June, 2020: Warning: Unedited. Low quality.

COUNTING STARS

Chapter 5: Investigator

Tuesday, October 10

"Ugh, who is that douche?" I demand from my lunch seat, strategically and subtly gazing at the guy who's hitting on Zelda.

Sheik rolls his eyes and grunts, "Not you, so shut up."

I scoff. "Look at him. What a total jackass."

The guy leans a hand casually on her lunch table, an arrogant—or failed attempt at seductive—smirk plastered on his dumb, spray-tanned face. Zelda smiles up at him politely in return.

"Dude," Sheik begins, "you are peanut butter and jealous. I thought you said you didn't like Zelda!"

"I… don't," I reply hesitantly.

He narrows his eyes at me. "Then quit drooling over her and the guys who hit on 'er."

"I'm not drooling over the guys who hit on her, Sheik."

"Then quit lookin' over there or people are gonna think it."

I squint at him. "What's your deal today? You seem different."

"No," he rebuts, "I'm just trying to give you a reality check. 'Cause—hypothetically—if you do like her, then you would have asked her out by now, correct?"

I bite my lip. "Well…"

"I knew it!" he shouts. "You do like her, but you're too much of a wimp to ask her out."

I stare at him. "Really."

"Yeah."

"Really."

"Yeah."

"You hypocrite! What about Malon, huh? How long did it take you to ask her out?"

"Okay, I knew you were going to—"

"Forty-one months and thirteen days, by my estimate," announces Pipit from behind us. I turn around to nod at the brunette boy.

"Sweet Din," Sheik exclaims, "you should work at a carnival."

Pipit smirks. "I tried—they're pretty strict with background checks." As the both of us squint at him suspiciously, Pipit continues: "But that's beside the point. You, sir, have known Malon since the eighth grade. Yet you were too lame to ask her out."

"Yeah, and how are things going with Karane?"

"Stay on the subject!" he snaps back.

I chuckle a bit, then avert my attention to Pipit. "Wait, so you like Karane again?"

Pipit sighs, defeated, and sinks into the chair across from me. Resting his chin pathetically on the table, he says, "I don't know… Every time I get near her she pushes me away, and—Wait." He pauses, glaring pointedly at me. "Did you say… 'again'? Who told you that I liked Karane before?"

Uh oh.

"Who told you the story?!" he exclaims, pounding his fist on the table.

I bite my lip. "…Zelda."

"Zel? I told her never to speak of that event ever again!"

"Why does it bother you so much?" I ask. "I mean… I'm sure you've done worse."

Shaking his head quickly, Pipit says, "No, no, no no no. That was the biggest mistake—the greatest catastrophe—my otherwise amazing life has ever seen. I screwed up so bad that… that Karane didn't talk to me for four months. Four months!"

I nod. "And yet you still wanna be my life mentor?"

Ignoring me, Pipit continues. "So I vowed to never pursue Karane unless she made it perfectly clear that she reciprocates my feelings. I won't risk losing her as a friend again."

Sheik snorts.

Turning his head to him, Pipit inquires, "And what was that about, Sheik?"

"You said you're not pursuing Karane right now?"

"Right."

Sheik exclaims, "But you're still flirting your ass off with her!"

Smirking, Pipit takes a seat next to the blonde boy and raises his eyebrows at him. "You think that is pursuing her?"

"Well, yeah—"

"Oh, Sheiky Sheik Sheik," he murmurs, shaking his head with an amused grin. "So much you don't know about my womanizing tactics."

"So," I begin, "you're trying to say that if you tried, Karane would be yours."

"Yes."

I smirk. "And how'd that work out for you at homecoming sophomore year?"

Sheik grins, shouting, "Oooh!"

He blinks at me. "Screw you both. I'm getting an enchilada," he mutters, standing up abruptly and tromping off toward the lunch kiosk.

Sheik and I chuckle as we observe his hissy-fit. "You think he's really mad?" I ask.

"Nah," he assures, "Pip's just sensitive when it comes to Karane."

"What now?" asks a feminine voice from behind me.

Sheik's eyes widen in fear, and I turn around to see.

Crap. It's Karane.

Blinking multiple times, Sheik stammers, "…I, uh—"

"Pipit's sensitive when it comes to me?" she asks, eyes narrowing pointedly at Sheik.

"N-no!" Sheik shouts, startling the redheaded girl. "That's, uh… not what I said."

"Um… okay," Karane says, rolling her eyes, unconvinced.

"Sheik said that Pipit was sensitive to hair pain," I spit out.

Karane scrunches her eyes. "Hair pain?"

Just now, Pipit saunters back to our table, casually plopping down next to Sheik. "Oh, hey, Karane," he greets upon noticing her.

"Here, I'll demonstrate," Sheik announces, gripping a fistful of Pipit's brunette hair and yanking it upward.

"YOUCH!"

"See?"

Karane giggles, "Heh, what a girl." As she walks off, Pipit watches her go with pained eyes.

"What the hell, Sheik?!" he shouts, pounding a fist on the table.

Amused, he grins."We had to come up with an excuse, or—"

"Shut it," Pipit orders indignantly. "I'm coming for you, Sheik." He narrows his eyes, glaring daggers at the blonde boy. "Revenge will be mine."

With that, Pipit dramatically stands up and, with a huff, stalks off to another table.

I share a look with Sheik, and we both burst out laughing.

Biology class is a total bitch-slap in the face. Only because of the Happy Drug—err, Mask—Salesman.

Being Zelda's partner for an upcoming project allows me to sit next to her, however, which is definitely an improvement.

"So, students," says the teacher, beginning to stroll around the classroom to pass out papers, "here is a list of possible experiments for you to do."

"We're doing an experiment?" pipes up Arian, who sits next to Leo at our table of four. "Why?"

"Because I am assigning it, Mr. Tate," snaps the teacher.

"Ooh, Mr. Tate…" Arian teases, raising his eyebrows. "I like the way you say that, Rupee."

Rupin fumes at him. "Quit fake-flirting with me, kid. I know you're obsessed with women."

"What, Rupee, are you jelly?" he asks flamboyantly. The class giggles in response.

"Quit calling me that."

"Mmkay, Rupert."

"Get out of my class."

"Why, 'cause I'm gay?"

"Out." He points to the door.

Arian hops up from his seat, then shuffles out, his hips swaying left and right in an exaggerated manner. Once at the door, he turns back to the class, huffs loudly, and mutters, "Men."

Rupin rolls his eyes as Arian exits the classroom with another dramatic sigh.

Zelda stifles a giggle, and I chuckle too. "That guy is hilarious."

Leo nods. "Yeah, he likes to mess with teachers. He's not really gay, though."

"Well, even I know that," I say. "He gets the ladies. Apparently he and Pipit have a rivalry, huh?"

"Yeah, it's not too competitive, though," he explains. "They're buds."

Mr. Masca finally makes his way over to us, plastering on a fake grin and bowing. "Miss Zelda Harkinian, here is your paper."

"Um, thanks," Zelda replies, taking it gingerly.

Rupin glares at me before moving on and handing Leo a sheet. "Thank you, kind sir," Leo says with a dramatic bow that mimicked Rupin's.

"Don't mock me, cretin."

When he is out of earshot, Leo mutters, "Wow. What a kiss-ass, huh, Zelda?"

"Yeah," she groans. "He's been bugging my dad for like a year to get a raise. So now he's taken to treating me like gold."

The way she should be treated, I think to myself. Not the way Red Elvis—err, Groose—does. He just drools over her, and pouts when she pushes him away.

"You know, Link," Zelda says, snapping me out of my thoughts, "I still haven't gotten a text from you." She smiles teasingly.

Oh, right. I forgot about that.

"Sorry," I say. "I've been a bit… distracted lately."

Zelda shakes her head. "Nah, I'm only messing with you. But I would like to get to know you better, but without our friends—or the teachers—breathing down our necks." She points to Rupin, who watches me from his desk disdainfully.

I grin. "Yeah, okay."

Malon and Midna pull up chairs and come to sit at our table. "Hey. Mind if we sit here?" Malon asks.

"Yeah, sure," Leo responds. "Just don't break anything, Midna."

Midna grins. "I'm not promising anything." She turns her attention to me. "Yo, kid."

I raise my eyebrows. "Hm?"

"If you're planning on dating Zel," she points to her blonde friend, whose eyes widen, "then you'd better treat her well, or I will personally snap you in half."

I feel my face heat up. "I'm not—No, I… I'm not—!"

I frantically look to Zelda for assistance, but she is in the same boat as I am. Cheeks red as cherries, it was actually pretty cute. "Midna!" she whines.

Zelda simply earns a nonchalant shrug from her friend.

After a painfully long session of not knowing how to do anything in Comp. Skills, the school day is finally over.

"Mr. Minish treated you alright today," comments Pipit, walking next to me toward the exit.

"You kidding? He gave me detention for 'cutting class' and 'slamming the door too hard'."

"So, are you gonna go to detention?"

"Hell no," I grunt. "I ain't spending any more time with Ezlo than I have to."

Pipit shrugs. "Well, in this case, you sorta have to."

"Or what?"

"Or you get sent to the headmaster's office."

"Oh, goodie. It'll give me a chance to give him an earful about that old geezer."

"What makes you think that he will listen to you bitch about a teacher who has been here longer than you've been alive?"

"The fact that I have his sympathy," I reply cunningly with a smirk.

"Good point."

My phone rings from my pocket. I take it out, and I'm surprised to see that it's Talo calling me. I answer it excitedly, greeting, "Hey, Talo!"

"Link! What's up, bud?"

"Well I just got done with school," I reply, nodding in thanks to Pipit for patiently waiting for me.

"Same here. Get this: I talked to my dad's buddy Renado, and he agreed to take me in!"

"So… you're going to Lakeside?!"

"Yeah, man!"

"That's awesome!" I gush. "When?"

"Next week. And you know what that means? I'll get to visit the good ol' LinkBron James."

"And I will once again get to destroy the good ol' Downtown Talo Brown."

"I ain't Freddie Brown. If anything, I'm Tay Thompson."

"Who?"

"Y'know. Klay."

"LeBron swatted Klay Thompson."

"Klay swatted Kyrie Irving."

"So?"

"They're teammates, LeBron and Kyrie."

"Whatever. LeBron has swatted everyone on the Warriors."

"Just remember who's the best team in the league."

Pipit claps a hand on my shoulder. "I hate to interrupt," he says, "but I think you should see this." From the entrance hall corner, we gaze at the group of four boys congregating near the gymnasium entrance, all decked out in athletic gear. Zelda stands among them with her back pressed to the wall, shyly looking away from the advances of the guys.

"Uh, Talo? I've gotta go. Talk soon?"

"Of course, man. No worries."

"Okay, later." I hang up.

"Yeah, you should, like, totally come watch our basketball practice!" one douche says to Zelda.

"It's gonna be sick!" says another.

"You dipshits can't even make a lay-in," mutters a third.

The fourth guy stands proudly in the middle, a cheesy sneer forming at his lips as he slicks back his ridiculous pompadour. Groose. "Guys, guys. Don't pester the lovely lady."

Zelda rolls her eyes. "Groose, you're pestering me the most. I'm only here for my friend Malon, alright? She's at volleyball right now."

"It's too bad you don't play volleyball, princess," grunts a hormonal idiot. "I'd love to see your sexy ass in spandex."

"I'd love to see your not-so-sexy ass kicked," she shoots back. "Leave me alone, 'kay?"

"Yeah, you bunch of pricks," chimes Groose. "Leave 'er alone! Give her the space she deserves."

"What are—?"

"Are you shittin' me—?"

"Groose—"

"Shut up!" bellows the oaf, thrusting his chest out arrogantly. "As a young lad, I was taught one thing in particular: chivalry trumps all desire."

One of his buddies snorts. "Do you even know what that means?"

"Pshhh, no," says another. "He probably found it online and says it to sound more smarter."

"More smarter?"

"Shut up."

As their language becomes more vulgar, they finally leave Zelda's presence and enter the gym.

"What're you doing just staring at her?" Pipit asks frantically. "Get over there and talk to her!"

"You think I should? I mean, she'll think I'm a bit of a wuss for not protecting her from—"

"Dude," he interrupts, "you're not her bodyguard. Let her fight her own battles every now and then."

I shrug, then nod.

"Link, c'mon! Go talk to her."

I bite my bottom lip. What do I say? Those guys had some solid pickup lines? I'll kick their asses next time? I'm sorry I was too much of a wimp to go over there and help you?

Wait, why am I freaking out so much? I've been able to talk to Zelda. Y'know, once in a while, mostly during biology. But yeah, I can do this.

I start to walk over there, but stop when yet another guy walks up to her. "I assume you get those guys a lot," he says.

Zelda nods. "Sadly, yeah."

"Don't worry, I'm nothing like them. I've just heard about you, and I would like to get to know you."

Crap. I can't do this. I can't go over there.

Everything about this guy screams cool. He's got on gray cargo pants, a nice black knit hoodie, and a freakin' Rolex on his wrist. Damn.

He's classy. Like a teenaged Bradley Cooper. But with shorter, redder hair and less product in it. Hell, he's even got the eyes.

"Okay," Zelda says with a faint smile.

"I'm Ralph," he says, extending a hand. "Ralph Ambi. It's nice to finally meet you, Zelda."

Zelda takes his hand hesitantly. "…You—"

"Zellie!" shrieks Malon, bursting through the gym doors. "These guys kept stalking us—Oh, hello."

Ralph pays no attention to the fact that Malon is practically standing there in her underwear, and instead looks her straight in the eye with his icy blues. "Hey. Ralph Ambi. You're Malon, right?"

"…Y-yeah," she murmurs quietly.

Pipit looks sternly at me. "What are you going to do?" he asks in a hushed voice. "You're letting your girl get away!"

"I'm not gonna do anything!" I whisper back loudly. "She's not my girl, anyway." I shrug helplessly. "She can fight her own battles, right?"

Pipit shakes his head vigorously. "Nuh-uh. Not this time." Leaving me at the corner, he dashes over to the two of them, shouting, "Hey! Ambi!"

Ralph groans, turning away from Zelda and glaring daggers at the brunette boy. "Westbrook…"

"She's out of your league, kid," Pipit chides. "Why don't you just leave."

"What, so I can't have a simple conversation with her?" Ralph complains. "Who are you to tell me that, anyway?"

"One of her good friends," Malon answers.

Ralph looks between the three of them, rolls his eyes, and grunts, "Fine, whatever. I would like to start over sometime though, Zelda, if that's alright with you."

"Yeah, sure," she replies.

With one last glare sent to Pipit, Ralph saunters down the hall toward the exit.

Mind made up, I make my way over to Zelda, Malon, and Pipit. "What's that guy's deal with you?" I ask the boy.

Pipit groans, "Ugh, he's a total dickwad."

"Y'know, he's not that bad," Zelda says with a light shrug. "He's funny and a lot nicer than most other guys."

I laugh. "Well that's because most other guys are complete jerks to girls like you. Pipit included."

"Cheap shot, man."

"But well-deserved," Malon jeers.

Zelda sighs. "Yeah, people like Groose and his buddies… There's something about them that I hate."

"Everything?" I guess.

"Yeah." Grinning, Zelda turns her attention to Malon. "Girl, put some pants on over those."

"Oh. Right."

"I'm not complaining," Pipit comments.

"Shut up, Pip," Malon mutters. "You know I'm taken."

"You know, I think Sheik is actually gay."

"Yeah, and how was that manicure you got the other day?"

"Invigorating, thanks."

Malon rolls her eyes and giggles, then walks away toward the locker room.

Pipit looks between the two of us, grins, and announces, "Well, I gotta jet. I've got some bad habits to feed. See you guys later!" He dashes out of sight before I have the chance to protest.

Clearly he's trying to leave me alone with Zelda.

Zelda offers me a small smile, then averts her eyes to the floor. "Why'd you leave last night?" she questions quietly, now meeting my eyes.

"Hm?" Oh, right. Last night I bailed on our group at the lounge. "Oh, um… I had to find out what Ghirahim was talking about."

"Did you?"

I resist opening up about exactly what happened and instead I shake my head. "…No." I drop my eyes to the floor.

Zelda reaches out and—to my surprise—touches my arm gently with her delicate hand. "Hey…"

I hesitantly meet her gaze.

"I'm sorry that everyone's troubling you," she says softly, sincerely.

I'm really tempted to pull her into my arms right now. I shake my head, murmuring something along the lines of "I'm okay."

Zelda smiles sadly, then retracts her hand from my arm. "I… should probably go. My father's expecting me."

"Alright," I say. "I'll see you around?" I phrase it as a question, more so than a statement.

"Of course," she says with a sincere grin, turning to walk away toward her father's office.

With a spring in my step, I smile tomyself and head out of the academy.

"Have you guys noticed that Ghirahim and Vaati weren't at school today?" blurts out Mido.

Oh crap. I forgot about them. What happened to those two losers?

"Yeah," Sheik says nonchalantly with a shrug, "but they probably just skipped. Nothing different there."

We sit at the lounge—Mido, Pipit, Sheik, and I—while snacking on hot wings and "collaborating on homework." We haven't even unzipped our backpacks. True scholars, we are.

"I heard they got sent to juvie!" Pipit exclaims. "It's what Arian told me—he knows just about every rumor around."

"Juvie? Again?" Sheik questions. "What'd they do this time, huh?"

Pipit shrugs. "I don't know, but there's footage of the guy who caught them on the news."

My heart thuds against my chest.

"Who's the guy?" Mido asks.

"No one knows. Here, I'll look it up on my phone." Pipit taps on the screen of his cell, eventually showing it to the rest of us. "Look."

A figure stands next to a police car and in front of a person crippled on the pavement, wearing a dark green cap that shades his eyes. The back point of the cap flows in the breeze as the figure raises both his hands defensively.

"Whoa, whoa, pause it," Sheik tells him. "Look at his sweatshirt. It's the Hyrule Academy logo."

Our group grows quiet.

"Hit play," I tell Pipit in order to not be suspiciously silent. "I want to see what happens."

The figure dashes away from the police, sprinting down the street in a blur. The video abruptly ends as the cops shout out.

I'm on the Internet. Shit.

"Did you see how freakin' fast he was running?!" Mido shouts. "He was like Usain Bolt! Only faster!"

"Faster than Bolt?" Sheik asks with raised eyebrows. "Dude, his name is literally Bolt. Nobody's faster."

"I beg to differ. Wanna see the video again?"

A little too quickly, I interrupt, "Th-that won't be necessary."

Everyone looks at me. "Why not?" Mido asks.

"Eh… motion sickness," I lie. "I'll throw up all over you guys."

"Uh, gross," Pipit comments. "Okay, whatever. So if that speedy guy goes to our school, who do you guys think he is?"

I flinch, but no one notices.

"Jermain."

"LaShaun."

"Randal."

"Dale."

"Jason."

"Me."

"You wish, Mido."

I shrug. "Well, maybe he just found that sweatshirt and doesn't really go here. Honestly there can't be anyone that fast at our school."

Pipit snorts. "Says the guy who's been here for half a week."

"Yeah, man," Sheik says, "we've got some athletes."

I roll my eyes. "Whatever, dude. I'll only believe it when I see it with my own eyes."

"So, speaking of whatever," Pipit begins, "what went down between you and Zel after I bailed?"

"How does that have to do with anything?" I ask in a dull tone.

"Just answer the question."

I find the memory involuntarily repeating in my mind; I see her dazzling eyes and smile, her beautiful face, and her utmost sincerity when she told me she was sorry.

Against my will, I find myself smiling. "Nothing really—" I cut myself off when I see their accusative facial expressions. "—Shut up. Nothing really happened. I mean, she said something nice to me, but that's just about it."

"What'd she say?" Mido asks.

"Your hair looks good?" Sheik guesses.

"She likes your pretty eyes?" Mido chuckles.

"Your Vans are out of style?" Pipit asks, gesturing to my green and white shoes.

"What? No—you guys are idiots. She just said she was sorry."

"For what?" Mido asks.

Before I can answer, Sheik interrupts, "Wait, wait. I've got this. She's sorry that you're not as awesome as I am?"

"No—"

"She's sorry that the Celtics suck?" Mido says.

"They were seventh in the East—"

"She's sorry that she's out of your league?" Pipit says.

"No!" I shout, earning a chorus of snickers from the group. "…And 'pretty eyes,' Mido? Really?"

He shrugs. "Couldn't think of anything else."

"Anyway, she said she was sorry for everyone who's been troubling me."

"Aww, how sweet," Pipit cooes, leaning forward on his elbows and resting his chin on his fists.

"Shut up. It was nice of her."

"Yeah, Link," Sheik agrees. "Zelda doesn't usually treat guys so nicely. You're the only one she's been this kind to. Maybe you're the one she's looking for."

Pipit blinks at him. "Dude."

He shrugs. "What can I say? Malon turned me into a romantic."

Pipit snorts, turning to look at me and Mido. "Who knew that being in a committed, straight relationship could make a guy so gay."

We snicker in response.

Sheik elbows him. "Hey, stop it. Don't you see that Link could have a chance to achieve something amazing?"

"I'm sorry, I don't speak virgin." Pipit smirks. "Tell you what. You keep lecturing Link about which nail polish to use, and I'll go chat up that hot blonde over there like a real man. Ready, break!" He dashes out of the booth toward the girl sitting at the counter.

Sheik shakes his head, exasperated. "I'm sure that there's someone out there with a tranquilizer looking for that guy."

I laugh. "Yeah, probably." I take a hot wing from the plate in the center.

Mido lifts his chin sharply, grabbing my attention. "Bro. Explain your situation to me."

"Situation?" I repeat through the chicken stuffed in my mouth.

"With Zelda."

I swallow the food, then heave a sigh. "Well, I dunno… Yeah, she's beautiful and funny and sweet and—getting off topic. But I just… don't want a girlfriend."

Sheik fixes me with a quizzical look. "But if Zelda liked you back, would you want to date her?"

"Yeah—Wait, no. Err…" I bite my lip in thought. "I really don't know."

"Farore, Link, what do you know?" Mido asks, waving his hand outward. "You like Zelda, she probably likes you, so—"

"So I wait forty-one months and thirteen days to ask her out," I interrupt with a nod to Sheik.

"Cheap shot."

Mido chuckles. "Yeah, you could do almost anything but that. No offense, but Zelda's so hot that she'll reel in twenty guys hotter than you in no time, if you let her get away."

I nod. "Stands to reason."

"Well," Sheik begins, "my advice is to spend as much time with her as you want. Flirt, be gentlemanly, whatever. Maybe after you two become closer you'll change your mind. Then maybe you could date her."

I nod, but I shut out the wistful thoughts that surface. I know that I probably won't change my mind. Or, at least for a while. My uncle's death has rendered me—what's the word? Not paranoid; just cautious and realistic.

The goddesses are practically against me right now, so I might as well protect others from my misfortune.

Huh. It's odd how this incident has completely flipped my outlook on life from optimistic to pessimistic.

"Well, well, well."

I look up, seeing the familiar red hair resting atop a freckled face.

"The few friends of Westbrook."

It's Ralph Ambi.

"Hey, Ralph," says Mido. "Wanna sit?"

"Sure," Ralph responds with a grin. He takes the empty seat next to Sheik and begins to chat with the blonde boy.

I lean overt to whisper angrily in Mido's ear, "What are you doing, inviting him to sit with us?"

He fixes me with a puzzled look.

"Pipit hates him, plus he's got his eye on Zelda!"

Mido rolls his eyes. "I thought you don't want Zelda to be your girlfriend. In that case, she's fair game."

I struggle to form a response.

"And Pip hates him 'cause Ralph has this thing where he goes around stealing the girls who Pipit strikes out with. 'Wasn't that guy an idiot?' is always a good icebreaker, he claims."

I smirk.

"We don't hate him. He's not bad."

"I'm not sure about that yet."

"Oh, you're just jealous."

"For logical reasons!"

Sheik kicks me from under the table, and I stifle a grimace. Oh, yeah. I should introduce myself. I am Link, the new kid from the slums who has the hots for the girl who you have the hots for. That seems solid.

"I'm Link," I say, extending a hand.

Ralph smiles effortlessly, shaking my hand with a firm grip. "Cool. Ralph Ambi. Hater of Pipits, achiever of success, charmer of ladies."

"And humble, too," I mutter.

Mido elbows me in the side. I elbow him back.

"Well, I've gotta split," he announces, to my relief. "Stay thirsty, my friends." With that, Ralph exits our booth and leaves.

"How could you guys let that backstabbing, pretentious, douchey jackass sit in our booth?!" demands the voice of Pipit, who stomps over to us.

"Don't worry," I assure him, "I already don't like the guy."

"Good."

"You kidding?" Sheik asks. "Ralph is cool."

I shake my head. "If you're a girl, yeah. His Rolex is just a beacon for gold-diggers. If you're a dude, he's a…" I pause. "Pipit?"

"A backstabbing, pretentious, douchey jackass."

"Exactly," I conclude.

"Pfft. Link, you just hate him 'cause he was hitting on Zelda," Sheik points out.

"One of my reasons, yes."

Pipit collapses into the booth, defeated, and elicits a pathetic groan. "Unghh…"

Sheik flicks him on the head. "What's wrong with you?"

Pipit slowly struggles to sit up. "I'm in a bit of a dry spell."

"How so?"

"…I can't seem to focus. My game is off. And Ralph keeps swooping in and taking the women I fail to seduce like a starving vulture."

"A starving vulture?" Sheik repeats. "Really, that's the metaphor you're going with here?"

Pipit rolls his eyes at the blonde boy. "Sheik, it's a simile."

Sheik blinks.

"I… just… can't focus!" Pipit clenches his fist and scrunches his face up. "GAAAH! I need electrolytes! I'm gonna go get a Gatorade."

And he leaves us yet again.

"Why's he so distracted?" I ask.

"Maybe it's 'cause he likes Karane again," Sheik guesses. "I mean, think about it. He can't focus while hitting on any girls—it's gotta be 'cause he's thinking about Karane."

"Oooh," Mido and I blurt simultaneously.

"If he likes Karane, though," I begin, "then why does he still hit on random girls?"

Sheik shrugs. "I dunno. Guess he just can't keep his dick in his pants."

Mido and I smirk.

"Did Malon tell you anything about how Karane feels about him?" he asks Sheik.

"She doesn't really know," Sheik replies. "Karane keeps quiet about that subject."

"Makes sense," Mido chuckles. "If I were her, I wouldn't want to go around saying I'm in love with a man-whore."

"Good point."

Wednesday, October 11

At lunch the next day, Sheik and Pipit are suspiciously missing. That's odd, considering they were both in P.E. with me only minutes earlier. No one at our table questions their absence, either, so maybe it's normal for them to skip lunch every now and then.

After a bit of conversation, I find them heading toward our table. Pipit strolls merrily toward us with a spring in his step, stifling his laughter as Sheik plods along with a glazed expression.

"Where were you guys?" I ask when they sit in their respective seats.

Pipit can no longer withhold his laughter and bursts out into a fit of snickers.

"P.E.," Sheik replies dully.

Pipit regains his composure, straightening his face slightly. "Wait, you didn't hear?"

"No… What?"

"Oh my goddesses," Pipit begins, a smile growing on his face, barely able to contain his excitement. "Link. Link. Look at me. Link."

"Dude, I am looking at you."

"You've gotta hear this story. It's hilarious." He pauses, raising a finger in the air. "In fact, it is so hilarious that I almost don't want to tell you the story, because when I do, you will never hear anything this funny ever again, and then you will forever regret asking me to tell you the story."

I blink at him.

"But you've gotta hear the story. It's so funny."

"Then just tell me the story!"

Pipit raises his eyebrows at the blonde boy sitting across from him. "Sheik?"

"Fine." Sheik sighs heavily. "So we were in the locker room getting ready to leave P.E.—"

"No, no, wait, I want to tell it," Pipit interrupts.

Sheik shakes his head, sighs, and murmurs, "Fine."

"So we were in the locker room—" He cuts himself off. "No, Sheik, you tell it. It's funnier if you tell it."

Sheik helplessly shakes his head once more. "…We were in the locker room, changing out of our P.E. uniforms, and I looked in my bag, and—"

"Somebody stole Sheik's pants!" Pipit exclaims, then breaks down into hysterics. He gasps for breath between fits of laughter, pounding his fist on the tabletop.

We all stare at Pipit blankly.

Mido asks Sheik, "They stole your pants?"

"Who?" Fledge questions.

"Want me to rough 'em up for you?" offers Darmani.

Sheik groans. "No—I don't know who it was. I had to run to my dorm in my boxers to get another pair."

Pipit laughs even more, wipes a tear away, and pulls a pair of jeans out of his backpack. "Oh, wait, were these yours?" he asks rhetorically.

Sheik's eyes widen. "You son of a bitch!" he bellows, lunging up to grab Pipit. Darmani holds him back before he can do any damage as Pipit sits across from him, chuckling.

Mikau squints dubiously at the brunette boy. "Why the hell would you do that, Pipit?"

"For a little thing called revenge."

"Revenge?" Sheik repeats through clenched teeth.

"Revenge." Pipit glares at the blonde. "Two words: 'hair pain'."

"Hair p—" Sheik stops. "Oh, you've got to be SHITTING me!"

Pipit maintains his fierce gaze.

"I was helping you out, you dumbass! Karane would've found out that you liked her if I didn't come up with an excuse!"

Pipit snorts. "She would've found out that you thought I liked her. I never said I liked her, Sheik."

"But you do!"

"No, I don't!" he shouts. "Look—I'm happy with my life the way it is. I don't need you guys to tell me how I should live it."

"You tell us how to live ours!" Sheik argues. "But that's beside the point—you forced me to streak across campus!"

Pipit bursts out laughing again.

After another uneventful day in my post-lunchtime classes, I pack up my things and meet up with Pipit at the entrance hall corner. "Mr. Minish is a dick," he mutters to me when I get there.

"That's been established," I say. "But you know who else is a dick?"

"Who?"

"You."

Squinting, Pipit asks, "What?"

I blink. "Today at lunch?"

He grins. "Oh, yeah."

"Anyway, I think I'm gonna head home."

"Really?"

"Yeah," I sigh, "it's been a long day."

Shrugging, Pipit says, "Aight. That's cool. I'll see you around."

We part ways. I exit the academy, inhaling the fresh air as I enjoy the scenery. Walking briskly toward the boys dorm, I mentally recite the night's homework. I'm about three days behind on the notes from the novel we're reading in HLA, so I'll have to do that. Hopefully I'll be able to use a pencil today. Rauru, Nabooru, Rupin and Ezlo didn't assign anything for homework tonight, so I guess I'll have a relatively easy night.

My phone rings. "Hello?" I greet.

"Link. It's Shad."

Ugh. I guess my night won't be that easy.

"Yeah? What's up?"

"You know those two goons you busted up? Vaati Anemoi and Ghirahim Daemon?"

"…I don't like where this is going."

"No, no, it's good news. I'll explain more later; I'm coming to pick you up."

"Shad—"

He hangs up.

I sigh, hanging my head pathetically. Shad's police car rolls up onto campus, and he honks the horn once to get my attention. Begrudgingly, I trek down the paved path to the lot.

In Shad's office, I sit at the desk while he rummages through a file cabinet."Okay, what's going on?" I ask.

Shad says over his shoulder, "Anemoi and Daemon are answering all our questions."

"Are you forcing them to?"

"No, I made sure to recite the Miranda warning. I'm actually quite surprised that they're not being silent."

"Are they being held here?"

"Yes, but just for questioning," the detective answers. "If they're found guilty—which I'm sure they will be—they'll be sent to juvie relatively soon." He finally pulls away from the cabinet, holding a file. "Aha. Found it."

He sits across from me, laying the file down on the table. "What's in it?"

"The questions we asked; the answers they gave." He opens the file. "We've concluded that Vaati and Ghirahim are each in a different gang."

"I thought so," I murmur.

"You did?"

"Yeah. I saw Vaati in an alley; he covered the M.O.D. logo with… I think it was an upside-down triangle. And next to it he put four letters, but I forgot what they were."

"Y.U.G.A.?"

"…Yes," I say slowly. "He told you the name of his gang?"

"Not the name, but we saw the graffiti in the alley. He refuses to tell us the meaning of the acronym."

I shrug. "I'm sure that doesn't matter too much. But what did Vaati tell you about his gang?"

"Not much," the detective sighs. "He informed me that they were the rival of the Men of Demise and were looking to kill Dragmire."

"Something we have in common."

"Don't go joining any gangs, now, Link."

"Don't worry. I wouldn't want to get a tattoo of their symbol. Needles scare me."

"That's your reasoning?"

"Yes sir."

Shad rolls his eyes. "Anyway, I'd like you to look at this." He slides the file to me, pointing to a line of text highlighted in yellow.

I read aloud, "'He has found the ultimate power.' Which of them said that?"

"Ghirahim—referring to Ganondorf Dragmire. I haven't any idea what the 'ultimate power' is, but it doesn't sound good. And if what he said was true, the Y.U.G.A. is gonna have some difficulty killing him."

"And so am I."

There comes a knock at the door. "Come in," Shad calls.

The door opens, and a decently-aged man sticks his head inside. He looks to be in his late fifties, with graying hair hiding beneath his chief hat, and a neatly trimmed beard.

"Chief Auru," Shad says. "What can I do for you?"

"I need to speak with you." He eyes me. "In private."

"Yes, sir."

Chief Auru ducks back out of the office.

"I'm gonna leave you here, Link," he says. "And aside from that file, don't think about touching anything. There's surveillance cameras in here."

I nod. He turns to leave, but I stop him. "Wait!"

"Yes?"

"Do the cameras record sound?" I ask. If so, then my cover would be blown. The police would know that I am the guy who's now wanted.

"No. Your secret is safe with me."

With that, Shad leaves me in his office.

I heave a sigh, looking around the office. Bored, I tap my fingernails on the glass coating of the desk—until I hear a faint shattering sound. I look down at the desk, squinting to see a small crack in the glass.

Fingernail strength. Wow.

I roll my eyes and groan, sagging back in my chair. Closing my eyes, I attempt to get a little rest.

My FiPhone buzzes against my leg. I hesitantly take it out and read the message.

"Hey, we're at the lounge. Where are you?" It was from Zelda.

"My dorm," I reply, then wait.

A minute passes, and my phone buzzes once more. "Nice try. Sheik's there right now doing homework. Just tell me the truth, Link."

…Should I? I think about it for awhile, then make up my mind. "Okay. I'm at CTPD station."

"Uh… why?"

"Investigating the crime."

"Oh… Sorry for bothering you."

"No, don't be," I text back. "I've got time. The detective I'm working with is gone right now."

"Is that why you left school the other day with a cop? You were working to solve the crime?"

"Yeah."

"So how's it going?"

"Alright I guess. You know how Ghirahim and Vaati are in a gang?"

"Yeah?"

"Ghirahim is in my uncle's killer's gang," I write, fighting the tears that blur my vision, "and Vaati is in that gang's rival gang."

"Are you serious?"

"Completely. But hey, make sure you delete that message. I don't want anyone to see it."

"Okay. Deleted it."

"Thanks."

"So do you think you'll catch the guy?"

I bite my lip, pondering her question. "I don't know."

"Well I really hope you do. Good luck and be careful. You're working against powerful people."

"Thanks, and I know."

"Well I've gotta go now. See you soon."

"Okay, bye."

I put my phone away, sighing again. I don't know if telling Zelda was the right thing to do. I mean, she's probably trustworthy, but I've known her for less than a week. Hopefully she will keep quiet about my whereabouts.

The office door opens again, and in strides Shad, looking glum.

"You okay?" I inquire.

Shad sighs. "I think you should leave."

"…Why?"

"The chief just told me that Daemon's lawyer just showed up, and she's… suspicious."

"Suspicious?"

He nods. "She is oddly acquainted with Daemon, and she seemed to show contempt for Anemoi."

"What's your point?"

"…I believe that she's in the M.O.D."

Shit.

"In fact," Shad says, "she is revered as one of the most talented lawyers in the city. I fear that her skill in law will keep Daemon out of juvie—but she probably won't defend Anemoi."

"What's her name?"

"What did Chief Auru say…?" he thinks out loud, tapping a finger on his chin. "Oh, right. Her name is Veran Black."