A/N: Sorry for the delay! I've been slammed with darn homework, but nevertheless, here's the next chapter! Shout out to new reviewer wolfzrule!

Enjoy. X)

Zelda

Wednesday, 9:00 PM

"I think she's going a bit delirious."

"A bit? We hadn't been able to wipe that Cheshire smile off her face in the last hour."

"And she still hadn't told us why."

I barely here my friends' griping as I remain sprawled on my bed, clutching my heart-shaped pillow to my chest. It's been a while since we returned home from our ninja-sneaking to the café, and it was an upmost failure, to say the least. However, this failure made me the happiest person in the world.

My undeniably mile-long smile is starting to ache on my face, but it won't go away, because it can't. It'll probably leave some wrinkled marks tomorrow, but that doesn't matter now. Nothing but a bit of concealer can do, right?

"Zelda!" Malon shrieks. Normally, I'd nearly jump out of my skin, but today, I twist my head to Malon's direction on the bed, still having that stupid smile on my face.

"Yes, Mal?" I ask lightly. They don't understand this feeling at all. I feel as if I can float above the whole universe.

"Why're you smiling like a murderer who blew up a building and didn't get caught?"

"Ooooohhhh," I drawl, and then a huge giggle escapes my mouth. But then I zip my mouth and flop onto my stomach, facing both Malon and Ruto.

"Do you really want to know?" I ask seriously, that smile disappearing for just a moment. Malon pumps her fists.

Ruto turns her whole attention to me. "Sure thing, girl. Spill."

'The Smile' returns, much to Malon's dismay, but now, I sit myself on my bed, crossing my legs. I pause for a moment, an unstoppable giggle slipping out. Malon and Ruto are restless, but I finally control myself. "Well, you guys went out the café first…"

I stare at him.

He grins back, still thrusting that dollar bill at me.

Uh… What should I say? Should I take off my sunglasses? Admit it's me? Or continue on as if he's totally got the wrong person and act like he's been mistaken?

My eyes are still resembling donuts behind my shades as I vaguely register him wedging the five dollar bill into my clammy palms. My mouth moves to protest, though nothing comes out.

Craaaap, I wish I can disappear this very second. This is so very embarrassing.

And then suddenly, hands are on my sunglasses, slowly slipping them off my ears and from in front of my dinner-plate eyes.

"Found you," he says.

"Y-you need this though," I stutter without much thought, bringing the wrinkled money up to him once again.

He shakes his head and pushes my hand down by my side. "Nope, don't need."

"Why not?" I ask dumbly.

He doesn't respond, but only wedges the sunglasses in my hand as well. I look down, dumbfounded at the five dollars and sunglasses, how this was all playing out so, so bad—

A finger pushes my head back up, and I nearly gasp at how close he is to me.

And then he's closing in, slowly, painfully slow. Time seems to have momentarily froze. My eyes only grow wider with each inch he's getting closer.

Briefly, I'm self-conscious of everything around me. Are my friends staring at us through the window? Any other passerbys? And where's Ilia? But they're all dismissed as my eyes focus on his in front of me.

They're comforting, saying everything was alright, and nobody can disrupt this moment.

The last thing I see before closing my eyes is that brilliant blue before it's also blocked. The next feeling…

Surprisingly soft. Soft, not a bit rough as I expected, but soft lips pressing against my own.

It feels like paradise.

I return it. Slowly, the pressure's increasing, but not before a piercing growl rips through the air.

My eyes shoot open, about to pull back. But he calmly opens his eyes and serenely leans away from me.

"You should go now, your friends are waiting," he says, and turns around to where I finally spot a fuming Ilia.

He tosses a backwards wave, shooing me off. "Don't worry, I'll handle the rest from here. Besides…" He turns back to me one last time, grinning. "…the shop's closed now. Please return during our opening hours."

An instinctive smile slips out, and I nod, for all words within my vocabulary are stuck in my throat. And with that, I toss a last smile and control my about-to-burst self out the door to where my friends were waiting impatiently.

Malon rolls her eyes accusingly. "What took you so—"

I rip out a scream, finally relieving of that utter elation that had been bottled for too long in there. Ruto and Malon are blown away. I'm proud I didn't let it out in the café, because that'll definitely attract the police.

Malon's staring blankly, a dreamy smile plastered on her face. Ruto gawks with unblinking eyes. "You…didn't…make this up…did you?"

"No, why else would I have deafened you with my happy scream?"

"Screams don't sound happy."

Ruto pipes up, "Yeah, I thought you were robbed but then that stupid smile wouldn't leave your face."

"Oh don't be silly!" I sing. "If he'd kissed me or robbed me, I'd be happy either way!"

"Ella ha vuelto loco," Ruto comments to Malon, words thanks to Spanish class they have together.

Malon nods understandingly. "Si, estoy de acuerdo."

But I don't care what they're talking about, but I can't stop thinking about it!

"That's so very sweet and all, but what are you gonna do now?" Malon asks me, grinning. "You gonna ask him out?"

I freeze for a second. "N-no, that's…too early."

"'Too early? Come on now, he flippin' smooched you and you feel that asking him out is too early?"

"…Yeah?"

"You're impossible, Zelda."

"…Thanks."

"How about we ask him for ya?" Ruto questions, smirking at me.

I jump up in panic. "Nononono, you can't do that, that's so cheesy and cowardly!"

"Then hurry up your game!" Malon chimes deviously.

"Yeah, the sooner you're together with him, the sooner you'll stop walking around in a dream and accidentally get kidnapped or something," Ruto adds in 'helpfully.'

"Thanks for your concerns, guys," I say, still not really thinking straight. "I'll think about it."

Malon and Ruto give up.

"…Let's just go to bed," Malon suggests, defeated. She turns to me with a mock glare. "And you've better sleep, Zelda, because I don't want to be kept up by your incessant…fangirling."

I nod. "Yep, he's totally worth to fangirl over."

Ruto collapses in her sleeping bag and flings a pillow over her face.

"Will...you go out with me?"

I try to control my expression, trying to suppress the scream threatening to come out.

"Y-yes!" I cheer excitedly, but am shushed when he suddenly produces a pan out of nowhere.

"Huh?" I say, wholly confused.

"Oh I was just kidding," he said mockingly. "Nice knowing you." And then the pan is seen swinging to my face, ready to slam me unconscious—

"Zelda!" I shoot up in my bed, blankets falling off me. Ruto's staring at me weirdly while Malon's clutching a pillow, huffing and puffing.

Immediately, I spring up and stampede to the mirror, checking my reflection. Seeing no bruises whatsoever, I collapse back onto bed and sighed a huge sigh of relief. "It was all a dream...a dream…"

"What's not a dream is that Malon has been whacking that pillow on your face for the last two minutes and you finally woke up," Ruto informed sarcastically.

"It was a pan," I say.

"A what?" I stare at them.

"Nevermind. It was a dream."

Ruto rolls her eyes while Malon apologizes to the pillow on using it to slap my 'greasiness' and that she'll give it a proper wash soon.

"Well, time to get up, because school time," Ruto announces.

"Yeah, and aren't you so happy to finally go meet your new boyfriend?" Malon deadpans. "Oh wait, you still have Mido on your plate. Whoops!" She sarcastically fans herself.

Oh yeah...him… I recall last night when Link had boldly did it in front of Ilia of all people, and he said he'll set things straight with her. I need to do the same. I can't avoid it any longer, and that's the only obstacle.

"Alright fine, I'll talk to him today," I say unconvincingly.

"Yep, you do that," Ruto agrees straightforwardly.

I leave my friends in my room to gossip and gush some more as I plod to the bathroom, preparing to take a refreshing shower, because although short, I gotta forget that nightmare. Yes, that counts as a nightmare.

I plop myself on the toilet to get that late night coffee I had last night out of my system, but that's when I notice the red.

Shit.

"IT'S HEEERE!" I scream ludicrously, so loud it can wake up the dead.

Oh no, why now of all times? When I have to do so much crap today, why now?

Malon and Ruto's hurried footsteps are heard, and they're pounding on the bathroom door. "What's here? Zelda, are you okay? A hidden murderer in your bathtub? Zelda?!"

"No guys, I'm bleeding—"

"OH MY GODDESSES ZELDA, WE MUST CALL THE POLICE, THERE'S A MURDER TRAP—"

"No! Shut up! I'm bleeding from down south!"

"… Oh."

"Nevermind guys, go away. I'll deal with this myself."

"...Yeah, you do that." Footsteps are heard going away.

Phew, I didn't mean to cause a commotion. It's a relief my mom already left for work early.

But still, why? Why can't it wait two days until the weekend?

Well, I still have no choice. I lean over and pull open the separate drawer containing my 'monthly necessities' and pull one out. Ugh.

Quickly, I jump into the shower and turn the water on. After doing my usual shower routine, I step out and 'prepare' my undergarments and then wrap myself in a bathrobe before slipping out the bathroom.

"You good and ready to go?" Malon questions using, ahem, my eyeliner.

"Yep, got it solved," I say.

"What do you guys want for breakfast?"

"Hm, what've you got?"

"Leftover pizza?"

"Sounds dandy."

While Malon and Ruto are beautifying their selves with, ahem, my makeup, I trudge downstairs and flip open the fridge, pulling out some cold pizza from last night. As I'm waiting for it in the microwave, I hum this song called 'Healing' while buttering some toast for three, and then slice a peach into thirds. My friends definitely owe me a breakfast in return when I go to their house.

Finally, the two tumble downstairs as well and we eat quickly, standing up, next to the counter. "So what's your plan," Ruto questions through toast and butter. Malon gulps her glass of milk she 'borrowed from my fridge.'

I stop chewing for a second and thought. "Today will be difficult, that's for sure," I say. "I've got to confront Mido and meet up with Link and possibly hang out—"

"Flirt."

"—with him and listen in class and have this atrocity to deal with." I point downwards.

Malon does a spit take. "Well, good luck for you then."

"Thanks a lot."

We finish and dump our plates in the sink while I mentally promise Mom I'll wash them when I get back from school. I scramble back upstairs to my wardrobe, choosing something nice, because today is a day I definitely need to look presentable.

"How about this one?" Ruto suggests jokingly, pulling out a low V-neck shirt.

I whack her with the pair of jeans I'm holding. "Shut up."

In the end, I'm ultimately wearing a lacy T-shirt with a sports jacket over it. "Beaut and brawn at the same time," Malon coos.

I grin half-heartedly as I fidget with my leggings I hesitantly decided to wear because I at first wanted to opt with some baggy sweatpants or jeans because of my, erm, 'involuntary blood loss,' but I also wanna look nice today, especially for him.

So I tug my shirt as low as possible over my backside and turn around, back facing my friends. "Do you see it?" I whisper secretly, even though I know there's literally not any other soul in the house besides me and buddies.

"See what?" Malon asks offhandedly, still ogling over one of my flowy tops. "Hey Zel can I borrow this today?"

"Ugh, do you see it?" I hiss.

Ruto finally catches on. She quickly glances at my rump. "No Zel, I don't see it."

"Are you sure?!"

"Yes! I'm sure!" I turn around, relieved.

"That's good."

Finally, after brushing up my face and spraying myself with some perfume ("Zelda, you never wear perfume." "I just want to try it once today." "Or you want to smell nice for him." "No of course not!"), we're off and ready to go.

After Ruto had called her mom over, we're finally piling into her car and pulling out, heading to school. Throughout the whole car ride, I've been pelting Malon and Ruto with my incessant "Do I look fine? Is my hair smooth? Do I have any food stuck in my teeth?" and by the time the hundredth time rolled around, Malon had switched from answering with "No" to "PMS."

Finally, we're pulling up by the school entrance, and my friends and I tumble out the car. Waving to Rutela, we whirl around and begin walking in for the fourth time this whole school year. I can't believe it's only been four days; it feels like forty.

And once again, unfortunately, we all have to part ways now as we disperse to our respective first periods. Periods.

Ugh.

"I can't, sorry." I stare solemnly into my carton of chocolate milk, chin in hands. Malon groans while Ruto stares at me sympathetically.

So the harsh reality of high school has now kicked in. Super hard.

I've gotten homework in every single darn class, and they're not a simple sheet, but full blown packets and projects. By next week, I'll have to have already completed a five page essay, a mini poster board, and a powerpoint presentation. Public speaking, my favorite.

Cheers.

And to make matters worse, I haven't been able to catch even a glimpse of him the whole morning. Of course, Malon and Ruto have already listened to my sob story.

"Okay, well, if you can't make the sleepover tonight, you will be able to go to the cafe, right?" Ruto smirks teasingly at me.

I roll my eyes half-heartedly. Truth be told, I'm more bummed about that than anything else. "Yeah, sure. Lug my three textbooks plus a laptop to the cafe like I own the place."

"Aw man, cheer up, Zel! Hey, at least get his number today so you can chat while doing homework."

I freeze. I really want to, but I don't feel as if today's my day. And suffering through minor cramps all day aren't helping.

"Maybe tomorrow," I say after a pause.

Malon and Ruto are visibly disappointed. "Really? Homework is now gonna stop you from meeting him when nothing else in the universe could?"

"It's not the homework, it's the monthly cycle doing the job."

"Oooh, I get it now. Zelda's just PMS-ing."

"Shut up, you know that all girls alike hate it when someone blames her bitching on PMS."

"PMS."

"Give me some chocolate or else."

"Case in point." Malon leans forward. "Whatever, just bring your homework to the cafe, okay?"

"But that's rude."

"I don't think he'll think it's rude when you do it."

Malon suddenly clasps her hands together and looks up at me with pleading eyes. "Please Zelda, for the love of Farore, please just go tonight. It's so pathetic seeing my friend moan and groan about not being able to see the love of her life because of homework of all things, and you aren't even moving far away or anything. And it's even better because he kissed…"

And then the memory struck back.

Immediately, I feel so much lighter, and the cramps seem to have disappeared for a second.

"...I guess it wouldn't hurt to go…," I hear myself say. Ruto and Malon rejoice by exchanging cheesy grins.

"However," I say, "I will completely blame both of you and sob for eternity if he throws me out for 'loitering.'"

"Uh huh, but I doubt it."

"Your life is on the life, guys. Cherish it."

It's finally the end of the school day, and as much as I prayed, the pile of homework did not stay the same but only grew (if only it can shrink).

There are two things running through my brain as I stuff my supplies into my bag: confrontation with Mido, going to the café to meet him, because I've been avoiding Mido all day, and searching for Link has proven fruitless as I hadn't caught even a glimpse of him today. Maybe he's absent?

As I turn the corner, I was taken by surprise as there was Mido next to the gym doors with a gang of friends.

Confrontation, confrontation, confrontation…

I take a deep breath, then take a step towards him from the corner.

His head turns up.

I immediately whip back around behind the corner, praying he didn't catch me. Too many people, too many people…

Maybe another day will be better for this. I quickly peel myself off the wall and run the other way to the exit, where Ruto's waiting for me in her car with her mom.

"Hey, you look beat," she comments as I fling myself into the backseat.

"I can't do it," I gasp.

Ruto rolls her eyes. "Oh come on, you can totally be able to meet him today at the café—"

"No, I mean, I can't confront Mido!"

"…Oh." Ruto peers at me sympathetically. "Hey, do you perhaps want me and Malon to help you meet up with him? We can kinda set you up again just like the blind date, except it's a break up spot now."

She and I share a laugh.

"And we'll hold it in that exact garden where you guys met for the first time," she suggests.

I grin. "I guess that's a little mean-ish, but there's really no other place that's private enough. At least he'll be thankful that I'm not making our breakup public in front of a thousand people."

"Oh Zelda."

We ride silently as Ruto instructs her mom to drop me off at 'Outlook Café.'

"Getting some afternoon coffee, dear?" Rutela questions me.

Ruto and I share a guilty glance. "Uh, yeah. Heh, I have lotsa homework," I reply.

"Yeah, Zelda's gonna do homework in there," Ruto chimes.

"I wish you luck," Rutela says.

"Thank you."

Finally, the café's in our view, and I'm starting to panic once again. "What if he's not there? I mean, he wasn't in school today also…"

"He wasn't?" Ruto asks, mildly surprised. "Now that I think about it, I haven't seen him either…"

It's too late to turn back now. It'll be rude to tell Rutela that I changed my mind and to turn all the way back to my house. So alas, I reluctantly get out the car by the café and wave to them. Ruto mouths 'Good luck' at me. I return it with a sheepish smile and nod.

And so, I'm now standing in front of the double doors of the cafe, cradling my schoolbag full of homework and assignments and my laptop and at least a hundred pounds of textbooks in there. In the end, I had chickened out on my confrontation with Mido. Bummer.

Well, even if Link's not working here if he's absent, I can still get a coffee because what is true is that I have a mountain of homework to deal with, and it's best to stay alert and awake.

I push open the doors, and look around, mentally frantic. First of all there's no customers…

He's not here. Sigh.

I plop down on the nearest seat next to me and groggily tug out my laptop while waiting for a waiter to come.

Well, he, no, she come very quickly.

"Excuse you, but you can't do your homework here."

I look up. It's Ilia.

"Oh, sorry." I begin sliding my laptop back into my bag. "Can I still order something though?" I ask innocently.

Ilia's visibly fuming, and it's obvious she doesn't want me here. For a moment, I feel sympathetic and a little guilty. I mean, imagine seeing your crush kissing someone else…

And then I decide that I won't hate this girl, and she just needs some comforting. "Hey, Ilia, I'm sorry about you and Link. Hopefully this won't get between our friendsh—"

"Friends?" she hisses, and then let's out a mocking laugh. And then the grin is gone and she's glaring at me with more ferocity than I ever seen her with.

"Get out," she growls.

I clear my throat. "Look, I'm really sorry—"

"Good, you should be. Now get the hell out."

"But I'm still a customer—"

"You're not anymore. Now get out!"

Immediately, the potential to make up and befriend her crumbles. If she wants to be a bitch about it, then be that way.

I scoop up my bag. "Fine." I turn around to the door.

And that's when he appears through it, just coming in.

I freeze in my tracks. "Link…?"

"Zelda?" He looked so down when he walked in, but now he seems to have smiled for a moment.

A frustrated grunt is heard. "Will you just leave, you mindless whore?"

That struck me hard.

I whip around to protest, but Ilia's already in my face. She gives me a rough shove towards the exit, which I wasn't expecting. She raises her hands again to hit me.

"I bet you go around stealing everyone's boyfriends don't you—"

"Ilia!"

Suddenly, Link has grabbed her hand from striking me any more. Ilia struggles, but he keeps a firm grip on her. "Let go of me you traitor!" she screams. At least my prayers had been answered for no customers right now.

"Ilia! Calm down," he grunts, getting pulled along with her childish actions.

"I will once I teach this girl a lesson!" Ilia suddenly whirls around to face Link. She stares up with tearful eyes. "Link, you really didn't mean what you said last night, right? It was all a joke! I know it's all a joke! Tell me it's a joke!"

Link remains staring at her, not a word.

Ilia whips around and lunges once again at me. "You freaking—"

Link snags her once more. "Ilia, get a hold of yourself!"

Finally, she does. By slamming her foot down on his.

As Link yelps in surprised pain, she breaks out of his weakened grip and scrambles to the exit, pushing past me, bawling out the door. Noise slowly dwindles into silence.

I see from my peripheral vision Link standing up, recovered from his aching foot. We're quiet for a moment.

"You okay?" he asks.

I nod. "And you?"

He also nods.

Quiet.

"You should probably go after her," I say through the awkward silence.

He shakes his head. "I already confronted her. Last night, remember? She's just stubborn."

I look down guiltily. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to make you go through all this hell for me. I'm really, really sor—"

And then there are arms wrapping around me. Comforting. "It's alright," he says. It feels warm. So content. I close my eyes.

"Hey, you still wanna order something?" he asks, more spirited. I open my eyes, and smile.

"If I'm allowed to."

"Of course. Just sit, and I'll prepare some for you."

"Thank you."

"What would you like?"

"Just…anything is fine."

As he disappears behind the counter, I slowly drop into a seat and lean my head back, breathing deeply. Everything happened at once. I'm still a little disoriented from what the heck happened two minutes ago. But it's over…over…

"Hey, here's your order."

I open my eyes again, and he's handing me that familiar orange pumpkin mocha. "Thanks again."

"Don't mention it." He situates himself across from me. It gets quiet once more.

I groggily stir the drink with the stirrer, staring into the stirring liquid. For a second, I see the replay of events in the orange substance. Ilia fuming and screaming at me. Pushing me. My clueless self not knowing what to do. Link, flustered, trying to control Ilia from striking me. I knew it wasn't a good idea to come here. My friends owe me big time.

Oh crap, I should probably acknowledge Link. He must feel unbelievably awkward, especially after all that happened. "Sorry," I say at the same time he apologizes as well.

I look up, and that's when I realize he looks even more depressed than before.

"Hey what's wrong?" I ask timidly.

His chin lifts and those dazzling blue eyes look shocked for a second. "There's nothing wrong." Everyone can tell that's a lie.

"Come on, just tell me," I press. "Is it Ilia?"

"No, it's not her. Don't worry, she'll recover. I know she will because she's strong."

I swallow down the ball of envy. No time to get jealous of her, because she's hurt and I also want to help her. So I change the topic. "Why weren't you at school?"

He takes a slow sip from his cup and stays quiet, so long that I thought I should take the hint and shut up about it. Until, he starts speaking again. "It's my friend," he says so softly I barely catch that.

"Your friend…?"

"He…got into an accident. Car accident."

I gasp quietly. Oh no, a car accident? His head's hanging so low I only see the top of the mop of dirty blond hair.

"I…I'm so sorry," I say sympathetically. Oh man, I really hope his friend is okay. It bothers so much when innocent people get into accidents like these.

"Is he okay?" I ask quietly.

"I think so," Link whispers. "He was unconscious when the ambulance I called came. But they say that it's not serious, but who knows?"

I bite back the needles of tears starting to spring up. The poor guy…

"I'm so sorry," I whisper.

"No, I'm sorry," he says and discreetly dabs his eye, still looking down. "I'm just dumping all my troubles on you."

"No you're not," I say a bit too desperately. I want to comfort him as much as he has comforted me. I reach over and gently grab his hand laying idly by his cup. Silence ensues once more.

Suddenly his phone rings. His body jerks, showing his surprise. "Just a moment." And he's off behind the counter once more.

By the time he arrives back, I've already finished my drink, and I also note his so much happier expression.

"Well, they say he's woken up," he said, much more jubilantly. "I got to chat with him for a while before he's getting his wounds treated."

I sigh a breath of relief. "That's so fortunate."

He seats himself across from me. "Thanks for your concerns," he says sincerely.

A pause. "Hey, are you sure Ilia'll be okay?"

He smiles. "Yeah. As I said, she's pretty strong."

I mentally sigh relief. As much drama as she caused me, she deserves as much love as she wants.

"Well, how's the drink?"

I return the grin and reply, "It was delicious, as always." Which is true.

Link clears his throat, and he leans back, a genuine grin surfacing once more. "I've seen you've brought youre homework?"

Oh. A blush springs up, and I dive down to my schoolbag. "I was just going home, but decided for a drink and, yeah."

"Uh huh. So you might as well do it now."

"Huh?"

Link smirks at me, and then he suddenly produces his own stack of books. "Let's just do it here, you know, for moral support and company?"

I can't stop the grin from coming out. "That sounds so awesome!"

He waits patiently for me as I struggle with my huge bundle of stuff.

"Sorry, if you finish your work before me because I've got a mountain, then you can close the shop and I'll take my leave."

"No need," he says half-heartedly. "I've got a lot too. And if you need any help, I'm here!"

I chuckle. I guess I am doing homework here.

With that, we open our books and start working.

A/N: Whew, the drama, amiright?

For those wondering, "Ella ha vuelto loco" and "Si, estoy de acuerdo" translates from Spanish to "She has gone crazy" and "Yes, I agree." XD

Anyway, thank you so much for reading and reviewing. :) I'll continue to work hard!

-prowessMaster44