The Morning
The morning after Galinda’s feverish breakdown arrived quietly, with the sun cautiously peeking through the window and casting soft light over the dorm room. Galinda’s head still felt clouded, though not as severely as the night before, and the ache in her limbs had settled into a dull throb. She blinked lazily, feeling the warmth of the blankets around her, and the quiet stillness that had replaced the earlier tension. There was a strange atmosphere in the room, almost oppressive, but somewhat comforting in its heaviness. Unwilling to yet leave the comfort of her bed, Galinda stirred gently, fretting under the covers as consciousness slowly returned to her.
Turning her head slightly, she settled her cheek against the cold silkiness of her pillow, and slowly took in the room. It was peaceful, the only sounds being those coming through the open window - a rustle of wind outside, the faint murmur of voices beyond the dormitory walls. She sighed, almost relaxed in the smothering serenity, yet not fully at ease, as some small persistent feeling kept nagging at her. As she curled tighter into her side, her gaze flickered to the desk on the other side of the room, where a book lay open, as if someone had been reading late, and neglected to tidy their things away.
Galinda blinked, her mind sluggishly piecing together the events of the night before. Fever. Elphaba. A cool cloth against her forehead. A quiet voice urging her to sleep.
Her breath hitched slightly as fragments of memory filtered through her consciousness. The uncanny flashbacks seemed more like dreams than reality - had Elphaba actually been so doting? She could feel an embarrassing hue of pink spread across her cheeks as she recalled featherlight touches and concerned gazing. To receive such care and kindness was one thing, but to receive it from Elphaba Thropp, her supposed arch-nemesis, was something else entirely. The blush across her face deepened further as she recalled her state that night. She had the distinct mortifying feeling that something had been said in her hazy state, something that never would usually have been let to slip across guarded lips, but couldn't remember quite what.
"Your hair looks really good like that, Elphie."
A surge of horror shot through her as the words suddenly rang clear in her mind. She sat upright, lost in her distress, as she tried to think through and verify if she had truly told Elphaba that. Had she been of such a muddled mind that she had truly complimented her roommate? Not only that, but had she really uttered that ridiculous nickname out loud?
Elphaba must think her completely deluded.
Trying to slow her breathing, she attempted to rationalise. It had just been so easy, she supposed, staring at Elphaba's kind face and soft expression, to get lost in the lull of the moment. She couldn't really be blamed for taking a moment to appreciate her roommate's appearance - framed in the warm, fading light, Elphaba had been a picture of radiance. It was only natural that Galinda had been taken in by her carer, and complimented her. It was simply a kind thing to do, and Galinda Upland was anything if not kind. Still, the shame bubbled in her nonetheless.
She needed a plan. Galinda Upland was not one who was usually present in embarrassing situations, but she knew how to deal with them nonetheless. After all, it was her forte - she could read social situations like an open book, and though real books did not often appeal to her, she had comfort in her steadfast ability to study and comprehend any interaction.
First of all - damage control. She could not allow rumours to spread about her state, and what she had let slip, or even worse, about the fact that no one had come to look after her, and she was left in the care of her enemy. She couldn’t bear to think of the damage to her image - that the popular, beloved Galinda Upland in fact was only thought of by her nemesis Elphaba Thropp. Although, she supposed, Elphaba had actually been an adequate caregiver; surprisingly gentle, patient and kind for someone she was supposed to hate.
Which brought her to her second point - she needed some way to clear all this up with Elphaba. It would be disastrous to leave her roommate with the ammunition of knowing how she had been abandoned by her alleged friends, and though she doubted anyone would view Elphaba’s version of events as credible, it wasn’t a fitting image to the picture of Galinda Upland she had painted.
But even more unsettling was the embarrassing nature of the stupid nickname and offhand compliment she had blurted out - she couldn’t leave her comment awkwardly dangling between her and her roommate, even despite their tumultuous relationship. In fact, she supposed, perhaps it was a good time to try and resolve their numerous issues. After all, she felt she owed Elphaba at the very least a thank you.
Galinda hesitated before shifting the blankets aside and swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, and wincing slightly as she pushed herself upright. The dull ache still lingered in her muscles, but the fever had broken, and she was no longer overcome with exhaustion. Her eyes drifted slowly over, back to where the open book lay strewn across Elphaba’s desk in a manner that spoke of exhaustion and late nights.
A strange pull of curiosity lured her over, as she padded to the desk, her fingers brushing idly over smooth pages. The cover was worn and faded, but still somehow carefully maintained, and the dense serious text inside immediately informed you of its owner. The words meant little to her, though she suspected it was something frightfully academic. Still, there was something grounding about the book’s presence, she thought as she slowly picked it up, cradling it gently in her arms. It was a tangible reminder that some had been there last night, someone had cared - even if that someone was her dreadful roommate.
As if summoned by the thought, the door creaked open.
Galinda’s head snapped up in surprise, clutching the tome tightly to her chest as though caught in some criminal act. Her wide eyes met Elphaba’s, who stood in the doorway with an arched brow, taking in the scene before her with evident skepticism. With a sharp, disconcerted gaze, she slowly took in the sight, her eyes flickering from Galinda to the book in her arms.
Her face flushed with embarrassment, Galinda scrambled to think of anything to say to explain why she was standing hugging her roommate’s belongings, but failed to find anything suitable to say. At this point, even a greeting would be something, she thought, cursing herself for the uncharacteristic lack of poise and composure.
Arching her eyebrow, Elphaba stepped slowly inside, closing the door behind her. Her steely gaze met Galinda’s darting eyes, who currently was acting like an animal cornered in the face of Elphaba Thropp’s stoic force.
“I see that you’re feeling somewhat better, Miss Upland.”
Galinda swallowed, feeling her face heat up again, and wondering what had occurred to miraculously rid her of all her prized social skills. “Why yes, I am,” she replied too brightly, forcing a smile as she straightened up and tried to reassemble the effortless confidence she prided herself on.
Still standing rigidly opposite Galinda, Elphaba’s gaze dropped pointedly to the book still pressed tightly against Galinda’s front, before flickering back up to meet her eyes.
“Is there any reason you appear to be clutching my volumes to your chest?”
The question was posed with an exasperated tone, yet there was a hint of amusement buried deep within that went unnoticed within the sigh it was delivered with.
“Oh! Uh—no! Not at all,” Galinda stammered, hastily lowering the book and placing it back on the desk as though it had burned her. “Just… looking.”
Elphaba tilted her head slightly, the ghost of a smirk playing at the edges of her lips, but obvious confusion dancing in her eyes. “Looking,” she echoed. “I see.”
Silence stretched uncomfortably between them, thick and smothering, like a deep fog along coastal shores. Galinda fidgeted, toying with the fabric of her nightgown, as she tried to gather her firm resolve. She had intended to be charming and poised, yet something about the situation was throwing her off her usually flawless game. Despite her fluency in all of society’s languages, she felt as though she was stumbling awkwardly through every sentence - words were one of the most powerful weapons in her arsenal, but why did they now evade her grasp?
“So,” she began, already abashed by her ineloquent start, and the fact that she was nervously shifting her weight, a very unladylike habit that lacked the confidence she was seeking to portray, “last night..”
She glanced up quickly, trying to observe any change in her roommate’s expression, which alas remained obstinate and unreadable. Galinda swallowed, pressing on and trying to steady herself and her speech.
“I.. I mean you- you were there. You.. helped me, and you stayed. Which you didn’t have to do, I mean it was awfully nice considering.. everything.. and so really I just wanted to say.. well- thank you.”
Looking up again and meeting Elphaba’s indecipherable gaze, Galinda felt the familiar unrelenting self-consciousness and unease stir within her. There was something about the girl before that threw a wrench in the works of her careful and well-maintained front. Elphaba’s dislike and disregard for social etiquette appeared to be contagious - no matter how hard Galinda tried around her, any attempt at genuineness always bubbled down to this - her transforming into a rambling mess.
It was simply much easier to despise Elphaba Thropp. With quick witty insults and sharp jabs, there was no room for the disjointed and misplaced words that spilled out with her sincerity. It was why Galinda favoured it - cowardly, she supposed - but still much more preferable to the awkwardness and embarrassment that her honesty caused.
Elphaba coughed, the soft sound of her clearing her throat dragging Galinda from her thoughts, as she looked up to find the other girl staring at her with a strange expression detailed on her face, blinking rather rapidly. By the look on her roommate’s face, Galinda could tell she was about to speak, and so she swallowed and rushed to continue before she lost the moment, and her chance to control the conversation once again.
“Really, I appreciate it,” she murmured, staring at Elphaba, who was clearly trying to decipher any hidden meanings disguised within the words, “but I must ask you not to tell anyone.”
For a brief moment, there was uncanny silence, but Elphaba’s expression then shifted dramatically, soft lines hardening into something more unforgiving, lips pressing into a thin line, and a flicker of hurt anger passing through her dark eyes. “Ah,” she said, voice cooler now, and poorly tempered. “I see.”
Galinda stepped tentatively forward, her gait lacking its usual flounce, as she forced herself to keep her voice light. “I just simply think it would be awful for anyone to know-”
“No, Miss Upland, rest assured, I understand.”
Galinda let out a relieved breath for a second, convincing herself that she was mistaking the concealed indignation in Elphaba’s voice.
“What you simply wouldn’t want anyone to know is that you were around me, let alone cared for by me. Is that it?”
Galinda’s stomach dropped, a horrible pain pounding in her gut. “No, that’s not-”
“Of course, I wouldn’t want to tarnish your reputation with such an unspeakable association.”
“Miss Thropp, please, that isn’t-”
Elphaba let out a small, humorless chuckle, her eyes filled with incredulity and the vindication of someone with their suspicions confirmed. “Don’t worry, Miss Upland. Your reputation will remain safe.”
Galinda flinched at the frigidity of her tone. Somehow, her original meaning had been truly lost in the conversation, and misplaced with something much more malicious, but the words to correct the misunderstanding still remained frustratingly out of her grasp. She sighed, not even feeling relieved at the prospect that she had stopped any rumours before they started, and instead only filled with resounding disappointment.
The precedent had been proven true once more - she had determined that a sincere and ingenuous conversation was impossible when the receiving end was Elphaba Thropp. The only sure things that were to occur was that her purpose would be misconstrued, her character would be examined and discredited, and it would all end disastrously, with more harm done than good, no matter what her intentions were.
Yes, Elphaba Thropp was truly impossible to communicate with civilly.
But Galinda still couldn’t quell the strange urge within her to attempt to try.
With an incensed sigh, Elphaba turned sharply on her heel, and made her way to the door in an attempt to leave, igniting the nagging impulse within Galinda. “Wait,” she called, in a desperate attempt to salvage the moment, “about what I said last night-”
Elphaba paused, half-turning back, her expression now carefully guarded. “What about it?”
Galinda paused, her determination fading as the sugary murmured words echoed in her ears again. She stared at Elphaba, who was watching her with quiet expectation, searching the cautious and wary pools of her eyes, and trying to find the words as her resolve disintegrated.
“Nevermind,” she whispered quickly, forcing a light laugh. “Nothing. Forget I said anything.”
Elphaba’s lips twitched slightly with something indiscernible, as she turned her body more to fully face Galinda, who suppressed the urge to take a scattered step backwards. She watched as the thoughts passed over her roommate's face, who was obviously struggling against her own restraint as she decided what to say.
“What about it?”
“Hmm?” Galinda hummed noncommittally, ignoring the pulsing anxiety that was rearing inside her chest at Elphaba’s prompt.
“What about it? What were you going to say about what you said last night?”
Elphaba stood with her arms crossed, her patience clearly thin, as she jutted out her chin, daring Galinda to speak again. Her radiating confidence and sheer concrete force made Galinda’s pulse flutter, and the nerves slowly rise in her chest.
“Don’t worry about it, Elphie, I-”
Mortification shot through Galinda’s body as the accursed nickname slipped out once again, the use of which sent a flicker of something dark and imperceptible through Elphaba’s eyes. What was clear to read though, was the twisting of her lips with suppressed fury and the grimace that contorted her face.
“What right do you have to call me that after everything you’ve put me through?”
Galinda winced as the shame hurled through her again. She opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out, although they wouldn’t have had a chance to over Elphaba’s dissent.
“What about it? If this is just another cruel way to mock me, to ridicule me, do I not deserve to know? Could you not at least grant me that small sympathy?”
Trying to reassert some firmness, and summoning her usual confidence, Galinda stepped forwards into Elphaba’s space, shocking the girl enough to cut off her attack.
“I promise, it’s none of that,” she breathed, her voice brimming with some of her earlier resolve, and gentleness, in an attempt to try and calm her roommate. She felt a sudden urge to reach out to Elphaba, but suffocated it, focusing on her words instead.
“I was only going to tell you that I meant it.”
Galinda spared a small smile, revelling slightly in the clear surprise on Elphaba’s face.
“Your hair really did look good like that.”