Complications Needing Honesty.
Galinda quickly made her way along the path she had seen Fiyero take what now seemed like an age ago. That had been before, when the world seemed almost balanced. Now things were complicated, dangerously so. Galinda felt like she was stood on the edge of a sharp precipice, about to plunge into the deep unknown. Elphaba knew, that was the harsh reality of the matter; there could be no more pretence because she had uttered the words, loud and clear. Elphaba had heard, she knew and perhaps most telling of all, she had come desperately close to responding, so close Galinda had almost felt the seductive brush of green upon pink.
It wasn't long before Galinda recognised the café she had sent Elphaba to only yesterday, though yesterday felt about as far away from the present as was possible. She paused for a few moments to compose herself; after all she now had to go and act like things were perfectly normal between her and Fiyero. She couldn't give the game away yet; Elphaba would never forgive her, especially when her roommate hadn't exactly come to terms with her own emotions, let alone expressed them to anyone else. No for now Galinda would have to remain silent and compliant, after all it wasn't as if she didn't care for Fiyero, the truth was she liked him very much, just as a friend.
A few minutes later, when Galinda had finally managed to get a grip on the sentiments that were drawing her closer towards her best friend she approached the café, apprehensive of exactly what was waiting there for her, in the form of Fiyero. After all it wasn't as if she had invited him out to Lake Chorge, he had come up entirely off his own back, perhaps not giving it the correct amount of consideration and certainly ignoring Galinda's instructions, this was supposed to be a week about her and Elphaba, she didn't need half of h turning up, under Fiyero's suggestion.
Still deep down Galinda knew her boyfriend had nothing but the best intentions; that is why she forgave him so easily. She would allow him a day in their company and then explain the situation to him, lay the blame on Elphaba's needs rather than her own.
It was only as she walked into the café and noticed a few heads turn in her direction that she remembered two things. Number one, she had been crying and not even thought to check her make up before leaving to meet Fiyero and number two, how immensely fine looking her boyfriend was as. Jealous eyes focused in on her less than attractive demeanour, realising she was the girl Fiyero had been patiently waiting for. As they did Galinda considered she would give up a lifetime of jealous looks and popularity to share just one moment of passion with her enchanting green skinned roommate.
"Galinda, over here," Fiyero waved wildly on seeing the stunning beauty enter the café.
He had been sat alone with his thoughts for far too long, noticing how no matter where they started, as if by magic, his thoughts always managed to drift back to one thing…Elphaba, Spectacular and sublime Elphaba. It was time to get a grip.
Galinda made her way to the table and as she sat down, she couldn't help but notice the air of disappointment that filled the space between them. Something was missing and that something was quite evidently Elphaba. She wasn't sure why but she almost felt as if Fiyero missed her too, her imagination had to be playing tricks on her, there was no other explanation that suited.
"No Elphaba?" Fiyero enquired in as casual a manner as he could muster.
"I'm afraid she's not quite well," was Galinda's subdued response as she failed to meet Fiyero's eyes.
How close Elphaba's lips had been, how desperately wild the look in her eyes had become and yet nothing, when it mattered most, Elphaba had given nothing.
"So I noticed but is that all?"
"What do you mean?" Galinda still failed to meet his eyes; she wasn't prepared for an out and out interrogation about the girl who was slowly bringing her to her knees.
"I mean is there something else wrong?" Fiyero eyed the blonde girl suspiciously, noticing her make up was slightly smudged around her eyes as if she had been crying.
Galinda closed her eyes, painfully remembering the haunted look in Elphaba's eyes as Galinda had forced herself away, so that the difficult, older girl could take all the time and space she so desperately needed.
Fiyero took one look at the beautiful girl before him and somehow got the impression that everything was wrong in Galinda's world. She looked a far cry from the popular, society girl he had first met. In an odd sort of way Fiyero found her more appealing this way as he considered how much she had been through in a short space of time. Could it be that her relationship with Elphaba had made her more beautiful? Fiyero tried to block the idea from his mind but couldn't fail to notice how Galinda flourished within Elphaba's rather drab company.
Gently he took her hand, remembering as he did so the brief contact Elphaba had required from him, trying desperately not to distract himself from the current issue.
"You do know that whatever is eating you up inside, you can tell me," Fiyero's eyes were soft and kind as he continued. "I won't judge you Galinda and you certainly don't have to hide yourself and your feelings from me. I'm not one of your air headed society girls," Fiyero smiled gently, hoping to see Galinda return the gesture. When she did not he squeezed her hand gently and whispered, "Tell me."
Not for the first time that day Galinda allowed her tears to fall freely, unable to gain control over them; wishing more than anything Elphaba could be there to hold and soothe her and yet appreciating Fiyero's effort at the same time.
Unceremoniously Galinda wiped her nose with her hand and shook her head, crying in public was certainly something well brought up girls were taught not to do and yet Galinda could barely control herself, everything was such a mess. Still she was aware she would have to do something, the Pertha Hills was an area of Oz her parents frequented regularly, this sort of behaviour would never do. News travelled fast in this part of Oz, the last thing she needed was her parents being drawn into some sort of mad panic because she had been seen crying in public. The humiliation would be unbearable, both for them as well as herself, the fact of the matter was quite simple, she was going to have to pull herself together.
"Oh Fiyero, if only it was as simple as me just telling you. I'm afraid there's far more to it than that and if I were to tell you what is truly going on here you would only hate me all the more," Galinda sniffled still unable to prevent her tears.
"I don't hate you," Fiyero replied, shocked at the fact Galinda really thought that.
"Maybe, but you don't love me either," was Galinda's self pitying response.
It was Fiyero's turn to struggle with his words, this was the last thing he had expected from the blonde girl who appeared to be battling her inner demons. Galinda was certainly clued up; she picked up the latest fashion trend way before it had even been introduced but perceptive? Fiyero hadn't expected Galinda to have it in her to be perceptive, at least not until now. This changed his view entirely of the younger girl as he considered keeping a closer guard over his own displays of affection, especially where Elphaba was concerned.
"Walk with me," without another word Fiyero got up from his seat, left money to pay for the drink he had barely touched and gently he took Galinda by the arm and led her away from the café, trying to ignore the glares the girl on his arm was receiving, only wanting to save her from the shame her knew would be brought upon her by an escapade like this, within the society she kept.
Fiyero led Galinda in silence to a secluded area he had passed on his way. It was only minutes away from the buzz of the café they had so suddenly departed yet it was so far removed Galinda considered it could almost be romantic, if only she was there with the one her heart longed for. No matter how she tried, Elphaba was a permanent fixture in her mind, she was captured, heart strings tugged in one direction only…Elphaba.
A wooden pier jutted out into the lake, where the only sound was that of the birds singing and the waves lapping around the wooden posts and onto the soft shore. Here Fiyero gently manoeuvred Galinda so that she was stood in front of him, looking out towards the centre of the iridescent lake. Lovingly he wrapped his arms around her waist and began to feel a hint of guilt as Elphaba swam into his mind. Ignoring his vision, Fiyero began to softly stroke Galinda's toned stomach as he spoke.
"Everything you are struggling to find the words for, I see it written in your eyes, something is troubling you deeply," his voice was gentle, no accusation there.
"Please don't," Galinda begged.
"I'm sorry but this has to be said for both our sakes. There seems to be so many things bubbling under the surface that you can't find the words for, I want to help you, truly I do but you have to tell me how?" Fiyero placed a gentle kiss on his girlfriends' neck before continuing, "You accuse me of not loving you but I'm here Galinda and sometimes it feels like I am the only one here. There has to be two people in a relationship and I can't help but think you accusing me of not loving you is a way of escaping your own feelings."
A long silence enveloped the two as Galinda considered how to respond. Fiyero was everything she could possibly want from a boyfriend. Social status and popularity aside, he was kind, caring, good humoured and he always looked out for her, even when he knew she was wrong. There weren't many decent guys out there and Galinda had managed to find one, surely that wasn't worth throwing away for a girl who was unresponsive, irksome and somewhat peculiar? Galinda hardly knew her own mind; such was her torment, because on the other hand Elphaba could be caring, sensitive and warm towards her when the mood took her. Whichever path Galinda now chose it was destined to be rocky, full of difficult decisions and unspoken words. Still a choice had to be made; she couldn't keep tossing it around in her mind. Under the strain of the immense pressure, she spoke, before Elphaba crept into her mind to dissuade her again.
"Fiyero of course I love you…" Galinda's confidence dissolved as the crushing sensation of Elphaba's lips hit her full pelt and she felt weak at the knees. Vehemently she forced the image to the back of her mind, unwilling to let it go completely as she continued, "…it's just…" Galinda couldn't find the words she so longed to express.
"It's just what?" Fiyero asked, trying not to show his frustration at getting nowhere fast.
"Nothing, there's nothing," was all she could think to respond.
Gently Fiyero pulled Galinda around so that once more they were face to face. Tenderly he wiped away a tear from the blonde girls face as he spoke kindly.
"Those tears don't look like nothing to me."
Despite his overwhelming feelings for Elphaba, Fiyero couldn't deny that he cared deeply for Galinda. He felt protective towards her as numerous times she had been misguided and he had put his best efforts into making sure she didn't get hurt. Fiyero saw between the lines, he knew her society friends were not all they claimed to be and yet he also recognised that Galinda would never accept that, not unless the words came from the only person in the whole of damn Oz that seemed to have an effect on Galinda, Elphaba. Still he knew when something was out of sorts in Galinda's world and the concern he felt as tears continued to stream down her face was genuine.
Galinda tried weakly to control the flow of tears but every time she remembered the evocative look in Elphaba's eyes as she had made to kiss her hand, they fell harder than before. Her feelings were reaching bubbling point, she had no clue how Elphaba went about keeping everything inside her so effortlessly, this was impossible to keep inside and so it was that Galinda blurted out the root of all her problems.
"It's Elphaba," Galinda looked down at her feet, nervous of his response.
"Elphaba?" Fiyero looked as confused as Galinda now felt. "Have you two been fighting again? Sweet Oz I don't think any of us could go through that again."
"Nothing like that," Galinda replied, cringing at the memory of those days.
"Then what?"
"Oh Fiyero I can't talk to you about this, there's nothing you can do."
"I'm not suggesting there is, I'm just going along with the old theory, a problem shared is a problem halved and all that. Besides you know what you could do right?"
"Go on then, state the obvious," Galinda knew exactly what he was going to say and already she knew he was right.
"Talk to her," Fiyero nodded as if talking to Elphaba was the most common and natural thing in the world.
"Have you met Elphaba?" Galinda replied. "She's not exactly easy to communicate with, especially when she has a temper on."
"And does she have a temper on now?" Fiyero asked, secretly considering how attractive Elphaba would look when a fury was upon her.
"She's not well Fiyero."
"Is that why you two have fallen out?"
"I wouldn't exactly say that," Galinda desperately wanted to avert the truth.
"Expand?"
"Yes do expand," a voice all too familiar swept through the air, as Galinda felt her heart miss a beat and Fiyero felt his pulse begin to rush, "because I'm having trouble understanding myself."
"Elphaba," both Fiyero and Galinda exclaimed the name at the exact same time as perhaps in perfect their harmony, both their hearts skipped another beat.
Galinda rushed to her friends side, forgetting her embarrassment in her excitement to embrace the girl she loved, looking so vibrant compared to a few hours earlier when she had seemed lost at sea. Her arms were quickly around the green girl who froze on the spot, allowing Galinda the contact she so needed but returning none herself. She stayed that way for as long as she could stand and then spoke again, discretely disengaging from Galinda's embrace.
"Please go on."
"Not here Elphie," Galinda whispered seductively into her ear, seeking out the green fingertips she had imagined on her own pert breasts on more than one occasion and cautiously allowing their fingers to touch for longer than was strictly necessary, enjoying the surge of electrical current that swept through them.
Elphaba remained inactive, giving nothing away in those dark orbs. Why couldn't she let Galinda know? Just for once? The younger girl wanted to stamp her foot and protest to Elphaba's passiveness and yet she knew it would do absolutely no use. Elphaba was one on her own and nobody would ever be able to get anything out of the green girl unless she wanted to give it away, that much Galinda knew.
It was only when Fiyero spoke that either girl remembered his presence. Elphaba lost in her failing attempt at abandoning emotion and Galinda lost in Elphaba's sensual touch and breath-taking eyes.
"Are you feeling better Elphaba? You look a hundred times better than you did when I first came across you earlier today."
"I have to get you alone," Galinda continued to whisper into her friends ear as Elphaba attempted to respond to Fiyero, shocked at finding she wanted Galinda more and more by the second.
"Much better thank you, a good rest seems to have done the trick," Elphaba's sentence was hardly coherent as her fingers continued to tingle, sending pleasurable shivers down her body with an overwhelming intensity.
Galinda allowed her fingers to entwine with Elphaba's despite Fiyero's presence as the older girl began to rush through her soul, like a whirlwind gone out of control.
"I admit we need to talk," Elphaba responded quietly, enjoying the contact she had missed as the tingling feeling began to take over all rational thought.
"Oh Elphie," Galinda surprised herself with her throaty whisper as the familiar throbbing returned tenfold between her legs.
"So would you like to join us for a walk?" Fiyero asked hopefully, sensing whatever Galinda's problem with Elphaba had been, it had evaporated upon her return.
Galinda let out a most unladylike groan as if she had been shot in the foot. Both Fiyero and Elphaba couldn't fail to notice it but whereas Elphaba understood, Fiyero looked completely mystified.
"Can you try to cool it a little," Elphaba muttered under her breath, considering Galinda couldn't be more obvious if she tried.
"I'm sorry, it's just…"
"I know," Elphaba silenced Galinda, her mouth hardly moving at all.
Elphaba had never experience such strong, pulsating sensations between her legs before; she didn't need Galinda to put a name to it, not now. Avoidance was the only way forward, anything other acknowledgement of feelings would lead to lips crashing on lips, hands searching out hidden flesh, heat surging vigorously between bodies. No, now was not the time to become submerged in Galinda, the older girl knew she had to remain strong, for both their sakes and Fiyero's too.
"I'm sorry," Galinda repeated sheepishly, wanting Elphaba more and more by the second.
"I'm not sure I feel quite up to a walk after this morning, can I offer another suggestion?"
"Go ahead," Fiyero replied, whilst thinking how odd Galinda looked snuggled up right next to Elphaba. How odd and yet so perfectly fitted.
Elphaba felt Galinda's sigh and chose to ignore it, deciding that just for once things would be done her way in her time. It was high time she got to call some of the shots.
"Why don't we go back to the café and order some food for a picnic, I'm sure Galinda knows some lovely spots by the lakeside, don't you?" Elphaba nudged her roommate into action.
"Of course," was all Galinda could manage.
"That sounds perfect," Fiyero replied, looking happier than he had in a while.
"Elphie…Elphie…" Galinda continued to whine into the green girls ear.
"What is it now?"
"I can't wait that long," Galinda muttered through gritted teeth.
"You'll just have to," was Elphaba's firm response.
"I can't," she continued to whine.
"Pull yourself together," this time there was a sternness in Elphaba's tone that Galinda knew not to push. "Besides aren't all good things worth waiting for?"
Galinda blushed at these words, hoping Fiyero wouldn't notice and then almost as if someone had pressed a switch, off she went, into flirtatious mode, seemingly not a care in the world. Galinda was an outstanding actress.
"It does sound perfect, an afternoon by the lake and in the company of the two people I care about most in the world. My best friend and my wonderful boyfriend."
Before either Elphaba or Fiyero knew what had hit them, Galinda had bubbled her way back towards Fiyero and practically wrapped herself up in his arms, kissing him for all he was worth in a way that almost knocked Elphaba off her feet.
Still if Elphaba was going to make her wait when she was almost at her wits end, her difficult roommate was going to have a hard time too; of that there was no doubt. Pushing a stunned Fiyero away momentarily Galinda made sure she caught Elphaba's eye in a way that quite clearly stated; "this could be yours if you want it?"
When she was certain Elphaba's eyes were well and truly focused, she kissed Fiyero with such intense passion that it was only moments before Elphaba had to look away, a painful feeling welling up inside her that made her almost want to shout out and beg Galinda to stop. Yet again Galinda had her exactly where she wanted her and there wasn't a thing Elphaba could do about it.