"Elphie what, what really happed that night when you were in the library?" Galinda questioned.
"I don't want to talk about it"
"Elphie you have to or you will never be able to move on"
Elphaba wiped her face and then reluctantly began to speak.
Galinda smiled.
"It was late; I was in the library studding. Then I remembered that I agreed to meet up with Fiyero. The Librarian kicked me out so I headed out side. It was raining. I panicked I didn't want to get burnt; I thought If Fiyero saw me with burn marks he would defiantly think I'm ugly. I looked at the clock again, I was officially late now, I wasn't going to stand Fiyero up. At that moment I didn't care about the rain, so I ran as fast as I could across the grounds. But it hurt, the rain stung so bad that I collapsed and I couldn't get back up…I heard someone in the distance, I thought it was Fiyero, boy was I wrong." Elphaba stopped unable to continue with the truly horrible part of her story.
Galinda only hugged her friend tighter in response.
"Galinda? Where…where is Yero? Where is my Yero...I, I want to be with him"
"Oh um he is, he is still looking for you"
"I…We have to find him, I don't want him to be worrying about me. I was an idiot to run away"
"You cant go now Elphie is raining you will get hurt"
"I don't mind Galinda "responded Elphaba as she slowly got up from the dirty ground and stuck her head out from the inside of the tree.
"Elphie are you crazy?!" yelled Galinda as she grabbed hold of Elphaba's sleeve and pulled her back into the tree. Elphaba struggled against Galinda's grip and in her current weak state gave in falling to the ground once again. Elphaba grimaced and pulled in her arm that had been sticking out in the rain.
"Stupid, stupid idiot! What the hell was I thinking" yelled Elphaba as she repeatedly hit her head on the ground"
"Elphie! Stop" soothed galinda as she placed her hands on the green girl's shoulders. Elphaba stopped with a sigh and slowly rolled over on to her back.
"What's wrong with me Galinda? This isn't me…I…I'm not like this"
"Hey Elphie it's ok, I know that. I know this isn't your normal self, and remember what Fiyero said?"
Elphaba closed her eyes and nodded. " I have PTSD". Galinda smiled at her friend softly and then lay down next to her. "Everything will be ok Elphaba, you'll see, time heals."
It was silent for a while then ELphaba started laughing.
" What is so funny Elphie?"
" Its stupid Galinda it really is"
"What's stupid?"
" When I First came home from the hospital all I could do was sleep, and now look at me, I feel like a zombie with colour to match" Elphaba laughed
"Elphie, you're not a zombie silly".
The two talked for a while longer before Galinda fell asleep. ELphaba stared up in the air wishing she too could sleep.
The rain outside continued to fall hard. Elphaba peered out into the distance watching the rain fall heavily against the dirt outside. With each drop the dirt grew more muddy and the muddy water began to slowly make its way into the tree. ELphaba shuffled back a bit trying to avoid the water and then sat on the other side of Galinda furtherest away from the opening of the hollow tree. Soon the water reached Galinda and soaked into her clothes, she didn't stir. A dull stinging on Elphaba's hand made her look down. She was now fully surrounded by water.
"Ouch" mumbled Elphaba as she stood up and franticly wiped her hands over her dress trying to get the water off. She took a step backward and tripped over Galinda who then woke up with a start.
"Wha? What's happening?" stuttered Galinda as she turned to see ELphaba on the ground in the muddy water.
"Elphie, what are you doing? get out of the water before you get hurt"
Elphaba shivered and closed her eyes as the burning from the water became more intense, it had now soaked through her clothes and her whole body was on fire.
"Galinda..."
"Yes"
"Go...go find Fiyero. Please..." her words faded out as she slumped against the tree wall, the pain reeking its havoc on her body"
"Elphie, what's wrong?" Galinda stressed, concern and worry showing through on her make-up run face
" Galinda please...please can you find F...Fiyero"
"What? I'm not leaving you here on your own, ill...ill get you you help Elphie...o...or ill, ill get you home." Galinda took hold of Elphaba's hand and attempted to pull her to her feet " Come one Elphie you have to stand up please... stand up..." the blonde started to cry when ELphaba didn't move. " Elphie, you...you cant give up now...please try..."
"I...I can't move Galinda...it hurts to-"
"No Elphie don't, don't talk like that stand up, please we can get you home" cried Galinda
Elphaba didn't respond. "Elphie!" Galinda shook her friend. Elphaba's eyes were closed.
"I...I...I um I'll get help Elphie it will be ok...I promise you" Galinda hugged the green woman one last time then headed out into the rain.
"HELP!! Someone please help! FIYERO!" Galinda yelled out into the forest as she ran deeper and deeper into it. "Fiyero!!" she tripped over a tree and yelped out in pain as her hand was now dripping with blood from a rather large gash. She sat in the mud for a few moments before someone came up behind her and grabbed her shoulders.
"Galinda? What's wrong?"
" Fiyero!, its Elphie she's hurt, bad"
"What? were is she? What happened to her?"
" Over there...in...in that tree, she's burnt bad...Fiyero...I tried to help her but I couldn't, Elphie...she couldn't move"
"Fae! Galinda come on!"
"I...I think ill just sit here for a bit i don't like seeing Elphie like that" said Galinda as more tears trailed down her red cheeks. Fiyero knelt down in front of Galinda, rain dripping from his hair. " You have to be strong for her Galinda, she needs her friend with her. And I think Elphaba would appreciate it very much if you were there next to her".
"No she doesn't she wants you...she kept asking for you"
"ok fine suit yourself, don't sit i the rain for too long"
Fiyero took off in the direction of the tree and stepped inside. Elphaba was on the floor covered in mud and water, her eyes were closed but she was awake she was moving ever so slightly.
"Elphaba..." Elphaba jumped " don't touch me, leave me alone"
"Fae its me Fiyero, im...im not going to hurt you". Elphaba opened her eyes, indeed the voice belonged to Fiyero. "Yero...about before...I...im so sorry, i shouldn't have runaway- sorry...I understand...i'll understand if you don't forgive me" Fiyero lifted Elphaba off the ground and out of the water and placed a finger to her lips. " I've said it before and ill say it again Fae, its impossible so stay angry at you" whispered Fiyero. Elphaba closed her eyes " Thank you Fiyero." He smiled back.
Then he remembered. " Fae where are you burnt?"
" oh um... here". She showed Fiyero her hands reluctantly. " This doesn't look to good Fae, Galinda said you were hurt bad, were else are you burnt?
" It ok Yero...its not bad I can deal with it" but the pain on Elphaba's face betrayed her words. "Where Fae?"
" Where's Galinda?" questioned Elphaba
"Outside, you're avoiding the question Fae"
" Every ware...my...my clothes are wet...and they are burning m...my skin" mumbled Elphaba.
" Ok, Fae, i think i can help you"
"You can?". By this time Galinda had decided to come back into the tree.
"Yes, but Fae you're going to have to trust me and Galinda". Elphaba opened her eyes to see Galinda standing behind Fiyero.
"You..you found him Galinda...th,thank you my sweet"
" Fae..."
"Hmm"
"Do, do you trust us?"
" I -- I um I think I do...unfortunately"
"Unfortunately?" repeated Fiyero. Then Elphaba laughed " Sorry i shouldn't of said that Fiyero."
"Galinda I think we are slowly getting the old ELphaba back" he beamed. Galinda squealed.
Fiyero reached down to Elphaba's face and smoothed some hair out of her eyes. "Uh Galinda in my back pack there is a big thick blanket can you get it out for me and spread it out under Elphaba?" Galinda rummaged through Fiyero's bag and pulled out the blanket he was talking about, she then laid it out under Elphaba. Fiyero then placed Elphaba on top. She winced as the movements hurt her burnt skin. " What, what are you doing Y...Yero?" questioned Elphaba.
" I'm doing to get you out of these wet clothes that are burning you"
"oh...ok- wait, what?"
"Galinda there should be also in my back pack a spare pare of pants, and top, can you see them?"
" Yeah, I got them"
"Ok good now, i need you to go sit next to Elphaba"
Galinda did as told and sat next to her Friend. She took Elphaba's hand.
" Galinda, why... are you crying? Don't cry" whispered Elphaba
"Oh its nothing Elphie" sniffed Galinda, she wiped her eyes "I just want you to be ok". Elphaba squeezed Galinda's hand in response.
" Alright Fae, im going to try and be as gentle as I can, im going to get this dress off you and put on these" as he motioned towards his spare pare of clothes.
"Ok".
Fiyero slowly started to remove Elphaba's dress. she clung onto Galinda'a hand and winced again. "ah, ouch, Yero..." came Elphaba's panic stricken voice. "I'm sorry Fae".
"It feels as if... as if my skins being ripped off". Galinda squeezed her friend hand tighter.
"Galinda i-im scared"
"Don't be afraid Elphie it will all be over soon".
And it was, with Elphaba protected from the rain and in Fiyero's arms the trio made their way back through the forest and back into the Shiz grounds. Galinda unlocked Elphaba and her dorm room and held open the door as Fiyero walked inside. He placed Elphaba on her bed. A muffled "Thankyou" was heard. She then added, "I don't know about you…you two but-" Elphaba paused and looked around. " But I have a s-strong sense that this has happened…before but in your room, Y-yero".
" Haha haha, that's funny Elphie because its true!" giggled Galinda.
The night went slow, Fiyero helped put oil on Elphaba's sore skin while Galinda insisted that she had to fix Elphaba's hair. Pretty soon Galinda had fallen asleep.
"I should probably be going back to my dorm before Morrible catches me in here" whispered Fiyero to Elphaba.
"No- uh you can't go, Fiy-Yero." she stopped, embarrassed then slowly continued. "I ca-I cant"
"Fae? You can't what? What's wrong?" stressed Fiyero
" I-I've always since, since I was attacked…I- you have been with me the whole time…I…I can't be…" mumbled Elphaba her breaths becoming quick.
" Its ok Fae, just take deep breaths and stay calm" whispered Fiyero taking hold of Elphaba's sore hand.
"I cant. I cant be alone without you. You have been with me all the time since that night. At night time when I cant sleep I lie here and bad memories haunt me. But when I look around and see you there I feel safe. Then I know everything will be ok". Fiyero's heart ached that moment for her, oh how he felt so sorry for her.
" I need you to listen carefully to me Fae ok? Can you do that?"
"I can"
" You are Elphaba-"
"Well spotted Fiyero" mocked Elphaba.
" Fae, you don't need to be like this, im only trying to help"
" Im sorry Yero im just tired, very tired and I think everything's slowly starting to catch up…with me" She sat up.
"you're a tough strong, passionate, fiery woman, who doesn't rely on anyone, you can do this Fae, then you can move on, I want you to move on so you can be that woman that I love so much"
Elphaba starred at him for a moment then finally replied " You- you don't love me now? When- when im like this??"
"Oh Fae, of course I do, I just want the best for you, come on lets get you to bed" replied Fiyero softly as he carefully pushed her back down.
"But Fiyero…I"
"Its going to be ok Fae, and look Galinda's just over there"
" No Yero, please don't, don't leave me" cried Elphaba, she was begging now.
" Shh ok Fae, ok ill sit with you for a while longer"
" Thankyou" Elphaba sniffed and wiped her nose. "I love you so much Yero, so much that I don't think you will ever understand".
"Ah I think you will be surprised Fae".
Fiyero sat with Elphaba into the night as he told her stories of his childhood and how he used to go camping with his friends back in the Vinkus. " one day Fae when you're better we can go camping together, just you and me and ill show you how to horse ride" he whispered to Elphaba as he stroked her face.
" I- I think I'd like that very much Yero" Elphaba mumbled as she took his hand in hers. " I must be selfish Yero, I shouldn't have made you stay here with me, you- you can go if you like"
" You're not selfish you're just scared and I love staying with you"
" Thankyou Yero, but I think im going to be ok now, like you said before…Galinda's just over there"
"Ok Fae, I'll see you in the morning then" Smiled Fiyero. He kissed her softly on the lips then left locking the door behind him.