Chapter Text
"Drop me here at the corner, ama."
"Alright." Ama Clutch brought the car up to the curb and looked at Galinda across the console wryly. "When should I come get you?"
"I'll get a ride from Avaric," Galinda said distractedly, undoing her seatbelt.
"You won't be coming back tonight then." Ama was giving her a knowing, disapproving look. "Have fun. Don't let him get his way quite as much, hm?"
"I'm not his mother."
"With a boy like him? Close enough." Galinda grimaced. "You know that's not what I meant, anyway."
Galinda had quite enough of that. She opened the door and stepped out of the car. "Thanks for the lift." She shut the door and walked a block and a half down to Milla's birthday party.
For the first time in her life, Galinda had no idea who would be at the party she was attending. She didn't really know who Milla hung out with. She wasn't actually in Galinda's friend group, but she was a prefect of Crage Hall, and that meant all the prefects had to go to this party. They'd had to submit an essay on party attendance earlier that term and it was in the backs of all their minds.
Shenshen's mansion of a house came into view when she turned the block corner. Milla had very boldly asked Shenshen if they could host it at hers as a birthday present. Shenshen had the best house of anyone in their group and Milla, Galinda figured, had the worst. It was the mythical coolness of Shenshen's house that made this request passable; who wouldn't want their party at Shenshen's place? So Shenshen had agreed.
Galinda picked her way through the front yard, careful with her heels on the gravel and grass. The front door was open. Music she'd heard right from her ama's car reverberated from the house, the bass strong as a hammer. The interior was a crowded mess of people dressed in all kinds of outfits. She had to give Milla credit for making it a costume party; Galinda had a backlog of costumes she'd been waiting to bust out, and she'd came in one of her favourites tonight. Not her best. That was reserved for better parties.
At first Galinda had put it down to the costumes, but as she walked around and got a good look at the people she realised these weren't the usual Crage Hall - Ozma Towers crowd. She'd seen some people from Three Queens, the kinds of people she'd rather not be able to recognize. The rest were completely unidentifiable. She couldn't categorize them because they were all in costume. She just knew most of their clothes were second hand.
The real shock was the Animals. Actual Animals! At the same party as her! She was baffled. She'd only met one or two in her life, she was under the impression there simply weren't that many in Shiz. Apparently they'd all come to this party. Galinda had no idea what the procedure was with Animals. She beelined for the kitchen, where she knew Shenshen would be.
She spotted her friends around the kitchen island. "Girls!" she called, relieved and only half hiding it. She joined the ring with her arms curling around Shenshen and Pfannee's waists. They cried out and squeezed and kissed her. Milla was across from them, pouring shots with a couple of mystery girls. They weren't from her cheerleading team, but they had her preference for dyed hair and piercings.
Galinda managed to catch Milla's eye and gave her a smile. "Happy birthday babe."
Milla blinked. "Galinda." Galinda hadn't said she was coming. It was an intimidation method she'd been taught by the third year girls, something only particularly liked people could get away with. "Didn't know you were coming." It wasn't meant to be called out.
Galinda rolled with it. "I wasn't invited?" She glanced at Shenshen and Pfannee.
Milla shrugged her shoulders. "No one from Crage Hall really was, other than my team and Shenshen. And yet here you two are. I feel special." She said this sarcastically. Galinda contained any visible disapproval, she didn't feel up to sparring with Milla. Though it was spectacularly easy to find herself in such a conversation.
Her and Milla seemed like adversaries in Galinda's mind, both of them school leaders of opposing camps. Of the four prefects, Galinda and Milla had been the two chosen by the faculty rather than the student body, and of the two of them Galinda - from the principle of the school herself, Madame Morrible - had received the honour of Head Girl.
This had caused some stir. Head Girls were generally elected by the student body, and had that come to pass Shenshen would have been the obvious winner. She was the most popular third year and possibly the most popular student of Crage Hall's to date. To Galinda, Shenshen was a true person's-person. She was a natural partier; daring but relaxed; confident but casual; genuine, but somehow undeniably cool.
She was not Head Girl material. Head Girl was Morrible's posterchild. Smart, beautiful, ambitious, winning, and good. Galinda had been plucked from a pool of relatively well known girls as if by random, and found immediate popularity overnight; not just because she was Head Girl, but because she was the first second year to ever be Head Girl, and because she had stolen Shenshen's rightful claim.
Not that Shenshen cared at all. The first day of Galinda's second year Shenshen had greeted her at their first prefect's meeting with a hug and a grin, and thanked her for saving her the stress. Pfannee seemed far more bitter over the whole event. She was the only prefect that'd really worked for the title. Galinda honestly felt a bit bad for her.
Milla, on the other hand, was only there because she was the cheer captain. "Where are the cheer team?" Galinda asked.
"Probably dancing." Milla slid the shot she'd just finished pouring over to Galinda. It was three different colours. "Shots?"
"What kind?"
"ABC."
Galinda downed the shot. It was stronger than she thought, but she kept her composure. Mostly. Milla gave her an uncomfortably sexy smile.
"What are you dressed as?" Pfannee asked.
Galinda struck a stiff pose, tennis racket in hand. "Barbie."
"Babe, it looks super good," Shenshen said lazily.
"I was wondering why your hair looked like that." Pfannee was an expert at passive aggressiveness. Galinda inspected Pfannee's outfit quickly. A devil, to go with Shenshen's angel. It suited them, but it was far from original. Galinda formulated a cutting response.
"I like the joints," Milla interrupted. Galinda blinked at her. "On your waist and shoulders and shit. That's sick."
Galinda smiled unbidden. "Thanks."
Shenshen's hand jumped away from her waist. "Oh my god! Sorry, I hope I didn't smudge it-"
"I used the good stuff, it's not going anywhere. Unless you've already covered yourself with vodka."
"On my way." Shenshen winked and took a shot.
"Where's Avaric?" Pfannee asked, surveying the party. She always had to ask about Avaric.
"I assumed he'd be here," Galinda said.
"We haven't seen him."
Galinda rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. "I've gotta go wrangle him from whatever drinking game he's in then. Need him to complete my look." That got her a chorus of disgruntled, knowing responses, and a flicker of jealousy from Pfannee. She gave them a little wave and pushed back into the thick of the party.
The lounge room had been completely cleared of furniture and was the densest dancefloor in the house. There was an impromptu stage area with mics and amps and a DJ station beyond it. There wasn't a band there currently. Above the DJ was a projector screen with some artsy film playing. A fat drag queen with discoloured eyes was raking her hands over the chests of some hunky men. It suited the music, which Galinda couldn't really identify. Horror deephouse? It wasn't really her aesthetic.
She waded through people, following the sound of chanting men, until she was seized by her waist. "Hey babe."
"Avaric! I was looking for you." She pushed his hands off of her. "You're gonna smudge my waistline." He frowned but didn't complain. She looked him over from head to toe. Hair waxed back, golden brown tan, topless except for the bright yellow sweater tied and hanging across his shoulders. He had followed her instructions pretty well. All he needed was the contouring and he'd be the perfect Ken. She took his hand. "Let's get you finished up."
They got a whistle as they climbed the stairs, heading for the spacious second floor bathroom. "Escaping already?" Shenshen grinned up at them.
"Wanna join us?" Galinda shot back. Shenshen guffawed.
"Just don't use my bed."
"We'll stick to your parent's. It's bigger anyway."
"You sick fucking kids."
There was already a line in front of the bathroom. They went to Shenshen's room. "We're gonna use her bed after all?" Avaric said with a white, dimpled grin.
Galinda moved him to sit at her vanity. "No. I need you looking perfect tonight, so just shush and let me work."
He looked at her through the mirror. "Yes ma'am."
Galinda started with the line she had to contour across his neck. She tilted his head up and admired his profile in the mirror. He was the perfect kind of handsome, with the square jaw, the cut cheekbones, the dreamy, heavy set eyes. The distinctive nose that set him apart from any other good looking boy. It was why Galinda had started dating him in the first place. She loved that profile.
She carved out the doll joints on his shoulders, then made him stand up to do his waist. His abs kept shaking. "Avaric."
"It tickles."
She straightened up when she was finished. "Alright. Done."
"Why do I have a tennis ball?"
"Because I'm tennis Barbie and you're my sexy ball boy Ken."
Avaric looked at himself in the mirror, brushing some of the loose setting powder off his peck. "I still think this is super gay."
"That's what being hot to girls looks like Avaric." She packed up her makeup. "Come on." She slapped his ass. He laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her down into the party.
Galinda lived for their descent down the stairs. People looked up at them and stared. They stared with hunger and envy. She felt like a queen holding a perfect piece of meat in one hand and a hundred leashes in the other. She felt like she was dangling him over a hundred snapping mouths that would never have him. He posed naturally, she had not even had to instruct him, and she loved him for it. These moments reminded her why they were together. Only Avaric, king of Ozma Towers, could bring her sweetest fantasies into reality.
It was over once they reached the end of the stairs. A ring of Ozma Towers boys waited. This was Avaric's burden, his work for the fantasy. Avaric's friends, nameless and faceless to Galinda, were practically shaking with the chance to rip him down.
They'd barely come off the last step. "Nice look man. Who's dressed as your boyfriend?" There was a ripple of laughter.
"Shut up," another guy said, silencing them. He was closer to Avaric than the others, Galinda knew that much. He eyed Avaric. "You're bold, I'll give you that."
Someone made a whipping motion. The ring of boys trembled with amusement.
They looked at Galinda from the corner of their eyes. They looked at her the same way they had from the very first day her and Avaric had began dating; with an unsettling mix of anger, jealousy and undisguised desire. She hated them, to be honest. But they weren't really her concern.
Avaric took his first opening. He draped his arm over Galinda's shoulders. "Anything for my girl."
Galinda took the cue. She patted Avaric's chest. "And you look so good. I'm staying at yours tonight, right?"
"Sure," Avaric murmured into her neck, kissing her under her ear.
She pushed herself gently out of his arms, her part done. "I'm gonna go find the girls, okay?"
"Come find me later." He slapped her ass as she left. Clever bastard. She caught his friends faces in her periphery and knew he was doing some gross gesture. He'd shown up the single guys and dragged the rest onto his side. She'd known it would happen, she'd been banking on it really. It was still upsetting.
Galinda went in search of friends. There was a band playing in the main room now. The projector above was showing a chaotic scene set in a street. She couldn't see the band through the throng of people, but it sounded way too loud and angry for her anyway. She didn't like any music that involved screaming. Is that what Milla liked? Metal or whatever? She couldn't believe Milla was a prefect of Crage Hall. She couldn't quite believe she was at this party right now.
She eventually found the cheerleading team. They were in the home theatre, smoking weed and not-watching Clueless. Several of them were making out, including Milla and a girl not from Crage Hall. More than making out. Milla's hand, curled around the back of the random girl's knee, slipped under her skirt. Galinda was frozen in the doorway.
"Oh fuck, it's the queen of the school." That roused the attention of most of the cheerleaders, all glancing at the thoroughly stoned speaker and then at Galinda. "Didn't know you'd be gracing our party, your highness." There were some leisurely, mocking chuckles.
Galinda decided not to respond. The cheerleaders, under Milla's protection as cheer captain, had an overt distaste for the upper crust of Crage Hall. Galinda found them all very out of place in the school, but they were one of the school's most successful athletic teams. Milla was small and cocky, but she knew how to cheer.
Milla looked up at her belatedly, the girl half under her still covering her neck with hickies.
"You're not gonna dance at your own party?" Galinda asked.
Milla blinked slowly. "Who said I'm not gonna dance?"
"You can't dance wasted."
Milla grinned. "Bet I could dance with you."
Galinda scoffed. Milla watched her silently. Galinda frowned to herself. "I'll dance with you if you can stand up." Milla pushed herself out of the girl's arms and up onto her feet. She stood in front of Galinda steadily. "Well, look at that."
"I don't need to be wasted to do what I want," Milla said frankly. Galinda grimaced back. "I get the feeling you don't keep promises. Gonna dance with me without getting wasted, princess?" The cheerleaders made a series of 'oooh'ing noises.
"I never promised." Galinda didn't know exactly where the conversation was going or what Milla was trying to put across. Or maybe she did. She didn't want to think about it. "Come find me in the lounge room later and I'll dance with anyone."
Milla dropped back onto the couch, the girl curling back around her. "So you do need to get wasted. Shame."
Galinda returned to the kitchen and found Shenshen and Pfannee still there. She got drunk, because there wasn't really anything else to do. She did shots, she drank mixers, she did more shots, she took part in a brief and ultimately unfinished round of king's cup. She stopped short of getting smashed. She was still holding out for a dance, if the music changed.
Shenshen and Pfannee went off to go to the bathroom, which could take ages in a big party like this. Galinda would have to find either Avaric or Milla. She wasn't keen on seeing Milla again. She'd find Avaric and demand he change the music, or take her home. His or her place, he could choose. She was feeling generous tonight.
She collided bodily with someone while searching the crowd, her drink going all over both of them. She jumped back in horror. "Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" She blinked up at them. They were tall as hell, even taller than Avaric. They held their shirt off of their body, peering down the stain it'd left on their black tank top.
"It's fine," they said back. She? He? Galinda couldn't tell. They had makeup on and their hair was long, and beautiful under the light, but they were so broad shouldered. They were kind of weird, actually. Galinda realised they were probably a metalhead from Three Queens or Briscoe Hall. She was about to excuse herself until the person looked to the side sharply, their profile set against the projector.
That was a good profile.
"Hey, sorry, what's your name?"
The person looked back down at her. "Elphaba." They were still searching the crowd distractedly. "Sorry, I thought I heard someone…" They waved their hand and looked at her. "I'm Elphaba."
"I'm Galinda of the Arduenna clan." She didn't see any flicker of recognition in Elphaba's eyes, and that both irritated and interested her. Everyone knew her. "So, um. You came as a green person. Is that like, a reference to something?" Now that Galinda had said it, she realised the green makeup on their skin was really well applied. Like, expertly. There wasn't a bit of it on their black clothes or on the cup they were holding, and there were no gaps or discolouration.
"I didn't actually realise this was a costume party."
Galinda laughed her ass off. They'd said it so deadpanned, it was hilarious somehow. "You just painted yourself green for the aesthetic. I love it." She didn't really, she thought it was lazy, but at least the application was flawless. "That's seriously impressive though. It looks totally natural. I tried to get mine realistic, but you could teach me a few things I bet." She flashed her contoured shoulder.
"Wow. You did that?"
"Yeah."
"That's pretty impressive."
Galinda blushed and grinned. "Thanks."
"Are you a makeup artist in the making?"
"Not really. I'm good with makeup just because I need to be."
"No? It looks like you'd be quite good. I have a couple of friends that are becoming makeup artists…" They were searching the crowd again.
"Did they do the green body paint on you?"
They looked back at Galinda with a grimace. "It's not-"
"Wait!" Galinda grabbed their wrist as she realised what was playing. "Oh my god! I love this song! We must dance." She pulled them into the crowd. They yelled something but Galinda couldn't hear them. She held them in a vice grip and moved to the music.
When she saw that they were just kind of watching her awkwardly, she brought their hands to her hips and grinned at them enthusiastically. "Dance with me!"
"I don't really dance."
"Everyone can dance in the club, babe. Come on." Galinda put an arm around their waist and danced against them. "Like me!" She went wild. When she refocused next they looked totally freaked out. She laughed. "Oh my god, are you okay?"
They were staring at her body. "I really have to find my friends," they called, finally looking back into her eyes. God, their eyes were black. Pitch black. And maybe it was because of the light, but their hair almost seemed purple. Not dark brown or true black like Munchkins', but a deep, deep purple.
She didn't want them to go. There was just something so interesting about them. "Please dance with me," she said, grinning helplessly. "I've wanted to dance all night, and if I don't have anyone to dance with I think I'll lose it."
They looked torn. They shook their head, as if exasperated. "We wouldn't want you to lose it, would we Barbie?" They started dancing. Kind of. It was a rhythmical swaying mostly, but it was enough.
Another song came on, but Galinda was already in her groove, barely acknowledging the music. Elphaba had loosened up a bit and had a hand on her hip, body rolling to the beat. They got down at a drop in the music, and Galinda cracked it, half collapsing against them. "And you said you can't dance, you fucking liar."
"I said I don't dance." They grinned down at her. They'd put in fake teeth, monstrously sharp. Were they dressed as a monster? It was subtle, and kind of attractive, which Galinda appreciated in a costume.
The music stopped suddenly. Galinda looked up at the DJ station as the dance floor erupted with confused, angry calls. Avaric was up there. Galinda blinked as he took up the mic. "I need Barbie to meet me at the dining table." He put down the mic and climbed out of the station.
Elphaba looked at her. "Does he mean Barbie as in you, or-"
"He sure does." Galinda took their hand and dragged them over to the table. As they made their way over, the next song started to play. Galinda laughed in sheer joy.
"This is not a dance remix of Barbie Girl," Elphaba said.
"This is a dance remix of Barbie Girl."
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Galinda made her way down to Shenshen's front yard. It was covered with the usual party trash and an unusual amount of ornate cutlery. The music still beat strong, but Galinda was tired and in pain, and sobering up fast.
Avaric was bringing his car around from the next block where he'd parked. Galinda wandered out over the lawn toward the street. She saw a little huddle of people under a tree. They were smoking and playing guitar, singing something folky. They glanced at her as she passed and she glanced back, and recognized one of them.
"Elphaba? Elphaba, right?"
They did a double take. The rest of the huddle looked between the both of them. The tall, green person muttered something to their friends and paced over to her. "Hey." They looked her over. "What are you doing out here? You look cold."
"I'm being picked up really soon," Galinda said, waving off an offered jacket. They put it around her shoulders anyway. It smelled like cigarettes and beer, but it was warm. She gave them a little smile. "What are you doing out here?"
"Just enjoying the beautiful weather," they said flatly, glancing at their friends. "We're waiting for our ride too. Need the van for our gear."
"Your gear?"
"We were playing before."
"Oh." Galinda blinked. Gear. Guitars. Leather jackets. Duh. "Oh! You were the band!"
"Yes. Milla is a friend of a friend of a friend, so…" They shrugged.
Galinda reviewed them under this new light. They had a bunch of piercings. Their nails were painted and their arms were black. They almost looked like tattoos, but why would they bother putting tattoos into green makeup? Unless they really loved their tattoos. They were fairly simple, at least.
"Galinda!"
Avaric was jogging over the lawn to her. He put his arm around her the second he was near enough and eyed Elphaba. He glanced down at her. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Galinda said, slightly puzzled. She shook off his arm and removed the jacket, and handed it back to Elphaba. "Thanks for the jacket. And the dance. You've got some moves."
Elphaba smiled, raised a shoulder in a lazy shrug. "Anytime, Barbie."
"You're Fae?" Avaric asked.
"Yes," Elphaba replied stiffly.
He looked at them for a long moment. He made a face. "Shit… I thought the rumours weren't true. You're a real green dude? What the fuck, man?"
Elphaba grimaced. "Don't call me that."
"Green? You're green though, like…"
"Man. Don't call me man."
The huddle of people were all standing up and watching them now, their faces set grimly. Galinda looked between Elphaba and Avaric. "Wait… what?" Galinda blinked at Avaric. "Babe, it's makeup."
Avaric looked at her like she was stupid. She hated that look. "Um, no? Look at him. He's fucking green."
Galinda couldn't help laughing. "Green? It's a costume party. They're not actually green."
"He's fucking green. He's Fae the green dude. Have you not heard of him?"
"I'm not a guy," Elphaba said. Their voice was strong but their face was dark, their eyes cast to the ground.
Avaric looked them over. "You're a fucking guy, man."
"You'd better back off dude," one of the people from the huddle said, stepping out and into Avaric's space. He was a big Vinkan guy, covered in tattoos.
Galinda grabbed Avaric's arm. "Come on, let's just go."
"How about you fucking back off-"
"Avaric," she said sharply. He looked at her. "Now."
His jaw worked, his eyes flicking between the huddle of people. He let her pull him off to his car.
"Was that person seriously green?" Galinda asked. "Like, actually?"
"Yes. He's like, an urban legend in Shiz. Green monster faggot punk singer. You've seriously never heard of him?"
She slipped into the passenger side and buckled herself in. He turned on the ignition and put the heater on. "Never."
He pulled out into the street and sped down the road. "My place, right?"
Galinda relaxed into the seat, watching the world pass by at a hundred kilometers an hour. "Sure."
"You danced with him?"
Galinda looked over at Avaric's profile. He was trying so hard to look indifferent. She rubbed his thigh. "Barely." He looked across at her. She smiled. "Feeling threatened by a freak?"
His mouth twitched. Then he smiled. "Nah."
Galinda wondered idly how tonight would play out. Avaric was usually agreeable after a good party, but an incident like that could make him insecure and eager to prove himself. It was a roll of the dice with Avaric. She tried to steer him in the right direction when she could.
Once they were at his place they guzzled water and relaxed. Galinda relieved herself of her bang-piece and tight ponytail. Avaric raked his hand through his stiff hair, sighing tiredly. "Wanna watch something?"
"I just want to get to bed, honestly."
He looked across at her. "Hope you're not too tired."
"I'm here, aren't I?" She smiled lopsidedly and he smiled back. He stood up to head for the stairs.
The moment of truth. How brave was Avaric feeling? Did they go up, or down?
He hesitated. He glanced at her. She tilted her head and looked at him a certain way, and hoped it didn't scare him. She saw the goosebumps breaking over his arms. She saw his eyes trail from hers to the floor and then to the stairs.
They went down. Galinda was privately relieved. As she descended the stairs, the second descent of the night, she slipped into character. This character was not dissimilar from the other. In one hand she held a perfect piece of meat and in the other she held a leash. It was Avaric whose role had changed.