Author's Note:
I use some coarse language in this fic as well (i.e. retard, dumbass, bitch). This is why I rated this fic PG-13. Though I am using words typically part of any teen's vocabulary, in now way do I mean to make derogatory remarks about the mentally challenged, homosexuals, or anyone else. If these words offend you then please do not read this story.
Disclaimer:
I do not own any of these characters. The movie A Walk To Remember isn't mine either, I've only watched it and I liked it! ^^;; *Sucks up to the movie's directors, grovels at their feet* So don't sue!
Scenes From Last Chapter:
Well it appears Link, Ruto, Zelda, and Anju are all in drama together! Boy it's like one big happy family with those guys (Except not). Ruto tries to embarrass Zelda and yet again it fails, then Ms. Gerudo tells the class they will be doing the play 'A Midsummer's Night's Dream' for the school and try-outs will be on Monday. Link asks Zelda to help him practice his lines and she agrees. He follows her along to dance practice (They end up falling on each other ^_^;;) and then to her house. Link suggests Zelda should try out for a part but she's not sure yet...
Please read ~ review ~ enjoy!
You Could Never Feel This Way
By Jasmine
*
Chapter Three: Game, Set, Match
Ruto and Malon sat together on the bleachers, all around them screaming parents and teens cheered on the team. The air was crisp and cold, laced with an assortment of cascading multi-hued autumn leaves. Ruto wore a woven plaid shawl over her thin torso and thick red pants; her lips were again stained with a heavy caking of her trademark crimson lipstick and designer Gucci sunglass blocked her sensitive eyes from the dazzling Fall sun. Malon was adorned in a suede jacket lined with wool, accompanied by fur-lined boots reaching up to her shins, and a white skirt. Her cinnamon hair was styled into big curls and a white floppy hat nestled atop her head, shading her pale face and drossy eyes. Obviously the girls were a tad overdressed for a high school football game yet it was completely unthinkable for them to wear any simple casual outfit. Together they looked the picture of rich label-obsessed spoiled brats, and they wouldn't have it any other way.
Malon yawned; covering her mauve lips with the back of a hand, and squinted down at the field. Her brain was throbbing with the remnants of a hangover and she whined, "Ruto, this is foul! You drag me from my bed after a full night of dancing and drinking, for this? I am all for running a Winter Ball Princess campaign and having a 'bubbly cheerleader' image, but this? It's too much! Am I missing something here or have a few screws gone loose in your brain?"
The Zora's gaze remained steadfast in front of her and her eyes stayed hidden behind the thick tinted glasses. With a slight pucker of her crimson lips, she stated flatly, "We are here to watch Link."
Malon rolled her deep chocolate eyes from under the shade of her wide brimmed hat. "I was right, you have gone crazy! You are Ruto remember, my well dressed yet venoms best friend? If I recall you've always despised Link," she questioned with barely disguised exasperation.
Ruto threw up her hands in shock and her lips screwed into a circular gasp. "O Goddesses, I still can't stand that ignoramus blonde jock, but that's not the point!" she responded, flustered at the very thought of even liking Link. Finally as the rouge from her taut azure cheeks began to subside she added, "There is a threat to our very popularity emerging Malon, even of more importance than the Winter Ball Princess, and we must take action against it!"
It was Malon's turn to release a sharp breath and gaze at her friend as if she'd lost her mind. "Greater importance than the Winter Ball Princess? There isn't anything more important!" she snarked angrily and in disbelief.
The slender Zora lowered her voice and brought her face closer to the red headed girl's ear. With a secretive tone, she said almost in a whisper, "Yes there is and it's named Zelda." Of course she'd referred to Zelda as an 'it', that's all she was to them; some hurdle they most overcome, an eyesore that tainted their view.
Malon's creamy nose crinkled up, making her look at least from the moment ugly, and she snorted, "Ugh. Why did that fashionably challenged misfit even come to our school? She doesn't belong with us." Then the rest of Ruto's words sunk in and the red haired beauty unscrewed her nose, asking curiously, "Wait, I hate her but how is she a threat to us? Puh-leaze, she is such a loser; the very idea makes me laugh!"
Ruto raised a hand up and pointed towards the blonde young woman some bleachers down from them. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she wore a comfortable outfit of faded jeans and a sweatshirt. "I know, it seems so unlikely, but believe it, Malon. Though she is a nerd Link has seemed to take a liking to her - the way he helped her out in the caf, and get this, after drama he asked her to help him run over some lines with him! He could have very well asked me, I would have said no of course, but still. That makes me think he likes her, don't ask me why he would," she informed Malon on the latest news.
The girl's eyes followed Ruto's finger to the spot she was pointing at and Malon studied the girl with disapprove. She shook her head, sending the curls careening over her shoulders, and stammered, "I... I don't believe you! There is... no way Link likes that thing. He's been all over me since forever, I have the boy whipped! I snap my fingers and he comes running! Maybe he is just being nice to her because he feels bad." There was also a tinge of horror in her voice, as if the very thought of loosing her slave shook her to her core.
The Zora gazed at Zelda too, scanning for potential before finally relenting with a sigh, "I know she dresses worse then a K-Mart saleswoman but let's be real here - In some designer duds and with a better hairstyle she could actually be... somewhat pretty."
Malon glared at Zelda with sharp, stormy eyes and merely rumbled a 'humph' in the base of her chest, crossing her arms before her torso.
Ruto continued her explanation of her anxiety, "And as elite as we like to think we are it really isn't all that hard to become popular, it's all a matter of association. Link became popular because, well, every underclassman practically faints when he walks by and he plays this idiotic football well. Then Saria, being his best friend, obviously was raised to accepted status as well. Finally Mido, that loud-mouthed fool whose even more dim than Link, became popular after dating Saria, even if he sucks at football. Its really quit possible to climb the popularity ladder of Hyrule High."
Malon's face went pallid and she clamored to respond, the idea of Zelda being popular completely disgusting her, "But Zelda is.... so.... so.... Well just look at her! She's a peasant!"
The shimmering Zora glanced once more at the blonde in the bottom bleachers and a scowl flashed over her sharp features. "If she were to date Link, the 'God' of our school, Malon, she wouldn't be a peasant anymore. You and I both know if that were to happen she'd gain instant acceptance among the privileged crowd," the girl reasoned begrudgingly. Then turning to stare straight in Malon's eyes and lifting her sunglasses to the top of her smooth head, she said realistically, "She'd become the Winter Ball Princess."
The Zora watched as Malon's face was crushed by her words. How could this be true? How could an utterly hopeless girl seem to be so close to taking away all that Malon had ever wanted? Finally rage flashed within her eyes and she gritted her teeth. She couldn't let that happen, at any cost, she'd do anything to put Zelda in her place and get that tiara.
A burly football fanatic held a big soggy plastic container of nachos in his hand and suddenly leaped up, shaking the stands with his movement, to cry out as Hyrule scored yet another touch-down. A minuet splatter of cheese flew from his dish and onto Malon's wool lined suede jacket, the girl looked down in aghast terror and absolute rage.
The man with the thinning hairline glanced over at the small spot and his chubby cheeks jiggled as he apologized sincerely, "I'm really sorry about that miss. I'll pay for the dry cleaning..."
Yet Malon interrupted him with a loud shriek and a blanching stare, "O my Goddesses! This jacket is Dolce And Gabbana; it costs more than you or your bratty kids combined, you incompetent oaf! Watch where you slosh that gross processed orange goop, but if I were you I'd lay off the cals buddy, that gut isn't growing any smaller." Then with a sniff of revulsion she turned back to the football game, her hair flicking out.
Grasping into her tan leather purse, she clasped a small white bottle and downed two Advil. Then with narrow brown eyes she growled dryly "I so hate football games."
*
The game was over; Hyrule had won by a landslide, mostly because of Link. The blonde young man jogged over to the benches, receiving high fives and pats on the back as he went along. He congratulated the other dejected team on a well-played game and smiled at them. With perspiration slick on his well-defined face, he grasped his water bottle and took a long swig.
"Great game, Link. You sure showed those losers, I mean they're from a public school. Gag me with a Versace belt," the haughty voice of a familiar female carried to Link's ears and the quarterback looked with his dark azure eyes up to the railing that separated the fan's bleachers from the field. Leaning against it lightly as to not get a smudge on her expensive clothes stood a beautiful Malon, her chocolate eyes intense on him.
A half smile slid across Link's face, normally he would have been overjoyed with just one pleasant comment from the red head and sent into a frenzy of hopes, but now it just didn't seem to hold the same luster. "Thanks Malon," he stated flatly.
The creamy skinned young woman's eyes filled with doubt and rage at his uninterested response. Where was the big goofy grin? The lack of proper speech? Why was he acting like she was just some ordinary girl?
The Zora to Malon's left saw things were not going the way they expected and piped up, "O yes it was great. I mean the way you carried that... pointy ball thing... down to the goal line..." Her words trailed off as she tried to think of football terms and sadly came up void.
Link gazed at Ruto from the corner of his eye, sloshing off sweat with a towel, and wondered why she's complemented him. She never did that before, not once. It didn't matter anyway, everything that seemed to matter before now appeared so petty and unimportant. "Thanks, Ruto. I think," he responded, detached.
Ruto's eyes went slightly wide; she'd fouled up and gave Link a perfect opportunity to make some rude comment yet the young man resisted. It was as if he was bored of them, disinterested.
The rich fiery haired girl plastered on a smile, even if it was strained, and giggled, "You look so cute in your uniform! The blue does match your eyes." She flickered her long mascara caked eyelashes a few times and rested her upper body on the rail, pushing her full chest up and into plain view.
The young man ran a hand through his wet sandy blonde hair and his thoughts were filled with confusion. It seemed as Malon was flirting with him but Malon never flirted with him! She'd often told him she'd never date a high school boy; that they were the equivalent of hormone driven dogs. "Uh ok? Thanks," Link said and gave her a questioning glance.
Malon felt enraged that he wasn't falling into a puddle of mush before her and quickly changed tactics, standing upright and wiping away all traces of dirt from her sweater. "Link, my daddy's going away on a business trip tonight and I have the house all to myself. Ruto and I are throwing a party; everything anyone could possibly want will be supplied. Would you like to come? We could finally get some alone time, just you and me..." she asked and drew her voice out, trying her best to sound seductive.
Link was wondering the best way to reject the red head's offer; he was too weirded out by her attempts to come on to him, when suddenly he spotted a blonde making her way down the bleachers. It was Zelda, her long slender legs clad in form fitting faded jeans and an oversized grey sweatshirt encasing her petite upper body. Her long golden hair was pulled back in a high ponytail and there was an adorable furrow in her brow as she tried to concentrate on climbing down the steep benches in one piece.
"O Zelda, over here," Link called to her and watched as she looked up, her beautiful face lighting up at the sight of him.
She walked over, keeping a slight distance between her and the two rude rich girls. "Hey Link. Good game," the blonde young woman said with a dazzling smile.
Malon glared at Zelda with piercing brown eyes and interjected, "Good game? He played a great game!"
This comment received strange glances from both Link and Zelda. "Um sure... Thanks Zelda. It was a team effort anyway, everyone played good today," he replied humbly.
The blonde nodded, sending her long ponytail to swish against her back. "They played good? No they played great!" she commented, impersonating Malon's previous phrase, and then laughed, Link laughing as well at their inside joke.
Malon felt totally out of the loop as she watched the two laughing with each other and catching each other's glances, blushing faintly, and averting their eyes slightly, only to do it all over again. What was up? When had this frumpy girl become more attractive then her? It was like a scene from the Twilight Zone! Clearing her throat and biting back the annoyance that still tinged her tone she said, feigning cheeriness, "Well hope to see you tonight Link." Then a smirk played over her peach lips and she glared daggers at Zelda, mocking her. At least for one night Link would be hers, all hers, then she could have a chance to charm him and have him twisted around her little pinky again. My, was she crafty!
The blonde was staring at Zelda yet again when Malon's words finally sunk in and he turned his head to look at her. "Uh ya, Malon, do you think Zelda could come? I mean she's new and it would be nice of you to include her in some social stuff," he questioned, hope in his intense blue eyes.
Malon stood there in her wool and suede skirt and her mouth dropped open, stuttering for something to say. If she said no then she'd come off as a bitch and she'd never have a chance to get back Link's affections. Then again, if she said yes she'd have that walking fashion faux pas tagging along with them all night. What's a girl to do? "Um... Ok... I guess, but she better wear something nice, as hard a task I know that is for little Cinderella. We have a specific dress code at my parties; we don't allow just anyone to walk through my doors," she said and resolved to allow Zelda to come but make her night a nightmare and drag Link from her as soon as possible.
"K cool! So what you say, Zelda? You gonna come?" the jock asked, his face pleading with Zelda to go even if he knew this wasn't exactly her type of scene.
The blonde beauty gave Malon a sharp look at her new nickname for her, 'Cinderella', and then bit her petal pink lip softly in thought. Finally she uttered, "Well alright. Don't worry about your precious dress code either, I'll show up decent ok, evil stepsister."
Malon blanched at the thought of being an ugly stepsister and then made a growl in the base of her voluptuous chest. Fluffing her curls with a hand she quipped, "Whatever, just be there. See you later Link, my handsome Prince Charming. If you dump this vagabond maybe you and I can have some fun later, if you know what I mean." Then with a flirtatious wink of her chocolate eyes, she strutted away, followed by Ruto, her hips swaying madly.
Zelda watched the girls go and shook her head, splaying her blonde ponytail across her back in long gleaming strands. "What's up with Malon? She's practically all over you," she inquired, cocking a gilded eyebrow.
The young man sighed and replied, "I don't know. Before when I use to like her she wouldn't give me the time of day, and now she's coming on to me pretty strong for some reason. It's weird."
Zelda's pale face shown with dejection and she could not hide the sadness in her pallid cerulean eyes. "O so you like her?" she questioned softly, silently smacking herself for ever thinking otherwise. He was the God of the school and Malon was their Goddess, it made perfect heavenly sense for them to hook up. Why did she care anyway? Zelda didn't think she was interested in Link and that it was soon to start a relationship up, but the pang of hurt in her heart told her otherwise.
Link's eyes grew wide and he responded hurriedly, "No, no, no. I use to, not anymore. Whatever little flame I had for her is completely gone now." Then a small smirk glimmered over his face and he said, a jovial laugh in his tone, "Why? You jealous?"
The blonde laughed and mockingly gasped, "No way! I just thought you had better taste than that designer label whore is all. Link; don't let being the star football player get to your head. I don't care that much about you to be jealous." She teased him playful and leaned an elbow against the railing, pulling her hands deeper into the wide warm sleeves of the sweatshirt.
The boy chuckled and gave her a weary glance. "Is that so?" he questioned.
With another beautiful grin, a fracture of her white luminescent teeth, she responded matter-of-factly, "Yup." Then pulling back off the iron fence she told him, "Well I've got to be going. I have to go over my dance routine again. I'll see you tonight though I guess."
Link nodded his head, spreading his mop of blonde locks across his forehead, and smiled at her adorably. "Alright. See you then, bye Zelda," he told her and watched the petite girl make her way down the aisle and out towards the parking lot.
*
Link sat on a creamy leather sofa, nursing his beer and boredom. Pulsing techno music blared from a huge speaker, a throbbing synchronized beat that blared against the mansion's walls. The house itself was large and modern, ceiling lights dimly illuminating the sea of teens. He was adorned in khaki pants and a dark blue shirt, looking very handsome even though his wild hair would not be neatly combed and lay tousled and adorable. All around him designer dressed people laughed and chatted, mostly about fashion and how pathetic the nerds of the school were, Link overheard the guys talking about who they had banged this year so far. The usual trivial high school stuff. He swished down another swig of the frothy bitter ale and started counting the number of designs on the wallpaper; already sorry he'd agreed to come.
The voice of a young man on his football team, Dante, floated to his ears, prevalent over all the other blabbering. "That new girl, what's her name, Zelda? She may be a nerd but boy is she hot. I'd do that petite body in a second! Bet I could make her scream too, 'Dante, don't stop!'" He impersonated a female's high-pitched voice crying out and made a pumping gesture, his comment was of course followed by a chorus of rousing laughter from his buddies and some of the other teammates.
The blonde narrowed his eyes and stood, barely raising his voice above normal yet everyone instantly stopped what they were doing and listened. "Yo Dante, man. Cut it out, that's lame," he said, approaching his football mate yet not getting too close just yet.
A smile fell across the crude brunette boy's face and he laughed, "Hey, we're just having some fun, Link. Lighten up." He was slightly handsome in a beefcake sort of way, his neck as thick as a tree trunk and his eyes such a dark shade of brown they appeared almost pitchless black. If this was anyone else standing up opposed to him Dante would have punched him out by now, but this was Link, the most well known guy in school. Going against Link meant popularity suicide.
Link nodded but did not allow a grin to glimmer across his tan face and instead snorted, "Yea well, just cut it out alright. You don't even know Zelda."
Dante's eyes turned into shards as that excuse for a brain of his churned, why was Link so adamantly defending this new chick? Did he like her? Was he actually choosing a girl over his own football teammate? The short yet muscular young man let out a low laugh, spiteful in its tone, and sniggered, "Not for long. Soon I'll know her real good, just after I bag that sweet little..."
Wham!
A fist came hurtling at the man, directly at his nose and sending crimson blood spurting in all directions, the deafening sound of white knuckles colliding with bone ringing in the silence that followed. Link had had all he could take and struck out at Dante in a rage, offering up a hard, crunching blow. Air released from Dante's lungs as he fell back, onto his buddies who tried to catch him but were knocked backwards by his heavy weight. They lay in a heap on the floor, Dante on top with his nose pouring blood and his eyes disbelieving.
Link too could not comprehend what he had just done. Dante was just saying the same stupid pig-headed remarks he always did, before Link had even sometimes found them funny, yet now, when Zelda was his target, he couldn't take it. Somehow he realized the first action had been taken to tare him from his old life, to change the drinking, partying, and popularity lusting that use to occupy his past days. "I told you to shut up, man," Link responded softly, trying to reason as to why he'd done it.
Dante's eyes remained hateful and he spat, blood rolling off his lips, "Un - freaking - believable. You like her. You like that geek and you just went against your friend for her. You're such a rat dude, a freaking rat."
The young man wavered from outrage to feelings of self-loathing. Was Dante right? Was he really betraying his friends? Then again, had they ever really been friends or just guys to get drunk with? "Look, I'm sorry for busting your nose. But you're wrong, I don't like her," he said, trying to believe it himself.
The young brown haired boy's gaze focused on him with a scalding hate, his dark inky eyes telling Link he thought otherwise.
"O my," came a female's voice from behind Link. The young man turned to see a red head standing there leaning against the doorframe for support, clad in a tight fitting crimson dress that went to her knees and wrapped around her waist with a tie, hugging every voluptuous curve of her body. Glistening deep red ruby earrings studded her ears and her medium length fiery hair fell over her shoulders in bouncy voluminous locks. Malon hiccupped, obviously having had one too many wine coolers, and she inquired, fighting to stand upright, "What happened here?"
Dante touched his tender face and winced, glaring over at Link as he responded, "Blondie over here broke my nose."
The red head swayed on her high heel adorned feet and wobbled over to Link sideways, pursing her full, crimson lipstick caked lips. "Naughty, naughty, Link. No beating up the guests," she purred and grabbed a hold of his shirt, pulling him as she fell back onto the leather couch. She giggled, her breath laced thick with liquor, as she sank into the soft fabric and Link landed atop of her with an 'oomph'.
One of his legs was between her knees and she ran a manicured hand up the back of his neck, pulling him closer to smell the intense reek of her intoxicated breath. "My, Link, you are being such a bad boy tonight. I like it," she laughed and slid her fingers up his thigh.
Link pushed Malon's hand away gently by the wrist and rolled off her, taking a seat far to her side. "Get a little tipsy, Malon?" he inquired with accusation in his voice.
"No," she blurted and sat upright as if to prove her point, her back erect. Yet her body wobbled and she fell to the opposite side of Link on the couch, on her shoulder. Her throat bubbled with irrepressible giggles and she relinquished in a slurred voice, "Well, ok, maybe a teeny tiny bit." She had drank herself under the table tonight, downing shots and wine coolers like there was no tomorrow. If she *had* to seduce Link, whom Malon thought of as an immature football player with no class, then she couldn't do it sober.
Link shook his head at her and looked away in disgust but she didn't catch the revolted flicker in his eyes and turned over onto her belly, sliding across the leather seating like a snake, her chest nearly popping out of her sheer top. "Linky, let's have some fun. Come on, I'm bored," she whined and moved towards his lap, grasping his pants again with her hands.
He jumped slightly at her touch and tried once more to push her off but it seemed every time he shoved one hand off another would be right where the last one had been. "Malon, stop. You don't know what you're doing," he told her firmly and finally grasped both her wrists in his strong large palms.
She gave him a frustrated look with her chocolate hooded eyes and exclaimed, "I do! I'm having fun, which is more than I can say for you, gramps. Jeeze, lighten up. You're like an old man, stop being so conservative and live a little!" She snatched her hands away and sat up, crossing them before her full chest.
Link didn't respond, he just rolled his blue eyes and rested his elbow on the arm of his chair, wondering for the second time that night why'd he'd bothered to come to this party.
Malon thought up a tactic in that alcohol-induced brain of hers and without giving Link a chance to react wiggled her way into his lap. Pressing her face into his neck, she whispered seductively, "Link, you know you want me, you've always wanted me. Remember how everyone said we'd be the perfect couple; well let's prove them right. Come on don't fight it, I want to be alone with you. Please, just go upstairs with me." Her hot breath sent shivers down his cool flesh and he reflexively placed a muscular arm loosely around her waist.
She was right, at one time he'd wanted her. He'd spent all his time watching her; enjoying every second she'd speak in his direction or glance distantly at him. Underworld, he'd even dreamed of her saying those exact words to him at one time. He probably still did like her slightly, you'd have to be dead not to, she was fairly beautiful. But he knew too somewhere that he didn't feel the same about her anymore, that he could see through her pretty facade to the ugliness inside, she seemed different to him now. Suddenly she grabbed his hair between her fingers and pulled him into a deep kiss, their lips meeting oddly with a lack of any real desire. Link jolted from his thought and his dark azure eyes grew wide, he pushed the drunken girl from his lap quickly and she tumbled to the ground on her rear.
Before either could say a word the front doors slowly opened and in walked Zelda sheepishly at first. She wore a mid thigh high white eyelet dress with thin straps that fit her small slender body just right, delicate intertwining shoes on her feet and tying up her thin ankles, and her long blonde locks were flowing down her back and shoulders in glimmering strands. Link watched her in amazement, as did many other males in the room, and she looked incredibly beautiful just then. To the girl she felt slightly naked, but she pushed down all her reserve and forced out a smile at the sea of faces.
She spotted Link from far off and smiled bashfully, her pale face adorned in only lip-gloss and a faint petal flush. She greeted, "Hey Link," and began to step towards him.
From a side of the room Dante stood, his nose now clogged with a dark blood soaked napkin and it made his voice sound stuffy and congested. He let out a low fox whistle and grunted, "Well look who it is, Link ol' pal. It's that sweet little..." He trailed off, leaving them to guess what he'd say next, all sorts of perverted alternatives flashing to mind, before he finished with a smirk, "Zelda."
Zelda crinkled her nose and gave him a disgusted glance, before she turned towards Link with a questioning look. "Link, what's going on?" she asked in confusion, seeing a boy with a bruised and bleeding nose, a drunk Malon sitting on the floor looking rather perturbed by his feet, and a room of watching silent onlookers.
The blonde young man stood and started to walk over to the slender girl. "Nothing..." he began to say but was interrupted by Malon's snicker.
Malon laughed dryly, her red hair now dismantled and standing up on her head and her dress hiked up to the tops of her creamy thighs. "O ya, nothing huh Link? Is that what you call it?" she questioned with cunning glittering in her deep eyes, insinuating that it was indeed not 'nothing', and a slick smile on her lips, the crimson lipstick smudged across her cheek. There was Zelda, that blonde bimbo who Link was all gaga over now; everything had been fine until she came along! Malon was not a person to be messed with lightly, she'd see to it that one way or another Zelda would pay until the new girl would wish she never met Malon or come to this school, she'd make Zelda leave Hyrule in tears. The thought of revenge lay heavy in her mind and filled her with selfish glee.
Link shot her an angry glare before turning to Zelda and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Come on let's go for a walk outside. You don't want to be in here anyway, you can hardly move without stepping in bullshit," he told her while glaring at Dante and Malon from the corner of his blue eyes. Then he led the girl to the back door and they left the huge house and the raging party.
The air was singed with an autumn frost and it smelt heavy of damp multi- hued leaves. The sound of the blaring stereo and laughter soon became a muffled din as the pair made there way across Malon's large yard. There was a garden flecked with iridescent flowers and slick jade vines twisting up the white fence surrounding it. A path of large flat stones entwined its way among the beds of cream and lavender hued petals, the pair decided to meander along it. The air hung heavy with the delicate fragrance of honeysuckle and the metallic moon gilded them in its shimmering touch.
The silence settled around them somewhat awkwardly, both blushing faintly from the romantic atmosphere. "So..." the two teens suddenly spoke in unison as they strode slowly through the garden and laughed nervously.
Link looked down at his feet and said with a smile, "You go first."
The young woman flushed and her eyes darted over the gray stones as she stepped gingerly on them before flickering up to meet his gaze. "Ok. Not to beat a dead horse - I always hated that term - but what went on in there? I mean, I know parties can get crazy but that was a little much," Zelda questioned curiously.
Link caught Zelda's pale eyes for just a moment before looking straight ahead and shoving his hands in his pant's pockets. He hadn't wanted her to know about what had happened, she didn't deserve to be subjected to their stupid little feuds, and the young man sighed, "My friends are assholes."
Zelda couldn't help the faint smile from drifting over her petal lips and spoke with a laugh in her throat, "Well they can't be that bad. You have better taste than that, after all we're friends aren't we?"
The football star chuckled softly, his mood lightening, and then snorted, "Yea, I don't think I would even really call them my friends though..." His dark aqua eyes grew distant in thought and he glanced ahead without really seeing. "It's funny. A day ago I thought they were. Now... Now I don't know. I don't know about a lot of a things lately," he mused quietly, his mind spinning. A day ago he would have come to this party, got piss drunk, and practically jumped at the offer to sleep with Malon; now things didn't feel the same anymore, he didn't feel the same anymore.
The blonde young woman didn't know how to respond, she could sense the confusion and reserve in him. Finally she said faintly, "I don't know what you're going through but I can tell you, things can't always stay the same. People grow older and change, friends' drift from one another; that's a part of growing up. We can't stay in high school forever and as much as I wanted to, I couldn't stay in New York forever..." Her last words slipped from her lips quietly and she absorbed her own meaning, that maybe she was going through the same thing Link was, they were both leaving their old lives, her's was hundreds of miles away and Link's was right in the rocking house next door.
They kept walking now in silence, the muffled bass of the stereo and the cacophony of the crickets resounding in their eardrums as well as the soft shuffle of their feet. The pause was deafening as their thoughts overwhelmed them and they were lost in the vast span of electric smoldering stars. Zelda flitted from her somber contemplation and gave a pallid soft smile to the young man at her side. "So what were you going to say? Before our little 'talking in unison' bit?" she inquired.
Link was jarred from his mind by her sweet voice and the wistful warm heat given off by her cream skin; something inside told him to take her hand but he remained walking and resisted his urge. "Before our parrot gag?" he joked lightly with a laugh and then continued, a crimson blush sweeping over his sun kissed cheeks, "I was going to say that you look really pretty tonight."
The blonde smiled slightly and a pink smeared across her face as well although it was hidden by the cool silver beams of the moon's opalescent radiance. "You think so?" she questioned wearily and grimaced as her fingers grazed the cotton hem, "I had this is my closet forever, I feel so revealed in it. I know Malon would probably have a fashion bouncer at the door though so I was forced to wear it."
"Well the more naked the better, as I always say," Link trumpeted teasingly and was rewarded by a swap from the young woman beside him and a groan. He grinned cheekily and remarked, "I'm just kidding. I've never seen Malon look so jealous before though, she was about to burst."
Zelda shook her head, splaying strands of flaxen hair along her shoulders, and gave a short, sarcastic laugh. "Jealous? Ya right, not of me," she proclaimed humbly and tried to hide her blush in the shadows cast by an overhanging fragrant cherry blossom tree with its sprawling contorted branches reaching out above the walkway.
Instead of answering Link drew an arm casually upward and clasped a flower in his hands, the ivory white petals fringed by a soft dusting of pale pink. He took her bare lower arm in his palm gently and stopped her, the blonde young woman instinctively turning to face him with questioning pallor cerulean eyes. He placed the blossom behind her ear while tucking a few carefree golden tresses with it, the tips of his fingers moving across the soft gentle slope of her cheek. She gazed up into his intense dark eyes and saw the twin night skies reflected within them, staring down at her. His breath was warm on her forehead and his touch still lingered along the rises of her skin. Zelda felt herself adrift in the moment and the pale pallor of the moon; if he had bent down to claim her lips with his peach rough ones all logic would have dissipated from her and she would have given in then to the wanting in her.
Link finally parted through the haze of desire rolling over his mind and dropped his hand, his gaze darkening. Zelda didn't like him, she would have been friends with anyone who had showed her kindness, any guy could have helped her with her book bag that day, he thought. Goddesses, snap out of it, if I make a move on her I'll look like such an idiot and I'll never get to talk to Zelda again, Link reasoned. The young man looked down at the stones, anything to avert his eyes from hers instead of getting lost in the depthless pools of translucent sea.
Zelda blinked softly, the long gilded lashes sweeping over the rises of her crescent cheeks, and she pulled back numbly, trying to hide the scarlet seeping over her face. Even after all those ideals she had had about not rushing right into any relationship and giving everything time to develop, with just one escaping glance from him and a wayward stroke she became a melted puddle at his feet. Silently smacking herself, the young woman said hurriedly, "I think I'm going to go grab my jacket and then head home now. It's getting a little cold out here."
The young man looked dejected but he nodded his head softly and responded with a smile, trying to gain one from her, " O ok. Well I hope you survive the trip back into Malon's party, stay far away from her if she's wielding any sharp objects."
The joke was lost on the dazed girl as she merely reeled back on her platforms and started striding through the garden, her long slender legs making wide arcs over the stone path. Link was a little stunned at her reaction and called after her, "Are you going to try out for the play?"
Zelda paused, turning her head around and the luminous bands of light wrapping around her sculpted face. After a moment of thought she said, "Maybe." Then the willowy beauty gazed up ahead and resumed her walk, the cherry blossom falling from her ear and wafting to the soft earth on a methodical breeze.
*
End Notes: O my, it took me a while to update huh? ^^;; I am sooo busy with everything now that school started; with dance practice, my after school job, all the after school committees, homework, and never mind trying to have some sort of life; my apologizes though because that's no excuse. *Readers take out baseball bats* A hehe... Here, meet my English teacher, Mrs. Pasqual, who is making us pass in a paper and read three chapters of a book by Monday... *Places helpless teacher in front of foaming readers and inches away* ... Anyways, this was a very kawaii chapter! Kinda anime inspired, no? Well please take a few more minutes to review, they really encourage me, and I will try to not take so long to update next time, I promise! Next to come, Malon makes true on her word and Zelda holds her own against her!
I use some coarse language in this fic as well (i.e. retard, dumbass, bitch). This is why I rated this fic PG-13. Though I am using words typically part of any teen's vocabulary, in now way do I mean to make derogatory remarks about the mentally challenged, homosexuals, or anyone else. If these words offend you then please do not read this story.
Disclaimer:
I do not own any of these characters. The movie A Walk To Remember isn't mine either, I've only watched it and I liked it! ^^;; *Sucks up to the movie's directors, grovels at their feet* So don't sue!
Scenes From Last Chapter:
Well it appears Link, Ruto, Zelda, and Anju are all in drama together! Boy it's like one big happy family with those guys (Except not). Ruto tries to embarrass Zelda and yet again it fails, then Ms. Gerudo tells the class they will be doing the play 'A Midsummer's Night's Dream' for the school and try-outs will be on Monday. Link asks Zelda to help him practice his lines and she agrees. He follows her along to dance practice (They end up falling on each other ^_^;;) and then to her house. Link suggests Zelda should try out for a part but she's not sure yet...
Please read ~ review ~ enjoy!
You Could Never Feel This Way
By Jasmine
*
Chapter Three: Game, Set, Match
Ruto and Malon sat together on the bleachers, all around them screaming parents and teens cheered on the team. The air was crisp and cold, laced with an assortment of cascading multi-hued autumn leaves. Ruto wore a woven plaid shawl over her thin torso and thick red pants; her lips were again stained with a heavy caking of her trademark crimson lipstick and designer Gucci sunglass blocked her sensitive eyes from the dazzling Fall sun. Malon was adorned in a suede jacket lined with wool, accompanied by fur-lined boots reaching up to her shins, and a white skirt. Her cinnamon hair was styled into big curls and a white floppy hat nestled atop her head, shading her pale face and drossy eyes. Obviously the girls were a tad overdressed for a high school football game yet it was completely unthinkable for them to wear any simple casual outfit. Together they looked the picture of rich label-obsessed spoiled brats, and they wouldn't have it any other way.
Malon yawned; covering her mauve lips with the back of a hand, and squinted down at the field. Her brain was throbbing with the remnants of a hangover and she whined, "Ruto, this is foul! You drag me from my bed after a full night of dancing and drinking, for this? I am all for running a Winter Ball Princess campaign and having a 'bubbly cheerleader' image, but this? It's too much! Am I missing something here or have a few screws gone loose in your brain?"
The Zora's gaze remained steadfast in front of her and her eyes stayed hidden behind the thick tinted glasses. With a slight pucker of her crimson lips, she stated flatly, "We are here to watch Link."
Malon rolled her deep chocolate eyes from under the shade of her wide brimmed hat. "I was right, you have gone crazy! You are Ruto remember, my well dressed yet venoms best friend? If I recall you've always despised Link," she questioned with barely disguised exasperation.
Ruto threw up her hands in shock and her lips screwed into a circular gasp. "O Goddesses, I still can't stand that ignoramus blonde jock, but that's not the point!" she responded, flustered at the very thought of even liking Link. Finally as the rouge from her taut azure cheeks began to subside she added, "There is a threat to our very popularity emerging Malon, even of more importance than the Winter Ball Princess, and we must take action against it!"
It was Malon's turn to release a sharp breath and gaze at her friend as if she'd lost her mind. "Greater importance than the Winter Ball Princess? There isn't anything more important!" she snarked angrily and in disbelief.
The slender Zora lowered her voice and brought her face closer to the red headed girl's ear. With a secretive tone, she said almost in a whisper, "Yes there is and it's named Zelda." Of course she'd referred to Zelda as an 'it', that's all she was to them; some hurdle they most overcome, an eyesore that tainted their view.
Malon's creamy nose crinkled up, making her look at least from the moment ugly, and she snorted, "Ugh. Why did that fashionably challenged misfit even come to our school? She doesn't belong with us." Then the rest of Ruto's words sunk in and the red haired beauty unscrewed her nose, asking curiously, "Wait, I hate her but how is she a threat to us? Puh-leaze, she is such a loser; the very idea makes me laugh!"
Ruto raised a hand up and pointed towards the blonde young woman some bleachers down from them. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she wore a comfortable outfit of faded jeans and a sweatshirt. "I know, it seems so unlikely, but believe it, Malon. Though she is a nerd Link has seemed to take a liking to her - the way he helped her out in the caf, and get this, after drama he asked her to help him run over some lines with him! He could have very well asked me, I would have said no of course, but still. That makes me think he likes her, don't ask me why he would," she informed Malon on the latest news.
The girl's eyes followed Ruto's finger to the spot she was pointing at and Malon studied the girl with disapprove. She shook her head, sending the curls careening over her shoulders, and stammered, "I... I don't believe you! There is... no way Link likes that thing. He's been all over me since forever, I have the boy whipped! I snap my fingers and he comes running! Maybe he is just being nice to her because he feels bad." There was also a tinge of horror in her voice, as if the very thought of loosing her slave shook her to her core.
The Zora gazed at Zelda too, scanning for potential before finally relenting with a sigh, "I know she dresses worse then a K-Mart saleswoman but let's be real here - In some designer duds and with a better hairstyle she could actually be... somewhat pretty."
Malon glared at Zelda with sharp, stormy eyes and merely rumbled a 'humph' in the base of her chest, crossing her arms before her torso.
Ruto continued her explanation of her anxiety, "And as elite as we like to think we are it really isn't all that hard to become popular, it's all a matter of association. Link became popular because, well, every underclassman practically faints when he walks by and he plays this idiotic football well. Then Saria, being his best friend, obviously was raised to accepted status as well. Finally Mido, that loud-mouthed fool whose even more dim than Link, became popular after dating Saria, even if he sucks at football. Its really quit possible to climb the popularity ladder of Hyrule High."
Malon's face went pallid and she clamored to respond, the idea of Zelda being popular completely disgusting her, "But Zelda is.... so.... so.... Well just look at her! She's a peasant!"
The shimmering Zora glanced once more at the blonde in the bottom bleachers and a scowl flashed over her sharp features. "If she were to date Link, the 'God' of our school, Malon, she wouldn't be a peasant anymore. You and I both know if that were to happen she'd gain instant acceptance among the privileged crowd," the girl reasoned begrudgingly. Then turning to stare straight in Malon's eyes and lifting her sunglasses to the top of her smooth head, she said realistically, "She'd become the Winter Ball Princess."
The Zora watched as Malon's face was crushed by her words. How could this be true? How could an utterly hopeless girl seem to be so close to taking away all that Malon had ever wanted? Finally rage flashed within her eyes and she gritted her teeth. She couldn't let that happen, at any cost, she'd do anything to put Zelda in her place and get that tiara.
A burly football fanatic held a big soggy plastic container of nachos in his hand and suddenly leaped up, shaking the stands with his movement, to cry out as Hyrule scored yet another touch-down. A minuet splatter of cheese flew from his dish and onto Malon's wool lined suede jacket, the girl looked down in aghast terror and absolute rage.
The man with the thinning hairline glanced over at the small spot and his chubby cheeks jiggled as he apologized sincerely, "I'm really sorry about that miss. I'll pay for the dry cleaning..."
Yet Malon interrupted him with a loud shriek and a blanching stare, "O my Goddesses! This jacket is Dolce And Gabbana; it costs more than you or your bratty kids combined, you incompetent oaf! Watch where you slosh that gross processed orange goop, but if I were you I'd lay off the cals buddy, that gut isn't growing any smaller." Then with a sniff of revulsion she turned back to the football game, her hair flicking out.
Grasping into her tan leather purse, she clasped a small white bottle and downed two Advil. Then with narrow brown eyes she growled dryly "I so hate football games."
*
The game was over; Hyrule had won by a landslide, mostly because of Link. The blonde young man jogged over to the benches, receiving high fives and pats on the back as he went along. He congratulated the other dejected team on a well-played game and smiled at them. With perspiration slick on his well-defined face, he grasped his water bottle and took a long swig.
"Great game, Link. You sure showed those losers, I mean they're from a public school. Gag me with a Versace belt," the haughty voice of a familiar female carried to Link's ears and the quarterback looked with his dark azure eyes up to the railing that separated the fan's bleachers from the field. Leaning against it lightly as to not get a smudge on her expensive clothes stood a beautiful Malon, her chocolate eyes intense on him.
A half smile slid across Link's face, normally he would have been overjoyed with just one pleasant comment from the red head and sent into a frenzy of hopes, but now it just didn't seem to hold the same luster. "Thanks Malon," he stated flatly.
The creamy skinned young woman's eyes filled with doubt and rage at his uninterested response. Where was the big goofy grin? The lack of proper speech? Why was he acting like she was just some ordinary girl?
The Zora to Malon's left saw things were not going the way they expected and piped up, "O yes it was great. I mean the way you carried that... pointy ball thing... down to the goal line..." Her words trailed off as she tried to think of football terms and sadly came up void.
Link gazed at Ruto from the corner of his eye, sloshing off sweat with a towel, and wondered why she's complemented him. She never did that before, not once. It didn't matter anyway, everything that seemed to matter before now appeared so petty and unimportant. "Thanks, Ruto. I think," he responded, detached.
Ruto's eyes went slightly wide; she'd fouled up and gave Link a perfect opportunity to make some rude comment yet the young man resisted. It was as if he was bored of them, disinterested.
The rich fiery haired girl plastered on a smile, even if it was strained, and giggled, "You look so cute in your uniform! The blue does match your eyes." She flickered her long mascara caked eyelashes a few times and rested her upper body on the rail, pushing her full chest up and into plain view.
The young man ran a hand through his wet sandy blonde hair and his thoughts were filled with confusion. It seemed as Malon was flirting with him but Malon never flirted with him! She'd often told him she'd never date a high school boy; that they were the equivalent of hormone driven dogs. "Uh ok? Thanks," Link said and gave her a questioning glance.
Malon felt enraged that he wasn't falling into a puddle of mush before her and quickly changed tactics, standing upright and wiping away all traces of dirt from her sweater. "Link, my daddy's going away on a business trip tonight and I have the house all to myself. Ruto and I are throwing a party; everything anyone could possibly want will be supplied. Would you like to come? We could finally get some alone time, just you and me..." she asked and drew her voice out, trying her best to sound seductive.
Link was wondering the best way to reject the red head's offer; he was too weirded out by her attempts to come on to him, when suddenly he spotted a blonde making her way down the bleachers. It was Zelda, her long slender legs clad in form fitting faded jeans and an oversized grey sweatshirt encasing her petite upper body. Her long golden hair was pulled back in a high ponytail and there was an adorable furrow in her brow as she tried to concentrate on climbing down the steep benches in one piece.
"O Zelda, over here," Link called to her and watched as she looked up, her beautiful face lighting up at the sight of him.
She walked over, keeping a slight distance between her and the two rude rich girls. "Hey Link. Good game," the blonde young woman said with a dazzling smile.
Malon glared at Zelda with piercing brown eyes and interjected, "Good game? He played a great game!"
This comment received strange glances from both Link and Zelda. "Um sure... Thanks Zelda. It was a team effort anyway, everyone played good today," he replied humbly.
The blonde nodded, sending her long ponytail to swish against her back. "They played good? No they played great!" she commented, impersonating Malon's previous phrase, and then laughed, Link laughing as well at their inside joke.
Malon felt totally out of the loop as she watched the two laughing with each other and catching each other's glances, blushing faintly, and averting their eyes slightly, only to do it all over again. What was up? When had this frumpy girl become more attractive then her? It was like a scene from the Twilight Zone! Clearing her throat and biting back the annoyance that still tinged her tone she said, feigning cheeriness, "Well hope to see you tonight Link." Then a smirk played over her peach lips and she glared daggers at Zelda, mocking her. At least for one night Link would be hers, all hers, then she could have a chance to charm him and have him twisted around her little pinky again. My, was she crafty!
The blonde was staring at Zelda yet again when Malon's words finally sunk in and he turned his head to look at her. "Uh ya, Malon, do you think Zelda could come? I mean she's new and it would be nice of you to include her in some social stuff," he questioned, hope in his intense blue eyes.
Malon stood there in her wool and suede skirt and her mouth dropped open, stuttering for something to say. If she said no then she'd come off as a bitch and she'd never have a chance to get back Link's affections. Then again, if she said yes she'd have that walking fashion faux pas tagging along with them all night. What's a girl to do? "Um... Ok... I guess, but she better wear something nice, as hard a task I know that is for little Cinderella. We have a specific dress code at my parties; we don't allow just anyone to walk through my doors," she said and resolved to allow Zelda to come but make her night a nightmare and drag Link from her as soon as possible.
"K cool! So what you say, Zelda? You gonna come?" the jock asked, his face pleading with Zelda to go even if he knew this wasn't exactly her type of scene.
The blonde beauty gave Malon a sharp look at her new nickname for her, 'Cinderella', and then bit her petal pink lip softly in thought. Finally she uttered, "Well alright. Don't worry about your precious dress code either, I'll show up decent ok, evil stepsister."
Malon blanched at the thought of being an ugly stepsister and then made a growl in the base of her voluptuous chest. Fluffing her curls with a hand she quipped, "Whatever, just be there. See you later Link, my handsome Prince Charming. If you dump this vagabond maybe you and I can have some fun later, if you know what I mean." Then with a flirtatious wink of her chocolate eyes, she strutted away, followed by Ruto, her hips swaying madly.
Zelda watched the girls go and shook her head, splaying her blonde ponytail across her back in long gleaming strands. "What's up with Malon? She's practically all over you," she inquired, cocking a gilded eyebrow.
The young man sighed and replied, "I don't know. Before when I use to like her she wouldn't give me the time of day, and now she's coming on to me pretty strong for some reason. It's weird."
Zelda's pale face shown with dejection and she could not hide the sadness in her pallid cerulean eyes. "O so you like her?" she questioned softly, silently smacking herself for ever thinking otherwise. He was the God of the school and Malon was their Goddess, it made perfect heavenly sense for them to hook up. Why did she care anyway? Zelda didn't think she was interested in Link and that it was soon to start a relationship up, but the pang of hurt in her heart told her otherwise.
Link's eyes grew wide and he responded hurriedly, "No, no, no. I use to, not anymore. Whatever little flame I had for her is completely gone now." Then a small smirk glimmered over his face and he said, a jovial laugh in his tone, "Why? You jealous?"
The blonde laughed and mockingly gasped, "No way! I just thought you had better taste than that designer label whore is all. Link; don't let being the star football player get to your head. I don't care that much about you to be jealous." She teased him playful and leaned an elbow against the railing, pulling her hands deeper into the wide warm sleeves of the sweatshirt.
The boy chuckled and gave her a weary glance. "Is that so?" he questioned.
With another beautiful grin, a fracture of her white luminescent teeth, she responded matter-of-factly, "Yup." Then pulling back off the iron fence she told him, "Well I've got to be going. I have to go over my dance routine again. I'll see you tonight though I guess."
Link nodded his head, spreading his mop of blonde locks across his forehead, and smiled at her adorably. "Alright. See you then, bye Zelda," he told her and watched the petite girl make her way down the aisle and out towards the parking lot.
*
Link sat on a creamy leather sofa, nursing his beer and boredom. Pulsing techno music blared from a huge speaker, a throbbing synchronized beat that blared against the mansion's walls. The house itself was large and modern, ceiling lights dimly illuminating the sea of teens. He was adorned in khaki pants and a dark blue shirt, looking very handsome even though his wild hair would not be neatly combed and lay tousled and adorable. All around him designer dressed people laughed and chatted, mostly about fashion and how pathetic the nerds of the school were, Link overheard the guys talking about who they had banged this year so far. The usual trivial high school stuff. He swished down another swig of the frothy bitter ale and started counting the number of designs on the wallpaper; already sorry he'd agreed to come.
The voice of a young man on his football team, Dante, floated to his ears, prevalent over all the other blabbering. "That new girl, what's her name, Zelda? She may be a nerd but boy is she hot. I'd do that petite body in a second! Bet I could make her scream too, 'Dante, don't stop!'" He impersonated a female's high-pitched voice crying out and made a pumping gesture, his comment was of course followed by a chorus of rousing laughter from his buddies and some of the other teammates.
The blonde narrowed his eyes and stood, barely raising his voice above normal yet everyone instantly stopped what they were doing and listened. "Yo Dante, man. Cut it out, that's lame," he said, approaching his football mate yet not getting too close just yet.
A smile fell across the crude brunette boy's face and he laughed, "Hey, we're just having some fun, Link. Lighten up." He was slightly handsome in a beefcake sort of way, his neck as thick as a tree trunk and his eyes such a dark shade of brown they appeared almost pitchless black. If this was anyone else standing up opposed to him Dante would have punched him out by now, but this was Link, the most well known guy in school. Going against Link meant popularity suicide.
Link nodded but did not allow a grin to glimmer across his tan face and instead snorted, "Yea well, just cut it out alright. You don't even know Zelda."
Dante's eyes turned into shards as that excuse for a brain of his churned, why was Link so adamantly defending this new chick? Did he like her? Was he actually choosing a girl over his own football teammate? The short yet muscular young man let out a low laugh, spiteful in its tone, and sniggered, "Not for long. Soon I'll know her real good, just after I bag that sweet little..."
Wham!
A fist came hurtling at the man, directly at his nose and sending crimson blood spurting in all directions, the deafening sound of white knuckles colliding with bone ringing in the silence that followed. Link had had all he could take and struck out at Dante in a rage, offering up a hard, crunching blow. Air released from Dante's lungs as he fell back, onto his buddies who tried to catch him but were knocked backwards by his heavy weight. They lay in a heap on the floor, Dante on top with his nose pouring blood and his eyes disbelieving.
Link too could not comprehend what he had just done. Dante was just saying the same stupid pig-headed remarks he always did, before Link had even sometimes found them funny, yet now, when Zelda was his target, he couldn't take it. Somehow he realized the first action had been taken to tare him from his old life, to change the drinking, partying, and popularity lusting that use to occupy his past days. "I told you to shut up, man," Link responded softly, trying to reason as to why he'd done it.
Dante's eyes remained hateful and he spat, blood rolling off his lips, "Un - freaking - believable. You like her. You like that geek and you just went against your friend for her. You're such a rat dude, a freaking rat."
The young man wavered from outrage to feelings of self-loathing. Was Dante right? Was he really betraying his friends? Then again, had they ever really been friends or just guys to get drunk with? "Look, I'm sorry for busting your nose. But you're wrong, I don't like her," he said, trying to believe it himself.
The young brown haired boy's gaze focused on him with a scalding hate, his dark inky eyes telling Link he thought otherwise.
"O my," came a female's voice from behind Link. The young man turned to see a red head standing there leaning against the doorframe for support, clad in a tight fitting crimson dress that went to her knees and wrapped around her waist with a tie, hugging every voluptuous curve of her body. Glistening deep red ruby earrings studded her ears and her medium length fiery hair fell over her shoulders in bouncy voluminous locks. Malon hiccupped, obviously having had one too many wine coolers, and she inquired, fighting to stand upright, "What happened here?"
Dante touched his tender face and winced, glaring over at Link as he responded, "Blondie over here broke my nose."
The red head swayed on her high heel adorned feet and wobbled over to Link sideways, pursing her full, crimson lipstick caked lips. "Naughty, naughty, Link. No beating up the guests," she purred and grabbed a hold of his shirt, pulling him as she fell back onto the leather couch. She giggled, her breath laced thick with liquor, as she sank into the soft fabric and Link landed atop of her with an 'oomph'.
One of his legs was between her knees and she ran a manicured hand up the back of his neck, pulling him closer to smell the intense reek of her intoxicated breath. "My, Link, you are being such a bad boy tonight. I like it," she laughed and slid her fingers up his thigh.
Link pushed Malon's hand away gently by the wrist and rolled off her, taking a seat far to her side. "Get a little tipsy, Malon?" he inquired with accusation in his voice.
"No," she blurted and sat upright as if to prove her point, her back erect. Yet her body wobbled and she fell to the opposite side of Link on the couch, on her shoulder. Her throat bubbled with irrepressible giggles and she relinquished in a slurred voice, "Well, ok, maybe a teeny tiny bit." She had drank herself under the table tonight, downing shots and wine coolers like there was no tomorrow. If she *had* to seduce Link, whom Malon thought of as an immature football player with no class, then she couldn't do it sober.
Link shook his head at her and looked away in disgust but she didn't catch the revolted flicker in his eyes and turned over onto her belly, sliding across the leather seating like a snake, her chest nearly popping out of her sheer top. "Linky, let's have some fun. Come on, I'm bored," she whined and moved towards his lap, grasping his pants again with her hands.
He jumped slightly at her touch and tried once more to push her off but it seemed every time he shoved one hand off another would be right where the last one had been. "Malon, stop. You don't know what you're doing," he told her firmly and finally grasped both her wrists in his strong large palms.
She gave him a frustrated look with her chocolate hooded eyes and exclaimed, "I do! I'm having fun, which is more than I can say for you, gramps. Jeeze, lighten up. You're like an old man, stop being so conservative and live a little!" She snatched her hands away and sat up, crossing them before her full chest.
Link didn't respond, he just rolled his blue eyes and rested his elbow on the arm of his chair, wondering for the second time that night why'd he'd bothered to come to this party.
Malon thought up a tactic in that alcohol-induced brain of hers and without giving Link a chance to react wiggled her way into his lap. Pressing her face into his neck, she whispered seductively, "Link, you know you want me, you've always wanted me. Remember how everyone said we'd be the perfect couple; well let's prove them right. Come on don't fight it, I want to be alone with you. Please, just go upstairs with me." Her hot breath sent shivers down his cool flesh and he reflexively placed a muscular arm loosely around her waist.
She was right, at one time he'd wanted her. He'd spent all his time watching her; enjoying every second she'd speak in his direction or glance distantly at him. Underworld, he'd even dreamed of her saying those exact words to him at one time. He probably still did like her slightly, you'd have to be dead not to, she was fairly beautiful. But he knew too somewhere that he didn't feel the same about her anymore, that he could see through her pretty facade to the ugliness inside, she seemed different to him now. Suddenly she grabbed his hair between her fingers and pulled him into a deep kiss, their lips meeting oddly with a lack of any real desire. Link jolted from his thought and his dark azure eyes grew wide, he pushed the drunken girl from his lap quickly and she tumbled to the ground on her rear.
Before either could say a word the front doors slowly opened and in walked Zelda sheepishly at first. She wore a mid thigh high white eyelet dress with thin straps that fit her small slender body just right, delicate intertwining shoes on her feet and tying up her thin ankles, and her long blonde locks were flowing down her back and shoulders in glimmering strands. Link watched her in amazement, as did many other males in the room, and she looked incredibly beautiful just then. To the girl she felt slightly naked, but she pushed down all her reserve and forced out a smile at the sea of faces.
She spotted Link from far off and smiled bashfully, her pale face adorned in only lip-gloss and a faint petal flush. She greeted, "Hey Link," and began to step towards him.
From a side of the room Dante stood, his nose now clogged with a dark blood soaked napkin and it made his voice sound stuffy and congested. He let out a low fox whistle and grunted, "Well look who it is, Link ol' pal. It's that sweet little..." He trailed off, leaving them to guess what he'd say next, all sorts of perverted alternatives flashing to mind, before he finished with a smirk, "Zelda."
Zelda crinkled her nose and gave him a disgusted glance, before she turned towards Link with a questioning look. "Link, what's going on?" she asked in confusion, seeing a boy with a bruised and bleeding nose, a drunk Malon sitting on the floor looking rather perturbed by his feet, and a room of watching silent onlookers.
The blonde young man stood and started to walk over to the slender girl. "Nothing..." he began to say but was interrupted by Malon's snicker.
Malon laughed dryly, her red hair now dismantled and standing up on her head and her dress hiked up to the tops of her creamy thighs. "O ya, nothing huh Link? Is that what you call it?" she questioned with cunning glittering in her deep eyes, insinuating that it was indeed not 'nothing', and a slick smile on her lips, the crimson lipstick smudged across her cheek. There was Zelda, that blonde bimbo who Link was all gaga over now; everything had been fine until she came along! Malon was not a person to be messed with lightly, she'd see to it that one way or another Zelda would pay until the new girl would wish she never met Malon or come to this school, she'd make Zelda leave Hyrule in tears. The thought of revenge lay heavy in her mind and filled her with selfish glee.
Link shot her an angry glare before turning to Zelda and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Come on let's go for a walk outside. You don't want to be in here anyway, you can hardly move without stepping in bullshit," he told her while glaring at Dante and Malon from the corner of his blue eyes. Then he led the girl to the back door and they left the huge house and the raging party.
The air was singed with an autumn frost and it smelt heavy of damp multi- hued leaves. The sound of the blaring stereo and laughter soon became a muffled din as the pair made there way across Malon's large yard. There was a garden flecked with iridescent flowers and slick jade vines twisting up the white fence surrounding it. A path of large flat stones entwined its way among the beds of cream and lavender hued petals, the pair decided to meander along it. The air hung heavy with the delicate fragrance of honeysuckle and the metallic moon gilded them in its shimmering touch.
The silence settled around them somewhat awkwardly, both blushing faintly from the romantic atmosphere. "So..." the two teens suddenly spoke in unison as they strode slowly through the garden and laughed nervously.
Link looked down at his feet and said with a smile, "You go first."
The young woman flushed and her eyes darted over the gray stones as she stepped gingerly on them before flickering up to meet his gaze. "Ok. Not to beat a dead horse - I always hated that term - but what went on in there? I mean, I know parties can get crazy but that was a little much," Zelda questioned curiously.
Link caught Zelda's pale eyes for just a moment before looking straight ahead and shoving his hands in his pant's pockets. He hadn't wanted her to know about what had happened, she didn't deserve to be subjected to their stupid little feuds, and the young man sighed, "My friends are assholes."
Zelda couldn't help the faint smile from drifting over her petal lips and spoke with a laugh in her throat, "Well they can't be that bad. You have better taste than that, after all we're friends aren't we?"
The football star chuckled softly, his mood lightening, and then snorted, "Yea, I don't think I would even really call them my friends though..." His dark aqua eyes grew distant in thought and he glanced ahead without really seeing. "It's funny. A day ago I thought they were. Now... Now I don't know. I don't know about a lot of a things lately," he mused quietly, his mind spinning. A day ago he would have come to this party, got piss drunk, and practically jumped at the offer to sleep with Malon; now things didn't feel the same anymore, he didn't feel the same anymore.
The blonde young woman didn't know how to respond, she could sense the confusion and reserve in him. Finally she said faintly, "I don't know what you're going through but I can tell you, things can't always stay the same. People grow older and change, friends' drift from one another; that's a part of growing up. We can't stay in high school forever and as much as I wanted to, I couldn't stay in New York forever..." Her last words slipped from her lips quietly and she absorbed her own meaning, that maybe she was going through the same thing Link was, they were both leaving their old lives, her's was hundreds of miles away and Link's was right in the rocking house next door.
They kept walking now in silence, the muffled bass of the stereo and the cacophony of the crickets resounding in their eardrums as well as the soft shuffle of their feet. The pause was deafening as their thoughts overwhelmed them and they were lost in the vast span of electric smoldering stars. Zelda flitted from her somber contemplation and gave a pallid soft smile to the young man at her side. "So what were you going to say? Before our little 'talking in unison' bit?" she inquired.
Link was jarred from his mind by her sweet voice and the wistful warm heat given off by her cream skin; something inside told him to take her hand but he remained walking and resisted his urge. "Before our parrot gag?" he joked lightly with a laugh and then continued, a crimson blush sweeping over his sun kissed cheeks, "I was going to say that you look really pretty tonight."
The blonde smiled slightly and a pink smeared across her face as well although it was hidden by the cool silver beams of the moon's opalescent radiance. "You think so?" she questioned wearily and grimaced as her fingers grazed the cotton hem, "I had this is my closet forever, I feel so revealed in it. I know Malon would probably have a fashion bouncer at the door though so I was forced to wear it."
"Well the more naked the better, as I always say," Link trumpeted teasingly and was rewarded by a swap from the young woman beside him and a groan. He grinned cheekily and remarked, "I'm just kidding. I've never seen Malon look so jealous before though, she was about to burst."
Zelda shook her head, splaying strands of flaxen hair along her shoulders, and gave a short, sarcastic laugh. "Jealous? Ya right, not of me," she proclaimed humbly and tried to hide her blush in the shadows cast by an overhanging fragrant cherry blossom tree with its sprawling contorted branches reaching out above the walkway.
Instead of answering Link drew an arm casually upward and clasped a flower in his hands, the ivory white petals fringed by a soft dusting of pale pink. He took her bare lower arm in his palm gently and stopped her, the blonde young woman instinctively turning to face him with questioning pallor cerulean eyes. He placed the blossom behind her ear while tucking a few carefree golden tresses with it, the tips of his fingers moving across the soft gentle slope of her cheek. She gazed up into his intense dark eyes and saw the twin night skies reflected within them, staring down at her. His breath was warm on her forehead and his touch still lingered along the rises of her skin. Zelda felt herself adrift in the moment and the pale pallor of the moon; if he had bent down to claim her lips with his peach rough ones all logic would have dissipated from her and she would have given in then to the wanting in her.
Link finally parted through the haze of desire rolling over his mind and dropped his hand, his gaze darkening. Zelda didn't like him, she would have been friends with anyone who had showed her kindness, any guy could have helped her with her book bag that day, he thought. Goddesses, snap out of it, if I make a move on her I'll look like such an idiot and I'll never get to talk to Zelda again, Link reasoned. The young man looked down at the stones, anything to avert his eyes from hers instead of getting lost in the depthless pools of translucent sea.
Zelda blinked softly, the long gilded lashes sweeping over the rises of her crescent cheeks, and she pulled back numbly, trying to hide the scarlet seeping over her face. Even after all those ideals she had had about not rushing right into any relationship and giving everything time to develop, with just one escaping glance from him and a wayward stroke she became a melted puddle at his feet. Silently smacking herself, the young woman said hurriedly, "I think I'm going to go grab my jacket and then head home now. It's getting a little cold out here."
The young man looked dejected but he nodded his head softly and responded with a smile, trying to gain one from her, " O ok. Well I hope you survive the trip back into Malon's party, stay far away from her if she's wielding any sharp objects."
The joke was lost on the dazed girl as she merely reeled back on her platforms and started striding through the garden, her long slender legs making wide arcs over the stone path. Link was a little stunned at her reaction and called after her, "Are you going to try out for the play?"
Zelda paused, turning her head around and the luminous bands of light wrapping around her sculpted face. After a moment of thought she said, "Maybe." Then the willowy beauty gazed up ahead and resumed her walk, the cherry blossom falling from her ear and wafting to the soft earth on a methodical breeze.
*
End Notes: O my, it took me a while to update huh? ^^;; I am sooo busy with everything now that school started; with dance practice, my after school job, all the after school committees, homework, and never mind trying to have some sort of life; my apologizes though because that's no excuse. *Readers take out baseball bats* A hehe... Here, meet my English teacher, Mrs. Pasqual, who is making us pass in a paper and read three chapters of a book by Monday... *Places helpless teacher in front of foaming readers and inches away* ... Anyways, this was a very kawaii chapter! Kinda anime inspired, no? Well please take a few more minutes to review, they really encourage me, and I will try to not take so long to update next time, I promise! Next to come, Malon makes true on her word and Zelda holds her own against her!