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Elphaba’s fingertips drifted toward Galinda’s shining lips without the rest of her realizing what she was doing. Just before her hand met its destination, she flinched as if she had been burned.
But the blonde pulled her back in, tilting her own head to the side and pressing Elphaba’s palm to her cheek. Galinda giggled before throwing their arms wide and embracing her new friend.
Elphaba could not breathe.
#
More earth-shifting realizations hit her over the head while Galinda pranced back and forth between their beds. You really see something good in me, don’t you? And you don’t doubt it.
The rest of Elphaba’s body locked up same as her jaw when her roommate took her glasses.
Despite the loss, somehow, she felt as if she was seeing clearer than ever. You don’t believe for one second that I crippled my sister or killed my mother, when everyone else has never for a second believed anything else. …Could you be right?
A repressed rumination surfaced, and for the first time, she let it breathe.
What if it wasn’t the flowers’ fault either? What if it was my father’s? He’s the one who- No! She instinctively diverted her nervous energy into restoring her keepsake of her mother to its proper place under her pillow.
When she turned back toward her roommate, she found Galinda smiling knowingly and nodding as if she had heard the words Elphaba could barely let herself think. Yes. Then the blond girl leaned forward to air-kiss the brunette’s forehead after putting her glasses back in place. “Don’t worry; I’m determined to succeed! Follow my lead!”
To where? Elphaba wondered though the place she envisioned looked a lot like freedom.
#
Please don’t make me do this, she begged without sound as Galinda stared at her expectantly.
Oh, come on! It’s easy! The younger girl beamed at the older with irresistible confidence in her.
Elphaba grimaced her way into her best imitation of a smile. “Toss, toss! Heeeee…” The feigned laugh died in her throat. Oh, great. Here it comes, she thought again. She’s gonna-
But Galinda merely demonstrated her flirting technique a second time, even more brightly and emphatically, without judgment or frustration.
The green girl’s second attempt wasn’t much better than her first, but Galinda took it in stride. Shrugging, she chirped, “You’ll practice!” Don’t worry, didn’t need to be said.
Reciprocating learned kindness, Elphaba suppressed a smirk as Galinda took her turn failing, her training wand not succeeding in transforming Elphaba’s dress into a gown.
Not so secretly, the latter wasn’t too disappointed by the fact. She would never feel comfortable wearing something as low-cut as Galinda did. Nevertheless, she made herself ask, “Do you want me to try?”
The blonde threw her wand over her shoulder. “Oh, just wear the frock! It’s pretty!”
Elphaba frowned. For the first time that night, she felt that her new friend was not being honest with her. Her shoulders began to rise toward her ears.
Oblivious only on the surface, Galinda immediately held out her hands. Trust me, she seemed to be saying. “And now, for the finishing touch!”
A rare, true smile spread across Elphaba’s face. Gladly, she let Galinda take her by the hands and sit her down on the end of the bed opposite her own.
Galinda carefully finger-combed part of the newly loose hair back from her friend’s face and pinned it in place with her own clip. She gasped. “Pink goes good with green!”
But she said it in such a soppy, silly tone, Elphaba still wasn’t sure if she was being teased or not. At once, she fell back into self-preservation. Her back hunched while her gaze cast to her side of the room. She did not want to watch mockery replace the grin she was already coming to cherish.
“Why, Miss Elphaba. Look at you!” Galinda’s new tone gave her roommate pause; Elphaba could not place it.
She certainly had not ever heard it directed at her before then. Hesitantly, she lifted her eyes to the other girl’s.
Galinda gave her another soft smile and nod as she held out an ornate mirror.
Seeing it, Elphaba winced, shaking her head. I can’t. The unavoidable memory of her father berating her and holding her by the hair in front of a full-length mirror so she had to “look evil in the face” nearly suffocated her.
Galinda breathed new life into Elphaba by sweetly sighing, “You’re beautiful.”
Then Elphaba could do nothing but grab and stare into the mirror, desperate to see what Galinda did but also knowing that she likely wouldn’t.
The image in the looking glass stunned her. It showed not herself, but her mother. At once, she remembered the woman’s eye color, her own. The sensation of drowning began to overwhelm her. Her gaze diverted to the flower. There bloomed the simple, radiant beauty of her friend, hope.
But it was fake. It couldn’t last.
Unable to look any longer, she thrust the mirror back at Galinda and fled their room with a muttered excuse.