Opening Up.
"Honestly, truly Galinda, did you really need that third suitcase?" Elphaba whinged.
"Anyone would think you didn't want me to look good," was Galinda's response.
"Anyone would think you needed three suitcases to look good. You don't," Elphaba stated matter of factly.
"Oh Elphie, was that a compliment?" Galinda smiled beautifully at her roommate as she struggled through the door to the boathouse, flinging her case down along with Elphaba's small overnight bag that she had swapped to give Elphaba the cases she simply could not manage.
"No. It was a did you really have to bring three suitcases with you?" Elphaba laughed as she tripped through the door, dropping Galinda's ridiculously heavy, pink cases on the floor and landing unceremoniously on top of them.
"Now that's an entry," Galinda chuckled, offering Elphaba a hand which Elphaba immediately took, both girls realising what a long way they had come in such a short space of time.
Elphaba's mind flashed back to the last time she had dragged Galinda's cases begrudgingly, having been ordered to do so by Madame Morrible. Never in Elphaba's wildest dreams had she imagined things could change so much. Suddenly she found herself envied by the whole of Shiz for being invited, the only one to be invited, to Galinda's boathouse by Lake Chorge. Elphaba knew half the girls and boys in Shiz would have cut off their right arms for the opportunity Galinda had granted Elphaba so freely and yet there was no other explanation for it. Galinda had to like Elphaba; it was the only thing that made sense.
"So how long is it going to take you to unpack this little lot?" Elphaba tapped one of the cases with her foot.
"Well…" Galinda look apologetically towards her friend, "I would leave it until later but the thought of my sea blue ball gown creasing to blazes in there doesn't bear thinking about. It almost pains me."
Elphaba looked incredulous, "You brought a ball gown?"
"Oh don't get me wrong. I don't suspect for one minute that I shall wear it but just knowing it's there relaxes me a little."
This wasn't the entire truth Galinda realised as she spoke. The reality of the matter was that she had chosen the dress to wear for Elphaba; she wanted to impress her green roommate more than she dared to admit. She wanted Elphaba t o sit up and take notice of her and dressing to kill was all Galinda knew in that respect.
"Galinda, if I had the next five hundred years to understand you I doubt I'd ever make it."
Elphaba smiled warmly and Galinda felt her heart beat twice as fast as she refrained from pulling her roommate into a strong and much desired embrace.
"Well…" Elphaba looked around, taking in the setting for the first time.
The boathouse was a beautiful log cabin, stylishly furnished but not over the top. Elphaba noticed an open fire, more welcoming that the one back in their room at Shiz. Her eyes glanced over to the soft rug in front of the fire, which Elphaba couldn't help but picture Galinda lying on as they shared conversation deep into the night.
The view walking up to the boathouse was spectacular and as Elphaba looked out of the window she saw the mountains sweep off into the distance behind the stunning shores of the tranquil lake.
Elphaba resisted the urge to pinch herself to check this was really happening to her. But she was distracted easily by Galinda who was dragging one of her oversized cases up the wooden stairs that led from the living room up to the bedrooms.
Elphaba wondered what the sleeping arrangements would be but she kept that thought to herself. She didn't want to disturb the peaceful waters that flowed momentarily between herself and Galinda.
"Galinda are you going to be long? I thought I might take a short walk whilst you get ready."
"Good idea," a flustered voice came from above.
Galinda was clearly out of breath, battling with her suitcases full on.
"Would you like me to help you up with those?" Elphaba questioned trying not to look too amused.
"No I think I can manage," Galinda lied, remembering like Elphaba had done earlier that day, the time Madame Morrible had forced Galinda's belongings on Elphaba.
Elphaba wasn't going to ask twice so she turned to make her way back outside.
"Elphie," Galinda called after her. "If you follow the lakeside path for about ten minutes there's a lovely little café."
"Sounds great but I don't think I'm going to go for coffee on my own just yet. I mean it's not like I fit in here in the Pertha Hills any more that I do anywhere else is it? I'm not sure they'd cope."
"I didn't mean for you to go off and do your own thing silly," Galinda shook her head.
"Oh right," Elphaba tried not to feel stupid.
"I meant for you to go and get a few bottles of wine for later."
"I don't drink," Elphaba replied. "As I recall neither should you after the statue incident," Elphaba reminded her helpfully.
"That wasn't down to the drink Elphaba," Galinda answered, a wicked grin creeping across her face. "That was a call for your attention."
"A call based on the copious amounts of wine you had consumed beforehand, Galinda I know you."
Elphaba was serious, she knew all too well the effects alcohol had on her roommate and she couldn't cope with inebriated Galinda again. Once was more than enough, especially when Galinda became so damn attractive in such a state.
"Oh Elphie do stop whining and go and get some wine. You need to lighten up; we're on holiday. Besides I bet you're ever so…" Galinda stopped in her tracks. What had she been going to say? Sexy? Gorgeous? Alluring? Captivating? None were appropriate, so instead Galinda said nothing.
"Stubborn where wine and you are concerned," Elphaba finished for her.
"Elphaba I won't tell you again, we're on holiday. I'm not going to say anymore on the subject other than if you don't come back with at least one bottle of wine I shall not speak to you again all day." Galinda pouted flirtatiously through the banister.
"Promise?" Elphaba chortled feeling an odd lightness in her heart that she had never felt before.
With that Galinda had disappeared off to wrestle with her suitcase and Elphaba made her way out of the boathouse still undecided about whether or not she would supply Galinda with the wine she so desired.
It wasn't long before Elphaba returned with two bottles of wine, against her better judgement. She handed them to Galinda almost unwillingly, noticing Galinda had already changed out of her travelling clothes into something entirely more glamorous.
"You've changed," Elphaba observed, wondering what the need was and then remembering after all this was Galinda.
"Ten points for noticing," Galinda grinned and took the wine from Elphaba, studying the labels in a feeble attempt to pretend to know about wine.
"Two bottles?" Galinda raised an eyebrow, which Elphaba immediately picked up upon.
"Is that a look of contempt?"
"No it's actually a sweet Oz, she brought two bottles rather than one," Galinda giggled.
"For the week," Elphaba supplied dryly, making her point quite clear.
Under no circumstances was she dealing with drunken Galinda again, holiday or not. Drunken Galinda was not part of the deal.
It wasn't long before Elphaba found herself following Galinda to search for what Galinda only could define as the perfect spot, they all looked oddly familiar to Elphaba.
"How about this spot?" Galinda indicated to the pebbles they were now stood on which looked the same as all the rest to the green girl.
Galinda began to rummage in the basket for a blanket as Elphaba looked nervously around wondering if Galinda could really have forgotten about her fear.
"Perhaps now is a good time to remind you of my strong aversion to water."
"Oh Elphie, you've come to Lake Chorge for goodness sake. What did you expect?"
Galinda manoeuvred her skirt in a most unladylike manner and then sat down.
Elphaba looked around, eyeing the ripples on the water suspiciously and then shrugged her shoulders, "I guess you're right. I just didn't expect such close proximity but hey, I'll get over it. It's only a life jeopardising allergy."
"What is it with you and water anyway? Do sit down, it's not going to bite you."
With that Elphaba resigned herself to the fact she was going to be bossed around by Galinda, well for the next few days at least. She sat down slowly, hunching up her skirt in a manner not dissimilar to that of Galinda moments before. Before Elphaba had the opportunity to respond Galinda spoke again.
"Do you mind dreadfully if I get the wine out Elphaba? I'm quite parched after all that walking. It's surprising how hot one gets when involved with nature."
"Not at all, you did bring a corkscrew I'm assuming?" Elphaba raised an eyebrow.
Galinda's face deepened into a frown and then before Elphaba knew quite what had hit her, Galinda was practically on top of her reaching for her jacket pocket.
Elphaba drew back from Galinda's presence trying to maintain as much distance between the two of them as she could muster, but failing weakly as she found Galinda's presence a not unpleasant sensation. Still, Elphaba had to try as every time she edged further away Galinda came closer.
Elphaba felt the butterflies take off in her stomach as her heart leapt into her mouth in all her years in Oz never had Elphaba smelt such a sweet aroma, never had she felt such smooth skin upon her own. Elphaba's entire body began to tingle and shake as Galinda's intoxicating breath swept across her face. Elphaba's own breath began to catch, her eyelids began to flutter uncontrollably and she was just about to swoon deeper into Galinda when the younger woman found what she was looking for in Elphaba's pocket and drew away, enjoying the physical contact more than was proper for a girl with the most handsome boyfriend in all of Shiz.
"One corkscrew," Galinda grinned somewhat flirtatiously, leaning over to grab the wine and flashing her cleavage in Elphaba's appreciative direction.
Elphaba let out a sign of relief as a bead of sweat trickled down her neck and the flush began to leave her cheeks.
When the wine was open and poured into two glasses and Galinda had pretty much forced one of them on Elphaba, Galinda leant back on her elbows, looking up at the sky, about to hit dusk.
"So how does it feel?" Galinda asked.
"How does what feel?" Elphaba responded confused, taking a sip of her wine and finding to her surprise that she actually quite liked it.
"Having a friend?" Galinda replied.
"Oh, so that's what we are now?" Elphaba frowned playfully.
"Well, I don't hate you anymore," Galinda considered taking a rather large gulp of her own wine.
Elphaba mused for a moment before replying, "So that's the definition of a friend. Someone who doesn't hate you anymore?"
Elphaba laughed to herself but couldn't help but notice Galinda looked a little deflated.
"I didn't mean it like that Elphie, now you're just being facetious."
"I am not."
"You are too."
"I am not but actually in response to your question, it feels really rather nice."
"You think so?" Galinda blushed
Elphaba thought about it for a minute or so.
"Yes I do. I mean there has always been people around, well, Nessa and I guess I've always had companionship with her but really there has been nobody else. Everyone else has always ran a mile, in much the same way you did when I first met you."
"I should never have done that," Galinda looked ashamed of herself in a way Elphaba had never seen before. "I was childish to behave in that manner and it nearly had tragic consequences which I don't think I'd have ever got over."
"Tragic consequences?" Elphaba sat up a little, clearly confused by Galinda's train of thought.
"I nearly missed out on the bets friend I've ever had," Galinda looked deeply into Elphaba's mysterious eyes as she spoke and the green girl immediately knew Galinda was nothing if not genuine.
"Steady on Galinda…"
"No I mean it Elphie, you're the best thing that's happened to me in a long time and I nearly missed out on that due to sheer stupidity on my part. How could I have ever forgiven myself?"
Silence descended upon the pair as their eyes were drawn to the steady ripples on the water as the moonlight began to add it's glow to the tranquil lake.
Elphaba broke the silence first, uncomfortable with the knowledge that Galinda's stare had now moved to be focused on her own painfully green face.
"You have others thought don't you? I mean there's Phannee and Shen Shen, not forgetting Mila and then there's Fiyero. You have lots of good friends. Everyone loves you, everybody always has."
"You'd be surprised actually," Galinda spoke almost in a whisper.
"What d you mean?"
Absentmindedly Elphaba trailed her finger down Galinda bare arm, sensing a moment of revelation that Galinda had never dared to confess before.
"Lets just say I haven't always been as popular as you'd imagine," the words seemed to almost pain Galinda.
Sensing Galinda's discomfort Elphaba squeezed her arm reassuringly as she spoke, "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want?"
"No, it's ok. I know I can tell you anything and you'll never judge. You're far stronger than I ever could be."
"I'm not stronger Galinda, I am just more hardened to the world. But enough about me, it's always about me. I want to hear your story. That's if you really want to tell me?"
Elphaba's eyes were so warm and inviting that Galinda felt her heart miss a beat. What would those strong green arms feel like wrapped around her body once more? Galinda simply had to know, had to feel in some way wanted once more.
"People always assume it was easy, growing up in the Pertha Hills, an only child and admittedly a spoilt rotten but nothing is ever as straightforward as it seems. Life was far from easy. Yes Mumsy and Popsicle were wonderful, all you could ever ask for in parents but I was alone, always alone. "
Galinda reached for Elphaba's hand with no explanation for why she had done it.
"I never had any siblings to play with and all the other children that came to visit were sent to be seen associating with the Uplands. There was no sincerity, no real desire for friendship. I was a rung on the social ladder and on more. As I grew older I noticed the binds that children make in childhood were missing in my world. Nobody wanted to know the real Galinda. It was all dresses and shoes and social gatherings. I behaved the way that was expected of me, the way I have behaved until recently but that was untruthful, it was hard and it was lonely. To never to have had a true friend until now, that was something I expected to be alone in and something I never thought I would admit to anyone."
"And then you met me," Elphaba laughed. "Arrival for the honour of Shiz student with the most miserable history and social inadequacy. Your not inept, everyone loves you."
"But who does everybody love when I'm not the true Galinda. You're the first person to ever see between the facade, the name, the expectation, the bitch if you like."
"Your not a bitch Galinda."
"I'm hardly a nice person either Elphaba, you will never forget the way I mistreated you."
"Don't flatter yourself, I've been treated much worse," Elphaba grinned.
"And that's what I'm trying to say, I've had people practically throw friendship at me all my life and you, who deserves it more than anyone I have ever met, you've been rejected and mistreated, all whilst being so lovely, and for no reason other than…" Galinda stopped, carefully wording the sentence in her mind.
"The colour of my skin," Elphaba finished for her.
"Precisely," Galinda smiled weakly as she forced the tears back from her eyes, finding her fingers entwined with green ones through no action of her own.
"I'm hardly likeable myself though Galinda, that's what you're forgetting. If you're a bitch, Oz knows what that makes me. I can be hateful at times and yes, perhaps some people deserve it but not all, surely not all?"
"You have a reason though."
"Do I? What gives me the right to be so hateful, more so than you when you have described exactly the same sort of alienation? What makes it okay for me but not for you? We've both come from very different backgrounds, very different histories and yet how different are we really? You have as much reason to be angry as I do if you are telling me the truth."
"I'd never lie to you Elphie. You mean…" Galinda paused feeling suddenly stupid. What exactly was it that Elphaba meant to her?
"Perhaps you shouldn't finish that sentence," Elphaba suggested somewhere between uncomfortable and protective.
"Perhaps that would be for the best," Galinda agreed unhappily, untangling her fingers from Elphaba's for the first in what felt like a long time.
"There is one real difference between us," Elphaba nudged Galinda in the ribs and giggled as she spoke, trying to lighten the mood. "You have over half the boys in Shiz swooning after you and some of the girls I daresay and I most definitely don't."
Galinda blushed furiously as Elphaba spoke. Not only had she never considered the concept of other girls finding her attractive, the very idea of Elphaba acknowledging this had never crossed her mind. So, Elphaba did know about girls liking other girls after all. Still that was a topic she was sure her roommate was not about to go into great depth about, not when another more pressing matter was looming. Galinda had known it would only be a matter of time before that name came up, admittedly she had hoped for longer away from the issue but here it was, about to hit her right between the eyes. Fiyero.
"You know Elphie, just because I have lots of boys…" once more Galinda found herself lost for the right words.
Galinda stared at Elphaba hoping she would supply something.
Elphaba obliged, "Chasing you."
"Chasing me," Galinda repeated. "It doesn't mean I like it. After all boys are really only interested in the same as everybody else. The reputation, the façade, they don't know or care about the real me."
Elphaba made a sudden move towards Galinda, breaking the space between them as she cupped Galinda's face.
"Galinda, you're stunning, funny and smart and you have hidden depths, beautiful hidden depths. Perhaps I'm the only person you reveal them to but really what's not to love?" Elphaba felt her cheeks redden as she gushed about Galinda. "Like…like…" Elphaba corrected, "I meant what's not to like?"
"Do you really think that?"
"I'm only saying what every boy in Oz thinks Galinda and you know it," Elphaba pulled her hand away, noticing that once more she had reached for Galinda.
"Fiyero doesn't think that," Galinda sighed somewhere between relief and acceptance.
In her heart of hearts Galinda knew why Fiyero didn't think the world of her. It was all too apparent she wasn't smitten with him. Fiyero was a lot of things but he wasn't stupid. After all one good turn deserved another and Galinda certainly wasn't giving Fiyero anything to smile about.
"Well Fiyero doesn't know what he's missing," Elphaba responded knowing all too well where Fiyero's real interest was placed. Still Elphaba wished her brain had engaged with the words before she had opened her mouth.
"He's missing being with other girls, ones that would be more prepared to give him what he wants," Galinda lamented whilst wishing there were some other way to get through to Elphaba, rather than always carelessly stumbling around what was really on her mind.
"And what would that be?" Elphaba felt a knot twist in her stomach as she remembered the way Fiyero had looked at her, his eyes attempting to pierce her very soul, in a manner not dissimilar to that of Galinda as she studied Elphaba intently at that moment.
"A girl who can give him the attention he needs, admire him, tempt him, someone who can tend to his desires, someone who wants to tend to those desires," Galinda added noticing that Elphaba looked perfectly blank.
"You mean you and Fiyero haven't…?" Elphaba pulled an odd sort of expression which Galinda and Galinda alone understood.
Galinda began to fiddle with the hem of her skirt before taking a huge gulp of wine.
"No," was all the response Elphaba received as an uncomfortable silence descended once more.
Elphaba wasn't quite sure how to process that information but she was sure there was something she should be doing with it, the trouble was, Elphaba didn't know what, nothing made sense anymore. A wave of relief surged through her veins as she realised what the implications of Galinda's confession were. Still was it only Fiyero Galinda had denied or was it simply that Galinda just hadn't given herself at all yet. Unsurprisingly and yet not all together surprisingly Elphaba felt secretly pleased.
"Oh," Elphaba breathed out as she spoke and eyed the wine apprehensively that Galinda was beginning to pour, remembering Galinda's last drunken adventure.
"It surprises me that this little revelation shocks you so," Galinda sipped what to Elphaba seemed like an exceedingly large amount of wine.
"Indeed and why is that?" Elphaba questioned seriously.
"It's not like it's the first time I have said as much to you, unless you haven't been listening?" Galinda narrowed her eyes, studying Elphaba closely.
"Perhaps I do remember after all," Elphaba looked embarrassed.
"Perhaps you know a little too much and say far too little," Galinda almost accused as Elphaba practically squirmed under her roommate's gaze.
Elphaba forced her own eyes away from Galinda's entrancing ones, realising that once more their fingers were bound together in an almost seductive manner, sending the blood coursing through Elphaba's veins.
Elphaba's heart began to beat out of time as Galinda's grip tightened on her own. Sweat began to trickle down Elphaba's neck as Galinda's challenge still went unanswered yet her presence remained far from unnoticeable. Elphaba shifted her legs warily noticing that now familiar wetness surge from between them. Her heart pounded and the pressure in her ears began to build up. Elphaba had to escape. Galinda was overwhelming her senses, compelling a sudden and desperate want, a burning and ardent desire, a passionate yet hopeless need. But what for? In simple terms, suddenly nothing had ever been clearer to the green girl. Galinda, it was all for Galinda. Strikingly, beautiful Galinda.
When Galinda least expected it, the green girl extracted her hand awkwardly and spoke in an almost inaudible whisper.
"I have to go."
Before Galinda had time to respond, Elphaba clumsily stumbled up, avoiding Galinda's gaze and the hand that reached out for her.
"Am I to take it you do not wish for me to accompany you?" Galinda asked, looking hurt.
Elphaba looked stern, placing her hands firmly on her hips.
"You can come on one condition."
"And that is?" Galinda asked looking surprised.
"That you stop looking at me that way," Elphaba demanded.
"What way?" Galinda seemed genuinely hurt by Elphaba's rejection of her attempt to show her true feelings. Why did she always look like such a fool?
"In that way you seem intent on looking at me. It's not becoming of you Galinda," the sternness still hadn't left Elphaba's voice although she knew she was being a little harsh on her best friend.
"Well if that's really how you feel Elphaba I won't look at you again," Galinda sulked.
"I didn't mean it like that," Elphaba protested as Galinda began to angrily fold the blanket up that moments before they had been laughing and joking together on as friends.
"That's exactly how you meant it. You can't take it back now. If that will be all I am going back to OUR," Galinda emphasised the word our, "boathouse, with or without you, depending on whether you can bare being looked upon anymore," Galinda snapped.
"Galinda… Galinda wait…" Elphaba called after the younger girl.
But it was too late; before Elphaba had time to apologise Galinda had picked up the basket and its contents and was stomping up the path back to the boathouse. Elphaba looked after her in despair but it was no use being sorry now, Galinda had a strop on.
"Galinda…Galinda I'm sorry…Galinda wait," and with that Elphaba was racing up the path, two steps behind the girl she now realised was an integral part of her future.
Elphaba reached out her arm and grabbed Galinda's hand, stopping her in her tracks and forcing her to turn around and face Elphaba, closer than she had originally intended.
"Well, what is it now? People can't even smile at you Elphaba?" Galinda's eyes flashed a lack of understanding.
"You can't," Elphaba spoke the words slowly, whilst engaging Galinda's eyes deeply, hoping to goodness Galinda would finally understand but doubting her ability to do so.
"Why in Oz not? Why can any other person in the whole of Oz look at you in whatever way they see fit and me, I can't even offer a smile in your direction without getting my head bitten off?"
"You're different," Elphaba supplied, noticing for the first time the rich colour of Galinda's lips and the gentle curve at the sides of her mouth, despite her anger.
"Why Elphaba? Why am I different?"
"I don't want to explain."
"Then I'm walking away," Galinda replied, starting to turn her back.
"Galinda don't," Elphaba pleaded.
"Then tell me," Galinda begged.
It was now or never, the moment had come, there would never be an opportunity so perfect, never a mood so right. Elphaba had to come clean; she owed it to Galinda now. Yes, the likelihood was rejection, rejection from the only friend she had ever had but Galinda had to know. Elphaba could hide it no longer, and so it was that the words burst from her, in a speed quicker than lightning.
"It makes me feel sort of funny inside. You make me feel sort of funny inside. When you at me that way it's like nobody else in Oz exists, only me…" Elphaba took another deep breath, " and you."
"Oh Elphie…" Galinda made to throw her arms around the older woman but Elphaba stopped her, wanting to finish before she broke down.
"I can't explain it, I hardly even dare to, but it's there, like a magnetism between us and when you look at me that way I just want to collapse into your arms and forget anyone else exists. Now walk away Galinda, walk away and don't look at me that way again, I can't take it."
"And I can't help but look at you that way Elphaba, so I will, I'll walk away and never look back, is that what you want?"
Elphaba looked down at her feet, twisting her fingers uncomfortably, her body language showing a state of sheer panic. Could she really go through with it? Could she really let Galinda go now? After she had confessed the deepest secrets of her heart.
"Yes," Elphaba replied hard-heartedly.
With that Galinda swept around on her heel and began to walk away, putting a safe distance between herself and Elphaba. It was only when she felt green arms upon her hips that she had any idea Elphaba had followed her.
Galinda turn round immediately and found herself face to face with the green girl, Elphaba's breath coming in gasps over her face. Galinda searched quickly for those penetrating eyes but before she could find them, Elphaba found her.
In one swift movement Elphaba reached out for Galinda's hand, Galinda gave it freely, moving closer to Elphaba as she did so, an inexplicable magnetism drawing them both in.
It was only when Elphaba placed Galinda's hand on her own heart that Galinda finally understood the implications of Elphaba's earlier words. She gazed, mesmerised into those deeply engaging eyes, feeling Elphaba's every heart beat, swept up in a previously unknown world about to make itself clear. Tears began to form in the corners of Galinda's eyes as she realised what it had taken Elphaba to make such a gesture. She blinked away the tears fiercely as a smile began to curl on Elphaba's lips.
"We need to talk," Elphaba stated with more emotion in her voice than Galinda had ever imagined in her wildest dreams.
"Indeed we do," Galinda softly replied as a solo tear of happiness began to fall.