'Study' Partners

‘Study’ Partners

Chapter 1

The resident green girl of Shiz University was, true to form, annoyed.

It was bad enough that she had to suffer the teaching of Dr Nikidik. The removal of Dr Dillamond had happened months ago, but Elphaba possessed a long memory. Usually, she’d sulk through his classes taking no notes and making zero contributions, but sometimes the bare minimum was required to avoid failing a module.

This was one of those times. Dr Nikidik had set them a dreary assignment on The Great Drought which required both a report and a presentation to the class. Fine, she would get through it- only the project couldn’t be completed on her own. It had to be done with a partner.

She sighed crossly, all but stomping across the Suicide Canal bridge. A pair of first-year girls noticed her mood- or perhaps just her verdigris, like everyone else- and gave her a wide berth. She gave them a scowl in return, grateful for the small opportunities to let out her frustration.

“Yes, my face is green. The sky is also blue, if you hadn’t noticed.”

Elphaba didn’t wait to see their no doubt scandalised reaction. If they were going to stare, she was going to take something back.

The need for a study partner would have been a bigger problem when she first arrived at Shiz. Now, it was simply a nuisance. Now, Elphaba had… well, she didn’t like to use the word ‘friends’ (although that was exactly what they were). She had acquaintances. A social group, who fancied themselves a ‘Charmed Circle’. These were the people who could tolerate her acidic tongue more than anyone else. Crope. Tibbett. Boq. The unbearable Avaric Tenmeadows. Nessa. Fiyero. And of course, her roommate Glinda.

Several of this ‘Charmed Circle’ were in Elphaba’s history class. One of them should have been free to partner with Elphaba; unfortunately, they’d all paired off with each other before she got a word in edgeways. She’d begrudgingly asked Nikidik if she might be granted an exception.

“Absolutely not, the project requires a partner,” he’d said, smirking. “The refusal to procure one could be grounds for failure, in fact. Rest assured I will choose your partner myself if needs be.”

Glinda had been absent from Dr Dillamond’s class today, citing illness, though the real reason was an outing at the shops with Pfannee and Shenshen. Why the bubbly blonde still bothered to spend time with them, Elphaba didn’t know. Old social habits were hard to break, apparently.

Either way, Elphaba’s roommate was now her best option. She’d ask Glinda to be her partner before Nikidik paired her off with someone uncompromising, unlikeable, or generally unwilling to work.

After crossing the bridge, her eyes fell on two other members of the so-called ‘Charmed Circle’. Crope and Tibbett were lounging on the grassy riverbank- practically on top of each other, in fact. They spied Elphaba and waved her over. She considered ignoring them but thought better of it. Perhaps they had seen Glinda around and could relay her message.

“Ah, something wicked this way comes!” Crope announced.

“What could the asparagus possibly want from us?” Tibbett said, feigning a tremble in his voice. “Oh, to be seen with someone so unsightly…”

She scowled. “It was you who beckoned me over. I’m already considering my change of course a mistake.”

“Spending time with us could never be a mistake. We’re just too enlightening.”

“You’ve enlightened me about the workings of a perverse mind. That’s about it.”

“People need a little perversion in their lives, especially here in stuffy old Shiz.” Crope laughed, patting the green next to them. “No need to stand, miss Elphaba. Join us.”

“Join you? Are you suggesting a threesome?”

“Now who’s perverse?”

“Tibbett here has enough libido for the three of us,” Crope said cheerfully. “Whether I’m willing to share him is a different matter.”

Elphaba didn’t bother to sit. “Sorry boys, I shan’t be joining you for long. My Sorcery seminar awaits, and I fear I’m falling behind.”

“Ah, but ‘falling behind’ has a different meaning to a bookworm,” Tibbett drawled.

“You’re only one week ahead instead of two. The horror!”

“Perhaps. Oz has enough slackers and vagabonds without adding me into the mix. There are two prime examples sitting right in front of me.”

“Vagabonds and proud, miss Elphaba,” said Crope.

“You will be joining us at the Peach and Kidneys tonight though, won’t you? All the usual crowd will be there, including the main attraction.”

“Which would be?”

“Us, of course!” Crope and Tibbett said in unison.

“You two are never the main attraction. If anything, you’re the opposite.”

“Who would be the attraction be then?” Crope smirked. “Avaric?”

The green girl rolled her eyes. “The only attractive quality about Avaric Tenmeadows is his wallet.”

“What about his boyish charm? It’s endearing, in a blunt, offensive kind of way.” Tibbett grinned. “Don’t worry. We know who you find most attractive in our circle, miss Elphaba…”

“Who?” Elphaba asked, through narrowed eyes.

“Miss Glinda!” he declared. “You two have been joined at the hip since that incident at the Ozdust Ballroom. Why, you’re giving me and Crope a run for our money.”

Elphaba chose to respond with only her most withering look.

“Just ignore Tibbett,” Crope said. “He’s decided you two have chemistry, and no amount of ‘we’re just friends’ is going to change his mind.”

“That’s a shame, because we really are just friends.”

“Nonsense,” Tibbett insisted. “I know an enemies to lover’s arc when I see one, and yours is a prime example. You two hated each other’s guts. Now, she’s going around calling you ‘Elphie’. It’s only a matter of time.”

“Sorry, but miss Glinda is a human being. I couldn’t possibly enter a relationship with anything other than a root vegetable,” Elphaba deadpanned.

“Don’t be self-deprecating now-“

“I’m already tired of this ridiculous conversation,” she interrupted. “Although you did provide me with a convenient segue. Have you seen miss Glinda around?”

“Why? Looking to proposition her?”

“Yes,” she began, prompting Tibbett’s eyes to widen, before adding with a smirk, “though not in the way you’re hoping. The horrendible Dr Nikidik has set us a project on the Great Drought, one that requires a partner. Glinda is clearly my best option.”

“You mean the most appealing?”

“I mean the most likely to tolerate me.”

“What about Boq?”

“Paired off with Fiyero. And don’t you dare suggest Avaric.”

“Hmm, quite the pickle,” Crope said, pretending to stroke an imaginary beard. “You know, if you came to the Peach and Kidneys tonight, you could ask Glinda herself…”

“As I said, I’m busy. If you two could ask Glinda to be my study partner for me, that would be helpful. As far as I know, she’s out shopping with those two vacuous Gilikin girls, so she may not even know about the assignment.”

“Elphaba is avoiding us to go on a hot date with her Sorcery textbook. It’s an insult at this point.”

Crope joined Elphaba in the eye-rolling this time. “Again, just ignore Tibbett. Surely you can skip just one night of studying?”

“Skipping is a slippery slope. I do it once, twice, then a third time, and suddenly I’m as brainless as a scarecrow. Or worse, you two. No, the library is my destination tonight, not the Peach and Kidneys.” Elphaba glanced back in the direction she’d been walking. “I’m going to miss my Sorcery seminar if I’m not careful.”

“Very well. Later, miss Elphaba.”

“And remember to ask Glinda-“

“Yes yes, we’ll proposition her for you,” Tibbett said, waving his hand dismissively. “Don’t you worry that oversized green head of yours.”

Elphaba bid them goodbye and rushed off to her Sorcery seminar, leaving the two of them alone the riverbank again.

“She’s always scuttling off to somewhere or other, isn’t she?” Tibbett lamented. “Mysterious girl.”

“She’s gone from strange to mysterious. Does that mean I’m about to lose you?”

He grinned disarmingly. “I know every inch of you, dear Crope. There’s no mystery left, but I’m still hanging around.”

“Yes yes,” Crope said, waving him off. “Still, she does have something about her, doesn’t she? Even the chlorophyll becomes rather striking once you get used to it. Perhaps we needn’t consider her an impossible case anymore?”

“I’ve already told you. Glinda is charmed enough as it is.”

Crope raised his eyebrow. “I thought you were joking about this, but seeing as you brought it up to Elphaba-“

“I’m serious. There’s potential there. She’s changed an awful lot, that Glinda. Corrupted, let’s say, and the green girl is a big reason why. You know what they say about roommates.”

“Hmm. Perhaps we’ll mention it to Glinda tonight.”

Crope waited for his partner in crime’s response- they were in the habit of finishing each other’s sentences. Tibbett’s silence immediately told him something was amiss.

“Tibbett? What’s the matter-“

He shushed him. “Quiet. I’m thinking…” A quite sinister smile spread over his face.

Crope knew that look. “You’ve had an idea, haven’t you? Is it a prank?”

“Of sorts.”

“A matchmaking scheme?”

“Of sorts.”

“And it’s to do with Elphaba and Glinda?”

“Absolutely.” Tibbett suddenly leapt to his feet. “What you said just now was very interesting.”

“Huh?”

“Elphaba has requested we ask Glinda to be her study partner. What if we were to simply… omit the first part?”

Crope frowned. “The first part? You mean…” It dawned on him what Tibbett meant. “Oh. Oh.”

“Think about it. Glinda is ever so earnest when it comes to Elphaba. If we tell her with upmost seriousness, she might just believe us. And even if doesn’t, it will be dreadfully funny to see her reaction.”

“There’s no way Glinda believes it. You could tell me Elphaba was allergic to romance and I’d believe you- if water’s on the table, anything is.”

“She’s not allergic to it- just very very repressed,” Tibbett insisted, with an air of undeserved confidence. “At the very least, imagine how entertaining it will be tonight, watching our poor blonde friend puzzle things over.”

The notion of Glinda sat there, trying to come to terms with the supposed courtship of the ‘asparagus’, was certainly something. Crope could only shake his head.

“It will never work.”

“You don’t know that.”

“We’ll get into huge trouble with both of them.”

“You don’t know that either.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

Tibbett frowned. “Well, that one was just uncalled for.”

“I’m not finished. You may be ridiculous, but you’re also prone to moments of horrendible genius. Damn it Tibbett, I’m in.”

By the time the sun fell, the boys of the Charmed Circle were sat in their usual booth at the Peach and Kidneys. Crope and Tibbett were finishing off their first pint. Boq and Fiyero were on their second. Nessa, who had also joined them, wasn’t drinking and spent most of the time scolding the boys for their rude or sacrilegious comments.

Crope and Tibbett had spent much of the day ironing out their prank-cum-matchmaking scheme. They’d planned out what to say, taking care to remove the telltale signs of rehearsal. It was rare of them to take anything seriously; this particular joke required them to take it very seriously indeed.

Glinda was the last to arrive, waving goodbye to her friends Shenshen and Pfannee at the door to the Peach and Kidneys. The three of them were cradling an absurd amount of shopping bags. Glinda had decided she must have a new pair of shoes and ended up buying three. It was better to be overprepared than underprepared, she always thought.

“It’s been a lovely outing,” she bubbled, hugging both Gilikinese girls.

“Won’t you join us tonight?” Shenshen asked. “We were thinking of having tea-“

“Don’t be silly,” Pfannee interrupted. “She’s too busy with the green bean and her strange little circle to spend time with us.”

“She’s not the ‘green bean’, she’s Elphaba,” Glinda corrected.

Pfannee ignored her as usual. “Why do you bother hanging out with them? Avaric and Fiyero are fine, and the green bean’s your little charity case, but the rest are just unbearable-”

“Dear Pfannee, you just don’t see the vision. The day will come when Elphaba is as popular as you or I.” She tossed her hair proudly. “If you’d like to flirt with Avaric or Fiyero, you’re more than welcome to join me.”

Shenshen opened her mouth as if to agree- she really was quite taken with Avaric- but Pfannee got there first. “No thank you,” she said curtly. “I still don’t understand why you broke up with Fiyero either. He must be defective goods in some way.”

“He’s not defective goods. We just didn’t suit each other.”

Both of them seemed keen to argue, but Glinda was extremely tired of this debate. They’d been cycling through it on repeat ever since she and Fiyero separated a month ago.

“I really must be going, girlies,” she insisted. “Enjoy your tea.”

She shuffled into the Peach and Kidneys, hauling her shopping bags alongside. As soon as Pfannee and Shenshen were gone, her arresting smile faded, and a frown took its place. Glinda was a social butterfly, and felt obligated to maintain all her friendships, no matter how troublesome. Truthfully, she was beginning to forget what she’d ever liked about Pfannee and Shenshen in the first place.

Elphaba had asked her about it the other day. “You don’t have to spend time with them, you know.”

“Elphie, there are lots of people we don’t ‘have’ to spend time with. That doesn’t mean I should avoid them.”

“That’s absurd. If I want to avoid people, I avoid them. Simple as that.”

“Yes, but you’re different.”

“Why? Because I’m green?” she’d said, her voice sharp.

“No. Because you’re…” Glinda had searched for the right word, increasingly sensitive to Elphaba’s unpredictable self-esteem. “Because you’re stronger than I am.”

“Yes, I’m a much stronger shade.”

“Oh, stop being difficult! I’m a people pleaser, Elphie! I can’t help that!”

“They’re the type who will never be pleased.”

“Then who should I be pleasing instead, hmm? You, miss Thropp?”

They’d gone silent after that. Glinda bit her lip at the memory. Her friendship with Elphaba was as mystifying as any she’d ever had. If indeed it was a friendship.

“Glinda! There you are!”

The sound of Boq’s Munchkinlander accent brought her back to the present. He’d stood up, waving at her rather enthusiastically from their booth. Nessa looked away, frustrated.

Glinda put her smile back on. “Hello, boys! Sorry I’m late. Could one of you be a darling and help me carry these bags over?” She punctuated the request with a habitual fluttering of the eyelashes.

Boq opened his mouth to volunteer, but Crope and Tibbett pulled him back down. Fiyero stood up in his place. “No problem,” he said smoothly, heading over to Glinda’s side.

“Why thank you, my prince,” she joked, dumping her bags in the Winkie’s arms.

“Prince, hmm? Even after the fact, I can’t seem to avoid carrying your bags…”

“It’s not your fault. Everyone is obliged to carry them except me.”

He chuckled at her antics. She was glad they were still on good terms- when she’d broached the topic of breaking up, Fiyero had been relieved. Glinda had realised they’d only ever been friends in the first place, and their newly labelled dynamic only made that more straightforward. Both of them were used to flirtations, and equally used to the fleeting ones.

She slid herself in next to Nessa, ensuring Boq was on the other side. The blonde gave her a warm greeting, offering out some compliments, which helped Nessa forget about her boyfriend’s behaviour.

Glinda couldn’t help but notice that a certain ‘green bean’ wasn’t present. “Won’t Elphie be joining us tonight?” she asked, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.

Crope and Tibbett shared a knowing look.

“I think she’s at the library,” Fiyero supplied. “You know what she’s like.”

Glinda sighed dramatically. “She’s left me alone with the boys again. Well, the boys and Nessa. What a confusifying girl she is.”

Tibbett considered bringing up the issue right away but decided not to. They’d planned to take Glinda aside later in the night (preferably after a few drinks); it would feel more natural that way. The conversation continued as normal. Glinda chatted away happily, sharing jokes with Fiyero and Nessa, while Boq tried and failed not to give her all his attention.

Soon enough, Crope and Tibbett decided to move forward with the prank. They polished off their second pints before standing up and heading to Glinda’s side, who was nursing a glass of Winkie wine.

“Miss Glinda, could we borrow you a moment?” Crope asked, putting on his practised serious expression.

She raised an eyebrow. “What ever for it? And why can’t you say it here?”

“It’s a private matter,” Tibbett insisted. He turned to the rest of the group. “We’re just going to step outside.”

Fiyero shrugged. Boq and Nessa barely noticed, lost in their own conversation. Glinda finished off her glass of wine, not thinking much of it, and followed them out the door of the Peach and Kidneys.

There was a chill to the air outside. It was dark by now, and though it was still summer, the cooler autumn nights were fast approaching. Glinda turned to them, not sure what to expect. She was friends with Crope and Tibbett, certainly, but didn’t know them as well as some of the others in their group.

“Well, what did you want to talk about?” She covered her mouth with her hand. “Is it some scandolocious gossip? If so, do go on. I won’t tell another soul.” Except maybe Elphie, and the rest of campus, she thought.

Tibbett sighed, feigning awkwardness. “It’s not gossip, as such…”

“Then what?”

“We’ve been asked to relay a message to you,” Crope said quietly.

“What kind of message?” She rolled her eyes. “It isn’t another confession, is it? They usually have the courtesy to ask me in person.”

Crope and Tibbett looked down, and Glinda sighed, realising she’d hit the nail on the head. “Who is it this time? Unless they’re positively scrumptious, just tell them I’ve had a breakup and aren’t looking for… hang on just a clock tick…”

She then realised the other element to what they were implying. Crope and Tibbett were very sociable creatures, but even they mostly stuck to the Charmed Circle. It was unlikely someone who didn’t know them well would ask for such a favour. In most cases, someone looking to confess would just ask themselves.

She winced. “Is it someone we know well?”

Tibbett nodded. “Yes, it is.”

“Oh dear. I know it’s easy to fall in love with me, but really, it causes more problems than it solves.” In truth, Glinda found this rather flattering, despite the inherent issues. “Well, go on then, tell me the bad news. It’s not Boq, is it? He really should be over his little crush by now-“

“It’s not Boq.”

“Fiyero? I suppose it’s natural he’d regret agreeing to break up with me-“

“It’s not Fiyero either.”

Glinda was puzzled now. “… Avaric? Really?”

“No, no and no again.”

“Well, don’t keep me in the dark,” she said impatiently. “Tell me who.”

They exchanged another look, drawing it out. Tibbett then pressed forward.

“You must promise us not to be shocked. Truly, we were surprised when they asked us to relay the message.”

Glinda tilted her head. “Well, it can’t be Elphie, so I’m afraid I’m all out of ideas.”

Crope and Tibbett stared at her very seriously.

The blonde glanced between them- and her eyes widened to the size of moons. “… You mean… you’re saying it’s Elphie?!”

They nodded in unison.

Silence.

Then, Glinda burst out laughing. She laughed so hard her eyes started to water. Crope and Tibbett kept a straight face; they’d known convincing her would be a long shot, but the blonde did have a gullible streak.

Once her laughter had subsided, the blonde girl wiped her eyes. “V-very funny boys! I know you two like your little jokes, but this might be the best one yet.”

“We’re not joking,” Crope said.

“No really, stop it.”

“Sorry, Glinda. We’re telling the truth.”

She glanced between them again. “Come now. Elphie confessing to me? That’s utterly absurd.”

“Why?”

“Why? Why?” She shook her head in disbelief. “Anyone who knew her would react the same way. For one, she’s a girl.”

“We’re boys,” Tibbett said. “That hasn’t stopped us.”

Glinda faltered. “Well… yes, I… I didn’t mean to be rude. That’s true, of course, a-and there’s nothing at all wrong with being… you know-“

“Queer?” Crope finished her sentence, trying not to smirk in amusement.

Her cheeks flushed as pink as her clothes. “M-my apologies. Back in Frottica, everyone’s still a little closeted about these things. I know it’s different in other parts of Oz, but-“ She trailed off, shaking her head. “That’s beside the point. What I’m trying to say is Elphie isn’t like that.”

“How do you know?”

“Because she isn’t! She’s never shown any sign of it! And she’s certainly never shown any interest in me!”

“Well, she has now.”

Glinda searched their expressions, trying to find a chink in their armour, a hint of the joke they had to be telling. Unfortunately, she found nothing- just earnest, sympathetic looks where there should have been teasing grins.

She began to pace. “This is silly,” she said, the discomfort growing. “I want to make it clear that I don’t believe you, but even so-“

“If you don’t believe us, we’ll try to clear up your misgivings,” Tibbett said gently, even stepping closer. “I’m sure you have a lot of questions. Ask away.”

The blonde stepped back. “Fine, I will. First of all, why in Lurline’s name wouldn’t she ask me herself?”

“We’ve been trying to puzzle that one out,” Crope rasped. “She came to us earlier today, in a real huff. She asked us if we knew where you were. We invited her here tonight, but she seemed… afraid.”

“Then, she asked us for a favour,” Tibbett continued. “We agreed, of course, and were just as shocked when she told us about her affections. Apparently, she’s been holding them back for some time now, worried what you might think. She didn’t have the nerve to tell you in person. It’s not as if her romantic prospects are high, given…” He gesticulated. “… How she is.”

“But… but…” Glinda searched for more questions. “But why not Nessa? Why not Boq or Fiyero? Why you two?”

“I don’t think she wants Nessa to know. We all know what her family’s like. Nessa’s tolerant of us two, but if Elphaba proved to be ‘unusual’ as well, it would surely get back to her father. Elphaba said that was the last thing she wanted.”

“Boq and Fiyero are good friends, but I can’t imagine they’d be very understanding.” Crope reached out and took Tibbett’s arm. “We, however, understand all too well. It makes sense, if you think about it.”

“It most definitely does not!” Glinda exclaimed, growing rather panicked. “Why, I’m not sure Elphie even believes in love! And if she did have feelings for me, which she doesn’t, then I still think she’d tell me herself!”

“She’s green, darling,” Tibbett said, shaking his head in sympathy. “Can you really blame her for being unsure? For fearing rejection? Why, she doesn’t even know if you swing that way. I know if I were in her shoes, I’d be scared senseless.”

“I… I…” Glinda brought her hand to her forehead, beyond flustered. “I think I need to sit down. This is just too much.”

They guided her to one of the benches outside the pub, offering to get her another drink. The Gilikin girl refused, still hoping they would break out into laughter. Crope and Tibbett, however, kept up with their performance.

She hesitated. “What did she actually tell you?”

Tibbett reached out and took her head. “She told us that her feelings could no longer be repressed. She wanted us to say how ardently she admires you. She’s done all this against her better judgement.”

“Miss Elphaba values your friendship,” Crope added. “She said she won’t ever mention it again if it makes you uncomfortable. She’ll be in your dormitory tonight, of course. Perhaps you could think about it, and give her an answer?”

“An answer?” Glinda squeaked. “I couldn’t answer her even if I believed this were true!”

“Well, what are your feelings for Elphaba?” Tibbett asked, leaning forward curiously.

“My feelings? I… I…” She covered her face with her hands, mortified. “I haven’t the faintest idea! She’s a girl! Not only that, she’s my bestest friend, and my roomie! I asked for scandolocious gossip, not personal scandal!”

Crope had to purse his lips to keep it together. Luckily, Glinda had her face covered, and his partner in crime gave him a nudge which went unnoticed.

The blonde girl peeked through her fingers at them. “I’m going to ask one more time, boys. Are you really, really telling the truth? It’s not too late to admit this is a joke. You can have a right old giggle at my expense and then we’ll move on with our lives. Does Elphie honestly feel that way?”

Crope and Tibbett had no intention of going back now; not when they almost had her, hook line and sinker.

“She really wants to be my…?” The Gilikin couldn’t squeeze out the word ‘partner’. It was just too embarrassing.

They nodded.

Glinda went silent for a good few minutes. She kept looking at them, then at her feet, then up at the sky. They sat next to her, waiting, playing the part of two helpful and sympathetic friends.

“I…” She swallowed, at long last. “Could you two leave me alone for a little while? I need to think this through.”

Crope and Tibbett assented, heading back to the door of the Peach and Kidneys. On the threshold, Glinda piped up one last time.

“The best way to find out if this is true is to ask Elphie herself,” she said, trying to sound assured. “If you’re pulling my leg, so help me I’ll… I’ll turn you into newts! Don’t you think I won’t. This girlie’s a sorceress!”

“Just think about it. Ask miss Elphaba if it’s true she wants to be your partner. Don’t worry, you’ll see. And do try to come up with an answer for her. I know I wouldn’t want to be kept in suspense.”

With that, Crope and Tibbett re-entered the Peach and Kidneys, leaving the blonde outside. Halfway back to the booth, their straight faces collapsed, and the snorts of laughter broke through.

“Tibbett, darling, this might be your finest joke yet.”

“We might not have convinced her, but at the very least, she said she’d ask miss Elphaba if it were true,” Tibbett whispered conspiratorially. “I wish we could see her reaction.”

“True, true. The game will be up soon, but tomorrow will be interesting, I expect.”

They retook their seats. The boys, who had finished another pint in the meantime, cheered as they did so. Nessarose regarded them with suspicion.

“You two were gone awhile. And where is miss Glinda?”

“She’s just having a breath of fresh air,” Crope lied. “It’s lovely out there tonight.”

Nessa glanced out the window, doubtful. It didn’t look lovely. In fact, a chilly draught had followed the boys in through the door.

By the time Glinda rejoined them, the drinks were flowing- Boq and Fiyero’s faces were flushed. Hers, on the other hand, was a little pale. She didn’t announce herself with any bubbly interjections. Instead, she was looking away absentmindedly, often biting her lip. Crope and Tibbett knew that, at the very least, they’d succeeded in getting her to consider the possibility. It was a solid evening’s work.

Nessa picked up on Glinda’s mood. “Is something the matter?”

She had to repeat the question before Glinda realised someone was talking to her. “S-something the matter?” the blonde squeaked. “No. Not at all.”

“Are you sure? You seem distracted.”

“Distracted? Why in Oz would I be distracted? I’m just thinking about how… ah… how excited I am to try on my new shoes!” She laughed and tossed her hair in a hopeless attempt to keep up the façade. It may have satisfied those at the table who’d drunk too much, but no one else.

Nessa leaned over kindly. “No one would blame you for going back to Crage Hall. It’s late already.”

Glinda shook her head. “It’s fine.”

“Perhaps, if something is wrong, you could talk to my sister about it? I know you two are close.”

The blonde all but slammed her head on the table. “Oh, Nessie! That’s the problem!”

Tibbett, who’d taken a gulp of ale, nearly spat it all over the table. Crope slapped his back as if the drink had just gone down the wrong way.

Glinda didn’t last much longer. Having learned what she’d learned, there was no way she could relax or have any more drinks. She got to her feet and collected her bags.

“Sorry boys, but I think I should head back. The day’s shopping has left me more tired than I thought.”

“A-are you sure you want to head back on your own?” Boq piped, slurring his words. “I could carry your bags-“

He was once again pulled down by Fiyero. “No, it’s alright my lady,” he said, standing up with a flourish. “I shall accompany you back-“

“Neither of you will accompany me back,” Glinda said, her smile tired. “I was just being lazy earlier, Fiyero. I can carry these bags myself.”

“Are you sure you don’t want someone to walk back with you?” Nessa asked. “Crope and Tibbett could go-“

“No thank you,” she interrupted, unable to meet the two boys’ eyes. “Crage Hall is hardly miles away. I’ll be back in no time.”

She bid everyone goodbye, half-heartedly kissing everyone on the cheek. When she got to Tibbett, he whispered something in her ear.

“Have you thought about your answer?”

Blood rushed to her face. “A-any answer I would give is none of your business,” she hissed back. “Besides, Elphie needs to confirm if it’s true first.”

“Just ask if she wants to be your partner. Don’t worry, you’ll see.”

With that, Glinda was gone, rushing out of the tavern in a whirl of pink clothes and shopping bags.

Nessa’s eyes followed her. “Didn’t she seem off tonight?”

“Did she?” Fiyero said dumbly.

“She said she was tired,” Boq offered.

Nessa scowled at him. “Did you really take everything a girl says at face value?” She turned on Crope and Tibbett. “What did you talk to her about? Was it something important?”

“Oh no, just schoolwork,” Tibbett replied.

“But you two don’t do any.”

“I’m offended, miss Nessarose! I’ll have you know we do just enough schoolwork to pass, and not a sentence more.”

Fiyero laughed. “Cheers to that!”

The boys clinked their beers, and Nessa shook her head, wondering why she hadn’t insisted on leaving with Glinda.

The blonde’s steps were laboured on the way back to Crage Hall. Her thoughts, on the other hand, were racing. Without a doubt, she was elongating the journey back. However her next conversation with Elphaba Thropp went, it was sure to be awkward.

She’d gone over it in her head a hundred times. Crope and Tibbett were joking. They had to be, right? Elphaba couldn’t have feelings for her. It was impossible. How could Glinda have been living with her and not noticed?

True, their friendship was unique. Glinda couldn’t recall a friendship as intense as the one she shared with Elphaba. Ever since that night at the Ozdust Ballroom, things had been different between them. They shared things they didn’t share with anyone else. They spent more time together than with anyone else.

Glinda loved being with her strange, green friend. She was fiercely intelligent, with a rapier-like wit. She didn’t suffer fools gladly. She was strong and passionate, sensitive and insecure, headstrong and wise. She was everything Glinda wasn’t. She was a bundle of wonderful, intoxicating contradictions, who challenged her at every turn. She was Elphie. Her Elphie.

Somehow, the Gilikin girl had never imagined her roommate in a romantic context. The two elements, Elphaba Thropp and love, just didn’t seem to coexist. Not that she was saying Elphaba couldn’t fall in love. She was a normal girl, save for the skin tone.

Her thoughts were growing ever more confused, ever more conflicted. Upon entering Crage Hall, a horrible sense of dread rose up inside. She was nearly at their room. Elphaba would be there- an Elphaba who supposedly had feelings for her.

What in Lurline’s name was she going to say? She wasn’t ‘queer’, as Crope and Tibbett had put it. She didn’t think she was, anyway. All of the kisses she’d ever shared had been with boys. She’d been attracted to lots of them- or attracted to the idea of them, at least. But with Fiyero, and many others, none of their kisses had lasted beyond the moment itself. They were performative, temporary…

She shook her head wildly. No no no… You’re overthinking this, Glinda. I’ll take being laughed at. Save me the trouble of answering properly, Elphie!

All too soon, she was standing outside their door. Usually, she would waltz right in, squeal out ‘Elphie!’, bring the green girl into a hug. This time, she stood motionless, her shadow creeping under the door, her hand hovering over the handle. The blonde couldn’t bring herself to enter.

Her shadow, however, had alerted Elphaba to Glinda’s presence. The green girl’s thoughts were far less exciting. Her Sorcery seminar had been so-so, and her study session in the library dull, if successful. She was busy reading a novel about Animal biology and had completely forgotten about the favour she’d asked of Crope and Tibbett.

Her eyes peeped over the cover of the book, lingering on Glinda’s shadow. Elphaba frowned.

“I can see you out there, you know,” she called out.

As soon as she heard Elphaba’s voice, Glinda let out a high pitch yelp, embarrassed at being caught hesitating. Though her hand trembled, she opened the door and closed it behind her.

The blonde opened her mouth to say something. No words came out. She couldn’t even look at her roommate. Biting her lip, she strode over to her bed, dumped her bags, and plonked herself down on the duvet. Her eyes never left her feet.

Elphaba didn’t look over the top of her book as Glinda entered. Once a few minutes of silence passed, however, she decided the blonde girl must be upset.

“Well?” she said.

Glinda’s eyes stayed glued to the floor. “Well what?”

“Evidently something is wrong. No doubt Fiyero or Avaric made a choice comment at the Peach and Kidneys. You may begin your customary rant, blondie.”

“W-what makes you think I’m upset?”

Elphaba smirked from behind her book. “You dress loudly and talk even louder, my sweet. So far, you haven’t said anything at all. It’s very out of character.”

“Maybe I’m just tired?”

“If I walked in with a normal skin tone, you’d think something was wrong, wouldn’t you?”

“Of course!”

“Well, the bubbly stream of consciousness is as integral to you as my verdigris. Even when tired, you’re still prone to verbal diarrhoea.”

“That’s really mean, Elphie, given the circumstances.”

“What circumstances?”

Glinda felt a surge of hope. “Are you saying it’s not true?”

“What’s not true?”

The blonde took a deep breath. “Crope and Tibbett asked me something on your behalf. They said you wanted to be my… to be my…” She tried to compose herself, before blurting it out in one breath. “Theysaidyouwantedtobemypartner.”

“Say it again, but audibly.”

Glinda winced but tried again. She still couldn’t look Elphaba in the eye, and her face was bright red. “They said you wanted to be my… to be my partner,” she mumbled. “Is it true?”

Elphaba raised an eyebrow. She still didn’t consider this matter worthy of her full attention- in other words, not worthy of glancing over the top of her book. Nonetheless, it was true that she’d asked Crope and Tibbett for a favour. It seemed her message had been relayed.

“Yes, it’s true,” Elphaba confirmed. She wanted to be Glinda’s study partner for the history project. Why Glinda seemed so bashful about it, she couldn’t discern. Perhaps the Gilikin had drunk too much wine.

Unfortunately, the blonde was all too sober, and very very shocked.

“It’s… it’s true?” she said shakily.

“Yes.”

“You really mean it?”

“I hate to repeat myself, blondie.”

For Glinda, that was a step too far. She slapped her hands against her thighs. “Elphaba Thropp! Put that book down and take this seriously!”

Yep, too much wine, Elphaba thought. Sighing, she lowered the book and settled her eyes on Glinda.

“Is it really such a surprise that I’d ask you? It’s not like I have a wealth of options.” After all, everyone else in their social circle was paired off. Surely Crope and Tibbett had explained this?

Elphaba raised the book again, smirking. “As the poets would say, you’re my one and only.”

Glinda’s leaned back, her mouth hanging open like a goldfish. She tried to process the information. It was true? How could it be true? And how could Elphaba be acting so casually about it?! Was Glinda really that dense? Had everyone else already noticed?

She resorted to covering her face. Her heart was pounding. “But… but why?”

“Why? Because I like you, of course. It would be strange to ask Avaric or miss Pfannee, whom I definitely don’t.”

“But why me?”

Elphaba shook her head, baffled at her roommate’s theatrics. This was a common occurrence; whenever Glinda started acting strangely, her usual approach was to indulge her as much as possible and apologise if it turned out she’d ‘done something wrong’.

“Well, we’re friends.”

“Friends?”

“Yes. Friendship is a good basis for such things, don’t you think?”

“But… Isn’t this a little hasty? You’re acting as if this were all so simple…”

“It is. I like you, so I asked you, my sweet.” She frowned. “Is this some roundabout way of fishing for compliments? In that case, you’re a very charming girl. Very few can tolerate my presence as much as you have. There’s no one else I’d rather be with.”

By this point, Glinda had just about turned into a tomato. She grabbed her pillow, hugging it to her chest, and turned her back on Elphaba. She wanted to scream into her pillow, or perhaps run out of the room. She hadn’t even considered what to say if it turned out to be true.

She’d now heard it from the proverbial horse’s mouth. Elphaba liked her. Not as a friend. Not as a roommate. Romantically.

“Elphie, I…” Her voice was trembling. “I have no idea what to say.”

“Say yes. Or no. If needs be, I’ll find someone else, but that would be rather inconvenient.”

“Inconvenient?!” she gasped.

“Of course. I’m the artichoke, remember? It’s not as if I have suitors lining up outside my door. Attention like that is reserved for gorgeous girls like you, my sweet.”

“D-don’t call me that.”

“Call you what?”

“M-my sweet! It’s embarrassing now!”

Glinda flopped on the bed, lying face down. Elphaba frowned. The Gilikin girl often used terms of endearment and silly nicknames for her. She never usually complained about Elphaba returning the favour. She tried to deduce the reason behind her roommate’s strange reactions.

“Glinda, if it’s really so mortifying, then just refuse. Are you already paired off with someone?”

“No, Elphie. It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

There was so much to say that Glinda had no idea where to begin. This was Elphaba, her best friend, not her ‘partner’! They were both girls! She was woefully unprepared for this conversation, the whole topic, the very notion.

Glinda peeked over her shoulder at Elphaba, who was herself peering over the book. The slightest eye contact was enough to send her heart into a fluttering mess. She turned back round, lacking the nerve.

“B-but… what would everyone say?” Glinda whispered helplessly.

At this, Elphaba’s frown turned into a scowl.

She knew what this was about. It had been a problem before, after all. Glinda was the most popular girl at Shiz. Everyone loved her; she treasured her reputation. True, she’d put herself out there by befriending Elphaba, but if anything that had only helped her popularity. Everyone now considered her as virtuous and charitable as she was beautiful.

But there were moments where she still resisted Elphaba’s company. Occasionally, she’d be walking with some other group, while Elphaba was nearby. Glinda would look away, pretending her roommate wasn’t there. They shared some classes where Glinda sat with others. The message was always clear. We’re best friends, but in moderation. Only when it suits me.

Elphaba couldn’t help the wave of hurt that washed over her. It was one thing to be loathed and insulted by ‘Galinda’, the vacuous Gilikin girl. It was quite another to be implicitly rejected by ‘Glinda’, her supposed best friend. All she wanted to do was partner up for a class project. Apparently, Elphaba was incompatible even for that.

The closest people in Elphaba’s life were ashamed to know her. How could that not sting?

She covered her face with the book again, hoping it would hide her stormy expression. She swallowed. It would probably be best to say nothing.

But Elphaba was dreadful at saying nothing.

“You must really regret it,” she all but spat out.

Glinda sensed her roommate’s change of tone. “What?”

“You must really regret saving me at the Ozdust Ballroom. After all, your little project has been a miserable failure. All your attempts at ‘Glindafying’ me have failed, and I’m still nothing more than a humiliating add-on. Let it be known you can’t polish a vegetable.”

Glinda’s heart contracted horribly. She forced herself to look. “That’s not fair.”

“Oh really?” Elphaba couldn’t withhold her bitterness. “How else am I supposed to feel when you reject me like this? We’re supposed to be ‘friends’, aren’t we? Yet you can barely stand to be seen with me.”

“Elphie! I can’t… I don’t…”

What was there to say? She couldn’t exactly deny it. She was afraid of what people would think. What would her parents say if they knew she was dating a girl, let alone someone like Elphaba Thropp? Who would understand? No one would ever see her the same way.

But Glinda could feel Elphaba’s hurt. Suddenly, her flippant attitude to the whole topic made sense. The way she’d been hiding behind her book wasn’t dismissive- it was a disguise. Just like at the Ozdust Ballroom, she was pretending she didn’t care what Glinda said, or what Glinda’s response would be. She was pretending her feelings were only skin deep.

But Elphaba had taken a huge risk in admitting them. Yet again, she was dancing alone. There was no one in the room but them, but it didn’t feel that way.

Only this time, Glinda didn’t know if she could reach out her hand. She didn’t know how to return Elphaba’s feelings. She didn’t even know if she could.

The blonde girl sniffed. “Elphie, I… I’m sorry… This is so unexpected. I don’t want to hurt you, but I just… I don’t know…”

Unable to stand it, she flung herself back on the bed, burying her face in the sheets. She couldn’t say no for fear of hurting Elphaba. She couldn’t say yes for fear of dishonesty.

The exact nuances of Glinda’s plight were lost on Elphaba, who was yet again hiding behind her book. She could hear the sniffles, hear the conflict in Glinda’s voice, but in fairness to her, Glinda was a singularly melodramatic woman. She burst into tears over clothing stains as easily as matters of the heart. Besides, wasn’t Elphaba the one being insulted here? Why should she be the one to apologise?

So, under the assumption they were just squabbling over a history project, Elphaba decided to stay quiet. She would let herself steam off, and the blonde girl calm down.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the room, punctuated only by the turning of the pages and Glinda’s muffled sniffles. Elphaba was turning the pages, but her interest in the book was fake; she hadn’t read a word since they last spoke. She kept resisting the urge to look at her roommate. She knew Glinda would be upset and couldn’t bare it. That was how their usually arguments ended. Elphaba would apologise just for the sake of bringing back Glinda’s smile.

Glinda, meanwhile, was trying to puzzle out her feelings. Miss Elphaba Thropp. Her roommate. Her best friend. First, she’d loathed her, then she’d liked her, but now, Elphaba was asking for something more. The green girl was different to her other friends, but how different? She loved Elphie in her own way; she couldn’t say if it extended further.

Eventually, Elphaba threw down her book, pinching the bridge of her nose. The sound of her roommate’s tears was making her skin prickle uncomfortably. I really can’t stay mad at you, can I blondie? She thought. Fine.

The green girl picked herself up and walked over to her roommate. At first, Glinda didn’t notice Elphaba had joined her on the bed; when she did, she stiffened, face still buried in the sheets.

Elphaba tried to reach out but withdrew her hand. She had never been good at physical contact. “Glinda, my sweet… please don’t cry.”

“…”

“Oh, you silly girl,” she sighed. Pushing aside her misgivings, she reached out and rested her hand against Glinda’s back, trying to be comforting. “This isn’t worth your tears.”

“H-how can you say that?” she mumbled shakily.

“You can choose whoever you like. Forgive me and my sharp tongue. I’m a mean green thing who lashes out at those kind enough to care for me."

Glinda blinked. “But things won’t be the same.”

“Of course they will.”

“N-not if I say no…” Glinda whispered, hiding her face again.

Elphaba shook her head, feeling an overwhelming surge of fondness for the girl. “Always with the melodrama. Do you really think I’d let something like this come between us? If you didn’t want a friend for life, you shouldn’t have reached out to a girl who’s never had one. I don’t care who you pick.” She laughed. “Why, you could pick Avaric over me and I’d still be your friend.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“Try me, my sweet.”

Glinda gasped. She turned her head, daring to peek at her roommate. Elphaba’s eyes were full of an overpowering warmth. The small, affectionate smile on her green lips took Glinda’s breath away. Looking back, it was nothing Glinda hadn’t seen before. Elphaba often looked at her the same way- as if she couldn’t believe Glinda was real. She just hadn’t realised what those looks meant.

The Gilikin girl brought her hands to her chest. There wasn’t a hint of dishonesty on the green girl’s face. She really didn’t care if Glinda said no. How could that be? Was this what it meant to love someone?

Glinda had already been crying, but now, she cried for a different reason. She too felt a surge of fondness, as powerful as a hurricane. In that moment, she didn’t care who loved her. She only cared that she was loved. Elphaba’s feelings were written all over her face, and they were wonderful.

“Oh Elphie!” she cried. “I don’t think the world would make sense without you!”

She flung her arms around Elphaba’s neck, pulling her into a vice-like hug. Elphaba winced at the sudden, full-blooded contact.

“G-glinda, we’ve talked about the aggressive hugging-“

“Oh no! You don’t get to say those things without acknowledgement, miss Thropp!”

Glinda’s voice was so commanding, her grip so tight. Elphaba had no choice to relent. She debated where to put her hands, before reluctantly resting one hand on Glinda’s blonde curls and the other on her back.

The embrace continued for a long time. Elphaba began to get uncomfortable. They came from different worlds. Glinda’s parents had obviously held her too much as a child; the same could not be said for Frexspar and Melena. A faint dusting of darker green appeared on Elphaba’s cheeks. Glinda’s mood went up and down as often as a trapeze artist.

“Perhaps you could let me go now? I feel like a mouse caught in a trap.”

Glinda pouted. “But it’s comfy.”

“For the trap, perhaps.”

The blonde girl relaxed her grip with upmost reluctance. As she pulled away, their eyes locked, their faces a little too close together. Glinda couldn’t look away. She swallowed, stunned at how painfully wrong it felt to let Elphaba go, how unfair it felt that the green girl wasn’t still in her arms.

Elphaba blinked at how close their faces were. She tried to laugh it off. “C-careful, blondie. Even a vegetable will get the wrong idea if you look at them like that.”

Glinda giggled, in spite of herself. All she could think about was how sweet Elphaba looked when she didn’t know what to say.

The green girl coughed. “Well, now that you’ve been sufficiently cheered up-“

“You’re not going anywhere Elphie,” Glinda insisted, grabbing hold of her hand. “Stay with me.”

Elphaba hesitated. “It’s already getting late-“

“No. You have to take responsibility.”

Glinda’s words hung between them on the air. “… If you insist. But no more hugging.”

“Then this will have to do.”

She locked their fingers together and rested her head on Elphaba’s shoulder. She was bony and angular, but the blonde felt peaceful and happy, her tears only half dried.

Elphaba didn’t try to pull away again for over an hour. She sensed Glinda was in a sensitive mood- again, she blamed alcohol for having exacerbated such a minor argument- and was trying to be a good friend. Small talk was not her area of expertise, but she asked Glinda about her day, about the shoes she’d bought, in the hope of keeping things light and avoiding the earlier dispute.

Glinda found her roommate’s attempt at girl talk adorable. A sense of giddiness was coming over her. Did Elphaba always make her feel this way? Perhaps she did, and the only difference was perspective.

A clocktower struck in the distance, telling the two roommates it was midnight. Elphaba took it as a sign.

“It’s time we get some sleep, blondie, and please don’t say otherwise. I’ve had more human contact tonight than a full year at Colwen Grounds.”

Glinda pouted. “That’s called being touch starved, Elphie. I’m trying to remedy that.”

“There’s a fine line between friendliness and assault.”

The blonde girl wrung her fingers shyly. “Well… after everything you said tonight, I thought you might like it.”

Elphaba raised an eyebrow. What did she mean by that? “Honestly Glinda, all this over a-“

The blonde interpreted her confusion as annoyance. She put her hand over the green girls’ mouth, cutting her off before she could say a ‘history project’.

“A-actually, let’s not talk about it anymore,” Glinda said, anxious. “You’re right. It’s time we get some sleep.”

Elphaba nodded, glad for the interruption. Being friends with Glinda was exhausting, to say the least.

She stood up and started walking back to her own bed. The sight of the green girl leaving stirred something in Glinda- again, it felt horribly wrong. There was more for her to say.

“Elphie, wait.”

She stopped. “Yes, my sweet?”

Glinda blushed at the pet-name. “I…” She tried again, not even certain what she was trying to say, or how to say it. “I think I… um…”

Elphaba smirked. “You’ve been lost for words more tonight than the whole time I’ve known you.”

“I… I want to say…” Glinda let out a shriek of frustration, unable to articulate herself. “Forget it, Elphie! I need to think this over. I’ll… I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

“Tell me what?”

“My answer,” Glinda whispered, climbing into bed. She said it so quietly that Elphaba didn’t hear.

“Huh? I didn’t catch that.”

“Just go to bed, you horrendible thing!” she squealed, pulling the duvet over her head so Elphaba couldn’t see the redness on her cheeks.

Elphaba tutted as she got herself ready for bed. Were all friendships like this? Her last thought before falling asleep was that she pitied the next poor soul who dated Glinda. Such wrath would be unassailable.

Glinda’s last thought was worlds apart. She’d claimed she needed to think over her answer to Elphaba’s ‘confession’.

In truth, the time for thinking was over. She’d known her answer as soon as she looked into Elphaba’s eyes.

Elphaba Thropp was an early riser. Glinda Upland was not. The green girl couldn’t remember a single occasion, in all their time at Shiz University, where Glinda had woken up before her. So, you can imagine her surprise when she woke up and turned over to find the trend had been broken.

Not only was Glinda awake- she was perched on the side of her bed, eyes fixed on Elphaba. When Elphaba turned over, a beaming smile appeared on the blonde’s face.

“Morning Elphie,” she said brightly.

Elphaba blinked. “Is it Lurlinemas Day, by any chance? Why are you looking at me like I owe you presents?”

She laughed, but didn’t respond. She just kept smiling at her roommate.

Elphaba sat up in bed, yawning and stretching. “Ahh… any reason you’re up so early?”

“I couldn’t really sleep,” Glinda admitted.

“Bad dreams?”

“No. I was just thinking about… things.”

“I see. Any epiphanies I should be aware of?”

“One, maybe.”

“No doubt you’ve decided you need another dress.”

“Meanie.”

The green girl stretched a little more, before getting out of bed. She went through her morning routine, aware that Glinda was still on her bed, looking at her.

“I didn’t think it was possible,” Elphaba said slowly, “but you seem perkier than usual.”

“Like I said, I was thinking about things.”

“How vague.”

“If you say so…”

Elphaba tried to think nothing of it and continued getting ready. She picked out one of her customary frocks, making a show of it to alert Glinda, but the blonde also seemed to be lacking self-awareness. She was still looking at her, her smile dazzling.

Elphaba coughed, feeling a rush of blood to her cheeks. “Glinda? I’d rather you didn’t spectate this particular part of my morning routine…”

Glinda blushed a little, but didn’t immediately turn her back. “Sorry,” she said, but added in a whisper once her back was turned, “… but it was you who confessed to me…”

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

Elphaba exhaled, feeling more comfortable without Glinda’s eyes following her. She got changed, and Glinda started doing the same, though her routine always took longer. By the time Elphaba was ready to leave, Glinda was only half-finished with her make-up. In fact, Elphaba noted, she seemed to be taking longer than usual.

The blonde laboured over her choice of dress. It was a warm and bright morning, perhaps one of the last that she could wear a summery outfit. The thought gave her a idea.

She turned to Elphaba, who was pondering over whether to bring along six books or seven. “Elphie, your attention please.”

“I hate that you ask for it like that.”

Ignoring the comment, Glinda pulled out two summer dresses she liked from her wardrobe. “Which one should I wear? Pink or yellow?”

“Ask someone else,” she deadpanned.

“Why?”

“Glinda, I’m currently wearing a black frock with boots. You’d be better off asking for fashion advice from a rock.”

“I don’t want fashion advice, silly. I want to know which one you like.”

Elphaba crossed her arms and gave her a look that said, ‘well, I’m waiting’. Glinda giggled and held the two dresses against her frame. She couldn’t resist throwing in a little twirl, enjoying the green girl’s awkwardness as she did so.

“I can confirm that both suit you,” she said stiffly.

“But which do you like most?”

“It doesn’t matter. You could wear a burlap sack and still look gorgeous.”

“As sweet as that is, I’m not taking ‘both’ for an answer.”

“This is absurd-“

She stomped her foot. “Elphaba Thropp, tell me your opinion this instance.”

The green girl scowled, her arms still crossed, but she gave them another inspection. “Hold up the pink one again.”

Glinda did so, modelling it for her. Elphaba’s eyes fell rather critically on the skirt. “Isn’t the pink a little… short?”

“Oh, so you like this one more?”

It took Elphaba a moment to realise what Glinda was implying. When it clicked, she stiffened all the more. “N-not at all. I was simply making an observation.”

“Observing me, hmm?”

“The dress. I was observing the dress. The length of-“ She threw up her hands. “You know exactly what I meant. It doesn’t matter anyway. You flirt with everything that moves, so it wouldn’t bother you to wear something so… so-“

“So what?” Glinda purred, relishing her roommate’s embarrassment a little too much.

“I do believe you’re teasing me, miss Glinda.”

“Teasing? Not quite.” She strolled over to Elphaba until she was right in her eye-line, batting her eyelashes. “You’re also something that moves, Elphie.”

The green girl put her hands up, hoping Glinda wouldn’t notice the rush of blood to her cheeks. “A-alright alright, enough of this. You’ve defeated me. Just stop acting… strange.”

“You were the one who started it,” Glinda said, in a sing-song voice. Nonetheless, she took pity on her roommate and went back to the wardrobe.

Elphaba couldn’t really see how she’d ‘started’ anything. She hesitated. “Um… Glinda?”

“Yes?”

“I like the yellow one more.” She scratched her head. “And not just for reasons of modesty.”

Another beaming smile. “The yellow one it is, then.”

They didn’t always have the same classes, so there was no reason for them to leave Crage Hall at the same time. Once Elphaba was packed, she headed for the door, only to be told strictly to wait.

“Don’t you have architecture this morning?”

“Uh huh.”

“Well, I don’t.”

“So what? I’d like to walk with you today, Elphie.”

The green girl huffed but didn’t put up any resistance. It was another half an hour before Glinda’s hair and makeup were finished. Elphaba had to admit, her roommate looked stunning. True, this was a common occurrence, but for whatever reason Glinda seemed to have put in extra effort today. Elphaba wasn’t sure she’d seen the yellow dress before- it fit Glinda perfectly, matching her hair.

The blonde waltzed over to Elphaba’s side, tossing her blonde curls. “I’m ready,” she announced.

Elphaba nodded, and then blurted out without thinking, “You look nice.”

Glinda’s face lit up. “Thank you Elphie. Right on cue.”

The green girl shook her head. What was wrong with her today? Glinda’s behaviour was throwing her off.

“Well, let’s not stand around on ceremony,” she said, reaching for the door.

Just as she did, Glinda reached out first, locking their arms. The gesture wasn’t out of nowhere- it was something she’d done before- but her hold was tighter this time. All of a sudden, their sides were pressed together.

“Glinda…?” Elphaba said questioningly.

The blonde girl didn’t respond. Her expression was hidden behind a curtain of curls. Instead, she opened the door and marched them forward. Elphaba allowed herself to be guided. We’ve walked together like this before, she reminded herself. Why, I’ve seen Glinda walk with Pfannee and Shenshen the same way. It’s nothing untoward.

Having said that, Elphaba couldn’t recall her holding Pfannee or Shenshen this closely.

They walked down the stairs and out of Crage Hall, into the glistening morning sun, without letting go. A balmy breeze blew their hair from side to side. Not a word passed between them, but the silence was comfortable. Elphaba still couldn’t see Glinda’s expression, but at one point, she heard a contented sigh.

Just before they arrived at the Suicide Canal, Elphaba stopped mid-stride. “Glinda, we have different classes. I have to go the other way.”

“I know,” Glinda murmured.

Elphaba removed her arm from Glinda’s. She didn’t object. Not verbally, at least.

“I’ll see you later, my sweet-“

“Elphie, wait a moment.”

“What is it?”

The blonde girl made sure she was standing right in front of Elphaba before pressing on. Although she’d been teasing and dropping hints all morning, the thought of saying it aloud was still intimidating. She played with her fingers, bashful, not quite looking Elphaba in the eye.

“About what we were talking about last night…”

Elphaba had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Was she really still held up on the history project? “Glinda, I already told you, it doesn’t matter-“

“Just let me finish.”

“…”

Glinda took a deep breath, knowing their friendship was about to change for good. Deep down, she was terrified. Her misgivings hadn’t gone away. She was still worried what other people were going to think, especially her parents. She couldn’t help it. But…

She looked into Elphaba’s eyes and felt just as warm and safe as she did last night. It didn’t matter. This was right.

No. This was perfect.

“My answer is yes, Elphie. I accept.”

Elphaba blinked. Glinda was looking at her as if she’d just said something momentous. All she’d done was agree to be her study partner.

“That’s good,” she said simply.

Glinda pouted, outraged. “Elphie! Given the moment, I expect a little more emotion than that!”

She shrugged. “Sorry. I suppose I thought you would come round.”

“Y-you did?”

“Of course. Let’s face it, blondie, I’m your best option.” If Glinda did the history project with Pfannee, for example, they’d probably both fail. Wisely, she kept her mouth shut on this.

Glinda stared at her roommate, stunned at her nonchalance. Then, she burst out into hysterical laughter. The laughter proved contagious, as Elphaba soon found herself cackling too.

“Really, my sweet. What a fuss over nothing.”

“Nothing, she says!”

“Well, not quite nothing. I know you’re not accustomed to this, but we’ll need to work hard.”

Glinda nodded. “Of course. It’s a work in progress.”

“Yes, it’s a project.” Elphaba had brought her book on the Great Drought and reached for it. “I won’t bore you with the details now, but-“

She never got the chance to bring up the Great Drought. Instead, she was stunned into silence. Glinda had leaned forward, planting a long, uninterrupted kiss on Elphaba’s cheek.

“You could never bore me, Elphie,” Glinda whispered into her ear. “Anything but that.”

Elphaba stared at her, dumbfounded, as Glinda pulled away. The blonde desperately wanted to tease her again- it was a confoundingly adorable expression. But she had to keep things serious, for just a little longer.

“I still need to apologise, Elphie,” she said. “I never wanted to hurt you. I could never be ashamed of you. Never.”

The green girl tried to collect herself, touching the cheek Glinda kissed. This was something her roommate had done before, just like when she locked their arms, but even so…

“It’s alright, Glinda,” she croaked out. “It’s hard not to be sensitive about these things. I know you’re not ashamed of me, but… sometimes it-“

“I know, and that’s my fault,” Glinda assured, knowing she was about to undermine herself. “Even so, could we… I know it’s a lot to ask, but could we keep this a secret for a little while? Only, this is all so new to me, and the thought of everyone finding out at once is…” She shuddered. “Frightening.”

If Elphaba wasn’t confounded before, she was now. She wanted to keep the fact they were partners in a history project secret? From everyone? But they’d have to present to the class anyway. She was on the verge of getting offended all over again.

Glinda sensed this. She reached out and took Elphaba’s hand. “B-be patient with me, Elphie. Please?”

The earnestness in her gaze chased away Elphaba’s resolve. “Fine, if we must. But everyone will know sooner or later, whether you like it or not-“

“And I’ll tell them myself. Just…” She breathed out shakily. “Just not quite yet.”

Elphaba tapped the cover of the books she was holding. She couldn’t help but feel like half of this conversation had gone completely over her head. Then again, she was used to that feeling with Glinda.

“We’ll be late for class if we’re not careful,” the green girl insisted. “See you later, my sweet?”

“See you later, Elphie” Glinda said, nodding, though the expression in her face screamed ‘I don’t want you to leave’.

Elphaba gave her a short little wave before striding away at top speed. As soon as her back was turned, her expression relaxed, and a sense of relief settled in. That morning, and the night before, Glinda’s typically intense company had reached hitherto unseen levels of intense. Something must have happened at the Peach and Kidneys, she thought. I’ll ask again next time I see her.

Glinda set off for her own class, lost in a maze of Elphaba-exclusive thoughts. She felt like she was about to break out into song. Her chest was full of feverish excitement and equally feverish nerves. To think when Crope and Tibbett had told her about Elphaba’s confession, she hadn’t believed them. To be honest, she still didn’t quite believe it! Yet the affection in Elphaba’s eyes the night before was all the evidence she needed.

Well, I suppose I have a girlfriend now, Glinda thought excitedly.

Well, at least I have a study partner now, Elphaba thought tiredly.

Somehow, both of them were wrong.