Nineteen: Glitter or grunge

It was time for the party that night, and Zelda was sitting in front of a large mirror as one of the girls did her hair for her, coiling it atop her head in majesty.

"There ya' go," said the girl in her crude southern accent. She was new to the house and Zelda found she quite liked the girl, who seemed to have no prejudice against her. "Yer hair looks lovely, if I do say so myself."

"It is lovely," Zelda said, looking at the majestic coiffure. "You're excellent with hair. Thank you."

"Yer welcome," said the girl, beaming. She pulled a soft white lily out of the pocket of her apron and waved it in front of Zelda's face. "D'ya want this in yer hair, miss?"

"Yes, that would be great," Zelda said softly, allowing the girl to tuck it into the front of her coiffure. "Thank you."

"Yer welcome, miss," said the girl. "M'name's Laura, if y'need me for anythin'. Yer father's got a nice right place here, and I like workin'. You both'r right fine people."

"Thank you," said Zelda softly. "I'll remember that, yes. Thank you… Laura."

"Yer welcome, Miss. I'll be leavin' ya now to get ready." The girl smiled and turned and left, red curls bouncing after her. She was a pretty girl with a light voice and freckles, and in a way, she reminded Zelda of Malon, vaguely. Zelda smiled and stood, unzipping her gray hoodie, under which she wore a strapless bra, and tugged off her pajama pants. She walked into her massive closet and pulled a glittering black dress out of the plastic bag that guarded it, unzipping it in the back and stepping in. With a bit more than a little trouble, Zelda squirmed the dress up over her bra and breasts and zipped up the back, breathing hard from the mild exertion.

"Dresses," she sighed, turning around in the mirror and checking that the dress was zipped all the way up. She grabbed a black shawl from her closet, then walked to her armoire and pulled out a pair of black designer shoes, tugged them onto her feet, clasped a string of snow white pearls around her neck and a matching string around her wrist, sprayed herself lightly with sweet perfume, and walked into the bathroom, standing before the large three-way mirror to have a look at herself.

The tube-top dress was white underneath layers of black beaded lace, so many layers that the white was nearly invisible. The hem of the dress was tiered, a handkerchief hemline, and reminded Zelda of a Halloween costume she'd once worn many years ago, when she'd dressed up as a witch. The black shawl with white beading along the edges tied the dress to the pearls, which, in turn, brought out the stark, pure, snow-white lily tucked into Zelda's beautiful coiffure, piled in curls high atop her hair, a few small tendrils hanging down around her neck and ears. Zelda smacked her glossy lips, pushed a pair of pearl earrings into her ears, turned around once (inwardly wincing from the awful stiletto heels) and then stared at herself some more, marveling at how she looked so unlike her normal self.

"The question is," she asked her glamorous model reflection, "who is the real Zelda? Is she glitter or grunge?"

Leaving her question to the cool air in the bathroom, Zelda took three deep breaths, then exited her bedroom, grabbing her black sequined clutch on the way, slinging it over her shoulder and wandering down the hall to her father's room, right next to her mother's. Tentatively, she knocked.

She'd hardly spoken to her father since her return to the house- ten minutes total over the past half week, if that. They'd exchanged few words during the meals they shared, preferring their food to conversation, and whenever Zelda saw him in the halls of the massive house, he was busy.

It reminded Zelda why she'd agreed to leave in the first place.

The wooden surface in front of Zelda fell away as Richard Harkinian opened the door, breaking her trance.

"Ah, Zelda," he said proudly, looking his daughter up and down. "You look lovely, my dear."

"Are you ready to down, Dad?" she asked, disregarding his nice tuxedo, Armani, of course.

"Yes, I am. Do you know if the limousine is here yet?"

"I dunno." Zelda shrugged her bare shoulders, then wrapped her shawl around herself. "Probably. Pedro is usually pretty prompt about the limmo and whatnot."

"He is," Harkinian absentmindedly agreed, and walked before his daughter down the hall and down the stairs. Zelda caught a brief glimpse of his room- same as always, ultramodern and cold.

They descended the stairs, down to the first floor where several guests were already milling around, waiting for their transportation to arrive.

"The Tudors will be riding in a limousine with us," Harkinian said. "Tonight and tonight only."

"Yes, Father," Zelda said with little thought. "May I go and find them?"

"Be good to the guests."

She walked away, threading through the small crowd, repeating her breakfast routine, knowing exactly where she would find her closest friend….

She pushed through the last of the people out onto the patio out back, where Link was sitting, looking goofy in a nice tuxedo.

"Princess!" He hopped off the railing and sauntered over to her. "You look lovely tonight."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Shut up, Link." She whacked him on the head. Link winced, rubbing his hair, and eyed Zelda up and down.

"Bee in your bonnet?"

"That is one of the most awful sayings I've ever heard in my life." Zelda leaned against the railing, taking note of how the light of the moon reflected on the fake lagoon.

There was a beat of silence. "What's up?"

Zelda was quiet for a time, pensive, and then finally she spoke, patting her hair as she did so.

"I feel… I don't know. Confused."

"About?"

Her breath billowed white around her nose and mouth as she spoke.

"Sterling, for one thing. I mean, he ignores me for days at a time, and then acts like nothing's happened! It's frustrating. And… this lifestyle is suited to me, but it's not suited to me to be my father's daughter. I… I don't know. I like the house and I like leading an easy life, but I don't like being the perfect daughter and I don't like having a structured day."

"I think you were born a princess," Link said. "And your mother was a queen, and someday, you'll grow up and fill her shoes and be a queen, too. You can't escape this, because you were born into it and this social system is unforgiving, but I think that you can make it work. And ignore Sterling. If he's going to be an ass, he's going to be an ass and he's not worth your time. You really do look nice tonight, Zelda."

"Nicer than I did at homecoming?"

Link chuckled, shaking his shaggy hair out of his eyes. "Nicer than you did at homecoming. Don't worry about it, though, Zelda. You only have two more weeks and then you can go back to being an untamed, free spirit."

"And Impa won't wear concealer over her tattoos," Zelda stated with a snicker. Link chortled, shaking his head.

"That really threw me for a loop first time I saw it."

Silence.

"I have a question, Zel."

"Mmm?"

"I don't see you around here too often. Where are you all the time?"

"I've been spending a lot of time with my aunt Audrey," Zelda replied softly. "Or attending to the guests, or in my mother's room, or just wandering around trying to figure myself out. That's the way my life always was before I moved out- wandering around, trying to figure myself out, and attending to the guests. There's always guests here, always."

"I see."

Silence, again. The two teens studied the pool, the garden, the sky, and finally, Zelda sighed, straightening.

"Come on," she said. "The limousine should be here soon."

"I get to ride in a limo!" Link's eyebrows arched up in disbelief.

"Yeah, and tomorrow night, you and your family don't have to share with me and my dad. Don't know what his reasoning behind that is, though…."

"Me neither," Link grunted. Zelda began to lead him inside, but Link stopped her.

"You look nice," Link said. "You really do. That dress suits you."

He melted. "Thanks, Hero. But let's go inside before we're missed."

"Alrighty."

They wandered back into the slightly-stuffy house and meandered through the guests, happening upon Impa and Haft, both of whom were trying to keep the little girls looking presentable, at best.

"Hello, you two," Impa said, looking lovely in a deep violet dress and silver jewelry. "Zelda, you look gorgeous."

"Thanks, Impa. You look nice, too. And so do you, Haft."

"Thank you, Zelda. Saria, please don't pick at your tights…."

Impa rolled her eyes, smiling. "Well thank you, dear. Link, straighten your tie."

"Eh?" Link looked down at his bow tie, which was askew, and grinned wolfishly. "Sorry, Mum."

"Need any help?" Zelda asked Haft as he tried to keep Saria from pulling at her white tights. Jayda was looking lovely and pristine, her hair braided up into a neat bun, complimented by white ribbons. Both the little girls were wearing matching green dresses with black silk sashes going around the middle, white hoes and black dress shoes. Whereas Jayda looked like a little princess in her gown, Saria looked plain confused and kept pulling at the itchy tights.

"If you don't mind," Haft said.

"I'm not deaf, you know. These things itch a lot, a loooooot!" Saria pulled at the tights more, and Zelda grinned.

"Saria, why don't you come over here?" she asked, holding her arms out. The girl came over obligingly, scowling at Zelda.

"Well I can't help it if I'm itchy, itchyyyy." Saria began to whine. "And this dress is so hot…"

"But you look so pretty," Zelda replied, grinning. "And if you don't pull at the tights any more, you get to ride in a limo for every night the rest of this week."

"Really?" Saria eyed Zelda with guarded caution, looking the older girl up and down. "I think you're lying."

"No, honestly," Zelda said, smiling. "I'm telling the truth. Right Link?"

"Right." Link was staring upwards, his focus fixated on the chandelier as he tried to count how many crystal teardrops were hanging from the large thing.

"See, and Link wouldn't lie," Zelda said to Saria. "So why don't you stop picking at your tights, okay?"

"Okay," Saria finally conceded with a sigh.

"Do you and Jayda want to come around with me and meet some of the guests when we get to the party? I think some of them will have children your age there. " Zelda was well aware of the pains of being the only one at a party her own age, and didn't want the girls to suffer that pain.

"Can we really?" Jayda asked, patting her hair.

"Sure," Zelda said with a smile. "Absolutely. Er, Link, come here."

"Eh?" Link tore his gaze away from the chandelier and wandered over to Zelda, away from his two parents who were deep in talk.

"Stay still for just a second, will you?"

"Er… okay…" Link remained motionless, and Zelda stood behind him and put both her hands on his shoulders, heaving herself upwards for just a moment to get a glimpse of the front door. "Ow!"

"Let's move towards the door," Zelda said, patting Link's hair, which was still wild, despite the gel that had been combed in. "The limo should be here soon."

"Hm?" Impa and Haft looked up from their conversation, and the latter, nodded. "Alright, Zelda."

The six of them moved towards the massive front door, Zelda smiling courteously at the guests as they made their way through to the door.

"Zelda." Harkinian nodded at her once they'd gotten to the door. "Good. The limousine is here."

"See Saria, I told you," Zelda said with a soft smile. Then, to her father, "I'm sorry I took so long."

"Don't make it a habit," he stated coolly, and then nodded to the Tudors before stepping out the front door as a servant held it open. Zelda followed, then Impa, Haft, and company, and one by one they filed out into the car.

"Wow," Saria said quietly. "A real limousine." Jayda just looked around with wide eyes.

Harkinian was sitting as close to the drivers' compartment as possible. Haft set next to Harkinian, Impa next to Haft. Link was next to his mother, and Zelda on the end, with the two little girls sitting on the narrow two seats in the very end.

"Would anybody like drinks?" Zelda asked, sensing her father's brain waves attacking her.

"No thank you," Impa declined. Haft politely added his second, and the little girls, sensing they were to follow their parents' lead that night, also refused. Link shrugged, now trying to count the number of beads on Zelda's dress, and Harkinian shook his head.

"No thank you, Zelda, but it was good of you to offer."

"You're very welcome, father," she replied courteously. Link's eyebrows shot up, but wisely, he didn't say anything, and the two little girls were too enraptured in the limo to notice.

Haft and Harkinian talked the whole way to the party, which was being held in a nice hotel in the city nearby. Zelda conversed quietly with Link and the girls, and even a bit with Impa, but despite her conversations and words, all her thoughts were with Sterling the entire evening. After what felt like forever, they arrived in the parking lot of the hotel, and despite the unusually chill winter, the trees were as green as though it were May.

Zelda stepped gracefully from the limousine, letting her black silken shawl drape elegantly around her elbows, smiling and humoring the little girls as Link clambered out of the limo, followed by the elegant Impa, and then Haft, and the reserved Richard Harkinian.

The sudden changes in the two Harkinians were noticeable to the Tudor families. Zelda seemed to glow with supreme light as she held herself straight, seemingly impervious to the cold, and Richard was tall, mighty, foreboding, a figure not to be crossed. The two led the way into the hotel and up the elevator, and Link, who was standing behind Zelda (who had seemingly transformed over the course of the night from normal, goofy Zelda in a dress to a queen, the ultimate in feminine) caught an enticing whiff of her perfume, and had to work very hard to remind himself that she was off-limits.

Zelda, on the other hand, was ignoring Link's presence behind her, instead thinking hard. Names, faces, important facts… she must be aware of herself, she must be perfect. She stood up a little straighter, and shot a look at her father, then back at the elevator doors, where her reflection stared back at her.

Would she ever live up the standards her long dead mother had set for her? Zelda doubted it.

The elevator doors slid open and Zelda allowed her father to step out into the reception area first, and bit back a groan as she saw her cousin standing by, looking perfect, as usual.

Curse you, Alexandria, Zelda muttered inwardly.

Alexandria Derwill was Zelda's father's sister's daughter and gorgeous. She had perfect strawberry blonde curls that were twisted and braided in a complicated knot, adorned with strings of pearls and white ribbons. Her cheeks were rosy, her skin pale, her lips the color of roses and her eyes the color of the afternoon sky.

She was also a spoiled brat and a ditz. It was a very unfortunate thing indeed that her beautiful head had nothing in it.

"Uncle Richard!" Alexandria rushed forward, taking her Uncle up in a hug. "How have you been?"

"I've been good. Where's Hamilton?"

Harkinian and Alexandria were much closer than Zelda and her father, probably because Alexandria was the socialite Zelda never was.

"He's escorting his family here," Alexandria said, laughing lightly. She then turned her eyes on her cousin, her favorite Uncle's daughter, who she despised.

"Zelda." Alexandria smiled at the younger woman, a genuine, empty exposure of perfect pearl teeth. "So glad that you could come. You're looking well."

"You too, Alexandria," Zelda replied softly. "Are you looking forward to your wedding?"

"Oh, immensely," Alexandria breathed, straightening her white Chanel dress. "I'm so glad that you could come up."

"I am, too. May I introduce you to Haft and Impa Tudor, my guardians?" Zelda smiled sweetly as Haft and Impa stepped forward, hoping she wasn't feeding them to the dogs. "They have a lovely beach-side property that I'm staying at."

"Oh, really?" Alexandria shook both their hands, then peered around at Link, Saria, and Jayda. "How lovely. And these are…?"

"Link," Haft said, beckoning to his son, "and Jayda and Saria. Say hello, girls."

"Hello," the twins chorused.

"Charming." Alexandria was smiling, but inwardly, Zelda winced.

Alexandria never had liked kids.

Sighing, Zelda took her place next to her cousin and her father, the little girls staying with her even as their parents and brother entered the party, and readied herself for a difficult night.

She'd been greeting and introducing for at least half an hour when Sterling appeared, in tow with Jarrett and Jarrett's father. Zelda's smile became genuine.

"Hello, Mr. Wiles, " she greeted Jarrett's father, who she'd had yet to see. "I trust that your trip was well?

"Why hello, Zelda," Wiles replied, beaming. "Yes, my trip was just fine."

"How is filming progressing? Jarrett told me you're working on a new project?"

"Filming is going well. Who are these?" He beckoned with a smile to Saria and Jayda, who were huddled by Zelda's elbow.

"May I introduce Saria and Jayda Tudor, daughters of a colleague of my father's." So what if it was a little twist on the truth? It was enough.

"Saria and Jayda? Lovely to meet you two."

"It's nice to meet you," Jayda chimed. Saria smiled. Wiles laughed, and then moved on to talk with Harkinian.

"Hello, Zelda," Jarrett said, looking like a model in his tuxedo. Zelda smiled sweetly at him, allowing him to embrace her briefly.

"Hi, Jarrett. I didn't see much of you and Sterling around today…"

"Ah, yes." Jarrett sighed with a shrug. "I'm afraid we were out shopping, as my dear friend is completely unable to pack."

"I forgot a tuxedo." Sterling looked ashamed, shrugging one shoulder. "We had to run out and get one. You look nice, Zelda…." His eyes traveled across her and he smiled, coming forward to embrace Zelda for a moment as well. As they broke apart, he tucked a small piece of paper into her left hand.

Thankfully, Jarrett didn't notice. "You two are Saria and Jayda, right?" he asked, looking down at the little girls. "I've heard a lot of you from Zelda."

"Is your dad a movie star?" Saria blurted out, causing Jarrett to laugh and Sterling to smile, chuckling lightly.

"Why yes he is, and some day, I'm going to be a movie star too, and so is Sterling here."

"Woooow." Saria's eyes were wide, even as Jayda nudged her sister in the ribs with her elbow, hissing, "you're being rude."

This set Jarrett and Sterling off even worse, and Zelda grinned, shaking her head.

"I'll see you two in the party," she said, looking to the line of guests still to be greeted. For a brief instant, she made eye contact with Sterling, but then it was broken and they were gone. Hurriedly, Zelda tucked the small piece of paper into her clutch and continued to greet, swallowing her confusion.

"Hello, Zelda." She bit back a smile as Sterling walked serenely up to her. "Walk with?" He offered her his elbow.

"Of course," she replied with a smile, tucking her hand away on his arm. He was incredibly muscular, Zelda thought, feeling his taut skin through the fabric of his dress coat and shirt.

"Tired?" Sterling asked her as he led her to a table to sit and eat.

Zelda sighed. "No, just winded."

"I would be too. Is your hand sore?"

"Nah." Zelda laughed merrily, sitting down in the seat Sterling offered her.

The guests were all clustered around small circular tables like these, each of which could hold six. The bride's table held only her and her groom. The bride's immediate family plus Harkinian was occupying the table next to Zelda and Sterling, on the bride's side. The groom's family was clustered around two tables to his left. Zelda supposed she was keeping in good form, and, if her father later lectured her for not "keeping up appearances", she could argue that she had been asked the honor of her escort and couldn't politely decline.

Hah, Zelda thought. We all sound like a bunch of archaic upper class snot heads. Which we are, actually. Sigh.

"Zelda, my mother and father will be traveling up the day after the wedding for the Christmas Eve ball, and will be staying here until New Years. They're not friends of your cousin, however, as they are good friends of Jarrett's father, your father has invited them up to spend Christmas and New Years'."

"Really? You'll have to introduce me," Zelda said with a smile.

"My little brother will be coming up as well. I believe he's Jayna… Sarah…. Their ages."

"Yes, Jayda and Saria. He's ten?"

"Jayda and Saria, I'm sorry, and yes, he's ten."

"It's quite alright. I'm sure the girls would love to have some more company around the house, as none of the guests staying with us have children their age."

"Miss, may I serve you a drink?" There was a waiter there then, dark haired and dark skinned and bright eyed, tablet in hand as he watched Zelda keenly.

"Oh. Ah…." Zelda glanced at the menu briefly, then smiled. "Could I just get some water for now, thanks?"

"Yes, Miss. And you, sir?"

"Iced tea."

"Yes Sir. Your drinks will be out right away." The waiter left, and Zelda looked around the table, slightly confused.

"Where's Jarrett?"

"He left something in the car," Sterling replied with a grin. "He and his Dad ran down to get it. They should be here… ah, now."

"Hi there," Jarrett said as he bounded up, looking rather pink-cheeked. "Ah, Zelda, good, I'm glad to see you've decided to join us."

"Hello, Jarrett," Zelda greeted, then smiled at his father. "Hello, Mr. Wiles."

"Why hello there, Zelda," Wiles greeted, smiling. "I'm sorry that I missed you today when I arrived at the house. I had to take Sterling and Jarrett shopping." He gave a hearty laugh as he sat down. "Boys."

Zelda smiled and laughed as authentically as she could. Jarrett had gotten his overbearing personality from his father. They were both perfectly nice people, but sometimes… just no.

"Well I'm very glad to see that you made it here safely."

"Ah, yes, of course, of course." Wiles nodded, then looked around. "Well, I'll leave you kids to your antics. Zelda, I'm trusting you to keep those two boys out of trouble."

"I will, sir," she said with a smile. Wiles beamed and nodded, and then walked away, off to join somebody else.

"So, Zelda," Jarrett said, leaning forward, "tell us how your life has been living away from home."

It was a demand, not a request, and Zelda put on a show of thinking whilst internally debating what details to omit. Hmmmm….

"Well, I live with Impa and Haft and Link and Saria and Jayda in a big old Victorian house on the edge of the sea," Zelda began.

"Is Link that blonde boy you're always with?" Sterling asked, and Zelda nodded.

"Yes, he's like a brother to me, or a best friend."

"I see. Do continue." Jarrett looked around for the waiter and his water.

"Well, hmmm. I attend a very rich, very prestigious school. Everybody in the town knows how to surf, except for possibly me. I'm in a band with several friends of mine…"

"What sort of band?" Jarrett interrupted.

"We really don't fall into any specific genre," Zelda stated with a slight yawn. "We do a lot of softer stuff, but some heavier music as well. We've done covers of bands like The Darkness, Smashing Pumpkins, 3 Doors down, Goo Goo Dolls, Pearl Jam, Steppenwolf, Def Leppard, ah… Soft Cell…. Oh, and some Guns 'N Roses too, and right now we're working on 'Ain't Talkin' Bout Love' by Van Halen."

"Impressive." Jarrett nodded. "Tell us about your friends there." Sterling was hardly paying attention. Inwardly, Zelda seethed, but kept up the charade.

"Ah, yes, my friends." Zelda smiled, thinking. "One of my very dear friends, Malon, is one of a kind. Her father is a big rancher, owns a lot of land. I haven't been out on any of it, though, only heard stories." Zelda paused, thinking. "Then there's Lulu… I don't suppose you've ever heard of the Indigo Go's?"

"No," Jarrett said, but Sterling put his attention back on Zelda.

"I have," he stated in his deep, soft voice. "Mom told me about them. A music-legacy of sorts. The woman who founded the band. Lulu Watermill, sang in the band for nearly thirty years before her daughter stepped up and sang in her place, and the other members of the band stepped aside and let their offspring take up their instruments. Then in the late eighties or so, the second singer, Lulu, disbanded the Indigo Go's as she had children and the other band members wanted to settle down. I assume you're talking about the third Lulu?"

"Yes," Zelda said, awed by Sterling's musical knowledge. "Yes, the granddaughter of the woman who founded the Indigo Go's. She's one of my best friends, as well. It's her and me and Malon, and then Darmani and Mikau."

"Who?" Jarrett asked, looking up from the spoon he was inspecting his reflection in.

"Darmani and Mikau. Darmani's our drummer, Malon's boyfriend. Mikau's our guitar and lead singer, Lulu's boyfriend."

"But you have no boyfriend?" Sterling asked. Zelda shrugged her shoulders, shaking her head.

"Nope." The waiter set a glass of water down in front of Zelda and iced tea in front of Sterling, and turned to Jarrett and asked, "what would you like to drink, sir?"

"Got any hot cocoa?" Jarrett asked, grinning.

"It will be out in just a minute, sir," the waiter said politely, scribbling it on his tablet before walking off to ask another table what they wanted to drink.

"So," Zelda said, leaning forward on her elbows and glancing between Sterling and Jarrett, "I want to hear about your lives. Enlighten me."

Jarrett looked at Sterling, who impassively took a sip of his drink. "Ah, I guess I'll go first. I haven't really been up to much since the last time I talked to you…. The usual, school, hunting trips, and Dad did take me to New York for two weeks when he had to go there for a shoot. But other than that, nothing."

"Mmm." Zelda nodded, and then turned her eyes on Sterling. "And you?"

"I'm afraid I'm very boring," he said softly, his eyes downcast. Zelda was about to interject when Jarrett let out a loud laugh.

"You're about as boring as porn, my man," he said, but not loudly enough to attract any attention. Zelda let out a cough to cover up her surprised giggle. Sterling looked untouched, almost as if he hadn't been listening.

"Aha. Okay…." Zelda took a deep gulp of her water, trying not to giggle. "So then, Sterling, tell me everything but omit the porn-like details."

"Wait, what!" Sterling looked surprised, his face flushing scarlet. "I'm not… but I don't…." he guzzled down most of his icy tea and then glared at Jarrett. Coughing politely, he turned to Zelda. "I think that the porn analogy was severely misplaced. I think perhaps he meant that I am about as boring as… oh, say, a concert. Nothing unusual, but hopefully not too boring."

"I know." Zelda was smiling, "I'm just teasing you."

"Well, let's see…." Sterling thought for a moment, then made a face. "I'm going to sound like I'm bragging."

"Tell me anyway," Zelda urged him. Sterling looked unsure, but she grinned. "I implore you."

He smiled vaguely and laughed a little and Zelda had to remind her heart to keep beating. "Okay, guess… I'm the first chair of the top orchestra at our school, which was the state honor orchestra this year, and I'm on the football team… somehow I got voted most valuable player this year, no idea how that worked, um… I'm on the track team, and we've broken several records this year already… and I'm the vice president of national honors society at our school, and I'm at the top of our class…. I'm terribly sorry, I rambled and now I must sound so conceited."

"Wow…." Zelda was amazed. "I don't think you're conceited at all. In fact, I'm really impressed."

"Hey, hey, Sterling, tell her how much you can squat." The waiter plopped a glass of water in front of Jarrett, set a basket of bread and a plate of butter shaped like golf balls, and then left. "When do we get our food?"

"Once everybody's seated and all the food has been cooked," Zelda replied. "And yes, Sterling, how much can you squat?"

"Ah…." He looked down, fidgeting with his napkin. "Over four hundred and fifty pounds."

"What?" Zelda was shocked, looking him up and down. "But…. How does it work? You're not that big, and you're only a bit taller than me… are you superman in disguise or something?"

Sterling laughed lightly, white teeth gleaming in the light. "No," he replied. "I'm just lucky."

"Do you sleep?" Zelda took a deep drink of water, and then reached for a slice of pumpernickel, which she dropped on the empty plate in front of her.

"A bit," he replied quietly.

"In Sterling-speak, that's a big fat NO," Jarrett replied, also reaching for a slice of bread. "And he doesn't even have a girlfriend. God knows they're chasing after him, though…." Jarrett grabbed his knife and snagged a butter ball, smearing it on his bread before taking a big bite. "The man's insane."

"All that and no girlfriend?" Zelda sighed, shaking her head. "Sterling, Sterling, Sterling…"

"Well… none of the girls at the school seem to be for me," he replied softly, making eye contact with Zelda. "Though…"

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTTTTTT! BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTTTTTT!

"Ah, my phone," Zelda said, pulling it out of her clutch, where it was vibrating like a small earthquake. "Hang on, it's Malon. Let me take this, will you?"

Sterling's attention span snapped and he was back to looking all around the room with a vacant expression. "Sure," Jarrett answered for his friend, stuffing his face with bread and crackers and ice water. Zelda flipped the phone open, sighing at her dear friend's ill timing. "Hello?"

"Well hi there, chickadee! What's up?"

"I'm at a party," Zelda replied, toying with her fork.

"A party? You scandalous wench, why didn't you bring me along?"

"No, Malon, not a Bree party, a party being held for the bride and groom."

"Ah. Well. Gotcha. You holdin' up okay?" The soft wailings of a guitar floated through from the other side.

"I'm holding up just fine." Zelda smiled, touched by her friend's consideration. "Are you with the boys?"

"Hm? Oh, no, I'm playing a recording that I did of y'all the other day during practice. It's… um… oh, yeah, that 'Duck and Run' cover you did of Three Doors Down… wanna hear?"

"Actually…." Zelda shot a glance at Sterling, who was looking across the room. "I have someone who might want to hear more. Hold on." Zelda took the phone away from her ear, cupping her hand over the receiver, and looked at Sterling. "Do you want to hear some of our music?"

"Huh?" He took a moment to process the information, then shrugged. "Sure," he said impassively.

Zelda smiled weakly. "Great." She put the phone back to her ear. "Okay, Malon, I'm passing the phone to Sterling."

"Sterling, hmm? Why haven't you called me yet and told me about Sterling?"

"I've been busy, Malon, and I accidentally dropped my phone in the car on the ride up…"

"Suuure. You have to give me the four-one-one on this Sterling character, okay?"

Zelda rolled her eyes. "Okay, Malon. Here's Sterling." She passed the phone to him, and he put the phone awkwardly to his ear.

"Um… hello? …….. Yes, this is Sterling... What?" He looked over at Zelda. "No…… yes, I've heard about you….. yes, she told me about the band……. No, didn't hear anything about a party…… what? No……. yes, please."

Zelda rolled her eyes, and then looked at Jarrett. "Do you want to talk to her next?"

"Huh?" He'd been staring open-jawed across the room, and then snapped back to look at Zelda. "Ah… no thanks… some pressing business attends to me, yes…" He got up and hustled across the room; was unable to recognize the girl he was laying the charm on for, as her back was turned.

Sterling was watching Zelda's forehead, silent as he listened, an impressed look scrawled across his handsome features. She knew what he was hearing- a bizarre duet. Mikau and Zelda, in a burst of inspiration, had divvyed up the lines, Zelda singing half, Mikau singing half. They offered Darmani backup due to common courtesy, but he declined, saying he couldn't sing. They all knew it.

Idly, Zelda began to hum as she drummed her fingers on the table. "This world can't bring me down, no, I won't run away…." Why the hell was Sterling so inconsistent? The other night she thought they'd had a breakthrough but tonight he was vague and confusing and it was almost like being back at square one.

Zelda was jerked out of her thoughts. "Yes, that really was excellent," Sterling said suddenly, looking very impressed. "What? Original…. Zelda wrote it, you said? Well…"

Zelda looked up, mildly alarmed, then looked down. No stopping Malon.

"Alright, then, I guess I'll hear it….. hang on…" He looked up. "Zelda, Malon says she's going to play 'Duvet' for me…."

"Oh..." Zelda bit her lip and looked sideways. "It's kind of… sad…."

"Hmmm…." He listened, his face unreadable as he stared at the table, and Zelda waited pensively, fingers drumming on the table, absentmindedly tapping out the riff. After what felt like forever, Sterling said, "yes, I agree… yes, here she is…… yes, she is….. okay, here you go," and handed the phone back to Zelda.

"Ohmigosh, Zelda, I have to talk to you NOW," Malon screeched.

"Er, excuse me Sterling," Zelda said, standing up. "I'm going to go out on the balcony."

"Okay….."

Zelda felt bad about leaving him all by his handsome lonesome at the table, but at the same time, she was mad he hadn't asked to go with her, not to mention that she had the feeling that what Malon wanted her to say was not appropriate for Sterling's ears.

"Alright, Malon," Zelda said as she stepped out onto the overlook over Napa, the city lights sparkling like diamonds under the night. "What?"

"Spill the beans. Boy with accent equals amazing voice, is he hot, do you two have a thing, what about Link? Oh my GOSH, Zelda."

"Yeah, he's pretty hot," Zelda laughed, leaning out over the city, the cold not really bothering her, for once. "Amazingly so, actually. He grew up in France, then moved to Britain, and then moved here this year. He ignores me half the time, though. I'm not sure if we have a thing …."

"Well tell me everything," Malon insisted. Casting a longing look back inside, Zelda sighed.

"Okay, fine. Let's see…."

And she told everything.

She'd finally finished her story when the cold really began to get to her, and by then, Malon declared that Sterling was a bit of a jerk but that there was hope for Zelda, but unfortunately Zelda was going to have a tough time of things as good old Malon wasn't around to play matchmaker, and she had to go anyway since Darmani was at the door.

"Alrighty, Mal," Zelda said, ignoring the door opening behind her. "Yes, I'll call you later, I promise. Tell Darmani hello for me. Okay. Okay. Bye." She smiled softly as she flipped her phone shut and slipped it into her clutch, and for a moment, she remained looking out at the city.

Then there was something warm next to her.

"You look cold." It was Link.

"A bit. Malon wanted to know every detail of my visit so far." It wasn't exactly a lie. "She wouldn't let me go until she'd squeezed every last bit of information from my brain," Zelda stated piteously, pulling her shawl around herself.

"You haven't called her since you got here?"

"No."

Silence.

"Are you enjoying the party?"

"Yes, a bit. But, Zelda…"

"Yes?"

Link's face was strained in the darkness.

"He's not… he's hardly paying attention to you. Don't worry about the candy corn. We can call it off. I don't want you to get hurt. He's being a jerk, and ignoring you, so please, don't…"

"I won't."

More silence. Link straightened up, looking at the stars.

"I was just coming to find you," he said, "because I noticed you were gone, and they said they'll be bringing the food out in just a minute…"

She turned, looking up at him. "Alright. We'd better go in, then." Neither made a move.

"Are you really so lost, Zelda?"

"What do you mean?"

He looked distinctly frustrated. "It… nothing." He reached up, his hand idly playing with a wayward curl that hung above Zelda's shoulder. "I want you to be happy," he stated softly.

"As long as you're my friend, I am." She smiled at him, and he let go of her hair, his hand falling back to his side. He smiled at Zelda, a beautiful, brilliant smile.

"Let's go inside and get food. You look cold."

"I am cold," she said, suppressing a little shiver and grinning. "I'm always cold."

"Too bad for you," Link joked. "I guess that means I'll have to keep you warm." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Oh, woe is me," Zelda moaned. "Doomed to be crushed!"

"Squish!" chirped Link, applying little more pressure on Zelda's shoulders and causing her knees to buckle slightly

"Ack, Link, no! I'm in heels… do you want me to break an ankle?"

"Fine, fine, spoil my fun," he heaved a fake sigh. "And I won't hurt you."

"You'd better not, or I'd hurt you back."

"Of course, princess. Of course."

Zelda felt an inexplicable soaring freedom as she walked with Link back inside.

&-

Uploaded: Wednesday, March 2

9:20 PM

A/n: Hello, all. I'm exhausted and I've had a horrible past 3 days, so I'm sorry if it sucks. I felt the need to get this out, though, as it's a moving chapter, and as I've FINALLY finished writing book I, I'm going to get that edited and up as soon as I can.

To tell y'all a bit about what's going on in my life at the moment, as it's influencing my writing heavily:

My drill team is preparing for our spring show. Practice is grueling, the officers and directors are almost cruel in their demands for perfection. It is… hellish, in a word. And constant. Constantly on my mind, in my muscles. I'm in a perpetual state of exhaustion but I can't sleep. There's too much stress, from classes, from a tense family life, from a whole cornucopia of romantic problems, too, but I'll spare you the gruesome details. Not to mention the stress of getting this written, and yes, as much as I love it this story is a curse sometime as I swear and sweat and bleed over every page, as well as a book I'm trying to finish, autobiographical, hopefully done by this time next year. With any luck. That's why I'm announcing that, once book I is up, there will be NO MORE UPDATES until after my spring show is completed. This is for my good as much as it is for yours- if I were to attempt to continue working on this fic and uploading it at an attempted semi-constant rate, meltdown would occur.

One last thing. Moonbeam, you receive a slap in the face and a place on the wall of shame. You hit below the belt, my friend, and the blow was at possibly one of the worst times that I could have received something like that. I hope you're proud. You very nearly killed the story.

This goes out to all of you- constructive criticism is very, very welcome, but if you're going to only insult me and do so with horrible grammar, take that review and shove it up your ass. I'm serious. I absolutely refuse to deal with petty idiocy at the moment, as my life is swamped.

And Breas Darkdragon, for standing up for me again, the next chapter is dedicated to you.

Wow, that was much too long. I'm sorry for rambling. Thanks for sticking with me through this, guys. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. I'll get the rest of book I up asap.