A/N: Dear Wonderful Readers, This chapter got kind of long, perhaps too long? A big thanks again for all the reviews posted for the last chapter by both members and anonymous readers! And I thank all the others who just stopped by and took time to read. I hope to get another chapter up before end of the year holidays, but if I don't then I hope everyone has a great one (or more) of the following: Happy Hanukkah/Merry Christmas/Happy Kwanzaa/Happy New Year!
Elphaba stepped out of the office. Gazing down at her notes she imagined how much fun it would be to take Galinda to the science museum before Nessa came on Monday. Hearing her roommate mewl, she looked up. Across the hall Fiyero held Galinda's wrist in the air. He pulled the blonde to her tip-toes and raised a thick textbook. With her free hand, Galinda shielded herself from the inevitable blow. Elphaba's notes dropped like a pile of feathers and she dove at Fiyero. She wrenched back his raised arm.
"What do you think you're doing?" she screeched, "Have you lost your mind? Let go of her, you swine!"
"Me?!" Fiyero yelled, "It's her!"
"What's all this?" an old man with a white beard and a worn cardigan asked emerging from the office.
"Professor, this boy was assaulting my roommate," Elphaba explained still latched onto Fiyero.
"It's her! She slapped me!" The Winkie Prince said his hand still manacled to the blonde.
"Impossible!" Elphaba said.
"Actually, Elphie…" Galinda mumbled and the green girl raised an eyebrow and looked down at the blonde. Galinda smiled apologetically and said, "Well, he gave me good reason."
Elphaba pursed her lips to keep from smiling.
"As Galinda's admitted," Fiyero yelled, "I was protecting myself!"
"That little lady doesn't look like a threat," the anatomy professor said, "Now unhand her young man before I have a warden escort you off campus in addition to mandatory counseling this weekend."
"Mandatory counseling?" Fiyero asked releasing Galinda. Elphaba took her roommate aside and examined her wrist for bruises or breaks. "Are you okay, my sweet?" she whispered. Galinda nodded and although she wanted to have a cry of relief and wrap her arms around Elphaba, she held back. Elphaba brushed her roommate's cheek with her thumb, before she turned and collected her notes off the floor and stuffed them into her book sack.
"Yes, counseling on how to handle your emotions in a nonviolent way, and that goes for you too, young lady," the professor said and pointed at Galinda.
"Oh, but that won't do, I have plans this weekend," the blonde said. The bearded professor shrugged and answered, "I suppose next time you'll have to think of those plans before slapping your fellow students."
Elphaba sighed and said,
"Please Professor Zincattot, if I promise to look after Galinda and see that she doesn't get into any more trouble, can you excuse her from counseling? She's to accompany me on my academic excursion this weekend to prepare for my summer biology class."
"Miss Thropp, I don't think it fair to have only one of the offending parties attend counseling."
"That's right!" Fiyero said, "If I have to go so should she!"
Elphaba shot him a look.
"However, sending a young girl alone on an excursion doesn't seem proper either," the professor said and Fiyero's chest deflated, "I suppose I could assign community service instead."
Galinda's lower lip protruded and Elphaba seeing her roommate's expression hissed, "Don't complain! At least we'll have the weekend."
Galinda sighed and gave a defeated nod.
"And, you? Counseling or community service?" the professor turned to Fiyero and asked. The tall boy agreed to community service. "Then it's settled. I'll sign you both up for volunteering to help with new student arrivals on Monday. You'll report to my office at 8am sharp. Until then I expect you two to behave yourselves!" the old man said and walked into his office and slammed the door.
The two women exited the building with Fiyero close behind.
"Elphaba, Elphaba, please I came here to talk with you."
The green girl ignored him and chatted with Galinda until the tall boy called her name a third time. She whipped around and demanded,
"What makes you think I want to talk with you?"
"Please, Elphaba, I brought your book. Just talk with me for five minutes, you owe me that."
"I don't owe you anything," the green girl snapped and turned to Galinda.
"Five minutes alone and I won't ever bother you again!" Fiyero called out.
The offer was too good to refuse.
"Is that a promise?" Elphaba turned around again and asked.
"Yes, yes, I promise!" Fiyero said.
"Elphie, you don't have to do this," Galinda whispered.
"Go over to that tree and I'll meet you there in a minute," Elphaba said to the Winkie Prince. Fiyero grinned, giving a fist-pump before he jogged several feet away. The green girl looked at her roommate who raised an eyebrow. "My sweet, he has a book I want to read, I'll explain that to you later, but in addition to that, I plan to use these five minutes to dissuade him from ever bothering us again. Please trust me," Elphaba asked. The blonde turned her back to Elphaba and said,
"Go on then. Don't keep him waiting."
The green girl frowned. She wanted to kiss Galinda and tell her not to worry, but being in public she held back and trudged over to the Winkie Prince.
When Elphaba got close, Fiyero's facial expression changed. Arrogance turned to a nervous urgency.
"The book," Elphaba said and extended her hand.
"Listen, I have to tell-"
"The book!"
The tall boy sighed and looked down at it.
"What's so great about this book anyway?"
Elphaba groaned. She turned on her heel and took a step when Fiyero yanked her shoulder. The green girl flung her arm back, her fist collided against Fiyero's cheekbone. CLAP! The boy dropped the book and cupped his face.
"Damn! What is it with you women?"
Elphaba knelt down and grabbed the book.
"What is it with us? What is it with you? Thinking that you have the right to touch us when you've received no one's permission."
"I'm sorry, alright, I'm sorry about the library. I should have taken my time with you," the Winkie Prince said, his hand traveling through his hair.
"No, you shouldn't have taken any time at all. You should have left me alone, Fiyero. I do not, nor will I ever, love you."
"How can you say that? You haven't even given us a chance."
"Are you finished?"
"Look," Fiyero continued, "I'm not good at talking about feelings, surely no man is, but don't you see, Elphaba, you're the girl for me? I never knew what I wanted, I only did what was expected, I never asked myself if I was happy. Even down to Galinda. She's a good hostess, a high-society Gillikin woman who's pretty and will probably make a good wife and mother. Everything my parents wanted. Unlike you," Fiyero explained and Elphaba's frame went rigid, "You're crabby, obtuse and green, for Oz's sake, but you're also independent and driven. You have the characteristics of a man, but the womanly wiles to make them attractive. When I watch you, I want that for myself, the freedom to throw social obligations to the wind, to live as I choose. Can't you see that you're the one for me? You make me want to be a better man! Can you honestly expect a better match for yourself?"
The green girl shook her head and said, "You're incredible, you know." Fiyero smiled until Elphaba continued, "You've managed to talk all about yourself, even when you talked about me."
"What do you mean?"
"You talk about my character and ambition as not a property of and for myself, but as an extension of yourself. They widen your capabilities, compliment your deficiencies while you've forgotten to mention how dating you is an attractive prospect for me."
"Elphaba, this isn't a light romp for me like with Galinda. I might consider marrying you."
"Marriage! What more could I desire?" Elphaba asked and rolled her eyes, "The notion that becoming your wife is an assured advantage is based on the prejudice that to exist as a woman is to exist deficient by nature. A woman always needs a man and any man will do as long as he isn't too boorish. Nonsense!" the green girl shouted, "As for never receiving a better offer - staying an unmarried crone is preferable to being constrained to the office of your wife! So if you want to be a better man, be it, but leave me out of it!"
Fiyero stood baffled, his forehead wrinkling in confusion.
"And before I expect you to keep your promise and never bother me again let me say - if you ever touch my roommate like you did in the hall, I vow that the Pine Barron Eunuchs will boast of more manhood than you after my reprisal!"
Fiyero's eyes swelled.
"Goodbye and good riddance!" she said and turned away. Fiyero shook his head and watched the green girl catch up to her roommate, put her arm around her and fade into the horizon.
Thirty minutes later Elphaba backed into her desk and pleaded with her roommate to put down the slab of raw meat.
"Galinda, I'll be fine. There's no need for that."
"Elphie, your hand is already swelling, now just let me see it. I can't use ice and this is next best thing. We're lucky the cafeteria chef was generous enough to give us a whole steak."
Elphaba opened her mouth to object when the blonde said, "Elphaba, you know I'll just pester you for the rest of the evening until you agree."
The green girl closed her mouth, inhaled through her nose, and extended her fist. Galinda smiled and covered it in cold beef. Elphaba cringed as red slime slid around her knuckles.
"His cheeks will be black and blue tomorrow."
"It was completely deserved," Galinda said, "I'm only disappointed I didn't turn around sooner."
Elphaba sniggered and asked,
"And why did you slap him?"
Galinda's smile disappeared.
"He said something crass about you. Something that's not even worth repeating."
Elphaba smiled as she watched the blonde fish for a ribbon inside a dresser drawer. I never imagined that someone like my my blonde roommate would defend me. Galinda tenderly tied the meat to her hand with a pink hair ribbon.
"But I can't study like this," the green girl noted turning her hand back and forth.
"I'll help with your anatomy final. Come to bed."
Elphaba's eyes widened.
"That's not what I meant!" Galinda clarified, "I meant I'd help turn the pages or write notes."
Elphaba raised an eyebrow.
"I give you my word we'll both stay clothed!"
"Well, alright."
"Until your studying's finished of course," Galinda said under her breath and the two curled up in a pink mound of sheets.
Friday passed uneventful with Elphaba submitting her final well before the rest of her class. The two roommates completed the day with a quiet celebration of the semester's end. They had an evening stroll around the grounds and took dinner in their room. After Elphaba had washed up for the evening, she headed toward Galinda's bed with her textbook on Animal rights and stopped when she realized she hadn't been invited. The blonde, already in her nightgown, sat in bed sketching a statue of Lurline in front of a shrine. She looked up and seeing Elphaba hesitate she opened the covers.
"Get in, silly," she said with a smile. The green girl grinned and the two sat side by side silently engaged. After a couple of hours, Galinda asked while applying highlights to Lurline's hair,
"You never told me why Fiyero had your book."
Elphaba flinched, startled by the sound of Galinda's voice and said, "It's not mine. It's a library book that he got for me."
Galinda stopped drawing.
"Excuse me?"
"Hm?" Elphaba murmured still engrossed in the page in front of her.
"Why is Fiyero fetching library books for you? I thought when you last saw him in the library he accosted you. Is there something else that happened between-"
Elphaba heard the high pitch in Galinda's speech and realized her answer had been less than satisfactory.
"My sweet, I forgot to mention before I kneed him, he offered to find a book in the rare and antique section of the library," the green girl answered and turned the page.
"But, that's off limits to girls."
"Yes, that's why he offered."
"But, how did he know what to get you?" Galinda asked still unsatisfied. Elphaba rested the book on her lap and looked over her glasses and said,
"I may have snuck in that section once or twice myself."
Galinda's eyes widened.
"Elphaba Thropp!"
"What? I've finished the half-way decent science books. I needed something fresh."
"That musty book is something fresh?"
The green girl shrugged and replied, "It's provocative. I'm not sure if I believe it just yet or not."
"I don't think provocations go with science."
Elphaba snorted and said,
"The book says that animals used to be Animals or sentient creatures who talked and held posts all around Oz before a terrible ailment befell them. It catalogues the progression of the illness and theorizes how it might have started. It's actually quite fascinating."
Galinda kept silent and stared at her roommate. Elphaba raised an eyebrow.
"Surely you're joking?" the blonde asked.
"I assure you that's what it says. I've just started the last chapter where the author states that the illness may have been a conspiracy started by the rulers of Oz."
"Elphie, really, Unionist sermons on the nature of evil are more believable."
"I didn't know you were familiar with them?"
"I've sat through a few with my father. He was interested in it for a time."
"A time?"
"A full month. He threatened my mother with conversion when she urged him to stop playing cards," Galinda said with a yawn.
Elphaba smirked.
"Your mother's not fond of religion?"
"She prays, but she says overly religious men are boring, especially in bed," Galinda's hand sprung to her mouth, "Oh my! I'm sorry, I didn't think about your father."
Elphaba cackled. "Yes, well, I'd rather not think about him in the present context either."
Galinda giggled and then said, "Elphie, I'm sleepy. Hold me for a bit?" The green girl nodded and tossed her book to the floor and scooted under the covers and Galinda nestled into her.
The next morning Elphaba felt a tickle on her chest, her eyelids flickered open. She flinched when she saw her bosom uncovered in the morning light. Before she could orient herself, Galinda pulled her green hands above her head and held them while she licked down her bony arm. Elphaba shivered and watched goosebumps line her chest. Her nipples were tender. The green girl wondered how long Galinda had played with her before she woke up.
She shuddered as the blonde's pink muscle wrote casually across her chest. Galinda moved on top of her and with her free hand she felt Elphaba's petite bottom. Trapped green hands balled into fists as the blonde raised a beige thigh between her legs. The pressure made Elphaba buck. Galinda's slim fingers slid underneath her panties. Long legs knocked about as pink fingers pulled at threads.
Elphaba felt embarrassed by her body's responses in the daylight. Galinda, when you touch me like this, I can't deny you. Rough fabric rode up the green girl's center. The scent of wet Elphie filled the air. The blonde rubbed her lace covered breasts against Elphaba's small bare ones. The fabric tickled the green girl.
"You're so sexy," Galinda whispered in her ear, "and you're my Elphie, only my Elphie."
Elphaba blushed as Glinda's warm fingers entered her coarse black locks below. Galinda slid her fingers into Elphaba while she kept a thumb on her node, her dancing pink fingers made Elphaba's body sing. The green girl released a thick moan.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
The doorknob jingled.
Elphaba held her breath. Galinda froze. The green girl's stomach went hard as rock. Silence. More waiting. What if it's Morrible? She has a key. She could come in. Elphaba's heart hammered in her ears. What would she say? What if she brought a university warden? There's no time to run. We'll be expelled. Separated. What would father say?
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Galinda pecked Elphaba on the lips and whispered, "Sweetheart, go into the bathroom." Elphaba didn't move. Galinda grabbed Elphaba's chin and breathed, "Now, Elphie! Go!" The green girl nodded and stumbled out of the sheets. She hurried into the bathroom where she stood pressed against the door and listened. Her fingers rushed over themselves to button her nightgown. She could hear Galinda. The blonde rustled with the sheets, fiddled in her closet, cleared her throat before she walked to the door.
It opened.
"Someone was having a good dream! Any more knocking and my nail polish might have chipped."
"Shenshen!" Galinda enunciated and Elphaba sighed. "What are you doing here?"
"I didn't know I needed an invitation to visit a friend. I'd hate to hear that Munchkinland disagreeableness is rubbing off on you?" Shenshen said and kissed Galinda on the cheek before entering. "Though a rubbing off is exactly what those Munchkinland boys from the music festival are here for."
"Shenshen!" Galinda squeaked.
"What? You're not seeing that horrible Winkie Prince anymore. A good move if you ask me, he was much too dark."
"Yes, well, he ended it with me."
"All's well that ends well," Shenshen declared, "Come down to the Boar and Fennel with me for dinner. The place is sure to be filled with virile young men carrying big instruments. The odds are in our favor that they can't all be as little as our Boq."
"Who?"
"Unless you've made other plans?" Shenshen asked.
"I promised Elphaba to go to the science museum."
"A museum?" Shenshen said and crossed her arms, "Honestly, an Arduenna woman at a museum on a perfectly good Saturday, it's almost as if that green freak has done something to you," she huffed, "Pfannee heard from Boq that she grew up in Quadling Country. With the way she's taken to you, perhaps she might be one of those m-"
"You're right!" Galinda erupted, "Who would want to waste a whole day in a museum when it could be spent with potential suitors!"
A sharp pain shot in Elphaba's chest. Galinda's society, of course she'd rather spend time at a party than with you at a museum. But, she was different lately. She didn't mind being in public with me, she almost seemed to prefer my company to others.
Shenshen grinned, "Oh, Galinda! I did miss you. All that time you've spent with the green bean has left only Pfannee to socialize with and one can only take so much of her jealous fits. Where is the green freak anyway?"
"Out!" Galinda said, "She said she had to go to the library."
"She's so queer. Spending all that time around moldy books. Perhaps some of that mold has gotten to her brain."
"Yeah," Galinda said quietly.
"I remember before the Oz Dust you said she never showered. How can you stand it? Doesn't she start to smell?"
The green girl tensed at Shenshen's revelation.
"I make do and she does douse herself in oils."
"To remove the stench I imagine."
"Yes, I suppose."
Elphaba's stomach hurt.
"Positively revolting," Shenshen gagged, "Such filth doesn't belong at Shiz."
"Stop it, please, Shenshen. I have to live with her and there are parts of her that aren't terrible."
"Is that what that nonsense about being her friend was about? Trying your best to live with her? If you would have said something sooner, I would have just ignored her."
"Please don't say anymore. Parts of Elphaba are pleasant, once you get to know her. And, I do see her as a friend of sorts."
The sort that you don't mind playing with undressed? Elphaba thought.
Shenshen huffed, "Galinda, you truly are too gracious. Well, I'll return in an hour and a half to pick you up. We'll have to go to the salon first and get ready. Dress in something comfortable, there's sure to be plenty of bawdy dancing at the pub."
Elphaba's body went rigid.
"Sounds fantabulous. Just what I need to get over Fiyero," the blonde said and let Shenshen out.
Elphaba felt claustrophobic in the bathroom. No matter how many times she inhaled there wasn't enough air. She threw open the bathroom door to see Galinda leaned against their front door with apologetic eyes. The green girl didn't want to feel sorry for her, not when she hurt like this.
"Elphie, I'm sorry, I didn't mean any of it, but I didn't know what to say. She would never understand how I feel about you, even if I tried to explain," Galinda rambled, "I just wanted her to leave."
The green girl didn't respond, she moved to her closet and pulled out a simple brown dress. Galinda rushed across the room and laid a hand on her arm,
"Elphie, you believe me, don't you?"
Elphaba threw off her hand and shouted,
"Don't! I haven't oiled and we wouldn't want my stench to soil you."
The blonde took a surprised step back and the green girl strode past her into the bathroom. Elphaba stared at the mirror and wondered how her roommate's words could cut like this. She had heard worse. Much worse. About her skin, her manners, her personality, but none of that made her feel like she did now. She felt nauseous, but her pride refused her release. She didn't want Galinda to hear how much power she had over her. With shaky hands she oiled and dressed. When she opened the door, Galinda hopped from her bed clothed in a short blue dress. Elphaba rolled her eyes and turned toward her desk to grab her book bag.
"You could come with me to the pub? After your museum visit, you could meet me there around 4pm?"
After she promised we would go to the museum, she's leaving you for shallow friends. And for boys, Elphaba realized. The green girl had been to the museum many times and only planned a visit so she could share it with Galinda. "I'd rather not be a spectator to your whoredom," she jabbed.
A flush filled the blonde's cheeks and her face fell.
"Shenshen and I are different. I don't like doing those kind of things with boys I've just met."
"No you prefer to take my clothes off. Your roommate whom you can scarcely stand."
"That's not true! You know the way I feel about you!"
"Your truth changes from one convenience to the next. Who can believe what you say when you say anything to get what you want."
The blonde's bottom lip quivered,
"Surely you don't think that, Elphie! Surely you don't think the time we spent together was just-"
"I don't know what to think!" Elphaba shouted, "I don't want everything we do to be public, but can't you even admit that we're friends? Am I so shameful to you?" Elphaba had been considered a shame her whole life and she couldn't bear for Galinda to feel the same.
The blonde paused. Elphaba took one look at her roommate's uncertainty and flew past her, dashing down the hall until she came to a standstill in the lobby. She bit her lip hard to quell the prickling in her eyes. She's ashamed, the green girl realized. A minute passed and she sighed. What are you waiting for? She's not coming for you.
An hour and a carriage ride later, Elphaba entered the museum. The walls were the color of headstone. For hours she passed liked a phantom from one exhibit to the next. The silent rooms amplified the green girl's thoughts. She imagined how her blonde roommate would have reacted if she were present. Laughing at the silly shaped boat, the subaquarius, a ship that went under water instead of floating on top. Marveling at the two-wheeled ride. Oooing and Aaahhing at the kaleidoscope while mispronouncing its name.
Elphaba's body felt heavy. The more exhibits she saw, the more she missed her roommate. The more she missed Galinda, the more her chest hurt. It's not fair that you made me feel these things for you. I was fine before you, I didn't feel anything before you. There was no joy, but there also wasn't this pain either, she thought when a tall man with a buxom older blonde bumped into her.
The green girl teetered to the right almost toppling over a roped exhibit. The couple brushed past without an apology. She regained her balance and turned. The golden haired beauty who glided across the room with a notorious Gillikin grace looked over her shoulder and winked at Elphaba. Galinda, my sweet, Elphaba thought. The tall man leaned in and brushed his nose against the older woman and kissed her on the mouth before he whispered in her ear and pulled her into the next room. Elphaba knew at that moment she had to go.
She had no plan, but she would think of something. She would convince Galinda somehow. She would find a way. Before some drunk horny Munchkinlander slobbered all over her. She rushed through the exhibits, out the exit, to the end of the road. The carriages were gone. The outside attendant notified her that the next one wouldn't be back for at least another hour. Elphaba sighed and sat down on a nearby wooden bench.
A few hours later, Elphaba hopped out of the carriage and scurried down Shiz streets littered with festival remnants and clusters of Munchkinlanders and university students. Her boots clacked along cobblestone until the lights of the pub came into view. The green girl entered the dimly lit establishment and immediately pressed herself against the wall to avoid being pummeled by very inebriated patrons dancing to a Munchkinland band in the corner. The double tiered room was lit by candelabras and damp with the smell of sweat, dirt and whiskey. Elphaba scanned the crowd, but she couldn't find Galinda or her university friends. A stout red-haired man grabbed her arm.
"Interesting face paint you have. Want to dance?" he asked and ushered her to the middle of the room.
"Not at all!" Elphaba declared and removed her arm from his grip, "I'm looking for my friend, Galinda."
"Who?" he asked and pulled at his sweat soaked shirt collar.
"Nevermind," she said and turned to leave.
"Cute Shiz student in a tiny blue dress?"
Elphaba whipped around and nodded. "Yes, that's her."
"She was a real beaut'. Good round curves, plenty for a man to hold onto. Everybody's looking for her."
Elphaba's fists clenched. She tried her best to sound polite and asked,
"Please, where did she go?"
"Last I saw she went upstairs to the guest room. Probably still there now, shaking that-"
The green girl dashed to the staircase, flew to the second floor, and waded through a sea of dancing couples until she made it to the guest room. The door was closed. Elphaba listened for Galinda's voice, but she couldn't hear anything over the loud clambering below. She opened the door and in the barely lit room with only a bed and a small dresser, she saw the back of a naked man leaned over a woman in bed. The woman's naked legs moved up and hugged his waist. Elphaba couldn't see Galinda's face, but she heard a loud moan when the man entered her and said in a Munchkinland accent,
"You feel so good. So very good, my little Gillikin vixen."
Elphaba covered her mouth and stepped back in shock.
"Didn't take you for a voyeur," a voice said and shut the door. The sound jolted Elphaba out of her stupor and she turned to run when the voice caught her arm. She looked up and saw Avaric's perspiring form beside her.
"Let go of me!" she shouted.
"Aren't we in a witchy mood."
"I mean it Avaric, I'm leaving!"
"I thought you'd want to see Galinda before you left."
"Yes, well, I think I saw enough of her."
"When? I've been listening to her blabber on all night about you."
"She didn't seem to be saying much in there!"
"Where?"
Elphaba snorted and pointed to the guest room. Avaric gave a hearty laugh.
"Yes, I don't imagine she did say much in there," the blonde boy said and the green girl gritted her teeth, "because she's not in there. Shenshen's been monopolizing that room for hours."
"Shenshen?" Elphaba uttered, "Shenshen's the one in there," she murmured and smiled in relief. She turned to go downstairs, but Avaric held her back. "What now?" the green girl snapped, "I need to find her."
"Let's have a chat before you see Galinda."
"Later," Elphaba said and turned.
"How long has she been in love with you?"
Elphaba stopped moving. Her face went cold and then flushed with heat.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she breathed out.
"Oh, I think you do, artichoke. Come downstairs and I'll buy you a round before I take you to her."
The green girl was afraid of the consequences for her and Galinda if she said 'no' so she followed Avaric to the bar. With everyone on the floor dancing, a corner table was available and the two sat down after the blonde boy ordered them each a warm glass of cognac. He raised the snifter and took in a whiff.
The green girl waited while the boy drank and drank. Finally she announced,
"If you don't have anything to say, I'm leaving!"
"To apologize to Galinda?"
"Apologize? I'm not the one who-" Elphaba caught herself and pursed her lips and stared at the grinning boy with narrowed eyes.
"You must have done something. Our normally bubbly Galinda has been teary-eyed the whole night, carrying on that you'll never speak to her again. Even Boq tired of her incessant talk of you and left with Milla. Green bean, I've noticed. Our Glin' has affections for you," Avaric declared.
"Don't be stupid, of course she has affections for me, we're friends."
"She sees you as more and I believe you feel the same."
Elphaba rolled her eyes.
"I wouldn't have completely believed it myself if she hadn't confirmed that she'd rather have you back than Fiyero. Albeit I had to give her a few drinks before she really started talking," Avaric added and Elphaba glared at him and said,
"You ass! Were you two alone?"
"Ah! It always starts with jealousy! We were alone when it really got good, but don't worry I didn't use any moves on her."
"I'm not jealous of you. I just don't want her embarrassed because of me."
"You love her, don't you vegetable?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"A yes or no kind."
"Galinda's my friend of course I love her."
"Not as anything more?"
Elphaba snorted.
Getting nowhere Avaric tried another approach,
"Well if you don't have feelings for her than I suppose you don't mind that I left her in the care of a very handsy Munchkinlander. He has the biggest crush on her, perhaps even bigger than Boq's. It's not very hard being bigger than Boq."
Elphaba's eyes bulged. "Where is she?!" she asked.
Avaric sighed, "You're ashamed of your feelings, aren't you?"
"Shame has nothing to do with it! I just don't want her to get hurt. Then she'll never want to-" Elphaba clamped her mouth shut a second time.
"She'll never want to what, green bean? Tell me. It'll be our secret. Tell me and I'll take you to her."
"Why are you so interested?"
"A crying girl on your shoulder is quite an evening killer," Avaric explained, "Tonight I could have been using the guest room with a sweet girl from Munchkinland, but as we know that didn't happen. So I figure something ought to come of my kindness, even if it's only the satiation of a long held curiosity."
The green girl rolled her eyes and kept silent.
"If you want to take your time while she's making out with that Munchkinlander, by all means-"
"I care for her very much!" Elphaba shouted, "And not that it's any of your business, but Galinda's the first friend I've ever had, so I have no standard to measure our affections against. Now if you won't help me find her, I'll look myself!" she finished and shot up from her seat.
"Alright, alright, no need to get steamed, artichoke. She's in the courtyard out back listening to the second band."
Elphaba turned and rushed through the revelrous couples to the courtyard and scanned the crowd in the fleeting vesper light. She spotted Galinda. She was indeed seated on a bench next to a Munchkinlander who at that moment slid his arm around her shoulders. Elphaba's eyes widened. Keep your hands to yourself!
Avaric rushed out behind her and witnessed Elphaba's sour expression at the closely seated couple. Before she could move, he grabbed her arm.
"Must you keep-" she hissed and Avaric put a hand over her mouth.
"Vegetable, I think you should try to hear for yourself how she feels about you. Don't ruin it by barging in on them just yet. Follow me," he whispered in her ear and Elphaba squirmed. He kept a hand over her mouth and guided her by the waist to a hidden spot next to Galinda's bench.
Concealed by tall thick bushes, the green girl raised an eyebrow and waited for Avaric to release his grip. He didn't. He only whispered, "Just listen!"
"So you see, Mr. Little, how dear my Elphie is to me, but I've ruined it. I'm quite wretched," Galinda whined and the short boy blotted her eyes with a handkerchief. Elphaba's heart jumped when she watched Galinda's face. She's beautiful even when she's crying. My sweet, don't cry.
"Oh, Miss Galinda, you're not at all wretched to me," the short boy said.
"What if she never speaks to me again? I'd be lost without her."
"You'd have me Miss Galinda," the boy said and put his head against hers.
"But you're not my Elphie," Galinda burbled and Elphaba realized by the blonde's tone she was still tipsy. "I shouldn't have been a coward, I should have told off Shenshen. But, don't you see with those troublesome people in Quadling Country it was rather impossible! If someone mistook us for them - if something horrificus were to happen to Elphie because of me-well- it's-it's inconceivalacious! You see I love her quite deeply."
Elphaba didn't know exactly what her roommate was talking about, but she said it. Love. Elphaba's heart filled with warmth. Until she witnessed pudgy Munchkindland fingers slid over the blonde's bare knee. She twisted in Avaric's grip, intending to get up and remove the offending hand, but Avaric kept her still.
"Not now, it's just getting good," he hissed.
"She sure sounds like a swell friend," the Munchkinlander said and scooted his hand further up the blonde's thigh.
"I've had many friends, but she's the only one, the only one that matters," Galinda declared as more tears spilled down her cheeks.
Stop touching her you little troll, Elphaba thought as the boy moved his hand in small circles on her inner thigh.
"There, there, now Miss Galinda. I'll make you feel better," the boy said and slipped his hand past the hem of her dress. Elphaba's eyes bulged.
"Ouu! Excuse me, but I don't think you're listening to me at all!" the blonde said and grabbed his hand, "I need her, not you!"
"But, can your Elphie do this?" the boy asked and pressed his lips to the blonde's. Galinda pulled away, "Stop it! I'm feeling virginal!"
"All girls are the same, they just need a little encouragement," the Munchkinlander said and scooted closer. Galinda lurched back. Elphaba couldn't stand anymore. The same disgust she had felt with Fiyero in the library bubbled to her throat. She bit Avaric. Hard.
"Ouch!" the boy yelped and Elphaba flew from the bushes in front of the couple. The Munchkinlander's jaw dropped in shock.
"Elphie?! How wonderful you came!" Galinda said and shot from her spot, but came to a surprised standstill when Avaric jumped out of the bushes. "Elphie, what were both doing in there?"
"Hide-and-go-seek. Artichoke, I'm afraid you lost, I've found you," the Gillikinese boy said.
The green girl glared at him and then turned to Galinda and said, "I'll explain later, my sweet."
"You called me your sweet? You're not mad at me anymore?" Galinda asked with a faint smile.
"Did you mean what you said, when you said you loved me?"
"You heard that? Just how long were you playing hide-and-go-seek?" the blonde asked with her hands on her hips.
"Your best friend-your 'Elphie,' she's Elphaba Thropp Third Descending of Nest Hardings?" the Munchkinlander interrupted. Elphaba had almost forgotten about the small boy and glared at the Munchkinlander behind Galinda. He cowered and Galinda turned her head and asked, "You know her?"
"Of-of-f course," he stammered.
"Elphie, there's so many mysteries about you," Galinda said adoringly.
"If we go home now, I'll tell you all about them," Elphaba said eager to get away from both an avidly listening Avaric and the lascivious Munchkinlander.
The blonde rushed and threw her arms around her roommate. Elphaba felt both nervous and relieved.
"Oh, Elphie, I'm so sorry about this morning, I can't do without you. You must know I have the highest affections for you."
Avaric wiggled his eyebrows and Elphaba rolled her eyes at him but couldn't stop a flush from covering her cheeks as the blonde clung to her in public, nestling her face against her chest.
"Your eminence, I-I-I-I was just trying to help Miss-"
Your eminence? The green girl rolled her eyes, but decided it convenient to play the part.
"Help? Well your services are no longer needed. Master Avaric, please escort this buffoon off the premises."
"Why yes, your eminence, right away" he mocked and grabbed the smaller boy by the collar and ordered, "Come along."
The two trudged off and Galinda giggled and looked at Elphaba longingly.
"He did seem nice enough at first."
The green girl snorted and Galinda raised a hand to cup the green girl's cheek.
"I meant it, Elphie, I did."
The green girl looked down at the blonde and whispered,
"I love you too."
"Oh, Elphie," Galinda exclaimed.
Elphaba simpered. The blonde stood on her tip-toes until their lips hovered inches away from one another. Galinda moved closer as they were surrounded by dancing students under the stars.
"Galinda! Where are you?" Shenshen called out.
"Not again!" the blonde said.
