In case anyone is wondering I haven't given up on 'One Short Week' or 'Texting Through Life'. I got a little stuck on the latest chapter of 'One Short Week' but I've almost finished it now and once I move on from this clog the rest of the story will continue to flow smoothly. As for 'Texting Through Life' I'm beginning to think that the inspiration well has run dry on that one but I'm not giving up…my readers have always provided me with great ideas so I'm going to try to hang on a little longer…
"Happy birthday!" Elphaba stared in utter shock at the tavern full of Animals, all decked out in party attire. Caya chuckled at her friend's dazed expression.
"Did you think we forgot?" Fiyero wondered, pulling his wife into a tight hug.
"I said no party!" the green girl hissed, finally recovering.
"And we didn't listen," explained Mar, a burly Black Bear. He was the community's mayor.
"Today's also a national holiday," Brrr exclaimed, a wide Lion grin on his face. "Glinda's made today Animal Rights Day." Tears flooded the witch's eyes and Fiyero gave her a knowing squeeze. It was clear Oz's ruler had picked this day for a reason.
"Glinda," Elphaba whispered, touched by her friend's gesture.
"Let's dance," the scarecrow suggested after a moment of thoughtful stillness. Before the green girl could protest he dragged her onto the dance floor, where several other couples were already waltzing. Lively music throbbed through the crowded tavern.
"My dancing really hasn't improved since the OzDust," the witch admitted sheepishly.
"That's ok," Fiyero chuckled, spinning her in a dizzy circle. "I'm good enough for the both of us." And he was; the former prince whirled them skillfully through the speedy dances. Then the music slowed and Elphaba moved closer to her husband, wrapping her arms around his neck. A few feet away she glimpsed Caya and Brrr dancing.
"I wonder what Glinda's doing right now," the green girl mused, leaning against the scarecrow's shoulder. He sighed and held her tighter.
"Why must you always dwell on the past?" Fiyero wondered. "I thought we were going to make a fresh start here."
"Starting fresh means something else is ending stale," Elphaba quoted sagely. "I don't want Glinda's life to be stale because of me."
"Glinda will be fine," the Winkie assured her for what felt like the thousandth time. "She doesn't need you. She'll move on." The witch pondered that for a moment.
"But maybe I still need her," she admitted. "Maybe I don't want to move on from my best friend."
"Can we not talk about unpleasant things at such a perfect moment?" Fiyero wondered.
"I suppose," Elphaba replied with a smile. "Whatever happens with Glinda t least I'll always have you."
"Is that enough?"
"Yes."
***
Glinda sat crying in her bed. She'd just returned from her third successful date with Raeb. He was a nice man, funny and charming, but Glinda knew that he, like everything else in her life, was little more than a distraction from the pain. So much of the blonde's heart had been damaged that only a small part remained unbroken and capable of love. Even as that tiny piece greatly enjoyed the time spent with Raeb every other shard of the ruler's heart was aching for Elphaba and Fiyero.
On most nights Glinda went straight to sleep; right into the jaws of her nightmares. However tonight rest was impossible. This day should have been celebratory, but now it would forever be painful. Smiling through her tears the blonde remembered every birthday she'd celebrated with her green friend at Shiz. They were bright memories of a happier time; stars in the shadowy night of Glinda's mind.
As the petite ruler's tears of grief turned to sobs of regret and guilt a hand sought out the green bottle hidden beneath her pillow. It was all she had left of her best friend. "Happy birthday Elphie," Glinda whispered to the darkness.
***
Boq marched towards Glinda's door. After watching the blonde fall for Raeb he planned to leave. It was clear that the Tin Man's feelings for Oz's ruler would forever be unrequited. That was why the munchkin planned to say goodbye. Shoulders squared and eyes cold he raised a metal fist to bang on Glinda's door. Moments before his hand made contact Boq heard crying.
During his years at Shiz the munchkin had heard Galinda cry many times. Whenever the slightest bit of negative drama touched her life there were tears. After becoming friends with Elphaba these episodes lessened, but there were still times when the blonde bawled for nothing more than attention. However this was different. These sobs weren't the tears of a shallow schoolgirl; they were the tears of a grown woman weeping at a funeral for her entire family.
The Tin Man's heart melted into a puddle of sorrow and guilt. What was he thinking? As much as Boq wanted to leave he knew he couldn't. As long a Glinda needed him the munchkin would be there, no matter the cost. With a resigned expression on his face the Tin Man returned to his rooms.
***
Glinda and Raeb were seated in the petite ruler's parlor. It had been a week since Elphaba's birthday and the blonde witch's life had returned to its usual pace. The nightmares continued, but for now they were the only form of pain Glinda's grief took. Raeb did an amazing job of making her forget. In fact she wondered if maybe her injured heart was healing.
"So how have your meetings been going?" Raeb questioned. "It must get boring talking politics all day."
"Sometimes it does," Glinda admitted. "But my work is for the good of everyone in Oz. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to know I'm making someone's life better." The blonde blushed slightly, embarrassed by her enthusiastic reply.
"You're lucky," Raeb told her. "In the grand scheme of things most people can't make a difference."
"Sometimes I wish I didn't have the capability to make a difference," the blonde informed him honestly. "I get scared that I'll do something wrong. The responsibility is intimidating."
"So far you've done a great job."
"Thanks." A peaceful silence echoed through the room. Eventually Raeb felt he had to break it.
"Why the empty vase?" he wondered, gesturing to a glass jar on the table before them.
"I just never got around to putting flowers in," Glinda shrugged. Raeb grinned and held his hand over the vase. He muttered a quick chant and a bouquet of scarlet poppies appeared. "I didn't know you were into magic," the blonde witch squeaked excitedly. Just then her brain processed that the flowers before her were poppies. A memory blazed before Glinda's eyes; a train station where Fiyero shyly handed Elphaba a handful of wild poppies before she left for the Emerald City. Tears leapt unbidden to the ruler's eyes.
"What's wrong?" Raeb demanded, placing a comforting hand on the weeping girl's shoulder.
"Nothing," Glinda sniffled.
"It's clearly not nothing."
"A close friend of mine died awhile ago," the blonde explained. "Poppies were her favorite flowers."
"I'm sorry," Raeb exclaimed, pulling Glinda into a tight hug and vanishing the flowers with a wave of his hand. When the petite witch's tears had abated her companion apologized again and again.
"It's fine," the ruler assured him. "You didn't know. Making those flowers was very…nice."
"It was the least I could do for someone as sweet as you," Raeb chuckled. "From what I hear your life hasn't been easy; but you still work hard to bring happiness to the people of Oz." His hand moved to cup Glinda's cheek. When Raeb's lips pressed against hers she responded. The kiss didn't feel right but it did feel good. As they pulled apart the blonde's blue eyes twinkled into his green ones. After a moment of comfortable stillness Glinda decided to restart the conversation.
"So what's your biggest dream?" the blonde questioned with a dazzling smile.
"I've always wanted to improve my magic," Raeb told her. "Right now I only know a few little tricks, but someday I'd like to study more powerful stuff. When I was little I fantasized about getting to learn from the Grimmerie. That's impossible now, I heard it was stolen away by the witch but…some dreams never fade." A little spark of happiness lit in Glinda's heart when she noticed that he hadn't said wicked witch.
"You know what?" the blonde began as an odd idea wriggled its way into her head. "I've got something for you to see." Oz's ruler disappeared into her bedroom for a moment and reappeared holding the key she kept under her mattress. Raeb looked confused as Glinda unlocked a small chest beside her desk. "Close your eyes," the witch squealed excitedly, hiding something. Her perplexed companion obeyed.
When Raeb opened his eyes the Grimmerie was lying in his lap. "Thank you!" he exclaimed fervently. "Now I've got a surprised for you."
"Really?" Glinda cried in delight, some of her enthusiastic blondeness showing through.
"Yep," Raeb affirmed. "Close your eyes." Fairly bouncing with impatience the petite ruler scrunched her eyelids shut. Then she felt a damp cloth press against her nose. The fabric muffled Glinda's scream and a pungent odor muffled her thoughts. As misty blackness claimed her consciousness the blonde ruler could feel her abused heart begin to bleed once more.
I love suspense! Review are what fuel me to write more and they're very good at helping me improve my writing (if they're detailed about what I should work on). Although I've got the basic plot of this story mapped out I will consider any ideas you readers provide me with…in fact the most raw inspiration I have to work with the longer this story will likely be!