Chapter 27
Elphaba had been pretending to study for the last hour, but the words weren’t sticking. Shell had already called her out for it, mumbling something about how she looked extra broody today, but left her alone when she shot him a glare.
The problem was, she had nothing to do. The boys had made plans without her—something about a last-minute rehearsal for Crope and Tibbett’s upcoming performance. Fiyero had invited her, but she had waved him off.
Now she was regretting it.
She wasn’t used to feeling restless.
So when her phone buzzed, she nearly knocked over her drink scrambling to grab it.
Glinda:Are you doing anything right now?
Elphaba stared at the text.
Then, before she could overthink it, she responded.
Elphaba:Not particularly.
There was a long pause before another message appeared.
Glinda:Want to meet up?
Elphaba tapped her fingers against the desk.
Her instinct was to say no. To keep the distance. To let whatever this was settle before it got worse.
But instead, she found herself typing:
Elphaba:Where?
The coffee shop Glinda picked was ridiculously over-decorated for Lurlinemas.
Elphaba walked in, immediately overwhelmed by the amount of gold ribbon and twinkling lights. The scent of cinnamon and spiced cocoa filled the air, making her nose wrinkle.
She spotted Glinda immediately—tucked away in a booth, stirring her drink absentmindedly.
Elphaba hesitated for half a second before walking over.
Glinda brightened when she saw her.
“You came,” she said, sounding far too pleased.
Elphaba slid into the seat across from her, shrugging. “Well, you bribed me with caffeine.”
Glinda giggled, nudging a second cup toward her. “I took the liberty of ordering for you.”
Elphaba raised a brow. “Risky move.”
Glinda rested her chin in her hand, watching her. “I guessed right, didn’t I?”
Elphaba took a sip—black coffee, just how she liked it. Damn her.
She set the cup down, leaning back against the seat. “So, what’s this about?”
Glinda suddenly looked unsure.
She played with the edge of her sleeve before murmuring, “I just… I didn’t want to sit around today. And I figured if anyone else hates sitting around, it’s you.”
Elphaba stared at her, a little thrown.
She had expected something else. Expected this to be some kind of game, or an excuse, or an accident.
She hadn’t expected honesty.
She huffed, tearing a piece off the napkin in front of her. “I see. So I’m a last resort.”
Glinda gasped, dramatic. “You are absolutely not a last resort.”
Elphaba smirked. “Oh? Then what am I?”
Glinda faltered, face pinking just slightly.
Elphaba immediately regretted pushing.
But then Glinda rolled her eyes, feigning exasperation. “A tolerable option, I suppose.”
Elphaba let out a laugh. “Wow. Be still my heart.”
Glinda grinned, stirring her drink again, a little too focused on it.
Elphaba watched her, suddenly too aware of how comfortable this felt.
And how much that terrified her.
Elphaba wasn’t sure how she got roped into this.
It wasn’t a party, not really—just her, Glinda, and the boys, gathering at Crope and Tibbett’s place for a low-key New Year’s Eve.
Glinda, of course, had insisted they go together.
So Elphaba had found herself pulling up outside the Upland estate, gripping the wheel tightly as she texted:
Elphaba:Here.
A minute later, the door opened, and there was Glinda—glowing in the porch light, wrapped in a soft, oversized coat, her hair falling in perfect waves.
Elphaba swallowed. Hard.
Glinda slid into the passenger seat, cheeks pink from the cold. “Hi.”
Elphaba cleared her throat, gripping the wheel tighter. “Hey.”
Glinda beamed, reaching across the console to squeeze Elphaba’s free hand. “Thanks for picking me up.”
Elphaba glanced at her, something warm curling in her stomach. “Yeah. No problem.”
Glinda didn’t let go right away.
By the time they arrived, the boys were already sprawled across Crope and Tibbett’s couch, drinks in hand, laughing about something ridiculous.
Boq raised a brow when Elphaba and Glinda stepped inside together, still holding hands. “So… this is happening, huh?”
Glinda smirked, brushing past him to grab a drink—but not before giving Elphaba’s fingers one last squeeze.
Tibbett smirked. “Took long enough.”
Elphaba scowled, but Glinda just plopped onto the couch next to her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
It was unsettling. How easy this all felt.
They played a drinking game. Crope made fun of Elphaba’s terrible attempt to mixing a cocktail. Fiyero spun some wild story about a disastrous winter ball he had attended back home. Everything was light. Easy. Fun.
But Elphaba’s thoughts kept drifting. To Glinda.
To the way her knee pressed against hers. To the way her fingers found Elphaba’s again, tracing lazy patterns against her palm.
To the fact that, somehow, Glinda had chosen to be here with her.
Somewhere along the way, Glinda ended up curled against Elphaba’s side.
It had started with a nudge, a teasing shoulder bump. Then, at some point, Glinda had just stayed.
Elphaba was acutely aware of every place their bodies touched.
And then—
“Ten seconds!” Crope shouted, raising his drink.
Elphaba’s heart jumped.
Nine…
Glinda shifted, lifting her head to look at her, fingers finding Elphaba’s again.
Eight…
Elphaba’s pulse pounded in her ears.
Seven…
Glinda tilted her chin up, eyes flickering to Elphaba’s lips.
Six…
Elphaba swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around Glinda’s.
Five…
Glinda leaned in, just enough that Elphaba could feel her breath against her skin.
Four…
Elphaba hesitated. Glinda didn’t.
Three…
A slow, deliberate closing of distance. Elphaba’s hand found its way to Glinda’s waist, fingers curling lightly against silk, while their other hands remained laced together.
Two…
“Kiss me, Elphie,” Their noses brushed, and Glinda smirked, just slightly.
One.
The kiss was soft. And then it wasn’t.
Elphaba responded before she could think, one hand slipping up to cradle the back of Glinda’s head. Glinda sighed into the kiss, melting against her like she had been waiting for this.
Elphaba deepened it instinctively, her body tilting into Glinda’s as the countdown faded into background noise.
Their hands stayed clasped between them, fingers still tangled as the kiss slowed.
They didn’t pull away immediately. Didn’t even move until—
“Oh, finally!” Crope declared, throwing up his hands.
Tibbett whooped, Boq clapped dramatically, and Fiyero just smirked knowingly.
Glinda laughed against Elphaba’s lips before pulling back, her forehead resting lightly against hers.
Elphaba, dazed, could barely process anything.
“Happy New Year,” Glinda murmured, giving Elphaba’s hand another squeeze.
Elphaba huffed a soft laugh. “Yeah. I think it will be.”
The car ride home was quiet at first—but not uncomfortable.
Glinda was still smiling, glowing in the reflection of the passing streetlights.
Elphaba tapped her fingers against the wheel, stealing a glance at her. “So.”
Glinda hummed, looking over at her. “So?”
Elphaba hesitated. Then, cautiously: “Are we… like, a thing?”
Glinda blinked, then grinned.
“Well, duh.”
Elphaba huffed a laugh, shaking her head. Something warm spread in her chest, something terrifyingly close to relief.
Glinda reached across the console, her fingers curling lightly over Elphaba’s wrist.
“I mean,” Glinda continued, mock-serious, “unless you don’t want to be?”
Elphaba snorted. “Oh, shut up.”
Glinda giggled, pleased, giving her wrist a playful squeeze.
And for the rest of the ride, Elphaba didn’t let go of her hand.