A/N: Posting this a little early because I will be on the road tomorrow (to see Wicked)! I'll be out of town for the rest of the week but still intend to post on Friday as scheduled. Enjoy!
Content Advisory: Mild Suggestive Content
✉ Chapter Twelve: The Green Glass Giveaway ✉
Dear Yero,
I am sorry I didn't show. It had nothing to do with you. Please forgive me.
Love, Fae
Elphaba was feeling sorry for herself as she entered her dorm but her attention was redirected as soon as a fluffy skirt nearly whacked her in the face. Piles of Galinda's clothes, shoes, and purses were strewn carelessly all across the room. But if the room was in disarray, it was nothing compared to Galinda. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair was out of place as she frantically combed through her belongings.
"Galinda, what in Oz?"
Galinda looked up and scrambled to her feet, rushing to Elphaba's side and gripping her shoulders.
"Elphie, you've gotta help me. Fiyero is throwing a big bash at the OzDust and I have nothing to wear!"
"Is that all?" Elphaba sighed. "I thought you'd lost something."
"No, no not yet. But Elphie, you don't understand. If I don't get this outfit right, I might lose him!" Galinda stressed.
"Don't be silly, Galinda. Fiyero's crazy about you," she assured her.
"Oh, but Elphie, you don't know what it's been like! He's been thinking a lot and yesterday I even saw him open a book. A book, Elphie!" Galinda said in a drastic tone. "It's like I don't even know him!"
"Okay, Galinda. Breathe," Elphaba instructed. Galinda took in a dramatic inhale and held it. "And breathe out!" Elphaba reminded her hurriedly.
Galinda exhaled heavily and began to pace. "I can tell he's going to break up with me, Elphie. I don't know how I can tell–it's obviously never happened to me–but I can! Oh Elphie, what if he bolts?"
"If he bolts then let him bolt!" Elphaba blurted out. "Honestly you shouldn't fight tooth and nail for someone who isn't right for you."
"But he is right for me! He's perfect, I'm perfect, we're perfect! No, not quite. I don't think he's perfect anymore, but I still want him. I do! I've told him that I love him like a zillion times and he's never said it to me. Can you imagine?!" Galinda wailed.
Elphaba swallowed as she recalled Fiyero's doubts about love. She hated to see her friend get her hopes up so high when he may never reciprocate his feelings, but she didn't want to be the one to break it to her. Besides, it was not her place.
"Galinda, don't worry. Everything will work out the way it's meant to work out," Elphaba assured her in a calming tone.
Galinda's lip was still pouted, but she nodded and rushed Elphaba to squeeze her into a hug.
"Thank you. You always say the right thing," Galinda sniffled. "I knew I could count on my best friend."
Elphaba pulled out of the hug with an amazed expression. "I-I'm your best friend?"
"Of course, silly!" Galinda replied. She took in the expression on Elphaba's face and softened. "Well…didn't you know?"
Elphaba shrugged and shook her head. "No, I didn't."
"Oh, well. You are."
Galinda reached out and gave Elphaba's hand a reassuring squeeze and Elphaba squeezed it back. Elphaba didn't know what to say, so she said nothing.
"Let's get rid of this mess, shall we?" Elphaba nodded. "It looks like a cyclone's been through here."
Galinda finally picked an outfit that suited her standards and set it aside for the party the next day. Elphaba helped organize the rest of her closet save for some hat boxes that they'd forgotten to squeeze back in.
"Ah–just kick those in the corner. I'll get to them later," Galinda sighed, flopping tiredly onto her bed as Elphaba fixed for bed.
Elphaba fastened her nightlight into the wall and settled into the covers before pulling out her mother's green bottle with a thoughtful look.
"You love that little bottle of yours, huh?" Galinda asked.
Elphaba nodded.
"Yes. I saw Nessa today and I guess it was just on my mind. You know I…haven't told Nessa that I have this. She doesn't know it exists," Elphaba admitted guiltily. "My father got rid of everything that belonged to our mother. Sometimes I feel like I should tell Nessa I have it but, and this feels awful to say, she already has so much. When it came to this bottle…I guess I just wanted something…and I took it."
"I knew the bottle was better than you let on," Galinda shared smugly. "You know, it means a lot that you'd share something with me that you've never shared with anyone before. Thank you for telling me that."
Elphaba opened her mouth but closed it. She didn't have the heart to tell Galinda that she had told–or rather written–that story once before. So, she merely said: "You're welcome."
The next morning after Galinda left to spend time with Fiyero, Elphaba made the trip to her and Yero's tree. She fondly ran her fingers over their initials before feeling inside for her letter. It was there as expected.
Dear Fae,
I forgive you for not showing up, though I won't say that I wasn't disappointed. There will be a party at the OzDust Ballroom this weekend. I know that parties aren't really your thing but there will be lots of people so we can fly under the radar. I'll be standing by the clock in the foyer at exactly eight o'clock. Please meet me there, Fae. I'll be waiting for you.
Love, Yero
The day was nippy with dew as Elphaba numbly walked back towards campus. Tonight at eight, that's when it would all end. Her stranger would be revealed and Yero and Fae would be no more. She only hoped that when Yero saw her…he'd be kind. She hoped he'd be gracious enough to keep their letters a secret. She hoped that they'd part ways amicably with a handshake or an embarrassed laugh. She hoped Yero could fade into the back of her mind and she could live content with the knowledge that someone fell for her once, even if in words only.
Elphaba, stuck inside her brain as she so often was, only came back to reality as she took a shortcut through a hall and heard two familiar voices. Elphaba quickened her step and turned to the corner to see Galinda and Fiyero engaged in a public shouting match.
"I'm Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands, you can't do this to me!" Galinda wailed, her shoulders shaking with manic sobs.
Galinda turned her head and, upon spotting Elphaba, sped towards her and threw her arms around her in a hug. Elphaba wrapped her arms around her and glared towards an uncomfortable looking Fiyero.
"Why is she crying? What did you do?!" Elphaba snapped at Fiyero as Galinda cried into her shoulder.
"I didn't do anything—" Fiyero began defensively.
"That's right you didn't! You don't get to break up with me, I'm breaking up with you!" Galinda turned and shouted.
"You broke up with her?! Are you serious?!" Elphaba seethed.
Galinda broke into fresh tears and Elphaba moved her head to rest against her shoulder.
"That's what all of that thinking has caused! Nothing but trouble!" Galinda lamented melodramatically.
Elphaba turned to Galinda and wiped the tears off of her face. "He's not worth this, Galinda. Let's get you out of here."
"I need to get my things from his dorm," Galinda hiccupped. "I don't want his grubby hands all over them."
Elphaba shot Fiyero a stern look and held out her palm. "You heard her. Keys, now."
Fiyero fumbled in his pocket and produced the keys. Elphaba viciously swiped them from his hand.
"Get your things and go back to the dorm," Elphaba instructed, delicately placing the keys in Galinda's hand before turning to glare at Fiyero. "I'll handle him."
Galinda took the keys and ran off, leaving Elphaba and Fiyero alone. Fiyero's thumbs slipped into his pocket and his eyes were cast to the floor. Even so, he could feel Elphaba's eyes on him.
"I didn't mean to hurt her—" he began lamely.
"Well, you have! You have hurt her!" Elphaba jumped in, charging his way to force his gaze upon her. "Why? Why did you end it?"
"That really isn't any of your business."
"It is so my business!" Elphaba insisted. She shook her head and gave Fiyero a withering stare. "What, do you think she's not good enough for you?"
"Of course not! She's pretty, confident, fun—" he listed.
"Then what's the problem?!"
"It's complicated, okay?!" Fiyero groaned, dodging Elphaba's sharp gaze.
"This is because of what you told me before, isn't it? Well, isn't it?" Elphaba needled him. "All of that stuff about how you don't believe that love exists."
"That's not it."
"Galinda told me how many times she's said it to you and how you could never say it back because of your precious philosophy."
"Elphaba."
"Just because you think that love doesn't exist—"
"I'm in love with somebody else!" Fiyero blurted out, finally lifting his head to meet Elphaba's eyes intensely.
Elphaba quieted at his confession. The revelation had been goaded out of him, but his eyes were sincere. He was telling the truth. Fiyero was in love with somebody else. She pursed her lips as she felt a sudden sick feeling settle in her stomach.
"Well, then…"
"I really didn't want to hurt Galinda," Fiyero stressed. "But it wasn't fair to keep being with her if I'm in—"
"I got it," Elphaba held a hand up. She didn't want to hear him say it again. "I…I get it."
Elphaba crossed her arms and Fiyero stared at her for a long, quiet moment. Their eyes met and they both opened their mouths to speak, but neither followed through on their impulse leaving their exhales to fizzle out between them.
"Well, I should get back," Elphaba stated, nodding her head in that direction. "You know…before she does."
She turned to leave but Fiyero called after her. "Elphaba?"
Elphaba turned around on an eager impulse.
"Yes?" she asked expectantly.
"Are you…" Fiyero trailed off. He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. "Are you coming to the party tonight?"
Elphaba raised her eyebrows and released a melancholy chuckle.
"Yeah. I'll be there."
Without another world she turned on her heel and exited the hall with Yero's last letter weighing heavily in her pocket.
Galinda fumbled with Fiyero's keys before miserably flinging the door open and closing it behind her. She sniffed heavily and began to collect some of the things she had left there. Her scarf, a textbook, her pumps that she'd taken off after rolling her ankle on a date.
As she passed by Fiyero's mirror she gasped in horror upon catching a glimpse of herself. Long streaks of black mascara from her puffy eyes lined her pretty face. She exhaled slowly and attempted to wipe the dried smudges away.
She turned to Fiyero's cluttered desk and began shuffling about, looking for a tissue or handkerchief, anything. She noticed a thick, boring looking library book and narrowed her eyes at it. Fiyero reading anything was deeply out of the ordinary, she should have foreseen this break up much sooner! She picked up the book and squinted at the title through bloodshot eyes. 'Discord and Discontent'.
How funny. Elphaba was reading the same thing.
Galinda curiously opened the book and found a folded piece of stationary inside of it being used as a bookmark. She cocked her head and set the book down to unfold the page.
Dear Yero,
I have just begun reading 'Discord and Discontent'. It's thrilling. I know you say that you're not much into books, but I really think you should give this one a try. It's cleverly written and the protagonist reminds me of you, though I daresay he's not as charming.
Love, Fae
"What?!" Galinda squeaked.
Who was this 'Fae' person and why in Oz was she writing to Fiyero?! Flirting with him so shamelessly, addressing him by a pet name, signing it with 'love'?! Jealousy burned in Galinda's chest and, though it was not a goodly thing to do, she began rifling through the drawers of Fiyero's desk to find more evidence.
It did not take her long.
Settled in an untidy heap were dozens—no—scores of letters clogging up the bottom drawer of his desk. Galinda's jaw dropped as she picked one up, all but ripping it out of its envelope.
Dear Yero,
Your words make me blush, and I am not the kind of girl to blush. Every time the most recent letter crosses my mind something in my body wakes up. I'm embarrassed to confess that I've read it several times, if only to make myself believe that someone would be inspired by me to write such intimate things. I don't think it's in my skillset to respond in kind, but if you were to send me another letter of a similar nature…I would not object.
Love, Fae
An affair. Fiyero was carrying out an affair with this— "Fae," Galinda spat.
Hell bent on getting more details, Galinda pulled several letters out and gasped as she saw how far back in the year they went. She saw one dated as far back as April! She threw the papers to the ground and sat on the floor in an unhappy heap.
Fiyero had been cheating on her! Cheating! Sweet Oz, the things she was going to do to get back at him. Perhaps she and Elphaba could conjure a damning hex. Oh, Elphaba. She couldn't wait to tell Elphaba what she had discovered. She'd make him pay.
Galinda fumed as her eyes drifted across the pages and pages of writing. Each fragment she read poked another needle in her heart.
—a hollow in the trunk—
—I feel like we—
—I'll take that as your answer—
—my adventure to Shiz—
—a small green glass bottle—
Galinda did a double take and scrambled through the sea of stationary to snatch the letter that she'd just glanced over.
Dear Yero,
Yes, I do have a favorite keepsake. It's a small green glass bottle that belonged to my mother. It's not worth anything outside of sentimental value, but nobody in my family knows that I kept it. There is something about it that's special and comforting to me, so much so that I sleep with it under my pillow every night—
Galinda's manicured hands slowly crushed the letter into a tiny crumpled ball as she stood to full height.
I guess I just wanted something… Galinda recalled Elphaba's words from the night before, …and I took it.
"You little—" Galinda hissed. "You wicked little—"
Galinda took a deep breath and began to methodically place each and every letter back into the drawer from whence they came. She unsnapped her purse, gingerly set the crumpled letter inside, and snapped it closed again. She gathered the belongings she'd come in for and stopped to look in the mirror on her way out.
She licked her thumb, roughly smeared the mascara off of her face, and fluffed her hair. She then fastened a wide, pearly smile to her face and calmly exited Fiyero's room.
When Galinda entered her own dorm, Elphaba immediately rose to greet her.
"Hey," she said in an ever so gentle tone. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
"And then some," Galinda answered evenly, dropping her belongings at the foot of her bed. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and turned to look at Elphaba. "How was he?"
"He's out of his mind for breaking up with you and I told him as much," Elphaba answered in a fierce tone. "Don't give him a second thought, Galinda. He doesn't deserve you."
"I couldn't agree more," Galinda nodded innocently. "It's just like you said last night. Everything will work out the way it's meant to work out. Right, Elphie?"
"Right."
Galinda stepped over and looked over her OzDust dress which hung from a hook on her closet door. "I guess my plans for tonight have changed…"
"You know what? You should still go," Elphaba encouraged. "Go and have fun, show Fiyero that you don't need him."
"That's a grand idea, Elphie! But do you know what would be even grander?" Galinda asked. She crossed to Elphaba and placed her hands on her shoulders. "You should come with me."
"Oh…well, I don't know. You see—" Elphaba stammered.
"It would mean so much to me, Elphie."
"The thing is Galinda…" Elphaba sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "I'm actually already going…sort of. For a bit anyway. Not for long."
Galinda raised her eyebrows innocently. "What do you mean?"
"There's just…something I need to take care of," she said evasively.
"Oh, Elphie. You're always so mysterious!" Galinda complained.
"I don't try to be," Elphaba groaned, covering her face with her hands.
"Does it have something to do with your crush that's not a crush?" Galinda prodded.
Elphaba bit her lip and sized Galinda up. "I'll tell you what, Galinda. After tonight, no more secrets. Until then just, please…trust me."
Galinda stared at her for a long moment before forcing a smile. "Of course, I trust you. After all, I have no reason not to…right?"
Elphaba gave her a funny look and laughed. "Right."
"Oh!" Galinda clapped her hands together excitedly. "But Elphie, if you're going to the OzDust for the first time, even for your secret reasons, you have to make sure you look your best. Let me help."
"You really don't have to do that."
"I know…" Galinda said slowly. "That's what makes us best friends."
Elphaba's face softened at the sentiment. "I don't have much to wear, though. You know that."
"Well, you're in luck, Elphaba. I've got just the thing for you."
Galinda moved to the corner of her room where the abandoned hat boxes lay and she picked up the one she was seeking. She swiped off the thin layer of dust that covered the lid before turning to Elphaba and offering her the box. Elphaba carefully opened it and pulled out a tall, black pointed hat with a wide, round brim. Galinda took a deep breath and flashed Elphaba a broad smile.
"I think that you should wear this hat to the party tonight."
