3rd Person POV:
All this week Galinda had been talking about her new date with a boy from in town. After her last, situationship had ended, she was desperate to get back into the dating game. Now that her and Elphaba had talked about their dating preferences- Elphaba knew that maybe, just maybe one day she could have a chance. Galinda had admitted to her a few months prior that she did in fact like girls, more than boys really, but that it was heavily disapproved of by her family. She had even said she thought she was a lesbian but was too scared of it being true. In which Elphaba responded, she too also likes girls, and boys, and whoever she liked. But her family couldn't care less of who she was dating.
Elphaba was too nervous to ever bring anything up, even though they were practically glued at the hip. She wished that something could happen between them but she never wanted to jeopardize their friendship- especially one she had cherished so much. But when Galinda started talking to this boy from the town she was over the moon excited. The whole week that’s pretty much all she talked about.
“Elphie!” She screeched from the top of her lungs. “Elphie, he's taking me on a date tomorrow!”
“Tomorrow? You just met the guy a few days ago online!” She laughed trying to not seem jealous over the unknown boy. Plus, she said she didn’t even like boys that much and that she thought she was a lesbian- why is she so excited over this boy. She figured to make her parents happy, but couldn’t she just like? This was practically tortue hearing her go on and on about “Alcott” from the cottage side. And how he was extremely romantic even though she had never even met the guy. Which also scared her. How could Galinda go on a date with a boy she’s never met?
“Galinda, do you even know his last name?” She asks as she gets ready to leave for her date.
“Ummmm, Cottage?”
“His name is, Alcott Cottage?” She repeated slowly, giving her a questioning look.
“God, Elphie! I don’t know his last name!” She rolled her eyes playfully. “Why would I know that?!” She laughs, and was she being serious? Oh God, did she really not know his full name?
“Umm, Galinda- his name is important.”
“Why?” She asks, putting some lipgloss on, very nonchalantly about the whole thing.
“Because-”
“Oh! Because we need to know what my potential last name is, duh!” She nods her head in agreement as if this is what the whole thing was supposed to mean.
“No, Galinda- because you’re going on a date with a boy you do not know- I think you need to at least get his full name.”
“I do know him, Elphie.” She sighed, placing a hand on her shoulder. “His name is Alcott, and he lives near the cottages in town.”
“Do you even know what he looks like?” She asks, following her walking towards the door.
“Yes, we’ve sent each other pictures, Elphie,” she responds, starting to get annoyed with all her questions.
“I just want you to be safe, Galinda.” She reaches out her hand to hers, and Galinda accepts. “Can I at least walk you down to him, so I can see him?”
“Elphie! You are not my mother!” She squeezes her hand and let's go.
“Okay, well, can you at least ask his last name before you leave? For me?”
Galinda purses her lips and gives in. She texts him and waits for a response- her hand on the handle waiting to leave. “Foxx.” She smiles, opening the door and stepping outside. Standing in front of the doorway so her roommate could see her full outfit- giving her a little spin too. Her hair curled perfectly, her pink skirt is a little higher than she normally wears it, and her blouse and blazer is perfectly ironed and pressed. Her new high heels that she has yet to wear. She looks perfectly adorable and Elphaba smiles sadly at the perfect girl in front of her.
“You look…” her voice wavered, “Beautiful.”
Her head snapped toward me, her cheeks suddenly pinker than her dress. “Oh.” The word was barely more than a whisper. I felt the heat on my face deepen and quickly added, “You, um, you should get going. You don’t want to keep him waiting.”
“Thank you, Elphie.” She responds, and they stand in silence for a few seconds. “You’re staring.” she added with a teasing smile, causing Elphaba to burn up even more now that she had called her out.
“Sorry- um, just you know, leave if anything feels off okay? And don’t stay out too late, okay?”
“Okay, Mom,” She takes a step away from the door. “I’ll be home around 12:30 or 1, okay? But don’t wait up for me Thropp! I mean it, get some rest!”
“You know I’ll always wait up for you, Galinda.” She smiles again and hopes the prominent blush on her face isn’t as noticeable as it feels.
“You’re so in love with me, it hurts.” She fake grasps her heart and reaches a hand out to her- eventually winking and leaving for the night. Elphaba shuts the door and locks it behind her.
Elphaba’s POV:
I try to patiently await Galindas return. It’s only been an hour since I checked the time after reading a few chapters of my book. The silence is suffocating, honestly. Maybe if I kept myself busy enough, I wouldn’t feel this awful knot in my stomach. I decided to study a bit- studying on a Friday, Galinda would be disappointed. And for some reason, she wished to hear her “Really Elphie? Studying on a Friday? I could list 100 better things to do than read some boring old textbook.” but instead just the wind howling.
When I checked the time again, it was 11:45. Almost 12, then one hour- and she’ll be back. I had been working on crocheting her a blanket in my spare time since she had complimented mine once, and I could only work on it when she wasn’t there, so I figured now would be the perfect time. Yet as I continued the pattern all I can think about is was this guy nice to her? What was she doing? What were they doing? Was she okay? I continued working until it was 12:30am. Just thirty more minutes and she would be here. Right? Except I had finished the blanket, and I just couldn’t wait any longer. I grabbed my jacket and coat and headed out into the cold night where small droplets fell on my face.
As I walk around the area I called out for her just in case she was lingering around the area- unless she was still in town. I wait by the boarding area for any signs of this Alcott guy or Galinda. The night grew colder and the night also got quieter- and when I checked the time it was 1:30. I rushed back to the dorm but no sign of her. So I rushed back outside as the downpour got slightly harder. I walk around more calling out for her.
“Galinda!” I shouted out, nothing. “Galinda!” I called into random corridors and hidden places. Shit. I start to panic and I need to tell someone. Morrible? Dillomand?
“Galinda!” She kept calling until she reached the old alleyway near the ship port. I’m about to walk away when I see a small figure all the way at the end of the alleyway. “Galinda?” I called out, approaching the figure on the floor. And to my surprise it is Galinda, curled on the floor and her arms wrapped around herself hugging her knees against the wall. I notice her torn skirt and dirty blouse that’s no longer pretty pink, but muddy. Her perfectly golden curls tangled and in her face- her make up streaking down her face. I look around and notice her shoes are not even to be in sight. What the fuck happened?
“Galinda! Oh, Oz, what-what happened, love?”
Galinda flinches at the sudden voice, her head snapping up. For a moment, her wide, tear-filled eyes are filled with panic. “Elphie?” She squints her eye’s looking up to her. I sunk down to her level and hesitated to reach out to her but her body was trembling and she looked so scared.
“Don’t- don’t touch me!” she cried, her voice high and frantic. Her breathing quickened, her chest heaving as she clutched at her own arms, her nails digging into her skin. I retracted my hand quickly, obviously a mistake.
“Galinda!” I repeat, “It’s me, it’s me. I’m here, okay?” I try to coax her a little bit more, “It’s me,” I repeat softly and I place a hand in front of her, not touching her though- being very careful with touching the girl in front of me. And her recognition starts to settle in once again as she reaches her hand out to mine.
“Elphie,” she breaths, and she squeezes my hand now.
“Yes, it’s me. What happened?” I ask, getting slightly closer to her. She doesn’t respond, but starts to breathe heavily again. “Hey, it’s okay- I’m here, okay? You’re safe right now.” I reassure her, placing a hand on her knee which she doesn’t like, because this causes her to retract her bottom half away from me. I apologize quickly and she just shuts her eyes.
“I am so sorry, Elphie.” She lets out and a few tears escape from her eyes. I shake my head at her, there’s no need for her to apologize. “I-I- I didn’t-” she doesn’t finish her sentence, instead she seems to hold back a cry and her wet body seems to shake from the cold rainy air.
“Hey, you’re shaking, it’s very cold tonight.” I instantly take off my extra jacket for her, “Can I cover you with this? To keep you warm? That’s all, okay?” I ask and she nods softly. And so I do as such, wrapping the jacker around her cold fraile body- where I can see patches of dried mud and bruises around her forearms ad if someone was forcefully grabbing her.
“Hey, it’s okay.” I reassure her and she pulls the jacket around her tighter.
“I didn’t know what to do, Elphaba. I told him no, and no, and no- and he just, he just didn’t like that and-” she lets out another cry and her head drops into her knees.
“Did her hurt you, Galinda?” I ask her, holding her hand firmly. I know the answer, but I can’t seem to think of anything else right now.I notice more tears fall and how her breathing hypervanalates again. “Heyyy, in and out, okay?” I say, motioning her to follow me, and she tried her best to. “Hey, you’re doing good, okay? That’s it.”
“I- I didn’t want to do it.” She lets out, “But he grabbed me, Elphie, and he.. pulled me down and held me hard- and I tried to stop him and it made him even more upset at me.” She continues to sob and I listen to her, watching not just her but our surroundings in case this monster comes back. “And my blazer! He ripped it off and-” she stopped talking instantly, as if the next things out of her mouth wouldn’t be words.
“Hey, it alright. You don’t have to say anything else, you’re okay.” I rub her arm through the jacket gently.
She let out a choked sob, her hands clutching at the fabric of my jacket. “I feel so disgusting, Elphie,” she whispered, her voice trembling softly I could barely her her voice. “Like- like I’ll never feel clean again.”
“Hey, you are not disgusting. He is. He is a terrible person- you did nothing wrong.”
“Well, I- I- could’ve tried harder to stop him. I could have pushed him harder than I did, b-but I didn’t.”
“No Galinda, he shoud’ve stopped the moment you said no. There is no excuse.” I reminded her. All I wanted to do was pick her up and take her back to the dorm. Make sure she got a warm shower, whatever the girl needed. “I’m so sorry, Galinda. I hope you know this is not your fault, okay? Do you hear me? None of it was your fault.” I keep reminding her but now she’s just sobbing uncontrollably into my shoulder. I allow her to and hope that soon we will be able to make our way back to the dorm- she does not need to be here.
Suddenly her crying stopped and I felt her trembling come to an abrupt stop- had she fallen asleep. “Hey,” I leaned away, cupping her tear streaked face. “Galinda,” I call out her name and she doesn’t respond, her eyes lifeless as she looks at the end of the alleyway. I turn quickly to check if someone’s there, but no. I wave my hand in front of her and nothing. “Galinda!” I say louder this time, and she seems to be completely out of it.
“Hey, hey, hey, Galinda, look at me.” I put my face in front of hers, cradling the back of her head gently. “It’s me, I’m right here, okay?” I cup her face againto face me, “Please, stay with me.” She slowly opens and closes her eyes, slowly regaining consciousness again.
“Elphie-” she looks confused again. “Elphie, I-” she looks around again. “Elphie, I’m- I’m so sorry, he-”she started to repeat everything again and shook my head no.
“Hey, it’s okay, you don’t have to tell me everything again.” She pulls the a jacket even tighter around her, probably embarrassed that she doesn’t remember what had just happened. That she had told me all I needed to hear.
“Elphie, can we just- just go home.” She shuddered, and I nodded, helping her up. Her fingers gripped tightly on the jacket I gave her and I gently helped her up, she was wobbly but still standing, slightly leaning into me. And as much as I wanted to give into her, to take her back to the dorm and and wrap her in the new blanket I had made her- but that wasn’t the right call.
“Galinda, as much as I’d love that, we have to report this- like now.” I tell her, and she stiffens herself under my gripth.
“What? No? W-why?” She asks, shaking her head no and her legs slowly giving out again. I reach to pull her up again as we are almost out of the alleyway.
“Galinda, I don’t want to upset you but- this person did something terrible and deserves to be held accountable and locked away.” I look her in the eyes and watch as they become glossy again.
“No, I can’t. I don’t- I’m fine, Elphaba. I just need to,” she stops, thinking quickly, “I just need to shower and go to sleep, please. Just let me forget about it.”
“And you will get to shower and sleep, but we need to do this first. What if he does this to someone else, we have to, okay?” I tell her, flinching when she calls me by my full name. She rarely saying my full name.
“I don’t want anyone to know what happened, Elphaba.” She says, her tone serious and her eyes welling with tears.
“I know, I know. I’ll be with you okay, I won’t let you go.” I tell her and she still stands there awkwardly, bare feet on the cold ground beneath us.
“What if they don’t believe me.” She tells me, and I shake my head at the thought.
“They will, and if they don’t we’ll find someone that will.” I say, and she nods. We began to walk towards to the station to report everything, and I can still feel her trembling underneath my jacket.
“I just feel so stupid, I can’t believe I trusted this man-”
“Hey, it’s not your fault. How could you have known?” I pause and turn to her, tucking a strand of loose hair behind ear. We continue walking until we’re about to reach the station and she stops.
“Ehm, Elphie,” she whispers quietly, causing me to turn and face her. I give her a look to continue. “Can you-” she takes a deep breath, “can you please fix my hair.” She says this so quietly and I ask her to repeat it back to me, and when she does I’m caught off guard. But I know her, and I know how big of a deal appearances are. So I take a step towards her, “Of course.” I start gently untangling a few strands of her hair, making sure to not pull anything too hard. She stands there awkwardly as I continue to flatten out her hair.
“There,” I step back, “You look perfect, okay?”
“Oh, you don’t have to lie to me,” she shakes her head, “Can we please just- just get this over with.” She grasps around my arm againa and I nod.
“Of course, and I’m not lying.” I whisper back, and we step into the station.