'Study' Partners

‘Study’ Partners

Chapter 4

“I’ll see you later?”

“Yes.”

“After your politics class?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll be waiting for me outside, won’t you?”

“Yes.”

“And-“

“Whatever you’re about to say, my pretty, the answer is probably yes.”

A sly smirk took over Glinda’s face. “Be careful, Elphie. You don’t know what I was asking for.”

The green girl exhaled loudly. “Enlighten me.”

“Oh, it could’ve been anything,” she said, sing-song. “A shopping trip, perhaps-“

“Point taken,” Elphaba interrupted. “Shopping and I don’t mix.”

“But you mix with me, Elphie, and I love to shop.” She clapped her hands. “I do wish I could buy you some new outfits. There are colours other than black, you know.”

“You don’t say? I’m well acquainted with one of them in particular.”

Glinda giggled. “The day I get you to wear something other than a frock, I’m going to lose my mind.” Or something less than a frock, she thought, and blushed.

“Sorry, my sweet. This salad’s happy with her dressing.”

She leaned forward, hands tucked behind her back, eyes shining with mischief. “What this salad needs is undressing.”

As the salad in question spluttered, her face a darker green than ever before, Glinda’s laughter echoed down the corridor. Now we’re both thinking about the same thing! Serves you right for being so lovely.

Elphaba and Glinda had been two of the first to leave Dr Nikidik’s class. His teaching had been as nondescript as ever, but a good half hour of the lecture had been dedicated to independent work. Elphaba’s progress would’ve been greater if she weren’t sat next to her roommate. This wasn’t really the Gilikin girl’s fault. Rather, it was Elphaba’s. I shouldn’t let her distract me so much.

Glinda had a habit of humming under her breath as she worked. It wasn’t loud enough to divert anyone else’s attention in the lecture hall- except for Elphaba, of course. The blonde had a soprano voice, melodious and effervescent, the kind people would pay good money to hear in concert. Plural. It couldn’t just be her, right?

And on occasion, Glinda would lean over for longer than was necessary, taking a look at their textbook as if to remind Elphaba she was still there, and still very much bearing that subtle woodland scent which, as a further reminder, had been chosen especially for her.

Was Glinda interesting because Dr Nikidk was boring or was Dr Nikidik boring because Glinda was interesting? Whichever way you cut it, Elphaba was the victim.

She clutched her books tightly to her chest, still reeling from Glinda’s salad comment. “For heaven’s sake. You’d think this was our final farewell.”

“Just making sure you’ll be thinking of me Elphie,” she said brightly.

 “Am I really not allowed to think of anything else?”

Glinda gave her a look. “Maybe I prefer it that way, you beautiful green thing.”

She winced. “… What happened to not saying that word?”

“I never agreed not to say it.”

The rest of the students started filtering out of the lecture hall. Elphaba was beginning to think spending time with Glinda was bad for her health. The blonde’s compliments and lack of inhibitions were worse than any laughs, points or stares.

“Enough of this farce. We’ll talk later, my sweet-“

“Promise you’ll be thinking of me?” Glinda said, leaning closer again.

“… Well, I’ll be in a politics class, and there’s no better exercise in social politics than a conversation with Glinda Upland-“

“A simple ‘yes’ would be nice.”

Elphaba’s fingers curled even tighter around her books. She wasn’t going to give Glinda the pleasure of such an admission. She knew it was all in jest, but pushing her limits seemed to be the Gilikin girl’s new favourite hobby.

As such, she kept her mouth shut, unwilling to admit that Glinda was probably right.

Glinda wasn’t satisfied with the lack of a firm answer. She stepped to within an inch of her roommate, looking right into Elphaba’s eyes with an exaggerated, sulky expression.

The green girl went very still. Her pupils visibly dilated. She sub-consciously held her breath. Glinda had to stop herself from laughing. Elphaba was trying so hard not to spoil her! She wanted to pat her on the head and say ‘nice effort’.

The green girl’s reaction was nothing she hadn’t seen before. Glinda was used to being admired, being wanted, but it was an altogether different kind of thrill when Elphaba looked at her that way. This time, being admired made her feel more than just flattered or powerful. She felt complete, somehow.

She pinched her ‘girlfriend’ on the cheek. “Hmm. On second thoughts, you don’t need to say yes. That was all I needed.”

The green girl stepped back, looking mortified. She shook her head almost violently; Glinda could feel her retreating back into her shell, but it was all about the baby steps.

“Y-you’re utterly relentless, blondie. Must you insist on torturing me?” she muttered. “I really am saying goodbye this time.”

“See you soon!”

Glinda barely had time to finish- Elphaba was already striding away, still muttering under her breath. Even for a fast walker, her pace was lightning; the phrase ‘fleeing the scene’ sprung to Glinda’s mind.

She probably teased her a little too much. It’s the poor girl’s first relationship, and she gets saddled with a meanie like me. The beaming smile on Glinda’s face rather undermined any contrition she may have been feeling, as did the enthusiastic waves which her ‘girlfriend’ ignored.  

At the very moment Glinda said her goodbyes, Boq and Fiyero emerged from the lecture hall.

“What a bore,” Boq moaned. “It feels like we’ve been studying the Great Drought for longer than the Great Drought itself.”

Fiyero didn’t respond. He’d also struggled with distraction during Dr Nikidik’s class, but not because of Glinda. The Winkie looked round for a green face; they usually walked to politics together, a class they shared. He was disappointed to see Elphaba already striding away.

He turned to Boq. “Alright… Wish me luck. I’m probably gonna need it.”

The Munchkin snorted. “We’ve been over this. There’s a reason every girl on campus is obsessed with you. Even with Elphaba, that has to count for something.”

“We both know she doesn’t care about looks,” Fiyero said quietly, in a rare lack of confidence.

“Yes, and I sense that’s why you like her.” He whistled. “Being a masochist must suck.”

“Here-“

“Kidding, kidding,” Boq cut in. “I really am wishing you luck. To be honest, I think you two suit each other.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. If you’re dancing through life, she’s stomping through it in boots. You balance each other out.”

Fiyero hadn’t thought of it that way- not that it did much to stifle his nerves.

“So what’s your plan?” Boq asked.

He sighed. “I’m gonna ask her out for coffee after politics. You know that café near the Peach and Kidneys, the one with all the cakes?”

“Of course. I’ve been there with Nessa. Nice choice.”

He gave the Munchkin an anxious nod, gritted his teeth and dashed off after Elphaba. Boq noticed Glinda walking away and accompanied her on the way to her architecture class.

By the time Fiyero caught up with Elphaba, he was practically sprinting. She didn’t seem to have much awareness of her surroundings.

“Fae!” he called out. “Hold on a moment!”

She spun around, surprised to hear Fiyero’s voice. He stopped to catch his breath, holding his knees.

“What’s with the urgency?” he panted. “Trying to get me to chase you, huh?”

Elphaba, still a little dazed, shook her head. “No. I was just… escaping.”

“Well, spend enough time listening to Dr Nikidik and you’ll lose your mind.”

If only I was just escaping from Dr Nikidik. The green girl was tense, coiled like a spring. She hated feeling like she wasn’t in control of her actions. In Glinda’s presence, she said things she would never usually say, and reacted in ways she couldn’t anticipate or comprehend.

Why does she have to say things like that? When the blonde had pinched her on the cheek, saying ‘that was all I needed’, it really got under her skin. Not only could she not control herself in Glinda’s presence, but it seemed like her roommate knew. It seemed like she revelled in it.

Elphaba breathed out. She wasn’t prepared to confront what was happening to her. The green girl liked to tackle things head on, but with emotions of any complexity, her general approach was to ignore them and hope they went away. She possessed neither the experience nor the self-mastery to deal with the situation properly.

So, Elphaba put on a strong face. She was glad for Fiyero’s presence. What she needed now was a regular friend, not a ‘bestest friend in the whole wide world’- someone who didn’t make a mess of her nervous system.

Fiyero would never see me as anything but the weird green girl who occasionally makes him laugh, Elphaba thought, confident. Just relax.

Fiyero, who saw her as an awful lot more than the weird green girl who occasionally made him laugh, tilted his head. “Are you alright? You seem a bit off.”

“I’m fine.”

“Sure?”

“Of course,” she affirmed, nodded to herself. “You’re here.”

Fiyero’s heart did a backflip. “Oh. That’s, uh, good. I… I didn’t realise I had a calming effect.”

“What can I say. You’re exactly what I need right now.” That is, anyone but Glinda.

Correction. Fiyero’s heart did consecutive backflips. “A-am I growing on you, Fae?” He tried to sound casual. “There was a time when you disliked me as much as Avaric.”

She smiled, glad for their easy-going back and forth. “Not everything that ‘grows on you’ is a blessing. Tumours spring to mind.”

“I can’t be as bad as that. I’m far too charming.”

“You’re not so much ‘charming’ as ‘smarming’.” Elphaba flicked the ridiculous quiff he always sported. “But once one gets past that, you’re not so bad.”

“I’ll take ‘not so bad’. From you, that’s practically a love confession.” The prince kept his tone light, but he was, as they say, testing the waters.

“Love is for the lovable, I’m afraid.”

“And why wouldn’t you be lovable?”

“Oh, I haven’t the foggiest. It’s not as if people scream when I walk by,” she replied, her voice like sandpaper.

“If it helps, you grow on people too.”

“Careful about using words like ‘grow’ in my presence. They can be misconstrued as bad puns.”

“Your deflection tactics don’t work on me anymore, Fae.”

She snorted in amusement. It felt good to let out some of the tension Glinda had wrought. “Perhaps it’s less about being ‘lovable’ and more about biology. I wasn’t going to admit this, but I reproduce asexually.”

I bloody well hope not. Fiyero had the survival instincts not to say that thought aloud.

He glanced at the sheer volume of books in her arms. “Why don’t you ever put them in your bag?”

“I would, if the bag weren’t already full of them.”

Fiyero tutted affectionately. “Of course it is, you crazy bookworm. Can I at least carry a few?”

“What a princely offer. It must be exhausting, keeping up the facade.”

“What façade? I’m not only a real prince, but princely in my behaviour.” He offered his hands. “And there happens to be a fair maiden in need of my assistance.”

She looked over her shoulder in mock confusion. “Whereabouts? I can’t see one anywhere.”

“I beg to differ,” he said, trying to keep any dead giveaway rasp from his voice.

“I’m neither ‘fair’ nor a ‘maiden’, according to the rest of our student body. Why, I’ve even heard some of them claim I’m a hermaphrodite.” She handed him a few of her books. “But if you’re willing, sure. Take a few.”

“I’m definitely willing,” Fiyero replied. He took the books trying not to look too eager. “You know I don’t care what any of the student body thinks, right Fae?”

“That’s not surprising. They only have nice things to say about you, Mr Exotic Winkie Prince.”

“If they don’t have nice things to say about you, they’re either blind, stupid or both.”

She laughed. “And now you’ve engaged in another princely activity: false flattery.”

He insisted otherwise, of course, but Elphaba brushed off all his attempts at compliments. They walked the rest of the way to their politics class in step.

Fiyero was encouraged to see the way she brightened up after his arrival. At times, he could almost convince himself they were flirting, but with Elphaba, the lines between flirting, banter and insults were blurry indeed. It was part of why he loved talking with her so much.

They arrived at the class early, a fact which she saw fit to point it. Shiz’s politics and history faculties were located in the same building.

“Fiyero Tigelaar arriving early to a class?” Elphaba covered her mouth in fake horror. “My punctuality must be rubbing off on you.”

You’re rubbing off on me in general. He settled for the more palatable, “What can I say?”

“I do wonder what-“

“Well well well, if it isn’t the Prince and the Pea.”

A familiar, arrogant drawl echoed from behind them. Elphaba’s revitalised good mood crashed and burned; her smirk was replaced with a scowl. Fiyero’s mood dropped too. Things had seemed to be going well.

The last thing he needed was Avaric Tenmeadows getting in the way. What a pity this was one of the Margreave heir’s few talents.

They turned around to see the man in question strolling up with his hands in his pockets.

Fiyero raised an eyebrow. “The ‘Prince and the Pea’, huh. Nice. How many weeks were you sitting on that one?”

Avaric flicked his hair. “Just a few. You can’t rush perfection.”

“Perfection is debatable,” Elphaba quipped. “The ‘Prince and the Pea’ is a much better description for Fiyero and yourself, Mr Tenmeadows.”

“Why’s that, greenie?”

“Well, there’s an important part of you that’s pea sized.”

“So I have a small brain. And you claim my jokes are bad.”

Elphaba smirked. “I wasn’t referring to your brain.”

Fiyero snorted with laughter. Avaric’s eyes narrowed a little, but he wasn’t one to give up at the first sign of opposition.

He looked Elphaba up and down. “Wearing black again, I see. Who is it you’re always mourning?”

“I’m just dressing up in advance.”

“For what?”

“You’re funeral, of course. It will be the happiest day of my life.”

“That’s a bit obsessive, greenie. Not that I blame you. Any attention is good attention when you look like that.”

Elphaba sneered. “If anyone’s obsessed, it’s you. Those atrocious vegetable jokes don’t spring from thin air. Two weeks, did you say?

“Atrocious? My vegetable jokes are top notch, miss Arugula.”

“That one’s old enough to be haunted.”

“You really are maddening-“

“Oh give it a rest, will you Avaric?” Fiyero snapped, his hackles rising.

Avaric turned on the Winkie prince, about to snap back, only to see the look in his eye. He was serious- a little too serious, perhaps. The Margreave heir glanced between Fiyero and Elphaba, wondering.

“I didn’t realise you were so protective of the Pea, oh Prince.”

Fiyero stiffened. Just then, their politics teacher opened the door to the lecture hall, ushering them in.

Avaric always liked to get the last word. “Sorry. This is my first politics class in a while, and I don’t want to interrupt your fairytale romance.”

“Have you considered skipping the class every week? It would make all our lives better.”

“Nothing could possibly make your life better, greenie.”

Elphaba also liked to get the last word, but Avaric, knowing this, ducked inside before she could.

She huffed. “Remind me why we’re friends with him?”

“He’s not usually so obnoxious-”

“Oh, so it’s just the green girl he thinks he can push around? Lovely.”

Fiyero sighed. “It’s because he can’t push you around that he acts that way.”

She turned on him. “So what? I should let him walk all over me? I should change? Is that what you’re saying?”

“No,” the prince said firmly, meeting her gaze. “It’s him that should change. You’re perfect as you are, Fae.”

Elphaba opened her mouth to retort, only to close it when she realised it wasn’t necessary. “… Oh,” she said blankly. His words had surprised her; her response came out monotone.

Fiyero swallowed, but didn’t retract what he’d said.

The moment of silence stretched on. Elphaba was forced to change the topic. “We should head inside too-“

“Of course,” Fiyero said, fast. He laughed to break the tension. “No need to give Avaric the attention he wants.”

They walked into the lecture hall. Avaric was sat at the back. He gestured for them to join him, tapping the empty seats to his left. Elphaba turned her nose up and chose a seat near the front; Fiyero joined her.

For Elphaba, that was the worst part of the Margreave heir’s company. To him, it was all fun and games. Avaric would probably claim she enjoyed his mockery- that it was just ‘part of their friendship’.

He wolf whistled from the back. “Fairytale romance indeed!”

Fiyero gritted his teeth, prepared to say something back, but Elphaba just shook her head. “Ignore him. You know it’s not true.”

Is it bad that I wish it was? Fiyero was getting a little sick of not being able to speak his mind. The sooner he told Elphaba how he felt, the better.

Their teacher took to his lectern and the class went silent. The Vinkun handed over the books he’d been carrying, and within moments Elphaba’s nose was buried in them. Her side of the desk was promptly engulfed in a tsunami of rustling papers. Unlike during history, there were no bubbly blonde obstacles to the sanctity of her education.

Fiyero, on the other hand, was not so lucky. For the second time today, he found himself presented with an Elphaba-sized distraction- only this time he had a front row seat. The Winkie didn’t need a huge excuse to zone out in lectures, let alone one as tantalising as Elphaba Thropp.

He loved watching the green girl work. She had a sharp, shrewd gaze at the best of times, but there was something transfixing about the absolute attention she gave to her studies. Elphaba had no concept of ‘half-measures’. As a person who rarely had to work for anything, he’d found that off-putting. Nowadays, it was disarming. He wished he could convey half the passion she showed in those enigmatic brown eyes. He wished he could command half the attention she gave to her passions.

That had never happened before. Fiyero was used to making other people feel that way, very unused to being on the receiving end. His feelings for Elphaba were, for him, totally new ground.

Her lips were screwed together in concentration. Fiyero couldn’t believe there was a time when he didn’t think Elphaba was beautiful. Her facial structure was alarmingly sharp, but she wasn’t ‘hatchet-faced’, like some claimed. It should be illegal to have a jawline that defined, he thought. Her long raven hair was always hidden away; he longed to see what it was like untied.

“The answer is no,” Elphaba whispered.

Fiyero blinked. “What?”

“You’re not allowed to copy my notes. Write your own.”

“But I didn’t ask...?”

“You’ve been staring at me the whole lesson. You were going to ask eventually.”

The Winkie had to turn his face away to hide his expression.

Elphaba grinned. “I knew I was right.”

“N-not exactly,” he murmured to himself.

Midday sun was streaming into the lecture hall, beckoning the students out, when their politics teacher finally dismissed them.

“I shouldn’t need to remind you, but the class report on the rhetoric of the Ozma regime is due next week,” he said, with a flick of the wrist. “As you know, I don’t accept late submissions. Looking at you, Mr Tenmeadows.”

If Avaric heard or cared, he gave no indication of it. The Margreave heir dashed off, claiming he had a date, though not before giving Elphaba an excessive, flirty wink. She practically spat at him in response.

Worse, he wiggled his eyebrows at Fiyero before leaving, as if to say, ‘I know you want to do that too’. Worse still, he couldn’t exactly deny it.

“Next time someone invites him to the Peach and Kidneys, I won’t be coming,” Elphaba declared, stomping back out into the corridor.

Fiyero didn’t have the time to dispute her resolve; he was far too concerned with strengthening his own. He’d promised himself he would ask her out after their politics class- executing such a plan was a lot harder than coming up with it.

Elphaba was conscious she still had something to say to Fiyero. She cleared her throat to get his attention, as if she didn’t have it in perpetuity.

“Fiyero? I, um…” She scratched her cheek. “… I should thank you.”

He was surprised. “What for?”

“For speaking up for me earlier.” Elphaba paused, then carried on faster than before. “Not that you needed to. I can handle Avaric just fine.”

Tally three backflips. “You’re welcome,” he murmured. “Anytime.”

“You really didn’t need to,” she repeated, feeling awkward. She wasn’t very good at being earnest.

“I wanted to, Fae. ‘Need’ has nothing to do with it.” He smiled. “Be more in need of saving next time, please. You’ll put princes like me out of a job.”

Elphaba returned it. “So you want a damsel in distress? Forgive me for not qualifying.”

“Maybe you will, one day.”

“I doubt it. Vegetables in distress aren’t quite so appealing.”

“Who says so?”

“I do,” she joked. “Sorry my prince. Seek your five a day elsewhere.”

Fiyero wanted to laugh, to say something back, but couldn’t. The words were caught in his mouth. His eyes flickered back down to her lips. He knew Elphaba wasn’t trying to be alluring- he’d just reached the point where every snarky witticism made him want her to cut her off with a kiss.

Damn it. I’m going insane.

“You know, maybe Avaric was right,” Fiyero rasped helplessly. “You are a little maddening.”

Elphaba looked down the corridors. She’d promised to meet Glinda outside the faculty building; the appointment gave her a nervous feeling, considering what happened last time, but avoiding Glinda Upland had and always would be impossible.

“I’ll see you around, Fiyero. Thanks for keeping me company-”

“W-wait,” Fiyero interrupted. He reached out on instinct and took hold of her sleeve.

Elphaba went still. Her eyes fixated on his hand as if she couldn’t quite process what was happening.

Fiyero withdrew it. “I was… I thought you were going to leave, so-“

“It’s alright,” Elphaba said. She shook herself off. “What were you going to say?”

“I wanted… I wanted to…”

Shit. Shit shit shit. Fiyero wasn’t the type to make plans, or to think ahead. In that moment, he really wished the opposite were true. It was harder to be suave when the girl he had a massive crush on was looking him right in the eye.

She waited, confused but patient, until he found the nerve.

“I wanted to… I was wondering if, maybe, you wanted to get some coffee? With me? Some time?” He cringed at his pathetic excuse for a sentence.

“Coffee?” She blinked, as if it were word she didn’t know. “Why would we get coffee?”

Fiyero gritted his teeth. “Because… Well, because-“

“Oh.” Suddenly, it clicked into place. Elphaba straightened up, realising what he meant. “Sorry, I should’ve been quicker on the uptake.”

His heart began to race. “Y-you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, it makes sense.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a diary. It was a schedule of some kind. “When do you want me?”

“…” Fiyero gaped at her. “Huh?”

“I said, when do you want me?” she repeated. “What time do you want to meet?”

Lurline! Are you trying to kill me, woman?! I thought you meant- Fiyero hastily adjusted his hair. “Well, uh… I was thinking later this afternoon?”

Elphaba considered it. “So, after lectures are finished for the day? About 4pm? Sure, I’m free. Whereabouts?”

“D-do you know the café near the Peach and the Kidneys-“

“The one with all the cakes? What was it called again?”

“Erm, Tea and Tales, I believe?”

“Alright, 4pm at Tea and Tales.” Elphaba jotted the time and place into her diary- not because she would ever forget, just out of habit. She nodded at Fiyero. “I’ll see you there.”

Fiyero couldn’t believe how well it was going. Without a word of protest, he’d secured a date with Elphaba Thropp, a woman he’d feared might be invulnerable to courtship.

It was too good to be true, of course. If she really knew what he was asking, Fiyero was sure she wouldn’t be nearly so calm.

As such, he stilled his beating heart and regarded her carefully. “Can I check we’re on the same page here, Fae? Why do you think I’m asking you for coffee?”

Elphaba tilted her head. “Well, I assume it’s because you haven’t finished your report on the rhetoric of the Ozma regime. It’s due next week, after all.”

Fiyero stopped himself from facepalming. Oh, Fae. You’re ever so confident for someone so clueless.

Against his will, a warm smile broke out on his face. When one has a crush, even foolishness becomes endearing, and Fiyero’s crush was, it would be fair to say, sizeable in nature.

Elphaba took his smile to mean she was right. “Really Fiyero, you need to take your education more seriously,” she scolded. “Have you even started yet?”

“Yes,” he lied.

“Are you lying?”

“No,” he lied.

Elphaba crossed her arms. “I’m not happy about this. It shouldn’t be your friend’s responsibility to get you through university.”

He couldn’t resist flirting with her a little more- not when she was being so adorkably dense. “Oh, so you admit that we’re friends?”

“We won’t be much longer if you don’t get your act together,” she said crossly.

“But we are friends.”

She sensed his wry tone, even if she didn’t grasp what it meant. “This is my way of thanking you for earlier. I don’t like being indebted to people.”

“Dunno, I kinda like the idea of you being indebted to me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means, Fae, that you’re extremely cute.”

“I’m not a cat, for Oz’s sake!” She shook her head, taking a step back. “What is it with everyone complimenting me these days? You’ve all forgotten how a conversation with Elphaba Thropp is supposed to go! You insult me, I insult you, we move on with our lives.”

Fiyero burst out laughing. Elphaba glared at him; she hated being laughed at, even if it was in a friendly way. He was treating her like… well, he was treating her a bit like Glinda did. No matter how acerbic she tried to be, they still managed to find it ‘cute’, with no justification whatsoever. It was infuriating!

She turned her back on him, rather undercutting the claim that she wasn’t a feline. “Fine. If you don’t want my help-“

“No, Fae, I do,” he cut in, tempering his laughter. “I’d love it if you… if you gave me your help.”

Fiyero decided there wasn’t much point in correcting her false assumption. She’d agreed to meet him at the café; the pretence of schoolwork would put her at ease. Then, with some privacy and the right mood, he could tell her how he felt.

“4pm at Tea and Tales it is,” he said, reassured.

“Count yourself lucky,” she sniffed, back still turned.

“Oh, I’m lucky alright. I’m lucky to have met you.”

“…” She still refused to turn around. “Well, I can’t say the feeling is mutual. Each and every one of my so-called friends is a nuisance. You, and Glinda most of all.”

“You like us really,” he rasped.

She glanced over her shoulder, only to snap her head back round when their eyes met. “No I don’t.”

Fiyero wanted to tell her she was cute again, but didn’t fancy being slapped. It would be wise to stay in the good graces of the girl he’d soon be confessing to.

He walked past her until he could see her face again. “Did you say you were meeting Glin after this?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.” Fiyero had an amusing idea. “I’m sure it’ll come up that we’re meeting this afternoon. When it does, could you thank Glin for me?”

“Thank her? Why?”

“Don’t worry, she’ll get it.” I wouldn’t be saying any of this if she hadn’t given me her blessing.

Before Elphaba could question him, Fiyero decided to indulge himself one last time. She couldn’t slap him if he was already gone.

He shot her a wink ten times as excessive as Avaric’s.

“Later, Fae. Stay cute.”

He walked away with a huge grin, feeling much more optimistic than before. And why wouldn’t he? Both of them were single, and their conversation, while by no means an indication Elphaba returned his feelings, had been encouraging.

The green girl, who thought she was single too, was outraged. “Nuisance!” she shouted after him. “Do you hear me, Tigelaar! You’re a nuisance!”

Elphaba had just gotten rid of Avaric and Fiyero, two of the biggest annoyances in her life. Now she had to deal with the biggest annoyance of all, for the biggest reason.

She was standing outside the faculty building, as Glinda had commanded. Apparently, Elphaba did what she was told these days. She despised that, just as much as she despised what happened when Glinda pinched her cheek.

In truth, the problem was that she should have despised it. Fine. If Elphaba couldn’t control herself around Glinda, she would have to take precautions.

It’s time we introduce an experimental breathing regimen, she thought. If Glinda says something weird, or touches you for too long, we’re going to focus on our breathing. That will help us to say calm and avoid acting weirdly in response.

She told herself this phase would pass. Glinda was emotional at the moment, for reasons that may or may not be related to Fiyero. She had to be realistic. Ignore and wait for it to go away.

Thus armed with a new breathing regimen, Elphaba waited for her roommate to appear. She practised in the mean-time. In, out, in, out-

A thrilled sounding squeal pierced the air, interrupting her breathing. Elphaba winced. Here we go.

Glinda Upland was bounding towards her as fast as her heels would allow. Other students outside the faculty building waved, seeking her attention, but she only had eyes for her ‘girlfriend’. Elphaba steadied herself. Glinda could very well pounce on her like she did when they were speaking to Crope and Tibbett.

She didn’t. She stopped right in front of Elphaba, punctuating her arrival with a little hop and skip. The green girl was relieved that Glinda held back, but it was only because other people were nearby. Otherwise, she would have yet again gladly pounced.

Glinda poked Elphaba’s shoulder, excited. “Look, it’s a wild Elphie!”

The green girl furrowed her brow. “You can’t be serious.”

“Hehe. Seeing one is just such a treat.”

It’s not been a minute and I’m already having to apply the breathing regimen.

“You know, this implies the existence of a whole sub-species. I thought I was one of a kind.”

“You are, but more of you could only be a good thing.”

In, out, in, out. “Really. And would these other specimens be wild too?”

Glinda bit her lip, which failed to hide the smile. “It doesn’t matter,” she said, poking her again. “This one’s getting domesticated.”

“I could never be domesticated. I’m too vicious.”

“Don’t be silly. Wild Elphies may hiss at you, but with a little care and attention, they soon turn into fluffy lapcats.”

She reached up on the balls of her feet as if to pet her. Elphaba realised what she was planning to do and kept her distance. “Absolutely not, blondie. This nauseating analogy does not require a physical demonstration.”

Glinda was still biting her lip. “That’s fine. I can be patient.”

 “I’ve yet to see any evidence of that, my sweet.”

The Gilikin girl sighed in happiness. “Oh, I love it when you call me your sweet. Never stop as long as you live.”

“Duly noted. I’ll stop immediately.”

“Don’t you dare! I need the endorphins!”

“Sorry, my-“ Elphaba caught the habitual ‘my sweet’ before it rolled off the tongue. “Sorry, blondie. You’re bouncing off the walls like a hyperactive puppy. If anyone needs domesticating, it’s you.”

Glinda knew how to drive a hard bargain. “I’ll stop calling you ‘beautiful’ if you keep calling me ‘my sweet’.”

The green girl considered her proposition. She’d all but conceded defeat in the battle of ‘Glinda-not-using-the-word-beautiful’; further effort would have yielded a pyrrhic victory at best. This was a decent solution.

“So be it. We have a deal.”

“We have a deal, what?” Glinda pulled out the eyes to match her ‘girlfriend’s’ description.

Elphaba ran her hand through her hair, already exhausted. “We have a deal, my sweet.”

The ‘sweet’ was very pleased about this development.

They started to wander in the vague direction of Crage Hall. Both of them had their lectures early on a Tuesday. Elphaba’s appointment with Fiyero was at 4pm, so they had the whole afternoon- just as Glinda had envisioned.

She’d spent most of architecture class working on her Elphaba sketch. Hiding her progress from Tibbett had been a futile proposition; he’d seemed awkward, but didn’t make any passing remarks. An extra hour or so and Glinda would be finished. She was planning to show Elphaba and couldn’t wait to see the look on her face.

The blonde didn’t join their arms this time. She’d been a little pushy earlier, and sensed Elphaba would appreciate some time to breathe. Her instincts were right, but Glinda wasn’t keen on them being separate for long.

She looked sideways at Elphaba as they walked. “So how many times did you think of me?”

“…”

“Elphie? Didn’t you hear?”

“Oh, I heard. There are farmers in Munchkinland who can hear you when you talk.”

“Then answer the question.”

“…”

“Hello?!” She hopped in front of the green girl, halting their progress. “Answer me!”

In, out, in, out. Elphaba took her time before responding. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s an unfair question, that’s why.”

“Hmm…” Glinda pretended to think. “Is it unfair because you couldn’t count how many times-”

“No,” she cut in, flat as a pancake.

“Well, that’s what I’ll have to assume. Not answering makes you seem guilty.”

Elphaba groaned. “Have you considered a career in politics? You’re ever so good at twisting people’s words.”

“I’m just going to keep asking and asking and asking…”

The green girl chose to get it over with quickly. “Twice, perhaps. At most, thrice.”

“So you did think about me! Now ask me back.”

“Why?”

“Because my answer’s really good.”

She took yet more precautionary action by looking ahead instead of at her roommate. “… H-how many times did you think of me, Glinda?”

“I thought about you once.”

“Oh.” Elphaba had expected worse.

She giggled. “It’s only once because I never stopped thinking about you.”

The breathing regimen was nowhere near robust enough. Elphaba marched past Glinda, moving them away from the topic and closer to Crage Hall. The Gilikin girl yelped at the sudden injection of pace and fell into step behind her.

“What’s with the sour look? I thought that was sweet.”

“Exactly, it’s t-too sweet,” she managed. “Talking with you is like a never-ending sugar rush.”

“Sounds fun!”

“I can assure you it isn’t.”

“Then don’t be so cute.”

“Not this again.”

“Again?” Glinda gasped dramatically. “Who else has been calling you cute?”

“Fiyero, for one.”

“… He has?”

Glinda kept walking, but the revelation caught her off guard. She’d fully expected Elphaba to say it was just her; someone else calling the green girl ‘cute’ was disturbing in the extreme.

But it was just Fiyero, a friend of theirs. No doubt the context was friendly too. She brushed it off, but Elphaba kept going.

“Speaking of which, he asked me to thank you.”

“Fiyero?”

“Yes. We’re meeting later, and he said you’d understand what he meant.”

“Huh? Thank me?” Her eyes widened. “More to the point, why are you two meeting?”

Elphaba didn’t look back. “Our politics report is due next week, and he’s not even started it. I probably shouldn’t bail him out, but he asked nicely.”

“O-oh. Right, it’s for school. That makes sense.”

“Very true, blondie.”

As they reached the Suicide Canal, Elphaba ranted about Avaric’s behaviour in their politics class and in general. Glinda listened, offering comments here and there, but her mind was focused on Fiyero.

Why would he thank me? She thought back to their conversation that morning. The Gilikin girl had assumed he was checking up on her after their break up. If that were so, it didn’t make sense for him to thank her afterwards. What was she supposed to ‘understand’, and what did it have to do with meeting Elphaba?

‘After all, the grass is always greener on the other side.’

‘Hah! I guess you’re right.’

She ran over fragments of her and Fiyero’s conversation. The picture grew less and less coherent. Glinda wasn’t concerned just yet, but some unacceptable eventualities were making themselves known to her.

While crossing the bridge, Glinda brought the subject back up. “Elphie, what time are you meeting Fiyero later?”

“4pm. Why, did you have plans?”

“Nothing much. I thought we might spend the afternoon together though.” Glinda didn’t sound very convincing, but she pressed on with the more important question. “A-and where are you meeting?”

“That café called Tea and Tales. I’ve never been, but it sounds pleasant enough. Have you?”

“…”

“Glinda? Have you?” Elphaba repeated, keeping up her walking pace.

“… I’ve been there once or twice, yes.”

The Gilikin girl’s voice had suddenly gone quiet. The green girl recognised the shift straight away and looked over her shoulder to check. Glinda’s expression was covered by her hair.

Elphaba stopped walking. They were still on the bridge. “That’s an ominous tone, my sweet.” She chuckled. “Is Tea and Tales really that poor an establishment?”

“No,” she replied, at last. “Tea and Tales is a very nice establishment.”

“Then what’s the matter?”

Glinda looked up, revealing her expression. It was neutral, neither happy nor sad. With her roommate, Elphaba was accustomed to extremes, and the lack of one was odd.

“You said you were meeting Fiyero,” she mumbled.

“Yes, I am. At 4pm. At Tea and Tales. Do try to keep up.”

“I’m keeping up just fine. That’s the issue.”

“What issue?” she asked, mystified.

“You’re not just meeting him. You’re meeting him for coffee.” She clasped her hands together.

Glinda emphasised each word as if there were a drastic difference. Elphaba couldn’t really see it.

She wasn’t a total idiot. She knew the phrase ‘going out for coffee’ could have a romantic connotation, but applying it here was completely inappropriate. Fiyero had outright confirmed it was to work on the rhetoric report. She was the green girl. He was the Prince of the Arjiki Tribe, and most pressingly, Glinda’s ex. She’d ruled out any romantic connotation in Fiyero asking her for coffee for that very set of reasons.

“It’s common enough to go and study at a café, isn’t it? I prefer the library myself, but for anyone without a fluorescent twinge-“

“It’s not just that,” Glinda insisted. “It’s at Tea and Tales.”

“So?”

“Lots of people go to Tea and Tales.”

“Good for them.”

“Why, Shenshen went there with a boy from the Emerald City the other week.”

“An intriguing titbit, but I fail to see how it’s relevant-“

“Elphie!” she yelped. The neutrality broke, and her real feelings bled into her voice.

The green girl tapped her foot uncomfortably. “… Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”

The Gilikin girl swallowed and hid her expression again. She was conscious that she sounded like a possessive, finicky girlfriend, and absolutely hated it. There was no reason to jump to conclusions. She knew that, but the mere thought of the worst-case scenario was unbearable.

“If you are, then allow me to put your mind at ease, my sweet,” Elphaba continued, proceeding with care. “Fiyero reassured me that we’d be meeting to work on his rhetoric report. I’m all for healthy scepticism, but to doubt him here seems a little unfair.” She gave her a soft but serious look. “To doubt me here seems a little unfair.”

“…”

Elphaba wondered whether she should carry on. They were still in public, albeit alone on the bridge. Perhaps this was a topic better suited to their dormitory?

On the other hand, Elphaba thought her candour would be appreciated. She’d already suspected Glinda still had feelings for Fiyero, despite her protestations at the library, and this was confirmation. If she couldn’t tolerate Fiyero alone with someone as undesirable as the ‘green bean’, then the situation was worse than she thought.

She was a little hurt that Glinda would doubt their friendship- of course she wouldn’t date her roommate’s ex. That went without saying.

But love made people do strange things. Elphaba could forgive that. She would forgive Glinda for considerably worse in a heartbeat.

She opened her mouth to speak, but didn’t have to. Glinda had raised her head.

The Gilikin girl tossed her hair. “Y-you’re right, Elphie.” She laughed a little too loud. “I’m being unfair. To both of you.”

She hesitated. “Well, that’s not-“

“Let’s drop this, shall we?” Glinda sounded almost pleading. “I didn’t want to make a fuss. You wouldn’t have mentioned it if… you know.”

Elphaba could tell it was a mere smokescreen. “That’s correct, but if you-“

Glinda was embarrassed enough already. She was acting like all the jealous boyfriends she’d had to break up with during her teenage years. To Elphaba, about Fiyero! The irony made her want to scream.

“Come on, let’s go back to the dorm,” she insisted, crossing the bridge and walking ahead of Elphaba in the process. “I’ve still got a few hours of you until 4pm, Elphie. I don’t want to spoil them.”

‘No? I just thought checking was the right thing to do. It’s only been a month, y’know.’

‘Damn. I feel kinda silly for getting all worried about it now. That’s mature of you Glin, really.’

Ahhhh! Don’t think about it, Glinda! The blonde girl tried to push the thoughts away, but now that the seed had been planted, she couldn’t remove it. Just imagine! There was a possibility she’d unknowingly given her ex permission to date her girlfriend. That would be the lowest low point that ever lowed.

He was checking up on you after the break up, that’s all. And he’s asked Elphie for coffee at Tea and Tales, a notorious first date location, because he needs help with his rhetoric report. It’s platonic, girl. Platonic!

Elphaba followed after her ‘girlfriend’, hesitant. They walked the rest of the way to Crage Hall in a stalemate. Glinda talked mindlessly about her day, the weather, anything other than Fiyero, and Elphaba replied with monosyllables, not wanting to overstep the invisible line.

The green girl felt horrible all of a sudden. She was surprised how much she resented the evidence of Glinda’s feelings. Her and Fiyero had always seemed like a relationship of mutual benefit rather than a real, tangible romance. She’d been happy when they broke up, in all honesty. And she didn’t like the idea of them getting back together. Not one bit.

They’re not right for each other, she thought vehemently. Glinda should be with someone else… A-and Fiyero too, of course.

This feeling, this unexpected weight in her heart, built and built until they reached the door of Crage Hall. Glinda held it open for her, still chattering in circles. Elphaba needed to get it off her chest before she did something idiotic.

Breathing regimen. In, out, in, out.

“Glinda?” she began.

“Yes?”

“If you…” Elphaba did her best not to come across heavy handed. “If you don’t want me to meet Fiyero, I won’t. I didn’t mean to chide you, saying it was unfair. That came out wrong.”

Glinda laughed too loudly again. “N-not to worry, Elphie. You can study with Fiyero any time you want. I don’t want you to think I’m ‘one of those’.”

“Even if you are?” Elphaba said, and then facepalmed. It had sounded better in her head. “Okay, that one definitely came out wrong.”

Glinda looked down, disappointed in herself. “Ahh… Can I at least have a chance to redeem myself?”

“You don’t need to-“

“Go and meet Fiyero,” she insisted. “Ignore me, really. I got in a right old tizz over nothing. I had my silly jealous moment, and now I’m back to normal.” She put her hand on her heart. “See?”

“Are you sure?” Elphaba wanted very badly for Glinda to start smiling again. The hyperactive puppy was difficult in the moment, but the forlorn puppy with droopy ears was a dagger to the heart.

“Very.”

“Just say the word, and I won’t go.” Elphaba laughed to hide the feeling in her voice. “I’m yours to command, my sweet.”

Glinda’s lip trembled. She was determined to be mature. What she really wanted to do was pull her girlfriend into a massive hug and potentially ban her from ever talking to Fiyero again, but that would defeat the point.

“My only command, Elphie, is that we stop talking about this.” She forced herself to smile.

“… Then that’s what we’ll do,” Elphaba rasped, stepping through the open door.

As they walked up to their dormitory, even the Gilikin girl's mindless chatter evaporated.

Glinda Upland was very, very, very worried.

Her afternoon had not gone to plan. Not even close. She’d imagined a private, intimate few hours with her girlfriend, sharing jokes and secrets. She’d do her very upmost to get Elphaba flustered, and Elphaba would do her upmost to evade. At some point, they’d have an extremely passionate first kiss that would lead to a lot of cuddling and maybe even a few proclamations (the last part was optional).

Instead, they’d spent the afternoon in relative silence. Elphaba had retreated to her side of the dorm and was reading a book. She’d tried to work on her sketch, hiding it from Elphaba’s view, but her mind was too distracted for art.

Now, it was 3:30PM. Half an hour until her girlfriend went to meet her ex for an aromatic coffee on an aromantic study date.

She’d spent the last hour on the verge of protest. Every time, she’d persuaded herself not to. I’m not a psycho girlfriend, I’m a good girlfriend, Glinda told herself. Elphie’s a big girl. She can do what she wants. Sure, it would be wonderfying if her wants perfectly aligned with my wants in every single way- that would probably be my preference. But I mustn’t be unfair.

Elphaba regretted bringing it up at all. She had no doubt Glinda was being paranoid, but she wasn’t sure how to assuage the blonde girl beyond what she’d already said. The best she could do was repeat her prior assurances.

She started to collect her politics textbooks. Glinda noticed and did a poor job of looking disinterested.

Once Elphaba was ready to go, she faced her roommate. “Well, it’s nearly 4pm. I don’t want to keep Fiyero waiting.”

Glinda was sat on the edge of her bed. She looked rather prim with her legs crossed and her hands in her lap- the image of an office worker on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

“Glinda? Is that alright?”

“Yes!” she announced. “I’ve already said that, haven’t I?”

“It seemed pertinent to double-check,” Elphaba said mildly.

“And double-check you have. Now off you pop.” She flicked her wrist towards the door. “Don’t have too much fun without me.”

Elphaba nodded and stepped towards the door.

“Not that there’s much chance of you having fun,” Glinda blurted out. “It’s a politics report.”

Elphaba nodded again and reached for the handle.

“A-and despite what people say, Fiyero isn’t very fun. He’s actually very boring. Trust me, I would know.”

A third nod, weaker this time. Her hand closed around the handle-

“On second thoughts, you probably won’t have any fun at all! Fun is overrated, I tell you.”

The green girl sighed. “… Glinda-"

“But listen to me, rambling on! I need to just shut up sometimes. Put a sock in it, Glinda, would you?” She guffawed. “Go on! The thrillifying Tea and Tales awaits! Play nice, Elphie.”

“Say the word, my sweet, and I won’t go,” Elphaba repeated. She would be patient.

Glinda fought against all of her instincts. She bit her tongue and stayed silent.

Elphaba gave a helpless shrug. She turned the handle and opened the door, ready to step out.

The Gilikin girl kept herself seated. Stay calm Glinda, she thought, almost feverishly. Fiyero might be the most eligible bachelor in all of Oz, but I’m no slouch in the looks department myself. Elphaba likes me very much. She confessed to me, not the other way round! There’s no reason she’d forget that. What’s the worst that could happen? He takes her hand, turns on the style, admits his yearning for all things green and beautiful, and she, feeling a tremble in her heart, briefly forgets about me and goes in for a-

Just as Elphaba was stepping out the door, Glinda leaped to her feet. “Elphie!” she screeched. “I lied!”

“W-wh-“

“It’s not okay! You’re absolutely one million percent not allowed to go! I forbid it, you hear?!”

“Glinda-“

“Close that door right now, Elphaba Thropp, or I’ll… I’ll use my magic to set Fiyero’s stupid quiff on fire!”

Despite the absurdity of her threat, she said it so forcefully that Elphaba closed the door right away.

Glinda sat down again, head in hands. Her face was flushed with shame. After an outburst like that, Elphaba would now be looking at her in disappointment. No doubt she was already contemplating how to articulate the break up. I’m the most horrendible girlfriend there ever was, she thought miserably.  

“Elphie…” she whispered, voice cracked. “I-I’m sorry, but I… I don’t think I could bear it if you and Fiyero got together.”

“Glinda-“

“I know it’s unfair, I feel awful, because I do trust you, I really do, but even so-“

“Glinda. Stop.”

Elphaba’s voice rang out strongly. Glinda went quiet as a mouse, head still in her hands.

The green girl exhaled. She’d been dead right earlier- all of her so-called friends were a nuisance, Glinda most of all. She could very easily go on a rant, accusing Glinda of undeserved mistrust, but if one of them was going to fret, the other needed to be firm.

She couldn’t blame her. Only a girl very much in love could react like this. Elphaba heart clenched like a fist at the thought, but she couldn’t deny the obvious truth. Glinda wasn’t over Fiyero, and she would have to accept that.

What is there to accept? she thought. Nothing's changed. She had feelings for Fiyero before, and she has feelings for him now. Only someone like him could make her so fitful. Only someone like him could win her heart. What she needs now is a friend. A good one.

Even friendship was a stretch for Elphaba to provide, but for Glinda, she would try.

She closed the door, marched over to Glinda and knelt down in front of her. The Gilikin was still hiding her face, but Elphaba reached out and took her hand. Glinda shivered at the touch, but quickly latched onto her ‘girlfriend’s’ fingers.

“I’m going to be very, very clear about this, Glinda. Are you listening?”

“Y-yes,” she mumbled.

“I’d appreciate it if you looked at me too.”

Glinda winced, but forced herself to drop her hands. Elphaba was staring at her intently, determined.

“You, Glinda Upland of the Upper Uplands, have got it all wrong. To be honest, I’m stunned you’d think Fiyero and I were even a possibility. It means you haven’t got the slightest idea how much I care about you.”

“Elphie-"

“Sssh. The least you could do is not interrupt.”

Glinda told herself not to cry. This is not the time for waterworks, not when it’s all your fault! Nonetheless, she heard herself sniffle.

Elphaba heard too, and her heart clenched all the more. She tried for humour instead. “You… you mean a lot to this particular Wild Elphie, my sweet. I’m a lot closer to domestication than I’d care to admit.”

That earned Elphaba a giggle, so she kept going. “If you told me never to look at Fiyero again, I’d probably do it.”

“D-don’t tempt me,” Glinda mustered. She rubbed her eyes furiously. “Oh, Elphie, are you trying to make me cry?”

“Not especially.”

“Then stop saying all the right things. You’ll ruin my make-up.”

“What a travesty.”

Elphaba turned to get her a handkerchief, just in case, but never got there. Glinda pulled her into the big ‘relationship-affirming’ hug she’d needed for hours. Elphaba didn’t bother to struggle against it, sensing the futility.

Glinda buried her face into the green girl’s neck, breathing hard, her lips dangerously close to forming a kiss. Elphaba felt her knees go weak. She was still kneeling on the floor, but didn’t move. She didn’t much want to move either.

“I don’t think you realise how much you mean to me either, Elphie,” she uttered, hitting the nail on the head with pinpoint accuracy.

Elphaba smiled bittersweet. Not half as much as Fiyero means to you, she observed, missing the nail by several metres.

The embrace went on and on. Elphaba knew the only one who was going to break it was her, and she did so.

“I wish I could tell Fiyero not to wait for me,” she rasped. “This will probably be the first time he’s ever been stood up by a girl. And by the green bean, no less.”

“What do you mean, stood up?”

“Well, I’m hardly going to go and meet him after that display-“

“You should go,” Glinda said, with such conviction Elphaba stopped dead.

The green girl stared at her, baffled. “But you said-“

“I know what I said.”

“G-Glinda, you’re obviously-“

“No. You don’t understand, Elphie.” She pulled herself right up to Elphaba’s ear, so she could whisper. “I want you to go.”

“Huh?” The blonde’s breath washed over her skin, making her feel hot.

“Go, and if he so much as looks at you funny…” Glinda rasped. “… I want you to tell him what you just told me. Make sure he gets the message.”

“… I… I see.”

Glinda swallowed and then buried her face once more into Elphaba’s neck. The green girl shivered.

“Say it,” Glinda whispered.

“Say what?”

“Say you’d never get together with Fiyero.”

“T-to you, or to him?”

“To both of us, if you must. But me first.”

“… I… I’d never get together with Fiyero,” she mumbled.

“Louder.”

“I-I’d never get together with Fiyero, my sweet,” she said, going bright red.

“And don’t you forget it.”

Glinda pushed her away, almost aggressively. Elphaba stumbled backwards, nearly falling over. She watched, breathless, as Glinda clambered onto her bed and under the duvet, substituting the grip on her roommate for a grip on her pillow. The blonde stared at Elphaba over the top of it, a strange look in her eye.

Elphaba got to her feet. She tried to say something but couldn’t. It felt like her whole body was burning, and Glinda was still looking at her. She turned away, picking up her politics books and heading back towards the door, her footsteps brisk. Yet again, she was running away from Glinda Upland.

The green girl re-opened the door. Glinda’s gaze still hadn’t shifted.

“I’ll… I’ll make sure he gets the message,” she croaked. No one belongs to Fiyero but Glinda Upland.

“You only need to say it if he asks,” the Gilikin girl murmured. “Otherwise… just come back soon.”

Elphaba straightened up. “I will.”

She stepped through the door and moved to close it. Just before it snapped shut, Glinda’s voice broke out last time.

“Elphie?”

“Yes?”

Glinda’s smile was different this time. “I trust you.”

“Of course, my sweet.” Elphaba would never betray that trust.

She closed the door with an air of finality and let out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. The green girl leant against the door for a moment or two, before checking her watch. It was already nearly 4pm. She would be late to the Tea and Tales, but there wasn’t much to be done. Glinda had needed the reassurance, that was for sure.

By the Kumbric Witch, she thought, heading out of Crage Hall. If and when Glinda and Fiyero get back together, he needs to be careful. Glinda’s only a puppy when she’s in a good mood. Otherwise, she’s like a bloodhound.