A/N: So from what I can tell, 9 different people have reviewed this story, some of them multiple times. But I know that more than 9 people have this story on their alerts. I would REALLY appreciate some of you 'silent' readers reviewing this story, because, like I said before, it really is my motivation to keep writing. If people don't review, I think that people don't like the story, so I don't feel like updating as fast. Get my point? *everyone nods* Good!
Anyway, rant over. Shoutout to all my twitter girlies who've reviewed, love you all! Shauna, Micheala, Carlie and Kelly – all four of you are my main motivation, seeing as you're the main reviewers of this story and you keep encouraging me and giving me good (and sometimes hilarious/outrageous!) ideas. Thanks girls!
The end of this chapter was Micheala's idea, and I really liked it. Hopefully I do this part of the storyline justice, because the idea was perfect for the story, so I hope it works!
Enjoy chapter 5!
Elphaba and Fiyero exchanged guilty glances, then looked at Galinda. The expression on her face would have been amusing if it wasn't caused by them and their current situation.
Fiyero was the first to speak. "Galinda, we can explain."
The angry blonde had been glaring at her best friend, but now turned to him, placing her hands on her hips.
"Explain? Explain what exactly? It seems pretty self explanatory: my best friend and my boyfriend going behind my back!" She took a deep breath and pointed at Elphaba. "You betrayed me, Elphaba Thropp! I trusted you, I told you everything, and now I found out you've been going behind my back with Fiyero!"
Elphie and Fiyero waited until Galinda ran out of steam, then Elphie spoke for the first time since Galinda had found them in the beginnings of a kiss.
"Galinda, please listen to me," she pleaded, and Galinda nodded minutely, indicating that she would be quiet and listen. "Firstly, Fiyero is not your boyfriend anymore, he broke up with you. I'm sorry to remind of that, but it's important, because we never went behind your back. I admit, I had feelings beginning to develop for him last night and this morning, and I guess he was the same, but we never acted upon them, until now. Galinda, I know Fiyero only broke up with you this morning, but even you have to admit that it was not a serious relationship. I... I really like Fiyero, and I hope that once you calm down a bit, you will be able to accept that, especially if it turns into something more. Please?"
Galinda's face softened, and tears formed in her eyes.
Fiyero listened to Elphaba's speech in awe. It was the most he had ever heard her say at one time, and about her feelings, for him, nonetheless. It made him like her even more than he already did, which was saying something. He knew at that moment in time that nothing, least of all an angry Galinda, would be able to keep them from being together. He had never believed in destiny, or fate, but he didn't know what else to call this. He and Elphaba were meant to be together.
Galinda's voice shook as she spoke her next words, and although both Fiyero and Elphaba knew it was hurting her deeply, they were eternally grateful for what she said.
"Fine. You have my blessing. I'm sorry, Elphie. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that, and I know it's really none of my business anymore. I'll try to accept you two being together, if that's what you want." She gave a tentative, watery smile at Elphaba, then turned on her heel and quickly left the room, trying to hold her sobs at bay, at least until she returned to her room.
The librarian approached Elphaba and Fiyero. "Excuse me, the library is not a place for arguments, it is for studying. I don't appreciate you disrupting the peace. Please leave."
The couple picked up their books and quickly left the library, not saying another word until they were out in the sunlight. Elphaba looked amazed.
"That's the first time I've been kicked out of a library, ever." She broke into a grin and, in a move very uncharacteristic of Elphaba, threw her arms around Fiyero. He laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist, spinning her around in a circle.
Elphaba looked up at him when he set her down. "Fiyero, I still feel terrible for Galinda. I mean, you two only just broke up this morning, she didn't deserve to have her heart ripped apart like that, seeing us about to... to kiss." She half smiled at those words. "Gosh, it sounds so strange saying that, that someone was about to kiss me. No one's ever kissed me before, no one's ever felt anything towards me other than repulsion and hatred. Except for you. And Galinda."
"Hey, Elphaba. Don't worry about Galinda. She was obviously still upset from this morning, and seeing us together didn't help things, I'll admit. But once she gets over it and does accept us, like she said she would, she'll see that we're perfect together!" Fiyero laughed.
"I suppose..." said Elphaba, shuffling her feet nervously. "I'll talk to her later, maybe tonight or tomorrow. Hopefully she will have cooled off a bit more by then."
Fiyero agreed, and then asked the question that Elphaba had been wanting to ask herself, but was too nervous to. "So... are we actually together now? Like, together together?"
Elphaba laughed at that. "Together together? What other kind of 'together' can there be?" Fiyero opened his mouth to respond, most likely with a smartass retort, but she held up her finger to his lips. "I know what you mean. And yes, I suppose we are."
Fiyero, for the second time in half an hour, leaned towards the green girl, his eyes focused on her lips. As their lips met, properly this time, in a sweet kiss, Elphaba closed her eyes and leaned into the prince's toned body, his arms wrapping around her midsection and pulling her closer.
Neither of them knew who deepened the kiss, but it didn't matter. All they could feel was the other's body pressed against their own, their tongues moving together and their bodies responding in ways that they, but especially Elphaba, had never imagined was possible. Both of them relished the feeling, never wanting the tender embrace to end.
XXX
After leaving the library, Galinda ran up to her room and cried. She poured her heart out through her tears, soaking her blonde curls and the pillow beneath her face.
She wasn't entirely sure why she was so upset. It wasn't as if she and Fiyero were really in love. She had told everyone, including herself, that she was in love with the handsome prince, but in reality, she didn't know what love felt like.
But when she stopped and thought about the situation, she realised that she was more upset about Fiyero and Elphaba being together than about Fiyero breaking up with her. She thought it would have been the other way around, and could not work out why this was the case.
Why did Elphaba and Fiyero being a couple affect her so deeply? If she didn't really care about Fiyero, then why was she so upset? Sure, Elphaba was her roommate and best friend, but she didn't really betray her. Unless...
Galinda sat bolt upright, shocked at the possible realisation of truth. It couldn't be, could it? That the reason she was so upset wasn't because Fiyero didn't have feelings for her, but because it was Elphaba that didn't have feelings for her? No, it was absurd! Galinda shouldn't care about that!
But when she thought about it a little more, memories flooded her. Memories of talking and laughing with Elphaba about the silliest things. Memories of hugging Elphaba, kissing her on the cheek. And, only more recently, memories of watching her sleeping in her bed and sometimes wishing she could be curled up next to her. She had never been interested in women 'that' way, she was always the one chasing the boys. But Elphaba was different. From the second Galinda laid eyes on her green skin, she had been captivated by the strange, passionate girl.
And it hit her. She, Galinda Upland, loved Elphaba. And there was nothing she could do about it, and nothing she could do to show Elphaba that, and to get her to return the feelings. Elphaba and Fiyero were together now, and she was alone. There was nothing she could do about it.