Elphaba yawned groggily and pulled the sheets over her legs, having kicked those off during the night. She wasn't cold now, no, but she always slept in that fashion, feeling protected by the thin fabric that stopped just below her navel. Her fingers hung limply over her exposed abdomen.
She turned over, away from the open window and the light breeze that made her skin tingle. Her loose hair fell over the wide pillow, soaking it in black, and she sighed, content.
She's beautiful, Galinda thought, silently watching and remembering all the times she had done just that at Shiz, wordlessly observing in the early morning hours when Elphaba was sound asleep. Did she dream? Galinda wondered. Could she dream? And if she did, was Galinda ever lucky enough to accompany her into her subconscious world?
Galinda reached a hesitant hand out over Elphaba's head and slowly slid her fingers through the thick strands nearest the crown. She sighed to herself when Elphaba unconsciously pushed forward into her palm, tangling her hair around Galinda's fingers.
Sleep, Galinda concluded, allowed Elphaba an innocence that Galinda could only hope to glimpse in her waking hours. Elphaba hid herself away so well when she was awake, but here, now, Elphaba's mind gave her what she wanted: Galinda.
And she was more than happy to oblige.
Despite her joy at being able to share this intimate moment with Elphaba, there were a million questions and thoughts running about in Galinda's head. They chiefly surrounded Elphaba, and what they were going to do when they returned to Shiz.
If she returned to Shiz, Galinda corrected. If the Wizard took Elphaba under his wing, she didn't know when she'd be able to see Elphaba again.
And what if he didn't take her? People would talk at Shiz, of course, they always did, but when would the gossip end? Would her friends stay? Her family?
Would Elphaba come back at all?
"Oh, Elphie," Galinda whispered in a pained voice. "Why you?"
Galinda hated herself for this single, overly present question that trumped her other thoughts. It was the honest question, she knew, and it was really to be expected thing to be wondering in her position, but she still felt guilty for it. Why? She could not help but ask herself, and the unknown forces at work. Why her, why now? Why any of this?
Perhaps the Wizard would be able to put her fears to rest, Galinda thought. She tried to put her faith in that. His decision would mean a great change to their relationship, for better or worse.
I don't want to lose her, Galinda thought. Her inner voice chuckled.
You will lose her. Whether the Wizard takes her or not.
Galinda stroked Elphaba's hair, unable to respond. She knew that it was true. That night would become the only night they were together, and Galinda had to face that.
Elphaba tensed beneath Galinda's fingertips, as though feeling her thoughts through the soft pads of her digits. Galinda immediately ceased her fretting. She and Elphaba would discuss all of this in good time and they could worry later. Galinda had plans laid out for the day and she would make the most of the time they had left.
"Come on, Elphie," she whispered, ruffling Elphaba's hair. "We've got just one short day… and there's so much to do!"
------
After thirteen stores, two salons, one spa, innumerable street vendors, and a pet shop, Elphaba was all too glad to collapse into a chair at "The Brass Monkey", an antique shop and café. Galinda seated herself more demurely and ordered for the two of them: tea and soup.
The waiter, a handsome young man of twenty-some years, smiled at Galinda as he took the order. Galinda's eyes followed him until him until he was out of sight.
"Does anyone ever not flirt with you?" Elphaba asked, rolling her eyes. She stared at the space where the boy had been with utter contempt.
"Don't you start with me, Elphaba Thropp. You're just as guilty of acts of flirtation as that young man," she said, laying her napkin out on her lap. The waiter brought their tea out promptly, promising to have the soup soon.
Elphaba, glaring after him, started at Galinda's sarcasm.
"I never flirt!" she responded. "And most especially not with you!"
"Oh?" Galinda feigned surprise and stupidity (which wasn't much of a challenge). "And that time you gave me those flowers?" Elphaba's face blushed purple beneath her green cheeks. "Or that friendly back rub?"
"You said your neck hurt!" Elphaba spat, but Galinda simply shook her head.
"Oh, Elphaba, you're so easy," she teased. Elphaba reddened, and the waiter returned with their order. She stared and Galinda in silence, her mouth shut tightly. As soon as the waiter retreated, Elphaba's mouth flew open.
"I wouldn't say that I'm the easy one at this table."
Galinda's eyes widened, instantly welling up, and Elphaba suddenly realized how wrong her words had come out.
"Oh, Galinda, I didn't mean it like that! I meant that you're so gullible and--"
"Don't apologize," Galinda said curtly, tears stinging her eyes. "You're the one who lowered yourself to bed me."
Elphaba's eyes sank to her lap. Why had she said that? Was she insane?
You just want her to go back to Fiyero, her voice said. You know that she won't be able to stay with you if the Wizard takes you in, and if he says no, you won't want to be around anyone, anyway.
Elphaba bit back on that bit of truth, preferring to deal with Galinda as she was now, sitting in front of her, thinking that last night was some sort of one-night tryst.
"That was different," she said softly. "It's so much more when you know the person… when you love them."
Had she just said that aloud?
When she looked up, Galinda was smiling gently at her.
"Oh, Elphie, do you really mean that?"
Elphaba's face relaxed and she nodded. No matter what happened, she knew that much was true. Reaching across the table with her right hand, Elphaba took Galinda's left and squeezed reassuringly.
"How could I not? I mean, I flirted so shamelessly."
Galinda giggled at this and swallowed, knowing her face was redder than the roses hawked by street sellers. She breathed in sharply, fanning herself, as she felt quite faint.
"Elphie," she whispered, trying to calm her welling tears. "I was so worried that you regretted last night. But I love--"
"Will that be all?" the waiter asked, suddenly at their table again. Galinda snatched her hand away by reflex and immediately regretted it, seeing the pain in Elphaba's eyes.
"No, no, that's everything," Galinda said, reaching for her purse. "If I could just have the bill…"
As Galinda paid for the meal, Elphaba sank back down into her seat. Hadn't Galinda said last night that she wanted to be with her? Hadn't she promised they would be together at Shiz? If she couldn't stand a waiter, someone she didn't even know, seeing them hold hands, how could she ever tell her friends about them?
"Oh, Elphaba, we need to hurry!" Galinda said, glancing at her watch. "We're going to be late for Wizamania."
Elphaba, however, didn't quite hear her. She was looking around her, watching the other couples eating, chatting merrily, not a care in the world. They all looked so happy.
Everyone had been like this, all day, Elphaba noticed. They went about their lives without any concern to her or Galinda. Why couldn't Galinda realize that?
"Galinda, have you noticed?" Elphaba said at last. Galinda looked around, but found nothing out of the ordinary.
"Notice what, Elphie?" she said carefully. She was expecting a comment concerning the couple's holding hands, but wondered if Elphaba would be so bold.
"No one's staring," Elphaba said, just realizing it herself. "All day, no one has stared, or pointed, or insulted me…"
She looked at Galinda suddenly, hoping for her comprehension. Didn't she understand? If she stayed with her in the Emerald City, she wouldn't have to worry about her friends, or her family! No one here cared that Elphaba was green; no one would say anything if they were together!
"I feel more at home here, with you, than I have anywhere else," Elphaba said.
"Me too," Galinda admitted. "I wish we could stay here forever… but we have to go home sometime."
Elphaba grimaced inwardly at those last few words. Couldn't Galinda see? She wouldn't be going home! She knew that the Wizard would take her in, once he saw what she could do!
Galinda watched silently, seeing the love in Elphaba's eyes. But it wasn't a love for her, she knew. It was a love of this place, of the welcoming arms of the city.
How can I lose her? Galinda thought, if she's already gone?
The Wizard holds her heart, Galinda realized. And if she loved Elphaba, she would have to respect that.
"We've got the rest of the day, Elphie," Galinda said, slowly bringing her back down to reality. "We're just two friends, out on the town."
"Two good friends?" Elphaba said, a bit startled by Galinda's word choice. What did she mean, friends? Hadn't she been about to say something very different just a moment ago? Was she afraid someone would overhear if she said something more, even after what Elphaba had said?
"Two best friends," Galinda volleyed, swallowing the bile that rose with those words. If Elphaba's true love was magic, she wouldn't let herself stand in the way.
Elphaba opened her mouth as though to say something, but Galinda had already turned away. The second she spotted a sunglass salesman, Elphaba knew the conversation was lost.
Galinda brushed aside a tear and rushed after a street vendor selling large, dark glasses. She would hide her tears from Elphaba. She would not ruin this day that was meant to be everything to her.
Elphaba watched for a moment as Galinda chased after the man, then shook her head and followed.
------
The two girls slid into their seats at the Emerald Theater just as the curtain was about to rise. Elphaba sat back in her seat, bogged down by thought. The sparkling scene lit up the stage and Galinda was on the edge of her seat from the very first note, her face turned away from Elphaba.
Though Elphaba was a fan of the theater, she could not concentrate on the show. The subject matter, for one, only worsened her nerves. "Wizamania" was entirely about the Wizard, the man who would decide not only her fate in magic, but her fate in love.
Further more, how could she concentrate on the Wizard when Galinda was sitting right next to her? Galinda, who she thought she was beginning to understand, and had suddenly turned around on her again? Elphaba had thought the Emerald City would solve all of her problems. Now it was as if the fates had spun all of Oz on its head in order to torment her.
Elphaba sighed, feeling as though she had thrown herself into the fire, rather than escaping the flames she had been skirting all along. The show danced and whirled before her, characters dancing by, singing in chirpy voices.
"Ooo-oo-ooo," they sang energetically, and Elphaba lowered her head to her chest.
"Isn't he wonderful? Our Wonderful Wizard."
She certainly hoped so.