As Glinda was washing her puffy, tear streaked face she smiled. Elphie still loved her; She could cope with anything they needed to. She finished quickly and went to Elphie's room.
"Ready?" She asked as she walked in the door.
"In a minute" She heard Elphie say, but her voice sounded strained.
She walked into the bathroom "Elphie I want to…"
She saw Elphie rubbing oil on her tear marked face, and sighed. She went over, put some oil on her fingertips and gently helped her friend soothe the sting of her tears.
"I get puffy, you get track marks." Glinda said chuckling lightly.
Elphie smiled and took her hands. "I'm fine, but thanks"
"I was at least partly responsible for causing these marks, the least I can do is help soothe them. She kissed the red marks on Elphie's cheeks.
"Better" She said smiling broadly
"Much" She smiled got up and left the bathroom "What were you saying when you barged in on me?" She grinned at the lovely blonde.
"Oh… uh nothing, nothing. It doesn't matter."
Elphaba sat down on the arm of one of her chairs and pulled Glinda over to her.
"Of course it matters my sweet- now what?" She said putting her long arms around Glinda's waist.
"I just wanted to talk to my parents some after dinner, but since we… and I… oh I don't know" She was frustrated at not being able to find the words.
"Glinda, of course you should spend some time with your parents, why is this causing you so much distress?"
"I just don't want you to feel left out, or get upset" Her lip was quivering
"Oh Lyndie my sweet- If I made you think that you spending time with your parents would upset me in any way- I am so sorry. I want you spend as much time with them as you wish. I'd have it no other way."
She rose and hugged her best friend tightly.
"But…" Glinda started
"No buts. Glinda, you could drop me off in the library, spend the rest of our vacation with your parents and not come get me until we go back to school and that would be fine. I would miss you terribly and probably get very hungry. " She smiled
"But I would be happy that you get to spend time with the people you love most in the world. And after today's events I know you need to."
"Two of the three people I love most in this world." She said softly "And I do need to"
"Lyndie, We are obviously still a little fragile, but we are not in danger of breaking. It's Ok. After dinner stay with your parents, I'll come up and spend some time by myself. If you want, we can talk when you come back up."
"Have I told you recently that I don't deserve you?" Glinda said
"I vaguely remember something to that effect, yes." She kissed Glinda's forehead. "Come my sweet, your parent's are waiting."
They walked hand in hand into the dining room.
"I was getting ready to send Cook and her serving spoon up after you two." Mrs. Upland laughed as her husband pulled out chairs and got the girls settled.
"We're sorry to have kept you waiting" Glinda said sincerely.
Elphie nodded "Very sorry"
"Well if you two were working through your troubles, then apologies accepted" the older blonde woman said lovingly.
"We were, and we are" Glinda said
Cook brought out salads and drinks.
"Miss Elphaba, your cider arrived a little while ago, would you care for some with your dinner?"
"I'd love some, thank you Cook" Elphie said with enthusiasm
"No ice" Glinda called as Cook left.
"We arranged to have some delivered everyday along with extra milk, for the two weeks you are here." Mr. Upland said.
"That is so kind of you, really" Elphie said, the effects of her emotional day threatening to emerge.
"Think nothing of it my dear" He replied
"Girls we have a surprise for you" Mrs. Upland said excitedly.
"Goody- I love surprises" Glinda chirped.
"Samion, would you like to do the honors? Elphaba dear would you please take Galinda's other hand, this is one of her favorites, and she tends to get fidgety and knock things over when she's excited."
Elphie complied, laughing heartily "I've noticed"
"What is it already- I'm sufficiently restrained" She grinned, loving the little game.
"I managed to get four tickets to the Annual Ozian.." Her father started
"Symphony's Picnic in the Park" Glinda evaded her captors and ran over to her father and threw her arms around his neck. "Oh Popsicle- How grand!"
She returned to her chair, giddy with excitement, Her mother was positively delighted and Elphie was in awe
"The Ozian Symphony, I've always wanted to see them perform." Elphie said in wonder
"How wonderful" Mrs. Upland said "We shall make a day of it- A day in town!"
"When Popsicle, when is it?"
"Tomorrow"
"A day in town tomorrow? All of us? Elphie isn't that exciting?" Glinda bubbled
"Very!" She agreed "I can't believe I get to see the Ozian Symphony"
Cook brought out plates of delicious smelling vegetable pasta for everyone and gave Elphie a big glass of cider.
"Thank you Cook, this smells yummy" Glinda said.
They ate and talked about plans for tomorrow. Glinda was chattering excitedly about all the things that she wanted to show Elphie. Elphie just nodded and smiled, and her parents glowed with pleasure.
… At that cute little dress shop" Glinda said between mouthfuls.
"Glinda I will go anywhere and do anything you wish, as long as it does not involve trying on clothes."
Elphie stated simply.
"Momsie, Elphie's being difficult" Glinda whined happily, winking at her love
"Elphaba dear, don't be difficult" Mrs. Upland said playing along, much to Glinda's delight.
"Well she's being bossy" Elphaba whined back, barely able to contain her grin.
"Galinda dearest, don't be bossy" Her father responded "It's unladylike."
Everyone at the table laughed.
Cook brought out dessert and coffee.
"Why don't we take this in the parlor?" Mrs. Upland suggested
"Wonderful idea, dear " Her husband agreed "Girls?"
"If you don't mind, I'd like to be excused" Elphie said "I know Glinda wants to spend some time with you this evening, and I could use a little peace and quiet" She smiled at the beautiful girl.
"Alright, Elphaba, as you wish." Mrs. Upland said
"I'll meet you in the parlor" Glinda said to her parents "Come Elphie, I'll walk you to the stairs"
They walked, holding hands down the hall, when they reached the stairs Glinda put her arms around the green girl.
"I love you very much" She whispered in Elphie's ear.
"And I you. Enjoy yourself my sweet" She kissed her friend on the cheek and turned and walked up the stairs, Glinda watching at her go, sighing contentedly.
Glinda's parents observed their daughter watching her friend ascend the stairs.
"Should we tell her we know" Her father asked
"Not yet- I doubt she's figured it out completely herself"
They went in to parlor, followed closely by their very happy daughter.
Elphie went to her room and flopped down in a chair. Her head was spinning. She had had a great time at dinner; it was so relaxed and easy. She couldn't believe that a few hours earlier she and the love of her life had been spouting hateful words at one another, or that this morning she had suffered her first full-blown flashback and panic attack. She was emotionally exhausted. But, she realized, not feeling distressed or unduly overloaded.
"I suppose that's progress," She said as she went to go get ready for bed.
She sat folded up in a chair with a book on her lap and the dessert Glinda had sent up on the table. She had managed to sort through her thoughts and she was not quite so exhausted. Whatever remnants of the argument remained, they would be able to work through and she thought she had a handle on the panic attack, but needed to explore the flashback- that still disturbed her slightly. But all in all she was doing Ok. She hoped Glinda was too.
She had been lost in thought for awhile when a soft voice startled her.
"Hi" Glinda looked like she had been crying.
"Hi, Is everything alright my sweet?"
"Oh yes, It's just been an emotional day." She grinned "It's a happy puffy"
Elphie got up and walked to her friend and gave her a hug. "I know exactly how you feel"
"I'm going to go soak in the tub, would you come sit and talk with me while I do?" She had made this request before, usually when she was feeling a little out of sorts.
"Certainly Lyndie, Go on and get ready and I'll join you in a minute."
Elphie went and put away her book and glasses, grabbed her glass of cider and headed across the hall. Sargy had just finished drawing a nice hot bath.
"Will you be needing anything tonight, Miss Elphaba?"
"No, thank you Sargy, I'm fine for the rest of the night."
"I'll see you in the morning then- Goodnight Misses"
"Goodnight Sargy" Glinda called from the bathroom.
"Elphie, I wish I could use that fabulous concoction that Mr. Kwenyo made for me" She said slipping out of her robe. "But it would no doubt hurt my knees"
"No doubt" Elphie said assisting her friend to slowly immerse herself into the hot water
"Eeeeee" she squealed softly "I hate pain" She sighed settling into the hot relaxing water
"Really, you hide it so well" Elphie chuckled as she got settled on a stool. She leaned against the wall and put her feet up on another stool.
"Mean green thing" Glinda said smiling at her love.
"Big baby" Elphie retorted laughing "I had such a good time at dinner Glinda, Did you have a nice talk with your parents?"
"I did." She told Elphie all about her time with her parents and catching up with what was going on around the Manor and in town.
"Elphie, I enlisted the help of my father to help me with a surprise I have for you. Is it Ok if I leave you with my mom for just a little while when we get into town tomorrow?"
"Of course it is my sweet, but I'm not sure I'm strong enough for any more surprises—I haven't yet fully recovered from Byjon."
"Well then, this one may just do you in because it is a big, wonderful surprise." Glinda said splashing happily in her tub
"Great" Elphie groaned, but smiled. She got up and took Glinda's bath brush from her.
"Here I'll do your back"
"Elphaba, be careful"
"I'm going to use this brush, not my hands, will you stop already" She was only mildly irritated
"Don't get all huffy with me, Mr. Kwenyo did tell me to look after you." She grinned and wiggled as Elphie scrubbed her back.
"You know Elphie, you could put oil on a bath brush like this and scrub your back." She said taking the brush.
"Hmmm, maybe" Elphie said distracted by the sight of her best friend washing and whatever else she was doing to her blonde curls.
"You have no idea how fascinating it is for me to watch you do all of that to your hair."
"Really?" Her dripping wet hair covering her face. "Towel please"
"My way does seem easier, and infinitely dryer." She said fulfilling the request, chuckling.
Glinda created a turban for her hair, rose gracefully from the tub and wrapped herself in a towel. Elphie had witnessed this ritual on many occasions, and the grace and beauty of how that small body moved never ceased to amaze her.
"I'll meet you on the sofa, when you are safely dry" Elphie said exiting.
She got comfortable on one end of the sofa and waited. Glinda came out, in her nightdress, brushing out her hair.
"Lyndie, I know don't tell you this very often, but you are beautiful." She flushed slightly.
Glinda, holding her hair out of the way with one hand, leaned down and kissed Elphie lightly.
They sat apart, as they usually did while Glinda's hair dried.
"Are you really excited about the symphony tomorrow, Elphie?"
"Extremely. Ever since they played in Center Munch, and I was unable to attend, I've wanted to see them play. I'm as close to giddy as I think I'm capable of" She flashed Glinda one of her stunning smiles
"I know, this is my favorite event ever" Glinda felt her hair, she was impatient to snuggle and Elphie noticed
"You are dry enough my sweet" She sighed
Glinda put herself into the arms she treasured, being very careful.
"You don't have to worry so much about this" Elphie said kissing her cheek "But I'm glad you care enough to."
"Elphie, I need to talk to you about something."
"Whatever you need, my sweet"
They shifted around so the were in a more comfortable talking position, but Glinda could still be held, as she seemed to need to be.
"Things got very out of hand very quickly today"
"That is an interesting assessment of the situation" Elphie commented
"I'm worried that you didn't get to properly deal with your scare this morning. Do you need to talk about it?"
"I think I'm Ok. I was thinking about all that earlier, I'm still a little disturbed by that flashback, but I'm not sure I know what to do about it- if anything."
Glinda took a deep breath "I have a suggestion- but it sort of ties in with the reason we argued and I really don't want to do that again."
Elphie turned her around and looked directly in her eyes. "I'm sorry I made you so afraid of me- Please don't be" There were tears in her eyes.
Glinda wiped them away
"I'm not afraid of you my love, I never have been"
Elphie sighed "Am I really this difficult to deal with?"
"Not always, but I know how hard this subject is for you. Hear me out, then if you reject it, I'll never bring it up again."
Elphie shook her head. "Tell me your suggestion Lyndie, I'll listen"
"I'll always be here for you, I'll listen to vent, rant, rave, hold you when you're frightened, whatever you need. But I'm afraid I don't know enough, or actually anything, about the aftereffects of sexual assault to be able to really help you."
Elphie put her arms around Glinda and pulled her close. "Go on, my sweet"
"If you need to talk through what happened, with an adult, someone who can really help you sort through everything" She took a deep breath "You could talk with my mother.'
Elphie gasped involuntarily. "Oh no"
"Elphie, she studied social work, and when she was younger she worked with people who suffered through all kinds of traumas. She would understand, and know what to do for you."
Elphie was very quite for awhile. She stroked Glinda's hair and hand.
"I don't think I could" She whispered "I can barely tell you these things, I wouldn't know how… I can't, at least not now, probably not ever. I won't say no outright, but please let it drop for now."
"Alright Elphie, I'll let it drop. But just so you know- her textbooks and reference books are down in the library, just waiting for an intelligent young mind to read them"
Elphie chuckled softly "Now it is I who do not deserve you." She kissed Glinda softly. "Thank you for understanding me and loving me anyway"
"Your welcome" Glinda cuddled with her love and they sat quietly for a short while.
Glinda played with Elphie's fingers and lightly stroked her hands and arms. Elphie flinched and Glinda saw the welts on her arm.
"Elphie, what happened to you?" She said pushing up the sleeve of the nightdress.
"It's fine, my sweet- it's nothing. Your mother was a little confused about my water allergy, so I showed her"
"Elphie you didn't." She swung around to face her friend, still holding the injured arm.
"Glinda she thought I sneezed or broke out in a rash. She deserved to understand." She said calmly knowing that Glinda was upset.
"But you hurt yourself" She was distressed.
"The pain was brief and tolerable I promise- Please don't be upset, Lyndie- I knew what I was doing"
Glinda looked at Elphie's arm and noticed a few more, very faint scars, like the welts.
"Elphie, you've done this before?" She was stunned
The green girl sighed "Not of my own accord, but please do not ask me- It is a major Elphie story and I can't ta…."
"It's Ok Elphie" She gently kissed the still red welts and the faint healed scars. "It's Ok."
"Someday Lyndie" She sighed again
"Please Elphie, as if we need any more drama right now anyway"
"You've got a point there" She chuckled
After a few minutes Elphie said "Sometimes I think I'm better suited to being a hermit, living in a cave."
"A cave- no. Elphie be reasonable " She said straight faced "Think of the dampness… your skin…. My hair! Very impractical." She snuggled back down "A tree house perhaps"
She was straining to not giggle, but when Elphie laughed out loud she could contain herself no longer.
The girls laughed for a long time, both of them imagining Galinda Upland living in a cave- or a tree.
"Oh dear" Glinda said catching her breath, but still giggling.
"I suddenly feel so much better." Elphie said
"Me too- and I'm hungry. Let's go raid the kitchen" She popped up off the sofa and went to get her robe.
They walked down to the kitchen, trying to be quiet, but still giggling.
Glinda went to the icebox.
"Do you want some of Cooks fabulous dessert?"
"Mmmmm that sounds good. That custard was marvelous." Elphie said
"Get some spoons. Milk or cider?"
"Milk please" She said searching for spoons
Glinda put the bowl and the drinks on the table, and took a spoon from Elphie
"Glinda, let's get plates or something"
"Uh-uh, it's yummier this way. Dig in" The blonde said with a mouthful of custard.
"Your house, your rules" Elphie chuckled dipping her spoon into the thick, rich dessert.
"Remember that for future reference" Glinda winked "It will come in handy"
They talked and laughed, a little to loudly and were very startled when Cook, in her nightclothes came into the kitchen.
"What in Oz is going on in here?" She said sleepily
"Oh my" Glinda said looking truly contrite "We're so sorry we disturbed you"
"Yes" Elphie, said distressed. "We wanted a snack"
Cook bustled around, got some plates and spooned custard onto them.
"Miss Elphaba, don't let this one ruin your good manners" She said putting the custard back in the icebox, laughing
"I'm trying not to" Elphie said "But she is very good at getting what she wants" Elphie said gleefully
"Don't I know it- Good night girls" She said bustling away
"And don't you forget it" She winked again at her best friend.
They finished up their custard and headed back upstairs. Glinda yawned.
"We are going to have a great day tomorrow Elphie"
"I know- We have had a long hard day today- We need a fun day."
They reached their rooms and Elphie pulled Glinda into a hug
"Goodnight my sweet. I love you"
"Goodnight Elphie I love you too"
They kissed and parted going into their own rooms.
Elphie climbed into bed with a book, not believing for a minute that Glinda would stay in her own room
"10 minutes, tops" She chuckled to herself.
She started to read and 20 minutes later her door opened slightly and a curly blonde head peeked in. Elphie glanced up and simply pulled aside her covers and patted the bed beside her. Glinda glided across the floor and in one graceful move leapt into Elphie's bed and snuggled in her arms.
"Your late" Elphie said
"I like to make an entrance" Glinda said yawning again 'Night Elphie"
"Goodnight my sweet." She started to sing softly, feeling content.