Chapter Three
"Elphie!" Galinda called, knocking on the bathroom's door for what seemed like the millionth time. "You've been in there for hours, there are other people who need to get ready for their day if you don't mind!"
The thick wooden door had made Galinda's voice less shrilling than it probably was from the other end. She stared at her reflection. How long had she been there? And doing what? Was it possible that for the last five minutes she had done nothing than looking at herself in the mirror? That was so… vain, so unlike her.
She smiled to herself. The green girl in the mirror returned the smile. She looked almost beautiful. Well, she was somewhat beautiful with her hair down and her eyes sparkling. She was beautiful because he told her she was, and he had never lied to her.
It'd been two weeks since that evening in the grove. They managed to get the cub out of the school grounds, to set him free. She hoped it would manage to run off to safety. They had never heard about Dr. Dillamond again. She did try to question people in that matter; Oz knew, she bothered Madame Morrible endlessly about it. It was as if no one cared. She didn't want to give up on her teacher, but she wasn't left with many other choices. Around them, more and more Animal teachers had been replaced, new ideologies had been taught, it was horrible. This was not why she was so thrilled to go to Shiz. This was her worst nightmare.
Luckily, she had Fiyero there to distract her. She smiled. A few weeks back she would have mocked her own stupidity. Relying on someone else to make her feel better about things, about herself, was something she had never managed to grasp. Her own father didn't think so highly about her, why would anyone else?
And then he stepped into her life and proved her wrong. She found herself changing, slowly, into a softer version of herself. She gave up the straight face and sarcasm, at least around him. She didn't need those to defend herself like she did around other people. Besides, he had managed to read passed them every single time. She laughed more when she was with him. She was more talkative, in a way her own sister wouldn't have believed. And the thing that was most remarkable to her was that he was changing too. They had long discussions about politics and state affairs, and she discovered he was more than a pretty face. He actually had opinions. He didn't like the change of staff in Shiz any more than she did. They used to dream of the changes they'd make after graduation. Yes, it was silly and childish and idealistic, but it was nice to know she wasn't the only one who had them. It was even nicer to know that he was the one sharing them with her.
Another knock came at the door, startling her. She'd been in there for far too long. She ran a hand through her hair and stepped out. Galinda was glaring at her as she walked passed her, obviously waiting for an apology. She didn't intend to make one. Galinda had never made any apologies when she spent all these hours beyond these doors. But she could feel the eyes of her roommate on her the entire time she stuffed her bag with books. It was quite annoying, really.
She turned to shoot Galinda a glare of her own. Galinda gasped, startled, at the suddenness of her turn. "What?" she asked, in a tone that sounded too blunt to her own ears.
"N-nothing. It's just… you look nice."
She softened instantly. Receiving a compliment from Galinda was unusual. "Thank you, I guess." But it didn't stop Galinda from looking at her closely still. She laughed nervously. "Why are you staring at me?"
Galinda hesitated. "You look different."
She rolled her eyes. "You made me have my hair down, silly, of course I look different."
"No. Beside that. Are you wearing any makeup? Your eyes are all sparkly."
"Umm no."
"Funny," Galinda mussed. "If I didn't know you I would have thought there was a boy involved."
She was grateful to have her back turned to Galinda the moment she had said that. Her cheeks darkened so much she was sure Galinda would figure it all out with a single glance. She could be dense at times, but she had a sixth sense when it came to those matters.
That was the only flaw in the, umm, new situation. Galinda didn't know anything yet. Being so absorbed in school and her social life, she hadn't suspected anything. She felt bad, sneaking behind her roommate's back, especially since it involved seeing someone her roommate had decided to marry someday, but to be honest, she didn't know what she could say. Besides, everything was still so new. It was selfish, but she wanted to keep things for herself for a while, before the inevitable need to work things out, to question, to make a choice.
"I thought you knew me better than that, Galinda," she replied, keeping her voice as non-caring as possible although her heart was racing. She didn't have enough courage to say it to her face though. She really had changed, she thought bitterly. "Now if you excuse me, I'm going to be late for my first class." She didn't wait for Galinda's reply. She walked passed her and escaped the room.
Sitting next to him in class was agony. Their nearness was making concentrating in the lesson extremely difficult. Her heart fluttered very time their elbows touched. She stole glances at him as the lesson dragged on, only when she was certain no one was looking. She couldn't see, but she had a feeling he was doing the same.
And then, about half an hour into the lesson, he coughed softly and pushed his parchment in her direction. It took her a moment to decipher his scrawl. You look very nice today.
She smiled and dared to direct her eyes with his for a brief moment. He returned her smile, his eyes speaking volumes. Feeling her cheeks darken, she turned her gaze towards the blackboard. A while later, when the teacher assigned in-class reading, she felt him shift beside her.
"How about a private picnic in the grove this afternoon?" he murmured, so low she could barely hear him.
"It might rain."
"It won't."
"I have a lot of material to read for tomorrow's exam."
"Bring it along and we'll read it together."
"Do you have an answer for everything?"
"Pretty much, yes," he replied, smiling. "So how about it?"
"Shh," she whispered, giggling under her breath.
"Not until you say 'yes'."
"Fine," she breathed, unsure whether to be amused by his persistent or annoyed with it. "Just be quiet."
She didn't look at him, but she could hear the smile in his reply. "Excellent."
He was right, of course. It wasn't raining, and except for a few straying clouds in the afternoon sky, nothing indicated that it would. When he said earlier they'd review the material for the exam, she was sure it was just an excuse to convince her to come, but apparently he was serious about it. They had lunch, after which they were sitting on the grass, silently reading. He was leaning against a tree trunk with her head in his lap. Light breeze was making the leaves at the treetops whistle. She closed her eyes, laying the book against her chest. It was so easy to drift to slumber, especially with his fingers buried in her hair, gently massaging her skull.
Lying there, completely at ease, felt strange. She wasn't used to such vanities. There was this tingling at the tips of her fingers. There was this longing within her, to do something, anything. She couldn't sit still. And realizing that for the past two weeks she had done just that, a horrible sense of guilt had washed through her like a tidal wave. Dr. Dillamond may be running out of time, so did other teachers who had vanished recently, while she was fooling around in a silly teenagers' dream. And then something else occurred to her.
Perhaps it wasn't even her dream to pursue.
She sat up abruptly. In the distance, a thunder struck, but she barely heard it.
"What is it?" he asked, startled by her sudden motion, it seemed.
"This is wrong," she murmured, unsure whether it was him she was addressing, or herself. Her mind was reeling. Suddenly, this was all she knew.
"What is?" he asked gently, covering her hand with his. She snatched hers away and got up, quickly stuffing her books back in her bag. "Elphaba?"
"No. Don't," she pleaded, moving away from his outstretched arms. "I can't do this."
"What are you talking about? Can't do what?"
"This! Fiyero…" She sighed. She wasn't quite sure how to start, what to say. "There's a matter we haven't, umm, discussed yet."
"What?"
"Galinda."
She only mentioned her name, but he clearly understood what it was all about by the way his lower lip tightened. "Oh," he said dumbly.
She held her gaze with his. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but she still doesn't know anything about any of this."
"No, that's quite precise," he said quietly, looking extremely guilty all of a sudden.
A drizzle had started, but she was hardly aware of it. The truth was out there, a dark shadow between them. And the decision had fallen. "In that case, I'd better go," she said softly, turning away from him.
"Elphaba, wait!" She stopped, in spite of herself. He had caught up with her in no time, standing in her way. By then it was raining fairly heavily. It seemed like the wrong moment for I-told-you-so's. "What had brought it up?"
"I woke up," she replied softly, barely holding back an urge to remove a damp lock of hair from his forehead. She sighed and walked passed him, determined never to look back.
"Elphaba, please, just stop!" He got hold of her arm then, not forcefully, but strong enough to make her stop. He looked at her persistently. She couldn't bring herself to look away. "Look, just… it's pouring with rain," he said, then smirked as if he realized he was stating the obvious. "Let's just go to my room and talk this over, alright?" He replied her raised eyebrow with a shrug. "It's closer, and it's private. It will raise fewer questions." He took her hand before she had a chance to resist, and gave it a little squeeze. "Come on."
The sudden storm had sent everyone indoors, so by the time they'd made it to the boys' dormitories, no one was around to notice them sneak in. She couldn't help glancing around suspiciously as they made their way up dozens of stairs, crossing one hallway after another. Girls were not allowed in there. She didn't even want to think of what would happen if someone would see her there. It wasn't as if she could easily mingle among a crowd.
Finally, at the top floor, he motioned towards one of the doors. She sighed inwardly with relief. Her boots were soggy; they made a creaky noise with every step she took. Her clothes were soaked, clinging to her uncomfortably. She didn't even want to think the horrid condition her hair had been at.
He opened the door and sidled, letting her walk passed him. It was a suite, similar to her and Galinda's, only he had it for himself. The room was softly lit, and warm although there was no fire burning in the fireplace. She stood there in the middle of the small sitting room, shaking, but mostly ashamed with the way she was dripping water all over his floor.
"Bedroom is over there," he said, directing her down the dark hall with the slightest touch of his hand against her back. "I'll get you some towels and a blanket."
She nodded, half numb with the cold, and followed him into the room. He lit two candles, and the room was washed with an orange glow. Then he left, softly shutting the door behind him.
Relieved to be left alone, she released the breath she didn't even know she was holding. She didn't falter to have a look around. Finding the first piece of furniture water wouldn't be able to ruin, she sat on the edge of a chair and leaned over to take off her boots. It was a relief, but it didn't last long, for her dress was still clinging to her. She didn't know how long he would be gone, but she had to get rid of the dress or she would catch a serious cold. Glancing around the room, she had suddenly noticed a bathrobe hung by a door she hadn't noticed before. She snatched it off its hook and laid it against the bed. Then, hastily, she started undoing the buttons of her dress.
It was when the soggy material had dropped noiselessly to the floor when she had heard the doorknob rattle; by then, it was too late to retrieve the robe from the bed.