After they were both dressed, and Elphie's wounds were tended to Glinda went to get them some breakfast.
"Sweet breads and milk, she chirped, coming in the room. She saw Elphie staring out the window looking very distressed. She put the tray done quickly and ran over, putting her arms carefully around her roomies waist.
"Elphie, what is it? What's wrong?" she said concern in her voice.
Elphie turned in her friend's arms and gave her a quick hug. " I'm not sure," she said walking towards the table "Can we talk while we eat?"
"Absolutely, Elphie" Glinda got a pillow for the chair, and Elphaba got settled. "Do you need some pain pills?" Glinda asked.
"Maybe later, I'm fine for now, let's just talk"
Elphaba poured herself a glass of milk and took a piece of sweet bread. Glinda got herself something and waited. Elphie ate slowly, staring off into nothing.
"Elphie, talk to me." Glinda said softly.
"I don't think I can go out there anymore"
Glinda took her friend's hand, but said nothing.
"I saw people walking across the lawn and I realized, I haven't stepped out of this room since…since…"her voice caught, and Glinda squeezed her hand, but still remained silent. "…Since I was raped."
Tears started to slide down her face and she wiped them away quickly. She intertwined her fingers with Glinda's and looked in her precious roommate's face.
"It's safe here Glinda. I can feel and I can hurt and be frightened, or angry and, I'm protected, Free to be however I need-- with you here to talk me through it, or listen to me rant, or put the pieces back together." Elphaba got up and walked over to her friend. "Please hold me," She said starting to cry. Glinda took the trembling, frightened girl in her arms and held her close, stroking her hair. "Let it out sweetie" she soothed.
Elphaba clung to her for a long while.
"I'm scared," she said at last.
Glinda took her hand and led her to the bed. She sat on the bed beside Elphie, putting one arm around the thin waist. And taking a soft green hand in the other.
"Scared of what my love" She said gently.
Elphie closed her eyes. "Of going out there and seeing them, the men who hurt me. I don't think I can bear it.
"Elphie" Glinda said softly "Did you know who they were?"
"No, but they knew of me, what if they seek me out again?"
Glinda turned her friend so see could see her face. "Elphie, men like that are basically cowards, They saw what they wanted, they took it by force, and they left."
Elphaba tensed and swallowed hard
" I'm sorry Elphie, I didn't say that, to be cruel or hurt you- but it's true."
"So you don't think they will be looking for me?" Elphie said in an almost childish voice.
"I'm almost positive they will not. But just for the sake of argument, let's say they did." "Please let's not" Elphaba implored
"Just hear me out, honey. Right now you feel weak and vulnerable, but that's because the pain is too new, the memories are on the surface of your mind and raw" Glinda saw Elphaba was listening and seemed ok "But Elphaba Thropp is anything but weak. Anger, cynicism, even a touch of cruelty have always been your tools, your defense mechanisms- for better or worse it made you strong, independent and not likely to take crap off of anyone for to long. Not even from me" Glinda chuckled, and Elphie smiled. "What would that Elphaba do if she saw those men?"
"Have them arrested…confront them… kick them in the… "
"Elphaba!" Glinda laughed. "I might agree, but there's no reason to be unladylike"
"I know you are right" Elphie sighed, It was just so hard to not think about that, when I looked outside."
Glinda kissed her " I can't even imagine how frustrating this is for you, but I know you- remember, you will come through this stronger, even more Elphieish than you were before. Of that I have no doubt."
"Elphieish?" Said the green girl, amused.
"Yeah- Elphieish. You will get back all those things that made you, you- and in addition you'll be stronger because now you know you can care about someone and be cared for and the world won't end."
"You think you know everything don't you" Laughed Elphie.
"No, I know I do. Are you feeling better now?"
" Yes, I am, I guess getting things out, hearing how silly they sound and letting them go, has some merit"
"Not, silly sweetie, not silly at all- human" They hugged and went back to the table to finish breakfast.
They spent the afternoon catching up on things they had let slide. Elphaba was studying, and Glinda was doing her nails.
"Glinda, shouldn't you do some studying?"
"Well you were supposed to help me with my sorcery homework. Really Elphaba, couldn't you have found an easier way out of it than getting attacked?" She looked at her friend, eyes dancing.
" I learned from past experience that drastic measures are often needed to not have to do something you want done" Elphie said straight faced, but Glinda saw her smile behind her book.
Elphie studied, and Glinda did whatever it is that she does. Every now and then she would come over and kiss Elphie's head, or touch her shoulder, and was rewarded with that beautiful smile. Elphie moved from bed to chair, then to Glinda's big pink comfy chair, which she rarely ever sat in.
"I thought you said sitting in that chair was like sitting in a cotton candy machine" Laughed Glinda.
"It is" chuckled Elphie "But I'm still a little to sore to sit in one position for long"
Glinda brought her a glass of milk and some pain pills. "Why won't you take these when you need them?"
"Who said I needed them? " Elphie grumped
"You did, just now" said Glinda handing her the pills, which she took, albeit grudgingly. The afternoon passed in relative normal silence. Then Glinda saw Elphie crying.
"Before I couldn't at all, now I can't seem to stop," she said wiping the tears before they could burn.
Glinda came over and knelt on the floor by her friend's chair. "What's the matter Elphie?"
"More silly thoughts is all, I'm fine."
"It's not silly, and no you're not, talk to me" said Glinda
"It's just… What if everyone can tell? What if when I go to classes tomorrow, everyone can look at me and know what happened? "
Glinda got up and pulled a chair over to sit near Elphie's chair. "I was wondering if it would be hard for you to get back into a normal routine, but I had no idea how much the thought frightened you"
"It's not that really, well maybe"
"Elphie, I have an idea" The green girl in the pink chair groaned and held her head "Oh no, I'm not sure I have the strength"
"Oh shush," said Glinda. "I think, if you're physically able, that is. I think you and I should go down to the café for dinner, instead of me going to get it. A trial run so to speak."
Elphaba stared at her friend. "I can't face those people Glinda, I didn't even like to when I wasn't feeling fragile"
"My love, I know you are scared, but you need to leave sometime, you think so yourself, This is just dinner. Familiar environment and people, and we can leave whenever you say. Then maybe you can see that people won't know anything is different with you, Same ole, cranky Elphie"
" Same ole cranky Elphie, clinging for dear life to a frilly pink person."
"Don't be melodramatic darling, that's my purview- well then I'll barely tolerate your presence, would that help?" Glinda smiled.
"Are you serious?"
" Of course not, but I'll be with you, you'll know that, so we can be as we always were. Only we know what happened to you- only we know what you've been through the past three days or how our relationship has changed"
"It has changed hasn't it?" Elphie said leaning back in the chair.
"Yes, I think it has, but we can sort through that later. - Right now, you need to reenter the world."
"What have I got to lose?" Sighed Elphie getting up carefully
"Just you fear, love, just your fear"
They cleaned up and changed clothes. "Ready?" Asked Glinda gently.
"I guess" Elphie said tentatively,
Glinda looked at her friend "Elphie we don't have to- I'm more than happy to get us dinner- I don't want you to push yourself into anything your not ready for"
"No, I'm fine. I think I may need a push- or even a shove." Glinda obliged by gently shoving her friend out of the door.
"I didn't mean literally" she laughed "besides it's only dinner, she said reaching for Glinda's hand as they headed off down the hall.
"Are you in much pain?"
"It's tolerable," Elphie stated matter-of factly "But I really haven't walked around much, so who knows?"
"We will leave as soon as you say- if you are really hurting, there is no need to stay"
"I'll be fine Glinda really, remember I can only take so much coddling" But she held on to the small dainty hand anyway.
At the door to the café Elphaba took a deep breath, let go of Glinda's hand and stood up straight. "I wish I knew I what I was so afraid of" she said.
Then two students bumped her gently as they walked into the café "Excuse us miss" they said as they went in.
Elphaba stiffened and turned to go. "No she said, I will not be cowed," She said resolutely.
"That's my Elphie" Glinda said. "Remember my love, you are not alone- even if it feels like it."
"I know. -Ready?"
"Lead the way" Glinda chuckled.
Things were the same as they always were in the café, people sitting around chatting, eating, and laughing. Elphaba relaxed, and so did Glinda. Elphaba stood there looking around. Glinda breezed ahead of her,
"Will you hurry up Elphaba, it's getting late"
Glinda grabbed the green hand to drag her to the serving line, giving her hand a little squeeze in the process. The picked up trays, and ordered their meals, a salad and cheese plate for Elphaba and soup and a sandwich for Glinda, all perfectly normal activities. The found a table and sat down.
"Glinda, I knew it " She said, "Everyone is staring at me. They can tell"
"Don't be ridiculous Elphie, people always stare at you- You're green for goodness sake!" Glinda giggled and Elphie relaxed.
Just then a server came up behind Elphaba and she startled, nearly knocking her plate off of the table.
"Sorry miss, I didn't mean to frighten you" said the waiter "would you care for something to drink?"
Elphie sat, looking a little stunned.
I'll have some iced tea and my friend will have apple cider, no ice please." Glinda responded
" Very good" said the server as he walked away.
"Elphie, it's ok- just breathe"
"I'm sorry, Glinda I don't know what has gotten into me."
"Don't apologize, my love- it's ok to be a little jumpy, but you are perfectly safe here. And I'm here."
" Elphaba looked deeply into her roommates blue eyes, took a deep breath and calmed. "This is so hard" she whispered "
" I know Elphie, just do the best you can, that's all you can expect of yourself."
The server brought their drinks.
"I apologize for startling you earlier miss," the server said earnestly to Elphie
"It's quite alright, sir- please think no more of it," She smiled at him warmly and thanked him for bring their drinks. Glinda flashed her a beautiful smile.
"I should start being polite again." Elphie said.
. "Again?" Glinda said laughing out loud "don't you mean at all" Elphaba glared at her, then smiled at the gentle jab
"Touché" she said digging into her salad.
They chatted for the rest of the meal, about who was there with whom, who shouldn't be with whom and other gossipy things, laughing, smiling and acting just like two friends having dinner together. Elphaba relaxed and seemed to enjoy herself.
"Doing ok?" asked Glinda
"Actually better than I thought" said Elphie "But I am getting a little sore sitting on this hard chair"
"Time to go then. - Elphie, if you are not to sore, would you like to take a walk, just a short one? - It's a beautiful day"
"I'm not to sore, I'm just not sure I'm ready for…."
"Elphie" Glinda said gently as she walked over to her roomie "You've been doing fine, don't sell yourself short. It's is ok for you to be fearful, and hard to not let it control you." "Of course, you are right" Elphie sighed wearily.
"You stay here and I'll go get our cloaks, in case it decides to rain" She leaned over and whispered in her friends ear. "I'm very proud of you my love" and kissed her discreetly. "I'll be back in a few minutes"
Before Elphie could protest, Glinda was gone. "Great, just great " She thought. She calmed herself and looked around. Everything was as it always was, sights, sounds, and smells. "Except me" She chided herself for indulging in this kind of petty fear. "Pull it together girl, you have never been a delicate flower, why start now" She got up with effort and went to the counter,
"May I have a glass of cider please, no ice?"
I'm sorry miss, we are out of cider" the man behind the counter said "May I get you something else?"
"Milk will be fine, thank you" She took her glass and headed for the door to wait for Glinda, but as she turned she saw Glinda in the doorway watching her. She started to walk over to meet Glinda, as Glinda was coming to meet her.
"How long were you standing there?" She asked
" Long enough to see a perfectly normal looking, albeit green, college girl go get a glass of milk at the café counter"
"I wish I felt normal," she said tiredly.
"You will again my love, I'm sure of it- but you were limping a little" Glinda steered her to a padded chair on the patio, and helped her sit.
" We don't have to go on a walk" No, I really want to" Elphie said "and when I take the pain pills you brought, I'll be better"
"How do you know I brought your pills?" Glinda asked incredulously.
"My darling," She said taking the pill bottle from her dress pocket "I know you at least as well as you think you know me"
Glinda fell into the chair beside her friend laughing merrily. Elphie took three pills and washed them down with a long drink of her milk.
"Three, Elphie? What's wrong?"
"Don't fret, please, it's just sometimes, like when I sit on a hard surface for too long, the pain…" She looked down and lowered her voice "between my legs, is worse than usual." "Elphie, if your bruises are really both…"
"It's not the bruises Glinda," she said to embarrassed to face her friend. "It's more…." "Oh Elphie" Glinda breathed, her voice cracking " I had no idea you were hurt that badly"
"It's not always this bad, I promise, and the pills are helping already- I think a short walk might to."
"Are you sure?" Glinda said taking her friends slightly shaking hand.
"I am- please don't worry about this, I meant it when I said the pain is not always this bad, Please just drop it for now" She looked beseechingly at Glinda, who simply nodded, smiled and helped her up. They walked slowly, arm in arm out into the sun, among other people.
"You say when we go back," Glinda said squeezing her friends arm
"This was a good idea Glinda, I'm already feeling a little better" She looked at her friend. "Really, I am"
"This is nice" smiled Glinda.
They walked in silence, enjoy the nice evening and each other's company. Glinda took notice of the direction they were heading and tried to steer Elphie in a different direction. "No Glinda, I'm going there on purpose"
The green girl took her friends hand and led her to a bench. Glinda made a pillow of the cloaks for Elphie to sit on.
"You are to good to me" s he said sitting on the makeshift pillow.
"That, my love, is not possible- now what is this all about?"
Elphie sighed, "I can't hide forever, as tempting as that is. I have to go back to classes, and to get to my early morning astronomy class I have to go right by…." Her voice started to crack and shake.
"Elphie, you don't have to continue"
"Yes, I do" she said pulling back slightly. "And besides the classes, that field" she pointed over to the grassy meadow not far away "Is one of my favorite places, I'm not sure why"
"Maybe it's all the green" Said Glinda "You blend in" She chuckled trying to lighten the mood.
Elphie laughed softly and continued "I'm not going to allow the pleasure I get from spending time in that field be tarnished by what happened. I refuse"
"Oh Elphie, you sound much more like yourself" She smiled happily and gave her friend a quick hug.
"Thanks in part to you and your wise and helpful words- but I don't want to do this alone- I will admit I am absolutely petrified. If you are not by my side I'll never be able to do it"
Glinda got up pulling Elphie up with her and embraced her so hard the taller girl flinched. "Of course I will stay by your side. You are doing a very brave thing. I meant it when I said I was proud of you"
" I know you did, and that meant more than you will ever know. You may have to be strong, yet again for the both of us, as I have no idea how I will react."