Accidents Will Happen

Chapter Five

"Remind me again why in Oz I agreed to this?" asked Elphaba as she stepped out of Galinda's small, baby blue city car.

Next to her, Galinda broke into a wide grin, looking far too pleased with herself for her liking.

"Admit it, Elphie: it was an excessively generous offer that you simply couldn't refuse."

Elphaba scoffed at that and buried her hands even deeper in her coat's pockets, her shoulders hunching over. With an askance expression on her face, she glowered at the double storey terrace houses before them.

"That is what you call a flat?" she asked dourly.

Galinda tittered sheepishly.

"Well, it's not exactly a house either."

"To most students? It's a frigging palace."

Tsking, Galinda adjusted the strap of Elphaba's satchel on her shoulder and made to search her purse for her keys.

"Apologies for exceeding your standards of acceptable living spaces. You can sleep in the wardrobe under the stairs if that makes you feel more at home."

Elphaba nearly snorted a laugh at that. Reluctantly following her through the modest front yard and up the steps to the door, she genuinely considered being a hint more grateful for her classmate's help, no matter how unnecessary her efforts seemed to her.

"Galinda?" she said, just when she was about to push the key into the lock. Galinda turned her head. "I...Thanks, I guess. It's just...I don't want to become some rich kid's charity case."

Dropping her hand and straightening herself, Galinda offered her a strangely soft, almost wistful smile.

"That's fair enough, I guess. And don't worry, I'm only partially doing this out of charity." Her eyes darted back towards the lock, and she began to fiddle with the keys again. "I do find you quite intriguing, you know?" she said distractedly. "I haven't exactly figured out the logistics of it yet, but I wouldn't mind being your friend."

"The logistics of it," repeated Elphaba slowly and huffed.

She had a good idea of what Galinda meant by that. She'd be her friend of sorts, as long as she could hide any connection between them from her real, proper, acceptable friends. Well, it didn't really matter. She didn't need her friendship, and she wouldn't stay very long at her place either. Maybe just for a few weeks, until the weather would warm up a notch. Or until Galinda became bored of her, whichever event happened to occur first.

The door swung open.

"Tada!" singsonged Galinda somewhat awkwardly. "Welcome to your new home."

Elphaba cast a cautious peek inside prior to actually setting foot into the building. There were two closed doors left and right from the entrance. A long corridor issued into what, at first glance, appeared to be a living room. The walls, as well as any doors and window frames, were painted a brilliant white. The large crystal and chrome light fixture in the middle of the passage made them glow far too brightly for Elphaba's taste.

"This is the small bathroom," explained Galinda, knocking at the door to her left, and Elphaba's attention immediately re-focused on her hostess. "It has a toilet, washbasin, and a tiny shower. If you feel like a bubble bath, you'll have to use the bigger bathroom upstairs."

She nodded dutifully, even though, unbeknownst to her new housemate, she had no use for showers or bathtubs of any kind.

"And this"—Galinda grinned excitedly as she opened the door to the opposite room—"is my study. Which I really don't need, because I do most of my work on the couch, in the kitchen, or upstairs in my room. Basically anywhere else but here. So, this will be your space from now on."