8- Revelations

"Oh my Oz, this exam was absolutely horrible!" Galinda said dramatically, striding into the room.

Elphaba watched the way her blonde roommate threw herself just as dramatically on her bed with a sigh of relief, as if she planned that entire entrance on her way back. Elphaba wouldn't be the least surprised if she did. "How did it go?" she asked, mostly because she felt obliged to do so, knowing that Galinda was counting on her to cooperate.

"Oh, you know. Mostly I'm happy to get this one over with. How was your day?" she asked, propping herself on the pink fluffy pillows behind her.

"Not so bad, I guess. I spent most of the morning at the library," replied Elphaba, but didn't mention the fact that she was there with Fiyero, obviously. "And I had lunch with Nessa, for her birthday-"

That made Galinda jump off her bed. Her fatigue seemed to disappear as she launched herself towards her wardrobe, and frantically sorted through her clothes.

Elphaba watched her incredulously, wondering for the thousandth time how such a small body contained so much energy and enthusiasm.

Galinda, unaware of her being watched, just babbled on. "Oh! We have to get ready! I completely forgot about that!"

Elphaba left her spot by the windowsill and sprawled on her bed. She closed her eyes. Unlike Galinda, she despised these common social gatherings when everyone came all dressed up in order to see and be seen. The only reason she was going was because it was her sister's birthday being celebrated, nothing more.

"Nessa's birthday, isn't this exciting?" Galinda's cheerful question seemed to be directed to no-one in particular. Elphaba chose not to reply. "I just love birthday parties, don't you? When is your birthday, Elphie?"

"Three months ago." There were times, such as this one, when Galinda's constant cheerfulness was absolutely tiring.

Galinda looked shocked to hear Elphaba's answer. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"You didn't even know my name back then, Galinda," Elphaba pointed out dryly. It was back in the time when they still loathed one another, right before Fiyero came along and everything seemed to change. Whether it was a good change or a bad one, Elphaba couldn't still tell.

"Of course I knew your name, Elphie!" Galinda said with fake offense, a frown written all over her pretty features. "It's just that you were so… well, unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe-"

"Thanks, Galinda, I think I got your point," said Elphaba while taking off her dress. She didn't care changing next to Galinda, not anymore. At first she hid herself in their bathroom, or in the darkness of their room, but then she realized how amazingly childish this had been. They were roommates. It was for better and for worse, green skin or not. So what if she'd never have the perfect skin complexion as the one the petite blond who was now bouncing back and forth across the room in her lacy pink slip, trying that dress or another.

The dress Elphaba chose to wear was remarkably similar to the one she had just taken off. Galinda shrugged at that, Elphaba didn't really care. When she laced her heavy boots she remembered her sister's jeweled shoes. As befits the future governor of Munchkinland, said their father once he gave Nessarose the shoes. She'd probably wear them tonight. Elphaba couldn't resist the sense of envy and bitterness that suddenly washed all over her. She wished that she'd be able to wear these remarkable shoes once. Once would be enough.

xoxoxoxox

Galinda kept chattering all the way to Nessarose's room and afterwards, until they got to the café. Most of Nessarose's friends were already there, happy to leave their books for several hours and just hang out together. Elphaba was glad to see how dearly loved her sister was. She had so many friends. Of course she wouldn't be missed once she was off to the Emerald City. Nessarose would be just fine.

Half an hour later, Boq and Fiyero entered the café one after the other and added some more cheerfulness to the already cheerful atmosphere around the table. Elphaba tried to ignore Fiyero's presence, yet found it nearly impossible. Though he sat next to Galinda, who never let him get out of her sight, he kept glancing at Elphaba in a desperate attempt to catch her attention. She avoided any eye contact with him. She decided it would be for the best.

Some time afterwards a passing band of three Munchkins started playing in the balcony. The music was so alive and captivating that everyone went outside to dance to its unfamiliar sounds. Elphaba, who started to feel quite uncomfortable among the crowd, quietly disappeared into a small grove nearby. She leaned against a huge tree trunk and sighed in relief when she suddenly heard low voices, only a small distance away. She walked in their direction and hid herself behind another trunk.

"…Look, I don't think we should discuss it here," said a female voice, which Elphaba recognized instantly as Galinda's. It didn't sound like a friendly or a nice Galinda, though, not at all. Galinda who spoke was nervous, perhaps embarrassed even. Was she in some kind of a trouble? Elphaba's instincts awakened. She's better stay and look after her roommate. She slipped deeper into the shadows.

"Well, I think we should!" called another stubborn voice, a male this time. Elphaba frowned when recognition hit her again. Boq? What in Oz was going on there? "We should have discussed this months ago," Boq continued. "But you kept evading me! Well, not this time!" He took a deep breath and went on, his rage growing. "You know perfectly well how I feel about you, you can't just ignore me like you do!" Elphaba heard Galinda gasp. "Really, I'll feel much better if you'll just reject me once, but I can't stand this! I can't stay in the shadow, Galinda, I have to know what you think!"

My, my, what sort of trouble did she come across? Slowly, carefully, without making any noise, she made several steps forward. She now could see them. Galinda was leaning against a tree, and Boq stood in front of here, his arms in either side of her, blocking her way of escape. Galinda was small in size, yet somehow Boq managed to be even shorter than her.

After what looked like an eternity, Galinda sighed. "Biq-"

Elphaba flinched. Oh, wrong answer, my little pretty.

Apparently, the same thought had crossed Boq's mind as well. "It's Boq!" he shouted at her. "How is it that you impose the correct pronunciation of your name of everyone, but you never bother to remember their's?!" he asked, full of rage. Or was it pain? Elphaba couldn't really tell. She kept listening. Boq never raised his voice, ever. He was always polite and quiet.

His outbreak seemed to shock Galinda, much more than it surprised her. He calmed down once he detected the frightened expression on her face. "I'm sorry," he added gently. "I didn't mean to scare you or upset you or anything. I just want to clear things out between us."

Now it was Boq who made the wrong answer. Oh, this was fun, Elphaba told herself, somewhat amused.

"Us?" Galinda repeated incredulously. To Elphaba, it sounded as if she was disgusted by the idea alone. "There is no 'us', Boq, and as soon as you understand that the better!" she stated, with an obvious note of superiority in her voice. "I'm perfectly in love with Fiyero, and perfectly happy as well!" Elphaba smirked at that. Sure she was. "And you," Galinda went on. "I thought that you and Nessa, I mean… you spend a lot of time together and all…"

Elphaba's tensed at the mentioning of her sister's name. Boq snorted. "Like you don't know."

Galinda looked confused. "Don't know what?"

"Nessarose is a nice girl, Galinda, but she is not the one. You know that."

"So why are you-"

"Don't you remember? That first party at the Ozdust? You said…"

He didn't finish. He didn't have to. Galinda remembered that night well. See that tragically beautiful girl, the one in the chair…? She looked at Boq, horrified. "Oh, Boq, please tell me you didn't… not because of-"

"Everything I do is because of you, Miss Galinda," Boq said softly. "I'm in love with you and you don't even care."

"Of course I care! I'm flattered, really I am, but you have to understand… just like Nessa is not the one for you, Boq, you are not the one for me. Fiyero is. I feel it. And you are truly a nice boy, but I'm sorry. 'We' will never happen," she concluded gently, looking straight into Boq's eyes. She spoke as honestly as she could, even though she herself wasn't convinced at what she was saying. Not anymore. She started having doubts about Fiyero being 'the one'. He had changed a lot in this short time since he first came to Shiz, in a way Galinda couldn't quite define. Or perhaps it was her who had changed?

There was an awkward silence, after which Boq said quietly, "Well, I won't lie and say that I feel much better now."

"Boq, wait!" Galinda called after his disappearing figure. She leaned against the tree trunk, releasing the breath she didn't even know she was holding. What in Oz had she done?

Boq nearly bumped into Elphaba, who was about to make an escape herself before one of them saw her. "Don't be scared, it's just me," she said gently when she noticed his frightened expression.

He looked nervous as he realized she was there all along. "How much did you hear?"

Elphaba shook her head. "I heard enough."

That seemed to bother Boq. He hesitated, then asked, carefully, "So… are you going to take your revenge now and smack me on your sister's behalf?"

Elphaba laughed softly. "I didn't have this one planned, but if you think you deserve that, I might change my mind." Boq chuckled. "Look, Boq… no matter what you might think of me… I understand this situation you are in. Really, I do. Please, just don't hurt my sister."

"I won't! Miss Elphaba, I've never planned to do that! You're sister is the sweetest creature she can possibly be! It's just-"

"She is not the one," Elphaba completed. He nodded, looking desperate. "I know, I heard. This is absolutely acceptable. I just don't want to see her getting hurt."

"I'm sorry it has to be that way." His honesty nearly broke her heart.

She shook her head. "Boq, it's okay to be in love. And it's okay that you are not in love with my sister. Actually, this makes sense. We Thropp girls never had much luck with love," she said quietly.

"What do you mean?" he asked, suddenly curious. Could she possibly include herself in this statement? The idea alone startled him. Elphaba Thropp? In love…?

"Never mind. Let's go back, okay?" Boq was about to say something, but Elphaba nodded even before he had a chance to speak. "Of course I won't tell anyone about this, Boq, don't you worry about that."

xoxoxoxox

When Elphaba came back to the balcony, she was more than surprised to see Fiyero crouching next to her sister's wheelchair. Both of them laughed at something someone has said.

"Fabala! There you are!" called Nessarose when she noticed her sister approaching. "Where have you been, dearest?"

"You know, here and there," said Elphaba and looked suspiciously at Fiyero. "Where is Galinda?"

"Back at your room. She complained on a massive headache. And you disappeared so I took on myself the enjoyable responsibility of entertaining your sister," said Fiyero. Nessarose giggled.

As touched as she was by his gesture, she was determined to maintain her usual sarcasm when they were around other people. So far, no-one knew about their private study sessions, and she wanted to keep it that was in the short time they have left. She rolled her eyes. "How lovely."

"Be nice, Elphaba," warned Nessarose.

"I guess I should be going though. I have to get up really early tomorrow," said Fiyero and locked his gaze with Elphaba's. She looked away. He leaned down to kiss Nessarose's forehead. "Goodnight, birthday girl. Goodnight, Elphaba," he bowed, then quickly disappeared into the night.

"He is absolutely charming!" laughed Nessarose.

Elphaba snorted, determined to follow her decision, though the same thought just crossed her mind. "What were you two talking about, anyway?"

Nessarose's smile got impossibly wider. "As a matter of fact, we were talking about you."

Elphaba gaped at her sister. Now that she wasn't expecting. "About me?"

"Yes. We talked about our childhood and stuff. I wondered how was it to live as a young prince, so he told me, and then I told him about things we used to do as children. He asked me endless questions about you. Really, Elphaba, if I hadn't known better, I would suspect he was in love with you!" Nessarose said, laughing.

For a moment, Elphaba forgot to breathe. "W… what?" she stammered.

"I mean, I know he is not. He looks pretty much in love with Galinda, and between you and me, why wouldn't he," she sighed. "But I got this feeling… like there's something deeper going on, under the surface. I don't know, Fabala, maybe it's all in my head. I'm impossibly romantic, you know."

"I guess," Elphaba said weakly. She longed to be back in her room so she could think better about when has just been said.

"Speaking of romance, have you seen Boq?"

"No… no I haven't. You know what, Nessa, I think I'll go to check on Galinda. Will you be all right?"

"Yes, I will. I'm a big girl now, remember?"

Elphaba laughed softly and kissed her sister's hair. "Right. Goodnight, Nessie."

"Night, Fabala."

xoxoxoxox

Elphaba closed the door gently behind her. The room was dark except for one candle that sparkled on her nightstand. She changed quickly and was about to go under the covers when a strange sound made her freeze on her spot. It was a muffled sound, yet its meaning couldn't have been clearer. Someone was crying, and it didn't come from outside, but from somewhere within the room.

"What in Oz…" she murmured, and hurried to Galinda's bedside. It still sounded somewhat muffled because of the blankets, yet Elphaba knew what the sound meant. From some reason, her roommate was crying.

"Galinda?" she whispered and sat on the edge of the bed. "Are you all right?"

She never got an answer. Galinda fell into her arms sobbing, and all Elphaba could do was to gently stroke her back and give her as much comfort as possible. She had so many questions to ask, but she understood that there would be another time to get her answers. She whispered words of comfort to her crying roommate and wondered what could have possibly happened that made Galinda break down in a way that was so unlike her.

Galinda's cries didn't stop, but Elphaba felt her relax into their embrace, so she did the only thing she thought might help. She began singing an old lullaby, one that her mother used to sing to her so many years ago. She was surprised that she still remembered its words, though she was so young when Melena died. She sang softly, gently, until Galinda finally drifted into slumber. While Elphaba adjusted the covers around her, she thought that this was a side of Galinda that she had never seen before, but she liked it. Being so broken and vulnerable made Galinda look more human, in a way.

Soon Elphaba was fast asleep as well. When they woke up the next morning, Galinda was her old self once again; they never discussed what happened the previous night.