Chapter 10

That Friday was Avaric's birthday. According to Fiyero, Avaric always had some kind of frivolous, perverted bash to celebrate, and this year was no exception. He was set on going to a strip club. Avaric wanted it to be at least a little surprising, so he decided his friends would choose. He - for better or worse - left this in the hands of Crope and Tibbett, who knew half the strippers in Oz personally.

"There's this place called The Seesaw," Tibbett told them on Thursday. "It's one of the only strip clubs in Shiz with different gendered strippers that's actually clean. We have friends there and apparently they're pretty nice to their workers. Plus, their bartenders are great."

"You've been invited too," Fiyero said to Galinda. "And you Elphie. Though I'm guessing neither of you are very eager."

"You guessed right," Elphaba said shortly. She was folded into an armchair with her nose in a book.

Galinda didn't mind the idea, if it weren't just boys. "Are any other girls going?"

"Uh, I think so? I can't remember their names. Fanny and Shin or something."

"Pfannee and Shenshen," Galinda muttered. "Yeah, I'm not going."

"You know them?"

"Highschool friends." Galinda pulled a face. "Kind of. They heard about the drama with Abbot and my parents, and it's become… strained."

"I'm sorry babe."

"It's okay. I had never liked them all that much." She smiled at Fiyero. "I'm sure it will be fun though."

"I'm mostly going to support this guy," Fiyero said, patting Boq's back. "First strip club." Boq blushed and smiled. For a few days after the sleepover Boq had been wary around Fiyero, who eventually promised he had no interest in seducing Boq. Galinda did wonder if Boq was secretly let down. Fiyero could be a bit of heart breaker.

When Friday came around, Galinda and Elphaba were left a blessedly quiet house. Elphaba was lying on the couch reading with a pot of smoky tea all for herself. Galinda was at the desk in their room drawing up thumbnails of buildings.

She would be applying to start Architecture next semester, and knew she needed to bulk up her portfolio in the months to come. She had stopped going to class and explained her situation to her teachers, who had all understood. She had unofficially dropped Journalism. Next semester, four months away, she would start Architecture and Spellcraft studies. She was brimming with excitement, despite the cost.

She still needed to look into tuition assistance and student loans, and needed to adjust the details of her income and see how that might affect her student benefits. Elphaba had offered to help, being more experienced in such matters. Galinda also now had the time – and the need – for another job. Angles was still a reliable job, with decent pay and a nice discount on drawing supplies, so she definitely wasn't giving those hours up. She had written up a fresh resume and planned to dedicate Sunday to job seeking efforts.

A few hours after the boys had left, Galinda got a call. It was Fiyero. She could hear bad dance music over the line. "Glin! Oh my god, Galinda. You need to get down here." He sounded drunk already. "This is so fun. Crope and Tibbett have taken to the stage. They're in their underwear. The drinks are actually fucking good. And the strippers." He made an indistinct noise. "The strippers are hot. Please come down. Say you will. Say it."

"No," Galinda said. Fiyero whined. "Fi, I don't want to go to a strip club! Not my idea of a fun time."

"I'll buy you drinks?"

"I don't feel like getting drunk either," Galinda countered. He went quiet, and she wondered if he had dropped his phone, until the music suddenly stopped and he was talking again. "Are you outside?"

"Yeah. I couldn't hear myself in there."

Galinda became concerned now she could hear his voice better. "Are you okay?"

He sighed. "Look, I really do think you would have fun and it really is great, but that's not the only reason I'm calling."

"What's up?"

"It's my anxiety." Galinda had thought as much. "The only people I know are Boq, Crope, Tibbett and Avaric, and Avaric is a fucking fuckhead. Boq is more anxious than I am. Crope and Tibbett, though…" Galinda could hear the smile in his voice. "They're kind of flirting with me. Like, seriously, a lot. I think something might happen."

"Both of them?"

"Both of them."

"Wow."

"Yeah. So I don't want to leave! Because, I mean… threesome." He paused. "But I feel anxious as hell. I would just feel a lot better with you here. I'll cover your drinks and I'll help keep Avaric faaaar away. Just… please, Glin? Please come down?"

Galinda looked down at her work and sighed. She had plenty of time to do stuff now anyway, with four months of no school. "Alright, fine, but you owe me for this!"

"Done. Whatever it is in the future, I'm game. I love you. You're beautiful." He was really drunk.

"If you're going to have sex tonight, start drinking more water and less daiquiris."

"You're a good soul," He murmured. "See you soon!"

Galinda decided she would need to go there feeling as strong as she could, so she got her favourite lipstick and did her eyeliner extra carefully. She dressed in mauves and reds and blacks accented with gold. She curled her hair lightly and pinned it to fall around her shoulders just as she wanted it to. She looked like a goddess. She took up her clutch and descended the stairs, and then remembered Elphie was there. She realised she definitely needed Elphaba there with her; Pfannee and Shenshen were not an effective safety measure, and it was a strip club party being ran by and for Avaric. Back up was essential.

She stood in the middle of the livingroom. Elphaba glanced at her fleetingly, then looked back again, eyebrows raised. She looked Galinda over – more than once – and opened her mouth, but didn't say anything. "Hey," Galinda said with a lopsided grin.

Elphaba's eyes snapped up to her face. "Hi. Sorry. You look…" She drew in a breath. "Intimidating." Her eyes were wandering again.

Galinda felt herself grin. "Thank you." Elphaba looked up quickly, cheeks dark. "I'm going to Avaric's stupid party because boys can't do anything without adult supervision, as usual." Elphaba smirked. Galinda decided to put her plan into motion.

She sat on the edge of the couch and touched Elphaba's arm, stroking her wrist with her thumb. "Actually," She started, her voice gentle, "I could use some back up in there. I don't know how many other girls there are there, and it's Avaric, you know? His friends might be as gross as he is." She smiled at Elphaba. "Would you mind coming along? I'll shout you. Fi says they have great drinks there."

Elphaba grimaced. "If it's so unsafe, why go in the first place?"

"Fiyero wants me there. Kind of needs me, actually. Please Elphie. If you don't come, I'm going to go anyway, I would just feel a lot safer with you there."

Elphaba looked away, and then glanced back. "God. Alright, fine." They stood up. "Lets go I guess."

"Um, excuse me?" She stopped Elphaba with a hand on her chest. "You're not going in that."

"What?" She was in an old yellow hoody and black sweatpants. Galinda looked at her incredulously.

"You look fucking awful, Elphie. I'm not going to be seen with you looking like that while I look like this." She took Elphaba's arm and dragged her upstairs. "Come on. I'm dressing you."

"All I have is shitty band shirts and jeans, remember?"

"I'm dressing you from my closet!" Galinda said brightly. Elphaba laughed.

"Are you going to put me in a pretty dress? Because that's not going to work."

"No, silly. I wear more than dresses and skirts."

They decided on her outfit and she came out looking the best Galinda had seen her. She was hot. Like, really, actually pretty good-looking. Galinda added the finishing touch by rolling up Elphaba's sleeves to about half way up her bicep. "Show a little muscle," Galinda said, touching her arm. Elphaba watched her quietly. Galinda suspected Elphaba was actually enjoying herself a little, with how agreeable she was being. Galinda wasn't sure.

She finished Elphaba's other sleeve and stood there, near to her, just a little taller from the heels. She turned the chain so the clasp was behind her neck, and brought her hair forward to fall a little over her shoulders and frame her face. Her hands rested under Elphie's collarbone. "Are you okay with all this?" She asked quietly. "Am I being too pushy?"

Elphaba looked at her for a long moment, and then shook her head. "It's okay," She said. "If it wasn't, I would tell you."

"Alright." She smiled and linked Elphie's arm through hers. "Shall we?"

They took a taxi into town because Galinda refused to get on a bus dressed as she was. The outside of The Seesaw was clean enough. It was a simple door amongst a line of stores that were mostly closed, the odd club and bar and diner still lighting up the street. Just inside were a bouncer and a receptionist. They were let in easy.

"The bouncer didn't comment on my skin," Elphaba said in an odd way. She glanced back at him a few times.

"That's what happens when you dress well." Elphaba hummed.

"Perhaps. I think it was because I was with you. Scared him into silence."

"That happens when you dress well too." They stood before the doors into the main room. "Have you been to a strip club before?" Galinda asked warily.

"No."

"Oh, good."

"Have you?"

"No."

Elphaba took a breath and pushed open the doors. "Let's do this."

Galinda's first impression was that it was very purple. The walls were slate grey with silver and orchard highlights, the back lighting was purple, and the furniture was lavender and black. It was too much. It was dark, too. Most of the light came from the fluorescents built into the stages, each shaped to look like a cut diamond with a pole in the middle. The dancers were mixed, though there were more girls. Galinda spotted Avaric's group around a particularly large stage, where two women and a man were performing. Tibbett and Crope were seated in one of the booths at the edge of the club, Crope bent over Tibbett.

Galinda was pretty sure he was giving Tibbett a blow job. She couldn't see too clearly. Fiyero was the first to spot them. He came over with a wide grin, and then slowed, looking them over.

"Whoa. You both look really, really good," Fiyero said, staring wide eyed. "How the fuck did you even get her out here? And why are you wearing Galinda's clothes?"

"I dressed her," Galinda said proudly. Fiyero approved. "Anyway, are you okay?"

"I'm okay now you're here. But for real, I'm holding up. I've been sticking with Crope and Tibbett." He gestured back at them. "Totally giving Tibbett a BJ."

"These kids," Elphaba muttered. "Galinda, why am I here again?"

"To stop me getting kidnapped and murdered or worse." Galinda curled her arm around Elphie's and smiled at her. "Let's get a drink."

They got drinks. Galinda wasn't sure how drunk she wanted to get, but she hadn't let herself cut loose at the sleepover, so she might as well cut loose here, though it was a bit less safe. She trusted Elphie would watch out for her. She got something zingy and a shot of whipped cream vodka. Elphaba got straight soda. They joined Crope and Tibbett, who were apparently finished. Fiyero was in the bathroom.

"You avoided making a mess?" Galinda said. Crope jumped up excitedly and gave her a hug.

"We did. Crope took one for the team," Tibbett said with a smirk. "How was it babe?"

"Salty and bitter," Crope said as he sat down half in Tibbett's lap. "Eat more fruit." Fiyero reappeared right then.

"What'd I miss?"

"Tibbett's cum tastes gross," Crope said. Tibbett scoffed. They looked at Fiyero, and down the length of his body. "I wonder how a prince would taste," Crope said to Tibbett.

"I'm sure he would be delicious," Tibbett murmured. They made eyes at him. Fiyero blushed to his roots.

"Wow, you weren't kidding," Galinda said quietly to Fiyero. Elphaba looked revolted. She sat in the booth and started enthusiastically on her drink. Galinda was going to join her, until Avaric appeared.

"Galinda! And Elphie! So glad you lowered yourself enough to come to my little get together." He was extremely drunk. "I haven't seen you in ages, Blondie. Heard some interesting news from Abbot."

"Fuck off Avaric," Elphaba said flatly.

"Hey, I'm the birthday boy. I can say whatever I want." He opened his arms. "Look, I'm just fucking with you guys. I want us to get along! Honestly." He put his arm around Galinda. She shrugged him off. He didn't seem to notice.

She held him at arms length and summoned up a decent fake smile. "Happy birthday, Avaric. I'm sure whatever Abbot said was just a hurt little boy acting out."

"Probably. It was way too wild for me to believe of course," Avaric said with a flirtatious grin. "How about we all go scope some ass? Seeing as that's the point of a strip club." He went off to one of the larger stages, waving his hand for them to follow. Fiyero huffed and dragged himself over, Galinda and Tibbett following. Crope and Elphie hung back at the booth.

They all sat in front of a stage with two performers, a man and a woman, on either sides of the diamond. Galinda found it easier to look at the man; watching a female stripper was just uncomfortable somehow. She had a nice body though, Galinda thought, and she was better on the pole than the guy. She rolled her hips and dipped onto her knees, her eyes flicking around and looking right at Galinda. She flashed a grin. Galinda flushed.

Galinda felt awkward just sitting there. She fumbled around in her clutch and pulled out some random note, holding it hesitantly in front of her. Avaric just kind of waved his notes around and flicked them onto the stage, but he wasn't a good example of how anything should be handled. The lady noticed her and moved over, presenting her chest to Galinda. Avaric whooped. Galinda stared at her boobs, glancing up belatedly. The stripper smiled down at her. "I don't bite, baby," She said smoothly. Fiyero pushed Galinda's shoulder a little. She tucked the note in the band of her bra with shaky hands. The lady turned around to give Galinda a phenomenal view of her ass and went back to dancing.

Galinda looked at Fiyero. He snorted. "You look like someone slapped you."

"This is bad for my heart."

"Your 'heart', huh?" Galinda gave him a look. "What? It's a strip club."

"Wait, so you're into chicks?" Avaric said. "That's pretty cool."

"Cool," Galinda repeated.

"Yeah. Cool. And hot. I bet Abbot was super into that. I mean, assuming he knew. Its on his bucket list to have a threesome with two lesbians." Avaric slapped Fiyero's arm. "But all dudes want that, right?"

Galinda sculled the rest of her drink. "Time for a refill," She muttered, Fiyero reprimanding Avaric as she went. She stopped at the bar and then joined Crope and Elphaba, who were in quiet conversation. She sat and listened.

"I'm not sure how all this is done in Munchkinland, but in Ev its almost expected. Nobody goes into stripping thinking its just stripping."

"But it's a product. It's like saying people who sell coffee have to expect to just give people sandwiches as well, when all they want to do is sell coffee. It's simply not ethical."

"They only become strippers if they're okay with selling sex," Crope said. "That's what I'm saying. In Ev, it goes hand in hand. They aren't separate in the first place. There is a culture of coffee coming with sandwiches. Strippers are often insulted if you don't at least ask for a lap dance, because it implies you don't appreciate their product. That's just how it is."

"I see," Elphaba said quietly.

"I doubt they're that insulted," Galinda pitched in. Both of them made little noises of greeting, only just noticing her. "Most of the people that go to these places are gross as hell. I'm sure it's a relief, not getting too personal with them."

"That may be true, though the typical audience in Ev is a little different from Gillikin's," Crope said with wary amusement.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. You lot are very sneaky about it. In Ev, just about everyone goes to strip clubs."

"So everyone buys sex?"

"Well, most people don't actually ask for the full package. Very expensive." Crope tapped his chin thoughtfully. "They usually get a lap dance, at least. Anyway, you're very reserved in comparison."

"It's the shame. Unionists," Elphaba said. Crope giggled. "Gillikin is the heart of Unionism now, though it has sadly gotten quite the foothold in Munchkinland. But after the civil war, about fifty years back, many people retreated back to more pagan beliefs and traditions."

"I never have heard much about that," Crope said. Elphaba looked to be preparing an on the spot history lesson, before Crope was distracted. "Danni! Hey."

The stripper from before was there, smiling with Galinda's note between her fingers. "Crope? I didn't see you come in." Her eyes flicked over the group. "Whats the occasion?"

"Friend's birthday party. Well, kind of friend."

"I see." She looked at Galinda. "I'm here for this one. You gave me a hundred, babe."

Galinda blushed, focusing very hard on looking her in the eye. Now she had a good view of her face, she could see that she had an okay face, and was clearly half Munchkin, with her nose and blocky jaw. Galinda had barely registered what she had said. "I-I'm sorry, was that not enough or…" Crope laughed. She could feel Elphaba staring at her.

"No, quite the opposite," She said, amused. "Here at The Seesaw, a hundred gets you a little extra."

Galinda stared stupidly at Danni as she held out her arm. "Take my hand," She said patiently. Galinda did as she was told quickly, looking back at Crope and Elphaba as she was pulled off. Crope was making encouraging gestures. Elphaba was going to get another drink.

The stripper pulled her into a little room, closing the door behind them. "I'm Danni. What's your name?"

"Galinda."

"Galinda. Pretty." Danni looked her over, eyes lingering. "Would you mind taking a seat?"

"Okay." Galinda sat clumsily back on a plush booth seat. She was nervous, but she was also drunk – like, actually quite drunk, with everything a little tispy-turvy. Danni moved to stand in front of her, pulling the tie from her hair. It fell in graceful brown waves over her shoulder. She stretched the band around her wrist, finally looking at Galinda. "House rules – you don't touch unless I tell you to. Okay?" Galinda was bewildered, but nodded. Danni grinned slowly, seductively. She picked up a little remote. "What kind of music you like, babe?"

"Um, whatever you prefer, I'm not fussed." She turned on something Galinda had never heard before she was done talking. She placed the remote down, bending over very deliberately. Galinda felt like she might pass out with how hot her face felt. Danni rested her arms around Galinda's neck and stood very close to her, legs either side of Galinda's. Galinda's breath stuttered. "Remember," Danni said, "No touching till I say." Her voice was very level. Her hand was running up and down the back of Galinda's neck.

"Okay," Galinda managed. She watched as Danni moved back and began to dance. Galinda kept glancing at her face and then her body and away, and then at her body and her face again. Danni looked perfectly calm and alluring through Galinda's awkwardness. Galinda managed to calm down. She allowed herself to look, too, with the thought of her potentially insulting Danni. Danni seemed like a pretty nice girl. And she had a really nice jaw.

She moved forward again, swaying and dipping her hips. She took Galinda's hands – folded anxiously on her lap – and put them on her hips. Galinda almost pulled away on impulse, because her palms were sweaty and because she had never been in this situation and had no idea what to do, but she got into it despite herself. Danni was good at dancing. She was pretty great in general, smiling when Galinda glanced up at her, moving in time with the music. Galinda held her hips, rather than just kind of resting them there.

"So, you're friends with Crope?" Danni asked suddenly. Galinda's mind lagged.

"Roomates," She said. Danni looked at her, eyes low. "But friends too. He's great."

"Isn't he just?" She said, running her hands over her chest. Galinda licked her lips nervously. "I was wondering if I was seeing things, but your friend –"

"Shes green," Galinda said, too loudly she suspected. "Birth defect." She wasn't sure if she should mention her title, since the last Munchkinlander she had told reacted negatively.

"Wow." Danni straddled her hips, holding herself just above Galinda's lap. "She looked pretty grumpy."

"She's always grumpy," Galinda muttered. Danni glanced at her and smirked.

"You got a crush?" Galinda didn't answer, rubbing her hands over the dip and curve of her hips. Danni chuckled right against her ear. She was good at her job; Galinda was actually getting a little frustrated, having to keep her hands to still. "You can touch my waist too," Danni said. Galinda did, running her hands over her sides as she moved to the music. It was hip hop or something.

"I do," Galinda admitted quietly. Danni looked at her. "Have a crush on the green girl."

"She's got a very interesting face," Danni said. Galinda smiled despite herself.

"She's got a face like an axe," Galinda said.

"Which is interesting."

"I've always wondered why I'm so attracted to her when she's so ugly," Galinda said distractedly. "She's got a great body though. Like, fucking... abs. You know? Maybe it's that."

"She's not ugly," Danni managed to say very casually. "She's attractive. She's got character, I think," Danni said. Galinda eyed her curiously. "She's pretty handsome, right? In a kind of charismatic way."

"Charismatic," Galinda said quietly. She realised the song had ended and Danni had stopped dancing, and was simply sitting on her lap. Galinda smiled up at her. "Thanks for that."

"Thanks for a hundred bucks," Danni said, moving off her. "Come by again some time. Maybe we can grab a drink."

"Yeah, okay," Galinda said, standing up with some effort. Danni left promptly. Galinda followed her out and wandered back to Elphaba and Crope, Fiyero and Tibbett now with them. She sat beside Elphaba. Her drink was watered down from the melted ice, but still good.

"So…" Crope said, giving her a sly grin. "How was Danni?"

Galinda glanced at him and sipped her drink primly. "Good."

"Just good?"

Galinda smile happily despite herself. "Pretty great." The look Crope was giving her. Elphaba watched on, her mouth a thin grimace. She looked pissed. Galinda eyed her. "You know, I've never seen you drunk, Elphie."

"She's on her fourth drink," Crope supplied.

"I have to get drunk to even put up with you lot. Giving blow jobs in public places. Accidentally buying lap dances."

"Such an angry drunk," Crope quipped. Elphaba shot a look at him.

"Why are you angry, Elphie?" Galinda murmured, tangling her arm with Elphaba's and leaning her head on her shoulder. "We're having a good time, yeah?"

"Someone is," Elphaba said vaguely. Galinda wasn't sure if she was referring to Galinda or everyone but Elphie herself. Fiyero was making out with Tibbett in front of a male stripper, and Avaric had his arms around both Shenshen and Pfannee - who pointedly hadn't looked at or spoken to her the entire night - so she probably meant everyone. But Galinda couldn't help wondering if Elphaba was a little envious.

"Elphie," Galinda muttered. "Did you want a lap dance?"

"What?"

"A lap dance. Did you want one. That's why you're upset, right?"

"What?" Crope half yelled. "Elphie, you want a lap dance? I'll give you one."

"No, no, I'll do it," Galinda said as if it were a chore, already starting to stand up. Elphaba grabbed her arm.

"What in Oz are you two on about?"

"If you wanted a lap dance, you should have just said something," Galinda drawled, moving to take off her heels. She reconsidered. The heels were pretty hot. She shrugged off her black jacket, tossing it to Crope.

"I don't want a -" She made a distressed noise. Galinda had straddled her lap, her dress riding up her thighs. Crope gave them some space and watched with wide eyes.

Galinda was much drunker than she was prepared to admit, and had to hold herself up by the back of the booth seat, arms either side of Elphaba's head. Galinda realised she couldn't do much. The table was right behind her. "Okay, wait. I'm gonna…" She climbed off and dragged Elphie onto her feet. "Lets go. Come on."

"Can't I watch?"

"You're gay, Crope, don't do this," Galinda said, very annoyed.

"It's not a sex thing," Crope said. "It's like seeing a world wonder. Elphaba is about to get a drunken lap dance."

"You're missing the wonder," Galinda said flatly, pulling her into the booth Danni had her in.

They faced each other in the little room, all done up in blacks and silvers and lilacs, the back wall all mirror. Elphaba was dark in the face. Galinda pursed her lips a little. "Are you okay?"

Elphaba opened her mouth, then her gaze became unfocused. She frowned. "Are you really going to give me a lap dance?"

"Yep."

"You…" She took a deep breath. "Well, okay."

"Okay!" Galinda gestured to the chairs. "Would you mind taking a seat?" She parroted, slightly less smooth. Elphaba looked like she was going to protest before she did as she was told. Galinda picked up the remote, looked at it, baffled by the configuration. "Um, what do you like?" She looked at Elphie. "Music." Elphaba shook her head dismissively, which Galinda took as her not caring. She pressed play. It was the next track of whatever Danni had played. It had a good beat, and that's all that mattered.

Galinda tried to put down the remote all sexily like Danni had but her heels were too much and she was drunk as hell. She kind of half dropped it on the table. She went up to Elphie and intended to bend over her, but lost her footing – just a little – an Elphaba quickly grabbed her waist, steadying her. Galinda looked up, their faces very close. "Galinda," She said quietly, "You are blind drunk."

"Elphie." Galinda touched her cheek, patted it a few times. "House rules. You don't touch unless I tell you to. Got it?"

"You're, like. Drunk. I mean, I don't know how drunk, but pretty drunk."

"Are we clear?" Galinda said in a certain hard kind of voice, and Elphaba shut up, her hands dropping from Galinda's waist. "Good," Galinda muttered. Elphaba made a face.

Now Galinda was in the situation, she was a bit at a loss, but moving back may have risked falling over in her condition, so instead she began to dance as she was, flicking her hair so it fell over her right shoulder and moving her hips. She was trying to emulate Danni, but figured, fuck it, she was hot as she was, and so did what felt natural. The music was so repetitive even she could follow it. She straightened up a little more and kept one hand on the back of the seat, doing a body roll kind of thing, but like, in a drunk way. Elphaba already looked overwhelmed. She had her head turned away, in fact. Galinda grabbed her face. "Elphie. Elphie you need to look."

"No," Elphaba managed, her voice weirdly high. Galinda sighed very deeply.

"Elphie. Elph- Hey! I'm putting on a show here. My gosh. Such disrespect." Galinda grabbed her hands and put them on her hips, except one kind of landed more on her ass. Elphaba looked up sharply, and then at Galinda's hips with mild terror. "Elphie, do you want me to stop?"

"I don't know," She said loudly. "I mean, this is really weird, you realise that right?"

"No. No, it's perfectly fine."

"I don't think so?"

"Its fine."

"I really think mayb-"

"Shush," Galinda said, Elphaba continuing to ramble nervously. "Shush. Shut up. Do you want me to or not? That's what matters, yeah?" Galinda straddled her hips. "Elphie, do you want it?"

"Want…" Elphaba licked her lips. Galinda followed the movement. "Want what?"

That was the question of the century. Galinda made a noise and kissed Elphaba, pressing her back into the seat. Elphaba's hands trembled, then gripped her hips and held Galinda tight against her. One of them moaned. They kissed with equal fervour, with their open mouths and tongues and teeth all sliding together. Galinda had wondered if Elphaba was a virgin, with her skin and all, but she wasn't. Not if she kissed like this when she wasn't even at her most confident.

"Kiss my neck," Galinda breathed against her jaw. Elphaba obeyed. She sucked, ran her tongue up her throat, kissed the bottom of her jaw. Galinda's new favourite feeling ever was Elphaba biting her, the strange long points of her teeth dragging over her skin. She shuddered in Elphie's lap, steadying herself on her shoulders, all firm muscle. Elphaba's hands ran over her back and her thighs, nails catching on her fishnets. Galinda realised that she absolutely wanted to have her way with Elphie. She wanted it tonight, in this room if necessary. She was already aching for it, already grinding her hips down against her.

She knew that couldn't happen. It was hard through the alcohol and Elphie's mouth on her, but it would be too much too soon. Galinda grabbed Elphaba's hair – close to the scalp, a full hand of it – and pulled her back, dipping down to kiss her, slow and shallow. Elphaba melted beneath her, into her mouth. She broke it lazily.

"I think its time we went home," Galinda said quietly. Elphaba looked at her, swallowed, nodded once.

Galinda was thankful for the mirror wall. She reapplied her lipstick expertly, Elphaba rubbing at her mouth. She pointed at Galinda's neck. "You have marks." Galinda looked at them, tracing them with her fingers. She looked at Elphaba through the mirror in a daze.

"Are you ashamed?"

"No," Elphaba said. "Are you joking? No."

"Good." Galinda smiled at her. "I like them." Elphaba grimaced, her face darkening. It wasn't embarrassment. It was something more serious. "Elphie?"

"It hasn't settled in yet," She said quietly. "I mean, are you attracted to me, or are you just drunk?"

Direct as usual. Galinda couldn't help grinning like an idiot. She capped her makeup. "Definitely not just drunk. I've wanted to do that for a while. You're just…" She really looked at Elphaba, her glorious hair; her black eyes; her sharp face; her shoulders and her arms and the way she stood. God, Galinda wanted to do the wrong thing. She took a deep breath, to calm her. "You're definitely attractive. I'm barely keeping it together."

Elphaba ducked her head, smiled in that lovely way she did. She took Galinda's hand. It felt almost as intimate as the kissing, coming from Elphaba. "Let's go home then."

When they went out, Avaric and the girls and the other faceless boys Avaric had invited were gone. Crope and Tibbett were at the booth with Fiyero wedged between them, talking low, their hands all hidden under the table. Galinda waved over Fiyero's attention and gave him a look. He nodded. She could leave. She smiled up at Elphie and they started home.

Galinda made a sandwich and had at least three glasses of water, willing the drunkenness away. Not that she had minded it during the trip back, when it gave her an excuse to lean into Elphie and have Elphie wrap her arms around her waist.

She cleaned up her face and unpinned her hair and brushed her teeth, and came into their little shared room almost shyly, Elphaba already lying in bed, over the sheets, with her book open. They exchanged little smiles. She undressed, wondering if Elphaba was watching. She was too self-conscious to check though. She only felt self-conscious when she was really into someone, so it worried her a bit. She put on a big shirt and changed her underwear, and hesitated in the middle of the room. She glanced at Elphaba. Elphaba was staring at her, and then looked up, clearly embarrassed at being caught. Galinda smiled and went over and knelt on the side of her bed, kissing her softly. "Goodnight."

"Are you tired?"

Galinda was tired. "Not really," She said quietly. Elphaba cupped her cheek and gave her little kisses, short and sweet. They moved so Galinda was laying half on top of her, making out lazily. Elphaba was in a stupid soft band shirt and boxer briefs. Galinda let her hands drift down casually, over her ribs and her sides, the cut of her hips, the beginning of her ass. Elphaba caught her hand. She drew back.

"Too soon?"

"Well, maybe." She glanced away. "I'm not used to being touched. It feels like too much sometimes."

Galinda frowned. "What do you mean?"

Elphaba hesitated."It's a sensitivity thing," Elphaba went on slowly. She closed her eyes, sighed. "It's an autism thing, actually. It's mostly touching in my case, but it can be sound. Only specific sounds, sharp, loud sounds, when I'm not expecting them."

"Whoa. Wait. Autism?" Galinda leaned up. "You're autistic?"

"Yes. I mean, I was diagnosed with Asperger's originally, but now that just comes under autism as a spectrum."

Galinda was stunned. "Elphie, how am I just hearing about this?"

Elphaba looked uncomfortable. "I guess I just never thought it was too relevant."

"But… isn't that kind of important for us to know?"

"If it ever became relevant, yes," She said slowly. "It just became relevant, so I'm telling you."

"Surely you had reasons to tell me before. I mean… we kind of touch a lot." Elphaba blushed a little at that. "All the hugging. And the massages! Oh, Elphie, was that okay? Were you very uncomfortable?"

"If it bothered me, I would have told you." Elphaba glanced up at her briefly. "To be honest, I was reluctant to tell you because people tend to treat me differently once they know. I'm mentioning it now because…" She worked her jaw. "I don't know. We're changing. Unless I have a good reason, I keep it to myself. You're all quite rambunctious, but accommodating too. I've never had that good reason."

"You haven't told any of the others?"

"Boq knows. If he's mentioned it, I'm not sure."

Galinda did feel a little better hearing that. She settled back onto the bed. "Well, that does explain a bit," she murmured. Elphaba huffed a little laugh.

"And suddenly, my eccentricities fall into place."

"Oh, its not like that." Galinda turned her head, looking at Elphaba sidelong. "I'll have to do my research then."

Elphaba looked away, glanced back up with a smile. "Can we kiss some more?"

"Um, duh?" Galinda grinned. "Where should I put my hands?"

"You just have to warn me," Elphaba said, wrapping her arms around Galinda's waist and dragging her so she was draped over Elphie properly. They kissed long and slow and eventually, Elphaba pressed against her back, they fell asleep.