Chapter 5

Elphaba had been laid in her bed for almost an hour, unable to sleep from the constant rolling of her stomach and trembling of her muscles. No one had fully explained to her the not-so-wonderful after effects of drinking. She shivered feverishly as a flush sweat enveloped her body, her mouth filling with watery saliva and the blood rushing from her face.

She barely made it to the toilet in time, her stomach convulsing as she retched and emptied herself of alcohol. Clinging to the toilet seat she gasped for air, her heart hammering uncomfortably in her chest and the chill of the room causing her to shudder uncontrollably. As she heaved once more, her hair falling forward into her face, a cool, calm hand gently caught her ebony sheen and brought it to the nape of her neck. Elphaba was promptly sick into the toilet.

Coughing and spitting, Elphaba stayed with her head lowered, "Tha-"

Galinda cut her off, caressing her neck and soothingly murmuring, "Shhhh, it's ok, it's ok."

After several minutes of Elphaba remaining in the same position, unsure whether or not it was completely safe to move, and Galinda's fingers fluttering across Elphaba's back reassuringly, she lifted her head slightly. The butterflies created by the fingers on her neck were not helping Elphaba's stomach.

With a sniff, Elphaba said in a relatively composed voice, "You don't have to do this, Galinda."

With a sleepy smile at the back of her roommate's dark head, she stifled a yawn, "I don't have to, but I will."

Already anticipating Elphaba's question, Galinda spoke in a tired tone, beginning to play with the glossy hair and her fingers brushing the nape of her neck again, sending a warm shiver shooting down Elphaba's spine, "It's what friends do Elphie, try to keep up."

Elphaba huffed, whether it was at the abbreviation of her name, Galinda's patronising comment or the oddly pleasurable shiver, she wasn't sure, perhaps it was a combination of the three. Though the way Galinda had said both hadn't been insulting, it had almost been affectionate. How strange.

Still twiddling the glossy hair around her fingers, Galinda asked nonchalantly, "Can I ask you something, Elphie? What do you dream about?"

Elphaba sighed and leant her forehead against the cool rim of the bathtub. She waited so long before answering that Galinda thought she wasn't going to speak, "Lots of things. Things that sometimes I think are impossible... maybe they are. Everything is so unsure." Taking a deep breath, "But until I try I'll never know."

Galinda had released Elphaba's hair and sat near to her, leaning her back against the bathtub. She was fresh faced for once, not a smudge of make-up on her, her complexion so amazingly smooth that it was a surprise she even bothered with the stuff, and she was smiling radiantly at Elphaba, "That's- That's not exactly what I meant. But Elphaba, you will change the world one day, even I know that."

The green girl flushed an even deeper shade of green, but she raised her head and looked Galinda directly in the eye, "I wish that were true." Inclining her head slightly she raised a dark eyebrow, recalling the other's question, she asked, "What exactly did you mean, Galinda?"

Cocking her blond head to the side, Galinda asked earnestly, "The dreams you've been having, what are they about?"

With a confused frown, Elphaba replied slowly, "Galinda, I know I struggle to understand you at the best of times, but I honestly don't understand what you mean. What dreams?"

With an aggravated exclamation Galinda sat up, "The dreams you have, Elphaba. Every night. For Oz's sake! I find you tossing and turning; mumbling... things. You must know what I'm talking about?"

"But I've not had a dream in a couple of weeks at least... and I can't even remember that."

"Ha. Your ramblings would suggest otherwise."

After a moment Elphaba smirked, "So, I talk in my sleep?"

Leaning her head back against the bath, "Oz yes. It's a wonder I ever get a good night sleep."

Elphaba raised an eyebrow, "Galinda, you liar, you're the deepest sleeper I know."

Galinda giggled playfully, "You've only tried to wake me up once, and that time I was already awake; I just didn't want to get up."

Elphaba looked amused, "I still need to exact my revenge for that trick you played."

Chewing on her lip Galinda grinned, "Game on!"

Elphaba couldn't concentrate. Though her head had refrained from making the room spin approximately two hours ago, her mind couldn't keep itself from wandering. Wandering back to the night before; although some things were fuzzy there was something which she did remember rather clearly. The closet.

She had been so close. It had been... intoxicating... the smell of her hair was luxuriously sweet and fruity. Like a magnet tugging her forwards, she wanted to dive and bury her face in the blonde curls. Which was completely absurd of course; alcohol must have that effect on her. And then there was the early hours of this morning, feeling the gentle tug of Galinda's fingers running through her hair; she was becoming increasingly confused with the feelings that Galinda's touch elicited.

And what of the dreams? She could barely remember what the dream she had experienced a few weeks ago was about; running away from someone, perhaps? No. There was more to it than that, if only she could remember! It was infuriating! Did Galinda know something? Argh! What did it matter, they were only dreams! They meant nothing.

Elphaba huffed and looked around the room surreptitiously, making sure that no one had noticed her apparent lack of interest in the lesson. Pay attention. She scolded herself, fixing her gaze on the elderly professor positioned at the front of the room, eyes hooded and unfocused, who was droning on about.. Oz! What was he talking about? That was a question for the ages. Even the WOO wouldn't be able to answer that one.

Elphaba's eyes began to stray across the room once more, eventually landing on a certain girl's golden head. To the green girl's surprise the beauty queen seemed to actually be paying attention. What was happening to the world? A little crease had settled between Galinda's delicate brow and she was chewing on her lip in contemplation. Elphaba couldn't help but watch. Her bottom lip pulled into her mouth, her little teeth capturing it and slowly letting it slide free. She had no idea she was doing it, and she had no idea the effect it was having on her roommate at the other end of the room. Elphaba bit her own lip and was about to focus her attention elsewhere when suddenly Galinda's eyes shot up to meet her own. It was like she knew that Elphaba was watching her, Elphaba gulped, sincerely hoping that that wasn't the case.

Galinda grinned at her and motioned her head to the vacant seat next to her. There was a vacant seat next to Galinda Upland? This had to be the strangest phenomenon since ... well, since the birth of a green baby. Elphaba glanced at the professor, she knew Galinda wanted her to move and sit next to her but... the lecture had begun half an hour ago, moving seats would not only disrupt the class but also .. also.. well, it just wasn't allowed.

Galinda giggled quietly to herself as Elphaba shook her head resolutely. Galinda knew that Elphaba saw this as the other trying to break her, like a horse, though she knew for a fact that Elphaba was as stubborn as a Mule. She wouldn't do something unless she wanted to; like the drinking thing –she had wanted to deep down. Elphaba's fun side was oppressed by her heavily dutiful side.

So, Galinda had started to consider herself to be a liberator. Specifically; Elphaba's liberator. It was a tough job but somebody had to do it. Galinda gave her most roguish grin, placing a haughty hand on her hip and looking between Elphaba and the Elphabaless seat next to her. She was challenging her, daring her; something she knew Elphaba would never back down from.

It took only mere seconds for Elphaba to respond with a defiant scowl and to surreptitiously gather her books into a neat pile before picking them up and holding them to her chest. Her gaze was locked on the tutor the entire time. It was hilarious. Just watching her attempt to make it over was fascinating; the curious and sometimes frightened glances people gave her and the scowl of a Fury they received in return, the foot which was intentioned to trip her was stomped on and the complete lack of elegance as she endeavoured to creep over. All this and the tutor hadn't even glanced in their direction.

Covering her mouth, Galinda released a little squeak as the emerald girl lunged for the seat as though her life depended on it, the sheer look of determination was indescribable.

With a triumphant smirk Elphaba hissed, "There, I did it."

Galinda was still laughing silently.

"I don't know what you find so funny."

Elphaba's brows rose as Galinda continued to hold her stomach and all but cackle back at her. In a low voice Elphaba intoned, "You're a bad influence, Galinda Upland."

Breathlessly she replied, "Yes.. But I'm a good bad influence."

Elphaba just rolled her eyes and began taking notes.

I hope you liked it I had a little writer's block so I apologise if you think this chapter went nowhere but I'll try and pick it up for the next one.
R&R Awesome-super-gorgeous-pretty please :D