On the way up to their room, Glinda seemed very shaky.
"You looked rattled in there Glinda, is anything wrong?"
"I think it just occurred to me what could have happened to me"
"I know, it crossed my mind as I was running to the dispensary to find you"
Elphie opened the door to their room and Glinda went over to her bed and sat down. Elphie picked up an envelope that had been slipped under the door, opened it and read it out loud
"To the girls of Crage Hall:
Due to the unfortunate incident in the courtyard earlier today, the administration of Shiz has decided to start Spring Recess effective immediately. If anyone needs assistance in rearranging any travel plans they may have please contact a dorm porter or an instructor. Please come to me if you have questions or concerns.
Madame Morrible, Head Mistress, Crage Hall"
"Well this is an interesting turn of events," Elphaba said looking up at Glinda, who was crying
She rushed over to her friend's bed and gathered her up in a hug.
"Shhhhhh My sweet, it's Ok" Elphie rocked and soothed the distraught girl. After a short time Glinda pulled away sniffling
"Can we go home early? Elphie, Please- I want to get out of here. All of this is just too unpleasant."
"Absolutely, my sweet- I will see to it right away"
Glinda snuggled back in Elphie's arms
"I guess I was more scared than I realized" She was still trembling.
"With reason Glinda, Now, when do you wish to leave?
"Tonight? Please" She looked like she was going to cry
"Lyndie, please don't worry, We can leave whenever you want- tonight is fine"
"There is a train to Frottica that leaves later tonight, we would have to ride all night and we would get there tomorrow."
"That's fine my sweet- but can you pack in that short amount of time?" She laughed and kissed Glinda's forehead.
"Elphie, I'm sorry"
"For what Glinda, being scared, wanting to go home? Nonsense"
"For making you go before you were prepared to"
"I can pack in a few minutes"
"That's not what I meant Elphie and you know it" Glinda said quietly
"I know- but please do not worry about me- I'll be fine- It's you that we need to get out of here."
"Thank you Elphie- really"
"Now- are you Ok here alone while I go make some arrangements"
"I can go"
"Glinda, you are shaky, scared and very pale. I would prefer you not leave the room, but if you do not wish to be alone- I'll think of something"
Glinda looked unhappy
"My sweet, I will just go and find Master Norven, he can assist us- I'll only be gone a short time and I'll draw you a bath, you can soak and try to calm down, while I'm out"
"Ok Elphie, if you insist" She sighed, more than willing to let Elphie take charge.
Elphie went into the bathroom and started to draw a steaming hot bath for her stressed friend.
"No salts or oils this time because they will irritate your scrapes" Elphie called "Is that Ok?"
Glinda was standing in the doorway in her robe.
"There's no need to yell Elphie I'm standing right here" She chuckled
"The hot water may sting your scrapes a little a first, but it will be good for them. Are you Ok with that?"
"You know how much I love pain, Of course I'm Ok with it" Stress allowing her to give sarcasm a try
"Much better my sweet, much better" They both laughed, knowing Glinda had no real talent for sarcasm.
Glinda slipped out of her robe and put a foot in the tub. She held onto Elphie and gingerly lowered herself into the hot water, feeling the sting on he legs and knees
"Ohhhhhh" she gasped
"Too much?" Elphie said helping her ease in
"No, it's fine- Thank you Elphie"
"My pleasure, now you try and relax and I will be back very soon."
"I'll try" Glinda said closing her eyes
Elphie shut the door, got their travel information from Glinda's desk and went to find Master Norven.
The dorm porters had a small office off of the main hallway. Elphie saw some other students milling around as she approached.
"Looks like we all had the same idea" Elphaba said
"Yeah- two extra days of Spring Recess!" a redheaded girl said
Claps and shouts broke out amongst the waiting students
"Elphie smiled outwardly, but groaned inwardly. Luckily she didn't have to wait to long. Norven spotted her and called her in.
"Hello Miss Elphaba, Is Miss Glinda well?" He said concerned
Elphie smiled at the young man, she had thought for sometime that he had a small crush on her adorable blonde roomie.
"She is well, just some cuts and scrapes- She will be fine in no time."
"Oh- I'm very relieved"
"As am I- we need some help Master Norven, with our travel plans"
"Anything at all, Miss Elphaba"
Elphie explained the situation, and what they wanted to do, then handed the porter their current tickets and travel plans
"Is it possible to reschedule at this late time,"
"I don't think it will be a problem."
"Wonderful- I'm also hoping it might be possible to get word to Mr. and Mrs. Upland about our revised schedule" She quickly wrote out a note and handed it to the porter.
"There are usually several trains leaving in the evenings that pass through Gillkin- I'll see what I can do- Leave it all to me Miss Elphaba- I'll stop by your room when I have your new arrangements."
"Master Norven you are a lifesaver- Miss Glinda and I are very grateful"
"It's my pleasure," He said blushing slightly
Elphie hurried back up to their room and peeked into the bathroom. Glinda was still in the tub, looking a little calmer
"I'm back," She said softly, so as not to alarm her
Glinda opened her eyes
"Elphie, that didn't take long"
"I told you it wouldn't- You'd better get out and get ready. We are leaving tonight."
She held open a big towel for as Glinda stepped out of the tub.
"Thanks Elphie" She said wrapping up in the towel, careful not to get Elphie wet.
"Are you feeling better?"
"A little, I just feel so… shaky"
"You'll feel better as soon as we get out of here"
"Elphie, Is Master Norven going to assist us?"
"Yes he is, and honestly- if he can't rearrange our plans- he would probably carry us there himself- I think he has a crush on you."
"Elphie! - Really!"
"Oh don't look so shocked- half the boys on campus have a crush on you- Manif told me the other night you broke his heart." Elphie chuckled "Now go get dressed" She gave her friend a quick hug
Glinda went about getting dressed and Elphie packed her things. They chatted and Elphie noticed that Glinda seemed preoccupied distracted. She jumped and whimpered at the knock on their door.
"Just a minute please "Elphie called
"Glinda? "
"I'm fine- a little skittish I guess" She went into the bathroom, as she was not completely dressed yet
Elphie went to the door,
"Hello Master Norven, please come in"
"I got everything taken care of Miss Elphaba"
"Oh that's wonderful, Glinda will be so pleased"
He explained to her the new schedule and gave her the new tickets.
"I will be up to help with your things when your cab arrives"
"Master Norven I don't know how to thank you"
"Neither do I" Glinda said emerging from the bathroom "I really need to leave"
"Miss Glinda, I'm so glad you were not seriously injured"
"Thank you Master Norven, and thank you for sending Elphaba over to me- you've been a lifesaver twice today"
The poor porter blushed furiously and stammered "I… My… your welcome"
He turned and fled the room
Elphaba chuckled "Ahhhh young love"
"Don't tease me Elphaba"
"I'm sorry, my sweet, Is there a problem?"
"No… I don't know- what did he have to say?"
Elphie went over to the table and sat, Glinda joined her
"I'll tell you- but I know something is bothering you"
"We'll discuss it later my love- I promise"
"Ok- He got us tickets on the 10:00 train to Frottica, a private compartment. He also sent a message to your parents, with the conductor on a freight train that left not to long ago, so they will be expecting us. He will come to get our things when our cab arrives,"
She started to cry, "I'm so glad it worked out- that boy is a miracle worker"
"That he is, that he is" Elphie agreed "We have about three hours, I'm packed, I just need to clean up and change. Do you want help packing?"
Glinda sniffled "I really don't have to pack too much- I have things at home. Go get changed I should be finished by the time you are."
"Glinda, you are really distressed- please talk to me"
"Let's get all ready first, by then maybe I will be able to talk it out"
"As you like, my sweet"
She went to get changed- wondering what Glinda had on her mind. About half an hour later, Elphie emerged squeaky clean and in comfortable travel clothes, hair back in a simple ponytail.
"I'm all set"
"I'm ready too. Elphie" she said taking her friends hands "I want you to know that I truly appreciate you coming with me, it means more to me than you will ever know."
"I know that Glinda, and I may be a little nervous, but this is good for me - I need a break from here too"
She led Glinda over to her bed and they sat down.
"Where is all of this coming from… you're scare this afternoon."
Glinda sighed "Partly, but I think it has been building for the past few days, since our outing over the weekend. When I was taken to the dispensary- I was terribly frightened- and all I could think of is that I wanted you. - And when you came I felt… I don't know"
"I can understand- when I heard you were hurt- I was terrified- my stomach was in knots, I don't know what I would do without you"
"I don't know what I would do with out you. Elphie" She sighed and took a deep breath. "I don't know what I feel any more. My emotions have become so intense." Glinda shook her head
Elphie took her hands "I understand… really."
"Then today when you were teasing me about Norven and Manif, and the other boys who have crushes on me I realized I don't want the boys to have a crush on me…I want you to" She looked at Elphie, her eyes pleading for understanding
Elphie appeared only mildly surprised "I do my sweet, I do" She said quietly.
Glinda, however was truly surprised "I'm confused"
Elphie chuckled "I think that is the point Lyndie- we are both confused- about us, We have been on an emotional carnival ride for a while now"
Glinda heaved a very large sigh "I was afraid that you would think I was crazy"
"Now that would be the pot calling the kettle black. This has been a part of what we are for awhile, I think. I was living under the assumption it was just me who was confused. I have no basis for sorting out all the different kinds of love- I just know what I feel for you- is love of some kind And the other night- during that terrible storm, I felt something so intense it frightened me. I don't know where it came from, I don't even know how to verbalize it, much less define it."
"I know that feeling" Glinda smiled at her roomie "I adore you Elphie, I feel like we were meant to meet and be involved in each other's lives."
Elphie took a deep breath and tried to collect her thoughts, which considering the nature of the conversation they were starting was easier said than done.
"Lyndie, are you happy with how we are now?" She began tentatively.
"I'm thrilled Elphie- Why?"
"I'm happy too- for the first time in my life, I'm happy- with you."
Glinda smiled broadly
"We were tossed together, two young girls from very different backgrounds, Our relationship was literally built out of nothing- accelerated by my attack and the aforementioned carnival ride of emotions that ensued."
"But it is real right? I mean we are not just reacting to that anymore are we?" Her lip was quivering.
"I think it is very real- my sweet, but I think part of the confusion lies in I have no way of judging what is real in this regard, you may have more."
"I want you to be happy Elphie, I want you to feel loved and cared for, safe and protected and I want you to feel that from me."
"Oh my precious- I do and I try and try to give back to you all I receive- all that I feel, but It doesn't always seem possible."
"This is Ok then?" Glinda asked uncertainly.
" It's Ok. I don't think we should feel the need to change a thing about how we relate to one another yet.
Honestly Glinda I wouldn't know how to handle any more right now- and I don't think you could either."
"I don't think I could either, yet. I think, maybe, as long as we accept this, accept us for what we are and what we could be, we can feel free act as we like"
"I think so too, or at least I hope so. I have become accustomed to all the physical affection you shower on me, the hugs, little kisses. I admit I like it, and sometimes even need it and want it. But sometimes the fact that I crave it bothers me- but only a little."
"You're pretty good at the showering affection too. You have become very adept at expressing what you feel with small touches and loving looks" Glinda giggled.
Elphie flushed and cleared her throat, a little nervous "Glinda, do you need a more… physical relationship right now."
"Elphie!" She blushed "No- of course not" She was very flustered.
"One of us had to broach the subject- It's been lurking about this entire conversation" She was slightly flushed herself.
"Do you need more?" Glinda said as she tried to regain her composure.
"Goodness no, I can barely handle what I've got" Elphie said emphatically "But I think for both of our sakes, this conversation needs to be open ended- If either one of us feels the need for something more than what we have- we should talk about it."
"Sometimes I've felt things I don't know what to do with – but talking about it, with you, just never seemed appropriate before"
"Same here- but it is now officially appropriate. And necessary, I think. We need – or more exactly- I need to become comfortable talking about all of our feelings, whatever they may be or however intense they may become. No embarrassment, or at least as little as possible- and no fear"
"Listen to you- the former queen of stoic talking about feelings." She gazed into her best friends dark eyes, "We have a good thing don't we Elphie?"
"Yes we do- and we should just let it be whatever it is and enjoy it. You're my best friend, my sweet Lyndie, I need you and love you more than I have words, or touches, to express"
"And you are my best friend, my precious Elphie. I adore you and I can't imagine living my life without you in it."
"We will grow into this, I'm sure. Maybe quickly, maybe slowly- but we need to be honest about what we need and what we can handle. Ok? Because my thought is we will not grow into this at the same pace." She smiled wryly at the slightly stunned look on her roomie's face.
"Elphie- you just told me that our relationship could grow into something more intimate - I'm intrigued, elated and terrified - yes it is more than Ok"
"But I am in no hurry, at all. I love what we have now" Elphie emphasized, flushing.
"I'm in no hurry either my love" Glinda said sighing happily
"I'm glad we had this talk- I think you were right about the need for it building for the past few days, maybe even longer. Do you feel better now my sweet?"
"Yes I do, very much- I needed to know that what I was feeling was Ok"
"It's Ok- and I'm glad to know the intense emotions I feel are not only welcome but reciprocated."
They hugged fiercely and only separated at the knock of the door
"Your cab awaits Misses" Norven called
They chastely kissed each other's lips and went to get the door.
A/N Part 3- Spring Recess in Gillkin up next