My buddy "Denpa Wave Chick Saki" co-wrote this with me. Enjoy!

Elphaba paced the room angrily, ignoring the newly acquired burns on her arms and hands. Galinda had been gone for far too long and the rain hadn't let up at all, so the green woman was stuck waiting for the blonde to return. And when she did, Elphaba would have more than a few things to say to her.

Fiyero and Galinda ran into Crage Hall, soaking wet from the rain. Galinda had ended up taking off her heels and using Elphaba's cloak, though it was raining so hard the cloak was practically useless. The two of them made their way up to the second floor towards her room. Galinda looked down at their intertwined fingers with a smile. "Thank you so much for everything, Master Fiyero. I had a most delightful time." They had arrived outside her room. She leaned back against the door, her hand reaching behind her to rest on the door handle as she smiled up at him.

Fiyero leaned against the doorframe beside her, moving closer to give her another slow kiss. "You can call me Fiyero..." he kissed her again with a smile. "I think we've reached that point, Galinda..."

Galinda gave a giggle and kissed him back. "Alright...Fiyero." She laid her other hand on the side of his face, blushing. "You are so perfect..."

Elphaba looked up at the sound of voices and stormed towards the front door, which she yanked open. "Where the hell have you been?" She grabbed Galinda's arm, pulling her into the room. She glared at Fiyero. "Good night, Master Fiyero." She slammed the door in his stunned face before turning to Galinda, arms crossed. "Do you have any idea what you've put me through? Do you even care?"

Galinda shoved past her to open the door again, smiling sweetly at Fiyero. "Please excuse her. I'll see you tomorrow, dearest." She gave him one last, quick kiss before politely shutting the door. Galinda whipped around to glare at Elphaba. "What the hell do you think you're doing? You're my bodyguard! Not my babysitter!"

"And because of you, I wasn't able to perform my duties as such! What if something had happened to you? That self-centered jackass wouldn't have protected you! And you took my cloak and left me stranded! I could have died, Galinda. Is that what you want? Is it? 'Cause I'll jump out the fucking window right now if that's really what you want!"

"NO!" Her anger turned to fear and, before she knew it, she took a few steps towards Elphaba, reaching out to her. She suddenly stopped herself, quickly turning away from her. "I mean...I may not like you, but...that doesn't mean I want you to die." She pulled off Elphaba's cloak and headed for the bathroom, hanging it up to dry.

Elphaba was slightly confused at the blonde's sudden outburst, but she followed her. "Then why did you do that? Galinda...I realize you may hate me, but...I'm only trying to keep you safe. I don't...I don't want anything to happen to you."

Galinda gripped the towel rack, not turning to look at her. She mumbled something under her breath. "You are not making this easy."

"Look, either accept my services for what they are, or dismiss me and hire someone else. But I'll tell you now, no one else would be half as willing to give their life for you as I am, so good luck finding anyone else who gives a fuck!" She turned to leave, heading into the bedroom and beginning to pack up her suitcase, if only to keep her hands busy. She was afraid if she left them idle, she would end up punching the wall, or worse, Galinda.

Galinda peeled off her wet dress, hanging it over the rack to dry as well. She dried herself off with a towel and left the bathroom, glancing at Elphaba with a solemn look before moving to her vanity to brush her wet hair. Her voice sounded stronger than she felt. "Why are you packing your things? I don't recall saying that I was firing you..."

Elphaba paused. "It's obvious you no longer want or feel you need me around. I figure it will be easiest if I take Nessa and just get out of your life. I'll find a way to make a life for us...but I can't fight with you anymore. I can't...live knowing that I make your life so miserable." She paused again. "Perhaps I'll just go...there's no need to drag Nessa down with me."

Galinda stopped brushing her hair and looked down. "You don't make my life miserable. There's just...something about you...it brings out the worst in me...and I am sorry for that. Things...things are just easier this way. We shouldn't try to change them, alright?" She took a deep breath and started brushing her hair again.

Elphaba looked up at the blonde, slightly confused. "Wha- what does that mean?" She approached Galinda. "Galinda...I don't understand. You hate me...but you're sorry? Look, either you want me around or not, but decide."

Galinda stepped away from her, shaking her head to snap herself out of it as she went to her closet. "It's nothing. I'm not making any sense right now. Just...forget everything I just said."

"No. I won't forget it." Elphaba grabbed her arms and turned her so that she was looking into her eyes. "Galinda...I've known you all your life, and I can see past your pretense. I know that deep down, there is...something. Why are you so reluctant to show it? Why do you force yourself to be miserable? Why can't you just behappy?"

"I am happy. Why can't you just leave it alone? I'm fine. Everything is fine just the way it is. Nothing needs to change!" She pulled away from Elphaba's grasp, quickly pulling her nightgown over her head before pushing past her and moving towards her bed.

"You need to change because this is killing you! I cannot stand by and watch as you bring about your own destruction!"

Elphaba stopped, realizing what she was saying. She looked down. "I…I'll make sure your dress dries properly."

The blonde didn't look back at Elphaba as she crawled under the covers of her bed. She laid her head on her pillow, looking straight ahead. "Glad to see you finally remember your proper place."

"When will you realize yours?"

"I know my place. It's being in charge of you. Yet you seem to not know yours. You will cease trying to act like a friend from now on, am I understood? You and I are not friends, nor will we ever be. It is simply impossible..."

"I am the closest thing to a friend you will ever have." And with that, Elphaba slipped into the bathroom, locking the door silently behind her.

"I know that..." She whispered as a tear slid down her cheek. She lay there in her bed, too many thoughts flying through her mind to fall asleep.

The rest of the week passed without incident, and the two went back to the way they had been before. When Sunday morning rolled around, Elphaba was up earlier than usual and dressed as silently as she could to void waking the blonde.

Galinda woke to the sound of shuffling. She turned over to look at Elphaba through one eye that was cracked open. She mumbled. "What're you doing? I was sleeping…"

"I apologize for waking you. Go back to sleep." Elphaba laced up her boots and tucked a small book under her arm before she headed for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"It doesn't matter. I'll be back before your day starts."

Galinda mumbled some more as she rolled back over, quickly falling asleep again. Elphaba's hand grasped the door handle, but she stopped with a sigh. She didn't feel...right, leaving without Galinda knowing where she was headed. She went back to the bed and nudged the blonde slightly. "I'm going to chapel. Perhaps you'd care to attend, seeing as your father isn't here to...well..."

Galinda sleepily slapped her hand away, mumbling. "If it means I have to get up now, then I'm not going..."

"Alright..." Elphaba turned and left the room, closing the door silently behind her. The blonde returned to her blissful sleep seconds later.

Upon arriving at the chapel, Elphaba lit a few prayer candles before she kneeled, staring at the flame and soon becoming lost in her own thoughts as her surroundings and grasp of time slipped away.

Galinda was woken by a knock at the door. She ignored it at first, expecting Elphaba to get it. When the knock sounded again and nobody answered, she sat up in her bed, looking around the room. She grumbled as she climbed out, pulling on a robe and moving to answer the door, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

The messenger at the door noticed her sleepwear and gave a deep bow, obviously flustered. "I…I'm sorry, your highness. I didn't mean to wake you-"

The blonde cut him off with a polite smile. "Oh it's alright. You must have had a reason for coming here though."

"Oh- oh yes. I have a letter here for a Miss Thropp. I was told to deliver it to your room, Miss."

"Oh, I see. Well, she's out at the moment. But I'll take it and make sure she gets it when she returns."

"Splendid. You are the epitome of kindness, your Highness." The man held out the letter to her, giving another bow before heading off down the hallway.

Galinda gently closed the door behind her, heading back to the bedroom and examining the letter. She looked at the seal. "Nessa? Why in Oz would Nessarose send a letter to that vegetable and not to me?" Her fingers itched to rip open the letter and read it. She stopped herself and set it on her desk. No. It isn't mine. I really shouldn't... She sat at her vanity and brushed through her hair, looking over at the letter longingly. Seconds later she was standing over it again, literally holding back her own hand to resist picking it up.

"I see you survived without me." Elphaba closed the door behind her

Galinda snatched up the letter and shoved it into Elphaba's hands. "Here's your stupid letter." She stormed into her closet to grab some clothes before going into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. She wasn't even sure why Elphaba getting a letter from Nessa made her so utterly angry.

Elphaba looked down at the letter in her hands. "Nessa..." She tore the letter open, completely forgetting about Galinda as she began to read, not even bothering to move from where she was standing.

The blonde finished dressing and stood over the sink, slamming her fist down in frustration. She immediately jumped back, her other hand flying up to cover her mouth and hold back the cry of pain. She held her hand, giving out a silent scream of pain before looking at it in shock. Ozdamn, that's going to leave a bruise... she thought. She quickly gathered her things and left the bathroom, sitting at her vanity with huff.

Elphaba looked up, her eyes focusing on Galinda. She approached the blonde and took her injured hand gently. "You hurt yourself...why? Nessa only sent me a letter because I sent her one first. It isn't that she loves me more than you."

Galinda pulled her hand away. "I didn't do it on purpose, jeez. Apparently all I am is stupid to you." She roughly pulled her hair back into a tight ponytail, adding some pins with a slight wince.

"Hey." Elphaba pushed her hands aside, taking over the job of fixing her hair. "I never said stupid. Reckless, stubborn, a little conceited...but not stupid."

Galinda slapped her hands away, taking a deep breath before quickly getting up and moving into her closet. She came out wearing a pair of slippers and carrying a bag. She set the bag on her bed and moved to open a drawer, retrieving her pointe shoes, medical tape, and moleskin. Galinda placed them in the bag before swinging it over her shoulder and heading for the door. "I'm going to the studio."

"Thank you for enlightening me. Now I know where we're going." Elphaba grabbed her cloak and threw it around her shoulders before she followed the blonde. "Lead the way, Miss Galinda."

The blonde growled under her breath, giving a rub to her bruised hand, the pain a reminder not to punch anything again. She stormed out of the room and down to the studio, grumbling under her breath. "If I don't dance now I'm gonna hurt her..."

"How would that be different than any other time?" Elphaba asked as they walked. "Yes, Miss Galinda, I can hear quite well. You've never shown restraint over hitting me before. Why the sudden change? A change of heart? Have you finally learned to appreciate me?"

Galinda whipped around, getting close to her face. "What? Do you wantme to hit you?"

"Do you want to hit me? Would it make you feel better? If so, by all means, go ahead." Elphaba spread her arms slightly, giving Galinda a clear shot.

"Oz, you're so damn frustrating!" She threw her arms up and stalked away again.

Elphaba followed, her dark eyes boring into the back of Galinda's head. "If you're so angry and frustrated, why don't you vent it on someone who won't retaliate or that you have to worry about losing to? Surely it isn't healthy to hold that all in inside."

"Why the hell do you think I'm so bent on dancing right now?" She glanced back at Elphaba. "Stop giving me that look!"

"What look? This is the face I was born with. I'm sorry if it disturbs you. And I am merely being of service."

"No. You're trying to figure something out that isn't there."

"You keep telling yourself that and maybe eventually, you'll believe it. Stop lying. If not to me, then at least to yourself."

"I'm not lying!"

"Your ears are turning red."

"I don't care!"

"Why do you hate me so much?"

"I will not talk about this with you again. I already said more than I should have last night." Galinda burst through the door of the empty studio. She sat on the floor, pulling out the medical tape and moleskin, and started wrapping up her feet.

Elphaba leaned against the wall, watching her. "Is it so wrong to open up your feelings every once and a while? And besides that, you didn't answer my question," she pointed out. "Is it the green that puts you off? My sarcasm?"

"As I said before: we are not friends." She pulled out her pointe shoes and slid them on, tying up the ribbons. "And I do not bare my soul to anyone who isn't my friend. Especially you."

"Is it the fact that I work for you? That I'm clearly more intelligent? Or is it that Nessa is my real sister and is in no way related to you at all? Miss Galinda, forgive me, but it sounds as though you may even be...jealous of me."

Galinda's teeth clenched in anger. "Why the hell would I be jealous of a string bean like you?"

"You tell me. It is rather unbelievable."

"Now, you listen to me. I have never been, am not, and never will be jealous of you. I am the one with the obviously superior life. You're a doomed failure who will never be anything more than my bitch." She stood and grasped onto the barre, beginning her stretches.

Elphaba's hands formed tight fists and she resisted the urge to grab the blonde by her throat again. Instead she turned her attention to the piano in the corner, which she approached and sat down at. She pounded out a few angry, off-note keys before she started playing a rather quick, angsty tune, if only to get her anger out and avoid breaking something, namely Galinda.

Galinda glared at Elphaba over her shoulder as she started doing a few frappѐs. "Since when do you play the piano?"

"I learned by ear when I was four. What else was I to do with my time?" Elphaba sighed and paused before she started playing a softer tune, filled with more heartache than bitterness.

Galinda ignored her comment and finished with her warm-ups, moving to the center of the floor. She somehow found herself entranced by the music and began swaying and then dancing to it. After a little while, at a particularly sad part of the song, Galinda snapped out of her trance and stumbled, mid-pirouette. She glared up at Elphaba. "Oz! If you simply must play that thing, then play something not so depressing, for Lurline's sake!"

Elphaba hit a foul note and stopped, looking up at Galinda. "You just can't help yourself, can you?" She looked back down and began playing a different tune, one that wasn't so depressing, but was more formal, such as one would hear at a dinner party. Elphaba suddenly stopped, and there was silence.

The blonde had just started to dance again when the music stopped. She turned back to Elphaba with an exasperated look. "What now?"

Elphaba fixed her cold gaze on Galinda before she started playing a somewhat ominous tune, surprising even herself when she started to sing. "Like a prima ballerina I will tiptoe, tiptoe around you constantly. I hear the water running, will it wash your tears or leak through the ceiling? Make my way up the spiral staircase, hope to God you had a good day. When you're you furious, when you start to freeze, when you can't be touched, I feel everything. And when you despair, when you cannot breathe, when you wouldn't dare, I feel everything. When you're in ecstasy, but you're not with me, I feel everything. On a tightrope, on a wire, I'll attempt to jump through your ring of fire. I'm waiting all the while for a glimpse of something to bring us higher. One little foot in front of the other, don't you know I'm afraid of thunder? When you can't be touched, when you can't be loved, when you fall apart, when you have no heart, I feel everything!"

Galinda stood staring at her with her arms crossed and tapping her foot, waiting for her to finish. "Are you done yet?"

Elphaba looked at her, her eyes narrowing. She struck a few more notes. "My mother's always trying to tell me how to be grateful, how to believe. My father's always trying to say 'baby you're beautiful in every way'. My lover's always got me in his arms, trying to protect me, keep me from harm. So why do I always have to be my worst, my own worst enemy?"

She stopped. "Sound familiar, Miss Galinda? It should. Describes you perfectly."

She turned away from the green woman and started dancing again. "Your voice sounds like crap. Never sing in front of me again. You should just stick to your amateur piano playing..."

Elphaba smiled slightly before she started playing a slower, sadder tune. "A crack in the smile but she's always in style while she waits... waving goodbye, but she's too tired to cry and she's wasted..." Elphaba stopped and stood, the bench scraping across the floor. "Music can hit us hard...it would appear even you aren't immune."

Galinda glared at her over her shoulder. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Elphaba remained silent as she leaned against the wall, her gaze on the floor.

"Don't you just ignore me!"

"Whatever you think it means..." Elphaba raised her head slowly to look at Galinda. "And I just thought that you should know that I've been holding on while you've been letting go. Can I be so bold, cause all this sucking up to you is getting old. I know I said I'm sorry, but that's not what I meant to say. Miss Galinda...for once in your life...try using that brain of yours."

Galinda walked over to her and slapped Elphaba hard across the face. "You need to learn your place, you vegetable!"

Elphaba inhaled sharply at the blow and she turned her head back to look at Galinda. "Your restraint could only last so long, I see."

She swung again, backhanding the green woman. "Perhaps if you wouldn't overstep your boundaries, I wouldn't need to beat you."

Elphaba stumbled slightly, but quickly regained herself, turning to face Galinda again, her bottom lip bleeding. "Go ahead. Let it out. It doesn't hurt; I can take it."

Galinda's hand raised to strike her again, but she froze mid-swing. She shook her head and turned away, her hand falling to her side. "No. Get out." She pointed towards the door.

"I'm not leaving you alone like this. Go on. Hit me. I dare you! At least this way you let something out instead of letting it destroy you!"

"Get the hell out, vegetable. I order you!"

"NO! Not until you let something out, damnit!"

Something in Galinda snapped. Her mind was a blur as she felt herself turning and tackling Elphaba to the ground. Her hands found the green woman's neck and squeezed hard.

Elphaba gasped for air that wasn't there as she grabbed Galinda's wrists, trying to pry the blonde loose. Her eyes found Galinda's and she stared deep into them, her struggling weakened of her own free will. "Feel...better?"

"You bitch." Galinda growled at her as she managed to squeeze her neck tighter still.

Elphaba just stared at the blonde, grinning slightly. Her grip on Galinda loosened. "Doesn't...hurt..."

The blonde felt her weakening and her eyes met with Elphaba's, looking deep into their brown depths. She felt the tears starting to stream down her cheeks and she gasped, suddenly releasing her neck. She shoved off of Elphaba, backing away from her. Galinda's head shook as her hand came up to cover her mouth. She tore off her pointe shoes and sprinted from the room.

Elphaba coughed as she sat up, staggering to her feet and trying to clear her head. "Ga...Galinda!" She started off after the blonde, not able to run as fast as usual, seeing as she was still trying to regain her senses. "Galinda...wait!" She stumbled and fell to her knees, but the green woman took a deep breath before she forced herself back up. "Galinda!"

"Stay away from me!" Galinda ran all the way back to her suite, locking herself into the bathroom. Her hand flew to her mouth when the familiar feeling of nausea hit her. She collapsed to her knees on the bathroom floor and managed to make it to the toilet before she vomited.

Elphaba made it to their suite just in time to hear Galinda surrendering the contents of her stomach. She approached the door and knocked softly. "Galinda, please...it was an accident. I provoked you...I'm sorry. Is...is there anything I can do for you? Anything you'd like me to get?"

"No," she croaked. She managed to sit up a little. "Just...go away."

"I can't...not until I know you're okay."

"Just leave me alone! You've helped enough as it is..."

"Galinda, please don't make me break down the door...I will."

The nausea finally passed over, and Galinda curled up against the wall by the sink, covering her teary face in her hands. "Please...leave me be..."

Elphaba wanted to, but she couldn't. The blonde was liable to do anything, and Elphaba couldn't risk Galinda's safety. So, as much as she hated to do it, Elphaba backed up a step and delivered one solid kick to the door, forcing it open. She approached the blonde, looking down at her. "Galinda..."

She didn't look up. "Go away..."

"I Can't. Not until I know you're safe. At least sob on your bed."

Galinda glared up at her defiantly before she stood up and pushed her out of the bathroom. "No! Haven't you done enough already? What the hell am I gonna do in the bathroom? Cut my wrists with a razor blade? I'm not that stupid, Miss Thropp! And I don't plan on killing myself because of you. Now, get out."

Elphaba grabbed the blonde and forced her to sit on the bed. "I don't know what you're liable to do, Miss Galinda, but I do know that it is my job to make sure you're safe, so forgive me if I am a little intrusive. What happened in the studio was not your fault. I saw the fear in your eyes..."

Galinda stood again, moving around her to retrieve her toothbrush from the bathroom. "Oh, really? Because I recall being the one with my hands around your throat!" She started scrubbing furiously at her teeth, trying to get the vomit taste out of her mouth.

"You weren't scared because I might have died. You were scared of what you were doing; you were afraid of what you have become. You could have been a murderer...how did it feel, Galinda? To hold someone's life in your hands?"

"Just drop it, already!"

"To have the power to decide whether they lived...or died...you liked it, didn't you? And that's what scares you."

"SHUT UP!"

"The only part of your life you could ever control...was me. How did itfeel?"

"I'm sick of this! Stop trying to analyze me!"

Elphaba approached the blonde and grabbed her wrists, bringing them up to wrap Galinda's hands around her own green neck. "Look at yourself in that mirror, Miss Galinda. What do you see? Beat me if you must...but watch yourself while doing it...and tell me what you see."

"Let me go." Galinda struggled to pull herself from Elphaba's grasp. "Let me go!" She yanked herself free, backing away from her. "Don't touch me!"

Elphaba watched her, eyes narrowing. "It must hurt...not being able to even look at yourself." Elphaba turned and started for the bedroom.

The blonde waited until she had left the bathroom before she collapsed to the floor, shoulders shaking with sobs.

Elphaba could hear Galinda behind her, but she knew the blonde would accept no comforting from her, so she sat down on her bed and picked up a book, beginning to read.

Galinda stayed in that same spot on the bathroom floor for the better part of an hour, until she had finally calmed herself out of her hysteria. She picked up her discarded toothbrush again and returned to brushing her teeth. Her eyes never wandered up to look at herself in the mirror.

Elphaba appeared in the doorway. "Would you care for me to fetch you something from the dining hall to settle your stomach?"

Galinda shook her head. "I don't plan on eating anything for the rest of the day. That's how it always ends up anyway..."

"Starving yourself is not the best course of action, Miss Galinda."

"Well, that's how I've always done it. And I'm not gonna change it now."

"I really must protest. Why torture yourself? Your figure is petite enough."

"Eating and then throwing it back up is far more torturous. Besides, what are you gonna do? You can't force me to eat anything."

"I could, but I won't." Elphaba retreated to her bed again, reaching for a book, only to realize that she had read everything in the room. Not being a student, she couldn't go down to the library herself, and asking Galinda was out of the question. The green woman sighed in frustration.

Galinda left the bathroom, glancing over at Elphaba. "Stop sighing. Haven't you read that book already?" She sat at her vanity, letting loose her hair and relishing in the feeling of being freed from the tight ponytail. She started to brush through it, her eyes still managing to avoid her reflection in the mirror.

"I've read every book in this room already...even all your textbooks. But I'm not a student, so I can't exactly go down to the library." Elphaba noticed the aversion and felt a slight pang of guilt, but said nothing.

Galinda sighed as she brought her feet up onto the chair and peeled off the medical tape, throwing it away as she did. When she finished she went into the closet to change into a flowy dress. She came back out and moved towards the door, not even looking at Elphaba. "Come on, then."

Elphaba looked up and stood, approaching the blonde. "Where are we going now? Will my life be at risk again?"

"Not funny at all." She walked through the door. "I need to go pick up my things that I left at the studio. And then I'm taking you to the library."

Elphaba was taken aback by the second part of that. "Wha- You're actually...I don't...you never..."

Galinda turned around to face her, poking her hard in the chest. "Only if it means you will stop sighing so depressingly and you stop analyzing me."

Elphaba winced slightly at the harsh poke. "All right...sounds fair enough."

"Good." She turned around and continued walking to the studio.

Elphaba followed her, watching from the doorway as Galinda moved back inside the building.

Galinda gathered up her pointe shoes, slippers, and medical tape and placed them back in her bag, swinging it over her shoulder before she left the studio. She headed for the library.

Elphaba followed her, still unsure if this was really a gesture of good will or if Galinda had something else planned. "Why are you doing this...for me?"

"I already told you. I'm sick of you always being on my case about 'being happy' and such. It needs to stop, and if taking you to the library is the only way to stop it, then that's what I will do."

"I see. So this is all for your own selfish reasons then. I should have figured that."

Galinda ignored her comment and kept walking, her teeth grinding.

"And there's no guarantee it would stop for good. Just for the time being."

"Well you can only get so many books, Miss Elphaba." She gave her a sickly sweet smile. "So, if you would like to get any more after this, then you'll still need me to do it."

"I see where this is going...touché, Miss Galinda."

Songs used:

"I Feel everything" by Idina Menzel

"My Own Worst Enemy" by Idina Menzel

"Perfume and Promises" by Idina Menzel

"What I Meant to Say" by Daughtry