Surprisingly, I'm Alive, barely....
Hello, sorry this chapter took so long. The RL slapped me in the face pretty hard recently and it's been rough. Luckily i got to spend a week with my mother, best friends and wonderful girlfriend who all helped to put me back together emotionally. You can thank them for the update i guess.
Second, i'm sorry this chapter is so short. Like i mentioned things have been pretty rough, and under the current circumstances this is doing pretty good. Again i'm still without a beta or decent word processor so please forgive mistakes i may (and did) overlook. It's not my best piece of writing but bare with me while i get myself adjusted to functioning again.
Title: Untitled (3/?)
Author: aodhan292
Rating: PG-13 (for later chapters, maybe)
Summary: Galinda and Elphaba deal with a newfound attraction.
Disclaimer - I don't own wicked. sad but true. and i'm far too poor to sue. so please don't....lol
Galinda watched as her roommate sat across from her. While outwardly, she seemed calm enough, she knew for a fact Elphaba was fighting the urge to turn and run. Wanting to give her roomie time to adjust, she quickly ordered a tea for them both, smiling when Elphaba looked up at her.
" Are you ok? If you are truly uncomfortable we can leave Elphie. "
" No, I think I am ok. I'm just used to eating before everyone else to avoid the crowds. I didn't realize this many people actually ate here."
She cast a nervous glance a round the room before once again donning her mask of indifference.
" Yes, I guess it does get pretty busy. I never really paid much attention before."
The girls shared a brief glance, Galinda trying to reassure her roomie, knowing the green girl was only doing this because she had asked it of her.
Elphaba, felt like she was going to pass out. They had only been in the cafe for a short time and she was already starting to hear the murmurings and feel the stares bearing down on her. She was, of course, used to such things. She had been dealing with them her entire life after all, and was resigned to the fact that she would have to for the rest of it as well. It was usually something she ignored, but here, sitting in front of Galinda, she couldn't help but feel self-conscious. Old doubts were beginning to creep back in, when she caught Galinda looking at her reassuringly, effectively banning them to a deep corner of her mind.
" Well who would have thought, Miss Galinda dinning with the local circus act."
A painfully familiar voice cut through Elphaba's thoughts, bringing her previously banished doubts with it. She quickly looked back to Galinda and caught the briefest look of panic that she had failed to mask. It had only been there a fraction of a second, but Elphaba caught it.
" Miss Shenshen, coming in for breakfast so early?"
Galinda had been confidant coming into this. Knowing that these socialite girls were not real friends. It was Elphaba that Galinda truly wanted to share her time with, but for the fraction of a second that she had been caught off guard, hesitation managed to weasel it's way in. She quickly tossed the thought, feverently hoping Elphaba hadn't caught it, but knowing she had. She knew it would fill Elphaba with doubt, and it was the last thing they needed. Things were already complicated enough, they hadn't even gotten a strong hold on the things they didn't doubt, without throwing uncertainties in too.
She had to reign in a laugh. She had already given herself the answer to her brief hesitation. Her first thought had been of how it would effect Elphaba, not what the whole thing would do to her social standing, and if that didn't tell her where her priorities were then she had more serious problems to deal with.
" Well I couldn't just let a fine weekend go to waste now could I? Now why don't you get away from the celery stalk and join Miss Pfannee and myself for a trip to the boutiques. I hear there are some lovely sales on right now. " Shenshen had been talking to Galinda but glaring at Elphaba as she spoke, making sure she understood the insult.
Elphaba could feel her sharp tongue trying to pry itself from between her teeth. Her sarcasm had always been her only real defense in these situations and it was clear that Shenshen was taking some pretty cheap shots. Before she could throw out her own sharp remark Galinda's voice cut between them.
" You know Miss Shenshen, celery always was one of my favorite vegetables. I think I might prefer to spend my weekend with my roommate here. Elphaba really is excellent company. "
Elphaba dropped Shenshens's glare only to look at Galinda in surprise. She hadn't thought the girl would actually come to her defense like that and especially not after the panic she had read in her eyes at Shenshens arrival. Elphaba felt something well up inside her, a little twist in her stomach and a tightening in her chest. Suddenly and inexplicably, all she wanted right then was to wrap that beautiful blonde up in a hug. It was rather frightening, not that a lot of what she was feeling wasn't, but this, this truly scared her. How could she even begin to make sense of this? Her entire life had been spent actively avoiding contact with people, and now, all of a sudden she was craving it, almost needing it, from the girl across from her.
A hand on her shoulder brought her back to the cafe as she immediately tensed at the contact. She looked up to meet a deep blue gaze and the need for contact reasserted itself.
" Galinda? Where is Shenshen? "
Galinda nodded towards the patio doors, a sly grin sneaking across her face. Elphaba looked away just long enough to watch Shenshen's back retreat out the doors before looking back to her roomie in confusion. She felt the hand lift from her shoulder and move to sit lightly over her hand. She found herself welcoming the contact rather then fearing it and resisted the urge to pull the girl closer.
" Really this is getting ridiculous. I lived my entire life without touch, I can go a little longer. " Elphaba thought focusing back in on what Galinda was saying.
" I sent her packing. Honestly, some people can be so rude. Besides, she clearly needs her eyes checked. Celery is such a washed out green, and you my dear, are a deep and beautiful shade of emerald. " She ran her fingertips lightly over the back of Elphaba's hand, before pulling her to her feet. " No wonder she has such bad taste in fabric colors. Come on, let's get out of here."
Elphaba was all too happy to oblige. She quickly strode out of the cafe to the safety of the relatively empty hallway. She looked down at the smaller girl beside her. All she really wanted was to go back to the safety of her dorm room. It was a risk for her, she could easily go and be alone with her thoughts in the library. She would sort and think and be alone, away from all the overwhelming emotions of the last day. Then again, thinking was something she had been doing far more then normal lately. To be perfectly honest it was exhausting. She didn't wan to think anymore, for once in her life, she just wanted a damned hug.
" Galinda?"
The small blonde looked up at her, acknowledging her name but remaining silent. Truth be told she was a little shaken up by the incident in the cafe. She really did not regret any of it, but she had to admit she felt a little sad she would never be able to share how she felt to her friends. Then again, they weren't really much for friends; Elphaba was truly the only person she trusted anymore. The others had only seen her for her outer shell, a spoiled, social blonde, good for nothing more then fashion advice and gossip. Elphaba, on the other hand, had seen past that, to the girl on the inside. She truly cared about what she thought, challenged her mind and didn't want to change who she was.
" I know I said I had wanted to study today, but, after all of that, I was well, "
Elphaba hesitated again. Why was this so hard, Galinda liked her and liked spending time with her. She didn't need to be frightened of rejection anymore. She swallowed her self-doubt, and maybe even a touch of pride and continued on.
" I was just wondering if you would mind if I spent the day with you, in our room instead. "
" Off course I don't mind. Elphie, it's ok really, and you needn't have asked. "
Elphaba just smiled and continued to their room on the second floor. Almost as soon as the door closed she turned to look at the smiling girl beside her.
" Galinda? I have another questions. "
" Go ahead Elphie, I'm all ears." Giggled Galinda, setting her purse on her bed, before turning back to look into the dark eyes of her roomie.
" I was wondering if, maybe I could have a hug. I'm not sure why i feel like i need one so badly, and it's a little confusing. I'm still not very good at them I don't think, but"
Elphaba's ramble was cut short when she felt delicate arms wrap around her waist, as Galinda pulled her best friend closer. Elphaba found herself oddly comfortable. She had not gotten tense and actually felt mildly better. How was it that something as simple as a hug could comfort her? She felt Galinda start to pull away after a few seconds and not wanting to lose the contact, wrapped her own arms around the tiny frame drawing her as close as she could.
Galinda smiled as she felt herself being pulled close. Knowing that Elphaba normally avoided anyone's touch and yet was seeking hers out made her feel special and wanted. Not like anything she had felt thus far. She was content to let herself be held for as long as Elphaba needed.
"Elphie, do you need to talk about what happened?" Galinda murmured into Elphaba's boney shoulder.
Elphaba thought for a second. Admittedly, she was a little confused by everything. The way Galinda had defended her, and now how she had needed that same girls touch so badly. Thinking about it a little further she realized, that she didn't need to talk. Galinda was grounding her by just being near, and supporting her. Hesitantly, she rested her cheek agains the top of Galinda's head, the vanilla smell of her shampoo tickling her nose.
" No, I don't think I need to just yet. Is my head ok like this?"
" It's perfectly fine, and what do you need Elphaba. I'll try to give you whatever I can."
Elphaba felt a small hand slide up her back and a finger start to play with her long raven hair. At that moment, Elphaba realized, as uncharacteristic as it was for her, that the only thing she needed was Galinda. She, the great independent Elphaba, needed another human being. Knowing logically she had nothing to fear, she decided it was time to stop thinking. Maybe it was time to feel for once.
" You are already giving me the only thing I need right now. Right now, I just need you, to be you. Maybe I just need to stay like this for a few more minutes. I think I need to get in some extra practice for those hugs. " she smiled against the blonde curls and squeezed a little tighter.
" Hmm... You seem to be an adequate hugger, but hey, who am I to refuse a request for extra coaching? "