I'll Rise Above It
Galinda
Thank you, Galinda, she had said. You’re my hero.
That poor girl—Miss Elphaba—was scared of the rain. For all Galinda knew, her roommate was scared of every form of water. No, she thought, Elphaba wasn’t just scared; she was petrified beyond comprehension. It wasn’t everyday that you see someone react to a rainstorm in such a manner, let alone see that reaction at all. Galinda couldn’t possibly find the words to explain what was happening to Elphaba when the smallest of rainfall entered the room through the window that she broke. Whatever the rain triggered, it set off something in Elphaba that caused her to release her power in such a way that Galinda never even thought possible.
The rumours about her were true, she did in fact harness magic without the use of a training wand. No wonder Madame Morrible welcomed the green girl into her seminar with open arms when Elphaba wasn’t even a registered student.
Galinda wanted to know how it was all possible, how one could use magic in such a way. It seemed so natural to Elphaba, as though she had done it before, even if it was done unconsciously. Oh, what Galinda wouldn’t give to possess natural abilities. That was simply unheard of, and she couldn’t believe that her delirious roommate of all people challenged the preconceived conventions.
But, that was Elphaba, she was just unconventional. She was, as Galinda had said from the get-go, mere moments after meeting her, unusually and exceedingly peculiar.
How Galinda loathed her.
She had never seen anything of the sort in person, so she was still blown away that she got to experience her heart’s greatest desire so up close and personal. It was like she had wished from the get go, if only Elphaba was kind enough to share her secrets with her. Alas, she never even told her about whatever it was she was learning from Madame Morrible, so why would she help her try to cast an enchantment or bewitch the window?
No, Elphaba the Delirious and Hydrophobic chose to keep all of her knowledge to herself. How rude! Maybe, Galinda thought, with some time, and how oh-so close they were becoming (she did save the green girl’s life after all!---so she told herself), Elphaba would teach her a spell or two. Until then, she was stuck with Miss Greyling’s survey course that was more about magical theory than actual practice. Even if the class was more hands-on like Galinda wished it had been, it was made up of a large group of students, nowhere near as intimate of a setting needed to perform real sorcery.
I must get into Madame Morrible’s seminar! Galinda internally declared as she looked at her perfect reflection into the lake below her that she peered into. I just have to stay on her good side! She owes me this, truly!
The ‘her’ in question, being the aquaphobic madwoman who slept a few feet opposite of her.
Then, Galinda remembered the horrendible words of Ama Clutch: “The best good is done when nothing is expected in return.”
She sighed, rolling her eyes. She redirected her attention back to the lagoon, watching the picturesque scene before her. The water shimmered under the sunlight, and it was evermoving like a beautiful piece of artwork. Galinda reached into Suicide Canal, fluttering her hands through the blue waters, her fingertips dancing along the surface.
How could someone be so scared of something that can’t even hurt you? Galinda asked herself as she considered the possibility that Elphaba was terrified of every form of water, not just rain. She remembered the ways that Elphaba’s eyes looked so fearful, yet fierce at the same time. She remembered consoling her, or trying to at least, having to recall the techniques that Ama Clutch used on her when she was just a little duckie back in the Upper Uplands scared of the mean old Kumbric Witch who hid in her closet, the wicked creature that she was. She had never seen someone so scared of anything, not the shadows that frolicked around the Pertha Hills, or the spooks of the Vinkus. Miss Elphaba looked like she was thrust into the middle of a life or death situation. Galinda had never known anyone to be scared of water.
It was just water! It was just the rain!
She remembered the way that she touched Elphaba, she had never done that before. Galinda had placed her hand on her roommate’s back, just like Ama Clutch did to her in childhood. She remembered how good it felt to help Elphaba, no matter how unusually and exceedingly peculiar the impossible-to-describe situation may have been.
She wondered if Elphaba had ever been treated in such a way before, recollecting how the girl trembled even more at her gentle touch—to be fair, Galinda was trembling, too. She, for whatever reason, was nervous to touch Elphaba, her stomach churning as her heart fluttered. She remembered how her face flushed.
Galinda told herself that she was just anxious to touch Elphaba, who was not only green, but utterly incoherent.
For the first time in her life, Galinda felt like she was doing good. She was helping someone. It felt so powerful, yet so vulnerable, too. She could only help but wonder how Elphaba felt, and what must have been tormenting her delirious mind for one reason or another.
Galinda, from her very earliest memories, had always been the center of attention, admired for her family’s status and their claim to wealth, as well as her good Gillikinese looks which she always did her best to accentuate and maintain. Galinda’s appearance was her strongest forte, as Momsie had once told her, but she always wanted to be more than just a pretty girl, not that she didn’t like being one.
She wanted to be something more, but she also wanted to be pretty. She felt greedy for wanting both, and Momsie told her similar sentiments.
‘You can’t have everything, dear.’ Her mother’s voice rang through her head, shrieking in a high-pitched manner similar to her own. She only wanted to be like Momsie. She wanted to make her proud, and the best way to do that was to be like her, she thought. ‘Stand up straight, smile brightly.’
But Galinda was greedy, in her mother’s definition of the word. She wanted more than the provincial life that was laid out for her since before her conception.
She, for as long as she could recall, wanted to be a sorceress. Galinda always saw a future for herself as the most elegant enchantress, using her powers to help others and make good.
Never in her life had Galinda felt like she had done real good like she wanted. That was until she comforted Elphaba in her weakest moment. Her life had always been a series of superficial friendships, and she accepted that, with Misses Pfannee, Shenshen and Milla being the most recent examples of such.
The expectations placed on her by her traditional parents had resulted in her becoming the way that she was, not that they were the sole blame. Galinda had grown accustomed to the frilly life that her parents provided her with in their family home. She was trapped in the little pink bubble of glitz that she had created for herself over the years. Being the popular student and pretty girl made her feel good, it gave her a sense of identity and validation, two things that she longed for.
Without them, she simply thought that she could not make it. She needed her parents’ affirmation and acceptance, just like how she required the adoration of those around her, like her peers who looked up to her for reasons that she couldn’t quite explain (not that she was complaining). The boys wanted her, though she did not want them and the girls wanted to be her, but there were surely more than a handful of them who also wanted her love and affection, too. She lived on the high of being Galinda Upland, and the identity of Galinda Upland was just a part of who she was.
Galinda Upland is not a good person, she thought to herself, but the real Galinda Upland who helped Elphaba—the delirious roommate who she wasn’t even sure she still loathed as much anymore—was starting to emerge as she felt the weight of her bubble, and the facade inside of it, beginning to falter.
She wanted to be good, she wanted to be better.
But then, just as she was beginning to feel herself changing for the better, she knew that things would forever be the way that they were now; she was too scared to make the change needed. She couldn’t lose the admiration from others. She just couldn’t.
The persona was latched onto her and she would never escape. The bubble would never be popped, she feared, because of her own choices.
For now, and for the foreseeable future, Galinda Upland was destined to be the girl in the bubble.
Galinda had returned to Crage Hall after her daily walk around Suicide Canal and her afternoon lecture in Miss Greyling’s class. Per usual, much to Galinda’s chagrin, the old professor went on and on about the history of magic, and how the Wise Ones of the ancient times transcribed all of their spells in their now forgotten language that had been lost over time. Galinda knew all that there was to know, though (or thought that she did), and found herself getting more and more frustrated as the weeks went by and all Greyling did was ‘harp on the past,’ as Galinda called it, just like Doctor Dillamond did.
I must get into Madame Morrible’s seminar! Galinda reminded herself as she entered the suite, finding Elphaba sitting on her bed, in the same position she always was, with a book in hand. It was without a doubt, about Animal history or some collection of old sermons.
“Hello, Miss Elphaba,” said Galinda as she set her bag on her bed.
Elphaba dropped her book, closing it. She looked in Galinda’s direction and said, “Galinda, about last night—”
“No,” Galinda shook her head, “you needn’t apologize. You were just frightened. We all get a little scared sometimes; even you, Elphaba Thropp.”
Even if it is just the rain, Galinda thought, but didn’t add.
The green girl sighed, presumably of relief. “I’m sorry for how I reacted. I didn’t mean for any of that to happen,” she apologized. “I had never felt that way before. It was so strange.”
“You mustn’t apologize, Miss Elphaba. It was quite thrilling. You must tell me how you did it—the magic, I mean. It was incredible.”
“But—”
“It was only a window,” said Galinda who did a double take when she noticed something. Not only was the glass—that she and Elphaba had left untouched, having gone straight to bed after the incident and having to get to class early in the morning—missing from where it had been left on the ground, but the window was as good as new. It was pristine, like it had never been touched by Elphaba’s panic-fueled surge of magic, whatever the term for it was.
She had fixed it. With magic. She had to have.
“Oh?” Galinda said, unsure if it was more of a mental-note to herself, or if she was trying to ask Elphaba with a simple one-worded statement in the form of a question. She looked over at Elphaba, exaggerating her eyes and gasping. Galinda held her hand to her chest as she said, “Miss Elphaba!” as if to applaud her roomie for her skill.
“I—” Elphaba stammered. Galinda was confused, did the green girl not pick up on her compliment? Did she think she was reprimanding her?
Right, Galinda thought, she does lack social cues.
“Miss Elphaba, you little magician, you!” Galinda added, her tone airy in an attempt to reassure her roommate that she was both surprised and captivated. “How did you do it?” she repeated and pulled out Elphaba’s chair from the desk, taking a seat without asking so she could look at the other girl who sat on her bed. “You must tell me!”
Elphaba was going to answer, but Galinda interjected: “Was it Madame Morrible? It must have been! My Oz, she is just splendid isn’t she! You must tell me all about her lessons! I must get into her seminar!”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Elphaba said softly. It was tender, almost gentle, Galinda perked up like a dog being teased with a treat, her face shining brightly as she looked at her roommate.
“Oh?”
Was this finally it? Galinda wondered. Had Elphaba finally put in a good word for her with the Headmistress? She felt so appreciative of Elphaba, even if only a few days ago, she couldn’t stand her with every fiber of her being. Things were finally working in her favor.
Can I finally become a sorceress?
“You’ve mentioned you intend to major in sorcery,” said Elphaba.
“Mhm.”
“So, I wanted to help you along.”
“Uh-Huh.”
“Or… at least try to.”
Oh, my Oz. This is it.
“What you did was very kind, Miss Galinda,” said Elphaba. “You made me feel safe. Not many people would willingly—you also have welcomed me into your suite. I’ll never be able to express my gratitude to you, so I hope that this will suffice.”
Galinda’s eyes glistened, shimmering as she waited to see where Elphaba took her words, feeling her stomach churn yet again as she imagined herself studying under the Madame Morrible. The blonde envisioned a life of helping Ozians and earning their love in response. She could have the best of both worlds.
Elphaba handed the tome that she was holding over to Galinda, who looked at it dumbfounded. “Hmmm?”
A book? Seriously? That is all?
Then, Galinda remembered.
‘The best good is done when nothing is expected in return.’
Wanting to be kind, especially to Elphaba, for reasons she couldn’t explain, Galinda bit her bottom lip and took a deep breath. She placed her hands on the book, not yet taking it out of Elphaba’s completely. They held the book together, their fingertips almost touching.
“A book?” Galinda smiled. “Miss Elphaba you shouldn’t have!” She said with a fake gasp.
Elphaba must have noticed because she laughed again. It was sweet and almost cute, and Galinda could indubitably get used to the sound if she and her roomie were going to be talking regularly from here on out.
They just couldn’t stop doing favors for one another it seemed.
“Look at it,” Elphaba instructed, a smile on her face.
Galinda followed and darted her eyes at the cover of the book. Then, she gasped, really gasped. It was a collection of beginner enchantments. It was embroidered with pink lining and golden highlights. It was just for Galinda.
It was perfect.
“For me?” she asked, taken aback. She looked up at Elphaba who answered with a simple nod.
“A thank you gift,” she said. “I really appreciate your help.”
Why, Miss Elphaba, I can’t, was what Galinda knew she should have said, but she just couldn’t resist.
“Miss Elphaba, thank you!” she exclaimed, her fingers brushing over Elphaba’s green ones as they held the book together. Likely because of her dislike of being touched, Elphaba pulled away, leaving the tome in the hands of its new owner. “This is simply marvelous!” Galinda smiled in awe, her hands brushing over the intricately embroidered book. She could feel her heart fluttering again as she flipped through the crisp pages that whispered with wonder.
Elphaba awkwardly nodded again, perhaps waiting for Galinda’s excitement to die down, but it didn’t.
How could she not be excited? Her whole life, she longed to learn sorcery, and this was the true beginning of that journey.
All because of Elphaba.
“It is very lovely,” Galinda cooed, still not able to contain her excitement. “You are very lovely, Miss Elphaba.”
She didn’t expect for the additional statement to slip out, but when it did, she felt her face flushing, her cheeks reddening for reasons unknown to her. She was nervous, probably, or that is what she told herself.
“And, so are you,” Elphaba replied in the spur of the moment, perhaps also to her own surprise as well, Galinda thought.
Galinda looked up from her book to meet Elphaba’s gaze, finding that her green cheeks were turning violet again as they did the night prior. It was fascinating to Galinda, almost glamoring.
Galinda skimmed through a few more pages before letting out a sigh of displeasure. She walked over to her bed and dropped down, hiding her face in her bedsheets. She didn’t understand any of it, even if she only got a quick first glance.
“What is it?” Elphaba asked as she watched from her own little corner of the room.
“I–don’t–get–it,” Galinda sighed with an overemphasis on all of her words. She was disappointed, both with herself and Miss Greyling, who’s failure to properly teach her magic got her into the situation that she was now in. “I don’t know magic.”
Though she wouldn’t admit it, she was even humiliated.
“You could move things without even touching them or using a wand. You even shattered a window and then repaired it all on your own!” Galinda whined. “I can’t do anything. You may as well just take the book back.”
Elphaba laughed again in that same delightful way she always did when she found something humorous. What she found to be funny now was unknown to the sulking Galinda, but the blonde found it very pleasant and easy on the ears as she became more accustomed to it. She liked hearing it.
“I’m still learning, too,” said Elphaba. “You have to start somewhere. Then, you’ll improve day by day.” She sounded a bit uncertain (and Galinda assumed that that was because of her inability to be altruistic like her), but there was a genuine hint to her tone.
Galinda spun around, lifting her head up and maneuvering her body to face Elphaba yet again. “And what if I’m not like you? What if I’m not good enough?”
The thought made Galinda shudder. If she couldn’t graduate, let alone learn magic, she may as well have not even come to Shiz. All of her time, and all of her parents’ money would have been for nothing in the end. She feared the thought of letting them down.
She feared the thought of leading a life like Momsie.
Galinda Upland did not want to be a housewife. She wanted to be taken care of, yes (what lady doesn’t?), but she wanted to be able to sustain her own life and do her own thing.
She wanted to make good on her own terms.
“You will be,” Elphaba assured, offering support like Galinda had done to her. “You just need some time to study.”
“You really think so?”
“I know so, Miss Galinda,” said Elphaba.
Her roommate’s words made Galinda feel all funny again.
She felt something warm booming in her chest, Elphaba’s words filling her veins with confidence and encouragement. The feeling spread throughout the entirety of her body, and she knew that once she felt her face flushing, again.
What is happening to me?
“Just give it time,” Elphaba said. “Once you start reading, you’ll learn more about the magic around you and it will come to you in no time.”
Galinda smiled. “Okay, I will begin tonight, then,” she said with pride, Elphaba’s words having pushed aside all of her negative thoughts.
Elphaba just smiled and nodded before redirecting her attention to the journal that was laying on her bed just a few inches away from her, examining the notes from her classes that she got lost in within moments, studying the material she desperately wanted to master.
The conversation otherwise over, Galinda climbed onto her bed and positioned herself against her pillows. She opened the book that she now cherished as her most prized possession.
It was from Miss Elphaba.
She began reading, or tried to at least, overwhelmed by the content of the tome. It didn’t help that Galinda always found herself struggling with focusing, no matter the content of her book. That’s why she didn’t read, she wasn’t Miss Elphaba. She dressed to kill, though. Regardless, she always found a way to skim past readings, and it had done her well so far, she was a student of Shiz University, after all.
Galinda looked across the suite at Elphaba, snapping her out of her studying.
“Miss Elphaba.”
“Yes?” Elphaba looked up, readjusting her glasses. Galinda found them funny, but they were also a bit adorable.
“I hate to interrupt,” she began, her eyes back to the book in her hands, “but I have another request.” Before Elphaba could ask, Galinda carried on, anyway. “I would like to actually use magic. I’ve spent weeks in Miss Greyling’s class doing nothing but boring readings. I want to cast a spell; I want to change the world with a flick of my wrist; I want to do good.”
“That is why I gave you the spellbook, Miss Galinda.”
“No, no, no,” she shook her head. “I want you to teach me magic—If you’d be so kind.”
“Galinda, I—” Elphaba started to speak, but Galinda raised her hand.
“I need your help, Miss Elphaba. You are my only shot.”
“Miss Galinda, I am only a student myself. I am still learning. Yes, I can move the objects around me and work a few enchantments, but I’m still learning from Madame Morrible. I’m as new to sorcery as you are. I won’t have all the knowledge to help you,” said Elphaba. “I don’t have all the knowledge to help you.”
“That is exactly my point,” said Galinda to a confused Elphaba.
“I don’t follow.”
“You teach me what Madame Morrible teaches you! Maybe, when you have the time, you can help me learn a thing or two. I’ll still read the book and study, and then I’ll use what I’ve learned during our sessions,” Galinda proposed, her eyes glistening as the idea came to her all at once. “Don’t you see, Miss Elphaba? We can do good together. The two of us. We can have our own little seminar!”
Elphaba stayed quiet, pondering for a few clock-ticks.
It was tense.
Galinda waited, but she felt her patience beginning to fade, she needed to know her roommate’s answer.
And for whatever reason (that Galinda did not even question), Elphaba said, “Okay.”
Oh, my Oz. This is it!
Galinda was finally going to learn what she always wanted to learn. She couldn’t be happier.
She was so taken over by her burst of happiness, that she excitedly jumped out of her bed and ran in the direction of Elphaba who still sat curled up on her bed. Galinda took Elphaba’s hands into her own and said, “Thank you, Miss Elphaba! Thank you! Truly!”
Again, Elphaba pulled her hands away, probably caught off-guard by the whole thing, but Galinda didn’t notice. She also didn’t notice that Elphaba was smiling all the while.
Galinda giggled as she twirled around the suite, her dress lifting upward and billowing in the air as she spun in all directions. She was practically bouncing off of the walls, all because of Elphaba.
She was finally going to get what her heart always desired. She was going to get it with or without the help of Popsicle or Momsie. She didn’t even need Madame Morrible for this, not directly, anyway. She would get into her seminar, eventually, but for now Miss Elphaba would suffice. She will make a perfect tutor.
I don’t need Madame Morrible’s seminar! I have Elphaba.
Finally, Galinda Upland had her chance to accomplish her goals and turn her dreams into a reality. If all went according to plan, she finally wouldn’t have to be the pretty girl in the bubble anymore.
All because of Elphaba.
Ama Clutch was right, ‘The best good is done when nothing is expected in return.’
Because of one good deed, Elphaba was doing one in return. To Galinda, the act was so powerful.
After frolicing around the room in her fit of excitement, Galinda stepped onto the balcony, shutting the glass doors behind her. She looked down at the campus courtyard that her and Elphaba’s suite overlooked. Galinda smiled as she considered how her life would change for the better,
Galinda Upland could be a good person. She already felt herself becoming better.
All because of Elphaba.
Galinda smiled wide and leaned against the glass doors behind her, giggling as she slid against them onto the floor. She squealed to herself, feeling the wind against her face, making her hair whip up and fly elegantly through the air.
She couldn't believe this was happening. It was really happening.
All because of Elphaba.
She was rising above it, as she promised Momsie and Popsicle she would. As she knew she would. She always did.
Maybe, Galinda thought as she enjoyed the soft autumn breeze that she so loved, my roommate isn’t so bad after all.