Galinda broke it off with Fiyero the very next morning. He had been slightly relieved, having been trying to find a way to break up with Galinda ever since the pair had first gotten together. Fiyero had been eyeing another student at Shiz, and since so had Galinda, they found their circumstance somewhat comical and had ended things amicably, hoping to stay friends.

Over the next few days, nothing significant changed in the public lives of Elphaba and Galinda, except of course the younger of the two no longer allowed Pfannee and ShenShen to bully the emerald-skinned woman, something she was determined to make happen as part of her amends to the way she had treated Elphaba while still uncomfortable about the things she made her feel. Pretty quickly after the party at the Ozdust, the majority of the students at Shiz had begun to tolerate Elphaba, which didn't feel like enough to Galinda, who wanted everyone to adore her as much as she did, but Elphaba was overjoyed even at the prospect of being ignored entirely by her fellow students. She didn't need or want surface level friendships, but she appreciated not being terrorized by people who didn't even know her.

Galinda, for her part, was unashamed to be seen walking around with Elphie, sometimes appearing as her lost puppy, just wanting to be where the sorceress was at all times. She had found participating in Sorcery lessons to be incredibly taxing, but she enjoyed watching Elphaba make magic, and she didn't long for Madame Morrible's approval as much as she once did, especially when the green girl gave her a toothy grin after every accomplishment. Galinda delighted in making Elphaba feel special. It was the very least she deserved after being so good at providing that service to others. Elphaba gave and gave and gave. She had so much love for others. She cared for Nessa in ways that the younger Thropp sibling was incapable of, such as holding space for tough emotions. Elphaba hadn't ever had that before. The fact that the love others seemed to have for her seemed to be much more limited didn't sit right in Galinda's chest.

She had lots of things in Elphaba's life to help rectify.

She'd learned so much of this over the last several nights, as the two had made it a routine to stay up late, sitting in Galinda's larger bed, chatting about their lives at home and their dreams, and Galinda even shared about what they could look like together, something that seemed vaguely pleasant to Elphaba, but completely out of the realm of possibility.

Galinda listened as Elphie told her about her childhood, including more details about Nessa and her father, how Dulcibear cared for her physically until she was able to care for her own basic needs, and though the Bear wanted to be Elphaba's confidant as she grew into a teenager, it seemed almost intentional on the Governor's part to pull her away for some other highly important domestic task at the most critical moments Elphaba needed a mom, needed someone to hold her and tell her that everything would be okay.
Elphaba had learned that Galinda's parents, though they adored her, had very high expectations for their daughter. The Uplands treated Galinda less like a young adult and more like an overgrown child, and even though she liked being cared for, the popular girl longed to discover her own identity, her own morals and expectations of herself. Her and Elphaba's clash at the beginning of the semester had reminded her that though her parents didn't always, it was important to her to treat every person with respect, especially those she expressed care for. Galinda wanted to separate herself somewhat from her parents' classism. They knew of and accepted the blonde's preference for dating women, as much as they could, but tended to insist that the girl's partners came from high-class families, which didn't always turn out well for Galinda. Elphaba had become angry when the other girl shared with her that some of the most high society teenagers Galinda had met and been matched up with were handsy and inconsiderate, making some of her first sexual experiences, though ones she'd agreed to, unpleasant and something she tried to forget.

Galinda had explained to Elphaba that her longest-term relationship ended on good terms just a few months before her move to Shiz, and the woman had been so kind and accepting of her and all the things she'd been nervous about. Galinda had sworn after moving on from that relationship that if she were ever in the position to be someone's first that she would be like Unna Grup of the Upper Uplands, someone she still considered a friend. What a magical experience she had had, learning to be appreciated and cared for in a way that went beyond Momsie and Popsicle's attempts to put her in a bubble. Learning what she deserved. And what any other woman she'd ever be with deserved.

Although hesitant to initiate such touch, Elphaba had hugged the blonde tightly to her chest, promising to do the best she could to keep Galinda feeling valued. She had even asked her to share specific things she could do to be a part of building a healthy relationship. Galinda knew that honesty was something she needed from a potential partner. And Elphaba promised to learn.

But talking about her feelings was something she still struggled with. How could something that was so dangerous merely days ago be entirely safe today?
"Elphie, you're acting oddly today," Galinda observed as they entered their room one evening after sorcery seminar. "Are you alright?" She hadn't been as joyful as usual as she managed to levitate a feather and a few other light objects.

Elphaba closed the double door quietly, locking it to give them some privacy. They weren't doing anything that required privacy per se, and Galinda had no qualms about being seen with her—in fact, multiple Shiz students had come out of the closet, so to speak, since the night of the Ozdust, including Fiyero—but Elphaba was embarrassed on the blonde's behalf. It had nothing to do with her being a woman. It just had to do with her being—well, her. "Oddly? More oddly than usual?"

Galinda frowned at the self-deprecating comment. "Elphaba, you're deflecticating. I'm asking you to talk to me, as your girlfriend." It was a no-nonsense tone, one that reminded her of their conversation about respect and honesty with each other.

"My girlfriend?"

Galinda's hands landed on her hips the moment she put her books down. "Is that not what I am?"

Elphaba crossed to her side of the room, something she hadn't done in almost a week, except when she needed to change. "I just... Oz, I'm so confused."

"What is confusing you? I want to help." Galinda knew that cornering her like a wounded animal ended up being counterproductive, so she did her best to leave some space in between them.

The older woman's eyes hit the floor as she sat on her own bed, and Galinda sat down on her bed as well, gazing lightly in the direction of Elphie's face so that they could achieve eye contact if she looked up. It had been five days since they danced together, and though almost everything remained the same in Elphaba's life, every single thing about how she existed had changed just by virtue of the permission she had given her feelings about Galinda to grow and evolve. But was she just holding on to some strange hope? Galinda had made some lofty promises. Was she able and willing to keep them? "Just...why haven't you kissed me yet?"

Instinctually, Galinda rose to her feet. "Elphie, I'm waiting for you to tell me you're ready."

Elphaba continued as if younger girl had said nothing. "I know I'm…different. If you don't want to, that's alright, I just expected that to come next."

Galinda shook her head, pulling all her gold hair behind her shoulder so that Elphaba could see the solemn look on her face. She slipped off her heels and padded over to Elphaba's bed, sitting next to her but still leaving a few inches in between them for Elphaba's comfort. "I don't think you're hearing me, darling." Elphaba wanted, no needed, to look into those brown eyes. They were so close to her; it felt like it would be a crime to not appreciate their presence, even if Galinda was going to reject her. "I want to kiss you. I want to kiss you very much. But I don't want to kiss you until you want to kiss me. So, it sounds like this is a mutual miscommunification."

"No one has ever wanted to get that close to"—she gestured to herself with disgust in her voice—"all of this." Her uneven green skin. The gap in between her front teeth. The icy temperature her flesh carried. The braids she'd begun wearing wild and free. That passion. That need to care about people and Animals and things so much it hurt. The things that happened around her when she got emotional, especially when she was afraid or angry. Her entire personality was something that Elphaba had learned to accept, even respect at times. She was used to her difference, even used to the treatment she received because of them, but no one in her life had ever been anything other than repulsed by what made her different. "I feel this connection with you, Galinda, and it's scaring me to no end. You're telling me you feel it too. And you might as well be speaking a language I've never heard. It's easier to believe you don't want to kiss me."

"It might be. It might be what you're used to. It might even cause you less anxiety because you're accustomated to rejection. But, Elphie, I am not what you're used to. And I won't be like any of those people, even to keep you comfortable. Oz knows I would wait my entire life for you to be ready for a kiss, but I'm not going to pretend I don't want you just because that's what makes more sense in your beautiful head. You are different. You are different in every right way. Elphie, you are passion and hope and joy. You make me look in the mirror and want to be better, just by existing."

Although the solution didn't feel right, all the numbers added up. "You really do like me, don't you?"

"I really do love you, Miss Elphaba. I knew it would happen from the first day I met you." Galinda shook her head at herself, smiling softly. "I fell hard. You're so strong and so soft. So fucking beautiful."

Elphaba hadn't even known that people swore in Gillikin. Her brow raised, a small smirk coloring her features. Galinda's hair fell in gentle waves, framing her face as beautifully as one would frame a portrait. "You're one to talk, my sweet."

Her cheeks flushed pink at the term. It had flown out of Elphaba's lips with seemingly no resistance. "Think about how you feel about me," Galinda implored, trying to make Elphaba understand. "Your desire for closeness and validation and even the physical affection you haven't allowed yourself to actually miss and crave until now. I feel all those things about you and more. I'll continue to tell you. But I think you'll understand 'show' better than 'tell.' She paused, and in that moment, the sorceress was finally able to hold eye contact for more than two seconds, so Galinda took the opportunity. "Elphaba Thropp, may I kiss you?"

Elphaba couldn't hide the gasp that exploded out of her. "You...you're asking...for my permission?"

"Well, of course. Asking for consent is required for things like this."

"They don't always in the—" she paused, blushing furiously, "—in the books I've read...about love and...other things. I started reading a new one the other day to help me learn what to do...with you."

The blonde was beginning to understand just how little Elphaba knew on the topic and just how much she cared about doing things right for Galinda. "Oh, Elphie, don't listen to books like that. Especially ones with men. You're not learning the right things and the communification in them is always abysmal. I'll teach you what you need to know. You don't have to study for our relationship. I have your best interests at heart, not some random book. Is that why you thought I would just force myself on you?"

"I mean, I've read that some people think it's romantical when their partner takes control."

Galinda hummed in understanding. Elphaba had a lot to learn. "Sure, it can be, but taking control is not the same thing as grabbing someone and having your way with them without communificating about limits. If I just touched your body and kissed you without talking about it first, especially because you've never kissed anyone before, I'd be taking advantage of you, Elphaba. Do you understand that? It would be wrong."

"It felt wrong to me too," Elphaba admitted, fingering one of her braids anxiously. "Sort of scary. But I want to do what you want, so—"

Galinda vigorously shook her head in the negative, cutting Elphie off. "—I do not want that. If you want me to take the lead, I'd be happy to care for you in the way you deserve, but we would talk about it first, and I will not ever decide what happens to your body for you." Elphaba could tell Galinda was remembering something less than enjoyable, so she reached out and squeezed her hand. The blonde had made it clear in the preceding days that her hands were always available for holding." I love you too much to cause you that pain."

Elphaba stared down at the fingers that were absently playing with hers, taking in the warmth that emanated from them. "I..."

The tear that had been threatening the blonde's waterline began to fall, and Elphaba instinctively reached up to wipe it away, watching Galinda's eyes for any evidence that this gesture wasn't okay. The tears that were brimming in her own eyes told Elphaba that she did indeed also love Galinda too much to cause her that pain, but saying the words out loud—there was no coming back from that. Galinda seemed to read her mind. "You don't have to say it back yet. I'm not offended, and I want you to take your time processing this. And you don't have to say yes to the kiss either. That's the point of me asking. I want to know what you want."

Elphaba couldn't hold back the emotion she was feeling in response to the tenderness in Galinda's tearful gaze any longer. She managed to stop the dam from breaking, but a single tear did fall over the precipice of her eyelid, causing Galinda to raise her free hand to Elphaba's cheek. She brushed a single braid behind her shoulder, never breaking eye contact. Her thumb hovered patiently over the tear as it traveled down an emerald cheek. "Can I wipe it?"

Elphaba nodded, biting her bottom lip, stopping before she tasted blood. "I'm not used to having choices."

"Let's make one choice at a time." Galinda wanted to support her in the overwhelm, She remembered how too many choices used to feel to her—like no choice at all. "Do you want a kiss? I'd love to give you one if that's what you want too," she assured.

Elphaba sniffed, resting the palm of her hand over the one that lied over her cheek, leaning into the embrace. She felt Galinda interlace their fingers and squeeze in comfort. "I think so." Galinda paused at her hesitation. "I mean, I know so. But what do I do?"

"This is our first kiss. It doesn't have to be long or deep. All you have to do is relax your lips and breathe. You can let me guide you and respond however feels right. I've got you."

It sounded simple enough. "Okay."

"Yes or no. Is this what you want?"

There was no doubting what Galinda was waiting for. "Yes, my sweet. Please kiss me." Elphaba's voice cracked on the word "kiss", but she knew her meaning was understood.
She felt Galinda shift closer on the bed, so their knees were touching. "I'm giving you my blessing to physically and forcefully push me away from you if I ever do anything that makes you uncomfortable, but I want you to know that a simple 'Stop' will suffice every time. I am listening, looking, and feeling for it every time we touch." She waited for Elphaba to nod and then she rested their foreheads together, both girls' faces flushed and Galinda breathing heavily. "You're not breathing, Elphie."

Elphaba was floored. Galinda truly was observing her every move, every flinch. She took in a slow, deep breath. "There you go," the blonde sing-songed. She nuzzled their noses together, earning a shy smile from the girl next to her.

Elphaba, in a moment of confidence, wound her arm around Galinda's neck and buried her fingers in blonde hair. Her eyes closed in pure delight as she heard the light sigh that the younger of the two gave in response. Could she pull more noises like that from her? "I'm obsessed with your hair," she confessed, causing Galinda to giggle.
"Well, two can play at this game." She made a show of fingertips migrating over Elphaba's cheek and onto her neck, landing decisively on her scalp, fingernails scratching lightly into the tops of the woman's braids. Galinda felt her girlfriend all but fall forward into her embrace, her body going almost limp in her arms as a louder moan than Elphie would have consciously allowed slid past her lips. The blonde began to massage the same area with slightly more pressure, taking in Elphaba's blissful response. "Oh, that's how we get you to relax. I'll have to keep this information safe and use it as a secret weapon whenever you get anxious."

Elphaba hummed with considerable volume, her body stiffening as she dropped her hand from the back of Galinda's head. "Oh, no."

"Elphie, you don't have to be embarrassed. Your body is giving you clues about what you need. There's no reason to fight it. And your noises are beautiful. But we can talk more about that later down the line," she added with a mischievous wink.

Through a deep purple blush, the sorceress inhaled deeply once more, willing herself to believe Galinda's words. There was nothing in her gentle features or loving voice, the one that caressed her ears with so many wonderful-sounding promises, that would suggest she were telling her anything other than the truth. "Do you still want to kiss me?" she wondered aloud, her voice becoming small as her gaze lowered.

Galinda softly but decidedly nudged her chin upwards so that Elphaba would look her in her chocolate orbs, something that simultaneously scared the green girl and seemed to bring her great comfort. "More than ever."

Elphaba couldn't stop her eyes from closing once again as Galinda returned her fingers to their place amongst her braids, squeezing firmly enough to ground her but gingerly enough to not create a pulling sensation without discussing it first. "Please, Galinda." A warmth that she didn't understand had started within her, and although it made her nervous, she couldn't question the confident look in the eyes of her new girlfriend. She was loving, careful, and certain, and these things enveloped Elphaba in the type of warm blanket she used to crave alone in her bedroom back at home; even the illusion of a hug had tempted her. "I need to feel you."

Galinda smiled so wide at her that Elphaba wasn't sure the kiss would work at first. "Well, come here then." She repeated her earlier actions, albeit much faster this time to Elphaba's relief—connecting their foreheads, nuzzling their noses, a squeeze to the hair on the back of Elphie's head—before allowing her lips to come into contact with the older girl's. She didn't rock the boat much, delivering an extended kiss to her upper lip before pressing a series of light kisses at Elphaba's cupid's bow, upper chin, and the tip of her nose, both hands cradling the cheeks of the woman whose forehead still rested against hers.

Elphaba had frozen at the contact, more relaxed than she would have expected herself to be in the moment. She had been pulled away at the overwhelm but was catapulted back into her body at the press of Galinda's soft lips against hers. She was so warm. So warm and so gentle. The kiss made her feel small and like the only person in the room. It felt good. She didn't even know how to describe it; physical sensations that were pleasurable were foreign to her. The younger woman would have pulled away sooner but had lingered in response to the way Elphaba had pulled her skull closer, reaching to squeeze Galinda's thigh as she instinctually pressed her lips against Galinda's in kind. Her flesh was warm below her. It was real and alive and more tears welled up in Elphaba's eyes. Elphaba recognized a dizzy sensation, but it wasn't unpleasant. She felt important, like she mattered. Like to Galinda, she was the most precious treasure in the universe. Elphaba had closed her eyes, but Galinda kept them open to assess safety. She pressed one last chaste kiss against Elphaba's lips and waited silently for the green girl to return to her. It wasn't the wildest first kiss Galinda had experienced, but it was by far the most special. Elphaba hummed with a soft smile, opening her eyes. "Wow."

Galinda rubbed slowly up and down Elphaba's arm. "Wow, indeed. Are you sure that was your first kiss?"

Nerves returned to her. "Yes, why? Was it bad?"

Galinda giggled, shaking her head in adoration. "So far from it. You just know how to kiss. It's reverent. It's beautiful. I'm not surprised."

"Really?"

"Yes, I promise you." Galinda sat up on her knees, pulling Elphaba up with her by the waist. Neither woman wanted to pull away. "You have great instincts. You know how to listen and respond. You have nothing to be worried about in the kiss department, Elphie. Nothing at all. Now, I want to hear from you. How did it feel?"

Elphaba didn't even think, she simply spoke. "Like saying 'I love you' without words."

"You have a future in interpretation if this sorcery thing doesn't work out for you."

Elphie let out a rare full laugh, wrapping her arms around Galinda's neck. "Seriously, it was the most amazing thing I've ever felt. Everything is different now. My life has changed."

"Why, Miss Elphaba, you're starting to sound like me."

Brazenness took over the sorceress for just long enough for her to say, "If just a simple kiss feels this good, then how does sex feel?"

"You're adorable. Come here." It wasn't a question, but Galinda watched Elphaba's body language as she pulled her close again, resting her chin on the top of her girlfriend's head and giving her a lingering kiss on the temple. "That's a lesson for another day, my beautiful Elphie."