Whoa! My deepest apologies for the 4-month hiatus! I didn't realize how long it'd been. But we're back!
Elphaba sat in the back of the concert hall, watching as the vocalists finished their final rehearsal before the tricentennial celebrations began the following day. She relished the moments when she could be in a room unnoticed. It became a rarity after she officially introduced herself, but on the few occasions she could manage it, she did.
She got up during their notes session, thankful that the house remained dark. She slipped out, blinking to let her eyes adjust to the light, and walked up the main staircase.
The decorations were already hung: ribbons, banners, and posters. The brightness breathed new life into the old building. She walked to the practice studios, following the music and soft footsteps.
While she knew who she would find, she didn't expect the reality of how she found her. Glinda was in the studio, dancing to her solo music, but it was a different sight. Her blonde hair was loose, her curls whipping across her face as she twirled energetically. Her pointe shoes were scattered around the room, tossed aside as though she had violently kicked them off. Her bare feet padded against the marley floor. Her eyes were closed as she danced to her own choreography, her movements freer than her usual restricted positions. Elphaba silently watched, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips as her gaze followed Glinda across the room.
The music ended, and before Elphaba could applaud, Glinda opened her eyes and turned to her. "Elphie."
"Hi. That was beautiful."
Glinda huffed out a sigh. "I know you expected to find a beautiful porcelain doll. And instead, you found a floppy rag doll."
"A beautiful rag doll." She closed the door behind her and pulled the blonde into her arms. "Tough session with Greyling?"
"Yeah." She brushed her hair from her face. "I don't think I'm ready."
"Don't think that. Of course you're ready." She pushed Greyling's words about feeling that Glinda wasn't ready to the back of her mind. "You're just nervous. Your technique is flawless. Your moves are the most graceful I've –"
"And your flattery will just make things worse," Glinda wiggled out of Elphaba's arms.
Elphaba let her go and watched as she snatched up her pointe shoes and threw them across the floor. Her love was so stressed. How could she make her feel better?
Glinda roughly rubbed her face. "Elphaba." She stomped over to her bag and pulled out a newspaper. "Did you do this?"
"Hmm?" Elphaba opened the folded paper. On the front page was an official statement from the Wizard.
'At the Ozma Regent Opera House, dazzling rising ballet star, Miss Glinda Upland, captivates the audience with her graceful dancing. The most darling dancer will be seen at the Opera House's tricentennial, giving the audience a sneak peek at her glowing future.'
"Elphaba," Glinda pressed.
"What?"
"Did. You. Do. This?"
The owner pressed her lips together, her eyes glued to the statement before slowly lifting her gaze to Glinda. "I –"
"This is what you were talking to the Wizard about? At the Lurlinemas party. You asked him to lie?"
"It's not lying. I told him that you were performing at the tricentennial and –"
"He didn't see me perform."
"I've seen you perform."
"He has no idea what I'm like."
Elphaba frowned. She hadn't expected Glinda to react like this. She expected excitement at the statement and congratulations from her fellow company members at the high praise from the Wizard. Not the accusatory stare glaring daggers back at her. "It's not about that, Glinda."
"What are you talking about?"
"We need to do everything in our power to help you stay here."
"I've secured Fiyero."
Elphaba bit back a comment on that. "You want to be a principal dancer. This is how you push your way into the spotlight. You have to push, Glinda. There's no other way. You can't be too careful or get too comfortable."
The blonde blinked at her. "Did Greyling tell you that I'm failing?"
"Greyling told me nothing. She has nothing to do with it."
"I understand what you're saying. But I don't know why you're saying it."
"I'm saying this because… a lot is riding on your performance. It's not just about being flawless; you must remain in the spotlight."
Glinda narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What did the Wizard want you to do in exchange for this?"
"Nothing."
"There must be something. He wouldn't just do this, even if you're his daughter."
"I'm not indebted to him. I asked him for a favor, just to give you a little push."
She took the newspaper back. "Pushing can lead to falling. And falling while dancing is dangerous."
Greyling's words about pushing too hard came to mind. "You should take a break now. I'll massage your feet like last time."
Glinda smiled. "That's very thoughtful, but I already have plans with Fiyero."
Her face fell. "Oh."
"I will take you up on that offer later." She stuffed her shoes into her bag and put on her skirt and blouse over her dance attire. "Thank you, Elphaba, for the… push." She rose to her toes and lightly kissed her lover before flittering out.
Elphaba watched her leave, locking her hands in front of her stomach. She refused to let Greyling's words haunt her. Glinda was fine. She was just a bit nervous and stressed. Everyone in the building was feeling nervous and stressed. Nothing was out of the ordinary.
The January wind blew on the morning of the first day of anniversary celebrations. Elphaba pulled her cloak tighter around her body. As she approached the building, she saw the reporters and journalists waiting outside. She turned the corner and entered through the back way, wanting to avoid them until she physically couldn't anymore.
"You had the same idea as me," a voice said as she closed the door behind her.
Elphaba turned and smiled, seeing Glinda remove her coat's hood. "I want as much 'calm before the storm' as possible."
Glinda closed the distance between them and kissed her, locking their fingers. "Well, I was hoping for an early warm-up… with the help of a partner."
Elphaba eagerly agreed and led the way up the stairs. Taking the back staircase elongated their trip, but it was all worth it when they finally reached Elphaba's office, and Glinda kicked the door closed.
"I don't want to talk about today," Glinda said, holding up a finger to quiet Elphaba's upcoming query. "I don't want to talk at all."
"May I talk?" Elphaba asked with a slight smirk.
"You may, but only if it's to tell me how beautiful I am."
"Miss Upland, you are the most beautiful vision I've ever laid eyes on."
"Why, thank you, Miss Thropp," Glinda giggled and pushed Elphaba over to the sofa. She knelt on her lap, her legs slowly spreading to straddle her.
Elphaba barely had time to remove her coat before Glinda leaned down and kissed her. "Mmm. I've missed this."
"And I've missed you."
The green woman wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist. Glinda flopped against her with a content sigh. She kissed her forehead. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
For a moment, they were back to the way they were months ago, before all these complications got in the way of their pure relationship. Glinda was Elphaba's little secret, and Elphaba was Oz's big secret.
"Miss Thropp!" came a knock at the door. "A moment, please?"
Glinda paused in her kiss. "Who's –"
"Morrible," Elphaba hissed through her teeth, pushing herself up.
Glinda fell off her lap with a muffled hmmph. She looked around and quickly scampered under Elphaba's desk. The green woman quickly fixed her clothes and smoothed out her hair before answering the door.
"Miss Thropp," Morrible greeted.
"Madame," Elphaba nodded, stepping aside to allow Morrible to enter.
"These are the final papers to approve before the chaotic celebrations begin." She went over to Elphaba's desk.
The green woman did her best not to look like she was rushing as she stepped around Morrible to sit down. Her eyes drifted down to Glinda, the blonde's blue eyes staring back at her. She didn't look nervous at being discovered. In fact, she looked…
Elphaba had to tear her gaze away and skimmed the papers before signing at the bottom. She felt Glinda's fingers tickling her legs. She almost kicked her out of reflex.
"Today is a very big day," Morrible said conversationally.
"Yes," Elphaba agreed, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. Glinda was tickling the back of her calf.
"Are you ready?"
"I will keep my opening speech brief to allow you to shine."
"As you should. However, that's not what I'm referring to. This is a big event for the opera house. A big year. We must all remain focused."
"I understand, Madame," Elphaba said. Oz, she really needed this woman to leave. Glinda was pawing at her knee.
"I trust you read this morning's newspaper."
"Yes. What about it?"
"The Wizard made an unusual, public statement about one of the corps girls. The corps girl that you seemingly took a special interest in."
Glinda squeezed her leg. Elphaba bit her lip. Morrible raised her eyebrow.
"What about it?" Elphaba asked.
"I don't pretend to care about your connections, Miss Thropp. It is of little consequence to me how you got your little passion project noticed, but perhaps you proceed with more tact and caution from now on. It could bring unintentional, unwanted attention."
"Of course, Madame Morrible," Elphaba nodded, hoping that was the end of the conversation.
"I simply wish for you to be aware that I'm aware of more than I let on."
Thankfully, with that, the old woman nodded and left, closing the door behind her. Elphaba let out a loud sigh and pushed away from the desk. "Glinda Upland, you are absolutely incorrigible!" she hissed, though her voice lacked venom. "You little minx."
Glinda stuck her head out and playfully clacked her teeth with a biting noise. "You love me." She climbed out from under the desk and wrapped her arms around Elphaba.
"I do," the green woman admitted with a grin. "I really do, my sweet."
"Was Morrible –"
"She doesn't know the full story. About us, I mean. And even if she did, I don't think she'd care. She has her own list of things to worry about, and as she's said multiple times, she can't babysit me."
"Of course. But, I mean, she's not completely wrong. We must be careful."
"We are being careful. Morrible just loves being nosy while saying she's not being nosy. She was talking about the Wizard being my father. I know she found out when she received word directly from him to obey all my opera house decisions."
Glinda sighed. "Very well. Now that she's gone, we can finish our warmup."
Elphaba pulled Glinda against her body and swiped her hand across the small of her back, eliciting a soft purr from the petite blonde. "It will have to be quick, because we both must get ready."
"Then I will expect a proper cool down afterward."
Elphaba kissed her. "That can be arranged."
Glinda rolled onto her pointes and fought a grimace. Her feet hurt, she used the last of her rosin, and she wished she hadn't eaten that whole grain bagel for breakfast. She felt nauseous. She sipped her lemon water, willing her nerves to stop twisting around her stomach. A few more breaths, and her muscles relaxed.
She ran through her opening solo in her mind, marking the arm movements. She would perform right after the grand défilé, the parade of all the students and performers of the opera house. Normally, it was just for ballet, but since it was a special anniversary, everyone in the opera house would participate.
"Attention, everyone!" Greyling called, banging her cane.
The room quieted, and everyone shifted to look at the head of the ballet department.
"It is time to line up to go downstairs to the theater. Everyone will process by department. First voice department, then music, then ballet. The students of each department will lead. My dancers, you will put on your pancake tutus downstairs to save space. Everyone understand?"
"Yes, Miss Greyling," the room chorused, the voice students giggling at the unplanned harmonizing.
The old woman nodded and helped organize the lines. Glinda stood with Gysp and Maehri. The two ballerinas engaged her in conversation to pass the time, but Glinda's mind stayed on Elphaba. She tried not to touch her tutu too much, lest she ruin it with her nervous, oily hands. She knew Elphaba was giving her opening speech, and really wanted to be downstairs to see and support her.
"Nervous, Maehri?" Glinda asked, seeing the prima ballerina rub her stomach.
The young woman paused, then nodded. "Yeah. I don't think my breakfast agreed with me."
"We have a bit of time if you want to run and get some water," Gysp said.
She shook her head. "No. It's okay. I'll be fine."
"Attention, everyone! Let's begin heading downstairs now!" Greyling called. She helped shuffle everyone along, making sure they remained in their proper lines. "Ladies first, and gentlemen will follow!"
Once downstairs, Glinda ensured her 'Le Deira De Rouge' solo attire was properly preset. She donned her tutu and went back to line up. She could hear the music shift as the music department finished their presentation, and now it was the ballet department's turn.
The students performed first in rows of six. Greyling instructed everyone to make each step in fourth position, with pointed toes and arms in second, to ensure everything looked crisp and uniform. Everyone applauded as each line reached the foot of the stage and split center to march off to the wings. She heard the crowd oohing and awing as the pristine ballerinas processed in.
After the students, the corps group followed. Milla and Pfannee waved to her before they went onstage. ShenShen and Liynn marched in with the last of the corps group as two recently promoted ballerinas, while Himin led the men. Once the corps group finished, it was finally Gysp, Glinda, and Maehri's turn. The blonde stood between the two and took her position, lifting her head and extending her arms to second position as she stepped out and down.
She maintained a soft smile, focusing on staying in line with her partners. Everyone applauded when they reached the foot of the stage and performed a grand révérence. The lights kept her from seeing into the auditorium, but she could feel all her loved ones sending love back to her. Fiyero, Ama Clutch, and Elphaba were there. Especially Elphaba.
At the end, Crope escorted her and Maehri back out, and the entire ballet department stood onstage together. As Greyling and Merante came out, they all slowly cascaded to the ground in low bows. Those in the front stayed kneeling and applauded their department head. Once Greyling received her praise, she returned some to her dedicated performers and led them off the stage.
"Miss Upland, you have ten minutes to change," Greyling said when the blonde passed her.
"Yes, Miss Greyling," Glinda nodded, grabbing her costume from the rack.
Morrible went onstage to talk more about the opera house's programming to fill time. Once she was done, she introduced Glinda as the first performer.
The curtain rose as everyone applauded. Glinda, now dressed in a light blue, lacey dress, took her starting pose. The orchestra began the fifteen-minute song, and Glinda took a deep breath before extending her leg.
She spun, leaped, and glided across the stage, her heartbeat syncing with the beat of the music. Her soul was flying. Her smile turned genuine with every pirouette. The music swelled, and she prepared for the grand ending. She rose to her toes and bourréed across the stage, her footsteps silent as her legs fluttered. Her arms above her head, she gracefully turned around herself, prepped, perfectly executed fifteen fouettés, and finished in a perfectly straight arabesque.
The whole room erupted with cheers so loud, it was deafening to the soloist on stage. Glinda held the position until the lights dimmed, and only released her held breath when the curtain dropped. She immediately ran off-stage, pacing in circles to keep the adrenaline pumping in her blood. She knew once she stopped, the tiredness and soreness from the fifteen-minute dance would catch up to her, and she had to maintain her lead for as long as possible.
She changed into her blue, tulle dress and marked the choreography for her duet with Crope, and her trio with Crope and Maehri. Thankfully, those two were back-to-back, leaving her no time to be tired.
After executing her second and third performances, Glinda finally allowed herself to stop. Once she was far backstage enough, she stood still. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, then felt her torso leaning forward towards the floor.
"Whoa! Steady now!"
She felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her, and her eyelids fluttered open to reveal who had caught her. "Fiyero," she hummed, giving him a tired smile.
He carried her bridal-style to a nearby chair and helped her sit, supporting her head as she leaned against him. "You were magnificent, darling," he smiled, kissing her sweaty forehead. He helped her take small sips of water, pulling it away when she breathed so she wouldn't choke.
"Thank you," she smiled. "Oz, I'm exhausted."
"I bet." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her hair, glad they were all alone. "Glinda, I have to tell you something."
"Can't it wait?"
"It's important."
She sighed, but lifted her face to him. "Yes?"
"The reason I –"
"There you two are."
The couple looked up as Elphaba came over, a curious smile on her lips.
"You were stunning, Glinda."
Glinda brightened at the sight of her friend, but didn't move from her comfortable spot against Fiyero. But she noticed Elphaba's empty hands and frowned. "Where's my purple rose?" the blonde pouted.
Elphaba chuckled. "I have a much better congratulatory gift for you, my sweet. But for now, you have an adoring public in the foyer awaiting you."
"You didn't get me an adoring public, did you?"
"No. You got this adoring public all by yourself."
She carefully pushed away from Fiyero. "Alright." She rose to her feet, wincing as her stiff muscles suddenly stretched, and went outside.
"Elphaba," Fiyero began once they were alone. "I was going to tell Glinda the truth."
Elphaba's eyes narrowed. "What? Are you crazy?"
"No. Are you crazy, trying to hide this from her? She deserves to know the truth."
"And why would you want to tell her. You're developing feelings for her, so telling her is pointless."
"I wanted to tell her because of my developing feelings. The longer we wait, the more complicated this situation will be."
"I held up my end of the bargain, Fiyero. You have a seat on the board, and your parents are proud of you. You cannot go back on your word now. Besides, I asked you to charm her, not actually fall in love."
"Did you really not think that feelings would naturally develop? You're mad at me for my feelings, but not at Glinda's mutual feelings for me? Or did you think that her infatuation with you would stop her from looking at someone else?"
She ignored that last part. "This was only supposed to start a rumor that you were interested in her until I could find a way to give her a permanent spot as a principal dancer. Then she'd have a more secure position, and she wouldn't need to rely on her parents' money to stay here with me."
"I'm well aware of your plan."
"So stick to it and we won't have any problems," she hissed. She let it sink in before softening slightly. "Fiyero, Glinda is all I have here. The only thing in my life that has ever brought me happiness. I refuse to lose her. Please. You can have any girl you want. Don't take mine."
"You'll lose her if you keep lying to her. If we keep lying to her. And I'm not trying to take her. Glinda can make her own decisions… if only you'd let her."
"Fiyero –"
"If you love her as much as you claim, you'll stop lying to her."
And with that, the prince left, leaving Elphaba to wonder whether he was still going to tell Glinda the truth or not.