By: Tara Tellman
Ch. 1 Remember
The last few days of summer vacation were winding down in, L.A. And for sixteen-year-old Malon, it all seemed too exciting to stop so suddenly. She had just come back a week earlier from her grandfather's horse ranch in Kentucky. She had been helping him raise a newborn foal she named Epona. Her grandfather gave the foal to her for her birthday, and she had gathered many pictures of the little wobbled legged baby, and all their precious moments. It's little legs covered in white up to its knees, and black to its shoulders, dark caramel brown covering everything else but its white main and tail. The foal also had a black stripe down its nose, a thin line surrounding its charcoal eyes.
Malon lay on her bed, flipping through the pages of her scrapbook she made for the summer vacation. She smiled weakly, turning a page to show nothing but a young man, holding her in his arms in the air, her hands around his neck. His short blonde locks barely touching his eyebrows, hovering over ocean blue eyes. His name was Link, and they had been seeing each other during the summer. He was a stable hand, and he help deliver Epona. That's when they had met.
She had heard that the mother Vicky, named after Malon's grandmother, was going into labor. Her and her cousin Sheik raced out of the house, and drove in farm truck down a curvy road for a few minutes into the driveway. As they stepped out of the truck, she saw Link walking around the corner from the stable doors. Malon hadn't paid much attention to him yet, as she was looking at the giant hills, but Sheik walked up to him, hugging his old pal.
" Man, it's about time you get down here," Link joked.
" Dude, you try switching from straight roads like in L.A., then to a maze from hell like Kentucky, then you come talk to me," Sheik argued.
Link dropped his hand from Sheik's, his smile vibrant. Malon noticed her cousin socializing, and turned to find him with and old friend it seemed. Sheik faced Malon, and reached out his arm around her back, pulling her into the crowd. " Hey Link, this is my cousin Malon. Malon, this is Link."
Malon was dumb struck. Link was a total babe. He looked like he could bench press 250 lbs. His hair was perfect, and his eyes were like looking in the sky, only you fell into them. And his skin was a little tanned, like you'd expect from a stable boy, but not dark.
" H… hi," she repeated, unable to stop blushing.
Link smiled again, " Hey. Nice to meet you," he reached out his hand.
Malon's hand reached out towards his, and felt his large fingers hide her small ones. His skin felt so tender, it shocked her. She'd expected rough, cracked skin like Sheik's, but she guessed that only happened to Sheik. Soon their hands departed, and they went inside to watch the birth.
A few hours later, Malon noticed Link from the corner of her eye come out of the stable. She had been sitting in the truck. She couldn't stand to watch the birth. It was just to God awfully gross.
" It's a girl," Link said, as he got closer to the door.
" Aw. What does it look like?" Malon sat up, a look on her face as she placed her hands on the door's edge.
" Just like her mother," Link smiled. Malon blushed again. His smile was so charming, it made her feel safe, but she had only known him for six hours.
Link noticed her blushing, and chuckled a little as he stepped closer. Malon felt herself lean toward him a tad, as if she had no control. " That's good. She'll be beautiful when she gets older," she smirked.
" You're already beautiful," Link placed his hands on Malon's. Normally she would've smacked him, but she couldn't move, she didn't want to. " I want to get to know you Malon. I can't help but feel that I have to, that I need to," he let his thumb sail across the top of her hand.
Malon looked in his eyes and he looked in hers. " What do you mean?" she tried to be innocent.
" I mean, that, I want to kiss you," he strained. Malon was lost as she realized what he said.
" I…want to be, kissed," she whispered, her smile gone with his.
Link didn't answer, at least not by speaking, He went in slowly, and Malon was still thinking she was dreaming. But when she felt his warm breath against her skin, she knew she was already awake. He was so close, she could see his upcoming facial hair, but she didn't feel it when she slid her fingertips along his cheek.
Link was closing space between them, and Malon was about to lose it all. Her thoughts were gone, and she didn't notice anything around her, until…
" Hey Malon!" Sheik shouted from the doorway, "come in here and see the foal!"
Link and Malon jump back instantly, hoping that Sheik didn't notice anything. " Ah, yeah, in a second," Malon shouted back. Sheik nodded, and ran back inside.
" Well, guess I have to go," she sighed, disappointed.
" Yeah," Link looked down, rubbing the back of his neck. He stepped back as Malon opened the door. She looked back up at him briefly, and continued walking. She really hated Sheik right now. She was just about to feel his lips and Mr. Fat Head had to come in and ruin the best part of her summer. God, she could kill him.
" Wait!" Link jumped toward her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her onto his lips with care. He placed his fingertips on her face, pulling her closer to him. She lifted her arms and put her hands around his neck, caressing his chin. Link moved his hands on her waist, bringing her against him. Malon had completely lost it as he leaned his head forward, kissing her again and again. She felt as if he had put her on clouds to watch the sun set.
Malon moaned softly as she kissed him back endlessly. Link made himself slow down, pulling his head back. Malon's eyes were still closed as Link stopped hairs away from her lips, his breath making her open her eyes. She smiled a flirty smile, a weak smile as well, as Link did the same. Malon stumbled backwards against the barn, and laughed embarrassed. Link laughed with her, watching her ever so lovingly. Malon remembered that she had to go see the foal, and stumbled into the stable.
Malon laughed as she closed the book. She missed Link. He was her first love, and she still loved him. He called every day at least two or three times. They always had something to talk about. His band, which he played drums, Epona, her cousin, her grandfather, school. The possibilities were endless.
" Malon! Dinner!" her mother shouted up the steps.
" Alright!" she sat up, brushing little fuzzy pieces off of her shirt. She placed the book back in her bookcase in front of her bed, and turned off the T.V. on top of the bookcase and strolled out to dinner.