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What a beautific spring day, Glinda thought, skipping across one of Shiz' many courtyards. And what a beautific, spring-like and collegiate picture she painted! Even Elphie, normally more composed, had eventually agreed the winter was uncomfortable in their badly isolated dorm. She'd joined Glinda in complaining the morning they woke up and her glasses were covered in frost. They'd had to make do with the ancient oven and, on colder nights, sharing a bed. Glinda felt a warmth in her stomach. That part hadn't been all bad.
One of her magazines had mentioned pale yellow being in for spring, and it had turned out to be sound advice. While Glinda enjoyed pink, she certainly wasn't beholden to it. Her yellow sundress had been an impulsive purchase during last weekend's trip to the city with Elphie, Fiyero, Nessa and Biq. Elphie had rolled her eyes when she was dragged into the clothing store, but she waited while Glinda tried on their gorgeous spring collection, and even let Glinda buy her a simple, yellow scarf.
Her dress matched the yellow sunflowers she passed near the History building. The sudden bloom made winter seem far away, and lifted Glinda's spirits. She just needed to pass her exams, and with Elphie's help, that'd (hopefully) be a breeze. Then, summer would be in front of her like a ripe fruit.
Elphaba and Nessa never mentioned their father, and when she swapped secrets with Elphie after the Ozdust, Glinda understood why. She'd been horrified when Elphie said she killed her mother, and as she went on explaining, she felt a simmering rage. What father would fill their child with such guilt and shame? Glinda's own Popsicle was a kind, soft-spoken man, who always had time for his daugther's stories and tea parties with Glinda and her stuffed toys.
Glinda tried to bring up the Governor, but Elphie just got snappish with her, so she had stopped her attempts. Instead, Glinda would do her best to show Elphie how wrong her father was. She had also asked, or rather demanded (to get her point across clearly, her magical and clever Elphie could be horrifically dense sometimes!) that both Thropp sisters come visit her and her parents in Frottica during the summer. Her Momsicle had been delighted with the possibillity of guests, especially the girl who had her daughter so bewitched.
Her Momsicle probably thought she was being subtle with that wording. Glinda had known that her feelings for Elphie went beyond friendship for a while now. She was pretty sure it was mutual. It was such a delicious feeling that she'd written her mother about it, and, in a moment of weakness/lovestruckness, told Fiyero. He was being unbearable about the whole thing, trying to wingman it. Poor Elphie had noticed his strange behaviour, and asked Glinda if she might have done something to offend him.
Walking into their dorm building, Glinda wondered how it would be best to tell Elphie. She had already decided to take the leap when Elphie and Nessa came to Frottica. Glinda knew Elphie wouldn't enjoy any grand, scandalicious gestures, but she still felt it was only polite to at least bring some flowers. Perhaps she could ask Nessa what Elphie's favourites were? Glinda decided to lay the matter to rest, and focus on her essay. It was horribly unfair to give homework for the weekend, especially philosofical writing assignments about history no one in the class but Elphie and Doctor Dillamond found interesting.
When she reached their dorm, Glinda was suprised to find the door open. Elphie usually spent the two hours after classes ended at the dreadful book place, no matter how much Glinda pleaded. The room was empty, so Elphie had probably gone to get a snack from the cafeteria, as she usually did after classes ended. Glinda kicked her high heels off and laid her books on her desk. Then, she startled, hearing an echo from the balcony. It sounded like a small animal groaning. Glinda hoped it wasn't an injured bird, they always made her moodified.
Glinda didn't really want to go investigate, but Elphie would never let her hear the end of it if she came back and had to help Glinda with whatever animal was out there. Glinda sighed, put her shoes on again, and picked up a broom. She slowly pushed the balcony door open, feeling the spring breeze hit her cheeks.
Then, all the air left her lungs. Elphaba was curled up against the balcony railing, whimpering softly, with her head leaned against her knees. Her uniform was crumpled and a letter with a red wax seal was clutched in her left hand. She didn't seem to register Glinda's prescense, and Glinda was suddenly at a loss. She considered herself a happy person, but Glinda still had her bouts of melancholy, and it didn't take much for her to cry. Elphie was always considerate and supportive. The first time Elphie had comforted Glinda had been after their midterms. Glinda had done alright, except for one poorly written essay. Elphie had found her crying in the bathroom, and immediately rushed over and embraced Glinda. Her arms were a bit too tight, like she was unused to hugging people, but Glinda savored the affection all the same.
Glinda had seen Elphaba cry only once. It had been at the Ozdust, and Glinda felt the shame rear its head at the reminder of her treatment of Elphie. Glinda was, however, pretty sure the tears weren't her fault this time, and Elphie hadn't argued with her sister or Fiyero. That left grades, but it was Elphie-she not only excelled in all their classes, she also genuinely loved knowledge.
A choked sob from Elphie kicked Glinda into action. It was no use standing around staring dumbly. She sank to her knees next to Elphie, who gasped when Glinda took her right hand. She lifted her head, revealing a tear-streaked, puffy face.
"Glinda? Don't you have class right now?" she mumbled, clumsily wiping at her cheeks with the hand clasping the envelope.
Oh.
Glinda, who had been in panic-mode since she saw Elphie, registered the wax seal. That was the wax seal of Governor Thropp. Glinda squeezed Elphie closer, and grit her teeth. She wanted to threaten the Governor, and suggest sending him some strongly worded letters. She almost did, but then she felt Elphaba's cold hand in hers. No. Even if he didn't deserve it, Elphie loved her father. Glinda needed to thread a bit more carefully.
"Class ended early. Is that letter what's got you so moodified, my darling?" Glinda whispered, cradling the hand holding the envelope. Elphie nodded mutely, head sagging against Glinda's chest. "Do you want to talk about it?" Another nod. "Alright. You're really cold, Elphie. Can we go inside, please?"
"Yeah." Glinda pulled Elphie to her feet, lead her to her own bed, wrapped her up in the enormous, pink blanket, and sat down next to her.
"Pink goes good with green, you know." Glinda smiled at her own cheesy line. "Well." Elphie smiled shakily back. "Pink goes well with green, my sweet."
"Exactly." She pulled Elphie's feet into her lap. "Do you wanna tell me about that letter now?" She asked carefully, maintaining eye contact.
"No, I can't, I won't know how to-can you just read it?" she avoided Glinda's eyes, pushing the papers into her hand.
"Are you sure?" She checked, stroking Elphie's legs.
"Yes. I want to tell you, but I'm not sure how." she declared. Glinda carefully opened the envelope, scanning the pristine cursive letters.
She felt the sentences settle like lead in her stomach, sadness and anger battling for dominance. The Governor's message was short and cruel. He remarked that Elphie had grown far too bold, forbid her and Nessa from going to Frottica during the vacation, and suggested that Glinda befriending Elphie was an elaborate scheme to embarass him and the Thropp name. Glinda refused to think about the fact that she had, in fact, done exactly that half a year ago, and forced her attention back to the page. The Governor didn't think Elphaba should go around Frottica making herself even more of a a spectacle, and concluded with a comment about his kindness and lenience making his daughter lazy and ungrateful.
Glinda bit her tongue until she tasted blood, desperately trying to think of words that might ease the hurt. Elphie's sobs started anew, soaking Glinda's shoulder. She gave up thinking of words to console her. It would be like putting band-aids on bulletholes. Elphie's father was a vile, heartless man, and neither of them could change that. Elphaba had tried to do so her whole life. It seemed akin to embracing a scarecrow made of razor blades. Glinda wanted her to stop, so she could bandage the cuts.
"I'm so sorry, darling. Please, please, please come with me to Frottica anyway. You have enough money in the bank to cut ties. That man doesn't deserve you, and you don't owe him anything." She kissed Elphie's forehead. It only made her sob harder. Glinda tried to emphasize her own breathing rythm to keep Elphie from hyperventilating. Elphie's breathing eventually got steady enough for her to manage words.
"I think, that there's something in me, it's not even the green," she laughed humorlessly, "that's just unloveable. And, that it-" her voice cracked, "that it can't really be fixed."
Glinda wanted to cry. She was proud that she kept the tears at bay. She grabbed Elphie by the shoulders, and forced her to meet Glinda's eyes. "You're the kindest, and funniest, and smartest, and magicalest person. And I love you, and so does Nessa and that nanny you had. Dulcibear. And I know you think there's something fundamentally wrong with you, but you're not unloveable, darling. Your father doesn't have the capacity for love. He's the one who's broken."
Glinda sighed, and looked at Elphaba. She looked to be in some sort of daze. "You're so lovely. So loveable. Please nod, I need you to hear me, please." Elphie nodded slowly. Then, a bit more resolutely. They both sat there while the clock ticked, breathing in and out together.
"Thank you, Glinda." Elphie smiled slightly. "Can I sleep here? Your bed is very soft."
"Of course, anytime. And you're welcome to sleep there, but then you have to come shopping with me tomorrow. That's how it works." She declared, nodding imperiously.
"Well, if it's how it works, my sweet." Elphie grinned up at her. Glinda's heart settled for the first time since she walked onto the balcony. It was a beautific spring day, and tomorrow would be beautific too. And she could buy Elphie those raspberry macrons she pretended not to like after they went shopping. They'd be alright.