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“Wait , you're telling me that was your first party ? Ever ?”
Galinda gasped in surprise , pulling silver pins out of her blonde curls as she spun about the room , while Elphaba sat criss-crossed on the bed. She could only smile and chuckle at the girls’ antics , watching her intently as she placed the pins on her vanity , dramatically tossing her hair before directing her soft brown eyes back in Elphaba’s direction.
As Elphaba’s light green eyes met Galinda’s , the soft lighting of their shared room reflecting in them , Galinda could have sworn her heart skipped a beat , her heart thrumming loudly in her chest.
Elphaba smirked, looking down at the blankets and idly tracing patterns along the stitching , “Well , do funerals count ?”
Galinda paused for a moment , before letting out a burst of laughter , one that was too loud , too messy for a girl who grew up so proper. Elphaba had never heard such a beautiful sound , the laugh ringing in her ears. She would do anything if she could get Galinda to do that again , to hear that laugh on loop for the rest of her days.
Suddenly , Galinda flounced on top of the bed right next to Elphaba , still giggling , her cheeks slightly flushed and ruddy from the drinks she’d had a mere hour ago. Elphaba couldn’t help but smile widely back at the blonde , a real one , crooked and imperfect , the little gap in her teeth shining through , causing Galinda’s stomach to flip upside down.
How had she never seen , seen just how pretty this girl was ?
“You’re funny ,” Galinda spoke offhandedly , resting her hand on Elphaba’s knee. Elphaba could only stare , trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering in her stomach at even the slightest contact. The girl never considered herself to be touch deprived , but with Galinda around , she might be rethinking things.
Galinda took a deep , dramatic sigh , before flopping onto her back on the bed , “Ah , I couldn’t remotely sleep.”
“Me neither ,” Elphaba admitted , staring affectionately at the younger girl , admiring her soft , pale skin clad in her lacy , pink sleep clothes , ones that Elphaba herself once said were too over the top , too much for merely sleeping in. She certainly still thought this way , but Galinda looked simply divine in them , effortlessly stunning in the warm , dim lighting.
The moment was stripped away , of course , when Galinda sat straight up and looked at Elphaba with a sparkle in her eye , “I have an idea ! Let’s each tell each other something we’ve never told anyone !”
Before Elphaba could reply , Galinda had already volunteered herself to go first , generously , she must think , leaving Elphaba to only watch in wonder and fascination. Galinda took a deep breath , before blurting out her words a mile a minute , like she was spilling her life’s biggest secret , “Fiyero and I are getting married !”
Galinda squealed , kicking her legs and falling backwards onto the bed , while Elphaba sat with her eyebrows turned up and a look of worry on her face. Her mind was racing a mile a minute , hadn’t the two just met that day , how could marriage be in the picture right now ?
Jealousy stirred up in her chest , a similar feeling she’d had during all those months of loathing. But they were friends now , right ? Shouldn’t she feel happy for her ?
Collecting herself , Elphaba looked at Galinda inquisitively as she sat back up , “H-he asked you already ?”
Laughing softly to herself , Galinda responded , “Oh , well , he doesn’t know yet !”
Now the focus was back on Elphaba , as Galinda met her gaze once again , her deep brown eyes still shining with exhilaration as she leaned closer to Elphaba , making her flush an even deeper green. “Now , you tell me a secret.”
Elphaba tilted her head , a sight that made Galinda almost squeal from affection , “Like what ?”
Galinda leaned away and thought for a second , her pink bottom lip sticking out in a perfectly adorable pout. The pout quickly turned into a mischievous little smirk , as Galinda got up and scurried over to Elphaba’s side of the room.
“Like… why do you sleep with this funny little green bottle under your pillow ?” Galinda snatched the bottle up , holding it delicately in her fingers. Elphaba’s response was instantaneous , immediately getting up and trying to snatch it back from the blonde. She knew the girl didn’t mean harm , but this bottle was too private. Too personal. The last thing she wanted was for her and Galinda to go back to how they were , bickering constantly , arguing every chance they got. Sharing what this bottle meant to her… Elphaba didn’t see that going well at all in her mind.
Finally , Elphaba’s temper kicked in , and she shouted , “Give it back !” Snatching the bottle out of Galinda’s hand , quickly shoving it back under her pillow , and standing in front of Galinda , fists clenched , arms crossed. Closing herself off from her , refusing to let her get under her skin.
“It was my mothers , that’s all.” Elphaba finally spoke , shooting Galinda an apologetic look. Despite her frustrations , Elphaba knew she had good intentions. She just… always seems to go and express them in the wrong way.
Maybe they had that in common.
Galinda’s face darkened slightly , her cheeks dusted a light pink , before she tossed her hair in an attempt to save face , “Well , that’s not fair , I told you a really good one.”
Elphaba watched in confusion as Galinda marched back across the room and threw herself on the bed , and for a moment , Elphaba felt panic shoot through her body. She had really messed up , as always.
And yet , Elphaba couldn’t help but laugh when she caught Galinda peek from underneath her arms , checking to see if Elphaba was still there watching her. These dramatics , although they could be rather annoying , were Galinda’s way of lightening the mood , checking if Elphaba was alright , if they were alright.
Elphaba chuckled to herself once again , and sat on the floor next to Galinda , who was still pretending to be upset , sprawled all over her bed. Elphaba took in the sight , and sighed lovingly. Perhaps she could share a little secret with her , if it would make her look her way once more.
“My father hates me ,” Elphaba said bluntly , causing Galinda to perk her head up and finally , finally , meet Elphaba’s gaze again.
Smirking , Elphaba continued , “That’s not the secret. The secret is… he has a good reason.” Elphaba took a deep breath in , her fingers fidgeting with the fabric of her night gown, “It’s my fault.”
Galinda’s eyes widened , and her eyebrows furrowed in concern , “Wait , what is ?”
“That my sister is the way she is ,” Elphaba went on. Galinda’s eyes remained focused on her the whole time , looking the most attentive Elphaba had ever seen her. Usually , she was so hyperactive , and could never seem to sit still for too long. She seemed to be focused now though , so Elphaba kept going.
“When our mother was carrying Nessa , our father began to worry , worry that she may come out…”
“...Green ?” Galinda finished her sentence , seemingly able to read her mind. Elphaba nodded slowly , looking down at the floor , her hands still fidgeting anxiously.
“He was so worried , he made our mother chew milk flowers , day and night. Only , it made Nessa come too soon… and her little legs…” Elphaba trailed off , tears pricking at her eyes , her throat seeming to close up at the memory. “And our mother , she never woke up.”
Galinda could only stare , looking at Elphaba with so much worry , so much concern. None of this could have been Elphaba’s fault in any way. Galinda simply didn’t understand. How could a girl so kind , so thoughtful , ever think of herself in such a way ? How could anyone around her make this sweet , beautiful girl feel lesser than ? She felt a pang of guilt in her chest , realizing that she used to be the very kind of person that would make Elphaba feel this way.
Elphaba sighed , a bitter smile plastered across her face , “None of which would have happened… if not for me. So , it’s my fault.”
Galinda blinked , still trying to process everything she had been told , before taking Elphaba’s hands into her own , interlacing their fingers together. They fit perfectly , slotting together like a jigsaw puzzle , “But that was the milkflowers’ fault , not yours.”
Elphaba looked at Galinda in confusion , her face warming once she registered that Galinda was still holding tightly onto her hands , squeezing them tighter in a comforting gesture. “That may be your secret , Miss Elphaba , but it doesn’t make it true.”
The two held each other's gazes for just a moment longer , admiring each other for all they were , two young , excitable college students sitting on the floor of their dorm room. Two new friends who were awkwardly stepping on each other’s toes , trying to figure out the dance that was their new friendship.
The moment was short-lived , as most things seem to be , when the sun began to peek through their windows , and Elphaba stared with adoration as the sun shone behind Galinda , lighting her up like an angel’s halo. The sunlight reflected back into Elphaba’s emerald eyes , drowning Galinda in pools of soft , forestry greens that Galinda yearned to sink into.
“Look , it’s tomorrow ,” Galinda spoke softly , both girls not wanting to tear their eyes away from each other just yet. Their hands sat in Elphaba’s lap , intertwined together tightly , refusing to let go. A warmth was shared between them , one that none of them quite knew how to name , and it was just as confusing as those feelings of ‘loathing’ they once shared.
Galinda brought Elphaba’s hands close to her chest , and flashed her a wide , adoring smile , her eyes softened with tiredness and pure , undying affection. “And Elphie ,” Galinda gasped , surprising herself as the nickname slipped through her lips, “Can I call you Elphie ?”
If Elphaba wasn’t blushing before , she certainly was now , from the contact , from the sweet nickname that sent a green flush all the way down her neck. “It’s a little perky-” Elphaba sputtered , letting Galinda pull her off the floor and flounce together onto the bed , giggling like schoolgirls.
Galinda sat up and playfully tossed her hair in Elphaba’s face , “And you can call me… Galinda.”
Elphaba raised an eyebrow in both confusion and amusement , “That is your name ?” She was quickly silenced by a dainty finger being brought to her lips , paired with a small smile that made Elphaba’s heart clench.
“Lets not quarrel ,” she said , wiggling herself off the bed and spinning around playfully , Elphaba watching each movement carefully , observing the blonde , and cherishing each moment in her presence. She watched as Galinda walked towards her again , and interlaced their fingers once more , squeezing tightly , reassuring Elphaba she was still there.
“Elphie , I’ve decided… to make you my new project !” Galinda exclaimed , leaving Elphaba flustered.
“Oh , n-no you really don’t have to do that,” Elphaba quickly replied , but was again silenced. It seemed once Galinda had her mind made up about something , it was a chore to get her to even fathom the thought of changing her mind.
Galinda giggled to herself , releasing Elphaba’s hands in order to begin rummaging in her many suitcases , “I know ! That’s what makes me so nice !”
Galinda ceased her searching for a moment , skipping towards Elphaba and joining her on the bed once again. In a whirlwind of pink lace and blonde curls , Galinda ended up straddled on top of the brunette , a very flustered one at that. Galinda simply ignored the blush spreading further down Elphaba’s body , and removed her glasses for a moment , gingerly taking them in her hands.
She examined the flustered girl for a moment , drinking in her features. Her soft , plush lips , the light dusting of freckles across her face , her green eyes that she never wanted to stop drowning in , eyes that were so shiny , so wide she could see her own reflection mirrored inside them. It was then Galinda noticed just how blown Elphaba’s pupils were , large black circles that almost fully eclipsed the color of her eyes. The realization made Galinda feel suddenly warm , and she stuck Elphaba’s glasses back on her nose , gently of course , but quick enough that Elphaba wouldn’t notice she was staring.
Elphaba noticed of course. She was an attentive person , always observing even the slightest change in other’s behavior.
Were friends supposed to feel this way about each other ? Was she supposed to want to stare at Galinda forever and never look away ? The feelings were so confusifying.
The next hour or so felt like a dream. Galinda wanted to dress her Elphie up , to make her ‘popular,’ what she really meant with that , Elphaba didn’t know.
But how could she resist , when the giddiness Elphaba got from seeing Galinda smile at her or laugh at something she said was so addicting , unlike anything else she had felt before ?
Galinda was truly such a gem , a girl who tried to seem so effortlessly confident and elegant in the public view. Elphaba felt like the luckiest girl in the world to see her like this , so in her element , speaking with such fervor and passion. Maybe she was too loud , too excitable , too overwhelming for some people. Elphaba thought she had never seen anything more beautiful in her life. The way her eyes shone , like there were stars reflected in them , her two front teeth that stuck out a bit when she smiled , the way she spun and hummed to herself , singing a tune that only she could understand.
It was all for her. All for Elphaba , and no one else.
When the whirlwind of bows , ribbons , and skirts finally ceased , and Galinda began to wind down , she led Elphaba to her vanity chair , both girls still laughing like young kids on the playground , youthful and full of life. Their faces were flushed , they were rather tired from lack of sleep , but both girls thought of the other as the most beautiful , sacred being in the world.
Galinda , after looking at the two girls in the mirror , did a small gasp , before plucking the small pink flower out of her hair. The one given to her by Fiyero the night prior. She took Elphaba’s face in her hands , gently turning it to face her. Elphaba slightly leaned into the touch , causing Galinda to chuckle softly , as she carefully stuck the flower into Elphaba’s braids.
“Pink goes good with green.”
A simple discovery , but a wondrous one. Elphaba’s breath hitched , and she looked at Galinda with pure , unadulterated love. Pink and green. They really did compliment each other well.
“Goes well with green.” Elphaba corrected , smiling widely , her eyes full of so much adoration.
Galinda giggled , stroking Elphaba’s face with her thumb , “It so does.”
She turned the girl back to the mirror , putting her cheek right up next to Elphaba’s. “Why , Miss Elphaba , look at you. You’re beautiful.” Galinda had never been more honest in her whole life.
And the scariest part for Elphaba , is that she believed it. Even if it was just for a second.
The feelings were too much for her. Everything was too much. She felt thick , watery tears welling up in her eyes , and she immediately tore herself away from Galinda’s touch , ignoring how cold , how empty she felt without it.
It took everything in her not to run out of that room. To run from Galinda , to run from the feelings that could no longer be labelled as friendship any longer.
To run from the thought , that Elphaba may just be in love with Galinda.
Galinda looked at Elphaba worryingly , a crease forming between her eyebrows , before smiling softly and walking slowly towards Elphaba. She gingerly took Elphaba’s face in her hands again , taking one hand up to her head and scratching softly at her scalp. Their eyes met , and seemed to speak for them , green meeting brown.
Elphaba wanted to resist. She wanted to run from this warmth that enveloped her.
But instead , she let herself lean into it. Let her slump against Galinda and let her hold her close against her chest. Elphaba clung to her like a lifeline , letting Galinda’s soft hands rub up and down her back , whispering kindly into her ear , years of encouragement she had never gotten , was finally being given now.
It’s okay Elphie.
I’ve got you.
I love you.
Elphaba pulled up out of the embrace , resting her hands on Galinda’s shoulders. The girls' souls were intertwined , their bodies becoming one. They were interlinked , pink and green , a sugary sweet love that could not be broken , that could never be replaced by any other person in existence.
Before either one even had to ask , their lips were being pressed together. There was no thought. No logic. Just feeling. Elphaba let Galinda take the lead , pressing her soft pink lips to Elphaba’s plush green ones. Galinda’s lips were sticky with lip gloss , but tasted of strawberries , a taste that Elphaba selfishly chased as the kiss continued.
Galinda took Elphaba’s bottom lip between her teeth , giggling quietly as Elphaba let out a soft whine of pain , wiping a small tear that threatened to fall down her cheek. Galinda was addicted to her little noises , how quickly the brunette melted under her touch. She wanted to give this girl everything she had , wanted to pour all her emotions into her until there was nothing left to give.
This love was new. It was exhilarating and different than anything either girl had experienced. They were young , fiery , and in a way , naive.
Just for that moment though , they were together. Lips interlocked. Bodies pressed flush against one another. Simply drinking in the others’ presence.
Even when they pulled apart , taking in deep , shaky inhales , they were laughing , giddy and happy , with ruddy cheeks and shining eyes , pupils blown wide and lips stained a bright red.
Galinda cradled Elphaba’s face in her hands and pressed kisses all over her face , on her nose , her cheeks , her forehead. Everywhere her lips could reach. She wouldn’t pull herself away until Elphaba forced her off , laughing and complaining that her tongue was ticklish. Galinda pouted , and Elphaba silenced any complaints with one big kiss on her swollen pink lips.
Neither girl had ever felt this at home before. Neither wanted this moment to end , to go to their mundane world , with activities and responsibilities , that seemed rather boring compared to this magical world the two had created in their shared room.
But as long as they had each other , this love , these pure , sweet feelings for one another , they would be okay.
“Are you ready for breakfast ?”
“Just a moment Elphie , I need to get dressed !!”