assassination by water bottle
It's something new, bright, unfettered in the twinkling lights of rippling water as the two new friends board a boat to themselves back to campus.
The boat rocks, throwing them against each other, but everything just seems to make them giggle.
Galinda takes the lead back to the dormitories, clicking quickly along in her dainty little heels with an impatient manner, dragging Elphaba along by the hand. She hadn't let go since she'd seized it softly in the Ozdust.
It's strange, to be touched so carelessly by another. It's not a hesitant touch- even Nessa would have to stoke down what would be a flinch. But that was more born of fear of watching eyes, witnessing their interaction.
But to be touched by Galinda of all people. Readily, honestly. The warm balm of pure acceptance had washed over her in that circle of jeering people struck silent, and had yet to leave her buzzing body.
They glowed and they ran up stairs, the sharp tapping of heels and the thudding of leather boots.
Elphaba is still sniffing back tears, and as the passion and adrenaline fades from the moment, she wonders what on earth will follow this. Their equilibrium has been shattered.
It becomes apparent when she zones back in that Galinda has been talking for the past few minutes. She's out of breath.
"-and that struck me as so very oddifying. I mean, of all colours to wear on a night such as this. But that doesn't matter now!"
Elphaba hums in acknowledgement.
"And, oh-" Galinda stops abruptly, causing Elphaba to collide with her front, similar to how they had kept falling against each other on the rocking boat earlier. She giggles and steadies her, and again a flash of shock has Elphaba staring-
The ease with which Galinda brushes her sides, smooths her thumb over her knuckles.
"Whoops! But yes, I haven't thanked you yet!"
From the sparkling folds of her lavish dress, Galinda withdraws- a wand.
It looks plastic and a little bit silly, but the radiant joy encompassing Galinda's beaming face makes Elphaba give her a gasp. "A wand!"
She'd reacted appropriately it seemed, as Galinda preens. "It's magnificent, isn't it? Yes, it's only a training wand, but once I master sorcery under Morrible's study and become a true apprentice, well. Then I'll have my own proper one!"
They're drifting backwards, walking with less fervor. Wordlessly they stop at a smooth granite window overlooking the dock they had hurried from, the dappled lights mesmerising in the twilight.
"It's all thanks to you of course." Galinda adds, and as Elphaba looks over she seems almost shy.
Even on the dance floor when she'd been uncertain as a baby deer, treading forwards to meet the green girl in her dance, her worry had never been aimed at her. Only the leering, mocking faces swirling around like a pack of hyenas. But with more sequins.
"I was repaying a kindness." Elphaba nudges her shoulder thoughtlessly, pleased that it's so easy and somehow as familiar as Dulcibear's shortbread. Galinda smiles. "You did set up my sister with that Munchkin boy, after all."
"Oh, yes." An undiscernable emotion flickers across the blonde's face, but it quickly melts into a grin. "They made a fine pair, did they not? I truly do have a gift!"
"I confess I did not see much of them." Elphaba says quietly. "The dancing...diminished somewhat at my entrance."
They're at the door to their shared room now, and Elphaba's strangely grateful that Galinda doesn't immediately fill the stilted silence with fake pleasantries. She only looks up at the taller girl with sad eyes.
Then-
"They danced nearly as well as we did."
Despite the night that had the potential to be one of the worst of Elphaba's life being saved, she was still caught in a haze of misery as she slipped unconscious.
The day before Galinda had pranced around their space, tossing garlands and singing her promise to integrate Elphaba into the esteemed popular society (a notion she had no say in apparently), but the moment caught in amber had replayed over and over in her mind.
That one trembling silence, after Galinda had uttered the sincere words: "Why, you're beautiful, Miss Elphaba."
Her green face staring back at her, ensconced with pink lighting, a pale face draped in pink pressed to her side, a flower of pink adorning her braids.
Those soft brown eyes watching.
Elphaba dreams of those eyes once more filling with revulsion.
She's kicking and tossing the covers into twisted pretzel strips, unaware of a voice calling to her.
Her mind reels. She sees the munchkin children cackling, Nessa's face port-red with her anguished screams- she can't handle the noise! Shut up!
Dulcibear is looking at her with cold disappointment, the pieces of the new teaset smashed to pieces on the ground.
Father is shouting, spittle flying.
And Galinda has the students circling like vultures, ready to pick at her disgusting skin, peck at her eyes; the girl's lip is curling as she turns to ShenShen and Phannee:
"She really believed we were friends."
Elphaba wakes with a cry, senses overloaded with the sound of thumps and objects going flying. Galinda shrieks and goes flying backwards as a plastic bottle clips her on the shoulder.
She sits upright, sweating and frozen with terror as Galinda groans and rubs her arm, peering up at the green girl with concern.
"Heavens, Elphie! That must have been some bad dream if you sought to assassinate me by water bottle-"
She stops suddenly when she sees Elphaba's face in the dim pink light.
Elphaba stares down at her, crumpled expression, lip bleeding from where she'd bitten it, tears streaming. Horrified.
"Oh, dear!" Galinda leaps to her feet at once, nightgown swishing. "Don't cry, don't cry! I'm perfectly fine-"
Her assurances fall in deaf ears as Elphaba throws back the covers and stumbles to the bathroom, a sob wrenching from her throat being the last thing Galinda hears before the door slams shut.