My buddy "Denpa Wave Chick Saki" co-wrote this with me. Enjoy!
"Miss Galinda, really: how do you expect to pass your finals next week if you don't start studying?"
"Oh, shush yourself, Miss Elphaba. There is no need to pester me about it. I know I need to...I just can't make myself actually do it..." The blonde let her head fall to her desk.
"Well, you must find a way. Do you, perhaps, need me to motivate you?"
"Somehow I highly doubt you would be able to do that."
"Are you sure about that?" Elphaba stood, leaning her crutches against the wall. "Would you really like to test that theory?"
Galinda gave a quiet moan. "Nnnnn, not really..."
"That's what I thought." Elphaba let out a wince as she hobbled over to sit on her cot. "If I were you, I would start sooner rather than later. Your boyfriend can't help you pass, you know, and bad grades will get you kicked out, heiress to the throne or not." The blonde looked down at the textbook in front of her. She opened it and picked up her pencil. A few minutes later, however, she was nearly yanking her own hair out in frustration. "You seem to be having some issues. Permit my assistance?"
"I got it..." Mere minutes later she was setting her pencil down and shaking her head with a deep sigh. "No...I don't got it...why does math have to be so confusifying?"
"Yes, I can tell you've 'got it' by the way you're ready to pull out your own hair." Elphaba stood up and hobbled to the desk. "Math isn't so hard...you just have to look at each part of the problem and figure out what it is in itself." Elphaba pointed to the first problem. "Do you see what I mean?"
"No, I don't. None of this makes any sense at all!"
Elphaba rubbed the back of her head. "All right...let's try this in a way you will understand..." She thought. "Let us say that these parenthesis are your closet, and the number outside is a lone shoe. Now you try to match the shoe with its partner by comparing it to the shoes inside, which are these numbers, and you add the results." Elphaba looked at the blonde.
Galinda looked at the page for a little bit. "I think...I kind of...get it. Um, thanks, I guess." She blushed a little.
"It really isn't so hard...the good thing about math is that it's definite. There is either right or wrong; no in-between." Elphaba pointed to the next problem. "Now, how are you with decimals?"
"I would say about as good as I am at whatever it is we just did."
Elphaba chuckled slightly. "Alright...well, decimals are no harder than adding normal numbers. First look at how many numbers are behind the dot. Then line everything up and add the numbers behind the dot first. Remember that your product always has to have the same amount of numbers behind the dot as—" Elphaba paused. "Miss Galinda, really, you're in college. This is algebra 1! You should have passed this in high school!"
"Are you kidding me? Give me any subject, almost, and I'll be better than I am at math."
Elphaba sighed. "Miss Galinda...fine. Let us move onto history then." The green woman pulled out the textbook and dropped it on top of the math book. "Oz was once a land where what two races lived in harmony?" The blonde remained silent. "Take a guess."
Galinda shook her head. "I dunno...Animals and humans maybe?"
"Yes! Very good!" Elphaba jumped in excitement, her glasses almost falling off her face. She pushed them back up her nose. "See, you do know! Now which regime brought the land into this harmony?"
"Uhhhhh...that question...not so much..."
"Come on, guess! Just like before; trust your instinct."
"I don't know the answer, alright?"
"I'm sure you do. Please, Miss Galinda: just try."
"Ozma?"
"Yes! Yes! See you are thinking!" Elphaba jumped up again, trembling slightly. "Oh, Miss Galinda, I knew you could use that brain of yours!"
"Miss Elphaba, please calm yourself down. This isn't that big of a deal."
"It should be! Miss Galinda, don't you realize what this means? You are different! You aren't the shallow girl you always pretend to be; you have proven that once before and now again! You're changing!"
"I thought we had already figured that out about a week ago."
"Yes, yes of course, but..." Elphaba took a deep breath leaned against the wall, hardly noticing the throbbing in her left leg. "I'm sorry. I suppose...I had never expected this from you...and yet, here you are."
"Well, I can also safely say that I never expected to be talking so freely with you of all people, much less getting academic help from you." She gave a small smile and blush.
"O-oh...well I...umm..." For once, Elphaba was speechless. Her face darkened as she rubbed the back of her head again.
"So, um, how is your leg feeling? Need anything?"
The green woman shook her head. "I...I'm fine." She straightened up. "It's getting late. I'll fetch you some dinner from the dining hall before they close and give you some quiet time to study."
"No...I'll go with you...if that's alright with you. I'd like to stretch my legs anyway. Knee's getting a little stiff, you know?" She gave her a sympathetic smile, knowing that the woman's leg was hurting her more than she let on.
"You really don't have to," Elphaba said, placing her crutches under her arms. "I am perfectly capable of retrieving food...you stay and relax."
The blonde looked at her incredulously, but with a small twinkle in her eye. "You have known me for how long now? You should know that if I want to go, I am going to go no matter what." She stood and picked up her purse, opening the door and holding it for her.
Elphaba shrugged. "If that's what you want." She started out of the room, her crutches clicking on the floor. "Just saying you don't have to..."
Galinda rolled her eyes and followed behind her. "Sorry if you really didn't want me to come. I just really need to walk this stiffness out of my knee...especially since I have to study now apparently." She gave her a smile.
Elphaba looked down, her face darkening just slightly. "It isn't that I don't want you to come...I'm just saying you needn't feel obligated...and it's your choice to study...I was merely trying to be of assistance..."
She sighed. "No, it's fine. You were right anyway. Nobody is going to want a ruler who can't even graduate from university. As much as I may hate it, I have to."
Elphaba didn't reply as she kept walking, err...hobbling along. The two reached the dining hall and the green woman looked at the blonde. "So...what are you hungry for?" The smell of fish wafted from the hall, causing Elphaba to turn pale green, but she swallowed her nausea and focused on the detail of Galinda's hair in an attempt to distract herself.
Galinda picked up two boxes as she walked in. "I think I'll just take a look around to see what they have." She immediately went over to the produce area and picked up a small bushel of grapes, setting them in her box. "What would you li-" She turned to look at Elphaba, immediately noticing the pale green of her face. "Are you alright?"
Elphaba nodded. "Y-yes...I'm fine. Uh...is that all you need?"
"Uh, no. I was going to ask what you wanted to eat."
Food...the very thought of it made the green woman even more nauseous. She shook her head. "N-not hungry..."
The blonde blinked. "A-alright then. I'll just finish quickly then." She moved around the room, gathering the other foods she wanted, before making her way back to Elphaba. "Are you sure you don't want anything?"
Elphaba shook her head again. "N-no...please..."
"Ok then. If you're sure..." She headed for the door. Elphaba hobbled after, taking a deep breath of fresh air once they emerged. "So what happened in there? You didn't look so good."
"Eh...I can't stand the smell of fish...it makes me sick."
"Really? Hmmmmm...odd..." The blonde simply looked ahead thoughtfully.
Elphaba raised an eyebrow. "And what is that supposed to mean? Trying to find some way to turn that around on me?" The green woman started for Crage Hall, her old irritability rearing its ugly head again.
Galinda stopped midpath, staring after her in shock. "What the-" She rushed after her, catching her by the shoulder. "What in Oz's name is that supposed to mean?"
Elphaba let out a yelp at the sudden grab, her shoulder throbbing. "OZ GALINDA!"
The blonde gasped loudly, snatching her hand away and clasping it over her mouth. "Oh, Oz! I am so sorry! Are you ok? Is there anything I can do?"
Elphaba winced, rolling her shoulder. "It's fine...you just surprised me...and what I meant earlier was that I just didn't understand why you seemed so pensive about what I said about the fish making me ill."
"I wasn't thinking about it to use it against you or anything, if that's what you were thinking. My mind just kind of started to wander on after that."
"I see..." Elphaba sighed. "I suppose old habits die hard. I never liked talking about myself. It makes me feel too vulnerable...like right now." The green woman immediately stopped talking and continued for Crage Hall. The blonde bowed her head and continued walking behind her, rushing ahead only to open the doors for her. "You needn't subject yourself to such humility as opening doors for me," Elphaba said as she started up the stairs.
"It's not humility. It's just helping somebody."
"I realize that, but like I said: I only want your help to an extent. You needn't stoop down to such an extent."
The blonde gave a deep sigh. "Ozdamnit, Elphaba. Would you just let me help you already? It's my fault that you were hurt to begin with." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Besides, it's not like it's hard to open doors, anyway."
Elphaba paused before she sighed. "Fine...if it will appease you." She headed inside, making her way to their room. Galinda gave a nod of her head as the green woman finally conceded. She continued running ahead to open all of the doors for her, and fluffed up the pillows on her cot before she was able to sit down. Elphaba leaned her crutches against the wall as she sat with a grunt. "Damn..." she muttered. "Galinda...could you hand me the book from the desk?"
The blonde nodded her head and went to the desk, stopping when she got there. "Ummm...which one?" She looked over her shoulder, pointing down to the stack of books on the desk.
The green woman laughed, wincing slightly at the pain in her chest. "The one on the top. It should be a collection of poetry. You do have that class now, yes?"
She grabbed the book, walking over and handing it to Elphaba. "Have the class? Yes. Like the class? Not so much." After giving her the book, the blonde went to go sit on her bed with her sketchbook in hand.
"Poetry is art, and I'm going to make it easier for you. After I read you this poem, I want you to draw your interpretation of it."
Galinda looked up at her with a confused expression. "Uhhhhh...ok, I guess?"
Elphaba smiled slightly. "Just trust me, ok? There is a method to my madness." She looked down and opened the book, readjusting her glasses. "'Heaven'—is what I cannot reach! The Apple on the Tree— Provided it do hopeless—hang— That—'Heaven' is—to Me! The Color, on the Cruising Cloud— The interdicted Land— Behind the Hill—the House behind— There—Paradise—is found! Her teasing Purples—Afternoons— The credulous—decoy— Enamored—of the Conjuror— That spurned us—Yesterday!"
The blonde drew as Elphaba read the poem aloud. When she finished, she held up the picture. "Does this look like what you were expecting?"
Elphaba looked up. "My opinion doesn't matter here. You are drawing what this poem means to you. Now look at your drawing and use a few words to describe it...or just leave it at that. Either way you just completed part of the assignment." She smiled. "Congratulations, Miss Galinda."
Galinda looked even more confused. "Huh? But that's- what? That was part of the assignment?"
The green woman laughed. "The assignment was to interpret a poem, which you just did. I told you: poetry is art. You just needed to find the connection."
"Really?" The blonde sat there for a moment in shock before she let out a loud squeal, scrambling out of the bed and throwing her arms around the green woman. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"
Elphaba stiffened at the contact, too surprised to reply. Never in her life had she imagined Galinda would be hugging her. "Uhhhhh...nrgh..."
Galinda suddenly realized what she was doing and quickly stepped back, a bright blush on her cheeks. "I- um- I'm sor-...thanks."
Elphaba's own face was a dark green. "I...you...I am merely being of service. The point is to teach you how to think, right?" She smiled slightly.
"You weren't being 'of service,' Elphaba. You were just being nice and helping."
She shrugged. "Call it what you will." She set the book aside. "Is...is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Besides find a spell, that is easy enough for someone with my disastrous abilities, that will allow me to travel through time to skip finals?" She went over and collapsed on the bed with a sigh. "No. Not really."
"Miss Galinda, I know the final exams seem daunting, but with just a little effort, you'll be fine. And winter break is just around the corner. Need I incorporate more art tricks?"
"Oh, winter break...how I anxiously await your impending arrival..."
"Yes...for that brings the Lurlinemas ball..." Elphaba paused in thought. "Will Miss Sarima be there?" She surprised herself with the question.
The blonde was a little surprised at the question as well. "Hmmmmm...Well, I suppose she will be. She is the daughter of an important Ozian of society after all." Elphaba nodded, but didn't say anything else on the subject. She didn't even know why she was interested in the first place. "Why do you ask, Elphaba? Do you like her?"
Elphaba's face turned dark. "N-no! I was...I don't even know why I care." She looked away. "I don't care."
"Ooooo. It's not a good thing to lie, you know?" She grinned, rolling off of her bed and rushing over to hop onto the cot next to Elphaba. "So, you do like her. Oh, Elphie, that's so cute. You found a friend!" She paused in shock. "Unless...you like her as more than a friend? Wait! You like women?" She cocked her head to the side. "How does that even work, anyway?"
Elphaba blinked, her mouth slightly agape. She was shocked by the blonde's sudden change. "To answer your questions: I doubt we are friends; I don't think I like women, but wouldn't know for sure; and I suppose it works the same as any other relationship, but with more estrogen."
"Alrighty then. So maybe you don't like women. Do you want to be her friend?"
She paused. "I do not require 'friendship' as most do; I doubt I could make or keep a friend in the first place."
The blonde frowned. "Everybody needs a friend, Elphie. We need somebody we can rant to when things are going wrong, someone to hold us when we are sad, someone to laugh with us. I..." she shook her head before standing up with a stretch. "Nevermind."
"Miss Galinda, I realize your intentions are good, but really," she looked at her with slightly sad eyes, "who would ever be friends with me?" She heard the blonde mumble something under her breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't quite catch that."
"I said that I would."
Elphaba stared, her brain trying to process what the blonde had just said. "I...Galinda...Oh, what trick are you trying to play now?"
"It's not...a trick." She sighed, sitting back down on her own bed and playing with her fingers on her lap. "I am being quite serious, Elphaba."
The green woman shook her head. "But, I don't...understand. All this time...you hated me. How could you want to be friends after all I said? After what I did?"
"Well...after I figured out that I don't hate you, I kinda...well, I realized that you're actually a pretty nice person, and I...I rather like you."
Elphaba's eyes widened. "You...you..." She looked down. "Galinda...I don't...I never..." She looked back up at her. "I like you...too..."
The blonde's eyes widened in shock. "R-really? I thought you...i thought you hated me for everything I did to you."
Elphaba sighed. "Perhaps I...hated what you did to me, but I never hated you. I know why you did it...and I'm sorry that we never understood each other before."
Galinda gave a sniffle. "So will you...will you let me be your friend?"
She nodded slowly. "I will try...but I will not allow you to risk everything you have for me."
The blonde was about to protest, but she nodded her head. "Alright. If that's what you want."
"Galinda, please try to understand. I care too much for you to watch you lose everything."
She blushed. "You...you care for me?"
Elphaba blushed as well. "Not in a romantic sense! I just...well...yes."
"Oh, Elphie!" The blonde threw her arms around Elphaba's shoulders.
Elphaba stiffened again, but hesitantly put an arm around the blonde. "I...I'm glad that pleases you..."
"Thank you..."
He brow furrowed in slight confusion. "For what? I don't know what I did."
"You forgave me."
Elphaba looked down. "You finally apologized...you are stronger that you think..."
The blonde blushed again. "It is not strength. It's just realizing my mistakes."
"But you admitted to them, and that takes strength."
"It wouldn't have made a difference if you hadn't forgiven me though. And, for that, I thank you."
Elphaba scratched the back of her head. "Well I...no sense in holding a grudge I suppose?"
"Well, thank you anyway. I know it can't have been easy for you."
The green woman shrugged. "That was the easy part. The hard part now will be continuing on from here."
The blonde sighed. "I suppose you're right..."
"But I...I mean...I'm willing to try...no use in being held back by fear." Elphaba offered her a smile.
"Soooooo..." she held her hand out to Elphaba with a smile. "Friends?"
Elphaba took the blonde's hand hesitantly. "Friends...come what may...and hell to pay."
"Put your pens down. The test is now over," the teacher called out to the class. "Place your exams on my desk and you are free to go."
The blonde got up with a sigh, putting her pen away and setting her test on the desk. She left the classroom, rubbing her head as she went to meet up with Elphaba right outside. Elphaba looked up. "Well? How was it?" she asked as she placed her crutches under her arms.
"Meh." She shook her head. "I ran out of time. I barely finished the last question and had absolutely no time to go back and check my answers. I probably missed at least half of them." She pulled her sketchbook out of her bag. "All that's left now is to go drop this off with Miss Riviera, and I am free for winter break."
Elphaba started walking beside the blonde. "I'm sure it wasn't that bad. You did well when I gave you the practice test. Have a little faith in that brain of yours," she said with a smile. "Like that same confidence you have in your art."
"But art is so much easier. It is an expression of your own feelings. There aren't any rules. Nobody can tell you it isn't right, because it is your own work. Math is not like that at all. It is all rules and right and wrong. I do not like it at all."
Elphaba laughed. "I suppose that is a good point...well, I have confidence in you, Miss Galinda."
"Alright. Believe in what you will. Now let's hurry up. I want to drop off my portfolio so we can go home."
"I'm moving as fast as I can." They soon reached the art building, and Elphaba moved to open the door for the blonde.
Galinda rushed ahead, grabbing the door before the green woman could. "Nuh uh uh! I can get the door for myself thank you very much." She pulled the door open, holding it for Elphaba with a grin.
Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Well look at you, little miss independent. Does this mean you don't need me to accompany you to the bathroom anymore?"
The blonde stuck her bottom lip out in a pout. "Don't be a meanie, Elphie."
"I apologize." She entered the building, leading the way to the professor's office. "I don't try to be mean."
"Suuuuuureeee. Or maybe that is just what you want me to think..." she tried to keep a straight face, but a smile managed to slip out.
"I like to keep you on your toes," the green woman replied with a similar smile. "Now, turn that in so we can go."
"Alrighty then. I will be right back." She stepped into Miss Riviera's office, coming back out a few minutes later with a high squeal of joy. "I'M FREE!"
Elphaba jumped at the sudden noise, her crutches clattering to the floor. "Oz, Galinda!"
"Oh!" The blonde quickly swooped down to pick up her crutches, handing them back over to the green woman, a sheepish look on her face. "I'm sorry, Elphie. I'm just so excited! We get to go home now, and I have a month of being homework free." She grinned at her.
"I suppose that is nice...and what is it with this 'Elphie' business?" the green woman asked as she placed the crutches back under her arms and started from the building with the blonde.
Galinda blushed. "Ohhhh...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."
"Didn't mean to? You've been using it for a few days now. It's just...perky, I suppose."
"I didn't even realize I was saying it. I kind of came up with it when I was trying to avoid doing homework one day...I guess it kind of stuck..."
"Apparently so...just don't let anyone else hear you say it. They'll get the impression that we are, dare I say, friends."
"But..." The blonde stopped walking, looking at her with hurt eyes, "I thought we were...friends..."
Elphaba stopped at the tone. She turned to look at Galinda quickly. "N-no! We are friends! I just...I don't want your reputation to be...ruined."
"A-alrighty then..." She continued walking.
"Galinda, please..." Elphaba grabbed her arm. "You told me that your reputation meant everything to you. I grew up being teased; I know what it feels like. As your friend, I don't want the same thing to happen to you."
The blonde gave a reassuring smile, taking her hand in her own. "I understand, Elphaba. Now let's go home."
The green woman sighed. "As you wish...Miss Galinda."
Galinda was practically bouncing in her seat as the carriage pulled through the palace gates, clapping her hands in excitement. "Elphaba, we're finally here!"
Elphaba raised an eyebrow. "You seem exceedingly excited. I cannot recall seeing you like this before."
"Well I have never had to spend so long away from home doing so much homework." She stuck out her tongue to show her disgust, shaking her head.
The green woman rolled her eyes. "You are quite the dramatic one." She exited the carriage as it stopped, offering the blonde her hand.
Galinda took her hand, stepping down, but 'tsk'ing at the green woman in disapproval. "I should be the one helping you down, not the other way around, Elphaba."
"Miss Galinda, that is all well and good at Shiz, but one, we're back home, where I am expected to serve you, and two, the roads have frozen over, so your heels will slip easier than my boots, and I would hate to see you fall on that pretty bottom."
The blonde pulled her hand from Elphaba's, before strutting away from her towards the palace doors. "I can't believe you would think that I would fall. I don't think it's even possible for me to fall with my amazing gr-" She cut off when her heel slipped on a particularly slippery part of the path and she fell into a large pile of snow. She lay there, silently shaking as she covered her face.
"Galinda!" The green woman ran to her side, pulling her to her feet. She didn't know whether to laugh or not, so she decided to hold it back. "Are you all right? I was sure that 'amazing grace' would save you."
Galinda finally broke down into a fit of giggles, letting Elphaba pull her back to her feet. She brushed the snow off of herself. "I guess I spoke too soon, huh?"
"Apparently so." The green woman smiled slightly as she brushed some snow from the top of Galinda's head. Her face immediately grew dark. "We should head inside before you fall again..."
Galinda gave her a slightly confused look at the sudden change in her mood. "Ummm, alright then." She continued walking until she was inside the palace, stripping off her jacket once she was inside. "So why the sudden mood change?" She turned to Elphaba.
Elphaba took her jacket, moving to hang it up. "I...I don't know what you're talking about. I am the same as before."
"No, you are not. One second you were laughing with me, and the next, you were deadly serious about me getting inside. What is up with that, anyway?"
"Nothing is up. I just didn't want you to fall again, or catch a cold."
The blonde looked at her suspiciously. "Are you sure that's the only reason?"
Elphaba fumbled with the hanger, dropping both it and the jacket. Her hands shook slightly as she kneeled to pick them up. "That is all..."
Galinda picked up the coat and hanger before Elphaba could, hanging them up and then putting her hand on her shoulder. "Hey...you ok?"
The green woman nodded. "I..." She looked at the blonde. "What if he finds out?"
"What if who finds out about what?"
Elphaba opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She closed it, paused for a few moments, then said, "I'll go unload your luggage." She stood up and headed back outside.
"Oh no you don't." Galinda grabbed her by the arm before she could escape. "Tell me, Elphaba."
"What if your father finds out about this?" Elphaba said, turning on the blonde. "He would never approve! I am already in trouble for allowing you to be attacked! If he found out I was treating you in a...a familiar way..."
The blonde frowned. "Please don't think about him. I...I don't want you to be like everybody else is..."
"Afraid." The green woman nodded somberly. "Fear is a powerful weapon...but what would you have me do?"
"I just...I want you to not think or care about what he thinks so you will stay my friend. It may...it may sound ridiculous, coming from me of all people, but...well, I feel like...you are my first real friend..."
Elphaba looked down at the scuffed toe of her boot. "I...I feel the same...about you." She looked up. "I know that isn't saying very much...seeing as I've never had any friends to begin with."
Galinda took Elphaba's hand in her own with a smile. "Then I guess we are both newbies at this."
Elphaba turned dark green at the contact. "Y-yes...I suppose."
"What are you two doing?"
The green woman jerked her hand away. "M-Miss Nessarose! I didn't...hear you coming..."
The blonde whipped around towards the voice, a grin appearing on her face. "Nessa!" She ran forward, throwing her arms around the brunette in the wheelchair. "Oh, how good it is to be home."
Nessa embraced her sister back. "I am happy to see you again." In the exchange, Elphaba had managed to slip outside. The brunette looked at Galinda with a knowing smile as she crossed her arms. "Well?"
"'Well' what?"
"Well, what did I tell you? She was worth having as a friend, wasn't she?"
The blonde blushed. "How did you-"
"I was right, wasn't I? I saw the way you two were acting...and you were holding her hand."
"I...I...um..." She sighed. "Yes, you were right."
Nessa's grin grew. "And?"
"And what?"
"I was right AND...?"
"And what?"
Nessa sighed. "Nevermind, Galinda. Father had all the decorations brought out and we're getting ready to put them up."
The blonde's face instantly brightened. "Oh, really? I love decorating for Lurlinemas!"
"Well, everyone is doing the downstairs, and our trees are being brought up to our rooms, so perhaps we should start there. Though I can't exactly reach all of my tree...Maybe we should start with your room."
"Yay! Alrighty then, and don't worry, Nessa. I'll help you with your tree."
"Are we decorating already?" Elphaba asked as she reentered, Galinda's suitcase over one shoulder. Her other arm held one crutch tightly. Her gaze fell on the two talking and she looked down before heading for the stairs. "I didn't mean to interrupt..."
"Nonononononono. You're not going any further with that." The blonde rushed forward, snatching her suitcase from her.
"Please, I am fine. I can do it." Elphaba took the luggage back, giving the blonde a pointed look. "This is my job. You go decorate."
"Nuh uh!" She took the luggage back, heading up the stairs. "We are both going to the same place so I might as well carry this so you can keep up with us on your crutches."
"Galinda!" Elphaba chased after the blonde and tried to take it back, but was met with resistance. "Let...go!" Her cast caught the last step and she suddenly fell, taking the blonde down with her. She managed to switch their positions as they fell so that Galinda would fall on top of her in hopes of cushioning the blow.
"EEEEEEEKK!" The blonde squealed before she landed with a thud on top of Elphaba. She sat up with a grimace. "Nnnn...you ok, Elphie?"
Elphaba clenched her teeth as her shoulder throbbed. "Y-yes...I'm fine, but more importantly, are you all right?"
"I'm fine, thanks to you." She stood up, holding her hand out to help Elphaba up. "Just let me carry the Ozdamn suitcase, would you?"
Elphaba got to her feet. "No." She picked up the suitcase and took it to the blonde's room. "I have to be of some use to you."
"For goodness' sakes. Apparently there is no hope for you..." She sighed and followed her up to her room with Nessa.
"Galinda, please..." Elphaba turned to look at her with sad eyes. "If I don't serve you, I have no job. If I have no job, I'm not allowed to live here anymore. Then how...how would I...see you?"
"Well, how are we supposed to be friends if your only goal is to serve me?"
Elphaba put her hands to her head. "This is getting far too complicated..." She sighed before sitting down. "Galinda, at least while I'm here...I have to at least put up a pretense. Believe me, I really am trying to be...your friend, but I cannot do that if I am thrown out on the streets."
The blonde sighed. "Fine, if it will make you feel better, Elphaba. Would you like to help us decorate?"
"Well, it's not like either of you can reach the top of the tree," the green woman replied with a slight grin.
Galinda stuck her tongue out at her, but she smiled. "You mean green thing. It's not polite to jest about a young lady's height." She pulled out some tinsel from a box and handed it to Elphaba.
"I can't totally change my personality, now can I?" Elphaba stood and started to place one end of the tinsel on the top branches of the tree. "Ok, start wrapping it around."
"Ummm, Nessa, would you do the honors?" She handed the end of the tinsel to her sister. "I need to go check up with Father. He wanted to speak to me when I got back."
Nessa and Elphaba wore the same confused expression on their face. "Uhhhhh...alright," Nessa said.
Galinda gave her sister a kiss on the cheek and waved to Elphaba with a smile before she left the room. She walked down the hallways until she reached the Wizard's study. The blonde knocked on the door, calling out softly, "Father?"
"What does he want to talk to her about?" Elphaba asked the brunette.
Nessa shrugged. "He didn't say anything to me."
After an answer was heard, Galinda stepped inside the study, silently shutting the door behind her. "Father? I have something I need to ask you..."
Galinda walked into her room and froze with a gasp. "Wow, you guys. It looks absolutely fantastical!"
The two turned to look at the blonde. "Well, we did what we could...though Elphaba seems to have an issue with clashing colors," Nessa said.
"I'm sorry!" The green woman looked at the blonde. "You want to put the star on? I can give you a boost."
"Really? You'll help me up?" She skipped over to the green woman. "And don't worry, the tree looks great. Your apparent issue with clashing colors helped make it look amazing."
"Actually, Nessa did that...I kind of just stood and held stuff..." Elphaba laced her fingers together and stooped down. "Alright, take off your shoes and I'll hoist you up."
Galinda sat on the edge of her bed, quickly sliding her shoes off and approaching Elphaba, picking up the star. She laid a hand on her shoulder and placed her foot in her hands. "Ready?"
"And up she goes." Elphaba stood, lifting the blonde. "You all right up there?"
As soon as she was off the ground, Galinda realized that she was in the air and started hyperventilating. She quickly set the star on the top of the tree and then clutched at Elphaba's shoulders. "Ok. Done. Now putmedown," she whimpered.
Elphaba, startled by the sudden change and weight shift, lost her grip on the blonde. She quickly caught Galinda before the blonde could hit the floor, holding her with one arm. "What happened? Are you alright?" Elphaba asked.
Galinda took a deep breath before rubbing the back of her head, embarrassed. "I might have...I was a little too excited about decorating and kind of...well, forgot about my irrational fear of heights..."
Elphaba smiled slightly. "You could have warned me before you moved like that. I almost dropped you..." The green woman helped the blonde stand. "Feeling alright?"
"A little shaky, but fine. I'm sorry, Elphaba. I didn't mean to..."
"It's alright." Elphaba gave the blonde a slight smile. "Well, your tree is done...what would you like to move onto next?"
"It's time to go decorate Nessa's tree now." The blonde grinned back.
"Oh, how good of you," the brunette said with a smile. "But I don't want you doing that again if you're going to freak out...you know you're afraid of heights."
"Well, we can decorate and then get one of the guards to do the star. Does that sound alright?"
Elphaba scoffed. "I can get that star up myself...just give me a chair."
"Absolutely not! With your leg the way it is, there is no way I'm going to let you go up on a chair." She took a deep breath. "I will do it. It shouldn't be as bad when I am on a chair."
"I am so much better than a chair...a chair doesn't catch you when you fall, does it? Hey...hey, get back here! Galinda!"
Poem used: "Heaven" by Emily Dickinson