Chapter Three: Meeting the Neighbours

My heart beat quickly inside my chest causing me to gasp for air. Whoever stood on the other roof kept watching me, their gaze locked on my small form. Face turning red, I tried to look away, suddenly feeling foolish for having spoken just a moment ago.

Goddesses, what am I to do? I bit my bottom lip. I am so dumb to have shouted like that. I wanted to slap myself senseless but knew better then to do that now.

"Whoever yelled a minute ago, can you say something again?" The voice sounded male. That did nothing to calm my nerves. "If you don't say anything, I'm going to come over there right now."

"Please don't," I squeaked.

"Huh?"

"Haa…" I slapped my hands over my mouth, a wave of embarrassment washing over me. "Shit," I hissed and then felt a light shine on me. "Dumb, dumb, dumb… I'm so dumb!" I scolded myself.

"If you're done criticizing yourself, might you tell me who you are."

My ears turned a delightful shade of red. "I-I… Oh, what's the use?" I hung my head in shame.

The boy clicked his tongue, obviously confused. Not that I could blame him. After all, he was just sitting on his roof, absentmindedly playing his instrument while being interrupted by a complete stranger. If that happened to me, I suppose I would be confused too.

I sucked on my bottom lip. "Who are you?" He asked again, shining the flashlight over me.

Unsure of how to answer, I merely waved and offered a timid smile. "I-I am Zelda," I stuttered. "W-what's your name?"

He blinked. "Link," he said and ran a hand through his hair. "Listen, this is awkward speaking to you from all the way over here. I'm going to come over to your roof so that this'll be easier."

"What?" I gaped. "But there's too much of a gap in distance. You'll fall if you try to run that—" He didn't listen though and merely turned off his flashlight. In the darkness, I had to squint to make out his form, but could see him faintly backing up, looking ready to run.

"You'll kill yourself!" I shouted. Yet my yell was for nothing, since he was already running forward, heading straight for the end of the roof. Like an Olympian taking their first step for the win, he crossed over the distance from his roof to mine as though it were nothing.

My eyes widened and I fell back on my rear. My jaw dropped, nearly touching the ground. "Incredible," I whispered, stunned.

"Here." He bent down and offered me a hand. Dumbfounded, I blinked but let him help me to my feet. "You okay?" He asked, concerned.

I nodded, still amazed over his jump. He smiled and then his expression changed from concern to anger. I backed away. He advanced. "I mean you no harm," he said and raised his hands. "I just want to ask you some questions."

"L-like what?" I croaked.

He raised an eyebrow. "Who are you and why are you on the Harkinain's roof?"

I blinked, stunned. Wasn't the answer to the second part of the question obvious?

"And lastly," he added on. "Why were you watching me?"

I laughed nervously and rubbed the back of my neck. I might as well begin with answering the simpler questions; I decided and balled a fist behind my back. I took in a deep breath. "I am Zelda Harkinain. I am Richard Harkinain's daughter."

He looked surprised. "That makes sense," he stated. "But why were you watching me?"

Shyly, I looked away. "I was in my bedroom and heard you playing… It sounded so nice that I w-wanted to know where the sound was coming from. So I followed it all the way to here."

He chuckled. "That sounded like a complement."

My cheeks tinted pink. "Y-you said your name was Link?" I managed to say with only one stutter. "Do you k-know my father?"

He nodded once again. "My name is Link. Link Gaiden, to be exact. And to answer your question this time, I do know your father." He smiled and rubbed his neck. "He's one of the nicest neighbours I've ever met."

"That's great." I said and cringed, realizing my voice sounded quite high.

Link laughed—much to my displeasure. "Sorry about being rude. I just wasn't expecting anyone to come out and hear me playing." He extended a hand forward. "Am I forgiven?"

My mouth opened ajar. What in Nayru's name was he asking forgiveness for, I thought, confused. "Oh, um, of course you are." I gulped and shook his hand. But just as quickly as our hands connected, we both pulled away.

"What was that?" I said, perplexed.

"I don't know." Link blinked. "What it was though, felt and looked like—"

"Electricity," we said in unison.

…

His eyes widened and so did mine. We both stared to one another in silence merely studying each other. His eyes, a pale shade of blue, glimmered with puzzlement and uncertainty. I sucked my bottom lip, suddenly noticing how attractive he actually was. Feeling my face heat up, I looked away, embarrassed.

"Zelda, is something wrong?" He asked, concerned.

I shook my head and kept looking away, frowning. Internally, I scorned myself for acting like such a dork, but I just couldn't maintain any form of composure. Here I stood in front of an attractive and handsome young boy and I could not formulate one proper response to say after that handshake.

Other girls wouldn't have trouble with this sort of stuff, I thought sadly. They would just shake off that sudden moment and start fresh with him.

However, I'm not like other girls, I added on. My frown worsened at the thought.

"Zelda?" said Link. "Is something bothering you?" Even though we didn't know each other whatsoever, Link was still concerned about my well-being. It was both a touching and awkward element to add to this already confusing meeting.

I gulped nervously. "T-that music you were playing… was really beautiful," I managed to say.

Link smiled. "Thank you. It's actually a piece I'm working on for a friend of mine."

I raised an eyebrow. "How thoughtful," I whispered, "I'm s-sure your friend will love it."

"Are you sure?" He did not sound convinced. I pursed my lips together.

"Positive," I answered meekly.

A light blush stained his cheeks. I, too, felt my face reddening, but knew it would be much worse than his any day.

"Zelda… thanks—Huh?" His sudden change confused me.

"What's wrong?" I forced myself to say.

He pointed towards my cheek. "What happened?"

Beads of sweat formed behind my head. Just like with Chrysanthemum before, I was going to have to say the same tale. "Oh, um, I fell down the stairs." I said it so quickly that I knew Link wouldn't believe me.

He crossed his arms over his chest, looking highly doubtful. "Is that so?"

"Of course it is!" I raised a fist into the air, laughing nervously.

Link sighed and shook his head. "Now come on Zelda," he pressed. "I know that's not true, and you know that's not true. So how did you manage to hurt yourself like that?"

I gulped and tugged at my collar, trying to conjure up a good lie. Let's see… tripped and fell face first on the ground? Slipped on a banana peel? Stumbled over a branch and cut my cheek from the impact of falling? Oh Goddesses, what should I say, what should I say?

Internally I groaned. I could not come up with anything. Balling my hands into two fists, I shakily uttered, "Well, see—"

"Link? Where are you?" Someone shouted. Link and I turned around noticing a little girl with two blonde ponytails, wearing an adorable blue nightgown watching us from the attic window of Link's house. She was squinting and waving upon noticing Link.

"Link, Mom wants you to come inside," she called.

Link sighed. "I better get going."

I held back the urge to say, "Your little sister is so cute."

Link looked my way. "It was nice meeting you, Zelda."

Startled, I nodded. "It w-was nice meeting you too, Link."

He smiled faintly. "I guess I'll see you around, huh?" He started to back away towards the other end of the roof. Learning from the first time, I knew he was preparing to jump to his side.

"Um, for sure," I stammered, blushing lightly.

Link chuckled faintly and began to run down my father's roof. I backed away and watched him just across the gap as though it were nothing. Again, it amazed me. "Incredible."

Link landed perfectly onto his side and stood up, dusting himself off. "Goodnight," he shouted and then began to walk towards the window where his little sister waited for him.

"Goodnight," I returned and then began to make my way down the roof and towards my bedroom.