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"Look at you, you're beautiful."
Galinda's words hit her as hard as a brick, even if her tone was as soft as a feather. Sitting facing her reflection in the vanity mirror Elphaba was forced to look at herself. Forced to truly take herself in. To actually see her. Nothing had changed about herself. She was still green. She still wore her coat/frock. She was still herself. The only thing the blonde managed to change was adding that pink flower in her hair and added some lipstick on her. Was that all she could do? Was she that much of a lost cause.
Yet.
'You're beautiful'
At first she wanted to roll her eyes and scoff. She wanted to bristle and lash out, make some defense.
'You're just saying it. You don't mean it. I can never be beautiful, look at me!'
She wanted to yell out. How dare she say such a thing to her. How dare someone so beautiful and perfect use such a word to describe her when no one else ever had. She was odd. She was uncanny. She was atrocious. But not beautiful. Never beautiful.
Yet Galinda rested her head upon her shoulder. She squeezed her arms, forcing her out of her thoughts. Forcing her gaze to move. Till she was no longer looking at her own reflection, but the reflection in Galinda's eyes.
Her breath hitched at the sight. That careless smile. Those deep brown eyes where she saw nothing but pure softness and...affection? There was something deeper. Something that sent a sudden warmth through her limbs, settling at her chest. It was a look she had never seen before, not directed at her. It was a look that cried nothing but the truth.
Galinda saw her as something beautiful. She was beautiful.
She believed her for a moment. For a moment she let herself smile, let herself look back and see herself the way Galinda did. To see the faint freckles that dotted along her cheeks. To see the pale green of her eyes that held so much knowledge, so much power. Her hair, the fullness of her lips, her skin.
Till suddenly it all became too much. Till she caught herself starting to tear up. All her emotions rushing to the surface all at once. She became all to aware of how close Galinda was to her. The weight of her head on her shoulder, the coolness of her hands on her. She quickly stepped away. Her eyes unable to take the expression in the blonde's eyes any longer. The concerned look in her face as her own smile fell.
"I-I have to go." She muttered. Pulling herself away from her roommate's arms she quickly rushed towards the door. Her hand reached up to wipe her eyes, to get rid of the tears threatening to fall. She couldn't cry again. All she could think about was getting out of this room. Getting away from Galinda.
She almost made it out into the hallway when she felt a hand grasp at her own. She suddenly paused. Her breath hitching as her body locked up.
"Elphie wait!"
A voice called out behind her, a panicked sound to the words.
As soon as she turned her head to look behind her, the hand was gone. Galinda stepped back then. Her eyes quickly focusing on the carpet beneath their feet. Hiding the slight nervousness in her face.
"I-I'm sorry. I just, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. If I did I'm sorry! I just wanted to give you a compliment. I'm sorry if I upset you. I didn't mean to really I-"
"It's not that."
Elphaba quickly interrupted the blonde's rambling. The words leaving her lips a little strained.
She watched as the girl looked back up at her. Her deep brown eyes pooling with emotion too Her mouth slightly open as if she wanted to speak, but was holding herself back. The sight made her heart clench. The question in her eyes made her sigh.
"No one...no one called me that before. I just...I didn't know what to do."
She then explained meekly. There was no point hiding it, she knew by now the blonde was stubborn. She wouldn't stop until she was given what she wanted. Right now, it was the reason why she tried to run just now. So she told her the truth.
Galinda let out a soft gasp. She stepped closer, causing the green skinned girl to stiffen. Expecting some teasing, some sort of mocking. She knew how ridiculous it sounded. To get upset over some compliment. Galinda probably thought her odd, thought her strange. So she refused to look at her, expecting some sort of disgust.
Yet she wasn't given that. Instead she felt a hand take hers again.
"No one called you beautiful before?"
A soft voice asked. Her tone sounding almost saddened.
Elphaba nodded slowly, suddenly finding her words stuck in her throat. Her eyes darted to the ground. Staring at the same spot the blonde had been moments before.
"That's...that's just horridendible"
Galinda muttered. She kept her voice low, yet no less firm. Almost sounding angry, but she wasn't sure what she was angry at. Her pretty face contorted into pure seriousness.
She felt her hand being squeezed again, before a thumb ran across her knuckles, causing her stiffen a little.
"You are beautiful."
Galinda's rose her voice then, she sounded so serious it felt more like an order than a compliment. As if she was willing it into existence that the green girl before her was in fact beautiful, and not any other word her or anyone else ever said before.
"I may not have seen it before, you truly...you are beautiful. You must just be the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."
Elphaba scoffed then. She pulled her hand from Galinda's, stepping back as she shook her head.
"Don't be stupid. You...you're just saying that because you feel bad for me. Well, I don't need your pity. I don't need anyone's pity."
She spat. Finally bristling. Pushing herself away from whatever this was.
"No...Elphi-"
"Stop it! I...I know what I am, I can't be beautiful. I can never be beautiful, no matter how much makeup you use to cover this up. No matter what clothes you throw on me I'll always be this! Always odd. Always green."
She continued to yell. Burning tears started to fall down her cheeks but she didn't care. The room felt like it was shaking. Her powers crackling from her finger tips but she didn't care. Far too overwhelmed to hide her emotions anymore.
She wanted to continue the emotional word vomit. Go on and on in a spiral. Yet her words suddenly caught in her throat when Galinda marched towards her. When she grabbed her and pulled her forward into a tight hug. One not so dissimilar to the one she gave her at the Ozdust hours before.
"Elphaba Thropp you listen to me right now! Whatever your father or anyone else might have said, just because you're green doesn't make you any less beautiful. Do I make myself clear?"
The blonde's voice practically cried into her ear making her wince.
She wouldn’t let go though, instead she only seemed to hold her tighter. Forcing the girl to take her words in without any means of escape.
It felt both suffocating and liberating at the same time.
"Then...why the makeover? Why all the make up and the clothes?"
Elphaba managed to ask between quiet sniffles. Her voice thick with emotion. Her arms stayed stiff at her sides. Fingers flexing like she was trying to cast a spell. Hopefully a transportation spell, or a invisibility spell.
"Why, to give yourself some self confidence! Did, you didn't think I was trying to cover you up did you?"
Galinda questioned, when she was met with silence she pulled away so their eyes met. There was a slight frustration in her eyes, yet it seemed to mellow out when their eyes met. Returning back to gentle, loving expression she wore before. One that screamed tenderness. Elphaba couldn't help but shudder under such a gaze.
"Oh Elphie...it wasn't about hiding you away, not one bit. Sure makeup can be used to hide imperfections, but it also enhances one's features. Shows off one's natural beauty, something you have plenty off might I add. I just didn't want to use a lot of it incase it makes you uncomfortable. As for clothes, well, you really do need some new clothes Elphie. I mean a froat? Really?"
She spoke with a soft giggle. Her hands moved to her upper arms, shaking the dark haired girl until she finally gave a faint smile.
"Again, clothes are meant to show off your figure. They're meant to compliment you. So, I am most definitely taking you on a shopping spree. We'll find your style in no time, don't you fret."
She then added. Her gaze softening as she smiled. Then, her hand hesitantly reached up to wipe a tear from Elphaba's cheek.
A small chuckle left Elphaba's lips, she shook her head before slightly leaning into the blonde's palm.
"You don't have to do that."
She muttered.
"Of course I do. We're friends now Elphie, friends help eachother."
Galinda reminded.
"Now, I don't know about you, but I want my beauty sleep. We will sleep and then you'll be even more beautiful in the morning"
With that the bubbly blonde bounced off to get ready for bed. Leaving Elphaba to stand there for a moment to gather herself.
She wiped her tears. Taking a deep breath she started to prepare for sleep. The sun was already rising, but she found herself not caring all that much. Some sleep might do her some good. She was sure missing one class wouldn't hurt all that much, most students who attended the Ozdust would most likely skip as well.
Once the pair had finished their nightly routine and switched off the lights they both climbed into their beds. Elphaba laid on her back, her eyes staring at the ceiling as she fell deep in thought.
It was only when she heard rustling sheets from across the room that she refocused. She could feel eyes on her, but she knew who it was.
"Elphaba?"
Galinda whispered, a little loudly that was. She fell silent, but Elphaba knew the girl was still awake. She was staring at her, waiting for an answer.
"Hmm?"
Elphaba hummed in reply. She turned her head to face the blonde. The figure laying across from her bed a little blurry with her glasses off.
"You're beautiful"
A whisper followed, she could hear the smile in the other's voice.
"I don't believe you...I don't think I can." Elphaba whispered a reply. Turning her head back to the ceiling the room fell silent again. Shocked by how open she had just been. Then again, they were being honest won't they?
"Well then. I'll just have to keep telling you you're beautiful until you do."
With that, Elphaba heard Galinda roll onto her side, the conversation seemingly ending there.
'Promise?'
Elphaba wanted to ask, yet she felt herself unable to speak again. Galinda had that affect on her it seemed. Calling out whatever doubt she had and do her hardest to get rid of it. To the point where she's too stunned and awed to speak
"Good night Elphie."
The blonde whispered. Breaking the silence once more. Pulling Elphaba from her thoughts.
"Good night, Galinda."
With that she fell asleep. Just as promised Galinda kept calling her beautiful. Though Elphaba might never truly believe her, she did end up believing she was beautiful to her and that was what mattered the most.