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It wasn’t a great night.
Everything was loud. Everything smelled too loud. Everything looked too loud. Everyone was annoying.
I hate everyone. Go away. Can’t you see I’m yeeting you across the room with my mind. I could do it for real if Madame would only let me. Stupid “restraint of supernatural abilities in public spaces.” They’re being supernaturally annoying.
This is what I had been thinking all night as I had handed people disgustingly fancy coffees-that-were-barely-even-coffee-at-this-point-just-sugar with a plastered-on smile and rang in their orders. Not that it mattered. People gaped and startled at me all night long.
Yes, I know, I’m green. Kill me now I hate people looking at me ugh I hate everything.
If you’re thinking I’m sounding really negative, you would be right. Unfortunately, working at Suzie’s Foamy Delights til ten pm just does that to you.
So, when I finally got back to my dorm, I threw my pin decorated bag on the ground with a BANG (I swear I didn’t actually intend to use that much magic, uh, sorry, slightly dented floor) and collapsed headfirst onto my bed. With a growl, I boomeraged my bag back to my hand again, realizing I forgot something important.
Yay. Headphones and an empty room. The only good things in life.
I hastily put the green and black headphones over my ears, paired them to the Bluetooth on my phone and blasted music into my brain.
Yayyy…
My mind drifted into a happier, less toxic place. I don’t really have the energy to stim right now, but that’s okay, because I just blasted my bag into the ground again. That released some of the pressure.
The headphones had been a gift from Galinda, when I had finally gotten some explanation as to why I was such a frickin weirdo all the time. I mean, partially. Y’know. Honestly, the autism was the least surprising thing about me, at this point.
Madame Morrible hadn’t been surprised. “It’s not uncommon with those gifted with the supernatural arts,” she had said, unemotionally, while glancing over my medical records one day.
Doctor Dillamond hadn’t been surprised, when I had mentioned it, quietly and kind of bashfully, to him not too long after my official diagnosis.
“Ah yes,” the old goat had said, with a nod and smile, “that does fit. Always did know that you’re a special lassy.”
The only surprised person had really been Nessa, who had just looked at me with a peculiar expression and went, “Oh. Really?”
“Yeah,” I had said, shrugging.
“Is that why you’re so weird?”
I had snorted. “Pft, I guess. One of many reasons, child.”
Nessa just nodded thoughtfully, like she was seeing her sister in a bit of a new light.
A noise at the door stirred me from my thoughts.
“Heyy!” Galinda said, tossing her pink purse to the floor, no doubt back from a party or going out with Fiyero or another other human social gathering of some sort, “you’re back! How was- oh Oz what’d you do to the floor?”
I made a disgruntled noise and slipped my headphones around my neck. I figured that was an answer enough.
“That great huh?” Galinda said, walking over to her mirror and began undoing her hair. I had done a Munchkinland braid for her this morning. Ever since Galinda learned I could do Munchkin hairstyles (see: a lifetime of caring for Nessarose) (who rivaled Galinda in her obsession with hair) (they scared me when they were together-) she had insisted that I help her learn. However, I was starting to doubt she really wanted to learn how to style it herself, or just have me do it all the time.
Even though I grumbled about it, I didn’t really mind. It made her happy, and… yeah. I liked making her happy.
“I hate everything,” I replied, which I didn’t really mean, but it felt good to say.
“Hmm,” Galinda hummed, setting down her hairbrush. “Well that’s not good. That place really isn’t nice to you is it?”
I rolled over on my bed with another disgruntled huff. “It’s not really the place’s fault. I just-” I vesture vaguely to the ceiling. “-I don’t think the world likes me very much sometimes.”
Galinda gave a little frown. No doubt her first instinct was to refute that statement; Galinda was not of the kind that liked to believe that anyone disliked her, and so, me by extension, was included in that. But it was hard to deny, here. Me and the world had a pretty bad track record, considering, quite literally, I didn’t seem to be built for it.
“I-” Galinda frowned again. “-don’t like that very much.”
I laughed. “Yeah, me neither Glin.”
But Galinda wasn’t laughing. “I wish I could help.”
“You do help,” I said instantly. “You bought me these!” I flicked my headphones.
Galinda gave a little smile and mocked bowed. “All rise for the headphone fairy.”
I grin. “Nah. Not getting up for that.”
Galinda giggled. “Figured.”
She vanished briefly to change into her pajamas (they’re pink) (did I even have to say that or-) before crawling into a ball by my side.
“This isn’t your bed,” I commented.
Galinda pouted. “But but… it’s my room!”
“It’s our room,” I corrected.
“It was mine first,” she stated with a sniff, “you were an accidental roommate. So by logical linguistics and conclusion, this is also my bed.”
“Uh huh,” I said, wrapping an arm around her, “sure. Well, there’s a tax for lodging here, traveler.”
“What?”
“You’re going to listen to this medieval bardcore version of Sabrina Carpenter's ‘Manchild’ that spends four minutes roasting King John.”
Galinda stared at me. “What the heck-”
I grinned wickedly, snatching my phone and pulling it up in a flash. Galinda watched it in complete, concerned silence, while I sat, barely containing my wild grin. When it had concluded, she looked up at me very very slowly.
“You are very weird,” she stated.
“Yes.”
“Who’s King John?”
My eyebrows shot up. “You don’t know who King John was??”
“No?” Galinda exclaimed, “Why on earth would I know that, Elphie? I’m assuming he sucked?”
“Oh he sure did!” I huffed, sitting up straight. “Despite modern analysis, his historical record clearly shows that-”
Before long, I had informed Galinda everything about King John and how he did, in fact, suck, and forced her to listen to more medieval bardcore covers and yap about their surprising historical accuracy. She especially grinned at “Pink Pony Inn” and “I Shout Out for a Hero.” This pleased me.
And then it was 12:36 am.
“Okaaay yeah we should probably sleep,” Galinda said, looking at the clock.
“But nooo don’t you want to hear more about the corrupt monarchy of England in 1199?” I cried, grinning. “Or Wikipedia dive all night?”
Galinda shook her head. “Nopers. You’ll have to dive in the morning m’lady. Gimme your phone.”
“Noooo.”
“Yeeesss.”
Galinda lunged for it.
I am a half foot taller than her. So, I raised my arm.
Galinda huffed. She stood up on my bed and tried to snatch it. I last second lunged out of the way, then rolled into a protective ball around it.
“Aha! Foiled again, fair maiden.”
“No fair!” Galinda pouted. “I’m doing this for your own good, you know.”
“Mhmm,” I hummed. “Sure.”
“I am!”
“I think you’re doing this so you don’t have to listen to another infodump. Not sure why, though! They’re incredibly helpful. I’m basically ensuring you pass Medieval History.”
“I’m not taking Medieval History!”
“Shoot.”
“Give me your phone, Elphie.”
I hesitated for one more minute.
Then,
“Fine.” I slapped it in her hand.
“Good,” Galinda tutted, “I’m putting it out of reach.”
“You are four foot eleven, woman.”
Galinda stuck her tongue out. “Maybe that’s in the ground, then, huh, what do you know?” She scurried away, and then returned shortly, sans phone.
“You’re still here?” I smirked. “Thought I would have scared you away with all that.”
“No,” Galinda replied, returning to her curled up ball position next to me once more, “you could never.”
“Aww,” I said, and Galinda looked up at me and smiled.
“Besides, I’m cold.”
“Ahhhh! So now the truth comes out!” I snickered. Galinda giggled, and snuggled close.
After not long we fell asleep. Sometimes, throughout the night, I would drift in and out of consciousness, brain frazzled and confused, like it had too many colors fizzing my head from the day before. But then I would shift my arm and bang into someone warm and-
Oh, yeah. Galinda.
And that would quiet it all down.