Chapter 1
These days, you never see Galinda and Elphaba without the other.
The roommates have been attached at the hip since the day Galinda confessed, nonchalantly painting her toenails on Elphaba’s bed, that she and Fiyero had broken up. A mutual decision, Galinda claims, although she truly hadn’t cared at the time. Fiyero had been “…a man for the people”, as he explained, and gave a piece of himself to everyone he came across, be it man or woman. Galinda was much too the possessive type, and the novelty of the faraway prince wore off fairly quickly after realizing he would never be hers alone. Their combined popularity was nice, in a sense, but was not truly an Oz shattering loss after they agreed to call it quits, not when they remained good friends afterwards.
Besides, she’s had her eyes set on someone else for quite some time now.
Galinda couldn’t say when she knew she wanted Elphaba, perhaps she’s always felt like this and never knew the name. Either way, Galinda has been dropping subtle hints for weeks now, waiting for her roommate to take the hint and do something about their shared feelings (Oh, Galinda knows the feelings are mutual, can see Elphaba’s reflection in her vanity mirror when she thinks the pink clad girl can’t see her- Galinda recognizes the longing in her roommate’s eyes, as clear as if it were a reflection of herself in that mirror instead).
Sometimes, in the quiet hours of the night, when Galinda slowly runs her fingers through Elphaba’s hair as she reads out loud a novel for them, she feels her chest tighten, wishing for this to be official, to brush her fingers alongside Elphaba’s neck to tilt her head up towards her for a gentle kiss, to hold the girl close at night without some flimsy excuse. In those moments, Galinda nearly cracks, nearly lets the words she’s been keeping close to heart pour out, confession after confession resting on the tip of her tongue. She had gotten damn near close once, even steeling herself to lay her soul bare, but by chance she glanced up and caught their reflection in the mirror, and the words dried out in the back of her throat.
Because Elphaba, despite how close they’ve gotten, still keeps one foot hanging off the bed, prepared to leave quickly if Galinda ever expressed the desire (she would never). Her lovely Elphie, who would read to Galinda every morning and humor her whimsical moments, still looks at her like she’s not sure if she’s real or not sometimes, still jolts in surprise whenever she gets greeted by the other students, and Galinda is painfully reminded that this was her fault. She is the reason Elphaba is still weary of accepting all this change, all the positivity aimed towards her still a foreign concept. Sure, years might’ve gone by in similar fashion for the green girl already, and the hesitance might’ve stemmed from that instead, but knowing Galinda had the power to, well, not make her life so miserable is still one of her greatest regrets. She still hasn’t forgiven herself for the pain she’s caused her roommate, and she doesn’t think she ever will. She won’t, she can’t, take anything more from Elphaba, can’t ask more from her after having forgiven her for the past.
So Galinda will wait until her Elphie is ready.
———
But Oz, is everyone waiting as well?
Galinda arrived in the lunch room a little earlier than Elphaba today- a very rare occurrence, but the other girl insisted on speaking with their professor after class on better sparring techniques, a conversation she refused to let Galinda sit in for fear of hearing any new strategies she might cook up. She was smirking when she told Galinda to go ahead, outright laughing when the other girl nearly threw a fit to try and stay with her. Pfannee and ShenShen had to lock their arms on each side of her to get her away, silencing her cries of protest with gasps of shock as they relayed the latest Shiz gossip to distract her.
Minutes passed at the lunch table when Fiyero sits to her right, charming smile on full display. She knows how it looks to other students, how their still close bond questions their breakup, and Galinda prepared for that- “rumors” of Madame Morrible’s only two students, supposedly caught in less than…. appropriate situations during the late nights…. Well, if those whispers make its rounds amongst the student body, how could one connect Galinda’s involvement with it, considering the rumors were about her? Brilliant, really, and she has the two biggest gossips in Shiz in her back pocket (her dear, dear friends).
They’ve all begun to talk about their next adventure when Galinda pauses abruptly, eyes snapping to the left.
Fiyero looks up, and then snorts. “You’ve somehow embedded an Elphaba radar in your mind, Miss Galinda.” He says, leaning back with his arms crossed. Amused, he follows the blonde’s eyesight until he sees glimpses of dark green, a beacon amongst the sea of blue. He feels Galinda tense at his side, and when he looks over her hands are balled into tight fists. He looks up once again, and the view in front of him gets both his eyebrows raised in surprise, and he lets out a small laugh.
“It appears Miss Elphaba may have an admirer.” He stares pointedly at Galinda, but she’s not even listening.
Galinda watches from the lunch table as Elphaba smiles at something that dumb looking red headed boy directs to her. It’s not a grand smile, nothing anyone would even notice, really. But Galinda does, Galinda notices when the smile meant for her was directed at someone else.
Galinda’s stomach drops. Keep calm, she tells herself, Elphie probably has a good reason to tolerate this, this…. this creature. He’s probably asking for homework help, yes that’s it- her inner monologue grinds to a halt as she sees that wretchedly stupid boy reach up to push Elphaba’s glasses further back onto her nose and, well, yes she’s definitely seeing red now.
She’s up and out of her seat before her mind can catch up to her actions, fists clenched tightly by her sides as she walks faster towards the pair, grumbling under her breath. Honestly, what more does she have to do? She’s all over Elphaba- complimenting her loudly in the halls with their arms interlocked, covering the girl in small pink accessories clearly from her own wardrobe, and obnoxiously touchy with her even after getting scolded by professors. How can people not see that Elphaba was practically hers already? Oz, if she wasn’t on a mission to get her roommate to ask her out first she’d have had that girl handcuffed to her at all times, she thinks.
Hm, she muses, revisit later.
“Elphie!”
Galinda tosses her hair as their gazes snap towards her. Once she knows she’s caught both of their attentions, she pouts and flutters her eyelashes at Elphaba, paying no attention to her company.
“What’s keeping you?”
Her arms move to Elphaba’s waist, and, to Galinda’s absolute delight, the other girl merely shifts her books to her other arm instinctively to freely wrap her hand around her. Emboldened by their close distance, Galinda reaches up, lining her mouth close to the shell of her roommate’s ear.
“I missed you,” she practically purrs, and she takes pride in the shiver she elicits. Good, she thinks to herself. Keep me on your mind.
Eyes widening in feigned shock, she turns to… well honestly Galinda doesn’t care who he is, but he’s captured Elphaba’s attention somehow and by extension he’s gotten hers as well. His eyes are wide as well, awestruck at the sight of Shiz’s star girl conversing with him.
“I do apologize,” Galinda says sweetly, one hand going to her chest. “ I don’t believe I’ve had… the pleasure… to meet your acquaintance. Elphie, dear, why don’t you introduce us?” She feigns her enthusiasm, body still tense, but doesn’t have to worry too much when she feels Elphaba’s arm tighten around her, securing her to her torso. If Galinda listens carefully, she can hear the guffawing from Fiyero a few tables down, watching the scene with mirth in his eyes.
Her eyes go back to Elphaba, who hasn’t taken her eyes off of her.
“This is Ozmund,” Elphaba says, eyes finally shifting back to the boy. “He’s in our science class. Would you like to tell Miss Galinda what you were just talking to me about?” Elphaba’s eyebrow is raised, though clearly not amused.
Curious now, Galinda turns her attention back to Ozmund, who has now gone deathly pale. His eyes dart back forth between her and Elphaba, sweat appearing on his hairline.
“I- I uhm, I-,” he stutters out, one hand moving up to clutch his shoulder strap for balance. “I, I- we- we were just talking about our- our science project today. Yeah uhm- yeah that’s all.” He gulps, eyes drifting to the side. He’s sweating profusely now, and honestly Galinda’s getting bored of him.
“And?” Elphaba prompted, fingers lazily moving up and down Galinda’s upper arm. She shivers pleasantly at that, looking back at Elphaba with a curious look.
“I’m really really sorry, Galinda, Elphaba! I didn’t think the rumors were true I’m sorry!”
The sudden outburst forces both the girls to snap their attention back to Ozmund, who has now gone completely red with his eyes shut tight. Galinda feels Elphaba’s fingers dig into her side a little, just above her hip, and oh sweet Oz why hasn’t this cruel roommate of hers asked her out yet?
“Rumors?” Elphaba asks.
Oops. Galinda winces a little. The rumors she started. She plasters on a bright smile and ignores her.
“It’s quite alright, Ozmont,” Galinda says sweetly. “Never again though!” She throws in a wink, and the boy grins nervously before dashing away.
“Nice meeting you!” Galinda calls out after him. Ew. Turning to Elphaba, her smile turns more sincere.
“Come now, Elphie, we mustn’t let the food get cold!” Her hands slip into Elphaba’s and tugs her along back to their table.
“Galinda,” Elphaba says softly.
“Elphie come onnnn,” She whines, refusing to turn around and face the girl. Could she feel her hands still trembling?
“Galinda.” Elphaba’s tone is firm, leaving no room for argument as she pulls them to a stop. They both stay still for a moment before Galinda slowly turns to Elphaba, who’s staring at her in concern.
Galinda breaks easily.
“You smiled at him, Elphie!” Galinda whines, stomping her foot as she moves forward to bury her head into Elphaba’s neck. Arms circle her easily, holding her close as her own hands snake around her roommate’s waist.
“You smiled my smile at him. My smile, Elphie! The one meant only for me!” She can feel herself pouting, but she can’t stop it. At least, not until she feels the rumble of Elphaba’s chest, making both bodies shake with force. Drawing back, Galinda scans Elphaba’s face to see a toothy grin and- and…
And shining eyes. Elphaba was laughing at her.
“Elphie!” She wines again, stopping only when she feels nails lightly scraping her cheek.
“That smile was for you, my sweet,” Elphaba says, tilting her head with a smile. “I look for you too.” Galinda’s heart stutters for a second.
Elphaba’s tone turns slightly mischievous. “Although I must say, your glare nearly struck me down, Miss Galinda. How improper of you.” She leans in close while she teases her, noses almost touching.
Kiss me!! Galinda screams in her head.
“Would you like to see me truly improper, Miss Elphaba?” She says instead.
Elphaba pauses, cheeks tinging a few shades darker. Checkmate.
“Elphaba!”
Galinda immediately throws her hands up in a pausing motion. “Now now, let’s let my words settle first.”
Without pause, Elphaba leans around her.
“Hello Nessa, how were classes?” She asks, stepping around Galinda, who still had her hands up. As the Thropp sisters walked to their usual table, Galinda quickly sighs in exasperation before spinning around and skipping towards Elphaba, who sticks her elbow out without interrupting her conversation with Nessarose for Galinda to loop their arms together. She does so happily, and joins in their discussion with her usual enthusiasm.
And so does the day go by.