Oh my God. My laptop has been broken for about two weeks.
TWO.
I'm so sorry. I hope this is okay… -cringes- It's short, but it's friendship fluff. And then you'll hate me because it's mostly angst because… well… it's a memory.
Chapter 10
Today and Everyday
When Elphaba woke up the next morning; her head was pounding as she sat up groggily. Thin sheets of hail and rain ran down windows and she looked to Galinda's- Glinda's, bed. She blinked a few times as a memory came crashing onto her like a tidal wave.
Galinda came bustling through the room. The door flew open as the rain chased her. Elphaba leapt from her bed to shield her from ice rain and close the door. She wavered when she saw the blonde shivering and trying to dry off.
"Are you mad? You'll catch a cold or worse! What are you doing in this weather?" Elphaba was fuming, not out of anger but out of concern. "Go get a stool to sit, I'll stroke the fire. Just come sit by it." Elphaba took a few dry logs from the corner and put them, using a poker and ember to start the blaze.
Elphaba got a blanket from Glinda's closet, knowing if she used one of her own the color would surely offend her. She grinned at the thought. She put her arm around the blonde and supported her, moving her from the fire. "I've got you." She murmured into her ear.
Galinda mumbled wearily in response, her head in the crook of Elphaba's arm. Elphaba sat there awkwardly with her, unsure of what to do. The fire cast crooked shadows into the room, the starlight providing little light through the rain. Galinda's breath had evened out Elphaba thought she'd fallen asleep. When she began to move away she grunted and her eyes fluttered open.
"Elphie? Wait… don't go..." She was barely shivering anymore, but a pool of water had collected at her feet. She fumbled under her coat and pulled out a brown paper wrapped package. She held it out towards Elphaba and looked at her earnestly.
Elphaba's brow creased in confusion. "Me?" Galinda nodded and Elphaba took the bundle hesitantly. Her fingers were numb from the icy rain water so she was scrabbling with the string. Gently Galinda got up and put down her blanket, enclosing her warm hands around Elphaba's she helped her with the strings.
A smile crept onto her lips. "Don't be embarrassed, this type of string gives me trouble all the time." Elphaba merely nodded. "Well, go on then. Open it."
Elphaba did. The paper fell to the ground soundlessly to reveal a dark wooden box. On the lid was carved a beautiful Quoxwood tree with roots that trailed down the front, encasing a lock like a bird's nest. She felt something being slipped into her left hand and she raised it to where she could see. The key was made of what she would later find out to be platinum. Tiny words were sketched into the handle.
'To a friend who has made me everything I am and who has made me true to myself and others.'
Elphaba could feel the tears rise to her eyes. She had always said she would never cry. Crying was a sign of weakness- and that was the last thing she was. But for this one time she allowed them to come freely. They weren't choking sobs though; they were graceful tears, silent but there.
She put the key into the hole and turned it slowly. It opened with a small click. Inside of it were dozens of sheets of pieces of paper, each containing Galinda's neat scrawl.
"The sheets are what I would've said… if I'd given you the chance to talk the day I first met you. And what I wish to say… but doesn't seem to come out right."
Elphaba picked one up from the center. 'I'm sorry for everything I did, remember who you are though. You are Elphaba Thropp, the best friend I've ever had and ever will.' She stared at the letters as if she were trying to memorize them.
"Why, Galinda?" She whispered.
She grinned from ear to ear. "Your birthday of course, silly. Happy Birthday, Elphie." Galinda embraced her, the blonde's head barely making it to below Elphaba's chin. She sighed deeply. "Thank you, Lin."
When Elphaba was finally brought back to the present she was trembled as if she had been the one caught in the rain. Shivers racked her body as she pulled her legs against her chest. She took her blanket from the foot of the bed and wrapped herself in it, quietly crying herself back to sleep.
Well, it looks like DaG Glinda remembers her birthday :D Reviews highly appreciated!
Elphie your WWW