May I Cut In? (4)
Title: May I Cut In?
Author: WiiPros
Pairing: G(a)linda/Elphaba
Rating: For Chapter-PG
For Series-R(upwards of NC-17)
Chapter: 4
World: Book & Musical
Description: They found sanctuary in dancing, but how did they get there? When Elphaba finds an unlikely friend in the Upland family, Galinda is thrown into a jealous rage. "May I Cut In?" is a new take on the adventures of the witches of Oz. Drawing from the musical and book, as well as L. F. Baum's classic Oz Books, "May I Cut In?" delivers a new version of the beloved Wicked story.
Chap. Sum: An encounter at the Major Library may leave the girls with little hope for any relationship.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Wicked sort. The content mostly belongs to Gregory Macguire(and or any other rightful owners of Wicked content) or L. F. Baum(and or any other rightful owners of the Oz Books content), except for my occasional input of imagination.
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3
Author's Note:
Thank you all for the lovely reviews. Thanks again to my wonderful beta. Enjoy
Sincerely,
WiiPros
(Cross posted on Gelphie_lovers, Wicked_fanfic, and Fanfiction.net)
Elphaba had been hiding out in the Major Library for some days now, avoiding the bubbly bundle that was her roommate. Since that fateful night Galinda had chosen to grace the toad with her voice, she had continued to do so. The following days after that night were like hell to the eldest Thropp. She would stay up late studying, as usual, only to be interrupted in the wee hours of the morning by Galinda with the latest gossip. At first, it hadn't been so bad. She mustered through talking with the girl, even finding their conversations mildly amusing at times. But soon she began to dread those nights. Galinda had taken to bouncing over to her bed, sitting on the edge, and telling the green girl all about her day. Elphaba soon realized that Galinda was finding a strange sort of want to talk her (of course, only in the private of their dorm room, though). The very idea made her skin crawl. She'd never had a friend, let alone one that adored pink! The green girl had been finding their encounters increasingly stressful. She'd become nervous at the first signs of Galinda returning. Her skin would sweat (and Elphaba never sweat) when her roommate would get near her, and her fingers would even quake as she gripped her usual book harder, when the sound of Galinda’s girlish giggle floated to her ears. Elphaba, for the life of her, could not understand why Galinda acting this way or why she was reacting like this.
So rather than brave through the brutal encounters of the blonde-haired girl, Elphaba spent her nights in her favorite place on the Shiz campus. Even the extensive library at Nest Hardings paled in comparison to the one she sat in now. Not only was it filled to the brim with books on any subject one could possibly imagine, it was an attractive collage of architecture that even Elphaba could enjoy.
She found her safe haven in the top level of the library. The top floor was a huge circular room with shelves placed in a spiraling manner to make the rows form a circle of their own. In the middle of the room was an open space that was decorated with a few tables, each complemented with two or three chairs. It was at these tables that Elphaba could study to her heart's content without being bothered. Students rarely ventured up to the top floor which contained strange texts on all subjects that no one knew the origins too. But to Elphaba it was heaven.
On this particular day, a Wednesday afternoon, Elphaba was once again in her safe spot studying up on chemistry. She was three chapters ahead of the class, but she figured if she already knew how to do the procedures, it wouldn't take as long. Her last class had ended just past noon (for Wednesday she only had three classes) and it was now tipping past three. Staring at the books too long, even with her spectacles, usually gave her somewhat of a headache and so she rested her eyes by staring up at the ceiling.
It was peaceful there on the fifth floor of the Major Library and Elphaba smiled, a rarity that most had never laid eyes on.
X
Galinda's class had just ended and she knew Fiyero's wouldn't for another hour, so she decided to ditch her 'friends' and so a little exploring. She wanted desperately to go to Ozma Towers and behold the wonderful architecture, but she knew that it would be much too easy to be caught in the boys’ quarters (which wasn't allowed) during the day. Instead, she decided to move her architecture search to the Major Library. She had already taken stock of the exterior, with its flying buttresses and portico, but she had yet to really see the inside.
It was unheard of to see a socialite, like herself, to be caught in a library, so she knew she would have to sneak in. She casually strolled from her class, but upon reaching the walkway that led to her destination she began to creep. Careful to keep an eye out for on-lookers, she hid behind the columns that lined the portico. She luckily made it in with ease.
Inside was much harder, since students were all over the place; Galinda noted how disgusting it was that they wasted their time studying. She hurried along, quickly finding the stairs and prancing up them. Galinda had to resist the urge to gawk at the intricate workings of the inside of the building. Once she was away from most of the students she’d be alright.
Stopping on the third floor, she carefully beheld her prize. She was in awe of the pilasters that laid against the walls and the painting of the ceiling. Each floor's ceilings was painted with similar themes to the content that was on said floor. It only took her a moment to discover she was on floor dedicated to religion. The fairy-goddess Lurline was painted on one side while depictions of the Unnamed God and cherubs littered the right side of the room.
"Beautiful," she breathed in an excited breath.
She spent some time on each floor, excluding the first, and an hour had well since passed when she traveled up to the fifth floor. Galinda immediately was intrigued by the layout, but the most awe-inspiring piece was the domed ceiling that was decorated with stained glass window. Nearly squealing from excitement, she moved into the middle of the room, her chin titled up to behold the wonder above her.
"Absolutely amazing," she commented.
It wasn't until Galinda spoke that Elphaba was startled. Her head had been tilted back, taking in the view of the ornate ceilings with Galinda's voice interrupted her thoughts. She nearly fell out of her chair and gripped the table to steady herself. Eyes wide, she stared forward at the girl dressed in pink.
"Galinda," Elphaba rasped, forgetting the honorific in her moment of surprise, "what in Oz are you doing here?"
It was then Galinda's turn to become alarmed; she even yelped at the sound of her roommate's voice. Placing a hand over her heart, and looking quite flushed, she stared at Elphaba.
"Sweet Lurline, Elphie, you scared me," she said, trying to control her breathing.
"What did you call me?" the green girl asked, her brows knitting into a furrow as she stood.
"What?"
"What did you just call me now?"
Galinda froze. Damn her brilliant ability at creating nicknames, and at a time like this! She bit her lip, contemplating her options. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said with a huff, turning slightly away from the girl.
They stood in a tension-filled silence, before Galinda cleared her throat. Elphaba was obviously not intent on speaking. The green girl had sunk back into her chair and was carefully watching her roommate, who was since clutching her chest.
"To answer your question, though you should warn a girl before you speak so abruptly," said Galinda as she turned to look at Elphaba, "I was simply looking at the architecture."
"You've got to be joking with me," Elphaba replied, shaking her head. There was no way this girl was in the library to look at architecture, though why she was in a library was truly a mystery.
"I am not!"
"Oh? Miss Galinda Arduenna is spending her precious afternoon in a library, studying the architecture... Hah! As if I would believe that," Elphaba mocked, as she glanced down at her books. She could feel herself getting nervous again. Something about Galinda's presence made her nauseous--it appeared the loathing had yet to escape her. Her spindly fingers dug into the table as sweat collected at her brow.
"As if you have any idea," Galinda shot back, flipping her hair for dramatic effect. She couldn't place the feeling she had for Elphaba. Though the girl infuriated her to no end, she felt the need to share everything about herself with the girl. It was quite the odd sensation. Taking a deep breath, she approached the table, peering down at what her roommate was reading.
"A History of Ev..." Galinda read aloud. She pondered the title for a few moments, watching as Elphaba's fist tightened and relaxed.
"Where is Ev?"
"Somewhere south of Quadling Country, I believe," Elphaba answer, her dark eyes tentatively raising to look at Galinda.
"Hmm…."
For a second, a brief second, Elphaba thought Galinda was going to comment. She had a concentrated look in her eyes, almost as if she was thinking. Elphaba nearly hoped the girl would say something, leaning forward slightly, waiting for a response. If she would just say something...anything. Something about Quadling Country being the southern-most tip of Oz.
"You haven't been in the dorm much," Galinda suddenly said, her eyes lowering to meet Elphaba. She almost swore she saw disappointment, before those brown eyes fled back to her book.
"I've had studying to do," Elphaba supplied, slightly annoyed that was all Galinda could think about.
"You're ahead in all your classes."
"Who said I was studying for my classes?"
"Well, what else would you possibly be studying for?"
"It's of no concern to you."
"I'm just wondering why you haven't..."
"You are not my nanny, I don't need you to look out for me!"
The two fell silence once more, Elphaba fuming as she glared into her book and Galinda bewildered. No one had ever talked to her the way Elphaba did. Every person she had ever met was at her beck and call, but her roommate wouldn't even budge at Galinda's calling. Galinda glared, turning her head away from the girl. Absolutely infuriating, she thought.
"You know, Miss Elphaba, you could be little kinder. After all I was simply wondering about your..." she trailed off, a blush coming to her cheeks.
"My what?" the green girl snapped, her eyes ascending to level a glare on the blonde.
"..well being..."
Elphaba nearly growled at the soft spoken words. How dare she think that she, Elphaba Thropp, the green girl, needed her worry? Nearly shaking with rage, Elphaba shot her a glare.
"What I do and where I am is none of your concern. And you, Miss Galinda, are hardly one to talk...staying out till wee hours of the morning and with young men, no less. I believe you should be more worried about the possibility that you are with child than where I am."