To Meet Again
Chapter Seven: Girl's 'Day' Out
'Ugh . . . what a long and awful day . . . I'm so tired . . .'Malon thought, yawning. 'Guess it's about time to turn in for the night . . .'Just as she was about to go to bed, her cell phone rang. Not thinking, Malon picked it up.
"Hello? Malon speaking," She said tiredly.
"Oh my GODDESSES! Mally, you are not going to believe who I saw with Sheik today!" Squealed an all too familiar voice.
Malon suddenly got a nervous feeling in her stomach. 'I hope he's not cheating on me . . . or worse, with him.'"Uh . . . w-who, Ruto?"
"Ah, no one," Ruto said casually, and if it was possible, Malon could hear her smirk. "Just none other than your beloved Link!"
"Oh . . ."
Ruto was flabbergasted. "He- you-- they-- I-- 'OH'?! What the Hell do you mean 'oh'?!" 'I thought she d be absolutely shattered but she acts as though she doesn t care . . . or, she . . . knows?!' Malon bit her lip. What should she say? And what if Ruto told Sheik of who Link was? Maybe she didn t notice that Sheik didn t really know who he was. . .
"And it also seemed like Sheik didn't quite know who Link was . . . I mean, if Sheik really loved you, wouldn't he beat the shit out of Link, for doing what he did to you?"
"But I wouldn t want him to do that!" She said defensively, before figuring out what she'd just done.
On the other end, Ruto had a wide grin spread across her face. Yes . . . this is turning into something so interesting . . . "Why not, Malon? Is there something you re not telling me? It s not like you secretly love him or something right? That would be totally ridiculous and betraying to Sheik right? But of course that s not happening, right? Just the thought makes me laugh! Ha, ha!"
'Okay, she s seriously creepy . . .' "No of course not! It s just hey, why is it your business anyway?!"
"I make it my business."
"Well, knock it off."
"Look, just tell me one thing: Do you or do you not know that Link is friends with your man, who by the way doesn't even know his name?"
"I . . ." She didn t know how to answer.
"Hm, I see," Ruto said thoughtfully. "And how long has this been going on, huh? How long did you think you could keep up with this charade of yours, hm? And I expected better of you, Miss Malon." With a click!Ruto hung up.
"Well, I guess all I can hope is that she's too soused to remember anything. I'm starting to wonder is she is really any threat at all?" Malon murmured tiredly to herself. She yawned and shrugged, too tired to care, and finally went to sleep.
XxXxX
"Okay, so you can take care of her and I'll come by your place sometime in the evening, got that?" Malon said to Link, impatiently.
"Er, yes, but uh . . . you know where I live?"
She stared at him for a moment ". . . no." Then she got in her impatient mood again. "Hurry up and write it down somewhere. I have a life and job too, you know." Well, truth be told, she had a day off . . .
Link quickly scrawled down his address and she left the school as she came: masking her feelings with impatience and a bad attitude. Link watched the flaming red head exit the building. He made a face.
'Well, I suppose she has a right to be angry, but seriously, that woman is just milking it . . .' He tilted his head slightly. 'And I find that somewhat arousing . . .'
XxXxX
Malon got home, and was she bored! Her mother wasn t even home! She had a volunteer job someplace . . .
She flipped channels on the television and found nothing! 'If there is anything up there, please send me down some entertainment!'Suddenly, her cell phone rang, the id read 'Nabooru' Malon smirked. 'Wow, thanks.' There was never a dull moment with Nabooru.
"Hello?"
"Ah! Mally-Bo-Bally! What's up girl? You busy?"
She laughed. "Nope, just bored out of my mind . . . what did you have in mind?"
"Well, I think it's about time you and I go out and do crazy things like old times!"
Malon scoffed. "Like getting busted by the police. . . I don't think so. And by the way, Aren't you one of them now?" She joked.
"Huh. . . Good point. Ah, well, I have some girl's day out plans, anyway. I'll drop by your place around 3. . . Sounds good?"
"Sure, that'd be great!"
"Wait! What about the kiddo?"
"Oh," Malon said unsure, "She's going to be . . . with a friend. . . so it's all good."
"Ah! Cool! See yeah then!" Malon hung up, sat on a chair nearby, and looked at the clock. She sighed. '9:30 am'it read. "I've got some hours to kill, guess I could go find Sheik."
She got up and began to get ready.
XxXxX
"Hey there, Meredith," Link said, hovering over the young girl's desk.
"Heya, Mr H!" She cheerily said.
He smiled, her always happy mood never ceased to bring him up and feel a little nostalgic. 'I remember . . . when we were kids, Malon was always cheery too. His smile faded slightly.'
"Er . . . I'm not sure if your mother told you, but . . . After school, you're coming with me . . . to, uh, my place." Link rubbed his neck nervously."That's okay with you, right?"
"Yeah! She did tell me! And I m really excited!" She exclaimed.
Link chuckled. "Good, good."
XxXxX
As soon as she came through the door, Marin plopped down on the nearby sofa. She sighed and rubbed her back. "It's not easy being old." She muttered to herself.
Malon joined her and laughed. "Oh, mom, you're not old, in fact, you don't look a day over twenty-five!"
She frowned. "Speak for yourself, young missy." Then laughed as well. "Say, you look like you're going somewhere, actually, I was thinking-- "
Malon sat up. "Oh yes! Nabooru called today "
The older woman's eyes lit up. "Oh, Nabooru?! I remember her! My, could that girl party or what!"
Malon looked at her oddly. "Yeah . . . anyway, she suggested we have some girl time together, so I'll be leaving in a bit."
"I see." Marin almost looked disappointed before she remembered something. "What about Meredith, dear? I'm not sure if these knees can handle walking all the way to her school and back."
She grimaced. "Don't worry about it. Link's going to watch her."
Marin smiled. "That's great!"
Malon stared at her. "Sometimes I don't think we're on the same planet, mother."
She frowned and crossed her arms. "Hey, now, I cannot believe you still have a grudge against the poor man. And I cannot believe you wouldn't let him explain! You've known him your whole life and just ran off before he could explain. I thought I raised you better than that."
Now she was agitated. "Mom, you never cease to amaze me. If he had anything to say, he said it on the day I told him the news. I'don t care if he would ve apologised or begged for forgiveness or whatever! The point is, he didn't want the kid, he wanted it out of our life, so I got out of his." Malon looked away and added. "What makes you think that the next day he would've suddenly changed his mind and proposed to me or something."
"Because he did he has changed his mind! Why don't you see that? Why do you keep pushing him away, when he's all but groveling on his knees?"
Malon got up and tears filled her eyes. "I don't need this." She headed out. "And by the way, I can't imagine why you 'ran off' with me. Why didn't you just stay at the ranch and wait for him to apologise."
"Why on earth would I need him to apologise to me? And you know I'd support you through anything!" 'Even selling our beautiful ranch. . .'
'Right . . . supporting me, just like she is now.' "Because you just can't seem to grasp the fact that he's not a saint, mom." She turned around to face her mother. "Because maybe you don't, but I know that he's struggled with doing the right thing in the past." She went to a counter and grabbed her purse and keys.
Marin looked out a window. "I didn't stay at the ranch because I didn't want to be-- "
Slam!
She realised that her daughter had left. ". . . alone."
She sighed and closed her eyes. "And I was hoping, you and I could do something together." She grumbled to her self. 'I just hope she finds her way. . .'
XxXxX
Sheik was having a nice nap atop a table this late morning. A magazine donned his face.
Malon walked into the shop and exasperatedly sighed. "Good grief, Sheik! This is why you're not getting any business!" she went over to him, rolled up the magazine and whacked him in the face with it.
"Ow, Mal! This is why you can't find a boyfriend." He got up and stretched.
"No, the reason I can't get a boyfriend, is because I have you."
"You say that like it's a bad thing. . .?" Malon just rolled her eyes and joined him on the table.
Sheik twisted around and put an arm around her waist, his hand resting on her back. "So . . ." He said in a voice that made Malon blush. "What's got your panties in a knot this beautiful morning?"
Malon knit her eyebrows together, and pushed the man off the table.
". . . I think I have an abusive mate." He said sorely.
Malon laughed lightly. "You haven t seen abuse yet." She offered him her hand.
He looked at it and made a face. "No thanks." But took it anyway.
They both laughed, and it seemed Malon was in a better mood, so Sheik was almost satisfied.
"So, Mal . . ." He started cautiously. "I know there's something bothering you . . . so, uh, are you just going to tell me, or will I have to make you spill?"
Malon pressed her lips together and thought for a moment before answering. "It's nothing really . . . just that, well, I just had an argument with my mom, and we haven't been that mutual, I guess, about some stuff . . ." She hoped he wouldn't press on, but knowing those searching red eyes very well, she knew he'd say something like--
"What kind of stuff?"
"Um . . . Well, you see . . ." She stared at the ceiling, searching for words to say. She sighed, defeated and faced him. "There's something, I suppose, I should tell you."
Worry flashed over his features. "Is there something wrong? Are you alright?"
"No, no I mean yes, I'm fine . . . it s just that well it's very complicated, but-- " Malon took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. "So, like . . . Meredith's, I guess, uh, father, is in town."
Sheik said nothing. What was he supposed to say anyway? "Well, that is complicated."
Malon almost laughed at his reaction. "Yup."
"Um . . . is there something you need me to, uh, do to him? Like, I don't know . . . beat him?"
"What?! No, of course not! It's just a bit weird, you know?"
Sheik nodded. "Yeah, Link, was it?"
"Yeah. . ."
"Um . . ." He blushed very slightly. "You don't have feelings for him still, right?"
"Aw! Is that jealousy I hear?" Malon teased, laughing. She stopped when she noticed he didn't join her. She looked at him and held his hand. "No, Sheik, I don't . . ."
He gave her a half smile. "Yeah, I figured. But, hey, was there a reason why you came here? Other than to bother me and almost break my heart?" He jokingly said the last part, with his bottom lip quivering.
"Oh, stop it, you Drama Queen!" She playfully smacked him. "Actually, I was wondering if you were busy tonight,"
He smirked. "Why? What'd you have in mind?"
"Oh . . . not much, just watch a movie, hang out . . . or something . . . "
"'Or something' eh? I likes the sound of that." Sheik laughed.
Malon raised an eyebrow. "My, someones mind is in the gutter,"
He pouted. "Hey, you gave me the benefit of the doubt!"
"Uh-huh . . ." She glanced at her watch. 2:30pm 'Huh . . . time sure does fly around here!' "Well, I should get going, I have some plans for the day."
He nodded, smiling. Though, there was something on his mind. "Before you go, do you know about anything between 'Creepy Stalker Chick' and Hero? They seemed to have some sort of secret or something . . . You think they were going out or something?" He made a face at that. "Gross, I don't think my buddy would stoop that low."
Malon just laughed nervously. ". . ."
Sheik shrugged. "Whatever. He's a pretty secretive dude. Anyway, I wont keep yeah, Mals! See yeah tonight, then?"
She nodded and gave him a quick hug and peck. He grabbed her before she could leave, though.
"And don't worry so much about . . . him. It'll work out, it'll be fine." He rested his forehead on hers.
"I know . . ."
He looked at her worriedly, and bit his lip. "If he ever . . . um . . . did anything, you'd tell me . . . right? 'Cause you know I'd do anything to help you, right?"
Malon smiled and grasped him tighter. "I know, Sheik. You're always there, and you always have been,"
"I just wanted you to remember that," He gently kissed her.
She briefly pulled away, and looked down. "I've . . . got to go."
He nodded wordlessly and watched her leave. "What am I supposed to do?" He whispered.
XxXxX
Malon just managed to reach her building before Nabooru came by.
When the exotic skinned girl saw Malon, she let out a high pitched squeal, and pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.
Malon laughed breathlessly. "It's great to see you, too, Nabs, but if you want to see me any longer, I need to breathe!"
"Oh, ha, ha, you're so funny, Melons," She replied.
Malon blushed. "Really, Nabooru? I thought we talked about that nickname. . ."
"Yeah, well," She shrugged. "Whatever."
She rolled her eyes. "So, what's the plan for today?"
A devilish smirk graced the Gerudo's face. "Something methinks you'll enjoy."
"Which would be . . .?"
"Just all your favourite stuff!" She exclaimed. "First, we'll go out and get some Kokirian,"
'Huh, she never forgot it's my fave!'
"Then we'll go downtown to Nosbor* square, which I recall, has some of your fave stores!"
'Ugh! I haven't been there in so long!'
"And then later we'll kick it in . . ." She thought for a moment. "Something so incredibly awesome, that I'll keep it a secret for now!"
"Um, okay?"
The redheaded pair stared, in silence, at each other for a moment.
"So, what're we waiting for?!" The more feisty redhead exclaimed. Then her eyes lit up. "Oh! I also wanted to see your mom! She was an awesome lady!"
Malon blinked for a moment. "Uh . . . okay."
XxXxX
"Well, here we are, my home." Link said, smiling. His home was his sanctuary, and it was in a bit of a secluded area.
"Wow . . ." Meredith gasped. It certainly was an amazing place. It had a very natural theme about it.
Bushes, small Spruce trees, flowers, rocks and even a small pond covered the front yard. The house itself looked quite cosy too. It was a small, brown, one-level house.
Meredith could not wait to see the inside! "This is so cool! You must really like bein' outside, huh?"
A small smile tugged at his lips. "Yes, I suppose I do." He stared off into the distance. "I just moved here not too long ago. . . Actually, my father built this house long ago . . ."
"Does he live here, too?"
The child's voice cut him out of his reverie. "Hm? No, he died long ago, when I was a baby. He left this place to me."
"How did he die?" Obviously, it didn't occur to her to be a tad more polite, and just not press the matter on further.
Link frowned. "I . . . I'm not sure. An accident of sorts . . . but, uh, don't bother yourself with that. Come on, let's go inside."
Meredith frowned too. "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't supposed to ask, right?"
He smiled reassuringly. "It's fine." He headed to the door, but stopped when she spoke again.
"Well, I know what you feel like, 'cause I've never saw'd my Daddy, too, but I know he's . . . alive. But I still get sad sometimes." She looked down at her shoes.
He cringed. He so wanted to tell her, but what would that accomplish? More turmoil and hurt feelings? "Hey, come on, now, don't be upset, you seem to have a great mom, grandma and . . . uncle."
She smiled slightly. "I guess so."
"And . . . you have me too."
The child's smile grew wider. "Yeah!" And out of the blue, she latched herself to him.
He chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Let's go inside." And when they did, Meredith was just as impressed as she'd been outside.
Polished redwood furniture and countertops, beautiful silk curtains, various plants; it was quite a breath-taking, serene scene.
"Yeah . . . most of this stuff was here before I moved here. I just added some plants and polished it up a bit."
"It's so pretty!"
"Glad you think so."
When she was able to tear her eyes from the house, her eyes landed on a wall and table covered in pictures. Most of them were him, his family, friends etc. But what she couldn't take her eyes off of, were the pictures of a young, redheaded girl. 'She looks familiar.'
Link saw her interest in the pictures and had to divert her attention fast! "Ah! Say, Meredith, you hungry?"
She grinned at him. "You bet I am!"
He let out a sigh of relief.
XxXxX
"Hey, Mrs Lon! How ya been?!" Exclaimed the young cop.
"Well, I'll be! It's Nabooru! So great to see you, I've been fine," replied Marin. "And just call me Marin dear, it makes me feel less old."
"Old?! Come on, Mar, you don't look a day over 25!" Nabooru retorted. Malon laughed at this comment despite her still hurt feelings of the morning.
"Of course, of course."
"Well, we'll be off now, Mar," She said. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of your daughter, Ma'am," She winked at the older woman. "I'm a cop!"
Marn laughed. "You're just full of surprises aren't you?"
"I try,"
XxXxX
Soon, Malon found herself and Nabooru seated at a small restaurant called 'Mido's Treehouse'
"Trust me, Mal, this place has got the bestKokiri food you can imagine!" She squealed.
Malon grinned. "I'll bet!"
While waiting for a waiter to take their order, Nabooru went on to tell her how she found the place and her random cop experiences. Malon halflistened, but her mind wandered elsewhere.
'It was Link who introduced me to Kokiri foods . . . probably because he was raised by a Kokiri family. . .'
"My Father died a soldier during the Great War. My mother was injured, but managed to take me to the Forrest family before she . . ."
She remembered him telling her of his past, and it always caused a certain ache in her heart for him.
". . . And then I said to him, 'You're under arrest, Pal!'" Nabooru said, and burst out laughing.
Malon laughed awkwardly, not wanting her to think she wasn't listening.
The waiter came and left, and their food arrived shortly.
"So . . . how is everything?" Nabooru asked.
"Fine."
There was a short awkward silence.
"Are you okay?"
Malon looked at her friend, confused. "Yes, why?"
"No . . . I mean, really, are you okay?"
"I don't quite understand . . ."
Nabooru sighed. "Malon . . . about Link . . ."
"Oh!" Malon's eye's widened. "Yes, I'm okay, why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, he just up and left you." She said bluntly.
She was slightly hurt by her words, but that was just Nabooru being herself. "Well, of course I was bothered, but I gotta move on, right? And anyway I do have . . . a boyfriend."
Nabooru squealed. "Really?! Congrats, girl! What's he like?! What's he do?! What's his name?!"
Malon chuckled and answered her questions. After all, it did keep her mind of Link . . . for a while.
XxXxX
"So, uh. . ." Link rubbed the back of his neck. He'd no idea what a child her age would want to do. 'Oh, the irony! I know what to teach these kids, but not much else!' "Did you enjoy today's lesson?"
Meredith nodded her head vigorously. She didn't quite care that he hadn't much to say; she just enjoyed his company. And she munched happily on the assortment of cookies before her.
He smiled. "Well, uh, why don't you tell me more about yourself . . . or your mother." He suggested, saying the last bit almost inaudibly.
"Okay!" He waited patiently as she finished off her snack.
"Mr H? Can we go outside?" She asked, her eyes shining.
"Of course we can," He replied, grinning. This child was so . . . happy. How can one be so happy all the time, like that?
She grabbed his hand and rushed out the back door, him tagging along behind.
"Wow!" His garden was beautifully groomed, but what she had her gaze on, was the wooded area beyond that. Tall trees, of many varieties, wild flowers, of all colours . . . and a path. "Is this a forest?"
He grinned lopsidedly. "More or less, I suppose."
"Let's go!" She took off on the trail.
"Whoa! Hey, Meredith wait up!"
Link did eventually catch up with the energetic young child. "You sure can run, Kid."
"My favourite colour's green."
He tilted his head confused. "Wha-"
"You wanna know more 'bout me, remember?"
"Oh, yes!"
"Um . . . I love dogs and horses. I love my Mommy, and Gramma Marin is the greatest!"
'Mrs Lon! I remember her! She always loved me like her own . . .'
"Uncle Sheik is very nice to me too, but I think he has a crush on Mommy." She giggled at this.
Link however, did not find this amusing in the least.
"How . . . how does your Mother feel about him?"
"I think she really likes him too . . . I hope they get married some day!" She said, dreamily
He crushed a twig under his foot. "And why do you wish that?" He said, trying to conceal the edge coming into his voice.
"'Cause . . . 'cause I wanna know what's it like to have, like, a full family."
"What about your father?" Link said, forgetting it was a sensitive topic.
Meredith lowered her gaze. If Link could see her eyes, he'd see the tears that shone in them.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to--"
"He doesn't care about me!" She suddenly blurted out.
He bent down to her level. "Meredith. . ."
She began to whimper. He held her close to him. 'I . . . made her cry. . .' He thought guiltily. 'Suppose this may be why Malon didn't want me around Meredith,'
"Why doesn't he like me? Did I do something bad?" She choked out between sobs.
Link picked up the young girl and rocked her in his arms. "Sh . . . It's okay, Meredith . . . you're father loves you . . ." He was unsure as to how he should comfort her. But . . . he told her the truth. He did love her.
"No," She whispered after a few minutes."He doesn't love me . . . if he did, he'd come see me! He'd hug me and buy me toys and take me places!"
He listened to her quietly. She needed this; who knew how long she'd been keeping all this in?
". . . Every year on my birthday, I wish for him to come through the door. . . bu- but-" Her lower lip quivered and fresh tears welled up in her eyes. She clung to Link tighter.
He silently carried her back to his house while she cried and sobbed incoherent things.
'I have got to be the most idiotic, most stupid, most . . . whatever, creature to have ever lived.' He gazed sadly at Meredith, who was now just quietly staring at the scene around them. 'This is all my fault. All of this . . . But, I promise you Meredith . . . I promise . . . I'll make everything right for you . . . and Malon.'
XxXxX
Malon and Nabooru were currently looking through all the designer shops around Nosbor, and having fun trying on outfits that'd take them about ten years to pay for.
"Ha, wow, that green dress looks absolutely stunning on you, dahling!" Nabooru giggled.
"Can . . . barely . . . breathe . . . in this." She gasped out.
Then they both broke out into fits of laughter, earning odd looks from all the more 'regant' looking folks. 'Heh, kind of reminds me of that time with Sheik . . .'
After they got out of the store, Malon was curious about this 'surprise' Nabooru had for her.
"So . . . where to next?" She asked her.
Nabooru smirked. "Just around the block, we're almost there!"
They walked for a couple minutes before Nabooru stopped. "We're he-re" She said, in a singing voice.
Malon looked around before her eyes landed on a flashing sign. She gasped. "Nabooru! I . . ."
"Great, isn't it!"
Kafei's Karaoke Klub
She bit her lip. "No . . . Nabooru, you don't understand! I . . . I can't sing."
Nabooru stared at her for a moment. Then she burst out laughing. "You . . . can't . . . sing?! Ah, Lon, you're hilarious! You're the best singer I know! Actually . . . I'm a bit surprised that you're not famous by now,"
She blushed. "Well, I kind of let that go after . . . you know. . ."
Nabooru's mouth hung open. "What?! How could you?! Goddesses, Mal! You were in that performing arts academy and everything! How could you let go of singing because you had a baby?!"
"It wasn't really that . . . I sort of just . . . lost my will to sing." Malon sighed. "I mean, there is the odd lullaby and everything, but . . ."
"I don't care," She announced. "Today, is the day, you shall regain your voice!"
"I don't think I can . . . sing in front of all those people." Malon stammered. Nonetheless, Nabooru basically dragged Malon into the club.
XxXxX
"Hey there, you okay now?" Link asked quietly to the girl still in his arms. She'd been silent for quie a while now, so he assumed she'd be better now.
"Yeah," Meredith replied slowly. Then she proceeded to get out of his lap, and into the couch beside him. "I'm sorry." She said ashamed.
"No . . . no, you don't have anything to apologise for. I really shouldn't have asked. . ." He said.
"I just . . ." She shrugged. "I dunno." Meredith looked up at his concerned face and smiled. "Thanks, ya know? For listening and . . ."
"It's no problem," He said, ruffling her hair.
"Ya know, you're kinda like a daddy . . ." She said smiling and in thought.
"I am?"
"Yeah! So, how 'bout you be like, a . . . a subsitute daddy?" She grinned.
"I. . ."Link looked at her, his mouth slightly ajar. "I . . . I think you mean substitute,"
"And . . . ?" Meredith looked at him hopefully.
"And . . . that sounds . . . nice." He said unsure.
"Great!" She said, her eyes bright. "I like to draw,"
"What?"
"Remember, you wanna know more 'bout me?"
XxXxX
Malon, surprisingly, wasn't having a bad time. She enjoyed watching others sing, but dreaded for when Nabooru would make her sing.
"Okay, Mal, you're up!" Nabooru exclaimed.
"Nabooru, I think this is a bad idea . . ."
"Oh, even if you do choke, which I sincerely doubt, everyone here just wants to have fun! They won't care. Of course, they might get pissed if you're a party pooper. . ."
"Oh . . ." Malon started nervously. "Oh, fine, I'll do it!"
Malon got up and a flood of cheers erupted. She scanned through the songs and smiled when she decided what she'd sing. Something she sometimes sang to Meredith.
She walked to the centre of the stage and a bright beam shone on her. Her heart beat furiously as she looked upon the waiting crowd. She became hot, and could feel herself blushing, and a start to sweat a little as the intro of the song started. 'I never used to get nervous in front of a crowd . . .'
Malon took a deep breath. "C-come s-stop your crying, it'll be alright . . ." She sang quietly and stumbled on some words.
"C'mon Mal, you can do it!" Nabooru whispered.
" . . . Just take my hand, hold it tight. . ." She began to get louder and more confident. 'I can do this!'
". . . I will protect you from all around you . . . I will be here, don't you cry. . ." She let go of all her worries, and sang her heart out. 'Just like old times . . . '
When she was halfway through the song, the crowd began to cheer and chant, causing Malon to gain even more momentum, which improved her singing.
Soon, the song was nearly over, and the crowd quieted.
". . . Yes I'll be with you.
I'll be there for you always
Always and always
Just look over your shoulder,
Just look over your shoulder,
Just look over your shoulder,
I'll be there for you always
Always. . ."
When the music turned off, the crowd went absolutely wild! Malon grinned and bowed. 'I feel so happy and light . . . I can't believe I haven't sung in so long!'
"Encore! Encore!" They yelled.
"And, I'll be happy to oblige!" Malon exclaimed through the mic.
She sang two more songs before she was worn out. What never wore out, though, was her glowing smile. She was still smiling when they left the palce and were back in Nabooru's car.
"Oh, Nabooru! I'm so glad you made me do that!" She exclaimed to her friend who laughed heartily. "Really, I've had an absolutely wonderful time, today!" And they chattered all the way to Malon's apartment.
"Thanks again, Nabooru," Malon said, hugging the woman.
"Not a problem, Mally!" Nabooru chuckled, returning the hug."I'll see you later!" She got into her car and drove off.
Malon smiled and got her keys out of her purse and got into her car, driving off to Sheik's flat . . . completely unaware of the time.
XxXxX
"I wonder where Mommy is . . ." Meredith thought aloud.
"She probably just got held up at work," Link reassured her.
"But she doesn't have work today!"
Link's eye twitched.
"Hurry up and write it down somewhere. I have a life and job too, you know."
"Ah, well, she's pobably with that 'uncle' of yours." He said. He didn't quite enjoy the young man's company, though Sheik obviously liked him.
"Maybe . . ." She yawned, and lay down on his lap.
He absently stroked her long red hair. 'Substitute Father . . . heh . . . Wonder what Mal will think.'
XxXxX
Malon was right now on Sheik's couch, with Sheik, have a nice old make out session. Sheik kissed her roughly . . . unlike Link, who always was so gentle . . .
'What an awful time to be thinking about . . . him. Wait . . . time?' Suddenly Malon remembered something, but got distracted by Sheik's kisses along her collar bone and neck. Malon could feel his hands going under her shirt, which was something she was not very comfortable with, considering how she ended up with Meredith . . .
"Sheik, stop . . ." She murmured. "I don't . . ."
Alarmed, he got off of her. "What's wrong?" He asked, concerned.
"I don't think this is the right time to be doing that . . . not yet . . ." 'Time?! Oh for Din's sake, what time is it?!'
"Oh, well, that's fine," He said, almost sounding disappointed.
"Sheik! What time is it?!"
"Um . . . about . . . a quarter to ten,"
"Oh, Din! I forgot about Meredith!" She hurriedly gathered her things and straightened out her clothes.
"Crap, you should get going then," He said, worried about the kid.
"Yeah, bye!" She called out, rushing out the door and to her car.
". . . bye," He said, laughing slightly.
XxXxX
Link heard an abrupt knocking at the door. "Must be Malon," He muttered to himself.
He opened the door to see a disarrayed Malon. He smirked slightly. "Have fun?"
To his surprise, instead of getting pissy at him, she chuckled. "Sure . . . I'm sorry I'm late, is Meredith fine?"
Link peered at her curiously. "Are you fine?"
Malon rolled her eyes at him. "Yes," 'Have I been here before . . . It looks familiar . . . Oh! It's his parents' place!'
"Well, Meredith fell asleep, I'll just bring her to your car."
She watched him go, feeling something odd in her stomach. "Wait, Link . . ." She suddenly called after him.
"Hm?"
She sighed. 'I have to do this . . . Mom's right . . . I never let him explain. It's now or never . . .'
"I want to know why,"
He immediately understood. "Come in, then."
XxXxX
---
*If you can guess what 'Nosbor Square' is a puzzle of . . . you're an awesome person! Hint: Think about the Olympics tht just passed! :) (and where they were!)
ACK! I'M EVIL! Seriously! Sorry about the loo0o0o0o0o0o0ong hiatus! Just been very busy. A few months ago, I moved to a new city, and a new school etc, and it's been tough! I also had finals a while back, and then I was wrapped up with the Olympics! (and I must say, I'm quite proud of Canada :) 3 Anyhow, to everyone who read this, I'm allowing you all to find a VERY heavy and sturdy brick and throw it at my head! Ha, well I hope ye all enjoyed this lo0o0o0ng, never ending chapter! (seriously, I had a mind to write the whole story into this one chapter-- it just wouldn't end!)
Oo0o0oh, seems like Malon's going to let Link explain, and I gotta tell ya, it's a dumb explanation, but I couldn't think of much better!
Also, the song Malon was singing is 'You'll Be in My Heart' - Phil Collins (from the Tarzan soundtrack! XD) No idea why I chose it . . .
Hope you enjoyed it!
~Smashie
XoXoXoXo
