A Wicked Childhood Chapter 2
Title: A Wicked Childhood Ch. 2
Author: Grumbello
Rating: Eventually NC17 but for now T
Disclaimer: I do not own Wicked, wicked characters, wicked backdrops etc...etc...
AN: I am so sorry that this post is taking for ever! But for some reason Livejournal posting doesn't like me and likes to change what I write by switching my paragraphs around. Really annoying if you think about it! ;D
Ps. I know this chapter may seem to jump around a bit and is rushed but it comes together soon. So apologies!
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Chapter 2
The first few weeks were the toughest. It was hard to forget the endless years of brutal labor and become a normal child as Elphaba soon realised. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Upland, were patient and kind, willing to allow Elphaba space and time to grow attached to the family. Galinda, on the other hand, was not willing to give up her title as an only child.
The small Upland watched as Elphaba moved about her room, tidying and redecorating as Galinda instructed. Sure there was a maid who came in and cleaned every afternoon but Elphaba wasn't to know that was she? No, Galinda may have to call her "sister" but not act like one.
'Elphaba, fetch me a glass of water please.' A small flash of fear shone in the dark brown eyes at the mention of water, but Elphaba had learnt years ago how to avoid the dangerous liquid. With a small polite bow, Elphaba left the room.
Galinda hated how she treated Elphaba. She never wanted her as a servant but the more she thought of Elphaba as a sister, the more servent looked appealing. Still, the feeling of resentment she felt everytime Elphaba looked through her, not at her as she was ordered around, made Galinda's mind race and she had to sit down. It hurt her to see such void emptiness in a child so young. The things she must have gone through.
'Your water Miss Galinda.' Elphaba bowed slightly again, eyes averted to the floor as was proper of a slave like her.
'Thank you Elphaba' Try as she might, the fake resentment Galinda placed in her voice when talking to Elphaba, would not come. And then, there were those eyes. The ones filled with void emptiness. Elphaba went to continue cleaning the room but Galinda stopped her.
'Miss Elphaba, my room is clean enough. Why don't you rest?' Elphaba looked relieved.
'Yes Miss Galinda.' And without another look back, Elphaba fled from the room.
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There seemed to be less and less reason for the small blonde to order Elphaba around. Her guilt every time Elphaba looked at her seemed to push her closer and closer to insanity. One day she stopped all together.
'Elphaba, do you want to play a game?' Her question was timid. She had spent weeks treating Elphaba like a common servent and now she wanted to play with her? Even Galinda knew she was asking too much.
Elphaba looked up at the question shocked. When Galinda had summoned her she figured she needed to do more washing or something tedious. But then Galinda had been the one to stand in front of her looking nervous. And now there she was, asking if Elphaba wanted to play a game! There had to be some kind of ploy.
'Excuse me Miss, but I don't think I heard you correctly.' Galinda strained to hear Elphaba's voice as she whispered so softly.
'No Elphaba, you heard correctly. I wanted...to know if you would like to play a game with me.'
'Why?'
'Well...well you are my si...sister right?' Elphaba wasn't sure if that was a safe question to answer.
'I...I guess.'
'Then lets be sisters. Do sister things.' In her state of shell shock, Elphaba only nodded consent.
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Elphaba was running frantically, breathing hard, eyes wide with terror. She couldn't hide, everywhere she looked, she knew she would be found. She ran faster as she heard the voice chacing her. Panic raced through her as she desperatly looked for anywhere suitable. Finally she spotted the closet and dove into the dark room, trying to hide her loud panting.
'One...two...three...four...five...' Galinda had her eyes shut, leaning face forward against the wall, counting to twenty whilst Elphaba ran around the large manor trying to find a good place to hide. 'Ready or not, here I come.' Galinda called out, a little giggle issuing forth as she looked about for a second seeing if she could spot a green limb poking out from anywhere. 'Elphaba, where are you?' She began a small chant as she qietly walked through the various rooms.
The girls had been playing with eachother for a couple of days now, Elpaba finally beginning to loosen up. Her and Galinda were beginning to bond and grow close much to the delight of their parents.
'Elphaba, where are you?' Galinda chanted again and suddenly a small giggle escaped from the laundry closet. Galinda beamed and raced over to the door. Yanking it open, Galinda was about to cry out her victory when she suddenly burst out into laughter. Elphaba had run into the laundry closet. Diving into a large pile of clothes, Elphaba had successfully hidden her entire body except for her head. All Galinda could see was a small green head poking out of a pile of clothes, a pout on her face.
'No fair, you made me laugh!' But before Galinda could reply a sock fell from the shelf above and landed on Elphaba's head causing Galinda to burst out into laughter. After two or three seconds of shock had passed, Elphaba joined in.
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The family were seated around the table at dinner time. Ukre Upland, having noticed his daughters sudden bond with one another, decided to bring up a delicate situation.
'Elphaba, when is your birthday?' Elphaba looked up at the question, confused and a litte wary of the conversation. She was still new to the family and having a tall, intimidating man, looking and speaking at her was a little scary.
'I'm sorry sir? What's a birthday?' Ukre looked a little shocked, as did everyone else at the table.
'You don't know what a birthday is Elphaba?' Galinda asked shocked. And Elphaba, feeling more comfortable with Galinda than enybody else, turned to face her with a sheepish smile.
'No. What is it?' Galinda beamed.
'Oh Elphaba, it's so much fun. You get presents and cake and people come over.'
'And, that's it?'
'No sweetheart, you're celebrating the day you were born.' Elise interrupted with a chuckle.
'I...I don't know when I was born.' There was dead silence. Elphaba felt like she had done something wrong.
'I'm sorry Ma'am, did I do something wrong?' Elise looked at Elphaba with a gentle smile.
'No sweetheart. And I'm mum not Ma'am Elphaba, remember?' Elise reminded gently. Elphaba nodded.
'How about, we celebrate Elphaba's birthday with Galinda. They are around the same age. And Galinda's birthday is coming up soon.' Ukre supplied.
'Oh that's a wonderful idea. What do you think Elphaba?' Elphaba looked across at Galinda knowing she might not like the idea of sharing such a special event.
'I don't know. It depends if Miss Galinda...sorry, Galinda would like me to.' Galinda beamed at Elphaba again
'Yeah Elphaba, lets have a party together. You're going to love it.' Elphaba felt a little shocked at Galinda's willingness to share the special day so numbly nodded her head and agreed to the party.
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Weeks melted together and suddenly Elphaba was standing in front of Galinda's full length mirror waiting for Galinda to come out of the bathroom so they could go downstairs to the party. Elise had purchased a lovely dress for Elphaba to wear for such an occasion. It was a deep blue made out of a satin. The dress was shin length and flowed from her waist out billowing around her when she moved. Galinda had squealed when Elphaba had first tried the dress on, rendering the green child deaf in one ear for a few minutes.
'Elphaba! Are you excited?' Galinda's muffled voice carried out through the bathroom door.
'I'm...a little nervous actually.'
'Oh? Why?'
'I...I've never been to a party for me before. I served at plenty of them when I was working at the slave house, but none of them were for me. No one noticed me.'
'Oh Elphie...do you mind if I call you Elphie? As a present?' Elphaba shook her head, mute for the time being at the generous and loving nickname. 'I'll be with you through this whole thing, and you are going to love it! I promise!' Galinda walked out of the bathroom in her blue birthday dress Elise had purchased for her. Elphaba thought it made her look stunning but didn't dare say anything. 'Ready to go?' Galinda beamed with excitement. Elphaba smiled despite herself, finding Galinda's smile contagious.
'Ready as I'll ever be.' Galinda strode across and took Elphaba's hand in her own. Giving it a gentle squeeze she began to walk out the door pulling Elphaba with her.
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The party was everything Galinda had said it would be and more. There were presents, balloons, banners and a large cake. The icing was pink and green and Elphaba menatlly noted that the colours looked good together. The girls were celebrating their ninth birthday.
Galinda watched with joy as Elphaba greeted every family member that walked through the manor doors mentally congratulating the usually reserved girl. Elphaba was braver than she thought she was. Her greetings were warm and kind even though she felt a new wave of nerves each time the door opened. Surprisingly there were no sudden gasps or stares at her skin. She was, pretty much, a part of the family.
The presents came in abundance and Galinda delighted in watching Elphaba's face grow darker and darker with each parcel handed to her. Yet, Elphaba's eyes shined brighter everytime she began to unwrap the parcels and by the end of the night she was glowing.
Elphaba had been introduced to Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and everything else in between. She was glad when they all began to leave and was even more glad when it was only her, her mother, father and Galinda left.
Tired, Galinda and Elphaba didn't put up a fuss when told it was time to go to bed. Elphaba and Galinda had recieved a double bed as a present. They had become roomates since Elphaba's arrival and the room across the hall, recently a study, was being refurbished to make Elphaba's new room. But for now the girls were sharing, the new room not being expected for completion till another two or three years. The girls didn't mind.
Climbing into their new bed, the girls turned the light off and began to settle down.
'Elphie? Are you awake?'
'Yes, but give me a few minutes and I might not be.' Galinda giggled and rolled onto her side trying to see Elphaba's face in the dark.
'Did you enjoy yourself today?' Elphaba nodded, then realized it was dark and she'd have to speak up.
'Yes . I loved it. Thank you.' Elphaba moved closer to Galinda and, surprising both herself and Galinda, gave the small blonde a hug.
'Don't thank me Elphie, you did so well tonight. It was all you.' Elhaba still hugged Galinda though. She enjoyed the feeling and Galinda aparently did too because as Elphaba went to remove her arms a small wimper stopped her.
'I like your hugs Elphie, please don't stop.' And Elphaba, glad for the darkness that was covering her blush, kept her arms around the girl. Both falling asleep instantly feeling warm and safe.
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