Chapter Text
Galinda awoke one fine spring day to frantic murmuring and flying garments whizzing around her bed. Snaking her arms behind her head, she sat up and quizzically turned to her roommate, who was in the process of shoving every book she'd ever owned into her ratty old suitcase.
"You're… actually going back?" A rare occurrence, given that Elphaba's father usually only ever sent for Nessa whenever holidays rolled around. Elphaba paused in her attempt to cram two books into a one-book-wide space and grimaced.
"Father has requested that I accompany Nessa on her journey home this week. He says he wishes to celebrate my birthday, given that it falls right in the middle of this little break Morrible's granted us. However, I know him, and that sentiment is bullshit." She sat roughly on the end of her bed. "You said you'd be staying here, correct?"
Notwithstanding the fact that she'd just been granted knowledge of Elphaba's birthday, Galinda nodded. "That's what I planned, yes.” Elphaba grimaced, suddenly looking quite awkward.
“And you’re not planning on doing much, correct?”
“Nothing at all, really. I’m going to be bored, but at least it’ll be over quickly.” Yeah, right, her conscience griped. Two weeks’ll just fly by. She sighed and laid back down, turning toward her roommate with one lazy blue eye. The green girl flicked her gaze around the room, determined not to make eye contact, and wrenched her mouth open.
“I have a… a request. I know it’s a bit much to ask on such short notice, but–“
“You want me to come with you.” Elphaba sat, stunned, but stammered out an affirmative.
“Th-that was the idea, yes. You’ll have to prepare yourself for some grade-A fuckery—“
“And you’ll have to stop cursing like a sailor.”
“—shut up. Ah… grade-A fuckery… yes. Um.” Averting her eyes and blushing faintly, Elphaba spoke quietly to her knees. “I would a…appreciate it greatly if you would possibly-maybe-perhaps accompany me."
“Well, no need to be so formal,” Galinda chortled. “I’ll pack up at once! What should I bring?”
“As much as I hate to say it, bring most of your stuff. The ride is long; the hallways, dirty. With how much you care about your appearance, you’ll definitely want to change out of your garments, stained with the filth of the masses–” Galinda swatted the girl’s wildly-gesturing hand out of the air.
“You’re riling yourself up again; don’t be so dramatic. Also, you’ve neglected to exposit: your birthday?” She broke into a wide grin. “Why didn’t I know about this sooner? Also, why didn’t I know that you’re a whole seven months younger than me!” Elphaba cringed at the realization.
“Didn’t know you could subtract so quickly,” she grumbled, attempting to deflect, but her roommate had already bounded across the room and was now sprawled on her bed, practically convulsing with interest.
“Oh, you horrendous child!” Galinda whined. This. This is why. Elphaba sighed.
“I will be an adult in less than a week. I’ll also have you know that, currently, you are the one acting childish, and I do not wish to continue this conversation any longer.” She may as well have stamped her foot and pouted.
“Ew, pessimist. Why don’t you like your birthday?” Elphaba retreated into herself.
“Why would I celebrate the inevitable marching of time slowly consuming my mind and body to the point of senility? What point is there in living when I can no longer distinguish between the components of my world? Getting older is such a hassle. My accomplishments will begin early and end when I am still young. Frankly, there’s nothing to look forward to in the later years.” A bald-faced lie, but a convincing one.
“Ew, pessimist.” Galinda shuddered at her roommate’s grave monotone, but quickly began to giggle. “Well, look at me, using big words! Are you proud, Grouchy?” she sing-songed, laying her hand over Elphaba’s and intertwining their fingers. The long-suffering green girl huffed, faking irritation but in reality disguising a scratchy laugh.
“Very proud, fuckin… uhhh. Bubbles.” She flushed (at the stupid nickname, of course) but stood her ground, willing to die on that hill if need be. “Now if you’d stop bothering me about my birthday, I need to get my things in order. You start packing, too.”
“Ohhh, you’ll really be impressed now! Watch this!” One day, on a whim, she had had the prescience to practice shrinking objects; now, she could reduce her mass of luggage to one even Elphaba’s little brother Shell (whose existence had been revealed in a rare sentimental moment) could manage. Suitcases full of dresses and hat boxes dwindled in size until they eventually fell into another, larger suitcase. She debated continuing the iteration for a laugh, but she had run out of suitcases. Instead, she whirled around to face her roommate and doubled over in a theatrical bow. “My performahnce, complete.”
She relished Elphaba’s small, toothy smile.