Wicked Secret Santa

“That is the last time I’m allowing Averic to set off one of those damn firecrackers around me…” Galinda grumbled under her breath.

“Are you alright, Galinda?” Elphaba asked with concern, approaching her slowly.

“Elphie!” Galinda shouted, immediately snapping out of her grumpy state. She threw her arms around Elphaba’s shoulders, and buried her face in the crook of her neck. “Oh, I missed you, Elphie. You said you’d be back in only a clock tick!”

“I was!” Elphaba replied, struggling in Galinda’s grip. “I was only gone for 30 minutes.”

“Elphieee, that’s still way too long,” Galinda said with a dramatic flair. Her breath tickled Elphaba’s neck, causing her face to heat up.

“Umm, Galinda, I love you, but you’re cutting off the circulation in my arms.”

“Oops! Sorry, Elphie,” Galinda said, releasing her grip.

“So, are you gonna tell me what happened out there and why you’re covered in soot?”

Galinda blew a stray strand of hair out of her face with a huff, and looked at Elphaba with an exasperated expression. “It was Averic and his stupid fire crackers! He says it’s for the spirit of Lurlinemas, but I swear he’s gonna kill someone with those things one day.” Elphaba watched as her eyes shifted from her own to the bag on Elphaba’s bed, and her eyes lit up. “Wat’cha got in that bag, Elphie?”

Elphaba jumped as if someone shocked her, and rushed to sit on her bed to cover the bag. “Nothing,” she said, her voice pitched up a little higher than normal.

Galinda rolled her eyes playfully. “Oh, c’mon. You can’t tell me?”

“No! It’s a surprise.”

“Oh, please, please, please, Elphie!” Galinda said with her hands clasped in front of her. “Just a little hint?”

“No, Galinda,” Elphaba said, chuckling despite herself. “Don’t you want a nice surprise on Lurlinemas?”

Galinda stuck out her bottom lip. “Yeah, but…” she trailed off, and spun around to walk toward her own bed, her hair twirling behind her.

Elphaba thought for a moment, then reached out to touch Galinda’s arm. “Galinda, wait.”

Galinda turned back around. “Yes?” She asked, a hopeful look in her eyes.

Elphaba smiled a lopsided smile. “Galinda, we’ve been dating for a while now, and, well… I wanted to thank you for being one of the few people in my life who can still see the good in me. So, I suppose I can give you this now.”

Galinda covered her mouth with her hands, squealing. “Oh, Elphie, that is so sweet. Of course I can see the good in you. You are a good person.” Elphaba nodded silently, holding out the bag to her. Galinda took the bag gently, and pulled out what was inside. In her hands she held a small book with a rose gold plated cover and golden pages. “Oh my… is this a spell book?”

“Read what it says.”

“‘The Wonderful Book of Beauty Spells’… Oh, Sweet Oz, thank you, Elphie!” Galinda said, dropping the book and wrapping her arms around Elphaba to kiss her.

Elphaba laughed, and said “hey, be careful with that! Those spell books are hard to come by.”

“Oh, yes, of course,” Galinda giggled, picking the book up off the floor. “I’m so excited to try out these spells! Madame Morrible will be so impressed by the time the new term starts.”

It made Elphaba wonder if The Wizard might look upon her similarly; would he see her as a young ingenue, perhaps as a daughter-figure? 

Elphaba would be lying if she said she hadn’t sometimes imagined being adopted by The Wizard as a girl, dreaming day and night of the mysterious and powerful man coming to steal her away in his hot air balloon, ready to de-greenify her and let her lead Oz alongside him.

“I will, I’ll try,” she had told Madame Morrible, determined and nervous all in one.

She’d been so nervous that she’d almost invited Galinda with her, but something had held her back at the last minute, something strange happening between Galinda and Fiyero.

Ever since that night at the Ozdust, Galinda hadn’t been vying for Fiyero’s attention as much, if at all. No, ever since her botched makeover, her odd, tactile friend had been clingier, even struggling to let go of Elphaba when it was time for her train to leave. There was a strange look in her Galinda’s eyes, one that almost seemed to be begging, pick me, choose me, let me come with you, yet neither girl had made a move.

Both she and Fiyero had shown up together, both holding a bouquet of poppies and glaring at the other. It was… well, it was strange. If she didn’t know any better - which she did - she would think they’d broken up. But they were the perfect couple.

And then Galinda had become Glinda, the whole performative spectacle wholly distracting Elphaba, as her square jaw ticked with audacious laughter as she glanced at Fiyero, who was watching with just as much incredulity. Yet, he was also acting strangely, his bright eyes looking back and forth between the two girls. He had that look about him that he got when trying to solve a particularly difficult mathematics problem.  

He’d tried to offer her his bouquet, but Glinda had offered hers to Elphaba first, completely cutting in front of him off. Was she… jealous of the attention Fiyero was giving her? That didn’t make any sense. Why would she be jealous of her own boyfriend?

Of course, she didn’t get a chance to ask; she’d barely had time to bid farewell to her sister and to hug her friend. 

“I’ll see you soon, Elphie!” Glinda had called out as she boarded, her small figure disappearing into the crowd. Elphaba had been a little surprised, a little bereft, that her friend hadn’t said she’d miss her, even if she was only going to be gone for one short day.

Little did she know…

She soon found herself wishing she had invited her friend because, as she explored the train, she realized she was the only passenger. She was alone.

So, what else was she to do but to continue to explore the train all by her lonesome? It was odd; she wasn’t used to being in the quiet, alone anymore. Not since two loud popular kids came into her life.

After hours of sampling snacks, reading every magazine she could find, Elphaba decided she was going to take a nap. There had to be a cabin around here somewhere, right?

But the strangeness of the day only continued as she heard what sounded like snoring coming from a room. Familiar snoring, very familiar snoring. 

Elphaba opened the cabin door and went to turn on a light, and realized she didn’t need to as the room was lit with… fireflies?

Yes, the whole room was lit by several jars full of fireflies, their lights beating in time with her heart as she took in the sight before her:

Galinda- Glinda Upland was lying in the middle of the bed, surrounded by poppy petals with the broken stem of a poppy between her teeth. She was snoring loudly and… was she… had she…? Yes, she was chewing on the flower in her sleep. No wonder she passed out like that day in class.

But as Elphaba approached her, she realized that Glinda wasn’t just conked out in the bed she had been about to use for a nap; she was asleep, half-dressed. Though even saying half-dressed was generous. Elphaba had seen her blonde roommate in various stages of undress, but never anything like this; the curly-haired girl was wearing what could only be described as a sheer negligee, a rich emerald green that looked like the perfect match for her own skin, if her skin was naturally shimmery. Her roommate had already decided that night after the Ozdust that pink goes good (re: well) with green and in the pink light of the setting sun, she had to agree that it so does, the healthy flush of rose in her roommate’s pale skin accentuated by the light outside and within, making the emerald of her barely there outfit pop even more. Yes, barely there was right because somehow the already thin, minuscule material had hiked up and now Elphaba could see… Well, she could see a lot. A lot, a lot. So much a lot.

She’d never seen so much of any girl before, least of all her roommate.

As Elphaba approached her, blinking down at her slumbering friend, she couldn’t help but wonder aloud, “Galinda, why are you here?” not that she didn’t want the girl there, on the contrary she was the only one she could envision going to the Emerald City and meeting The Wizard with, and it was as if Glinda had her mind, to some extent, because, well, she was here. She was here in Elphaba’s bed, practically naked, surrounded by flowers and glowbugs, but why?

Maybe Elphaba should just let her sleep? No, she was far too curious. Maybe she should wake her?

But it seemed Glinda had made yet another decision for her, startling awake just as Elphaba was bending down to pull the threadbare blanket over her mostly nude body. Just as she was about to cover the sleeping girl, bright sapphire eyes were suddenly open and staring at her, so big and wide she would never have guessed their owner had been completely unconscious just moments before.

“Elphie!” Glinda greeted her so warmly, as if her name was a celebration of its own, though her words were slightly muffled by the flower she was still idly chewing on. She frowned and tried to look down at her own mouth, making a “blech” sound as she spat out the previously beautiful poppy. “Ugh, gross!” she gagged as she sat up, her lingerie riding up even further to expose not just her, ahem, assets but also golden curls and- well, it’s good to know her friend was a natural blonde, she supposed. She’d assumed, but you know what they say when you assume…

“Uh, Galinda,” Elphaba tried to literally point to her friend’s essentially bottomless state, her dark gaze unable to tear itself away as she watched Glinda stand on her knees, exposing herself even more. “Um, Galinda… you-”

Her friend rubbed her tongue with her hand and then proceeded to wipe it with the see-through emerald cloth, which had the added effect of making it… ride up even more, now her friend was naked from the belly down and, wow, she… looked really soft even with her hair between her legs, she still looked so soft and inviting and, oh no, Glinda was still wiping her tongue, the skin under her heavy breasts now visible. She could see the edges of bright pink nipples now. Was she about to see her friend entirely naked?

“Elphie!” Glinda tried again, grabbing Elphaba and pulling her towards her so she could wrap herself around her green friend in a tight, way too intimate a hug. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to fall asleep! I was trying to surprise you- why are you staring at me like that? Don’t you like my outfit? I bought it specifically for your big day, Elphie.” Glinda was pouting up at her now, her hands holding both of Elphaba’s as she swung them gently back and forth. “I know green isn’t your favorite color,” she said as though implying it was hers, “but you don’t think it goes good with pink?”

“Goes well with pink,” Elphaba corrected without even meaning to, staring at the pinkness in question. She is so, so, so very pink. I wonder if I’m that pink down there, deep down past the green. I wonder if I look as pretty as her.

“Elphie, where are you looking- oh! Oh… oh, well… I mean, that helps to move things along. Do you like your surprise, Elphie?” The little minx was now pulling her onto the bed, reclining back as she struck a pose, one that definitely, uh… opened her up more. 

Brown eyes blinked down at her, staring at the glistening pink between her legs. She’s wet. Why is she wet? Was she dreaming about Fiyero? Why would she be dreaming about him here? Wait, why IS she here? “Huh? My surprise?” the green girl repeated slowly, not understanding.

Glinda stared up at her, hurt beginning to fill her big eyes. “Yes, my dearest Elphie, your surprise!” And when Elphaba didn’t react to the girl, whose exuberance was beginning to diminish like the light of the day, she gestured wildly around her and shouted, “Surprise!”

Elphaba just stared at her longer, still unable to fully look away from the heavenly sight before her. Her privates were so delicate and small (like their owner) but demure (unlike their owner), her lower lips tucked into themselves like they were pursed, as though they were keeping a secret. Though the secret clearly wasn’t her arousal since that was, well, very obvious. “Surprise? Glinda, what are you doing here?” She didn’t mean to, but her voice came out brusque, her confusion sounding more like annoyance even to her own ears. She watched her tone practically slap her friend, whose pout only deepened, eyes beginning to fill with tears.

“You don’t… want me here? You don’t want… me? Should I… should I have let Fiyero- was he right…? Oh Oz, he was, wasn’t he? You’d rather have him here half-naked in your bed being all romantical, not me!” Then, to her further confusion, her half-naked friend began to blubber like a baby, her face becoming as wet as her lower half.

Being all romantical? Elphaba echoed in her mind, not quite understanding. Romantical? Surprise.

Oh. Oh.

Romantical surprise.

Glinda was really starting to cry now as she hid her face, her legs closed as she drew her knees to her chest, which just ended up exposing her again, just admittedly less wide and- focus, Elphaba! She didn’t really know what to do in this situation, but what she did know was that she couldn’t let Glinda keep crying like this, especially when she was so very wanted. She was on the bed before she could even stop herself, the sounds of Glinda crying, the sight of her tears, of her small shoulders shaking, it was too much to bear. She gathered her friend into her arms and pulled her onto her lap, the girl immediately curling up and around her as she cried against Elphaba’s neck. “You don’t want me!” the girl wept, though each word was broken apart by a heaving sob.

“Galinda, I mean Glinda… I do want you here. I simply wasn’t expecting a… romantical surprise from you, is all,” she tried to explain to her friend, carding her fingers on one hand through the girl’s golden locks while the other rubbed her back through the silken material of her lingerie. This brought her attention back to the fact that Glinda was half-naked on her lap with her privates on display and was either too overcome with emotion to notice or to care. 

That got her friend to stop wailing. She sputtered to a stop like a broken carriage, looking up at Elphaba with her bright blue eyes much darker than normal and glimmering with tears. “You weren’t expecting me? But… I brought you flowers. I said I would see you later,” Glinda began to try and reason with her, though her reasoning fell rather flat. 

“Well, Fiyero brought me flowers, too… wait…” This was apparently the wrong thing to say, as it just made Glinda start sobbing all over again as she sputtered, “I knew it! No wonder you haven’t been noticing me flirting with you! You want him!”

Damn, she’d been so close to victory. “Ga- Glinda, I thought you and Fiyero were together?”

That didn’t feel like the right thing to say, but it wasn’t the wrong thing to say since it got Glinda to quiet again. “Me and Fiyero? We broke up. Didn’t I tell you?” No, no, you did not. “After you and I danced together, I realized… well, I just kinda liked the idea of Fiyero, but the… the, what’s the word you’d use, Elphie? Oh! The actuality of him, yeah, you’d say that, I didn’t really like the actuality of him. I liked- I like your actuality.” Then the girl was beaming up at her with those deep dimples, smiling as though she hadn’t been crying just seconds ago.

Elphaba blinked down at her friend and tried, and failed, to process the words she had just heard. “You snuck onto the train to plan a romantical surprise because you… You like me not, Fiyero?” Had she really heard her friend correctly?

Apparently, she had because Glinda was throwing her arms around Elphaba’s neck and giggling, “Yes! Oh, Elphie, so, do you like your surprise? I picked this out for you and everything! What do you think, hm? No one has ever seen me in any so scandalocious before.” She leaned back, tipping out of Elphaba’s lap as she tried, and failed, to pose in what she must’ve thought was a sexy manner.

Her brain was finally starting to catch up to her hammering heart as she realized, once again, how underdressed her friend was. Glinda was moving back into her original positioning, leaning back against the headboard. “Well, Elphie?” 

“I-I-I, well, you look-” Elphaba tried to find the words, her eyes, once again, falling to the pink jewel between her friend’s legs. This finally seemed to catch Glinda’s attention as she looked down, then back up, her own eyes innocently wide. “Oh,” her friend murmured in a soft, shocked little voice.

She could see Glinda becoming self-conscious, and she… she found she didn’t want that, she didn’t like seeing her normally self-assured friend acting anything less than confident, especially when she had planned to, what, seduce her? Oh, Oz, she wants to… Oh, oh Oz. “Glinda, you’re beautiful,” Elphaba reassured her friend as she climbed further onto the bed, hovering over her blushing roommate. Glinda was looking everywhere, but at her, so she cupped her friend’s face, rubbing her thumbs over the apples of her cheeks until blue eyes looked up at her, so full of fear… fear she had put in her friend’s heart. “I bet you’re prettier than the entire Emerald City,” she told her fervently, not sure where this desire to quell her friend’s anxieties had come from. She only knew that seeing the sun disappear behind a storm cloud hurt her heart more than anything.

“I’ve just never- well, I’ve never had anyone do this for me before. I don’t really know… what you were surprising me with. But I do know that I wished as soon as the train left the station that I had invited you with me. I don’t know why I didn’t… but I thought…” I thought you and Fiyero needed time alone together. Clearly, she had been wrong, very, very wrong. 

Glinda seemed to finally catch up, scrambling to her knees as her nose brushed against Elphaba’s. “Oh, oh… right, of course you wouldn’t. Because of the…” she waved her hand as they both said, “...green.” Elphaba nodded slowly, watching as that realization bloomed like the gentlest budding flower on her friend’s face, Glinda smiling at her as she mirrored green hands, cupping an even greener face with her own paler fingers. “I guess then I have to show you how it’s done. Can I… Elphie?” Those deep blue eyes were staring into her darker gaze imploringly, begging for only one answer to that question. Elphaba couldn’t say it, but she could nod, slowly but not hesitantly.

Because she’d be lying if she said she hadn’t imagined this with both Glinda and Fiyero. And she’d be lying even more if she said she hadn’t been imagining this with one of them more than the other. She just hadn’t let herself do more than imagine because who would ever want to be friends with a green girl, let alone touch her and be touched by her?

Apparently, at least two people.

And one of them was in this cabin with her, holding her face as though she were something precious to be cradled and taken care of.

Pretty pink lips touched hers tentatively, giving her ample time to move away, but Elphaba had never been kissed; she wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

She understood immediately, as soon as she felt those lips, it was as if she had been shocked by static electricity,  just zapped! And then it was as if that surge of energy had flipped something deep within her, and suddenly, she was kissing Glinda back. 

Within seconds of the initial kiss, her back hit the bed, and suddenly, Glinda was on top of her, straddling her. In this position, with her friend’s legs spread across her hips, she could see her much more clearly. It was like looking at a perfectly shaped chunk of rose quartz split in half, the kind that hid inside a geode. Except where the crystal would have been rough and spiky, Glinda was smooth and velveteen. Her womanhood was like a living rose quartz geode, a real treasure.

Elphaba found she wanted very much to see just how soft and wet it was, but Glinda had other ideas.

Glinda was shucking her dress up, making little sounds of frustration that (belatedly) clued Elphaba in on the fact that her roommate needed help, so she wrenched her dress up and over her head, leaving her in her underclothes with a whole lot of green skin on display. She didn’t even have time to feel self-conscious, not with the way Glinda was staring at her, ravenous and reverent all at once.

“Elphie, can I…?” Glinda asked impatiently with a little whine, her fingers toying with the hem of her slip. And oh… her friend wants… oh.

She’d never admit it, but she wasn’t unfamiliar with these sorts of things; she read plenty of very graphic romance novels in her spare time, secretly, of course. Very secretly. So she knew what Glinda was asking without asking. But still, she never thought anyone would want to do this with her, so it did make her pause before she nodded.

“Can you tell me, Elphie, tell me you want this?” Glinda begged desperately, her voice going hoarse with emotions Elphaba didn’t know her friend could even feel for her.

With cheeks surely darkening, if how warm they felt, Elphaba nodded again and whispered, “I want this. I want you, Glin.”

That seemed enough for Glinda, who mirrored her blush as she slowly climbed up Elphaba’s body, bringing with her the pale white slip, dragging it up and revealing more and more of pale emerald skin that had never been seen by the light of day, let alone by anyone else’s eyes. But Glinda didn’t seem to mind, in fact she looked like she had been expecting it which… well, makes sense, but… still, Glinda didn’t seem to mind in fact that hungry look in her eyes only grew the more and more she saw of Elphaba, from the thicket of dark ebony almost violet curls to strong thighs, to jutting, narrow hips, and then to breasts smaller than Glinda’s own. Though she didn’t seem to mind that either, if her lips immediately found one was any indication.

Her mouth wasn’t the only thing moving, though, as Elphaba felt fingers dancing a little waltz down her belly, going further south as manicured nails combed through her untamed, coarse hair protecting her own privates, and shielding them from view.

Not for long, it seemed as Glinda used two fingers to spread her lips, thicker and longer than Glinda’s, her dark blue eyes growing darker, hungrier as she took in Elphaba. “Wow, Elphie, you’re beautiful.” The compliment fell like instinct from her pretty pink lips, echoing that morning after the Ozdust, where Glinda had uttered the words like a revelation. “Can I kiss you here, too?” she asked even quieter than before, her words so poetically obscene yet bashful. Elphaba found herself nodding again, but then remembering Glinda’s words, she found her own and spoke up quietly, “Ye-yes, you can kiss me… there.” She couldn’t say that, though, but it seemed that was good enough for Glinda because she connected her lips to Elphaba’s lower ones, placing a surprisingly chaste kiss on them.

And then she was not so chaste as her tongue drew a line from her wet opening up to the little bump at the top of her slit, making eye contact the entire time. The action coaxed a shy moan from Elphaba, and apparently, it was the right sound to make because Glinda perked her head up like a meerkat, kicking her feet behind her. She giggled and did it again, pulling another moan, and then another from Elphaba until the green girl was writhing beneath her.

Elphaba felt hot all over, like the kind of heat you feel when publicly embarrassed, except this time it felt good, really good. It was like her skin was buzzing, like there were millions of bees underneath it, filling every deep emptiness inside her, soft honeybees warmed by the summer sun. The buzzing started from her core, from Glinda’s tongue lapping eagerly at her, and spread through her torso, then her limbs. Something was building, and she knew what it was; she’d read about this in her novels. 

She was about to have her first orgasm, given to her by the prettiest girl in Oz. 

“Glin, I think I’m gonna- gonna-” her words stuttered like her hips, which circled out of rhythm, but Glinda didn’t seem to notice, or care, as she continued to lick her. “Can I… use my fingers, Elphie, please?” her friend asked her with those big blue eyes, pleading with her. Elphaba had never had someone so desperate to touch her before, especially like this, so she nodded. It was surprisingly sweet, achingly so. “Y-yeah, you can use your fingers, my sweet.” The pet name fell from her lips as naturally as breathing, because she was her sweet, wasn’t she? This girl, this miraculous girl that was far sweeter than she let on but seemingly was only this sweet for Elphie.

Fingers slowly traced her outer folds, two pressing in and massaging in circles as they slowly dragged down to her entrance, circling it once, twice, and then one finger slowly worked its way in. “Breathe for me, Elphie, just relax,” Glinda coached her gently, her words gentle but her voice was husky, her tone much lower than Elphaba had ever heard it. “Breathe in, then out, and in again. Deep breaths,” the blonde went on to say, waiting patiently. 

Elphaba nodded and did as told, and on the second exhale, she felt the finger move in a little more, and then on the last inhale, she felt her own muscles pull the finger fully in. The intrusion wasn’t unpleasant, but it was an odd sensation, one she’d never experienced before beca

use whenever she did touch herself (which was rare), she always stayed outside. But now she was seeing how much she was missing out on.

Glinda began to pump one finger in and out, and when she felt Elphaba relax more, she added a second finger, and it made Elphaba feel so full… and not just down there but in her heart, too. Someone cared about her enough, someone had yearned for her enough to set this all up. And not just someone, but her friend, her best friend, Glinda. Glinda, who had a look of pure concentration on her face as her eyes darted back and forth from her own fingers to Elphaba’s face. Her face was squinched up, and her tongue poked out as she brought Elphaba closer and closer to the edge.

Then Glinda’s mouth was on her again, sucking on her clitoris like candy as she continued to move her fingers in and out.

And that was enough to finally push Elphaba over the edge.

It felt like watching fireworks for the first time, wondrous and powerful, but also felt like when she got into Shiz, like the start of something new, the start of something exciting and big. 

She doesn’t know how long she lies there just writhing below her best friend, but when she comes to, sweet little kisses are being placed all over her face. “My sweet,” Elphaba can’t help but chuckle, scrunching her nose as she lies there and just takes it. Even though she sounds exasperated, she can’t help but enjoy the easy affection.

“Thank you, Elphie, thank you, thank you, thank you,” her best friend is murmuring gratefully between kisses, filling her heart until it felt like it would burst apart like she had just moments before. “You don’t need to thank me, my sweet. I should be thanking you.”

Glinda couldn’t help but guffaw because there was no better word to describe how she was suddenly laughing, almost incredulous. “Thank me? Elphie, it’s such a privilege to be able to touch you like this. For a while… I thought you only wanted this from Fiyero.” And Glinda wasn’t exactly wrong, though the fleeting feelings she had for Fiyero paled in comparison to this all-encompassing warmth and… love she feels for her best friend.

Elphaba shook her head, even if it was true hours before, it wasn’t true now. How could she even think about Fiyero now? How could he even be an option at this point? No, all she could see, smell, feel, and taste was Glinda, the other girl was truly overwhelming all her senses in the best possible way. “No, my sweet, it’s only you,” she told her honestly, smiling shyly at the admission. But the smiled dropped slightly as she asked, “what about you, Glin?”

“What about me?” She asked with a playful waggle of her eyebrows. “We have plenty of time, Elphie. We have the rest of our lives.”

And Elphie found herself wishing not to be degreenified, or even for the Animals to be freed, but rather for that hope… that they did have the rest of their lives together.

2 

that rasped out of her. They stayed wrapped together for a while, Elphaba conscious of Galinda’s  breathing slowly going down to a more normal rate as she nuzzled further into the warmth of  Elphaba’s neck.  

“Hey,” Elphaba said. Galinda didn’t look at Elphaba for a moment, until she cupped a warm hand  green hand against her cheek and raised Galinda’s face to meet her own.  

“Hi,” Galinda replied, a meek smile appearing. Elphaba gazed into her eyes, still a little glassy and  bloodshot from crying. Galinda didn’t make any attempt to fully extract herself from Elphaba’s arms,  so, Elphaba moved both of them a little out of the doorway and further into the dorm. Making her way  to Galinda’s bed, she slowly lowered her to a sitting position on the edge of the plush pink covers.  Elphaba remained standing, awkwardly fiddling her hands together as he eyes darted from Galinda to  around the room.  

“Um- Is there anything I can get for you? Tea? Food? A change of clothes? Or maybe you want- “ 

“Elphie,” Galinda interrupted Elphaba’s nervous ramblings. “Can you just…” she gestured to the spot  beside her on the edge of the bed.  

“Oh- yes of course.” Elphaba sat down beside Galinda, and as soon as she did, she felt soft arms wrap  around her again, as Galinda’s head hit her shoulder, comfortably nuzzling back in as soft puffs of air  melaolachly hit her neck.  

“Well first, when I got to breakfast, all of the red melon was taken,” began Galinda. Three weeks ago,  when they were less then civil with one another, Elphaba would have laughed at this. She would have  seen it as Galinda being spoilt, making a fuss over not getting something she wanted. But now  Elphaba knew far different.  

“So, you didn’t have anything to eat?” Galinda shook her head. Elphaba made a note to herself to  ensure that Galinda was to eat something before they slept tonight, if that meant Elphaba having to go  down to the dinning hall in her night gown, that would be what she’d do. 

3 

“Then I had my Life sciences class, and I couldn’t write anything, nothing was making sense and the  whole time Pfanne and Shenshen were gossiping about something or another. I’m already falling  behind in that class!” Cried Galinda as she wrapped herself somehow tighter around Elphaba.  

“Galinda,” cooed Elphaba. “You couldn’t look awful if you tried your hardest too. You look very  pretty in your glasses,” she said truthfully, watching Galinda cheeks flush as she looked to Elphaba  with a small smile.  

“Your just saying that because you have to,” argued Galinda.  

“Who said I have to?” Elphaba asked with a chuckle, bringing Galinda back into her arms. Galinda  shrugged,  

“Friendship contract.” 

“I didn’t sign any contract?” 

“It was a verbal one,” she mumbled nuzzling further in. Elphaba laughed at Galinda dramatics before  trying to bring them back to the root of the issue.  

“What else happened?” 

“At lunch, the dinning hall was far to loud because of all the second years have their daytime classes  cancelled to allow for exam study. So, I went outside to sit by the fountain but then I missed you,” admitted Galinda. Elphaba felt her breath hitch. Missed? Galinda missed her? 

“So, I went up to the library to try find you, but you weren’t there.” 

“I had an extra seminar with Madman Morrible today, remember? She was just helping me a little on  casting of a spell I’m struggling with,” reminded Elphaba.  

“Oh. I forgot,” Galinda said.  

Did you think I’d purposely avoid you?” Elphaba joked.  

“I don’t know, I just thought maybe you needed a break from me or something,” Galinda answered far  too seriously for Elphaba’s liking.  

“What? Galinda, no,” Elphaba turned a little forcing Galinda to raise her head from Elphaba’s  shoulder and face her as Elphaba intertwined their hands together. “I would ever avoid you, ever.  You’re my friend.” Galinda smiled a little, a twinkle return back to her eyes as she nodded  understanding. 

4 

“Galinda, you didn’t sound stupid. It was a hard question, the three people he asked after you weren’t  even able to answer it,” Elphaba reminded her.  

“But you were.” 

“Well, that’s because I’m special,” Elphaba bragged with a smirk. “And I can help you study the topic  if you’re struggling with it, you know. All you have to do is ask,” she said sincerely.  

“Then all I wanted to do was go back to the dorm, but Fiyero insisted we hadn’t had a date night in  weeks, which is true, but I really didn’t want to go. But I also felt guilty for just ignoring him this past  week. So, we went out shopping, and it was so boring, and tiring and loud and all I wanted to do was  come home.” Galinda explained.  

“You don’t need to feel guilty Galinda,” said Elphaba. “I mean, I’ve never had a boyfriend before,  obviously,” she added with a self-deprecating chuckle.  

“I’d be your boyfriend,” Galinda said immediately, looking up to Elphaba sincerely.  

“Oz, you really are tired, your becoming delirious my sweet,” Elphaba said, taken aback by Galinda’s  unusual statement, quickly trying to brush past it and ignore her face flushing a darker green. “So you  went out with Fiyero and-“ 

“Galinda, don’t say that. I’m here for you, like you are for me,” Elphaba reminded her.  

“It’s just sometimes it feels like my brain is going to explode, and that everyone is being too loud and I can understand anything or follow any conversation. Even if it’s something I’m really interested in  like Tibbett and Crope’s break up. I just… can’t,” Galinda tried to explain as she stared down at her  hands, pale fingers fiddling and picking at her nails.  

“Have you felt like this before?” Elphaba asked as she laid a slim green hand on Galinda’s own for  Galinda to play with instead.  

“A lot. Since I was a child. I feel it most days, but I can manage. Normally. Today was just different.” “Why did you never tell me?” Elphaba questioned softly. 

5 

One Month Earlier; 

Galinda walked down the hallway, head down and shoulders slanted, putting one foot in front of the  other held such effort that she thought she was going to collapse for exhaustion. As Galinda rounded  the corner, finally about to reach her dorm room, Pfanne emerged from the other hall and waved  Galinda down.  

“Galinda!” she called out as she sped up to meet her in the middle. Galinda groaned inwardly, she  had half the mind to turn around and pretend she hadn’t heard Pfanne’s call, go to the library and  hide out between the shelves to avoid the interaction. But it was to late now, she subconsciously straighten up and plastered a smile across her face, that didn’t quite reach her eyes.  

“Hi Pfanne,” she tried to say cheerily as they greeted one another in the middle of the hall. Galinda  eyed her dorm room only a few doors down longingly.  

“Soo, I heard about you and Fiyero,” she said in the pointed tone she always gossiped in.  “Me and Fiyero? Oh, that we are together yes, it’s very good,” she said unconvincingly.  

“No not that! Well of course that as well, but that’s old new Galinda,” Pfanne exclaimed. Galinda  didn’t think it was old news, since it had only really happened the day prior, but she didn’t protest,  eager to get this interaction over with as quickly as possible.  

“I was referring to the fact that your going, as a couple, to the Oz Dust! How scandalosious,” Pfannee said with a smirk.  

“Oh well, I’m the most scandalous fish in the sea,” said Galinda, inwardly cringing at her  awkwardness. “But I must get to my dorm room, you see I should prepare my outfit for tomorrow night,” said Galinda attempting to excuse herself as she slipped past Pfannee.  

“Wait Galinda,” Pfannee said stopping her. “Shenshen and I will meet at your dorm tomorrow, to  help you get changed of course, and us as well.” 

“Yes alright, see you then,” Galinda said with a little wave as she pushed her key into the lock,  clicking satisfyingly as the door swung open. She quickly scanned the room as she entered, relived  and unsurprised that her roommate, Elphaba, was not present. As usual probably bent over a book at  the library before returning late at night. Galinda didn’t mind of course, she welcomed the fact that  she didn’t have to share the space much at all due to her absence, it was common knowledge around  Shiz that they weren’t close. Or civil at all.  

As the door shut behind her, Galinda collapsed to the floor. She brought her legs to her chest and  wrapped them tightly to herself as she began to break out into soft sobs. The day had been to much. As  many days usually were. But this one introduced the attention that now came with being Fiyero’s 

6 

girlfriend, and he is being her boyfriend. She had to get used to him being around all the time, the  feeling of his hand against hers, far broader and stronger. The smell of his colone, the avoiding of  awkward silences. The kissing. Well, not yet of course, beyond popular they weren’t at that stage yet.  But just the thought of it coming, it to be expected of her very soon. Most probably even tomorrow evening at the Ozdust. It made Galinda break out into a sweat.  

She rubbed her eyes, her face had become blotchy, makeup dripping down as her perfectly brushed  hair began to frizz up. Her clothes felt far too tight and everything felt much too bright. Eventually,  Galinda rose from the ground, leaving her stuff on the ground as she made way to her bed, falling  onto the soft mattress, dipping with her weight as she sunk in. Galinda was annoyed at herself. She  

should be excited about Fiyero, about Oz dust, about all the attention. But instead, she couldn’t bear  it.  

Suddenly, the door clicked open and Elphaba emerged from the hallway, carrying a large stack of  heavy books. As she walked into the room, Elphaba stumbled over Galinda’s belongings which she left  in the doorway. With a yelp, she luckily caught herself mid-fall, her books slamming to the floor as  Elphaba held out her hands to stable herself. Galinda jerked up, staring at Elphaba across the room  who glared back at her.  

“Really.” Elphaba said annoyed. “I understand you don’t want me here but killing me by leaving your  stuff right in the doorway surely isn’t the best way to go about it,” she complained as she picked up  her books with a huff and carried them back to her desk. “You know, there really is easier ways to try  kick me out, just go blab to Madame Coddle that my green is infectious or something of the sorts, I’m  sure that you’ll be successful at convincing her,” Elphaba sarcastically encouraged. But Galinda unusually did not entertain the bickering as she usually would. Going back and forwards for up to an  hour slipping in sly remarks. Instead, Galinda flopped back onto her bed, face deep in the covers.  

“Galinda? Did you hear what I said?” 

“Sorry,” Galinda muttered from her bed. Elphaba paused for a moment. Confused. Sorry? Galinda  was never sorry.  

“What?” Elphaba exclaimed. But Glinda didn’t answer, she instead buried herself further into her  covers. Elphaba gazed over at her roommate, befuddled. As nothing happened Elphaba finally turned  away and went to the door. She picked up Galinda’s things and placed them beside her bed. Going to  the kitchen Elphaba poured a cup of water and placed it on Galinda’s bedside table. 

7 

Present day;  “I didn’t want to be a bother, I know your busy and my complaints just sound like a spoilt girl  

whining to most people,” admitted Galinda. Elphaba cradled Galinda’s face, tilting it to look back up  at her again.  

“You’re not annoying, you’d never bother me, Galinda. And I think that you’d be surprised to know how much I understand how you feel,” said Elphaba softly, looking into Galinda brown doe eyes  gazing at her like she’d hung the moon and stars.  

“You do?” Galinda whispered. Elphaba straightened up, squeezing Galinda’s hands a little tighter,  realising that she had become a little nervous, still not used to being this open with someone.  Especially about her childhood.  

“When I was younger, I would get angry, I would be angry all the time,” Elphaba admitted.  “Everything was too loud, or too hot, and everyone would always stare and talk and- “she stopped  herself, taking a breath. Galinda squeezed her hand back, encouraging her to continue. “Everything  was just to much. It didn’t help that my father was less then kind, most of his focus being pinned on  Nessa.” Elphaba had already told Galinda a little of her father, and she already knew how passionately Galinda hated him. “I learnt to talk early, really early and apparently It took me far longer to learn  how to be quiet. I annoyed adults with my endless questions, and I confused peers my age, not only  my skin colour separating myself from them, but also my personality. That really hurt the most of all I suppose” Elphaba explained, looking up from their intertwined hands to face Galinda. “But my nanny,  Dulci Bear. She helped me a lot both throughout my youth and also my adolescence. She taught me  how to understand myself and my surroundings. What to do when I felt like I was going to explode,  and if I did, how to recover from it.” She said, her lips tugging up into a soft smile as she reminisced on Dulci Bear, the only thing she really missed about Nest Harding’s was her presence. 

“I don’t think I ever had that person,” Galinda said, leaning further into Elphaba, ending up dragging  them both down onto the bed, laying side by side. Elphaba brought Galinda’s head to her lips, kissing  her hairline lightly.  

“I can be that person, for you. If you’ll let me,” Elphaba remarked.  

“I would,” replied Galinda as she buried herself in Elphaba’s arms.  

Because if her secret was discovered…well, that wouldn’t be good. 

She still can’t believe she forgot to replenish her supply. Usually sneaking away from Shiz for a couple hours in the dead of night to venture out into the woods isn’t a problem, but ever since the Ozdust her alone time has been severely limited. Not that she’s complaining. She never would’ve thought that she would dance with and befriend Elphaba Thropp, of all people, yet here they are: inseparable and growing closer by the day. 

Which isn’t a bad thing, except when Galinda needs to break away and replace her supply, and she can’t very well do that with someone hanging around all the time. This is her secret to bear, and if anyone found out, she would be forced to leave everything behind. Again. 

She feels eyes on her, though she doesn’t have to look to know who they belong to. Even without her amplified senses, she’d know Elphaba’s presence anywhere. The girl sticks out like a sore thumb, and not because of her green skin. Galinda is more attuned to Elphaba’s stamp on the world than anyone else she’s ever encountered. She’s like a butterfly amid a sea of gnats – majestic, gorgeous, and one of a kind. Galinda can’t look away, even though she knows she must, If she’s to ever do what must be done. She can’t go another day without feeding. 

Galinda watches the sea of students swarm to class, the low buzz of chatter filling her eardrums and making her head pound. She listens unwillingly as they chat about their assignments, professors, upcoming plans for the weekend. All innocent, mundane mortal stuff that Galinda secretly has no interest in. She tries, of course, but centuries of living as an immortal have made her immune to the troubles of humans. There was a time when she’d been one, of course, but that was a long time ago. She’s forgotten what it feels like to breathe, to eat regular food, to know the difference between warm and cold. 

She’s been forced to pretend for a long, long time. 

She feigns a shiver against the chilly autumn wind as students continue to stream around her, each looking more appetizing than the last. Her blonde curls are blown into her face as a strong gust of wind swirls around her, and while it temporarily hides the humans in front of her from view, it only carries their scents straight into her nostrils, which flare instinctively, soaking in the tantalizing smell. She twists around before she can stop herself, feeling her eyes go wide and her fangs extend from her gums. A lesser vampire would’ve pounced already, but Galinda learned the subtle art of self-control long ago, though it takes everything in her to remain still as the humans, oblivious to how close they are to becoming her next meal, continue laughing and chattering around her. 

No, she thinks to herself as she watches her classmates file into the building. Get a hold of yourself, Galinda. You’re better than this. 

But even as she thinks it, she knows she’s not. Centuries of blending in and passing as a human can only go so far, especially with how thirsty she currently is. She is beholden to her instincts just like any other creature, human or otherwise, and if she doesn’t rectify her situation, she and the rest of this school will soon learn just how true that is. 

Sorry, Dillamond, she thinks as she casually turns away from the sea of students, ignoring the curious glances they throw her way. But history and the past can wait. It’s not as though I haven’t lived through it all anyway. 

She doesn’t let herself think about the lesson she’ll miss or the girl she won’t be able to spend class with as she bites her lip to keep the hunger at bay. Her vision is growing cloudy, her throat a curious mix of parched and overly salivated. She can’t even look at the students trickling by anymore, because she knows if she does, her control might slip. Galinda has worked too hard and come too far to let a careless slip ruin everything she’s worked so hard for. 

It takes everything in her not to make a beeline for the trees. If someone spots her traipsing into the woods when she should be in class – her, Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands, darlingest, most adored girl on campus – they’ll start to ask questions. Galinda has no excuse, especially because she does not exactly look like someone who would willingly wander around in nature. Her heels aren’t made for the dirty, rough terrain, and her nails don’t look as though they’ve ever seen a scrap of dirt. 

But she can’t make for the forest because people will ask questions. And questions mean curiosity, and she cannot afford that. She’s come to enjoy the life she’s made for herself here at Shiz. The last thing she wants is to screw it up now with her own stupidity. 

Even if waiting could literally kill her. 

But wait she does. She forces herself to look busy as she smiles and nods to the lingering students who continue passing her by. No one throws her any curious stares or questions why she’s waiting outside when she should be in class. Perhaps it’s one of the perks of her popularity – no one thinks twice about her decisions or actions, even if maybe they should. 

Galinda forces herself to wait until she is finally alone in the quad before moving. She does a good job of looking busy by rooting around in her satchel for something, but she gives up the charade as soon as everyone’s gone, then makes her slow and casual way toward the tree line separating the university from the surrounding forest. 

She immediately regrets her choice of footwear the moment her heels slip into the soft dirt of the forest. Galinda can’t help the little yelp that escapes her throat as she nearly trips and stumbles. She catches herself on a nearby tree, which is the only thing that prevents her from tumbling face first into the mud. Being a vampire comes with many privileges, but unfortunately preternatural grace isn’t one of them. Those delusions are saved solely for the trashy romance books she sometimes indulges in. 

Speed, however, is something she’s been gifted with, and it’s something she utilizes now that no one is around to witness it. It’s like shedding a too-tight coat after hours suffocated underneath it. She lets herself come alive as she kicks off her heels and runs. 

The trees become little more than blurs as she zips past, the branches waving dangerously in her wake. She moves so quickly the ground doesn’t even crunch underneath her. It’s like she’s floating on air as she zooms past, almost as though she’s flying. The freedom that comes from moving in such a way is beyond compare. Galinda wishes she could stay out here forever. How she yearns to leave it all behind sometimes and give in to her more animalistic nature. How much easier it would be if–

“Hey!” 

Galinda gasps as she comes to a sudden halt, tumbling to the ground before she can get her bearings. Her face slams against the hard earth beneath her, and she hears the rip in her dress as she goes down. Her palms sting from the gashes that slice them open as they connect with the thorns and brambles underneath her. But she barely pays it any heed since her attention is suddenly caught elsewhere. 

More specifically, the all-too familiar woman gaping openly at her, a wide trail of blood sliding down her green chin. 

For the longest moment all they can do is stare. Galinda feels like she’s just seen a ghost, even though Elphaba is very much alive. She’s real, and standing right in front of her, though why she’s here is a mystery. One that Galinda would very much like to solve. She forces herself to her feet, the gashes in her palms already starting to heal. It’s yet another perk of being a vampire, but she finds no joy in it right now. Not when she’s healing right in front of the one woman she feels anything for, because she’s the one woman she’s ever felt anything for in the centuries since becoming the creature she is. 

Galinda has never thought to question those feelings until now. 

She wipes her dirty hands along the skirt of her torn dress – something she never would’ve done even a few seconds ago, but it’s ruined beyond repair so she hardly sees the harm now. She feels the bruise that had begun to form on her cheek from slamming so hard into the ground begin to heal as well, though it’s nothing compared to the heat of Elphaba’s stare, her green eyes wide with some emotion Galinda can’t quite place. But whatever it is makes her squirm uncomfortably, the urge to flee as quickly as she can having never been quite as strong as it is right now. 

It’s only the sound of Elphaba’s voice breaking the sudden, tense silence around them that keeps Galinda where she is. 

“Wh-What are you doing here?” 

“I…”

But Galinda trails off, realizing with a start that she doesn’t have a good excuse for why she’s out here. She’d never thought to come up with one because she hadn’t expected to find anyone so far deep in these woods. She can’t quite wrap her head around the sight of Elphaba, not only in front of her but with that unmistakable blood trail down her chin. It’s not until Galinda lowers her gaze that she notices the rabbit – or rather, what’s left of it – clutched tightly in her green grip.

Elphaba follows her gaze, then quickly hides the rabbit behind her back, stuttering as she splutters out, “I c-c-can explain…”

“What are you doing out here?” Galinda snaps, grateful to have something her anxious mind can cling to. She takes a tentative step toward Elphaba, only for the other woman to step back, glaring at Galinda with a sudden possessiveness she’s never once seen from her roommate. 

They both freeze again as silence takes over, the only sound the rustling of the trees and the nearby chirping of birds flying innocently through the air. It would’ve been a calm, peaceful moment if this was any other day and Galinda was alone. But the blonde is painfully aware of the other woman’s presence and has to fight the urge to flee. Except she’s much too thirsty to try again later. 

Elphaba’s eyes widen as she studies Galinda, her expression a curious mix of emotions that the blonde can’t quite read. It takes her brain longer than she’d like to admit to catch up to her eyes, but when it does her mouth falls open in dawning realization, taking in the blood and the dead rabbit clutched tightly in Elphaba’s grip once again. 

“Elphaba…what is that?”

“What?” Elphaba follows Galinda’s line of sight, looking down at the animal she’s holding. She glances from it to Galinda, opening her mouth to speak once more. “This? This is a rabbit–”

“Yes, but why is it dead? Why are you holding it?” 

“Because I needed to feed.” 

The confession brings Galinda up short. For the longest moment all Galinda can do is stare as she takes a moment to reconcile the memory of the woman she’d danced with and finally befriended at the Ozdust with this new version in front of her. When she does finally speak, her voice comes out choked and raspy –  so unlike her usual self that it’s almost jarring. 

“Wh-What do you mean…feed?”

To Galinda’s further surprise, Elphaba throws her a soft smile. It’s light and unsure, but Galinda’s sharp vision doesn’t miss it. If she were human, her heart would probably be racing incessantly, but all she can do now in her undead state is stare and gape like a child as Elphaba drops the rabbit carcass and takes a slow, hesitant step toward her. 

Galinda doesn’t step back, and she can feel Elphaba’s relief. Her gaze finds Elphaba’s face once more, specifically the line of blood that looks so delectable it’s all she can do not to reach out and take a small lick. It takes all her self control to remain where she is, though if she doesn’t find sustenance soon, she doesn’t know what she’s likely to do. She can’t remember the last time she’d gone this long without feeding. 

But she stays where she is, because she’s been hypnotized by the vision of the crimson red against the emerald green of Elphaba’s chin. The colors seem to sparkle in the late morning sun, casting its own spell that has nothing to do with the magic coursing through Elphaba’s veins. Galinda can’t look away, which is good because she doesn’t want to. She wants nothing more than to stay here, in this moment with Elphaba, as dawning realization creeps up on her like a shadowy tendril slithering in from the darkness. 

“I think you know.” Elphaba’s breathy response rises in the air and seems to hover between them. Galinda is once again caught in her spell, unable to move as Elphaba reaches out and gently brushes her fingertips against the cold skin of Galinda’s hand. It’s like the touch is a silent question that Elphaba seeks the answer to, and Galinda doesn’t have to ask to know what answer she’s seeking. 

So Galinda looks up and meets her eye as she slips her hand in that of her roommate’s, hardly daring to let herself believe that this is real. 

And once again Elphaba seems to want to prove herself a mind reader, because her long fingers close around Galinda’s hand, tightening in a way that doesn’t leave her feeling constricted but rather…claimed? 

Galinda finds she doesn’t hate it. 

“Let me see,” the older girl continues, reaching up with her free hand to tuck a strand of Galinda’s blonde hair behind her ear. She gestures to Galinda’s lips with that same hand, her gaze turning soft and gentle as she offers up one last smile, and Galinda sees them for the first time: her fangs. 

She doesn’t know how she missed them before. All this time, living together in the same room and Galinda has never once noticed those abnormally long, sharp teeth. They’re currently red and dripping blood from the tips, but Galinda is captivated. She can’t seem to look away, absently running her tongue along the ends of her own. She knows what Elphaba wants but finds herself hesitating to admit this longstanding truth about herself. How will Elphaba react? Giving her roommate this vital, deeply personal truth about herself is exposing a vulnerability she’s not sure she’s ready for. Even if Elphaba did the same with no hesitation. It fuels her, even as it also brings her up short. But she supposes she has no choice. Why else would she be alone out here, this deep into the woods when she’s supposed to be in class? 

Galinda doesn’t let herself think about it as she slowly opens her mouth, watching the way Elphaba inclines her head, her eyes flashing as she undoubtedly catches a glimpse of Galinda’s own fangs. The urge to snap her mouth closed and conceal them is nearly overpowering, but she doesn’t move, allowing Elphaba to look her fill instead. 

To her surprise, it’s not as uncomfortable as she’d initially thought.

“Is that what you’re doing out here?” Elphaba asks with a smile as she stands up a little higher, Galinda’s hand still held firmly in her own. “Feeding?” 

“Yeah, but…I usually don’t.” The admission is both freeing and embarrassing, though Galinda has no idea why her shame suddenly creeps up on her. “Usually I have enough supply to get me through, but I–I ran low sooner than expected.” 

Elphaba is silent for a moment, her gaze turning thoughtful as she looks Galinda over consideringly. Galinda lets her, waiting anxiously for her response. She doesn’t know why, but hearing Elphaba’s opinion seems important – like it’ll either make or break her, depending on whatever she’s about to say next. 

If she had a pulse, it surely would’ve frozen like the blood in her veins as Elphaba asks in a suddenly hesitant voice barely above a whisper, “I…I mean, we…could hunt together. If you want.”

Galinda doesn’t have the words to express just how much she does want. She doesn’t think she’s ever wanted anything more. Because as much as this girl – well, vampire – infuriates her, she’s also the first of their kind that Galinda has encountered in…well, forever. 

“Yes.” Galinda smiles and takes a step closer to Elphaba, even though they’re practically on top of each other already. “I…I’d like that.” 

Elphaba’s answering grin nearly matches her own, and before Galinda knows it, they’re off. 

~~

By the time they make it back to their dorm, full and refreshed from their hunt. classes have long been done for the day. The journey back was silent, with neither girl offering any further conversation. Galinda is surprised to discover that the silence is peaceful and light, not awkward and tense as she might’ve expected it to be now that their secrets have been laid out in the open. 

They both head straight for their respective closets, the weight of the task they’ve just performed sitting between them, unacknowledged. It’s as though both of them are waiting for the other to speak first, which puts Galinda at a disadvantage since Elphaba has always been perfectly content to sit in silence for hours on end. Galinda enjoys silence, but when there are things to be talked about, she’s never been shy about saying them. 

Until now. 

Once they’ve changed out of their school clothes and into more comfortable, nighttime attire, they settle on their beds, pointedly ignoring the other. Galinda thinks about taking out her homework, especially since she missed class. She knows she’s going to have to work that much harder just to keep up, but her mind can’t concentrate. It’s far too occupied with thoughts of Elphaba, and vampires, and what having someone else like her on campus means for her. For both of them. Will they be expected to hunt together now that there’s no more need to hide? Or will Elphaba expect them to carry on as they had before – feigning oblivion? 

When Galinda finally gathers enough courage, she risks a look at Elphaba’s side of the room, fully expecting to find her nose buried in the pages of her own textbook, but it lies abandoned beside her instead. Elphaba’s attention is fixed unabashedly on Galinda, as though waiting for her to look up and notice. Galinda feels her face heat – well, it would’ve if she had any blood in her veins – but she can’t bring herself to look away. 

Elphaba’s attention is so strong Galinda doesn’t think she could even if she wanted to. 

Which, as it turns out, she doesn’t. 

Well. She knows she isn’t going to get anything more done tonight. Not with her roommate staring at her as though she is the next meal about to be devoured. So she closes her book, drops it on the floor next to her bed, then stands up and twirls her way to the other side of the room, moving so fast she’s little more than a blur. 

But when she looks back at Elphaba and joins her on the bed, she doesn’t find surprise or fear in her gaze, as anyone else might’ve done if she’d dared to show off her inhuman speed. No, when she looks back at Elphaba, she merely finds an amused smile, the corners of her lips turned upward. 

“Been waiting to do that awhile, haven’t you?” 

“I don’t know what you mean,” Galinda replies flippantly with a toss of her hair. 

Elphaba’s smirk merely grows wider. “I’m sure you don’t.” 

Silence descends upon them once more, though it isn’t uncomfortable. The tension between them has thawed, becoming gentler and warmer than what either of them has experienced thus far. Galinda soaks it in, letting it wash over her, acclimatizing herself with this new dynamic. She can’t remember the last time she’s felt a deeper connection with anyone beyond that of a casual acquaintance. She’s made friends over the years, of course, but her present condition does not allow for anything deeper. All the friends and relationships she’s made throughout her past came to an end eventually once they began to question why she never seemed to get any older. It took a long time to accept that lasting, meaningful relationships simply weren’t an option for her. 

It’s why she keeps Pfannee and Shenshen at arms length. They are fun company and allow her to not feel so alone all the time, but Galinda knows that, sooner or later, she will have to let them go. Once their time at Shiz comes to an end, she will make some excuse and be off, settling down somewhere no one will know or recognize her, and start a new life yet again. It has been the way of her long, lonely, immortal existence for so long, she can hardly recall any other way. 

Until now. 

Because Elphaba’s presence offers her something more, even if the other girl doesn’t know it yet. Galinda knows it’s likely too early to think about a possible future together, but she can’t help it. Not when she’s met another vampire for the first time in what feels like forever. It’s been so long that she was starting to think she was the last of her kind, cursed to remain alone forever. Yet here Elphaba is, proving all her assumptions wrong at every turn. 

“You’re staring.” 

“Oh.” Galinda startles a bit at Elphaba’s voice, and would’ve blushed if she were still capable of such a thing. “Sorry.”

She begins to lower her gaze, but a long-nailed finger is suddenly underneath her chin, gently holding her in place. “You don’t have to stop.”

And, even though technically Galinda doesn’t need to breathe, what little air she has in her lungs escapes anyway. Time seems to freeze around them, trapping them in a little bubble of their own making. She’s not sure if they’re the ones who have gone still, or the world outside, but Galinda can hardly bring herself to care. She’s only able to stare at the woman – vampire – in front of her, and is suddenly struck by all the little characteristics she’d missed before. 

The way Elphaba doesn’t seem to draw breath; the way her skin, despite being green, has a pale, unearthly quality to it that speaks of the lack of blood and oxygen inside her veins. Even her teeth, which Galinda is definitely paying attention to, have miniscule yet very visible points that Galinda never noticed until now. Not that she’d ever made it a point to notice anything about Elphaba until quite recently. But it seems a bit ridiculous now, considering how obvious they are. 

Or maybe she’d simply never let herself really look before. 

But she’s looking now, and oh, does she like what she sees. Maybe it’s the unending loneliness inside her that stems from centuries of nomadic living, only forming the most minimal of relationships, or the fascination and relief that comes from finally having met another of her kind. Whatever the reason, Galinda does not want to let this girl out of her sight. She wants to wrap her arms around Elphaba’s middle, pull her under the sheets, and talk all night. She wants to hear every little detail about what is sure to be a fascinating life, and she wants to share her own past in return. 

And, if Elphaba’s widening smirk is any indication, she might very well be thinking the same thing. 

“How long?” her roommate asks, breaking the silence that has crept up between them. 

“How long, what?” Galinda forces out of her mouth, meeting Elphaba’s gaze once more. She has to suppress a shudder at those deep green eyes that seem to penetrate right to the core of her very soul. 

She expects Elphaba to give an answer, as she is always prone to doing whenever a question is asked of her. Instead she leans in, so close that Galinda can smell the remnants of their hunt on the girl’s breath, but that is barely a fleeting thought once her attention falls to those plump red lips. Galinda is struck with the overwhelming urge to press her own lips into them. She wants to learn how Elphaba tastes – wants to memorize not only her scent but learn her interests, her hobbies. Her habits. Whatever more there is to learn, besides what she’s already gleaned in the few months they’ve spent as roommates, Galinda wants to know. She’ll gladly return the favor, especially if it means she no longer has to be alone. 

Galinda waits feverishly, desperately hoping that Elphaba will lean in just a little bit more. To give her what she wants and put her out of her misery. She doesn’t think she’s ever wanted anything more in her entire existence, and she can’t help but close her eyes when the anticipation becomes too much. 

And because her eyes are closed, she doesn’t expect the question that comes instead of the kiss. It is spoken in such a low whisper that mere human ears wouldn’t have heard it. “How long have you been alone, my sweet?” 

“I…I’m not…how did you–?”

“It’s okay,” Elphaba murmurs in that same low voice, not moving so much as a hairsbreadth away. “I’ve been alone for quite some time. I know how to spot a kindred spirit.” 

Galinda has no idea what to say to that, but between their close proximity and their hunt earlier that day, it suddenly becomes difficult to hold herself back any longer. 

What little restraint she’d clung to disappears, freeing her to place the lightest, most delicate kiss on Elphaba’s lips as possible. She closes her eyes once more and lets instinct take over, going gentle at first but deepening it the moment Elphaba’s lips part, allowing more access. 

Unfortunately Galinda doesn’t get very far before Elphaba pulls away, leaning back and raising her hands, pushing Galinda away as gently as possible. Galinda feels the rejection acutely and tries to mask the sting that follows. Had she misread the situation? In over three hundred years roaming this land, Galinda likes to think she’s a good judge of character, and is usually able to correctly read whatever situation she finds herself in. 

But Elphaba speaks before she can overthink this any further, her entire being exuding both desire and amusement as she says in a breathy whisper, “There will be plenty of time for that later, my sweet. For now…maybe we start a little smaller. Do you maybe…want to cuddle?” 

It’s not what Galinda expects, but she’s certainly not going to say no. Cuddling with Elphaba, and laying together, sharing the same space, sounds like a dream come true. 

“I thought you’d never ask.” 

Elphaba matches her grin, and before Galinda has time to register the movement, finds herself tugged downward, her head hitting the large, fluffy down pillows that adorn the head of her bed. Her grin widens as Elphaba follows suit, lying down next to her and throwing the large, oversized comforter over them, effectively shutting out the light and the rest of the world. 

“You do know that vampires don’t sleep, don’t you, Elphie?”

“Elphie?” 

“Oh…um…if you don’t like it, I can–”

“Well, it is a bit perky, but…I like it. Elphie is fine.” 

Galinda’s grin turns into a smile, and she snuggles in as close as she can, Elphaba’s presence calm and grounding, and she lets herself believe, for the first time in as long as she can remember, that she can be capable of love. 

And then Elphaba’s mouth is right by her ear, sending a shiver down Galinda’s spine as she murmurs, “I guess we’ll just have to find some other way to spend the time. I, for one, can’t wait to hear all about the fascinating life you’ve seemed to lead all these years.” 

 “Well,” her pretty roommate continued in a tone that she probably considered mysterious, “you know how I am amazing and charming and know the best people, right?” The illusion of grand mystery dispersed further as Galinda couldn’t hold a little impatient giggle at the end of the phrase. Elphaba was about to make a joke about it, but held her tongue as she saw a magnificent, if brief, smile that Galinda shot her, reassuring her that she, Elphaba Thropp, was indeed part of the “best people”. 

“Sure,” she said, therefore.

“And so, one amazing person I just happen to know in town, got me this today!” Galinda whipped something out of her uniform’s pocket and did her little hair twirl, which she taught (or at least tried to teach) Elphaba the first day after they had become friends. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

“I don’t know what…” Elphaba said and then cut herself off. “You went to town? But you know it’s against the rules!”

“Oh, Elphie, don’t be so booooring,” Galinda said in a tone that made being boring sound like the most egregious of sins. “Just wait until you see what it is!” She tossed the object, and it landed squarely in Elphaba’s lap.

It was a simple brown pouch, practical, but not pretty, a little dirt stuck to its bottom and a rough string tying it at the neck. It was so unlike anything Galinda owned, that part of Elphaba was surprised the other girl even touched it. 

No. She thought. I mustn't think of her that way. She is not all satin and soap bubbles, she is a person and not a caricature of the traits of her character. I will not treat her as such.

Upon touching the pouch, a cold feeling washed over Elphaba and made her eyes suddenly prickle, as if with tears. Whatever object or substance was inside, it was magical. Galinda concentrated all the weight of her focused stare on Elphaba as if her opening that pouch was the most important thing in the world. She did that sometimes. It was, frankly, disconcerting.

 Inside was a pile of glittering silver powder. It was, Elphaba thought absently, exactly the color she had always imagined magic to be.         

“Feneros! Supposed to make you happier for a while and things like that. It’s heavily regulated, of course, as all magical substances are, but my friend tells me it’s nothing,” Galinda informed her cheerfully, “I figured,” she said, as she leaned down to take Elphaba by the hands and look into her eyes, “we could try it. Together.”

“We’ve got Natural History in fifteen minutes,” Elphaba said dryly.

“Exactly! Who could survive an hour and a half listening to professor Poppyseed drone on about beetles without a little happiness boost?”

“Well, I happen to like Natural History,” Elphaba retorted, “and maybe if you didn’t spend all your time looking wistfully at Fiyero you would too!”

“Elphie!” Galinda exclaimed, alarmed. “I haven’t been looking wistfully at Fiyero for weeks now! You didn’t notice?” There seemed to be genuine disappointment in her voice, so Elphaba hastened to lighten the mood, as some inexplicable knot untied inside her chest. 

“I’m just teasing,” she said, “we can try your magical happiness powder in the evening.”

“Okay! You promised, remember!” Galinda laughed and swept out the door, shouting, “Catch up!” and leaving Elphaba to hastily gather her things and rush after her friend.

***

 It was dusk and both of them sat on Galinda’s bed. The flames of the scented candles around them (of course she had scented candles packed when she went to Shiz, what a silly question) flickered on the nightstands and drawers. Galinda declared, with surprising pomp for such a ridiculous statement, that her bed was “much more comfortable and better suited for trying out new and exciting things” and Elphaba wasn’t in the mood to argue. They sat cross-legged on the white-and-gold covers, the mystical pouch between them. Elphaba, feeling a certain weight of responsibility from her continuing education in magic, opened it carefully. The fine silver powder flashed and glimmered with many colors in the candlelight, reminding Elphaba of the bubbles that Munchkinland children so loved or, perhaps, of the stones from somewhere far away, that she had once seen in her father’s study. It was cold, but not overly so, the feeling distinctly magical. 

“So?” Galinda asked impatiently.

“It’s enchanted,” Elphaba said, “I can’t tell you more than that. We will try using a small amount first, to see how our bodies react to it.”

 Galinda scooped up some of the drug impatiently and put her hand to her lips. Elphaba did the same and then two pairs of eyes lit up in understanding, as instead of inhaling, two girls blew on their powder, sending two silver clouds toward each other.

 Galinda’s breath and a whiff of some floral perfume hit Elphaba’s nose a moment before the drug did. She inhaled and immediately felt an intense, but oddly refreshing feeling wash over her, and then the strange sensation of something popping inside her head, every thought and feeling becoming starkly clear, even weighty. Her vision became sharper too, the candle flames no longer blurred around the edges. Perhaps she just needed new glasses.

“I don’t like it,” Galinda said in a disappointed voice, “it’s supposed to make me happier, but instead I just feel… Sharp inside. Oh, and I might be sick. At least, everything is greener for some reason.”

“Maybe it just takes a little while to kick in,” Elphaba said placatingly, “we should do something. Maybe Truth or Dare? It’s simple enough and you like it.”

“Oh yes!” Galinda exclaimed and clapped her hands, “Thank you so so much for doing this with me, Elphie! You are the best!”

“You go first,” Elphaba offered generously.

“Oh, very well. Truth or Dare?”

“Dare,” Elphaba felt another pop in the back of her skull and absent-mindedly wondered how much of what she felt was due to her magical talent and how much was just the natural effect of the powder, but the thought was quickly snuffed out and forgotten.

“Do your magic trick,” Galinda commanded and Elphaba obliged, summoning the correct thoughts and feelings to her mind. It was surprisingly easy. A not-quite controlled gust of wind leaped from her fingers in the direction of Galinda’s face. For all that Galinda has not exhibited any magical ability, Elphaba’s magic seemed naturally drawn to her. The wind ruffled Galinda’s hair, throwing it in her face.

“Do you have any idea how much time I spent on this hairstyle?” Galinda asked mock-angrily.

“About fifteen minutes this morning, while I was reviewing my notes for Dr Dillamond’s class. You were struggling with making it look properly in the back, ” Elphaba replied automatically, focusing instead on the strange sense of levity that filled her. She felt like she might literally float away at any second and hastily grabbed the fabric of the blanket to stop it from happening and only then realised the foolishness of what she was doing. She quickly let go. Galinda said something, but concentrating was difficult, all the candles in the room seemed brighter and Elphaba missed it. Embarrassed, she wrestled against her own body for control and her vision came into focus on Galinda’s expectant face. Right. 

“Truth or Dare?” Elphaba asked, desperately hoping that that was the right question.

“Truth”

Galinda had almost always picked Truth, when they played the game. The girl seemed to delight in people asking her personal questions, a preference that utterly baffled Elphaba. She tended to favour Dares.

“Alright,” Elphaba said, skimming her mind for things to ask and landing on the safest one, “were you afraid, coming to Shiz?”

“I was,” Galinda admitted, “I don’t know why. There was just this feeling… Like… I don’t know, like you forgot something, only for the future. It was silly and I don’t feel that way anymore. Not since Ozdust.”

To Elphaba’s absolute horror the name “Ozdust” echoed in her mind for a few seconds without invoking any memories. Her vision took her to another extreme and was blurry again. It was hard to concentrate on anything, but the present moment and Elphaba’s immediate surroundings. Have they always been that pink?

“Truth or Dare?” Galinda asked, completely unaware of Elphaba’s inner turmoil.

“Dare”

“You certain you don’t want to pick Truth? I had such wonderful questions prepared!” Galinda asked in a pleading voice.

“No. Dare.” Elphaba did not want to know what Galinda’s “wonderful questions” were. She resolutely didn’t.

“Argh, fiiiiine,” Galinda said with feigned irritation, “sit still and make a serious face.”

Elphaba did as instructed, her head light and thoughts whirling inside it. Galinda traced a finger along the edge of her chin then back. Elphaba was very still. The finger moved down to her neck, the touch light, but surely Galinda wouldn't stop there. It was not tickling just yet, but… Soon three or four fingers were moving up and down Elphaba’s neck, slowly building the tension, scratching at the spot at the base of her neck between her collarbones. Pressure was building in Elphaba’s throat, but she mustered her will and held. She was dared to sit still after all. 

 Galinda reached up with her left arm and started tickling Elphaba’s armpit. Elphaba did her best to keep from smiling, from even thinking of laughing. Galinda could do whatever she wanted to her and Elphaba would take it. The other girl huffed, clearly disappointed with the lack of results and resumed her efforts with a faster pace, going up to touch the soft skin of her friend's cheek and chuckling as she felt the clenched jaw under it. She took her other hand, which, despite her resolutions, Elphaba had been trying to ever so slightly squeeze  between her side and her arm, and in one, swooping, motion moved it to the wrist. Then, finally, it was too much. The combined tickling against the side of her neck and the ghost touch wrist was too much for Elphaba, she cringed and… Let go. 

 She started laughing uncontrollably, shaking, unable to even swat Galinda’s hands away from the sensitive places. Then, perhaps for the first time in Elphaba’s life, her thoughts stopped whirling. 

 Instead, she was surprised to be left with… Happiness. All the worries and what-ifs, the sore memories and the dark visions of an uncertain future did not make her happy, so they were, quite sensibly, pushed out of the little bubble that contained her, Galinda and what they were doing. Elphaba couldn’t, even if she wanted to (and she didn’t, she truly didn’t), worry about them.

 Speaking of the present moment, Galinda was long overdue for a taste of her own medicine. It didn’t take five seconds for her start squealing with laughter and in the midst of it she managed:

“Truth! Truth! I choose Truth!”

“Oh, why did it matter to you what I thought of your feelings toward Fiyero?” Elphaba asked, distantly aware that she should be horrified by the ease with which she asked that, but she wasn’t. She was eager to hear the response.

“Oh, well, Fiyero was nice and all, handsome, but we really did deserve each other already. What’s true love if you don’t have to strive to… Well, something, anyway. How should I know? It’s not a good story if it’s all said and done, when you meet each other. We were already perfect together, what else was there to do? And I wanted you to know that I was not the kind of person that stops at what they have, that I was more like you!”

“Like me?” Elphaba echoed.

“Yes, determined and stubborn and always so confident, no matter what others say! You held your head high, and I wanted to be like that, and I wanted you to think I was!” 

While Elphaba was still trying to form an appropriate response to this list of her supposed virtues, the other girl went on:

“And, the truth is… I am not any of these things, Elphie. I just really want to be.”

“Noncence!” Elphaba exclaimed, “you are the most confident person I know! You are… You are kind and smart and you make everyone around you feel loved! And you are not weak.”

“Thank you,” Galinda said softly, her eyes glistening with tears, “I am glad you feel loved.”

“Of course. Now ask me the next question.”

“Truth or Dare, Elphie?”

“Truth, please.” Elphaba said, once again surprising herself. But she truly did want to be asked, to share a piece of herself in return for the one Galinda offered.

Galinda paused, a miniature frown on her face. Elphaba imagined her struggling to pick one thing to ask about, because there were too many of them. Once she would’ve chided herself for having such self-centered thoughts, but those concerns seemed far away and foolish now. Instead she waited impatiently for Galinda to finish picking. 

“Why didn’t you want the makeover I gave you?” her friend asked finally.

“Galinda! I don’t want you getting upset over it!” Elphaba discovered that even drugged, she could still blush.

“Psh. I am not stupid, Elphie. Now answer the question, dearest.”

“I wasn’t sure why you were doing it, I suppose”

“You are telling me even after all that happened the night before, you didn’t know?” Galinda huffed. “You might think that’s the case, but I doubt it. And I know these things, so you really should trust me.”

“Well, I…” Elphaba stammered, “I wasn’t… Um…” 

An absolutely alien feeling pierced her, a cold needle of certainty right through her skull. Elphaba knew, knew as she had never known anything before, that if she didn’t tell the truth right then, the bubble was going to pop, the moment gone, never to come again. Everything in her vision swam with colours, worse than last time, because she couldn’t even see Galinda’s face. Without it she was a lost child again, lonely and angry. 

“I knew what it was and it scared me, because I didn’t want to believe that someone wanted to be my friend!”

Oh, saying that hurt, but, perhaps not in a way Elphaba was expecting. It was like ripping off a band aid to reveal the fresh, delicate skin underneath - painful, but relieving at the same time. The whirling colours stopped and she could see Galinda again. The other girl was frowning and had a serious, focused expression. It was one that Elphaba had never seen on her friend’s face before, but in a strange way it suited her, especially softened, as it was, by something Elphaba didn’t dare name. 

“Why didn’t you?” Galinda asked, “Why didn’t you want to believe I wanted to be your friend, Elphie?”

And that name, Galinda’s name for her, compelled her to answer once again, like a magic spell.

“I wanted to be unlovable,” Elphaba said, discovering that it was true the same second the words left her mouth, “because then it meant that nobody loved me for a reason.”

Galinda’s look was soft, full of wonder and absolutely unbearable as she asked again:

“And do you still think that?”

There was a glint in her eyes. Elphaba had the answer at the tip of her tongue, and Galinda, devil that she was, knew it.

“No. Because you love me.”

A slow, radiant smile spread across the most beautiful face Elphaba had ever seen and Galinda whispered in the most smug and satisfied way ever:

“There you go, Elphie.”

Oh, Elphaba decided, she will pay for this. She will pay for every confession she had wrung out of me, for all the smug smiles and for all the times she knew me better than I knew myself. I know a way to make her pay.

“Truth or dare?”

“Dare, please.”

She heard the screaming after a few minutes. The cries of a young girl. Dorothy. And the yelling of Elphaba, she sounded frantic, angry. Everything Glinda had seen back in munchkin land, now amplified. She was desperate, saddened by something that Glinda could not fix. 

The door to the basement slammed, jolting Glinda out of her thoughts. 

Elphaba was talking to someone, her voice shaking slightly as she spoke. She was scared, worried, tired. Slowly Glinda moved to look at Elphaba, her eyes catching hers. 

She seemed frozen, shocked. Only for a second before turning her back and hissing " what are you doing here"

"Let the girl go, they're coming for you" Glinda snapped hurriedly, if Dorothy was safe, maybe the others would stop, maybe this could all be over with. 

Elphaba scoffed, turning back, her eyes again meeting Glinda. 

"Please" the beg was silent, a whisper that floated through the wind. But it hit its mark, she saw Elphaba falter. 

"I can't"

The words hit deep in Glinda's chest as soft tears filled her eyes. She was losing her, she'd lose her to the mob, she'd lose her. She couldn't save her, no matter how she tried. She went to speak again, her throat dry. 

Chistery flew in, landing next to Elphaba, stealing her attention. 

Glinda knew what it was. She hated that she knew what it was, Fiyero, something had happened. 

She saw the pain in Elphabas eyes, saw her hand back the cloth. "We've seen his face for the last time" her words a whisper. 

Glinda felt another pain, the tears in her eyes falling, not pain for losing Fiyero, but the pain she saw in Elphaba. She watched in horror as Elphaba started to move. 

"They can't find you here" she whispered, picking up a bucket of water. "You need to go"

"Not without you"

She saw Elphaba pause again. Tears in her eyes. She knew, she must know. They could go together, be together, run away from Oz, away from this. 

"My life isn't a life for you" Elphaba whispered, turning back to Glinda, soft tears on her cheeks. 

"It could be, it should be... Or.. Or I'll tell them, I'll tell them the truth, everything" she began pacing her tears coming stronger. 

"No" 

Her voice cut through the air. "They'll turn against you"

Glinda didn't care, not if it meant the truth, not if it meant the end. Everything would be over, no more of this hell she'd been in, no more of this nonsense. 

"I don't care"

Elphaba sighed, moving towards her. Her hand met Glindas cheek, whipping away her tears, a soft smile on her lips. "I do"

Gently she pulled Glinda into a hug. Her tears on her shoulder. "You'll be alright"

Glinda shook her head, crying harder she wouldn't, she couldn't. Not without her Elphie. How would she live, how would she go on living without her. Her life was plain, boring, constantly adored, admired. Elphaba gave her something she never had, real friendship. 

"you changed me" she cried, holding her closer. 

Elphaba smiled "so have you" sloo, slightly she pulled away, her hands against whipping away her tears. "You've changed my story"

She lent into Elphaba's touch, pressing a soft kiss to her palm. 

"You'll be alright." she pressed her face to Glindas, kissing her softly. "Hold out my sweet"

"Always" Glinda whispered, her hand now on Elphaba's cheek, whipping away her tears. She pulled her into a hug again, both their tears on their cheeks. "Always Elphie'

----

Gently Glinda knocked on the trap door. She knew, she knew Elphaba was alive. Her tears still stained her cheeks, but they were faded. 

Slowly Elphaba emerged from the secret room, smiling softly. 

"how'd you know?"

"Lucky guess," Glinda laughed, pulling Elphaba into a hug. 

She knew Elphaba had to go, to keep her safe. Someone needed to rule Oz. 

But the knowledge she was alive was everything. And maybe, maybe one day, she could come back. For that, Glinda would hold out, she'd hold out forever if she had to. 

Gently her lips met Elphabas. Not a goodbye. 

She had refused to believe it initially, the first couple of days were spent dealing with the administrative fallout of The Wizard’s departure and Morrible’s confinement to Southstairs. Glinda had waited patiently for Elphie to show herself. She kept the doors to her balcony open and the wind whipped at the soft, powder blue, translucent nets that shrouded the entryway. Cold night air streamed in making the room icy and almost unbearable to stay in, but she wouldn’t close them. She sat shivering. Waiting. Waiting for Elphie to come back. But she didn’t.

Glinda prayed. She prayed to Lurline, to the Unnamed God and to any soul or deity who would listen. As she prostrated herself on the floor, tears flooded her eyes and the memories of that dreadful day clouded her mind. As she watched the shadows dance behind the curtain and as Elphie shrank away in a billowing swirl, all the breath in her lungs escaped into the stale damp air of Kiamo Ko. She had barely slept, but whenever she had drifted off for a few moments, while huddled on the armchair in the corner of her apartment, she was plagued by that memory. Condemned to relive it as a graphic nightmare anytime she closed her eyes. She was awoken by a sharp rapping on her door. Glinda realised she had fallen asleep huddled on the floor so slowly got to her feet and slumped down into the armchair. She croaked out a word but what it was, even she was unsure. Chistery gently pushed the door to her apartment open and gingerly made his way inside. The shocked look on his face at Glinda’s dishevelled appearance was quickly turned into a pitiful smile. Her pale, blue dress was creased and crinkled, her curls were a matted frizzy mess and the underneath of her eyes and cheeks were stained with the remnants of black mascara. Chistery had a tray balanced on one hand which he laid down on the small wooden coffee table in front of Glinda and bowed his head as he softly spoke,

“Miss… Glinda. Eat. Please?”

Glinda cleared her throat and raspily replied,

“Thank you, Chistery.”

They both knew the tray would remain untouched, but Chistery simply nodded and left the room. Glinda was aware that she would have to force something down soon but she just couldn’t bring herself to eat. Grief was slowly swallowing her and she felt like she was drowning. The knot in her stomach had wrapped itself into a burning ache that over the last couple of days had penetrated every cell in her body and rendered her unable to form any rational thought. Her head pounded as she reached for the tall glass of water on the tray. She slowly sipped it, staring at the ripples that formed with each movement of her hand. Glinda wasn’t sure how much time had passed but she eventually decided that she should probably change her dress. The look on Chistery’s face had made her very aware of the fact that she hadn’t changed or showered for days. She placed the glass back on the tray with a thud and headed for her bedroom. She couldn’t face the shower yet but clean clothes were definitely in order. As she peeled the dress down over her body she couldn’t keep the tears from flowing. Her hand covered her mouth as she stood there in just her slip and, for the first time, actually let the pain wash over her instead of trying to block it out. She heard her own voice in her mind telling her that Elphie wasn’t coming back. Acceptance. She left the dress in a heap on the floor as she pulled on a mismatched pair of pyjamas and wiped the tears from her face. She ambled over the bed and, body aching, fell onto the mattress. Her head sank into the pillow that smelled of the pink peony washing powder she had requested when she first moved into the palace, and sleep overtook her immediately.

When Glinda awoke the next morning she was cold, probably owing to the fact that she had still not closed the balcony doors. She pulled the covers up to her neck and winced at the bright morning sun that was streaming through the open curtains. Her body still ached and her head was still sore from the lack of food and drink over the previous few days, so she got out of bed and went to fetch the glass of water she had left on the tray the night before. She drank it all in one go before placing it back down again and found herself staring out at the balcony. It was finally time to shut the doors. She blew out a steadying breath before stepping slowly towards them. Sadness welled up inside her but she pressed her lips together and inhaled through her nose, stifling the sobs that threatened to escape. Her head was reeling and her hand trembled as she reached out to push the door closed.

“Be strong, Glinda.” She told herself out loud. Elphie wouldn’t have wanted her to be like this. She imagined Elphie standing there questioning why in all of Oz she was behaving in this way,

“All of this commotion for me?” She would have said. “Now that is preposterous.”

Glinda chuckled at the thought of Elphie standing there scolding her for being upset that she was dead. The first smile that had broken across her face in days. Even in death Elphie was able to cheer her up. Glinda reached out a now steady hand and pushed the doors closed with a soft click. She drew the thin curtains across to meet in the middle and rested her head on the door before faintly tapping a goodbye on the wood. She stepped back, a sad smile on her face, and turned to head back towards the bedroom.

After sleeping all day, Glinda awoke in darkness. She had no idea what time it was, so reached to her bedside table to check her delicate, silver watch. She couldn’t make out what numbers the hands were pointing to so switched on the lamp, squinting at the yellow light that now filled the room. It was only six thirty. Glinda sat up and stretched her arms above her head. Her body was definitely grateful for the much needed sleep as she wasn’t aching any more, but her head was still tender and she was definitely in need of that shower. She made for the open plan area of the apartment and silently cursed The Wizard for not allowing anyone who lived in the palace to have their own kitchens. She would have to call for someone to bring her something to eat.

As if the God’s were listening to her there was a quiet tap on the door. She crossed the room and opened it to find Chistery once again stood with a tray of food. His face brightened at the sight of her up and changed and he bowed his head, as he always did, and held the tray up for her to take.

“Thank you, Chistery. I promise this one will get eaten.” She smiled at him but he kept his eyes low, placed a hand on his chest and stepped back away from the door. Glinda closed it and went to sit at the oversized table and ornate wooden chairs that were, to be honest, rarely used. She devoured the plate of food and gulped down the water at a speed that was rather unbefitting of a lady of Glinda’s stature but in that moment she didn’t care. She moved briskly into her bedroom and took fresh towels from the cupboard before locking the bathroom door and turning on the shower. She waited for steam to fill the room and fog up the glass before stepping into the cascading water, washing away the pain and sorrow that had tormented her for days.

Glinda had chosen a simple pink frock to wear. She brushed and dried her hair and put on a simple face of makeup. She had been neglecting her duties as interim leader of Oz and knew that she would have to show herself. This was the perfect time to leave her apartment as it was now late in the evening and there wouldn’t be as many people roaming the palace. She took a deep breath as she stood at the door to her apartment and plastered on the smile of Glinda the Good before stepping into the hallway. It was silent. She couldn’t hear the chatter of officials or the clomping boots of guards like she usually could. Even in the early hours of the morning business carried on and the palace was rarely quiet. She looked up and down the corridor and saw two monkeys at either end. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she hurried down to one side to see what was going on.

“Um… sorry, excuse me?” She asked quietly as she approached them. “Is everything okay here?”

They both straightened up at her presence and bowed their heads respectfully. One of them spoke, his gruff voice echoing in the empty, mirrored hallway,

“Yes, Miss Glinda. Everything is fine. Even more so now we have seen you are feeling better. Chistery told us you weren’t well, so we have been guarding your floor to make sure nobody could disturb you.”

Glinda felt overwhelmed at his admission, though she kept her smile fixed in place.

“Well I am very appreciative of your dedication to ensuring my wellbeing and will make sure you are recognised, officially, for your service. Please feel free to continue with your other duties now, as I am feeling much better.”

They remained where they were and the second monkey spoke this time,

“That is very kind of you Miss Glinda, but we are under strict orders to remain here until Chistery dismisses us.”

Glinda nodded, understanding that they would not be leaving their posts and flitted past them to make her way down to the throne room. She had much to attend to and there was no better time to immerse herself in her work than now. The fact it would also provide a welcome distraction from recent events was a bonus.

It had been a rather uneventful evening with Glinda spending most of it in The Wizard’s office, well she supposed it was her office now, signing documents and reading through pages and pages of litigation that The Wizard and Morrible had looped into seemingly harmless laws and decrees. She paused though when she came across a letter from Nessa, addressed urgently to The Wizard. Curiosity tugged her fingers towards the flap of the envelope that had been opened. She chewed her bottom lip and shook her head, desperate to see what Nessa had written; but something in her gut warned her not to go snooping if she wasn’t prepared to see something she didn’t like. She placed the letter back on top of the pile of documents she had just finished adding her signature to and concluded that she would decide whether or not to read through it the following day.

Glinda was tired when she had finally made it back up to her floor. She noticed as she left The Wi… her office that it was a few clock ticks past midnight and she suppressed a yawn as she turned the corner that led to her apartment. The monkeys had gone, Glinda wasn’t sure if she was grateful for the solitude or if it made her uneasy that her protection detail was no longer there. She turned the handle on her door and stepped inside. Something wasn’t quite right. Everything was still in its place, nothing seemed to have been moved. But something felt… different. Glinda swiftly removed her shoes and moved cautiously around the room, being careful to make as little noise as possible. Alarm rang in her ears, the innate sense that someone had been in her room and was possibly still there filled her with dread. She softly padded across the room, her eyes not quite adjusted to the dark yet, and turned on the tall, freestanding lamp in the corner of the room. That was when she noticed the curtains across the balcony doors were slightly separated. She was certain she had pulled them together. She was on high alert now and tried to quiet her panicked breaths and will her heart not to pound so loudly in her chest. She had no wand, her magic couldn’t be relied upon, especially not in a confrontational situation, and there was nothing around for her to grab and use as a weapon. She supposed she could use the lamp she had just switched on but it was heavy and the weight was not evenly balanced making it a rather superfluous instrument of defense.

Glinda ran her eyes rapidly around the room. One of the benefits of having everything open plan and spaced out was that there weren’t very many places to hide. The large sofa was propped high up off the ground on curled wooden feet so she could tell nobody was crouched behind that and the curtains that hung over the large window were pinned back in such a way that nobody could conceal themselves behind them, meaning that if someone was still inside her apartment they were either in the bedroom, the small study or out on the balcony. Glinda checked the balcony first, making sure that nobody could sneak up behind her. Clear. Next she went for the study, she only had a small desk and chair in there so it would be easy to see if someone was in there. She expertly opened the door without making a sound, a skill she had picked up when snooping through her parents' things as a child. Upon peering inside it was obvious that nobody was there either, so she finally made for the bedroom. As she pushed the door open she was stunned to see Chistery laying folded clothes on the large ottoman at the foot of the bed.

“Oh, Chistery. Thank Oz it’s you!” The relief in her voice was evident.

“S… sorry, Miss Glinda. The clothes were ready. Washed. Clean.”

Glinda moved over to the bed and sat down, heaving a sigh as she did so.

“Please, Chistery, there is no need to apologise. I thought you were an intruder. I was going to hit you with my lamp!”

His eyes widened slightly,

“Well, I mean, I thought about it.” she chuckled. “But, I am feeling rather tired now so if you don’t have anything else to do here, I am going to get washed up and try to get some sleep. Elphie would hate it if she knew I hadn’t been taking care of myself.” A sadness flickered in Chistery’s eyes at the mention of Elphaba, though he, like Glinda, seemed to be good at masking his emotions and burying them away.

“Mmm.” He grunted. “Goodnight, Miss Glinda.” His words were slow and Glinda often got the impression that he didn’t use them unless he really did mean them. She reached out a hand to tenderly cover his as she softly replied,

“Goodnight, Chistery.”

He ambled out of the room and pulled the apartment door shut behind him. Glinda took a moment to sit in the peace and quiet as she whispered,

“Goodnight, Elphie.”

She leapt from the bed, heart once again pounding as she heard a voice say,

“It’s far too early for me to go to bed yet, Glinda.”

Glinda spun to face the corner of the room the voice seemed to have come from. There was nobody there. Oz, maybe she really had lost it now and was imagining things. Perhaps the lack of sleep had sent her mind into a spiral and now she couldn’t tell what was real or if she was dreaming. That must be it, she had fallen asleep and was dreaming. The only explanation that seemed to make any sense was that she was dreaming. She repeated it to herself over and over again,

“You are dreaming, Glinda. It’s a dream. All it is, is a dream.” She shook her head and closed her eyes as she playfully sang the same phrases repetitively.

“Glinda. You aren’t dreaming.”

Her eyes snapped open and she spoke, this time, very assertively,

“Who are you, and what do you want? And why do you sound like my Elphie? Show yourself!”

Glinda’s mouth fell open as from the corner of the room, a shimmering effect began to reveal the figure of Elphaba standing there. Hat on, broom in hand, skin positively emerald, as always. “Elphie?” she questioned. “Elphie, is that you?” Elphaba stepped forwards into the light, her lips tugged upwards into a small half-smile. “Oh my Oz! How… what… how did you…? I saw you, I saw you melt!”

Elphaba moved towards Glinda, her hand was reaching forwards. Glinda raised her arm to meet the long green fingers but retracted her hand. The feelings that swirled inside her were difficult to decipher. She felt initial relief that Elphie was indeed alive, but tears welled in her eyes as the sadness that had threatened to consume her over the last week squeezed once more at her heart. Then there was anger. She could definitely tell that she was angry. It coursed through her like a fire, ignited by only a small amount of kindling but spreading rapidly through her veins. Her chest now burned furiously and she felt her pulse throb behind her eyes. Glinda didn’t think she had ever been this angry in her life and before her brain could try to rationalise and calm down the pure, unadulterated rage spilled out from within her.

“You!” She pointed her finger right between Elphaba’s eyes. “How dare you?!”

Elphaba looked confused,

“How dare I?”

“Be quiet Elphaba!” she snapped. “How dare you leave me like that. I watched you melt, I watched you die, and you have the audacity to swoop back in here after a week of nothing, no message, no sign, nothing and act as if I would be thrillified to see you! Who do you think you are?! I grieved for you Elphaba, I cried and sobbed and screamed until I had no voice left inside me.” Glinda pounded her hand against her own chest, “ I prayed. For you. I prayed to anyone who would hear my pleas. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep and when I did eventually pass out from exhaustion I was terrified by the nightmares. And for what? You have put me through hell, you left me here to suffer just like before.” she spat, hatefully “ All those words, that forgiveness, the healing we went through. All of it was for nothing. All of it meant nothing, because it is clear to me now Elphaba that the regard I have for you is not the same as the way you feel about me. You are wicked. You are the Wicked Witch of the West. You left me here alone… again.” Glinda laughed, though tears spilled from her eyes. “Again. How could you do that to me? How could you let me believe you were dead?” Glinda dropped to her knees, unable to support her own weight any longer. Elphaba moved towards her and placed a hand on Glinda’s back but she recoiled, she wasn’t interested in Elphaba’s comfort. The anger had only intensified within her, her ears now rushing with blood as she stumbled back to her feet and away from Elphaba. “Don’t touch me! Don’t come anywhere near me. Stay away from me Elphaba, I mean it.”

Glinda stormed out of her bedroom and headed towards the front door as she pulled at the handle to throw it open her fingers buzzed with a jolt of what felt like electricity.

Magic.

Her nose crinkled and she gritted her teeth as she swiveled on the spot to find Elphaba standing behind her. “Open the door, Elphaba.”

“No.”

“Elphaba Thropp, open the door this instant.”

Elphaba rested her broom against the small side table next to the door and folded her arms. Her dark brown eyes pierced straight through Glinda whose face felt hot.

“No.”

“I swear, if you don’t open that door I’ll…”

Elphaba smirked,

“You’ll… what?”

“I’ll…” Glinda’s gaze flickered around the room before finding Elphaba once more. “I’ll… arghh” Glinda launched herself at Elphaba. Their hands grappled with each other as Glinda toppled Elphaba onto the floor. She could just about hear Elphaba muttering beneath her,

“What is wrong with you, Glinda? Are you crazy?!”

Glinda wasn’t actually trying to hurt her, they really only held onto each other with Glinda straddling Elphaba.

“You left me! How could you do that, how could you leave me like that?” Glinda’s voice cracked as tears once again began to stream down her cheeks. She yanked her arms free of Elphaba’s grip, balled her hands into fists and pounded at Elphaba’s upper arms, though used barely any strength. “How could you, Elphie? Why did you do that to me?”

Glinda felt Elphaba go limp beneath her. She seemed to allow Glinda to cry and push and hit at her for a few moments before catching Glinda’s arms mid swing and dragging her down on top of her, enveloping her in a hug. Glinda was held tight against Elphaba. She could smell the cinnamon and vanilla scent that often filled their dorm room after Elphaba had showered. Glinda struggled, initially, trying to break free from her grasp but it was futile; Elphaba was bigger and stronger than she was. After realising that she was effectively a prisoner in Elphaba’s arms, she gave in and sank down, allowing her full weight to rest on top of Elphaba. She tucked her arms in and curled herself as best she could against Elphaba’s chest and sobbed to the quiet cooing of Elphaba whispering apologies in her ear.

“My sweet. I am so sorry. I tried to come back on the second night but there were guards everywhere. I couldn’t risk coming to you. I couldn’t risk them finding out about us and persecuting you too. I love you too much to put you in any danger, even if that meant not being able to see you.” Elphaba squeezed even tighter until Glinda realised she couldn’t quite breathe properly. She sniffed loudly, her nose now blocked and stuffy from crying as she rolled to the side and shook her head. Elphaba turned to face her on the floor of her apartment and delicately wiped the tears from Glinda’s face. She held her cheeks and softly placed a kiss on her forehead,

“I’m sorry, Glinda. I promise I will never leave you again. I know you have heard that before and I know I will have to earn your trust again, but we can finally be together now. It is safe. Oz is safe. For us and for so many that The Wizard had oppressed and it is all because of you, Glinda. You are the reason that we are free. I love you so much and I am deeply sorry for putting you through that ordeal and I will spend the rest of my life making up for it.”

Glinda’s eyes searched Elphaba’s for any indication that she was not being truthful, but she saw only sincerity and care. Elphaba leaned in, pressing her lips to Glinda’s. Warmth spread through Glinda as her eyes fluttered closed and the anger that had ravaged her body mere moments ago dissipated into nothing. Love bloomed in her heart and she felt for the first time since that fateful day that she might actually heal. She had her Elphie back.

Galinda calls: “you're welcome!” to her as Elphaba flees. 

No one had ever called her beautiful before. 

She would have told anyone that her appearance was something rotten in her, on her. But who can deny the full force of Galinda Upland telling you something is so? 

Elphaba may have magic, but Galinda has something all her own. 

She breathes deeply, glad to have fresh air after the assault of all of Galinda's cosmetics at once. Why a girl with a face like that would have so much makeup anyway, this Elphaba cannot parse. 

The pink flower Galinda had placed in her hair tumbles to her feet. She hesitates for just a moment, before snatching it up, replacing it behind her ear. 

No one, she realises, has ever called her a friend, either. 

2)

Her neck aches.

Galinda is used to sleeping with no fewer than four pillows on her perfect pink bedspread. She's gotten used to being in a room with someone else, her quiet but surprisingly lovely best friend. 

So waking up with her head in her history textbook, still in her chair, without her Elphie, is quite a shock. She tries to piece together the sequence of events, her brain is fuzzy. Strange, as Galinda usually has a good idea of what's going on around her.

She remembers telling a pretty bad joke, the warmth it brought her when Elphie smiled. A real smile from Elphaba was so precious, more rare than any jewel that Galinda had ever seen.

The memories trickle into her in a way that's almost uncomfortable, her head filling up. Dr. Dillamond left, was carted off (maybe that was derogatory for a goat??). Elphaba was so upset, it took all of Galinda's cajoling to get her to see that her anger would not be of any help. 

All of that work, down the tubes when they brought out the cub in his cage. 

Wait, the cub, where was the cub?

Elphaba had taken the cub, had magic spelled them all asleep. 

Typical Elphie, go off before you have a plan or anything! Galinda turned to say just this thing to Fiyero, only to see Fiyero nowhere to be found. 

And she was all alone

3)

The handling of the broom is not easy.  She has to hold on to the hat Galinda had given her so it doesn't tumble off. Galinda had wrapped the cloak around her too, the only warmth she can find so high up in the air. It's beautiful, though. Oz is so big and full of life. All those Animals in need of help, there really is no time to lose.

Her heart’s desire had once been to scrub the green off of her, to become like everyone else. She had always wanted to be the kind of person people would want, would love.Galinda had shown her that maybe she didn't need to feel like that. That she could be maybe when loved. And of course, the Animals being persecuted was more important than anything else. She had really thought, for a moment, that they could be together. That their plans could come to fruition, that Elphaba would no longer have to go alone. 

On the train ride, the two had briefly shared a kiss, had held each other, and Elphaba felt her new life unfurl before her. 

But Galinda, staying behind, as if she hadn't heard all the things she did? The betrayal turns her stomach.

Elphaba knows what she would say, to wait and fix things from the inside. 

But she had never belonged with everyone else, her difference marked from birth. She had been wrong about being accepted, about Galinda, about love l.

Better to just go, before she gets left, pushed away. Again

4)

Galinda remembers wanting to go lie down, and now she is in her apartment, but she has no memory of the journey there. 

She is out of her own body, exhausted, numb. 

She needs to get out of this wedding dress. 

How thrilled she had been, the best day of her life, how she had practiced and planned it! It had been her crowning moment, what everything had led to. 

Elphaba’s hand in hers, like no time had passed at all. The lights had sparkled with every color of her beloved rainbow. Finally she was able to do what she should have done, to get on the broom. To have her.

She'd never been more excited, like every possible wish had come true. Everything had felt so wrong since she left, Elphie would set things right. Then things would really be “good.”

Instead, Elphaba had left, once again, with Fiyero in tow. 

What did those two even have to talk about, she wonders. Does Elphie even like kissing him? 

More than she liked kissing her.

This stupid apartment is far too big for her, especially now that she can remember Elphie here, as opposed to just imagining her. 

A whole city that loves her, that's so sad for her, and she's never felt more lonely. 

5)

Her father instilled in her a sense of guilt that Elphaba had spent much of her life trying, and ultimately failing, to break free from. 

Good intentions, he said, paved the road to hell, and she has felt that everyday of her life. 

She was the reason for her mother's death, her sister's early birth, her own green skin. When she tried to defend her sister, she instead made her cry. When she had made her father proud by going to the Emerald City, she then shamed him, killed him. 

Her love for Nessa, even when she got so little love back, was something that Elphaba held on to. She made a mess of things, but she loved her sister with her whole person.

But that was exploited, killing her. The last words she said to her sister was in anger, and she was responsible for her death.

All her visions could never stop her from the inevitable: she hurt the people she loved. Her very presence was cancerous. 

She is sitting inside a dark, damp passageway. The trap door led into what she could barely see was a labyrinth of rooms, but she finds she cannot leave the cramped entryway. She wants to hear when Fiyero comes, but she also is desperate to know the comings and goings above her. To feel like she is a part of things, even if she can never be.

She hears the familiar click of Glinda's shoes as they slowly stop just above her hiding spot. The trap door rattles; Glinda is sitting right above her. Her brave best friend sits and cries, for her. 

This is her most wicked moment, the pain she is causing Glinda. Oh, how she wishes she could reveal herself and wipe away those tears, if she could watch those beautiful brown eyes clear. She’d take another slap, as long as she could follow it with a kiss. 

As much as this hurts, Elphaba knows that this is what she deserves. She needs to feel this sadness, this suffering, as a reminder. All she does is hurt people. There is nothing she can do to stop Glinda’s pain right now, because in the long run, this will be worth it.

She has already hurt Fiyero; he at least is invulnerable to her damage. 

Glinda has the potential to do real good, to fix everything, but only if she doesn’t have Elphaba around as baggage.

She will leave, forever, for the wastelands, for the greater good.

+1

In her many years as leader of Oz, she had tried to help as many people as possible. She returned Dorothy home, put Nessa’s killer in jail, helped the animals in their fights for rights, liberated the munchkins, assisted in the Vinkus reforms and found a missing princess. 

After a peaceful transfer of power, Glinda settled in the south, in a rather lovely compound. She was an advisor to Ozma, but largely, her work for Oz was done. She had, at long last, made good. There was only one thing left unfinished. 

Glinda still didn't really understand where Elphie had gone. After many years, the shock of the death she witnessed dissipated and she was able to question the particulars. She had lived in a room with Elphie for many months and had never seen her fear water, though the display she had put on had been very convincing. Elphie did not die, then, but she did disappear, leaving her again.

Now, she takes out her very thick glasses and pulls the Grimmerie out from its hiding place, hidden between other inconspicuous books.

When Elphaba had given the monkeys their wings, the Grimmerie had opened immediately to a page and Elphaba had read it out without question. She assumed that they often worked together this way. Elphie was so used to getting nothing that she took the first thing offered. Meanwhile, Glinda had certain expectations that she would see met, thank you very much. She spoke with the Grimmerie like it was a person who she respected, but not one she had to have deference for.

She spoke to the Grimmerie often through the years. Asking for help, saying no to many suggestions that she thought might not work in the long run. In turn, for many years, the Grimmerie said no right back to her requests to bring Elphie home. 

It wasn’t until now, when she was near blind and older than she had ever imagined herself, that the answer changed. The beautiful pages unfurled and had a simple spell before her, the  ery first she had ever uttered, so long ago she had almost forgotten:

« What are trying to write that takes that many attempts? » Despite how many students were gone for Lurlinemas break, Galinda’s green roommate was still here. 

Galinda looked at her for a few moments before answering, it was rare for Elphaba to not have her nose stuck in a book. « A letter to my parents » 

« That can’t take that many possible attempts to write it can it? » Her roommate asked. 

« It’s more that I can’t figure out one word… since when do you care about what I’m doing? » 

Elphaba didn’t respond to her question, « What word is it? »  

« Know » Galinda mumbled. 

Her roommate got up and sat down next to where Glinda was on her bed, their arms slightly touching, she looked at what Galinda wrote; « It is Spelt k, n, o, w. » before getting back up and sitting down with her book. 

She watched her roommate, a bit confused for a minute before writing it down and continuing with the letter. « Thank you, » Galinda mumbled once she had finished with the letter. 

« Your constant erasing was getting annoying. » The pair wasn’t particularly close overall, Galinda somewhat tried to ignore her roommate for the most, after all she wanted to have a room all to herself. Just she found it somewhat comforting having someone else’s there even if they rarely talked. 

« What are you reading? » Galinda asked looking over at Elphaba, she had gotten a bit bored of the music. 

Elphaba looked up at Galinda surprised that she had said anything. « Some old poetry… found the book in the school’s library though it would be interesting. »  

« There’s still books there you haven’t read? » Galinda inquired a bit jokingly. 

« Yes, have you seen how many book there are there? » She said putting down her book.  

Galinda shrugged her shoulders. « I don’t tend to go to the library to much, unless I’m looking for artist to study, I’m not one for reading. » 

« What type of art do you like? » 

« Eh, at the moment mostly things from when the last Ozma was in power, » Galinda thinks for a moment. « I can’t hardly remember her name for some reason, I think it starts with a B… » 

« Ozma the Bilious? » Elphaba asks. 

« Yes! Her, a lot of the are around then is always to bight and colourful and watercolours start getting picked up again, along with softer lighting so they always look so smooth and delicate. » 

Galinda’s roommate chuckles a bit. « Since when do you like are so much Galinda? » 

« It’s always been a bit of a passion of mine, I prefer architecture more, just buildings get removed and destroyed and the only remaining part of how they looked are in paintings. » 

Elphaba nods. « Well that’s how history goes. » 

Galinda looked down at the book of poems that her roommate was reading, it was an old hand bound book, the fabric cover was clearly faded.« Why do you take an interest in dull old books? » 

Elphaba shrugs. « I don’t know I find them interesting. They give me something to read and they help me learn more about the world around. I don’t usually read poetry. » 

« What do you usually read? » 

« There isn’t exactly one type of thing I read per say, I guess religious text sometimes, and papers on different scientific discoveries, even philosophy, anything that peaks my interest… » Elphaba looks over at the window, the snow was so high that you could barely tell what anything was anymore. 

Putting her mug down Galinda got up and offerd her hand to Elphaba, who looked a her bit confused at what Galinda was doing. « Would you want to dance? » 

« What? » Elphaba was baffled at Galinda asking her this. 

« Would you want to dance? » Galinda repeated. « Usually, when I’m with my family, me and my cousins would usually dance around Lurlinemas eve for a while. It’s just something I like to do. » 

Elphaba placed her hand in Galinda’s. « I never danced before so I don’t think I’ll be any good. » 

Galinda pulled Elphaba up from her chair. « You don’t have to be good, I’m not great either, just follow my steps. We can start slow, okay? » 

Elphaba nodded, following mostly Galinda’s movements, as the pair got more comfortable dancing together they started going a bit faster. Spinning around, the room around them blurring a bit, they were more focused on each other than anything else in that moment. Holding onto each other, hoping they wouldn’t fall over, and crash into one of the chairs. After a while when their legs got tired the pair fell back into their chairs laughing. The fire was mostly burned out by now. 

« I think that’s the first time I’ve ever danced with anyone? » Elphaba said still giggling, her black hair a bit of a mess. 

« Really, you never danced with anyone? » Galinda looked over surprised 

She shook her head. « I don’t really have many friends and, well… my sister can’t really dance, It was fun. » Elphaba smiled, as far as Galinda remembered it was the first time she’d ever seen her roommate smile. 

« I liked it too… » Galinda smiled back, yawning a bit. « What time is it? » 

Looking over at the time Elphaba replied « Almost midnight. » 

« Almost midnight? » She was surprised at how late it was.

Her roommate nodded. « We were dancing for awhile. » 

« Guess we were. » Galinda got up. « I’m gonna head to bed, I’m pretty tired. » 

« Good night. » Elphaba picked up her book again, as Galinda left to go back to their dorm. 

After getting changed into pajamas Galinda laid in bed, she struggled to fall asleep. A mix of the cold and not being home for the holidays was keeping her up. She didn’t know how long it had been, she didn’t really bother checking the time, when her roommate came back. 

« What time is it? » Galinda asked mumbling a bit.

Shrugging her shoulders. « Late, why are you still awake? » 

« Cold. » 

Elphaba nodded. « You’d think heating would be better, or at least a small fire place. » Pulling the blanket off of her bed she put it over Galinda. 

« What about you? You gonna be cold.. » 

« I’ll be fine, » Elphaba said as she went to get changed in their bathroom. 

Once she had gotten changed Galinda had shuffled around so that there would be room for Elphaba in her bed. « Come here. » 

« What? Why? » Elphaba was a bit confused. 

« You’re gonna freeze. » Galinda replied

« Since when do you care? » 

« If you freeze I won’t have anyone to dance with anymore. » Elphaba sighted then climbed into Galinda’s bed. « Thank you. » 

« For what? Not freezing? I prefer not getting hypothermia.» Elphaba said looking over at Galinda. 

« No, for being here. It’s nice not being alone, I like your company even if we don’t talk. » 

« I liked dancing with you today, it was nice. » 

Galinda smiled « I liked it too. Were you also planning on going home for the holidays? » 

Elphaba looked down. « I’m not the most fond of celebrations, or my family, I know my Siblings are gonna miss me, at least Nessa might. I was just going to stay here over the break and send them letters wishing them well. »

« Oh, » Galinda didn’t really know what to answer to that. 

« It’s fine I don’t mind not being there, the trip takes too long anyways. Did you have anything planned with your family?» Elphaba smiled.

« The normal festivities, seeing my cousins, having big meals, opening gifts, just the usual things. I like it, it’s peaceful. I’m just a bit sad I won’t get to be there. » Galinda lamented. 

« If you want tomorrow we can eat together. » 

Galinda snuggled up to Elphaba, pressing her cold hands between their chests.« I’d like that.. »

« What’s all this for? » Elphaba looked down at Galinda. 

Mumbling a bit Galinda answered. « Cold. » 

« Well there is a snow storm so what are you expecting? » 

To this Galinda giggled a bit, « You're not wrong about that, I would have just hoped it would be a little warmer. » 

Wrapping her arms around her blonde roommate and pulling her closer. Elphaba pressed a kiss to her forehead. « Sleep well my sweet. »