Hey there!

It's been a little while, hasn't it? My deepest apologies, I've just been working on other stuff. Like my Youtube channel (cough shameless plug cough)

Hah, seriously though, it feels nice to be writing again. Especially knowing that so many people are taking something away from the story. It truly is flattering and quite an honor. I do hope you continue to enjoy the story.

This particular chapter changes things up a bit. Despite Link being the narrator, I've really only shown his shallow thoughts. The past few chapters have been about Zelda's deep thoughts, so I figured it was time to show a few of Link's deep thoughts as well.

And a big thanks to aloof-kokiri, tswift1fan, and FanaticMarioMan for reviewing! I'm glad you guys can find relatable meaning in the story! Also, I must apologize to tswift1fan. In past chapters I kept misspelling her name, like the derp I am. I'm really sorry about that, but it won't happen again!

"So you swooped in to save the day?" Darunia asked.

The usual gang had gathered at Telma's, with the exception of Uli. They had gotten all of the "how was your date?" jokes out of their systems, and we had been able to move on to real conversations.

I smirked. "Not quite how it happened."

Shad laughed, waving his hand at Darunia. "Come now, it's clear he was just consoling her. A rather noble gesture."

Ashei snorted. "Yeah, it's almost out of character for you."

I rolled my eyes, but smiled at her. "I wasn't doing anything for my own benefit. I just wanted to help her feel better."

"We know, we're just giving you crap." Mikau said.

Rusl nodded. "It's nice that you were so willing to help her. Yesterday you seemed so confused about what to do with her, but when the moment came, you were there for her."

The others nodded and smiled warmly at me. I shook my head, but couldn't lose my smile. The thing is, I wasn't smiling because of their praise. I was smiling because of what I had done. I don't know why I was there for Zelda. I normally would've just gotten us on the bus and helped her home. I guess that for once, I really feel the want to be wanted. Well, that's not quite it, but I feel like I can help her, so I want her to want me to help her. Explaining it is as confusing as the feeling. And I'd be the first to admit that I don't know what to do when somebody is relying on me. It's a rather foreign position I'm in, but one that obviously brings a smile to my face.

Darunia slammed back his glass, drank the thing dry, then rested it back on the countertop. "Plus you got a little something from it." He said with a wink.

"A peck on the cheek!" Mikau laughed. "Careful bro, she might just jump your bones!"

Ashei smacked Mikau upside the head. "Thanks Ash." I said.

"Happy to do it."

Still, I'd be lying if I didn't say I was starting to get a little crush on Zelda. Despite what's been on her mind, she's being strong. She still smiles and has a good time with her friends, she takes time out of her schedule to go see Malon, and she was nice enough to make an effort to return a single umbrella to me. All of that, even though she's been going through an internal crisis. I guess I just really admire her selflessness.

I got out of my chair and walked to the kitchen. On the counter, same place as it's been since we opened it, was the notice for rent. We only had another week to get it out before the landlord would pay us a visit.

I sighed. I had enough money to pay my half, although I'd have to switch to eating only one meal a day every so often. But I'm not sure Pipit would. Since it was Sunday, Telma's was closed so I wouldn't be earning anything for the next few days. Maybe I should really consider a second job.

At that moment, Pipit strolled through the door looking defeated. "Dude, finding a job while going to school full time AND already having another job is impossible. Unless you're willing to entirely sacrifice sleep."

Well, there goes that idea. "Did you go hunting today?"

He nodded, pulling up a stool at the counter. "Yeah, I went to a few of the retail stores on Skyloft Ave. Since they're right by a college you'd think they'd be flexible for a college student's schedule, right? I mean, you would assume they would have a lot of college applicants." He flailed his arms in Do Not Cross motion. "Not accommodating whatsoever." He folded his arms on the counter and rested his head on them. "I don't know man."

Grabbing the letter, I said, "I know what you mean."

There was a short silence. "You don't have to worry about this month's rent." Pipit suddenly muffled into his sleeves. "My folks are helping me cover what I'm missing, so we'll be able to stay here for another month."

I sighed, throwing the letter towards him and leaning on the counter. "That's nice of them to help you out. But it's getting freaky that we're reaching that point, you know?"

He sat up and nodded. "Yeah, it's scary. We better think of something soon."

There was a knock at the door. We both jolted at the sound. Pipit jokingly groaned. "Ingo can't be here already! We still have a week!"

I smiled and lightly punched his shoulder as I walked by, headed for the door. Opening it, I got a big surprise.

It was Zelda.

She was holding her hands in front of her, head slightly tilted downward. She looked at me with a nervous smile. "Hi Link."

It took me a few tries to get a sentence out, but eventually I said, "Hey Zelda. What's up?"

"I got your address from Ashei." She said, randomly. "That's how I know where you live, I mean. I found her and messaged her on Facebook."

"Oh." I said, finally grasping the situation. "Ok, cool. Do you want to come in?"

Zelda shook her head. "Actually, are you busy right now?"

"No, not at all. What's up?"

She shuffled her feet a bit. "Do you think we could go somewhere?"

I turned back to Pipit. "Do we have plans at all today, Pip?"

"Well, the TV isn't going to watch itself." He called back.

I smiled and turned to Zelda. "Sure, let's go."

Zelda and I walked side by side along the sidewalk. We went by a few houses, just enjoying each other's company. It was considerably warmer than yesterday, making being outside even more enjoyable.

"So where do you want to go?" I asked her.

Zelda shrugged. "Nowhere in particular. It was just a nice day and I wanted to talk to you." She looked at the sky. "I figured we could come outside."

I nodded. "That's more than ok with me. What did you want to talk about? Anything in particular?"

"Actually, yeah…" She started. "Can I talk to you about Groose?"

I raised my eyebrows. I mean, it certainly wasn't a happy subject, but… "Yeah, go ahead."

Zelda let out a sigh. She must've been holding her breath, dreading what my answer might have been. "Ok, thank you." She began, turning to face me. "Have you been to visit him since his diagnosis?"

I shook me head. "I haven't seen him or my aunt since I began going to school."

"Ok." Zelda said, looking ahead of us again. "I'm guessing I know why?"

I didn't say anything, but I did a half nod, half shrug. She knows I don't get along with him. I never really have.

"I guess that's all I really had to ask for now." She said.

I chuckled a bit, looking at her. "Alright, if you say so."

"Hey Link." Zelda said, stopping in her tracks and looking me right in the eye. I turned around to face her. "Thank you again. For yesterday. I just need to get all of that out there from time to time and I'm really grateful you were there to talk to."

I smiled at her. "It was my pleasure, Zelda." She smiled, walked up beside, and we began heading down the sidewalk again. I gave a small laugh. "I'll be honest, I'm not used to being the guy people talk to about that stuff."

Zelda looked at me. "Really? You're so easy to talk to, though."

"Thanks. I really am happy to help. I'm just a bit worried I won't be enough."

Zelda smiled and gave me a light shove. "Don't even joke about that, of course you're enough! Enough for me, at least."

I smiled, but could feel myself blushing a bit. I stole a quick glance over to Zelda. Her face was turned away, looking out over the street. I rubbed the back of my head, trying to think of something to say. My mind was blank, I couldn't think of a compliment or anything flattering to say back.

"Wait."

Zelda suddenly stopped walking again. She looked ahead of us for a couple seconds, then looked right at me with an intense gaze. "Is that why you won't go see Groose?"

I gave her an incredulous look. "What? What brought that up again?"

She never broke her gaze. "You said you aren't used to being somebody that others talk to. That you don't think you'll be enough. Is that why you won't go see Groose?"

I looked to the ground for a second then back to her, putting on a smile. "Ok, Sherlock Zelda, I appreciate your ability to put clues together, but I don't think it'll help you here."

"You didn't answer my question."

I gave a nervous laugh. "Zel, seriously, I don't…"

"Link, it's yes or no." She said, almost commanded.

"Man, you can be really driven when you want to be." I said, slowly losing my smile.

"Don't change the subject."

"Zelda…" I said.

"Yes or no?" She asked again.

"Look, I…" I said, starting to get annoyed.

"Link!"

"What does it matter!?"

"Just tell me!"

"FINE!" I yelled. "Yes! Alright? That's why I won't go see Groose! I'm terrified of the thought of him seeing me and me not being able to help! Yeah, he was an ass. And if he wasn't sick, he probably still would be. But I wouldn't be able to handle it if somebody on their death bed asked me for help I couldn't give him! If I just stay away, I can get by! THAT'S ALL!"

I had a few more things to say, but they just wouldn't come out. Instead I just closed my eyes and sighed. I opened them at saw Zelda's eyes soften. I looked at Zelda. She looked back. She never broke her solid gaze during my rant, but now that it was over, she began looking at me with concern.

"Link…" She started walking up to me. She grabbed one of my hands and looked up. "I understand how you feel. It's scary. But… You know… He probably just wants to say sorry. While he still can, anyway."

I just looked at her, feeling any sort of emotion drain from my eyes. "That would be even worse." I told her.

"Why?" She asked, squeezing my hand for comfort.

I sighed and continued. "It's like I told you. I believe in forgive and forget. If he says he's sorry and I accept his apology… Well, that's it then."

Zelda raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Groose is going to die. There's no doubt about that." Zelda squeezed my hand again, just to remind me that she's there. "So if I forgive him, then Groose becomes my past. But if I don't forgive him… I mean…"

"What if you don't?" She asked.

"Then he's never really gone. Even if it's a grudge, Groose is still going to be around. I know that's messed up thinking, I do. He may be gone, but I can still think about him in anger. He'll still be around. But if he apologizes, then Groose's chapter in my life story ends. I may not have the fondest memories of him, but those memories, those things that I can escape from as I continue my life, those are the surest sign that I'm moving towards a better future, you know? A future away from that life, that past. And if those memories are gone… What am I doing? Where am I going?"

Zelda waited for me to stop talking. Then she let go of my hand, walked up to me, and hugged me. It took me a couple seconds, but eventually I hugged her back. It really is amazing what a simple gesture like that can do for a person. I didn't even know I needed one until now.

Despite how empty I felt after that speech, I felt the urge to laugh. Soon, it escaped my lips.

Zelda, still slightly concerned, smiled up at me. "What's so funny?"

I let go of the hug and kept chuckling. "I never said it out loud before. That's kind of ridiculous thinking, now that I hear myself say it."

Zelda shrugged. "People get lost and confused in their own thoughts. Sometimes they just need to escape their own head. I think we both know that."

I nodded, smiling. "That's true." The two biggest offenders of that were right here.

"Link?" She said. "Maybe it's time to start forgiving, but stop forgetting."

My smile faded. She was right. I knew she was, but I just couldn't admit it.

Zelda seemed to sense my struggle though, so she just grabbed my hand and started walking.

"Where are we going?" I asked her.

"To write the last sentence in this chapter of your life."