Author's Note: I have a confession to make...I just completely missed my own update deadline by about 27 hours without even realizing it...um...oops? 0:S Sorry about that. But here it is now, so please don't kill me.

One more chapter and the epilogue to go after this! Thanks to everyone for all the lovely reviews!


CHAPTER 12:

"Well?" Galinda demanded as soon as Elphaba entered the room later on that night. "Who was it?"

Elphaba didn't reply. She simply turned and headed for the bathroom.

"Elphie!" Galinda screeched, bringing Elphaba to a halt. She bounced over and into Elphaba's face. "Tell me! Oooh, you're blushing! It must have been a good evening! So who was it?"

Elphaba bit her lip. She couldn't avoid this. Galinda would find out sooner or later. Elphaba sighed, unable to look her friend in the eye. "It…it was Fiyero," she said quietly.

The sound that escaped Galinda's lips was the most bloodcurdling scream Elphaba had ever heard. She was sure the entire town would burst into the room at any moment now. Elphaba had never heard anyone being murdered before, but she was quite sure the screams of a murder victim could never come close to this.

"How could he do that to me? Why did it have to be him?"

Elphaba put her hands up as if to defend herself from Galinda's wrath. "Look, Glin, I'm sorry, but it isn't my f–" Elphaba was cut off as a ceramic mug was suddenly hurled in her direction. Managing to duck just in time as the mug hit the wall behind her and shattered into smithereens, Elphaba stared wide-eyed at her roommate. "Glin, no, it's not worth it. I –" She covered her head as a plate followed in the mug's path.

"I can't believe it! He didn't even have the decency to tell me!"

Elphaba frowned in confusion. "I thought you said he broke up with you using the flowers?"

"I meant about his feelings for you," Galinda explained through gritted teeth. "But see? He didn't even have the courage to break up with me face-to-face!"

Cautiously, Elphaba offered, "At least he didn't two-time you. He did break it off before he made his move. Well," she amended with a grimace, "before he made a physical move."

Galinda looked at Elphaba. "That's true." Her words were surprisingly calm.

Elphaba eyed Galinda warily, feeling there was more to come.

"But he could have damn well done it before Valentine's Day!" Galinda ranted, swinging her fist so wildly that it smashed into her bedpost. "OW!"

All concern for her own safety aside, Elphaba was up and at Galinda's side in an instant. "Are you alright, Glin?"

"No, I'm not bloody well alright! My boyfriend just dumped me for my best friend, my fist is throbbing so much it feels like there's an Ozquake happening in there, and, to top it all off…I think I've broken a nail!" wailed Galinda dramatically, throwing herself face-down onto her bed.

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "I don't think a broken nail is quite in the same league, Glin."

"What's the difference?" Galinda sniffled. "It's all bad. My life is ruined."

"I'm sorry," Elphaba whispered.

Neither girl spoke for a few minutes, and the only sound in the room was Galinda's sobs until they began to subside.

Finally, Galinda raised her tear-streaked face and looked at Elphaba. "I think I need to go to bed."

Elphaba nodded understandingly and moved away as Galinda went into the bathroom to change into her nightie. By now, Elphaba felt absolutely dreadful about the whole situation and wished she knew how to make amends.

Once Galinda had changed and settled herself into her bed, Elphaba got changed herself and cleaned off her make-up. However, before she could climb into her own bed, Galinda reached a hand out towards her.

"Elphie?"

Elphaba turned to face her face. "Yes, Glin?"

Galinda patted the edge of her bed, and Elphaba made her way over to sit where indicated.

"Was it romantic?"

Elphaba looked at Galinda warily.

"Well? Was it?"

"Yes, it was romantic," Elphaba replied quietly.

Galinda nodded. "And he said he loves you, right?"

Elphaba bit her lip, but her silence was all the answer Galinda needed.

"Did you receptivate?"

"Reciprocate? Uh, well…maybe I…feel the same way about him…but –"

"Did you kiss him?" Galinda interrupted.

"…Would you be mad if I did?"

Galinda thought for a moment, before shaking her head. "I guess not. Fiyero's the sort of guy no girl can refuse. Even you, Elphie."

As soon as Galinda said that, Elphaba groaned and put her head in her hands. "I thought I was immune to him. I thought I had managed to quash my feelings for him…but now he's gone and brought them all back to the fore. What is happening to me?"

Galinda sat up and gently rested her hand on Elphaba's arm. "You're being human, Elphie. That's all. It's no big deal."

"It is when I ruin my best friend's happiness because of it," Elphaba argued.

"It's not your fault," Galinda said firmly. "It was Fiyero who made the first move. I'm not blaming you."

"But you blame Fiyero," Elphaba murmured, looking up.

Galinda pulled at her lower lip with her teeth. "I don't want to go around blaming anybody," she said honestly after a moment of thought, "but I really can't answer that right now. Ask me again in the morning." She gave a small smile. "Thanks for being honest with me, Elphie."

Elphaba shrugged. "I kind of figured things would be worse if I kept this from you. I couldn't not tell you about this, and I didn't want it on my conscience. I treasure your friendship too much to allow anything like this get in the way." She paused. "We are still friends…aren't we?"

Galinda's smile widened slightly. "Of course. Besties 'til the end."

Elphaba returned the other girl's smile. "Good. Now you try and get some sleep, okay?"

Galinda nodded as Elphaba stood, turned off the lights and slid into bed.

But as she tried to get to sleep, one thought kept going through Elphaba's head: What happens next?