back at Galinda, raising her hand in farewell. Galinda waved back and she kept waving until the train picked up speed and rounded a corner. Elphaba disappeared.
The train had taken her only love away from her.
And Galinda wept.
On the train, Elphaba took off her glasses and wiped her eyes, trying to get rid of her tears before Nessa could see them.
She wouldn't get to see Galinda again.
And Elphaba wept.