Glinda sat on the floor of her bedroom, darning the boxes on her new pointe shoes. This was a last-minute new pair, and she didn't have time to give it to Milla. She wasn't as good as her friend, but it was good enough to last.
Ama Clutch had run to the shops, so Glinda was home alone for the next few hours. While she loved being around others and being the center of attention, she also liked being alone from time to time. It allowed her to clear her mind and center herself from her fast-paced, non-stop schedule.
"Come in," she called to a knock on her door.
The door opened and Henv entered and bowed. "A note for you, Miss Upland."
The blonde looked up and took the note from the butler. "Thank you, Henv."
The older man bowed and left. Glinda put her shoes aside and carefully tore open the envelope. She expected it to be a message from Ama Clutch, saying she would be running late, but she was surprised to see it was actually from Elphaba.
Glinda,
If you are free, please join me by the fountain in Oz Deer Park for a picnic lunch at 2.
E.
Glinda stared at the short and sweet request with a smile. She rarely met Elphaba out of the privacy of select parts of the opera house, so a public meeting was quite the surprise. Though going out to town without her chaperone would be unseemingly, she figured a quick trip to the park wouldn't tarnish her reputation. She looked at the clock, and realized that if she hurried, she could meet Elphaba. So she quickly grabbed her hat, gloves, and cloak, and penned a quick note to leave for Ama Clutch as she called Henv to ready her carriage.
She reached the park a bit before two, and made her way to the fountain. She immediately spotted Elphaba, wearing her usual black dress and simple black bonnet, kneeling on a red gingham blanket. She had a large basket and was unpacking a small spread of food. "Hi, Elphie."
The green woman looked up and smiled. "Glinda. You received my note in time."
She sat across from her on the blanket. "You saved me from a boring afternoon of darning new pointe shoes."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. You can –"
"You didn't. I can finish later. My current shoes can get me through the end of the week."
Elphaba chuckled and handed Glinda a small plate of finger sandwiches. "Then I'm glad I could be of service."
"What's the occasion?"
"It's the last warm weeks of summer. I like to enjoy it before the rainy season starts, and I've never had anyone to enjoy it with until now."
Glinda smiled, unsuccessfully trying to hide her blush behind a large cookie bite. Elphaba finished setting up, then plated a few sandwiches and crackers onto her plate. "I haven't had much time to relax. The classes are getting tougher, and when I'm not in class, I must warm up and prepare for the performance. I love my life in the ballet, but it can get very consuming."
"I understand. There's not much I'd rather do other than work, since it's just me here."
Glinda knew Elphaba was living alone in the city, but this was the first time it had fully sunk in. "It must be lonely."
"There's a difference between being alone and being lonely."
"Which are you?"
Elphaba paused, biting her lip as she stared at her plate before slowly lifting her eyes to meet Glinda's questioning gaze. "More the latter than the former."
"You will come to my house for dinner," Glinda proclaimed, leaving no room for argument. "There's no performance on Tuesday due to the bank holiday, so you will come then."
Elphaba looked taken aback by the sudden declaration. "I will?"
"Yes, because you just admitted to being lonely. No one should be lonely during a holiday."
"It's just a bank holiday. Hardly anything worth getting invited to dinner for. I…" She didn't want to decline, but didn't want to impose, either. But one look at Glinda's pleading expression melted her resolve. "I would love to. Thank you."
Glinda squealed, and the girls finished their picnic, resting against the large tree trunk once they finished eating. It was only when the bell tolled five times that Glinda realized how much time they spent there and said she had to go to the opera house. Elphaba offered to escort her, and the two leisurely made their way to their establishment of employment.
"Thank you for escorting me," Glinda said once they reached the corner. Elphaba never went in the front door – for reasons that Glinda assumed, but were never verified – so they always parted ways at the street corner.
"Of course, Glinda. Thank you for joining me today."
Glinda gave Elphaba a light hug and walked toward the opera house, aware that Elphaba was watching her and wouldn't leave the corner until she was safely inside the building.
Tuesday came faster than Glinda expected, for which she was grateful. She had informed Ama Clutch of her decision to invite Elphaba to dinner, and the older woman made no complaints about their additional guest. Early that evening, Glinda was extra wiggly, unable to hold still as Ama Clutch tried to pin her hair up.
"Duckie, if you do not hold still, I shall accidentally stab you with this pin," Ama Clutch huffed.
The blonde reluctantly forced herself to stop fidgeting, allowing her minder to finish her task and go over to her jewelry box.
"Oh, Glinda, you didn't tell me you bought this necklace."
"What necklace?" She stood and peered over her Ama's shoulder, seeing the necklace Elphaba gave her. Then the memory of her first seeing it with Ama Clutch hit. "Oh, that necklace. I didn't buy it. It was… a gift."
"From your secret admirer at the opera house? Have you discovered who he is yet?"
"Not yet. I haven't received a gift in a while." It wasn't a complete lie. Once she started becoming closer to Elphaba, the surprise gifts stopped appearing at her station. She considered her special time with Elphaba better gifts than the little tokens, but if she were honest, she really missed those little tokens.
"Oh. I'm sorry, Duckie. I know how happy you were."
"It's alright. The busy schedule helped me get over it." She flitted over to her wardrobe. She knew exactly what she wanted to wear, and pulled out the cream-colored silk and taffeta gown she bought in the spring.
"Glinda, perhaps that dress is too… fancy," Ama Clutch said slowly, while helping Glinda into said-fancy dress.
The blonde adjusted the sleeves. "We have a guest coming to dinner tonight, Ama. And it's a holiday. You said this dress could be for when I invite someone to dinner."
"I said it could be for the nice gentleman who was sending you those flowers and –" She stopped, clocking the withering look on Glinda's face. But Ama Clutch wasn't stupid. She knew her little Glinda better than anyone. "Glinda, was Elphaba the one sending those to you?" She matched her withering look.
"So what if she was?"
"And I suppose she's the one who bought you this necklace," she continued, helping her with the jewelry in question.
"It's not what you think, Ama." It's exactly what you think. "Elphaba is just a good friend." She's much more than that now. "An important friend. I'd even go so far as to say my best friend. If you knew her the way I do –" You'd clutch your pearls. "You'd see –"
A knock stopped the rest of Glinda's speech (and inner continuations), and she hurried out, equally wanting to get away from Ama Clutch and towards Elphaba. She stopped in the parlor and straightened her skirt, hearing voices in the foyer.
"Miss Elphaba Thropp, Miss Upland," Henv said, stepping into the parlor with a bow.
"Thank you, Henv," Glinda nodded, bidding him to show Elphaba in.
He stepped aside and Elphaba stepped forward. Glinda's breath hitched when she saw her ensemble. Elphaba's floor-length, dark purple gown was covered in black lace, had a low neckline, long, slightly ruffled sleeves, and a hint of a bustle in the back. Her hair was in an intricate braid around her head, and part of her hair was loose down her back.
She looked so regal, Glinda almost curtsied to her. Instead, she cleared her throat and offered her hands. "Welcome, Elphaba."
Elphaba slipped her black-laced gloved hands into Glinda's with a gentle squeeze, her gaze lingering on her friend's neck before reaching her eyes. "Thank you for inviting me, Glinda. Miss Clutch," she nodded to the woman a few feet away.
All evidence of Ama Clutch's recent discovery was gone, and she politely greeted their guest. The trio sat in the parlor until dinner was announced. Ama Clutch asked Elphaba questions about the opera house, and Glinda was surprised at how she answered her job inquiries without being obviously vague.
"And do you have a gentleman suitor?" Ama Clutch asked, making Elphaba almost choke on her wine.
"Ama!" Glinda hissed, feeling her face turn red in embarrassment.
"I do not, and I'm appropriately chastised for it by my sister. Work at the opera house takes up most of my time," Elphaba said.
Ama Clutch hummed. "You spend a lot of time with Glinda."
"Ama!" Glinda hissed again.
"Glinda has become a very good friend," Elphaba answered so honestly, that even Glinda missed the extra hidden meaning. "I've worked so hard to build up my hard exterior over the years, and I don't mind that Glinda's torn it down in a matter of months."
"You say that like it wasn't hard work," Glinda chuckled.
"You made it look rather easy."
Ama Clutch glanced between the two girls, but her questions were finished for the evening. After dinner, they had coffee and cakes in the parlor, and Ama Clutch announced that she was going to retire early.
"Don't stay up too late, Glinda," Ama Clutch said, kissing her forehead. "Goodnight, Miss Thropp."
"Goodnight, Miss Clutch," Elphaba nodded, and the girls watched the older woman disappear around the corner, not making a noise until they heard her room door close.
"I told Ama Clutch that you're my best friend, and I don't think she believes me," Glinda admitted softly.
"She thinks I'm a con artist who's going to murder you?" Elphaba blinked.
"No, you mean green thing," Glinda laughed, and Elphaba cracked a smile. "I think… she knows… about us."
"Oh. That's why she was interrogating me?"
"I'm sorry. I hid it for as long as I could, but she raised me. She knows me better than my parents know me. Which doesn't mean much, since my parents don't know me, so I suppose a better analogy would be that she knows me better than I know myself. I can't keep secrets from her forever."
"I understand. Do you think she'll tell anyone?"
"No. I mean, she left us alone down here. And she's still responsible for me. I don't think she'll advertise a reason for her to get fired."
"I suppose that's a good enough reason to trust her."
Glinda hummed. "I never complimented your ensemble. You look beautiful."
Elphaba smiled and quickly freed her hair from its updo. "Thank Oz. I was waiting for you to say that all night so I could free myself from this headache." She sighed in relief as the tension ebbed, closing her eyes as she rubbed her temple. When she opened her eyes, she found Glinda openly staring at her, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. "What?"
"Nothing," Glinda whispered, flustered, shyly turning away at being caught.
Elphaba gently turned her back towards her. "You look beautiful, too."
Glinda smiled and pulled out her hairpins, dramatically shaking her hair. Elphaba laughed, then covered her mouth at her unexpectedly loud volume.
"It's alright. Ama Clutch sleeps like a log," Glinda said, shifting closer to Elphaba, placing a delicate hand on her knee. "It's just us." She leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on Elphaba's lips; a silent, introductory question for more.
Elphaba stared at her for a moment, then nodded, initiating the second kiss. She felt the blonde's hand snake up her leg and torso to her shoulder, then pulled herself closer. Her own verdant hand rose, and her fingers tangled in loose, blonde curls.
"Glinda," Elphaba muttered when she felt Glinda playing with the buttons on her dress. "I have an early morning."
"You can have a late night."
"How late?"
Glinda opened her eyes and pulled back slightly, expecting to see a playful smirk. Instead, she was met with an unsure frown. "Do you… want a late night?"
"I didn't plan on it, but now that it was offered…"
Glinda stood up and pulled Elphaba with her, giggling like a sneaky schoolgirl as she led her up the stairs. She pushed her friend into her bedroom and closed the door behind her, already fighting to remove her own gown. Elphaba quickly assisted, letting the large dress pool around Glinda's feet, leaving her exposed in her corset and long bloomers. Elphaba unhooked her necklace, and Glinda turned so Elphaba could unlace her corset.
Green hands hesitated before slowly untying the ribbons. She immediately turned around when Glinda let her undergarment drop to the floor.
Glinda looked over her shoulder and her lips twitched at Elphaba's reaction. She put on a loose-fitting chemise, and started to unhook Elphaba's buttons. Elphaba's dress fell, exposing her long slip. She stepped out and kicked it aside.
"What?" the green woman blinked when she noticed Glinda staring at her.
"You're not wearing a corset."
"I'm not, because I like breathing."
"How indecent," Glinda giggled and wrapped her arms around Elphaba's neck, resuming their kiss as she ran her hands up and down Elphaba's sides.
"Besides, I've always prided myself on my naturally elegant figure without the use of one."
Glinda pulled the slip tighter around Elphaba's body, swearing she could see her ribs poking through. "You're practically all skin and bones." She had never noticed how skinny Elphaba actually was.
"You don't usually wear a corset."
"Yes, well…" Glinda blushed. "That's true. But I wear them when I'm not dressed for dancing. Besides, I'm petite, but I'm petite with muscle." She stared at Elphaba's bones, then noted her self-conscious look. "You're…"
"I'm not sick, nor am I starving myself," she said with a hint of agitation. She had never been this exposed in front of anyone before. Not even her sister ever saw her in just her undergarments. "Don't look at me like that." She grabbed her dress and made to put it back on.
Sensing she might have hit a sensitive subject, Glinda quickly sought a distraction, and possibly a way to apologize. She took Elphaba's hands, stilling her from redressing. "I said you are beautiful. I haven't changed my mind." To illustrate her point, her hands snaked their way back up Elphaba's torso, lightly brushing against her shoulders, and up to her cheeks.
It took Elphaba a moment, but she dropped her dress and reciprocated the gentle touches, silently letting Glinda know she was forgiven. Her lips parted and captured Glinda's in a not-quite-delicate kiss.
"Elphie," the blonde moaned, gently pushing her back onto her large, four-poster bed.
Elphaba let out a surprised gasp, not prepared to be suddenly sat down, but didn't object when Glinda sat on her lap and gently pushed her back. The blonde gently removed her companion's glasses and carefully placed them on the nightstand to protect them from their activity. After another round of kisses, the girls lay on the bed, cuddling.
"I love you, Elphie," Glinda whispered sleepily.
Elphaba intertwined their fingers and kissed her knuckles. "I love you, too, Glinda."
"Are we… in love with each other?"
Elphaba turned towards her, their closeness being the only reason she could see her somewhat clearly. "We just said –"
"Yes, but there's a difference between loving someone and being in love with them."
Elphaba was quiet, not knowing the answer to the question. "I… I don't know." She was still trying to catch her breath from the kissing, and was too tired to try and force her brain to think clearly.
"You don't need to answer me right now. If I'm honest, I'm still figuring it out, too."
"Could we be… in love?"
"Ye- N- Maybe," she stuttered. "Are you expecting your family to arrange a marriage to a rich gentleman for you?"
"My sister wouldn't try to arrange a marriage for me because she doesn't want to give up chastising me for being single."
"I think it would be fun… being in love."
Elphaba frowned. "Fun?"
Maybe 'fun' wasn't the correct word. "I just meant –"
"Because we'd have to hide, and the 'fun' game would be how long can we keep up the secret?"
"Elphaba –"
Elphaba pushed herself onto her elbows, then fully up. "I should go."
"No, don't go. I'm sorry." She knelt on the bed and grabbed her arm.
"Glinda, you must understand. This game will have to end, and neither of us will be winners. I said I love you, Glinda, but that might be why I can't be 'in love' with you." She desperately tried to free herself, but Glinda was strong. Petite with muscle. "Glinda, please –"
No. She refused to end the night like this. She stood and pulled Elphaba back to her, pressing her petite body against hers, and muttered a desperate apology into her chest. She could feel Elphaba stop fighting to escape and relax, but she didn't return the hug. "I can take this seriously. I will take this seriously. I love you, Elphie." She held her breath, finally letting it go when Elphaba slowly returned the hug. "Thank you."
"I stand by what I said before. About the dangers."
"I know. And we can be careful." She stood on her toes to plant a kiss on her lips. "Come back to bed."
"Not exactly careful, is this?" Elphaba smirked as she allowed herself to be pulled back onto the bed, this time, slipping under the covers next to Glinda and holding her in her arms.
"You should send a message to your driver. That you'll be staying."
"I walked, so there's no need to worry."
"Walked? Well, now I can't let you leave. It would be unseemingly for a young, unmarried woman to walk the streets alone at night. Think of what that will do to your reputation."
Elphaba chuckled and kissed Glinda's forehead. "I can't have a tarnished reputation if no one knows who I am. But I shall stay for my own protection. And to keep your pretty, blonde head from worrying about me."
Glinda smiled and snuggled deeper into Elphaba's arms, feeling protected by her protection.
starspangledpumpkin drew this absolutely beautiful illustration of the Chapter 6 scene where Elphaba was helping Glinda stretch. The link is in my profile!