Moment of Weakness - Chapter 25

A/N: So I wrote this chapter and got way too excited about it. It just took off and before I knew it, it was about a thousand words longer than the rest of my chapters. Which is great for you guys because it means more gelphie. :D

Also, how awesome would if be if I got to 100 reviews before the end of this fic? (hint hint) #ShamelessSelfPromotion. ^_^

I created the cover for what's going to be the sequel to this story. I've decided that it will be called 'Overcoming Adversity'. There will probably only be a few chapters left of 'Moment of Weakness' before I transition into the sequel.

GALINDA

Elphie had been telling the truth. New rumours were leaching throughout the student body.

Before, when I'd decided to give up Fiyero, I must have been in a state of denial. Although my ears had heard Elphie's concerns of how I would handle such things, underneath I realised I hadn't really believed that they would manifest.

When they did, I became scared. The enormity of my decision became very, very apparent. As I wandered between my lectures, exams and the dining room, I found myself wondering if I was able to handle the penalties of my choice after all. I had told Elphie that I could. That I would do it for her sake. Because I wanted her. Because I – loved – her (did I dare label it so?).

Yet, I felt myself crumbling slowly as I detected obvious problems I had failed to consider during my initial dilemma. Back then, it had been all about my feelings for Elphie, as a person. However, I had not contemplated Elphie as a female. It hadn't seemed to matter. Now it appeared an enormous issue. Elphie was a girl. I was also a girl.

How uncommon indeed.

It posed the question: Could I love her that way? Was it even possible? I wasn't very aware if there were others that had feelings for their own gender. I had grown up in a world of girls who dreamed of finding the perfect man and having a grand, expensive wedding and producing lots of children. I myself had had those dreams, but now the concept left me empty and devoid.

'Concentrate, Galinda,' Elphie murmured.

I snapped out of my daydream and blinked at the textbook in front of me. We were in the library studying. I had an exam tomorrow, and she had her final scholarship one as well as an ordinary one. I shuffled in my seat and flipped the page. The words blurred in front of me. I didn't feel like I was about to take an exam. That was another girl, an ordinary school girl without the burdens of confusion and inadequacy on her shoulders. I was desperate for the holidays, so that I could relax and forget about everything for a bit.

Well, maybe not quite everything, I thought, glancing sideways at Elphie.

'Can't,' I murmured back.

'Yes you can.'

I returned to the textbook and re-read the same paragraph I'd been stuck on for the past half hour. Elphie's belief in me still flummoxed me, so I made an effort for her sake, but my mind would not stop drifting. The endless bookshelves surrounding us were sores to my eyes. I wished that the sight of students on their way to lessons, the long, grand corridors of Crage Hall, the dorms and lecture theatres, would disappear. I wanted my own bedroom in Frottica, where I could hide myself away from the rest of Oz – except for Elphie, of course, she could hide with me.

'You'd have to get out occasionally,' Farold had told me when I'd confessed this at my next appointment. 'You can't hide forever. You'll have to confront your feelings eventually.'

His words had made my head spin. I did not consider myself to be brave. That was Elphie's forte. She was always one for facing up to things no matter how difficult or awkward they were. On the other hand, I was continuously twisting things in my favour, to cover up an awkwardness, to present myself in a better light.

In hindsight it wasn't brave at all.

As such, I had not been able to be very direct with Elphie. I showered her with subtle hints in hope that she would catch on and say something for me. I really ought to have known better. Elphie was not experienced at matters of the heart and did not take them. I knew I should just be truthful, but for some reason the right words would elude me. Three simple words – why oh why couldn't I say them?

'Galinda,' Elphie murmured again.

'Sorry,' I mumbled.

How in Oz does she do that? I thought. She hadn't even so much as glanced at me, but she'd still managed to realise I wasn't concentrating. I sneaked a peek at her. She appeared totally engrossed in her work. Her back was completely straight and her left hand lettered pages of words in neat curvatures. She had tied her hair back in a braid, to my dismay – said that it was easier to concentrate when it wasn't getting in the way. I wished she would take it down. It was so pretty down. But Elphie insisted.

Okay, Galinda, back to work.

The library seemed to encase itself around me. Books insulted me with jeers at my lack of motivation. Shelves towered high and looked down on me. Bright chandeliers blinded my eyes and made me sleepy. In the centre of it all was Elphie, who looked completely at home here, making me feel like the oddball of the situation, sticking out like a sore thumb in this quiet, stuffy environment.

Libraries had never suited me, but they were Elphie's best friend. The setting enhanced her studious nature, gently exaggerating her angular features as she pored over pages and pages of thick volumes, absorbing their information. Her lips possessed a tiny smirk, not quite a smile, but it made her appear luminous. Her free hand traced the handle of her glasses in a relaxed manner. Her beautiful, brown eyes gazed into the books with enamour, as though the works possessed a soul.

She was so, so beautiful.

So beautiful.

I couldn't help that I edged just a tiny bit closer to her. I told myself it was because I wanted to see what she was reading, but of course the topic was something complicated which went straight over my head. She must have noticed me shift but didn't say anything. She continued to write and my eyes flickered in line with her hand movements. To think that I had once hated this strange enigma, who was the most at home when she was studying. It was so unusual and captivating.

'Galinda, please, you are casting a shadow.'

I jumped backwards, jolted out of my reverie. My cheeks were hot. I couldn't quite meet her eyes.

'Sorry, Elphie.'

Three words entered my head: Not good enough. I had been told by Farold to stop this train of thought, should it occur, and not allow it to take hold. I needed to change my outlook. So I attempted to push it aside, but couldn't quite forget it completely.

'You know what, let's go,' Elphie said, and I flushed guiltily, knowing I was the reason why she had given up.

Thank Oz, I thought, as we put our books away. I don't think I could bear another moment.

I made certain to stare straight ahead; else I might die of embarrassment. I was acutely aware of our closeness as we ambled outside into Shiz's beautiful grounds. The air was cold but refreshing after being inside the library. I inhaled the fresh pine scent and dropped my shoulders. When in Oz had I become so tense?

'It was way too hot in there,' I commented. 'So hot that I honestly thought I was going to melt!'

'Only the other day you were going to die of frostbite,' Elphie quipped.

'I mean, I know I said keep making me warm, but I didn't quite mean reduce me to a scalding, sweaty mess by hours of library torture,' I continued.

'I was unaware that I was doing anything other than studying.'

'Elphie!' I screeched.

'Yes, my sweet?'

I huffed.

'Dense, you are, you mean green thing.'

'What did I miss this time?'

'Only what you miss every time,' I grumbled. I was getting annoyed. Could she not see what I was trying to tell her? Was she really so blind that she would continue in this manner of taking things literally? I possessed no desire to change tactics but was starting to think I had no choice.

'And what would that be?'

I stalled. So much for changing tactics. I felt myself go red and my breath grew short. I knew exactly what I wanted to say, and yet I couldn't find the words. It wasn't fear of rejection – I already knew she loved me – but somehow, it was easier to live in this state of not quite being with her, than risk opening myself to her love.

You can't hide forever. You'll have to confront your feelings eventually.

Farold's voice resonated in my head. I hadn't realised I would have to heed his words so soon.

'My sweet?' Elphie prompted.

'I want you,' I mumbled.

'Pardon?'

I looked away, unable to bring myself to say it again. My heart was thudding furiously; my whole body trembled. Somewhere along the way we had stopped walking. I probably looked stupid just standing there, fidgeting on the spot.

For the love of Oz, Galinda, say something!

'My sweet, you are really going to have to speak up if I am to hear you,' said Elphie.

'I want you,' I repeated.

'You…want me?' Elphie said slowly.

'Yeah. I do. And sweet Oz, it's about time you realised it, you dense green thing! I don't know how many not so subtle little hints I have put out there, only to have you take everything I say entirely too literally! I can no longer bear it!'

The word babble had come out of nowhere. Now that it was off my chest it was suddenly easier to talk about. Elphie looked at me with a glint in her eye. Her lips curled into a slight smile.

'Well all you had to do was say so,' she responded.

'Oh, sweet Lurline!' I exclaimed. It had begun to rain.

Elphie froze.

'Run,' she said, then took off before I could say anything. We instantly ran back to the library where she barged through the doors and skidded to a halt inside. She grabbed my arm and dragged me behind a book case.

'Damn,' she muttered, raising her hands, which were uncovered. On the surface of the skin, purple spots had started to appear. The same spots were also present on her face.

'Oh my,' I said. 'Elphie, that looks bad.'

'It isn't so bad, my sweet. It was only a few drops of rain.'

I looked out of a window. It was pouring really, really hard. We were going to be hard pressed to get back to Crage Hall anytime soon, with Elphie's unusual allergy.

'Now what?'

'You go back,' Elphie said.

'No! I won't! I'm not going to leave you here, stranded!'

'Galinda, there are entire shelves full of books to keep me occupied. Do not be ridiculous.'

'Books! Elphie, what if it gets to night time and it's still raining? What in Oz are you going to do then? You might melt trying to get back to our dorm! And you can't stay here in the middle of the night! That would be horrendifying!'

'Well I do not see another option. And you know that you hate libraries, so there really is no point in you staying.'

'I'll stay with you regardless,' I insisted. 'Oz, Elphie, I just confessed my feelings for you. No way am I going to allow you to follow up by abandoning me in favour of the stupid library. That would be most unromantic.'

'Galinda…'

'No. I insist.'

'Then what do you suggest we do?'

I grinned, flurries of excitement and nerves welling in my chest. I had considered the idea for a while, but had never been comfortable enough to act upon it. It had remained a vague daydream, one which I thought I could maybe consider at some point in the far future, but it had arrived rather quicker than I had expected.

'There are certain things which could be considered good rainy day activities,' I said, stepping closer to her.

Her eyes widened.

'Galinda – are you sure?'

I nodded. The building frustration of the day had worn me down. For weeks I had denied myself permission to desire her, but seeing her in the library had become all too much. I could no longer ignore my desperate need to be close to her physically.

Just for that moment, I could not remember any of the things that had happened to me, except that this gorgeous, green enigma was leaning in close, her chocolate eyes boring into mine, and I could feel tingles all over my body. Her lips, a slightly darker shade to the rest of her skin, parted into an oval pucker, full and enticing, and my own lips flushed with anticipation. Her hand made its way into my hair and yanked me forward, and I released a gasp of longing. I cupped her face, only an inch away from my own, in my hand and tilted her head towards me.

How in Oz had I denied myself this for such a long time?

The gap closed in a brush of warmth. We tentatively began our explorations with a series of light kisses. As our confidence grew we pressed into each other further. Her fingernails dragged through my hair, drawing me closer, and I captured her lower lip with my teeth. She let out a guttural moan and I licked the lip, then the upper one, silently begging her to part her mouth open and grant me entrance.

She granted my wish and I slipped my tongue inside, wrapping it around hers, basking in the soft texture and pleasant wetness. The feeling was more amazing than in my daydreams, and even the real life kisses I'd had with Fiyero. Instead of the rough hook-up I had been accustomed to, they were gentle and caring, each one as important as the last.

'You're right,' Elphie said between kisses. 'This makes…a very…entertaining…rain…activity.'

I was far too engaged to actually speak, but I giggled to let her know I'd heard. We continued in this manner for another minute, before finally breaking apart, panting heavily.

'Oh my Oz,' I gasped.

'Indeed.'

I took in her dishevelled braid and the darkened hue of her skin. She now looked even better than before, a feat which I had thought impossible. She was not a classic beauty, but her exoticness was the most delicious thing I had ever seen.

'Well it's still raining,' I said. 'I suppose we'll just have to continue until it stops.'

'That might not be for a long time, my sweet.'

'I know. All the better for me, then.'

Henceforth, we continued, oblivious to the rest of the world.