Chapter Text
Galinda sighs—heavily.
The letter she read late last night from her Momsie and Popsicle—informing her of their plans to spend the holiday season in The Glikkus Canals; without her—has left Galinda positively moodified.
Another sigh—not quite as heavy as the first but just as loud—and a quick look over her shoulder at Elphaba.
Nothing.
Absolutely no reaction—Elphaba’s eyes are downcast as she methodically packs her little, drab suitcase—and Galinda just cannot believe it.
Here she is, in utter despair—Oz, she’ll be spending winter break at school, alone, how absolutely dreadful—and her roommate, no, her friend, no, no, no, her best friend is oblivious.
It won’t do.
Galinda sighs dramatically, which makes it the third time in just as many clock ticks, and Elphaba finally gives in—which has Galinda suppressing a small smile.
Elphaba doesn’t bother to look up from her suitcase, her voice is calm with a hint of exasperation, “is something bothering you?”
Galinda’s head snaps up from its place on her pillow, “oh Elphie! How sweet of you to finally ask.” Elphaba rolls her eyes and Galinda narrows hers, “something is most certainly bothering me.”
“Yes, well—” Elphaba stares at the blonde, afloat in a sea of pink bedding, “would you like to talk about it?”
“Of course I want to talk about it silly!” Galinda exclaims as she gets up and walks over to Elphaba’s bed, making herself comfortable between the pillows and Elphaba’s suitcase, “I’ve been abandoned.”
Elphaba huffs, “there is no way that’s true.”
“It absolutely is true Ms. Elphaba.” Galinda’s voice gets pitchy as she continues on, “Momsie and Popsicle, well, they’ve abandoned me.”
“What? Galinda! There is—I mean, why would—” Elphaba cannot believe this, it makes no sense, “there is no way that they—”
“Oh they have Elphie!” Galinda interrupts with her hands a flurry of motion, “they’ve abandoned me to go on vacation to The Glikkus Canals this winter break.” Galinda finishes solemnly.
Elphaba rolls her eyes, “there it is.”
“There what is?” Galinda’s eyebrows draw together in confusion, “have you lost something?”
“No, I have not—” Elphaba replies dryly as she folds and packs another froat into her suitcase, “but you most certainly have.”
Galinda tries to bounce against Elphaba’s ridiculously unbounceable mattress and has to settle for leaning onto her suitcase, “what have I lost Elphie?”
Elphaba fights a smile, “your mind.”
“Elphaba Thropp!” Galinda’s hands are up in the air and her blonde curls are swaying, “you mean, green thing!”
“They haven’t abandoned you Galinda, they’ve left you to spend the holiday alone, that’s all.” Elphaba states very matter of fact.
Galinda gasps, “it’s horrendible Elphie! Me? Alone? I can’t bear the thought—oh and Fiyero’s already left for The Vinkus!”
“Come with me.” Elphaba’s mouth completely bypasses her brain which seems to be a terrible side effect of being around Galinda.
Galinda scrambles up on to her knees, “what?”
“To Colwen Grounds.” Elphaba tries valiantly to fight off the warm flush that’s working its way across her cheeks, “come with me to Colwen Grounds.”
Galinda raises herself up, almost face to face with Elphaba now, brown doe eyes blinking rapidly, “what are you saying?”
“Pack a bag and come with me.” Elphaba explains as if talking to a small child, “spend your winter break with me.”
Galinda’s nose scrunches up a little as she envisions it, “Elphie, I’m not sure I could maintain my usual charming demeanor around your Father.”
Elphaba cackles, “he will not be there.”
“Really?” Galinda asks unable to hide the hint of hopefulness in her tone, “why ever not?”
“They’re Unionists Galinda. Nessa and Father devote the holiday season to missionary work.” Elphaba responds flatly—she had never been invited—not that she had any desire to attend, “it’s only Dulcibear and myself.”
Galinda contemplates for barely a moment and then squeals, “well, then it is absolutely decided—I’m coming!”
“Well, then, Galinda—” Elphaba instructs with a lightness in her voice, “you better start packing a suitcase.”
**********
The landing dock at Shiz is crowded—garland swooping low along the stairwells and wrapping up along the lampposts—students and luggage scattered about waiting in queue for water taxis that are all heading to the train station.
Elphaba throws a look over her shoulder at Galinda once she secures their spot in line, “I am almost positive that I said to pack a suitcase—” Elphaba complains as she waves her hand towards the underclassman behind Galinda, who is almost entirely covered by pink luggage, “this is excessive Galinda!”
“Elphaba Thropp!” Galinda’s hands fall to her hips, head tilting to the side questioningly, “I beg your pardon.”
Elphaba pushes at her glasses so they slide back up the bridge of her nose, “the amount of baggage you’ve brought is rather exorbitant.”
“I’m not a fool Elphie! I knew what you meant the first time—” Galinda huffs as the line moves forward a little, “I was simply giving you a chance to amend your previous statement.”
“Unnecessary.” Elphaba says surely as she glances out towards the water, watching for the next boat, “I stand by my statement.”
Galinda crosses her arms over her chest, mouth forming a sullen pout as she waits for Elphaba to look at her again, “you know Elphie, I tried my best—truly, I did.”
Elphaba softens as soon as she takes in the earnest look shining in Galinda’s eyes, “I know you did, my sweet.”
“So it’s not excessive?” Galinda asks hopefully as the poor boy almost buckles under the weight, “or exorbitant?”
The corner of Elphaba’s mouth pulls up in a smirk, “how about mildly inconvenient?”
“I’ll take it!” Galinda exclaims as she claps her hands together loudly, following Elphaba as they make their way to the front of the line, “it’s one of the nicest things you’ve ever said to me.”
Elphaba rolls her eyes, “who is going to carry all of that for you once we get to the train station?”
Galinda smiles prettily and toss-tosses her curls, “there’s always handsome men willing to help!”
“Hmm.” Elphaba does not doubt this, not at all, not for Galinda, “but what about once we get to Colwen Grounds?”
“Well, I suppose—” Galinda begins as she tries to fight the flush working its way across her cheeks, “that once we’re there, I will have my beautiful best friend who’s willing to help, no?”
Elphaba’s heart thuds roughly against the confines of her ribs, and she has to remind herself that this is just how friends are, as she looks away from Galinda’s wide brown eyes before mumbling, “assuming they all fit on the boat.”
“Oh Elphie!” Galinda squeals as the water taxi man begins loading their suitcases, “that’s so chivalrous of you.”
**********
The journey isn’t terrible.
All of Galinda’s luggage fits into the boat—surprisingly.
And unsurprisingly, she does find a relatively handsome man to help load them into the train; which is packed with travelers.
Almost every seat is taken, so when Elphaba notices the relatively handsome man eyeing up Galinda with interest, she places a hand low on Galinda’s back and ushers her in towards the window seat, “here, sit.”
“Oh, the window seat? Really Elphaba?” Galinda’s already making herself comfortable, eyes scanning the landscape, “are you sure?”
Elphaba glares at the man as he walks by before she sits down beside Galinda, “I am—sure that is.”
Galinda peers out the window, vibrating excitedly as the train begins to chug to life, “oh, what fun Elphaba!”
“Mhm.” Elphaba hums noncommittally as she pulls a worn paperback novel about Ozian history from a hidden pocket within her coat, “fun.”
Hours pass and eventually Galinda tires of watching the scenery pass by. There’s only so many fields one can admire before they become bored. Galinda turns away from the window and frowns as she looks at Elphaba, “must you read while on vacation?”
“I’m afraid I must.” Elphaba deadpans without even looking up, “why?”
“Because I’m bored!” Galinda whines as she fusses with the fabric of her skirt, “how much longer until we arrive?”
Elphaba tries not to laugh at the childish question, “not much longer now, maybe another hour or so.”
A small squeak of surprise works its way from between Galinda’s lips, “well then, please, read aloud so I can perhaps fall asleep and take a nap.”
Elphaba obliges—but only just until Galinda nods off, only just until Galinda’s cheek is soft against the curve of her shoulder, and only just until Galinda’s breath is warm against her neck.
And they’re friends, best friends if Galinda’s insistence on the matter is to be taken seriously, so Elphaba ignores the confusing reactions of her body—the way the smell of Galinda’s perfume makes it hard to focus on the words of her novel, or the way every exhale of Galinda’s creates an answering shiver that works its way down Elphaba’s whole body to her toes—and allows Galinda to sleep there until they arrive at the train station.
“Wake up.” Elphaba’s voice is low as she gently jostles her shoulder, “we’re here.”
Galinda blinks sleepily, “at your house?”
“Almost.” Elphaba chuckles as she tucks her novel back into her coat, “a short carriage ride.”
Galinda stands slowly and smooths out her skirt, it’s hopelessly wrinkled after a day of travels, “lead the way.”
Elphaba links their fingers—as not to lose Galinda in the crowd—before they make their way out onto the platform.
Their luggage is already there waiting—five pink bags of varying sizes and one practical black suitcase.
“Here you carry this one.” Elphaba says as she thrusts the handle of her suitcase out towards Galinda.
“You want me to carry that hideotious thing?!” Galinda’s voice is shrill as her fingers wrap around the handle, “oh Elphaba! What will people think?”
“Maybe they’ll think that you packed an appropriate amount of things instead of—”
Galinda interrupts swiftly, foot out and tapping and an eyebrow arched in defiance, “a mildly inconvenient amount?”
“Exactly.” Elphaba huffs as she hands Galinda the smallest of the five pink bags, “here, and take this one too.”
They make it to the carriage—but barely.
The driver looks at Elphaba with wide eyes and a nod, “Ms. Thropp.”
“Mr. Higgins.” Elphaba greets the man as she sets down the luggage, “this is my roommate—”
“Friend!” Galinda cuts in, “her best friend actually—maybe only friend? Doesn’t matter, I’m Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands.”
“She’ll be joining us for Lurlinemas.” Elphaba explains as she loads the smaller bags into the back, before lending her hand to Galinda to enter into the carriage, “it should be fine right?”
Higgins nods as he packs away the rest of the bags, “yes, I’m sure it will be.”
The carriage ride is short, just as Elphaba promised, and Galinda gasps as they pull up to towards the manor, “oh Elphaba, it’s absolutely stunning.”
“Is it?” Elphaba remarks as she hops down onto the ground, offering her hand to Galinda, “I’ve never really noticed.”
The manor is situated behind a gilded gate and has a forecourt that is immaculate and swept clean of any foliage. The air is crisp and smells fresh, it’s cold but nothing near the winter wonderland that The Gillikin becomes. It’s gorgeous and green and Galinda is obsessulated, “it’s lovely, truly lovely.”
Elphaba grabs her suitcase and Galinda’s smallest bag—Higgins and the staff will bring up the rest—and ushers Galinda in through the gates, “let’s get inside.”
Galinda lets herself be propelled forward by the weight of Elphaba’s arm—and the press of the suitcase—against her back, “oh Elphaba!” Galinda is staring up at the balcony above the massive front door, “a bank of topiary saints in terra-cotta pots? It’s perfect!”
“I’ll let the gardeners know you approve.” Elphaba responds dryly as she stops at the front door. A large wreath covers the glass window and it makes Elphaba smile, “Dulcibear hangs this every year because Father hates it.”
“I love her already!” Galinda exclaims as Elphaba opens the door, she stumbles awkwardly into the foyer because Elphaba bumps her hip with the suitcase, “Elphie! You almost knocked me over!”
“Forgive me.” Elphaba’s a little breathless as she sets the bags down, “my hands were a little full.”
“A mildly inconvenient amount full—” Galinda teases with a smirk as she turns to look at Elphaba, “I would assume.”
Elphaba glares at Galinda as she wipes her palms against the fabric of her black skirt, “I’m beginning to reconsider the mildly.”