I almost forgot to upload; can you believe it? (I can't)
Anyway... In case you're wondering… I've chosen to mix Musical and Book-version up a little bit. Like; the idea with the Wizard raping Melena and not them having an affair is from the book. I just found it very… interesting. Whether he actually raped her or not is for each of you to decide.
I'm now going to crawl under my blanket for two days for almost forgetting;)
Thanks for all the kind reviews! I LOVE hearing what you guys think.
Stay safe and stay healthy!

Addition: Again; Thanks to the guest that's been correcting my mistakes (though this one was just a slip of sorts:) Thank you anyway, I really appreciate that (It makes me kinda uncomfortable to put something out there that's full of mistakes, u know?)

Started writing: 26.01.2020

Finished writing: 28.01.2020

Chapter 23
Victim

Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands could call herself many things; beautiful, funny, popular, generous, from time to time a little bit uptight and sneaky. But never in her life would she let people call her ignorant. For if there was one thing Galinda loathed, it was ignorance.

Yes, it wasn't her green roommate that she loathed most. Her green roommate who'd left the last morning without a single word of explanation. And of course, she'd had to take the letter with her so that Galinda couldn't even try to find the answer to the all too obvious question. Where had Elphaba gone off to in such a hurry?

When Galinda had woken up this morning, she'd had to admit that it felt very strange by now; waking up all on her own, without a green-skinned woman bending over some assignment that she wasn't entirely satisfied with. Yes, actually Galinda had felt quite lonely this morning. So lonely that she'd practically fled the room and gone to have her breakfast at half-past eight o'clock already.

And she had been throwing nervous looks at the clock above the entrance to the cafeteria, wondering if Elphaba would allow herself to miss another day of classes. Without an excuse. Which was so very unlike her. Or was it circumstances that didn't allow her to come back?

Galinda must have been a sorry sight for the few other students in the cafeteria; all on her own, staring into nothingness with her brow furrowed in something close to worry.

This early in the morning there were only very few students in the cafeteria, munching on their breakfasts still half-asleep.

"What are you doing here?"

Galinda's head whipped up at the sudden sound of a voice.

It was Aurelion, standing before her with his bowl of cereals in his hands.

"I'm eating breakfast," answered Galinda, but the still full plate before her proved her wrong.

"Well," Aurelion said and hesitantly sat down to her opposite. "And why are you up so early?"

"I'm sorry," he added after a short pause, a faint blush on his cheeks. "I shouldn't pester you like that."

Galinda waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, it's alright. You don't have to apologise."

For a moment, she looked at the fork in her hand, considering if she'd get something down, and put it away. "As for your question; I just couldn't stay in my room, it felt so empty."

She knit her brows. "Do you know where Elphaba might have gone?"

Aurelion raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean? Has she left?"

Galinda nodded silently and, after a second, she added, "Yesterday morning, Mrs Arnstein gave me a letter that I should hand to Elphaba, and when I did, Elphaba immediately left. She didn't take anything but her school bag with her, and she didn't explain why she had to go."

"Well, that doesn't sound very unlike her, if you ask me," declared the boy with a shrug. "She can disappear for days if she wants to. Sometimes I would search for her for two days, and the next morning she'd suddenly walk into the cafeteria as though nothing had happened.

"She's very good at hiding," he said. "She must've had a lot of practice."

Galinda frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I can only guess," Aurelion settled into his seat. "But I think she hasn't had an overly good time in Munchkinland."

The blonde girl sat up straight. "Munchkinland? Is that where she comes from?"

Aurelion nodded. "It is."

For a moment, Galinda stared at her fingers. "How do you know of her time there? She doesn't strike me as an overly sociable or talkative person."

"She isn't," he answered. "Although she has her moments… and I know nothing, really. I'm merely guessing."

"Anyway," said Galinda. "I don't think this is one of her hiding-sessions. She seemed quite shocked when she left. And even if she were hiding, she'd have to come to the dorm room to sleep, wouldn't she?"

"You're right," the boy nodded.

Galinda tilted her head to one side and slowly let her gaze wander across his face. Something seemed off about him. The way his shoulders slumped just the slightest bit and how he looked at her from glassy eyes.

"I'm just a little bit worried," she eventually confessed, eyes on her folded hands. "Missing another day of classes -that would really be very unlike her, right?"

The boy leant forward. "It would. But I think she'll be back today. She wouldn't dare to mess up her attendance record."

But his assumptions were wide of the marks. Elphaba did not turn up for classes. And when Doctor Dillamond asked if anyone knew where she was, all Galinda did was averting her eyes. For almost an hour, she stared at her shoes as though they were the most interesting thing in the world and when the bell announced the break, she was the first who jumped up.

She didn't even know why she'd been so desperate to leave the room. Maybe it was because something with Doctor Dillamond told her that he was much more attentive than the other professors. She had the feeling the Goat knew about her worry.

Galinda tried to calm down and skipped her Logic classes to go for a short shopping trip. But when she returned to attend her afternoon classes (Politics), and the chair in the front row remained empty, she couldn't stop herself anymore.

Gasping for air, Galinda raised a hand to forcefully knock at the wooden door.

"In you come," sounded a sweet voice from behind it.

The blonde pulled the door open and slipped into the room.

"Oh, I didn't expect it to be you, Miss Galinda," said Madame Morrible.

Galinda hesitantly stepped forward.

"Sit down, my deary, sit down," the Headshiztress offered and gestured at one of the empty chairs before her desk.

"Now," she said when Galinda had sat down. "What is it that you need to talk to me about?"

The sweet smile on her lips wavered for a second. "If this is concerning the Sorcery seminar again, deary; I still cannot accept you. No matter how many entry essays you'll write."

Galinda chose to ignore the comment and said, "No, Madame, it does not concern Sorcery. It is about my roomie, though."

Madame Morrible's brow knit and her look darkened. "Oh, what has the precious girl done this time?"

And she said precious in such a way that Galinda knew she didn't mean it at all.

"Nothing, Madame," Galinda hurried to say and, wringing her hands, she added, "Or well, not nothing. But, you see, Madame, it's partly my fault, really, which is why I've come."

She bit her lip. "Yesterday morning there was a letter for Miss Elphaba that I was asked to give her. And when I did, my roomie was so shocked. I don't know about what, Madame, I swear I don't, but I haven't seen her since then, and I'm worried."

The Headshiztress leant back with a furrowed brow. "So she left, you think?"

Galinda nodded. "I would've seen her otherwise, if not in class then in the dormitory."

"I'll have to write a letter to her parents, then," Madame Morrible stated. "Miss Elphaba cannot be allowed to wander off like that. She will be punished once she's returned."

The blonde averted her eyes in exasperation. Punishment was the last thing she'd wanted to achieve with this visit. Although, with every minute passing, she forgot more and more about her initial goals with this audience.

"I'm sure she will explain everything," Galinda said, staring at her fingers for a second. "When she comes back."

Madame Morrible arched a thin eyebrow, but Galinda continued anyways.

"It's Elphaba we're talking about, here. She wouldn't miss two days of classes without a sound reason; it's not like her."

The Headshiztress folded her hands on the table. "You can never know what goes on in such an… exclusive mind as Miss Elphaba's."

For a moment, her brows knit. "She left the school grounds you said, right?"

Galinda nodded.

"Well, in that case," said Madame Morrible. "You might want to ask Mrs Arnstein about Miss Elphaba's whereabouts. The girl must've passed the reception when she left, and Mrs Arnstein wouldn't let anyone leave just like that."

The Headshiztress cocked her head. "I must ask, Miss Galinda; Miss Elphaba didn't tell you where she was going? Didn't even give you a hint?"

"No, Madame," Galinda answered. "She didn't tell me anything. She was too shocked, I believe."

"You believe," murmured Madame Morrible before raising her voice again. "Well, Miss Galinda, how very good of you to report this occurrence to me. I will write a letter to the Thropps immediately."

She waved a hand as though trying to scare away flies. "Now, you go, deary, you go and spend your time on something else than Miss Elphaba's whereabouts."

Galinda stood up. "Thank you for your time, Madame."

She turned around and crossed the room. Already halfway out the door, she paused at the sound of Madame Morrible's voice.

"If I may ask, Miss Galinda," the Headshiztress said. "Why does your roomie suddenly concern you so much? It didn't seem to me that you had the best relationship."

Galinda's eyebrows knit together in a faint frown.

"Maybe there's more to her than the green," she wondered aloud. "I heard someone say."

Before Madame Morrible could ask another question, Galinda closed the door.

In truth, she hadn't heard anyone say something like that about Elphaba. It had just now come into her mind. And, as Aurelion had stated just this morning, she had a past -just like everyone else. She had a family; a father, who appeared to be the Governor of Munchkinland, a mother and a sister.

As Galinda climbed down the stairs, she couldn't help but wonder if her sister was green, too. But could a family be so cursed as to have two green daughters?

Galinda wrinkled her nose. Or was it not a curse that lay upon them but a simple twist of nature?

Either way, it couldn't have been easy. For her parents, who never would've thought they'd have a green child. And for Elphaba who must've felt so terribly different; who was treated like an enemy by everyone.

With a huff, Galinda opened the door and stepped out of the building. It was cold outside, but not so much that she'd have to wear a scarf. Winter slowly came to a close, and the days became longer, the sun brighter.

Galinda had always liked summer better than winter, and in the cold times, she missed the heat and her frilly dresses. Thus, she now was quite content with the slow beginning of spring.

Sighing, Galinda fumbled with the keys to her dorm room and practically fell against the door to open it.

She put off her shoes and-

"Oh, my Oz!" Galinda exclaimed.

There on the grey duvet of the bed sat Elphaba. With her back towards the door and her shoulders clearly slumped.

"You're back," stated Galinda slowly and Elphaba nodded.

Hesitantly, the blonde approached the bed. "And... where have you been?"

"At home."

Elphaba's voice sounded weak and flat -as though she had just woken up.

"You missed classes."

"I know."

Galinda frowned. Didn't she care?

Elphaba turned around and gestured at the bag next to the bed. "Could you hand me my bag?"

The blonde picked the thing up and gave it to her. She was shocked to find Elphaba's cheeks tear-stained and her eyes bloodshot as though she hadn't slept.

"Are you alright?" she asked, but Elphaba ignored her completely.

"It must be somewhere in here," the green girl murmured and searched in her bag in a somewhat furious way.

She pulled out a small envelope and let her bag slip off the bed. "It explains everything."

Galinda knit her brows. "Elphaba?"

The girl's head snapped up. "So, you can say my name at last."

Galinda cringed inwardly. "I asked if you were alright."

Elphaba snorted without a trace of amusement. "Of course, I am. Why shouldn't I?"

Slowly, Galinda sat down on her bed with a foot tucked underneath her skirt. "Have you been crying?"

Elphaba froze. "I guess."

She heaved a sigh and stroked her hair from her forehead. "Did I miss anything important?"

Galinda shook her head. "No, no. But, Elphaba... did something happen?"

The green girl bit her lower lip. "Nothing, really. The usual."

And she began to cry.

It wasn't a loud cry, but more of a ragged breathing. The tears that were streaming down her face were the only evidence that she was -in fact- crying.

Galinda's eyes widened in shock. "What is it? Elphaba, what happened?"

Elphaba sniffed and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. "Why do you even care? You loathe me."

Galinda shook her head. "I don't loathe you. I did, but I grew out of it."

The green girl lowered her head and stared at her fingers. "I don't know if I should tell you..."

But Galinda curled her lips and leant forward, saying, "You should. If it's troubling you so much... Maybe I could help you."

"No, you couldn't," Elphaba shook her head. "It's nothing that could be helped."

Slowly, almost hesitantly so, Galinda stood up and sat down again next to Elphaba. A good two foot away, though.

"But telling me wouldn't do any harm now, would it?" she said gently.

Elphaba didn't look up. "But it wouldn't do any good either."

For a moment, it was completely quiet in the room.

Then Elphaba lifted her head.

"When I came home, my sister greeted me at the door. And she looked so devastated... I thought someone had died," she told Galinda, her voice shaking. "But then I went upstairs to find my parents and they... my mother..."

She stopped, tears falling down her cheeks again. She wiped them away furiously.

"My mother had something going on with a stranger years ago," she pressed her lips to a thin line. "He might have raped her."

Galinda couldn't help but gape at her.

"But she doesn't really remember," Elphaba finished.

"A-And you just found out now?" stammered Galinda and Elphaba nodded.

"I don't even know how, but my father discovered it yesterday morning or something. And my sister was so scared… " the green girl rubbed across her sore eyes. "And I haven't slept at all and…"

Galinda tilted her head to one side. "Why would she be scared?"

The green-skinned woman turned. "Well, she just feared that Father might divorce our mother."

"Divorce?" asked Galinda, and her lips formed a silent 'o'.

In the Gillikin, especially in Pertha Hills -where she came from- divorce was something no one ever thought about. Many a woman had suffered through a marriage with a man she didn't love there, many a man had watched silently as his wife had grown sadder and sadder. No, even in the worst situations, the worst affairs and the most broken hearts; in the Gillikin, divorce was no option.

"And is he going to?" Galinda asked gently. "Divorce her, that is."

Elphaba let her face drop into her palms. "I hope not. Oz, I hope not."

She shook her head and murmured something that sounded very much like 'Haven't they suffered through enough?'.

Galinda arched an eyebrow at her. "What do you mean?"

Elphaba raised her head. Her long hair was tousled, and there were dark circles underneath her bloodshot eyes.

"Probably rape; a green child; a crippled one-"

"Oh, I wouldn't call you crippled," Galinda interrupted, and the green girl's eyes widened in surprise.

"I'm talking about my sister," she said.

Galinda blushed faintly. "Oh. What's happened to her?"

Elphaba lowered her head. "My mother went into labour far too soon. Nessa's been bound to her wheelchair since she was born. She's very beautiful, you see, although that could never make up for the loss of her ability to walk."

She sighed heavily. "I think she'd be happy to exchange her beauty for it."

Galinda knit her brows. "Oh, I could never. Where would I be without it?"

Elphaba wiped her eyes. "Where would you be without your legs, pray tell?"

And Galinda fell silent.

"You see," said Elphaba after a second. "The rape -or whatever it was- might not even be the worst thing we found out."

The blonde's eyes widened. "What could be worse than rape?"

Now, Elphaba couldn't stop crying anymore, and this time her whole body shook with sobs that she couldn't control. Galinda felt terrible, sitting next to her with nothing that she could do to make the green girl feel better.

"It's what came from it that is so terrible."

"What came from it?" Galinda asked anxiously.

"Me."

Galinda gaped at Elphaba openly.

"You mean-?" she blurted and the green girl nodded.

"We're not sure," she cried. "But it might be."

She stared at her trembling fingers. "If it's true, then my life truly is cursed."

Galinda shook her head in disbelief but didn't say anything. It was not that she didn't want to say something, but she simply didn't know what she could say.

"And my poor mother…" Elphaba raised both hands to cover her face.

Galinda knit her brows in a faint frown. "Oh, but I'm sure she loves you just as much nonetheless."

The green girl shook her head. "How could she? I might be the daughter of her rapist. I'm green and ugly-."

"I don't think you're ugly," Galinda interrupted softly, "The green... it's different, exotic of some sort. But not ugly."

Elphaba raised her head. "A week ago, you called it disgusting."

Galinda blushed a vague shade of red.

"A week ago, I was dumb," she murmured. "Now, I've changed."

And after a long pause, a long silence, she said, "You know, I've decided that we're going to be friends."

She tilted her head to one side. "You could need a friend."

Elphaba looked at her with a crooked smile. "I have a friend."

"Oh, but I mean a female friend," the blonde waved a hand and smiled somewhat hesitantly. "That you don't have, do you?"

Elphaba shook her head, and Galinda's smile became a broad grin. "Well, here you go, Miss Elphaba. And you're very welcome."