My buddy "Denpa Wave Chick Saki" co-wrote this with me. Enjoy!
It took more than a little coaxing from Elphaba, but after two days, she finally managed to convince Galinda to leave their room, even if only to get fresh air. Whatever the reason, the green woman knew she just had to get the blonde outside. "See? Isn't this nicer than being in your stuffy room?" she asked the blonde as the trekked across the quad.
Galinda silently nodded her head, starring down at her warm boots as she walked. About halfway across the quad, she finally looked around, taking in a deep breath. "Why are we out here, Elphaba? I would much prefer to be in the warmth of our room."
"You need to get out, Galinda. Being in that room for two days is not healthy. At least take some deep breaths; fill your lungs with fresh air."
"I do not nee-" The blonde quickly dodged behind a tree, pulling Elphaba with her, when she spotted a familiar blonde up ahead. She stood there in silence for a couple of moments with her hand over the green woman's mouth, praying that he had not seen her. When what seemed like hours had passed, Galinda sighed in relief that Fiyero hadn't spotted her. She quickly began walking back the way they had come, nearly dragging Elphaba behind her. "Let's go back now. I have had enough fresh air to last me a couple of days."
Elphaba was taken by surprise when Galinda grabbed her, surprised by the sudden strength of the petite blonde. Still, her heart raced at being in such close contact with her. When Galinda started dragging her back to the room, the green woman dug her heels in to the ground, stopping the blonde. "Galinda, hey, slow down! We are not going back yet. I know seeing him hurts, but I refuse to see you sit and suffer for another day!"
Galinda let go of the green woman's hand and kept walking, shoving her hands into her pockets and pulling up the hood of her cloak. "I can't do it..."
Elphaba chased after her, moving in front of the blonde. "All right, all right! I'll level with you, Galinda. We can go inside, but not back to the room. How about the library? I'll bet he has never set foot in there." Galinda nodded, waiting for Elphaba to lead the way. She would have agreed to go anywhere inside, so long as they didn't run in to Fiyero.
The green woman nodded with a slight smile. "All right...come on." She took the blonde's hand and led her to the tall, imposing building. Elphaba led Galinda through a maze of shelves and tables until they reached a small alcove on the third floor way in the back. "No one ever comes back here."
"Thank you..." She sighed, leaning back against one of the bookcases and letting herself slide to the floor.
Elphaba kneeled in front of her. "Galinda...please...I hate seeing you like this. It really kills me. I want so much to help you...what can I do? I mean, besides allowing time to pass...what can I do to help you, even a little?
"I'm sorry...I wish I knew..."
The green woman sighed. "Galinda..." She paused, looking around, and her eyes soon lit up. "I remember this," she said, standing up and pulling a thick book off one of the shelves. She turned back to the blonde. "Do you remember...when we were young and your old Ama used to read you the legend of Lurline the Fairy Queen?"
Galinda nodded. "Of course I do...but what does that have to do with any of this?"
Elphaba sat down beside her. "While she was reading it to you before you slept, I would stand outside your door and listen. I loved it...it helped me survive those first few months I started working in the palace. Anyway...this is it...and I wondered if maybe it would help if I...read it to you."
The blonde gave a small shrug. "I'm not sure...you can try if you'd like."
The green woman would have liked a more definite answer, but she would try anything for the blonde. She sat down beside her and opened the book, beginning to read. As Elphaba read, Galinda soon found herself leaning her head against the green woman's shoulder. She gazed at the few pictures as the pages slowly flipped by, the hint of a smile starting to appear on her face. Elphaba glanced at the blonde and she smiled slightly. "I knew I'd get a smile out of you eventually," she said, putting an arm around the blonde as she continued to read.
Galinda curled into Elphaba's side, wrapping an arm around her waist. She whispered under her breath, "Thank you..." The green woman held her closer as she began to lose herself in the story.
From her spot in the next aisle over, Sarima listened to Elphaba read as well. She had always been aware that Elphaba was slipping away from her as her friendship with that...blonde grew. It only frustrated her more as she thought about it; Galinda didn't care! She had come in after the fact! Elphaba belonged to the brunette; so why did she prefer her tormentor? Sarima closed her book and left the floor, beginning to formulate her plan.
Galinda walked in to Dr. Dillamond's classroom, making sure to take a seat far away from where Fiyero usually sat. Elphaba sat beside the blonde, and, as class started, they were forced to sit with their groups. The tension was high within their own group, and Elphaba finally cleared her throat and said, "So we're switching the study groups. I am going to study with Miss Galinda."
Sarima looked none too happy with that. "Oh? And leave the boys to work alone?"
"Well, perhaps you could work with them to keep them on track," Elphaba said. The brunette almost bristled at that and tried not to shoot a glare at the blonde. Galinda was sitting across the group from Fiyero, looking down at her notebook and hoping that nobody would bring her into the conversation
"Do you agree with this switch, Miss Galinda? Can you stand to be separated from your boyfriend, or is Miss Elphaba merely giving you some extra help?" Sarima asked, her tone a tad bitter.
"Hey! Don't talk to her like that!" Elphaba snapped. Sarima looked somewhat taken aback, not expecting Elphaba to yell at her. "We are switching and that is all there is to it!"
"P-perhaps it would be...better for the group if we did work with everybody..."
Elphaba looked at the blonde, not expecting her to speak up. "Galinda...we don't have to. You and I can get just as much work done as the three of them. You don't have to..." She didn't finish her sentence, not with Fiyero sitting right there.
"It's all right with me, Elphie...just so long as it's okay with everybody else."
"Oh, that sounds fine," Sarima said, her eyes narrowing as she leaned back in her seat, propping one boot up on the desk and giving a slight view up the long skirt she was wearing.
"I don't see why you, Elphaba, and Boq, here, can't work together, while Galinda and I work on our part..." Fiyero said to Sarima, his gaze slipping to the revealing skirt at the last moment.
Sarima smiled slightly, pretending not to notice. "Perhaps it would be easier to work as a group instead of all separate parts," she said. Elphaba did not add that she would never allow Galinda alone with Fiyero again.
The blonde spoke again. "It would be better if everybody in the group knew about the entire project instead of just a portion."
"Yes..." Elphaba said. "I agree."
"So then we all agree," Sarima said. "Good."
"Galinda, I'm back. I hope you will try to eat tonight," Elphaba said as she entered the bedroom.
The blonde was sitting on the bed, one end of her pencil in her mouth and her sketchpad on her lap. She looked up as the green woman entered, giving her a small smile. "I will. I promise."
"I'm going to remember you said that and never let you forget," Elphaba said as she moved to stand beside her. She smiled slightly. "You're drawing again..."
"Yeah. I figured it had been too long since I had. " She added a little detail with her pencil.
Elphaba set the food down on the desk and turned her attention back to the blonde. "Can I see?"
"Sure." She held the sketchpad out to Elphaba.
The green woman leaned over to examine the drawing. "It's very good...um..." Her face darkened slightly. "Is...is it...us?"
The blonde nodded. "It's when you were reading that story to me the other day in the library."
Elphaba looked down, fiddling with a loose seam in her dress. "O-oh...I see...well, it's very...very nice."
"Do you like it?"
Elphaba nodded. "Yes...I do."
"I'm glad..." She pulled the finished picture out of her sketchpad, handing it over to Elphaba. "...because it's for you..."
"M-me? But, Galinda...it's your art. Why would you want...I couldn't...are you sure?"
The blonde nodded her head. "Think of it as a 'thank you' gift...for everything you have done for me."
The green woman took the drawing, her face darkening. "You...you're welcome..."
Galinda walked in to the cafeteria with Elphaba close behind her. She picked up a tray and began gathering food onto it. "What would you like to eat, Elphie?"
"I can get it for myself, but I will most likely have a salad. Apparently this school sees nothing wrong with serving...meat." The green woman shuddered at the last word.
"I can get your food, Elphaba. It's not like Father is paying you for your services as a bodyguard. There isn't much I can do for you, so at least let me buy your food." She took the tray and headed over to the salad bar.
"Galinda..." Elphaba sighed and followed her. "You do so much for me..."
"You do the same for me." She smiled at the green woman.
Elphaba couldn't help but smile back and pretended to fiddle with her glasses. "I suppose..."
"It's true and you know it." She gave her a wink before picking up a salad and whisking off to pay for the food.
The green woman's face darkened at that and she followed the blonde, waiting until they sat down to say, "Well...I suppose you do owe me for all the hours I spent hanging up your dresses."
"See? I am just paying you back for all your hard labor," she giggled. The blonde sat down next to her and slid Elphaba's salad in front of her. She picked up a grape off of her own plate.
"Never thought I would live to see that day," Elphaba said as she picked up her fork and harshly stabbed a carrot.
"Wow. You sure are ruthless with your carr-" Galinda stiffened, her eyes widening, when she felt familiar arms wrap around her shoulders and a hot breath against her ear.
"I didn't see you this weekend, gorgeous..."
The green woman paused, her eyes narrowing and looking as though she'd like nothing more than to skewer the blonde prince as she had the carrot. "Excuse me-"
"I am so glad it's easy to find you," Sarima said, sliding into the seat beside Elphaba and setting her own tray down. "If you were anyone else, I'm sure you would be impossible to spot in a crowd."
Galinda sat, rooted to her seat, stammering for words. "I...I...um...well...I..."
Fiyero ignored the green woman's glares, continuing to whisper in Galinda's ear, "Perhaps we should go...make up for lost time...elsewhere..." His lips brushed against her neck, his tongue slipping out the tiniest bit.
The blonde shuddered at the feeling, but then something inside of her snapped. She pulled Fiyero's arms off of her. "No. I will not go 'make up for lost time' with you, nor will I be doing so any longer." She stood and turned to him, jabbing him in the chest with her finger. "All I have ever done is be a loving and understanding girlfriend to you, and how do you repay me? By being a man-whore and fooling around with every girl in this Ozdamn school with a pretty face and an ample chest. I'm sick of it, Fiyero!"
Elphaba's eyes widened at Galinda's outburst and a smile crept across her face. Finally...the blonde was finally getting it.
Sarima didn't like this. If that blonde airhead broke up with her equally idiotic boyfriend, it would only leave room for her to wedge herself in between the brunette and the green woman. The brunette became aware she was holding her breath.
The green woman stood and came up behind the prince, leaning down close. "Tell me, Master Fiyero...do you remember what I said to you the first day you arrived here?"
Fiyero turned around to face her, fuming. "What is that, vegetable? Let me guess. Something about kicking my ass? Well, I would like to see you try." His hands curled into fists. "This is all your fault, you green freak," he spat at her.
"Oh? It's my fault you chose to disrespect Miss Galinda, is it? Well, in that case, I deeply apologize, but please, don't allow me spoil your meal. Please, enjoy it!" At those last two words, Elphaba placed her hand on the back of his head and slammed his face down into his food, spattering those who were unfortunate enough to be nearby. The wet snapping noise told her that she had indeed broken the prince's nose, and she grinned.
Fiyero jumped back, livid now, a hand to his nose. "You bitch! You'll pay for this!" He brought his arm back, ready to punch the green woman. When his fist started coming towards her, he was stopped by a small hand grabbing onto his wrist. Caught by surprise, the prince was whirled around and felt slap across his face. He gaped at the blonde in front of him.
Galinda stood there, shaking in anger. "Get out of here, Fiyero."
The prince gripped her roughly under the chin. "Or what? What are you going to do about it?"
"I'll make sure Father hears all about this."
"Ha! Going to run to daddy, are you? What is he gonna-"
The blonde glared up at him, not even trying to get out of his grip. "Yes. Perhaps you forget who my father is. The ruler of Oz doesn't take too kindly to bastards who cheat on his beloved daughter, and I will not be saying a single word to help lessen the pain of what he will do to you." Fiyero blanched white at the thought before growling down at the blonde. He ripped his hand away from her jaw, turning to stalk away, grumbling under his breath.
The green woman bristled when he grabbed the blonde, and, before she could think, her instincts took over. She went after the prince, grabbed him by his shoulders and slammed him up against the wall. "Listen here, you asswipe! I don't give a fuck who you think you are, but if you ever disrespect or even look at my best friend the wrong way again, I will have you on your ass so fast you won't even know which way is up!" She leaned in close, her teeth bared. "Do I make myself clear?" she growled.
"Get off me, bitch!" Fiyero struggled against her but was surprised to find that he couldn't break free.
"Elphaba!" Galinda rushed over, laying her hands on the green woman's shoulders. "Elphaba, leave him be. It's over with. He isn't worth your efforts." She gently pulled her away.
"He hurt you! I saw what you went through, and he deserves to feel pain too!" Elphaba struggled against the blonde.
Galinda looked at her with soft eyes, giving another gentle pull and a nod of her head. Fiyero managed to get out of the green woman's grasp. "I'm out of here." The blonde quickly grabbed Elphaba's hand to stop her from going after him.
Elphaba watched him go and sighed, turning back to Galinda. She was about to yell at the blonde for letting him get away, when she saw the look in her eyes. The green woman felt her anger ebb away, and she looked down. "I...I just..."
The blonde pulled her in for a hug. "Thank you..."
"I...I'm sorry..." A tear slid down her face and she gripped Galinda tightly while burying her face in the blonde's shoulder, hoping no one would see.
"It's fine, Elphie..." She gently pulled away from her. "Let's go back to our room, okay?" The green woman nodded, her head still down, a feeling of guilt building inside her. Galinda turned back to their table to gather up their uneaten food, looking over at Sarima. "Sorry to cut your social time short, but Elphaba and I are going to head back to our room now. We will see you again soon?"
Sarima was no longer trying to look pleasant. "Of course," she all but growled.
"Galinda...let's go..." the green woman barely whispered.
The blonde gave Sarima a half-smile despite the woman's obvious displeasure. She picked up their tray of food and threaded her arm through Elphaba's leading her from the cafeteria. Elphaba gripped Galinda's arm, as they walked back to Crage Hall. When they arrived at their room, she moved to sit on the couch, hugging a pillow close. Galinda set down their food and went to sit beside her. "Elphie...are you ok?"
"I...I could have hurt him...maybe seriously...I would have too...if you hadn't..."
"Oh, Elphie..." She gathered the green woman into her arms. "Don't worry about it anymore. It's over. It doesn't matter anymore."
Elphaba clung to Galinda as a few more tears started down her face. "I lost all my composure...in front of everyone...I embarrassed you."
"Shhhhh...it's ok..." She gently wiped away the green woman's tears. "Besides, I embarrassed myself far more than you did, breaking up with my cheater boyfriend in the middle of a cafeteria full of people."
"But you did it!" Elphaba broke away to look at the blonde, taking her face in her hands. "You finally did it...and I...I am so proud of you..."
"Yes...I did...th-thank you." She gave a small smile before a few tears slid down her cheeks. She pulled away, so Elphaba wouldn't be burned.
The green woman pulled Galinda into a hug again. "So...how do you...feel?"
The blonde sniffed. "Horrible...but I know it was for the best..."
"Galinda...it's all right...to be sad..."
Galinda's bottom lip wobbled for a little bit, before she clutched herself closer to Elphaba, sobbing. "He...broke my heart..."
"I know..." The green woman pulled away from the blonde before she kneeled down on the floor in front of her, folding her hands and propping her elbows in the blonde's lap.
Galinda wiped away some of her tears with a sniff. "Wh-what...what are you doing?"
"I don't believe in anything I can't prove exists...the Unnamed God...souls...religion...but even so, I have heard that he hears you better if you are down on your knees...and if the Unnamed God does exist...then I am going to pray for you...and hope he hears me." Elphaba closed her eyes. "When you try your best, but you don't succeed. When you get what you want, but not what you need. When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep, stuck in reverse, and the tears come streaming down your face. When you lose something you can't replace. When you love someone, but it goes to waste. Could it be worse?Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones and I will try to fix you." The blonde slid to the ground, kneeling beside Elphaba. She set her hands just like the green woman and began to pray as well. "And high up above or down below. When you're too in love to let it go. but if you never try you'll never know just what you're worth. Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones. And I will try to fix you." Elphaba glanced over at the blonde, before she reached over to grip her hand tightly. "Tears stream down on your face when you lose something you cannot replace. Tears stream down on your face and I...Tears stream down on your face. I promise you I will learn from my mistakes. Tears stream down on your faceand I...Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones. And I will try to fix you ." Galinda leaned over to rest her head against Elphaba's shoulder. Elphaba pulled the blonde in to her arms, kissing the top of her head. "I do not know much about love...but I do know about hurting and loss, and trust me...things will get better...I promise."
Galinda sat in the green woman's embrace, crying. She whispered, "Thank you..."
The green woman picked the blonde up gently and carried her to the bed, sitting down with Galinda in her lap. "Do you...do you want me to stay with you tonight? N-not in a romantic way of course, but..."
The blonde buried her face in the crook of Elphaba's neck, nodding her head. "Y-yes please..." She clutched at the green woman's shirt. Elphaba nodded as well, moving only to retrieve the blonde's pajamas and hand them to her. Galinda silently took them, moving into the bathroom to change. Moments later, she reappeared, heading straight for her bed again.
The green woman was waiting and she took the blonde into her arms again, stroking her hair gently. "And I will try to fix you..."
When Elphaba awoke the next morning, she found that Galinda was still asleep. She carefully got out of the bed, so as not to wake the blonde, and left the room, making her way to the greenhouse. Hopefully, she would be able to find some flowers for the blonde and help lift her mood.
"Elphaba."
The green woman froze at the voice. "S-Sarima...how did you-"
"I saw you leave Crage Hall." The brunette approached her. "How is Miss Galinda?"
"Fine. She's...fine."
Sarima nodded. "I see...that was certainly a surprise last night...her breaking up with Master Fiyero like that."
"Well...he didn't deserve her." Elphaba started to turn away, hoping Sarima would leave, but the brunette caught her face in her hand, forcing Elphaba to look back at her.
"Elphaba...you know I love you, right? I would never hurt you..."
"I...I know that."
Sarima moved in to kiss her, but for the first time, Elphaba dodged to the side, rubbing the back of her head. "Listen...I really don't have time...I need to return to my room..." She grabbed a handful of flowers before she turned and bolted from the greenhouse. The green woman had to keep from slamming the door as she returned to the room, her heart racing. Why was Sarima acting that way? She was so different than the woman Elphaba had first met...She placed the flowers in a vase before she moved to slide back into bed with Galinda, taking her into her arms once more.
The blonde finally woke nearly an hour later. She groggily opened her eyes, only to find that she had been clutching to Elphaba in her sleep. The green woman in question twitched slightly in her sleep, wrapping her arms around Galinda a little tighter. Galinda tiredly looked up at Elphaba before looking around the room. Her eyes fell on the vase of flowers, and she gave a small smile. The blonde laid her head back down, waiting until the green woman woke up.
Elphaba opened her eyes with a slight groan, focusing on the blonde beside her. "Good morning...I trust you slept well?"
Galinda nodded her head. "Good morning to you too. Did you sleep well?"
"As well as usual; I suppose the word would be 'fitful'."
"I'm sorry. Do you...know where those flowers came from?" She pointed to the vase.
"Hmm? Oh, those. I brought those for you. Do you...like them?"
"Really? Oh, thank you, Elphie. They're beautiful..." She reached over to pull one of the flowers out. The blonde put it to her nose, taking in a whiff of the scent. "My favorite..." She smiled over at the green woman.
Elphaba darkened and looked down. "I...I just wanted to cheer you up..."
"Well, thank you. It worked."
The green woman nodded. "I'm...glad..." She sat up, rubbing her eyes. "So...what is the agenda for today?"
Galinda sat back with a sigh, smelling her flower with a small smile. "I'm not really sure...is there something you would like to do?"
"Oh, I am sure I could always amuse myself with a book, but that would require tuning you out." She gave the blonde a smile. "So I suppose my answer is no."
"This seems to be quite the dilemma we have..."
The green woman was about to reply, but a knock on the door stopped her. She stood and went to the door, opening it. The messenger jumped slightly upon seeing her, and Elphaba raised an eyebrow. "Can I help you?"
"I-I have a letter for Miss Galinda."
"I'll take it."
The messenger almost threw it at her before quickly leaving. Elphaba closed the door and returned to the bedroom. "She left without so much as a 'by your leave'..."
Galinda hadn't moved from the bed. "Who was it?"
"The 'who' is not so much important as the 'what'." Elphaba held the letter out to the blonde. "It's from Miss Nessarose."
Galinda sat up, taking the letter from the green woman and opening it. "Oh, it's Nessa's birthday announcement." She collapsed back on the bed, mumbling to herself about what to get her. She held the letter out for Elphaba. "Would you like to read it?"
"O-oh no...it wasn't meant for me..." A pause. "I think I know what you can get for her...if you are interested."
"But...it is meant for you, Elphie." She pointed to where Elphaba's name was written next to her own in the letter.
"Oh...well...in any case, do you want to hear my idea or struggle with the gift yourself?"
"Sure. What is your idea?"
"Though she won't admit it, I know for a fact that Nessa's hands become sore from operating the wheels on her chair all day. Perhaps a pair of knit fingerless gloves would help to alleviate the pain."
"That is a fantastical idea, Elphie."
Elphaba blushed slightly. "Th-thank you...her birthday is next weekend, correct?"
The blonde nodded her head, checking the letter again. "Yes. The dinner and get together are going to be on saturday night."
"I see...so perhaps we will go shopping today, then?"
"Sure. Sounds like a good plan to me." Elphaba nodded, though her face paled slightly. She turned away from Galinda and began running a brush through her hair quickly. Galinda took the brush out of her hand, gently taking over the brushing. "Elphie, are you alright?"
"Y-yes...of course I am." She moved away from the blonde and started to put her hair in its traditional braid.
"Are you sure? You were very pale for a moment."
"How could you tell with the green?" She attempted to give Galinda a smile
"Because you were a much lighter shade of green than usual."
"I-it must just be the lighting." Elphaba retrieved her boots and sat down to put them on.
"Elphaba...please tell me what is wrong."
The green woman sighed and looked up at the blonde. "I...I don't want to skip class...but I want to be with you..."
Galinda giggled. "Then we will go to class. It's as simple as that. All you had to do was say so." She moved in to her closet to get dressed for the day.
"N-no! Because then I'll have to face S-" She stopped mid-sentence, realizing what she was about to say. "Fiyero. And I don't want you to have to see him again...so soon..."
"Elphaba...I'll be fine..." She left the closet wearing a powder blue dress with a white hat and heels. "I have to face him eventually..."
"Please...can't we just stave off the inevitable...just for today?"
"If that's what you really want..." She sat at her vanity, applying a little makeup.
Before she could stop herself, she snapped, "Well if you are so okay with seeing him again, then why all the tears last night? Why don't you just run back to him and have at it!"
Galinda nearly dropped her make up in shock. "I...It's not...I don't want to see him...but I can't avoid him forever..." She looked down at her hands, trying to distract herself to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill.
Elphaba instantly felt bad, and she rushed to the blonde's side. "Galinda, I...I'm sorry. I didn't think...I know you don't want to see him...the truth is...the truth is..." She considered telling the blonde everything that had happened between her and Sarima...but no. What would Galinda think of her? "The truth is...I can't face him...now."
Galinda took a deep breath to steady herself. "Alright, Elphie...we won't go to class today."
Elphaba embraced the blonde. "I'm sorry...for acting this way..."
"It's okay. You're allowed to feel like this."
"No...I do not deserve to be selfish." She sighed and moved to put her cloak on. "Are you ready?"
The blonde nodded, pulling on her warm jacket. "Everybody has their selfish moments...deserved or not. It is impossible to stop them."
"Yes, well...I have trained myself to push aside all of my wants and needs. It doesn't do a servant well."
"But you are not a servant anymore." She picked up her purse and headed for the door.
Elphaba followed. "Perhaps I am...just not in the sense you're thinking..." she muttered under her breath.