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"Elphie darling, that baggage looks awful heavy. How about I take it for you?"
"I'm managing. Thank you though.", Elphaba replies, the thanks suddenly soft with a dear appreciation.
"But I insist.", Galinda persists, ever so ambitious, "You know I love to be kind"
"Oh" And though still reluctant, this is what sells Elphaba. "Alright then" It's the phrase which makes Elphaba pass on the shopping bag to Galinda, who takes it with a dazzling grin.
They walk in silence for a number of minutes. Elphaba is just starting to settle into the rhythm of their gait, allowing herself to enjoy the crisp air, when Galinda perks a little by her side.
"Say, Elphie, my ankle is siezing up like a vice. Would it inconvenience you too much to help me out?"
"Huh?", Elphaba muses, even though she's heard Galinda perfectly fine, and is already reaching out her hand to take the bag back.
"A little carry along... What do you say?". Galinda says, winding her arm around Elphaba's shoulders, waiting to be hoisted up like a bride.
Elphaba snaps her waiting hand back to her side.
"You minx!", Elphaba exclaims, putting on a silly, high and looping Galindafied voice to mock, "'I'll carry the bags and you carry me', Miss Galinda, I'm not falling for your evil ploy!"
Galinda's light yet hearty chuckle indicates she knows she's been sussed out, but her joke continues, arm still resting around Elphaba's shoulders.
"Oh Miss Elphaba, but look at those lovely muscles of yours", Galinda preens, cupping her palm around Elphaba's arm and giving a teasing squeeze. "I know it wouldn't be any effort at all" Elphaba has a drooping fluttering sensation in her stomach, and she suddenly feels nervous and put on the spot.
Well it's nothing: she forces herself to recover. She hums as if exasperated and she rolls her eyes. She mutters something like, "I don't know with that big head of yours", and snatches the bag back from Galinda's grip after a snippy "give me that"
Galinda isn't offended. She has had 18 years of experience in people complimenting her lovely, normal-sized head.
Instead she snickers, and clings on to Elphaba's arm.
There's a silence again, but Elphaba is a little uncomfortable as she can feel Galinda's eyes still on her. She resists a shiver and turns quickly back to Galinda. "Does your ankle really hurt?". She wonders if the fast movement looked unnatural, but Galinda herself snaps her gaze away like she's been caught. It's only momentary: the two lock eyes a second later.
"No," Galinda says, slipping her arm further through Elphaba's, "Not really. I was just testing your limits". Her teasing smile disarms Elphaba, and Galinda's charming dimple and endless brown eyes are all she can see.
She must be completely off her rocker, as words slip out of her, fast but unsure, "I'd carry you, Galinda, you know. I said I wouldn't but I would.. If you wanted. If your ankle really did hurt.."
It's the truth, yes, but that doesn't stop Elphaba from cringing internally. A confession entirely uncalled for, and if Galinda's eyes hadn't lit up like that, Elphaba would already be running halfway to Munchkinland!
"You would?"
Well no point lying now- "Yeah"
"You're a sweetie, Elphie. Thank you"
Elphaba shifts her eyes away from Galinda, becuase she fears there may be too much adoration in her oggling. The smile she really can't wipe though, and it stays aching and unyielding for Galinda to see. Oh well.. if Galinda's going to call her that she needn't expect a frown after all. A smile is a perfectly acceptable reaction, even its unlikely to ever leave.
Elphaba studies their linked arms, and the shopping bag swinging below. Galinda is essentially sharing the load of the bags now, and the thought doesn't make the smile any easier to shake off. Elphaba's usually so practical, but now she finds that she hopes the journey to their dorm will last forever.