Between The Lines

Pfannee and Shenshen were waiting for her when she got back to the main building, already mid-conversation about something shallow and unimportant.

"Oh, Oz, you would not believe what Milla was saying earlier—"

"She’s so obsessed with herself, it’s honestly embarrassing—"

Glinda smiled. Nodded. Laughed when she was supposed to.

But her mind wasn’t there.

She wasn’t thinking about Milla or gossip or the game tomorrow.

She was thinking about a quiet moment on the steps. About green hands and steady words. About the way Elphaba had looked at her—not like she was asking for anything, just like she was seeing her.

And for the first time maybe ever, Glinda wasn’t sure she wanted to be seen.

Elphaba should have gone straight to practice.

Instead, she ended up near the cafeteria, finding Crope, Tibbett, and Fiyero at their usual spot outside. The moment she sat down, Crope’s eyes narrowed.

"You’re being weird."

Elphaba exhaled sharply. "Hello to you too."

Tibbett tilted his head, studying her. "No, but like… you’re thinking really hard."

"That’s just her face," Boq pointed out, sliding into the conversation as he sat down with them. "She always looks like she’s planning a murder."

Elphaba didn’t dignify that with a response.

Fiyero, who had been mostly quiet until now, finally leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "You talked to her."

Elphaba’s spine went stiff. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Oh, Oz, you so do," Tibbett gasped. "You had a whole moment with her, didn’t you?"

"There was no moment," Elphaba muttered, pretending to care about her sandwich.

Crope grinned. "So you did talk."

Elphaba scowled. "Would you all shut up?"

Fiyero didn’t press, but the look on his face made it clear he knew.

He knew exactly what was happening.

And he also knew Elphaba was just as screwed as Glinda.

Later that night, after Glinda had showered and curled up in bed, she opened her phone without thinking.

She hadn’t expected a message.

And yet—

Elphaba:So, you survive the rest of the day?

Glinda blinked at the screen, something twisting in her stomach.

Her fingers hovered. She could ignore it. She could pretend this was nothing.

But then, before she could talk herself out of it—

Glinda:Barely. You?

A pause. Then—

Elphaba:Still alive, unfortunately.

Glinda hesitated, then—

Glinda:That unfortunate, huh?

Elphaba:You have no idea.

Glinda:Try me.

A pause. Then—

Elphaba:Practice was a disaster. Coach made us run sprints until I started seeing visions of my own funeral.

Glinda bit her lip, stifling a laugh.

Glinda:Dramatic. You lived.

Elphaba:Barely.

The conversation should have ended there. But neither of them put their phones down.

Another pause. Then—

Glinda:...You still awake?

Elphaba:Clearly.

Glinda hesitated for half a second before pressing the call button.

It only rang once before Elphaba picked up. "This is unexpected."

"Is it?" Glinda settled into her pillows, curling into herself. "I don’t know, I figured I owed you a call after the other night."

Elphaba hummed. "Oh? You keeping score now?"

Glinda rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself. "Just talk to me. Tell me more about your tragic near-death experience at practice."

Elphaba let out a quiet laugh, and just like that, they fell into easy conversation.

Glinda smiled.