Night Out
It had been one week of Galinda living with Elphaba. One week of an absolute nightmare. She dreaded every day, waking up and the constant bickering and fighting, but she couldn't help it. Just the sight of her nauseated the girl. The feeling went both ways of course. The only difference between the two girls was one of them being able to admit the other was attractive. This of course being Elphaba, as Galinda was too prideful to ever admit that. Or think that.
Of course, she would never say it out loud. Maybe write it in her journal when she was ranting about the girl's annoying habits. She never realized it until after, but even then, she had to nod in agreement- that aside from her roommate's terrible qualities and person, she was still a pretty girl. Beautiful even. Elphaba was a lot of things, but not a liar. She knew this was true and she wouldn’t deny it. One day, after she had thrown a big fit over what to wear to class…yes class, it had clearly amused Elphaba, but Oz, how much more extra could a girl be.
Journal entry:
Galinda is insufferable. She talks endlessly about fashion and social gatherings as if either of those things matter. And the way she fusses over every single strand of hair…who has that kind of time?
Although, I will admit how perfect she looks every day. But with a face like hers… she could wear a dirt sack and be praised for it. And honestly, she’d probably even look good at it. Which is crazy, but it doesn’t even matter what she wears, yet she spends hours curating the perfect outfit to match her hair, shoes, makeup…. Who does that???
After she wrote this entry, she’d slip the notebook under her pillow and go off to do some studying or homework. All while Galinda hummed as she flipped through a fashion magazine on her bed, completely oblivious to Elphaba’s clear annoyance to her. With one deep breath, he pulled out her textbook and began reading.
“Sweet Oz, Elphaba,” she finally scoffed from across the room, “Do you ever, I don’t know… do something fun? It’s Friday night and you are reading a textbook?”
“Well, Galinda, we do have our first exam this Thursday, so yes- I am reading our textbook.” She snapped back at the girl who rolled her eyes, twirling a strand of golden hair around her finger. This irritated her even more. How, even in the midst of an argument, could she find something to fawn over the girl that hated her. Or, the girl she hated…She pulled out her journal again to continue writing, when their door swung open.
“Galinda! You must come out with us!” It was her friends. Elphaba stiffened, closing her journal with a snap, and shoving it under her pillow. “Oh! Elphaba, we didn’t know you’d be in here!” One of them said, hand on her heart as if she felt bad for interrupting.
“Where else would she be on a Friday night?” The other murmured loud enough for her to hear, she rolled her eyes and continued back to her studying. “Oh! We didn’t mean to interrupt your study time.” She walked over to Galinda who was now at the edge of her bed waiting for something to happen.
“Well, get ready!” They shifted focus to Galinda now, who still sat waiting, eyes wide and ready with excitement. “We want to go to a new place in town, The Historic Emerald!”
“Oh Oz, I’ve been wanting to go! I didn’t know they opened!” She smiled, rushing to her closet as her friend helped her pick what to wear.
“It just opened today and it’s reservations only,” her friend nodded, “But my father knows someone who got us reservations at eight.”
“How perfect!” She beamed, changing quickly. Elphaba stiffened, her face heating as Galinda pulled her blouse over her head without a second thought. She quickly averted her eyes, focusing hard on the open book in front of her, although she had not read or processed a word.
Shenshen’s gaze flickered between Elphaba and Galinda, a smile tugging at her lips. "What’s the matter, Elphaba?" she teased in a low voice. "Never seen a girl get changed before?” Elphaba’s jaw clenched, but before she could respond Galinda interrupted, clearly oblivious to the tension, and twirled in front of the mirror.
"How do I look?" She smiled.
"Perfect as always," Pfanne smiled, and Galinda went to touch up her makeup.
“And my hair?” She asked, pressing it down.
“Amazing… as always!” He fixed it up and they dragged her by her arm to the door.
Galinda beamed. "Don’t wait up," she told Elphaba cheerfully, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "I’ll be home late."
"As if I care," Elphaba muttered, still refusing to look at her.
Galinda paused by the door, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "You say that, but I think you'd miss me if I didn’t come back at all."
"Not likely." She scoffed, and just like that, they were gone.
And Elphaba knew she shouldn’t worry, but when the clock hit 1am, she was done studying and yet no sign of her roommate. She did tell her not to wait up. But she couldn’t help but worry a slight bit, right? However, the clock now read 2:05, and she couldn’t help but scoff. It was none of her business. Despite herself, she knew the only way to make these feelings stop, was to write it down. She flipped open her journal, and began to write down quickly.
Journal Entry:
I shouldn’t care. I really shouldn’t. Galinda is perfectly capable of managing her own life, even if it involves gallivanting around the city with those irritating friends of hers. And yet here I am, still awake, wondering if she’s okay. Or got into trouble. Not that it would be surprising if someone mistook her for a porcelain doll and decided to snatch her up.
She groaned softly and crossed out the last sentence, hating how ridiculous it sounded. Just as she was about to write more, the door creaked open. Shenshen and Pfannee stumbled in, holding up Galinda between them. Her giggles were slurred, her golden curls tousled from the night’s chaos. She stuffed the journal back into its place watching them.
“She’s fine,” Shenshen whispered dramatically, though there was no need for secrecy with Galinda having already announced she was ‘just a little tipsy’.
“A lot tipsy,” Pfannee corrected, laughing as he helped guide Galinda toward her bed.
“Don’t worry, Elphaba,” Shenshen cooed. “Your precious Galinda made it back in one piece.”
She rolled her eyes again, Shenshen’s eyes catching the journal still peeking out from under her pillow.
“I’m perfectly fine,” she slurred, flopping herself down onto the bed
“Sure you are, sweetie,” Shenshen said, patting her leg. “Get some sleep.” With a few more whispered giggles, Shenshen and Pfannee left the room without another word to Elphaba.
“Elphie?” Galinda slurred softly, causing her to wince at the nickname.
“What?” She asked.
“Can you… take my makeup off?” Galinda’s voice was thick with exhaustion. She half-lifted her head, blinking hazily. “And maybe get me some water?”
Elphaba’s head turned. “Absolutely not.”
Galinda groaned dramatically, flopping back onto the bed. “You’re so mean,” she whined. “I’m dying over here. The least you could do is grab me some water.”
“You are not dying, Galinda.”
“Well, when I wake up in the morning looking like an old hag, I might as well be!” She scoffed, “Oh, and the breakout my face will endure.”
Elphaba rolled her eyes and turned away from her, determined to ignore her. But as she let out a pitiful sigh and curled further into the blankets, she pursed her lips and reluctantly stood up to help the girl. “Sweet Oz.” She muttered, walking over to Galinda’s nightstand in search of makeup remover.
“This is ridiculous,” Elphaba muttered as she gently wiped the glittering makeup from Galinda’s face. “You’re perfectly capable of doing this yourself.”
Galinda hummed, leaning into the touch. “You’re nice when you pretend not to be,” she mumbled.
“I am not nice,” Elphaba snapped, though her hand softened its touch.
Once the makeup was gone, she tossed the cloth aside and filled a glass of water from the pitcher on the desk. She pressed it into Galinda’s hand. “Drink this.”
Galinda took a slow sip, her eyes closed. “Thanks, Elphie,” she whispered.
“Don’t call me that-” Elphaba grumbled under her breath. Her words faltered as Galinda suddenly reached out, her delicate fingers brushing against Elphaba’s hand.
Elphaba froze, her breath hitching. Her heart was pounding in her ears as she stared wide-eyed at her hand wrapped around her wrist. Galinda’s touch was warm, gentle, entirely unselfconscious. She should pull away. She needed to pull away. But her hand remained beneath Galinda’s light grip.
“You have nice hands,” she touched her fingers gently, “they’re soft.”
With that, she scoffed and pulled away. “You’re drunk.” she muttered. Galinda shook her head and giggled softly, sinking into the pillows. Elphaba took the glass from her hands, and put down the wipe she had used, leaving the girl alone.
Journal Entry:
The good news is, Galinda came home finally. Her friends practically dragged her in, and I was content to let them deal with her. But, of course, she had to ask me for help. Because… well, Oz knows why. I had said no, but she used the voice that she always does, and suddenly I am doing whatever she needs. The thing is... for a moment, it almost felt like she liked me a little more than I thought. Even though she was drunk, maybe it meant something. Maybe. But it probably doesn’t. People like her don’t think twice about people like me. Even when they're being kind- or affectionate, it doesn't mean anything. Not really.
I need to stop thinking about this. It’s foolish. By the morning, she won’t even remember. She will assume it was Pfannee or Shenshen who took her makeup off and tended to her. And who am I to tell her it was me? So she can freak out and tell me to never do that again?
She sighed, putting the journal back, muttering under her breath and finally going to sleep.