A/N: Hey everyone! As promised, here's the second chapter. I know its a little short, but this story is kind of difficult to divide into equal chapters, so expect some long ones and some mini ones. Oh yeah, for any America readers, a 'lift' an elevator. Can't help being English!
Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, all your comments were so nice, I really appreciated you taking the time to make my day. I hope you like this chapter too!
Silverpistola
Chapter 2 - An Embarrassing Mix Up
"This place is pretty nice."
Zelda's parents had allowed her the luxury of sharing a suite with Midna rather than having to endure sharing with them. Ciela had given them a quick tour of the resort before she allowed them to retire to their rooms. It was nice, heavenly even. There were natural springs instead of a pool and the restaurants overlooked the beach, which was lined with palm trees. The whole place seemed rather untouched considering the fact that a five star resort had been built upon it.
The suite however, had all the usual luxuries of royal lifestyle including a kitchen, queen size double beds and other various useless extras such as heated towel racks and a fridge chock full of champagne, chocolate and exotic fruit. Midna stretched out on the couch and flicked through the two hundred and twelve channels whilst Zelda washed her face.
"Ew, we get porn," she heard Midna remark, distastefully.
"This whole trip is a disaster waiting to happen, you know," Zelda called from the bathroom.
Midna settled on an alternative music channel and got to her feet.
"So negative."
"Not negative, realistic," Zelda reasoned, wandering from the bathroom into the bedroom. "You know what my Mother has planned for tonight, don't you? A three course meal for all three families and you and Sheik."
Midna walked into Zelda's room and perched down on the bed. The balcony doors had already been opened to allow the breeze and the sound of the sea to infiltrate the room.
"What an opportunity for you to look simply stunning," Midna told her.
"Or make an absolute idiot of myself."
"He won't notice if he's staring at your chest," Midna answered, getting up and wandering over to the largest of Zelda's suitcases that had been deposited near the bedroom door. "Wear some high heeled sandals and one of those little strappy summer dresses and watch him drool."
Zelda smiled, weakly. "I don't know how much effect that will have."
Midna shook her head and hoisted the suitcase onto Zelda's bed.
"The seduction method is tried and tested. It never fails."
At this Midna slowly unzipped the suitcase. And then frowned. Zelda's eyes flickered to her friend and then followed the direction of her gaze. Together, they stared at it as though it were a ticking bomb.
"That's not mine," Zelda finally whispered.
"I guessed that," Midna answered, dryly.
"It must be Sheiks'," Zelda concluded, taking a step away from the bed.
Midna quirked a brow as she delicately lifted a green shirt from the case. "Somehow I don't think Sheik would wear this," Midna looked across the room at her best friend who was staring at the t-shirt in horror. "Zelda?"
"This isn't happening," Zelda moaned. "That cannot be Link's suitcase."
Midna replaced the shirt on the top of the pile. "I'm afraid it is."
"You know what this means don't you?" Zelda cried in anguish.
Midna looked thoughtful. "An answer to the age old question; boxers or tightie whities?"
"I'm gonna have to go down to his room and give it back to him!" Zelda exclaimed, ignoring Midna's previous comment. "How exactly could this
happen? Have I somehow inadvertently offended the Goddesses? That's the only explanation!"
Midna rolled her eyes, ignoring the babbling of her best friend.
"Should we look?" Midna asked, staring, speculatively, at the case.
"No!" Zelda squeaked, slamming down the lid of the case.
"Are you telling me you aren't even the slightest bit curious as to what's in there?" Midna questioned, her hand on her hip.
Zelda was already working at the zips. "No. I mean, well, yes, but I can't. It's an invasion of privacy."
"His camera could be in there. Or his diary," Midna contemplated. "Or his preferred method of birth control."
Zelda blushed, scarlet. Midna grinned.
"I'm kiddingZellie," Midna said slowly. "Of course Link Hero wouldn't have birth control. I highly doubt he's ever needed it."
Zelda yanked the case down onto the floor and rolled it out into the living room. "I am not having this discussion! I am taking it up right now before you convince me to do something insane."
She could hear Midna's laughter all the way down the corridor to the lift.
Her knock at the door was too loud; her hand was shaking with nervousness. She cursed the goddesses for playing with her like this. Of course, she could have had someone else return Link his luggage, but would that make him think she was avoiding him? Or perhaps that she was too idle to do it herself? And the truth was that she did want to see him, as much as the prospect of doing so made her feel so queasy.
Colin opened the door, much to Zelda's relief, and smiled, widely.
"Hello Zelda," he greeted, amiably, holding the door open for her. "Come to exchange the luggage?"
Zelda glanced around as she wheeled in the suitcase. The Hero's suite, she was glad to see, was every bit as fancy as the one she was sharing with Midna.
"Um, yes," She answered, uncertainly.
"Link thought it was a little strange when he opened his bag to find it chock full of dresses," Colin told her.
Zelda flushed scarlet. Of course, he had opened her bag, just as she had opened his. Zelda struggled to remember what she had packed. Surely he hadn't been through her bag once he'd realised the mix up? Although, she had to admit she'd been sorely tempted to look through his…
Oh, she was pathetic.
"I didn't look inside it, well, once I'd realised it wasn't mine," Link told her. Zelda's heart leapt; he'd just emerged from the balcony, his hair tousled by the delicate summer breeze.
Was it possible he'd just read her mind?
"I never said that you did," Zelda quickly answered.
He fixed her with a penetrating look, before pointing to something behind her. She turned and saw her suitcase stood up by the door. It was almost identical to her own, just a simple mistake. Of course, it had to happen to her.
"Oh, thank you."
"I'd have brought it up to you, but I didn't know if you'd finished with the photos yet," he explained, running a hand through that glorious hair.
Zelda forced a smile. "Well, now you don't have to."
Oh, why couldn't she seem to say something intelligent around him? She longed to make him laugh with some comment that would break the tension or to catch him off guard with a sexy remark. Instead she ended up looking like the world's most boring girl.
"You're all coming to dinner tonight, aren't you?" Zelda asked.
Link nodded. "Our parents can't wait," Colin told her.
"Well, I'll see you then, I guess," she turned sadly, feeling her heart sink as she picked up her rightful suitcase.
"Zelda, do you want me to-"
She turned and saw him stood behind her. Up close he was even more intimidating, but she held her nerve, for once.
"Do you need any help with that?" He managed to ask.
"I think I can manage. Thanks though."
He nodded. "You're welcome." His true blue gaze engulfed her. "See you at dinner."
Of their own accord, her lips shot him a smile, this one genuine. He blinked, unnerved.
"Yeah, see you."
He remained stood in the doorway as she dragged the suitcase to the lift and the doors slid open.
It was only six o'clock, but already Link felt exhausted by the days' events. Colin ran ahead of him along the dock, his sneakers thumping against the wood. The sun was low and the horizon was bleeding gold into the sky. Mercay Island might possibly have been the most beautiful place Link had ever seen, but walking along the dock, passing by young lovers and families, only seemed to make him feel sad and empty.
Colin, on the other hand, seemed to be bubbling over with excitement, especially when he stopped before a liner close to the end of the dock.
"Hey Link, come check out this boat!" Colin called down the dock, waving to his brother.
A figure emerged on the deck of the ship and leaned over the edge to get a good look at Colin.
"Sweet ship mister," Colin called up to him.
The seafarer shot him a wide smile, revealing a couple of golden teeth. His eyes were small and bright blue and his bottom lip was scarred. He was skinny as a scarecrow and dressed in leather three-quarter pants and a rumpled white shirt. Still, there was certainly something indefinitely charming about him.
"Why, thank ye kiddo, she's me pride and joy," he answered.
"She?"
He pointed to the sign. S.S. Linebeck.
"Linebeck?" Colin read.
"Yep, that's me," Linebeck answered.
"Oh! I'm Colin and this is Link," Colin pointed at his brother. "We're on vacation."
Linebeck nodded. "Ah, with the royals? You kids have the run of the resort for the next two weeks, Ciela was telling me. So, you know much about boats, Colin?"
Colin shook his head.
"Colin likes fishing. He's actually really good," Link told Linebeck.
Colin beamed, glowing with pride.
"A boy after me own heart. D'you wanna come aboard; have a glance around me beauty?"
Colin opened his mouth, but Link beat him to it.
"We have to go to dinner soon. Our parents will kill us if we're late," he explained. Colin's face fell.
"Ah, o' course. Well, how about ye come back tomorrow Colin? I'll be here all week," Linebeck told him, kindly.
"Yeah, I will!"
Link glanced back at the hotel and then at his watch. Only ten minutes till they had to meet in the restaurant and suddenly the hotel looked a lot further away than he'd estimated.
"We have to go Mr. Linebeck. It was nice to meet you," Link told him politely.
"Ye too lads. See you round Colin!"
"Bye Mr. Linebeck!" Colin called over his shoulder, running to catch up with his big brother.