Chapter 5! Can Galinda handle the new Elphaba?

When Galinda woke up the next morning, she was greeted by the smell of coffee. She sat up, rubbing her eyes. As her hands came down, she noticed a tray full of food on her desk. She got out of bed and went over to it. Where had this come from?

"Oh, you're awake." Galinda turned as she heard Elphaba's voice. Elphaba was looking at her, smiling, and holding two steaming mugs. "I didn't know if you preferred coffee or orange juice, so I got both."

"Thank you." Galinda said, still in awe. She gave Elphaba amnesia and Elphaba, in return, gave her… breakfast. She sat down at her desk and Elphaba set one mug down. She smiled at the blonde before going over to her own bed and sitting down, sipping her coffee.

"How did you sleep?" Elphaba asked.

"Fine." Galinda replied. Elphaba nodded. There were a few minutes of silence, then Galinda sighed and set down her fork. "Elphaba, listen-"

"You don't like it? I'm sorry. I wish I knew what you liked so I could get it for you. I can get something else, if you'd prefer."

"No, it's not the food. It's just… you don't have to be so nice to me."

"But I want to. Besides, we're together. Isn't this what you do for the person you love?"

Oh, sweet Lurline. Elphaba had used that word.

"Elphaba…" Galinda's voice failed her. She couldn't bring herself to tell Elphaba the truth. Why, she didn't know. It's not like she cared if she hurt the green girl's feelings anyway. She and her friends made fun of Elphaba all the time. "Do you really feel that way?"

"Well… I suppose I do. I mean, why else would I be with you? I'm just surprised you would pick me over everyone else here. You're popular, beautiful, and smart, among other things. You could have your pick of anyone here. And they would have to be an idiot to say no."

"Elphaba, stop."

"But I mean it! Even a blind person wouldn't turn you down."

"Elphaba!" Galinda said sharply. "Enough!" The green girl looked startled, but she didn't say anything else.

Damn that Elphaba! It wasn't enough that Galinda felt guilty for giving her amnesia, now she had to feel guilty for lying to her as well. The best thing to do would be to just tell Elphaba the truth.

Elphaba, I lied. You're not my girlfriend and I definitely do not feel that way about you.

Simple. Straight to the point. And yet, Galinda still couldn't say it. She looked over at the green girl. Elphaba had just finished her coffee and as she lowered the mug, Galinda noticed that the drink had left a brown moustache on Elphaba's upper lip. Galinda tried to hold it in, but she lost that battle and burst out in a fit of giggles. Elphaba looked at her and smiled, trying to figure out what she was laughing at.

"What?" Galinda couldn't respond. "What is it?"

"Your…" she started, motioning to Elphaba's mouth. Elphaba put her hand up and felt the wetness on her lip. She grinned and started laughing. Their laughter filled the room and bounced off the walls and soon, Galinda couldn't distinguish her laughs from Elphaba's. Their joy and happiness was, for now, the same.

----------------------------------------------

"And she didn't even notice! She looked absolutely ridiculous!" The three other girls burst into laughter as Galinda finished telling her story. Of course, Galinda wouldn't admit that she and Elphaba had laughed together. That would ruin the story.

Elphaba came in just then and took her seat in the desk in front of the group. This caused the four to burst out into laughter again.

"All right, class. Enough chatter." Doctor Dillamond said, entering the classroom. The students quieted down. "Thank you. So, I trust you all did your reading over the weekend. And since you all did your reading, someone should be able to tell me about the Great Drought." The class was silent. "Anyone?" No volunteers. "Miss Thropp?"

Galinda felt her stomach drop. Elphaba would be absolutely clueless! And she had been such a smart student.

"Um… I'm afraid I can't tell you that." The class stared and even Doctor Dillamond looked shocked. Elphaba always knew the answer.

"Miss Thropp, didn't you do the reading?" he asked slowly.

"No. I didn't know there was any. You see, I suffered a bump on the head over the weekend it left me with amnesia."

"Really? And how did this bump happen?"

Galinda's stomach plummeted again. She was caught now! Everyone would know what she had done. There was no way to-

"I fell down the stairs." Galinda stared at the green girl. Elphaba had just lied. To a professor. To protect Galinda.

"Well, that is an interesting excuse, Miss Thropp. I must say I haven't heard that one before."

"It's true." Galinda found herself saying. The Goat looked at her. "I… I saw her."

"Well, Miss Thropp, it seems your story had been verified. I'm sorry for your unfortunate accident." The Goat turned back to his teaching and the other girls leaned in close to Galinda.

"She really has amnesia?" Shenshen asked. Galinda nodded.

"Think of the lies we could tell her! And she would believe us!" The three other started chattering excitedly.

"No." Galinda said. The girls looked at her.

"No? But this is perfect! We could-"

"I said no. I don't want to do that. It's stupid and childish. Let's just leave her be." Galinda ignored their grumbling as her gaze fell on Elphaba.

Thank you, Elphaba. Thank you so much.

---------------------------------------------------

"Elphaba." The green girl looked up from her work.

"Hello, Galinda." she said.

"You didn't have to do that. Lie to Doctor Dillamond."

"I didn't want to get you in trouble for an accident. Besides, what would your friends think?" Galinda sat next to the green girl.

"Thank you, Elphaba." she whispered. She moved in quickly and kissed the green girl. Before Elphaba even had time to realize what was happening, Galinda was gone.

And when Elphaba tried to bring the subject up again, Galinda snapped at her.

"Honestly, Miss Elphaba, the things you come up with!"

End of chapter 5! Longer than usual. Hope you enjoyed it and please, please review. I'll try to update as soon as I can.