Chapter 35
Somehow, Glinda convinced Elphaba to come over. “My parents are away for the weekend.. please Elphie? I need you right now.”
Elphaba could never bring herself to say no. Spoiled, she thought.
They made their way upstairs to Glindas room. Glinda let out a slow, shaky sigh as she sunk down onto her bed, the exhaustion pressing into her bones.
Elphaba closed the door behind them, watching her carefully.
The night had been too much, too long, too painful.
The laughter, the whispers, the slurs, the way the cheer team had turned on her so quickly—she had been holding it in for hours.
But now, she didn't have to.
Now, it was just them.
Elphaba moved without thinking, crossing the room, pulling back the covers, slipping beneath them.
She didn't say anything.
She just opened her arms.
And Glinda—tired, drained, unraveling—
crawled right into them.
She tucked herself against Elphaba’s chest, sighing as Elphaba pulled the blankets up around them, wrapping her completely in warmth.
Elphaba’s arms settled around her, one hand sliding into her curls, fingers threading through them absently, grounding, soothing.
Glinda pressed closer, face tucked into the hollow of Elphaba’s throat.
She inhaled softly.
And then, after a long moment—
“They told me to leave.”
Elphaba’s fingers stilled for half a second.
Glinda swallowed, voice small, quiet. “They called me disgusting...”
Elphaba’s grip tightened.
Her jaw clenched, her chest rose and fell a little sharper, but she didn't speak.
Not yet.
Glinda exhaled against her skin, warm and shaky. “It was like I never existed to them. Like everything before this—before you—meant nothing.”
Elphaba finally found her voice. “They never deserved you.”
Glinda closed her eyes, squeezing them shut.
Elphaba’s fingers traced gentle circles against her back, slow, steady, solid.
For a while, they didn't speak.
Glinda’s body softened, her breath evening out, her limbs growing heavier.
And then—she shifted slightly, pressing closer, her voice quieter now.
“I told everyone at that party that Avaric cries after sex.”
Elphaba’s froze.
Glinda smirked against her skin.
There’s a beat of silence—and then Elphaba bursted into laughter.
Not a small chuckle, not a quiet exhale—
Full, sharp, real laughter.
Glinda beamed.
She tilted her head slightly, watching as Elphaba laughed, really laughed, her shoulders shook, her grip loosened just enough to pull back and look at her.
“You—” Elphaba tried to catch her breath, shaking her head. “You said that?”
Glinda grined. “I had to make sure he never recovers.”
Elphaba let out another sharp, breathless laugh, shaking her head.
Then—quieter, softer—she pulled her back against her chest.
Glinda sighed.
And slowly, without realizing it, they drifted.
Elphaba woke first.
The room was quiet, still, filled only with the soft sound of Glinda’s breathing.
The bedside lamp casted a warm, golden glow over the sheets, illuminating the gentle curve of Glinda’s cheek, the way her curls spill over the pillow, the way her lashes fluttered slightly as she dreamed.
She looked...
Soft.
Even after everything, even after crying for hours, even after the weight of the night—she was still the most beautiful thing Elphaba had ever seen, and Elphaba couldn't stop looking at her.
Her fingers tightened slightly where they rested against Glinda’s back, just to remind herself she was real, that she was here, that she was hers.
Then—Glinda stirred.
She shifted slightly, breath hitching, eyes fluttering open just barely.
Elphaba exhaled softly.
And then—quietly, barely above a whisper—
“Are you okay?”
Glinda blinked up at her, slow, hazy, still half-asleep.
She nodded, a sleepy smile playing across her lips.
Elphaba smiled.
“Try and sleep, my sweet. I’m here.”
Glinda sighed, warm and content, pressing her face against Elphaba’s collarbone.
And then, sleepy, soft, so small it’s almost a breath—
“Okay… my Elphie.”
Elphaba’s heart stuttered.
She should've let her rest.
She should've closed her eyes and let her drift off completely.
But she couldn't help it.
She leaned down and pressed a kiss to Glinda’s lips.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Soft, slow, warm.
Glinda sighed against her, barely awake, and kissed her back.
And then—one last kiss to the forehead, lingering, reverent.
Elphaba pulled back just enough to whisper—
“I love you.”
Glinda smiled, sleepily, barely there, but real.
“I love you too.”
Elphaba watched her for a long moment, watched the way she breathed, slow and steady, finally, finally at peace.
And then, finally, Elphaba let herself sleep too.
The first thing Glinda registered was warmth.
The second thing was Elphaba’s arms around her.
She stirred slightly, shifting beneath the blankets, and immediately realized that Elphaba is holding onto her like she never intended to let go.
One arm draped across her waist, the other curled beneath her, and her face tucked against the top of Glinda’s curls, breathing slow and steady.
Perfect, Glinda thought drowsily.
And then—
Her phone buzzed violently against the nightstand.
She groaned, shifting to grab it—
But Elphaba tightened her grip immediately, pulling her closer, burying her face deeper into Glinda’s hair.
A low, gravelly murmur, barely awake:
“Shhh. No. We’re sleeping.”
Glinda froze.
Then—she smiled.
Soft. Small. So in love.
Her phone buzzed again.
Glinda sighed dramatically, reaching blindly, trying not to disturb Elphaba.
She squinted at the screen, blinking blearily.
And then—she snorted..
The group chat was going insane.
Elphaba grumbled.
Glinda shifted slightly, nestling her head into the crook of Elphaba’s neck, a small, lazy smile curling at her lips.
She tilted the phone toward her, scrolling.
“They want to know if we’re alive,” she murmured.
Elphaba huffed.
Glinda grinned, voice still soft with sleep. “Boq is worried, Crope and Tibbett are concerned, and Fiyero is emotionally torn between our well-being and his desire for waffles.”
Elphaba let out a quiet groan.
Glinda giggled, scrolling again.
“Oh, and apparently, if you don’t respond, Fiyero is sending Boq to your house because, and I quote, ‘she’d kill me first.’”
Elphaba exhaled sharply.
“Accurate.”
Glinda laughed, shifting again, resting her chin lightly against Elphaba’s chest.
“They’re requesting us at brunch,” she murmured, reading further. “Tibbett says if we don’t come, he’ll cry. Crope says he’ll die. Boq says Fiyero will also cry but pretend it’s about the waffles.”
Elphaba finally cracked one eye open.
“…They’re exhausting.”
Glinda grinned. “You love them.”
Elphaba closed her eyes again.
“Unfortunately.”
Glinda giggled.
She tilted her head back slightly, watching Elphaba’s face.
“Come to brunch with me?”
Elphaba sighed, pulling the blankets higher over both of them.
“No.”
Glinda gasped. “Elphaba Thropp, are you denying me breakfast?”
Elphaba peered at her, one eye barely open.
“You can have breakfast right here,” she murmured, voice thick with sleep.
Glinda blinked, face burning.
Elphaba smirked, fully awake now.
“Oh.. oh Oz, Elphaba!” Glinda groaned, swatting at her arm.
Elphaba laughed.
Glinda huffed, but she was still smiling.
Then—softer, quieter—
“They just want to make sure we’re okay.”
Elphaba watched her.
Glinda met her gaze, searching.
“Come with me,” she murmured.
Elphaba exhaled.
She pushed a stray curl from Glinda’s face, tucking it behind her ear.
Then, reluctantly, finally—
“Fine.”
Glinda beamed.
She grabed her phone, quickly typing out a response.
Glinda: We’re coming.
The chat exploded with cheers and heart emojis.
Glinda laughed, setting her phone down, looking back at Elphaba.
“See? That wasn’t so hard.”
Elphaba rolled her eyes. “You’re lucky I love you.”
Glinda smirked. “Oh, I know.”
Elphaba groaned, pulling the blankets over her face.
Glinda gently tugged them back down, smiling.
She leaned in, pressing a soft, quick kiss to Elphaba’s cheek.
“Come on, Elphie. Let’s go make sure the boys don’t emotionally implode.”
Elphaba let herself be pulled.
She’s grumbled the entire time.
But she was smiling.
And Glinda noticed.