A/N: Thanks to everyone who's reviewed for how awesome you are :) Anyway, here's chapter five. I took a suggestion from one of my more recent reviews (a very helpful one from an anonymous guest) that they may recognize. (Thank you very much for that, btw) I don't own LoZ or any of the songs used. Btw I'm changing the way they get their letters from Hyrule University; it's no longer by email. Enjoy this chapter!

The morning of the next day had an air of destiny about it. An electric feeling. Something important was about to happen.

Link, Dark, Ganon, Kafei, and Mido all felt it when they woke up. They could all just tell that the news would come today. So the four boys had a texting conversation, from five in the morning to almost eight.

Mido: Do you think we'll get in?

Ganon: Most def, man. We all totes killed it

Dark: especially Link

Link: *blushes*

Kafei: You guys have been complimenting each other all morning. What's up?

Link: NOTHING!

Dark: What he said!

Mido: I can't take it anymore! I have to go see if the letter came.

Kafei: Good luck to everyone.

Ganon: I think we should all meet up at Starbucks and chill after we get our messages.

Dark: I'm so in! Gtg; Mido said it all

Ganon: Agreed. GL yall, I'm out

Kafei: U 2, G. Brb, L!

Link: Thx, brb

Now they were all sitting at their tables. Waiting.

(Link's POV)

"Hey, Link! Good news," my mother called from the kitchen.

I raised my head. "Good news?"

She held out a large ivory envelope, addressed to me in fancy gold script. From...

Hyrule University.

"How do you know it's good news?" I held it away from my face by two fingertips, as if it smelled bad.

"I just have a feeling." My mom smiled her comforting smile.

Before I could open it, a fit of violent coughing attacked my chest. I'd been feeling bad all morning; just an odd feeling like I was being eaten from the inside by... wolves. Funny.

I'd thought it might just be nerves, but now I was actually starting to feel a little sick.

I carefully opened the envelope. The paper that made the envelope was thick and had the creamy texture of a very expensive material. I slid out the three pieces of equally lavish paper that had been stapled together, and, deciding not to wait any longer, plunged into the letter. The text glimmered at me in glossy black script:

Dear Mr. Link Avalon,

After your application arrived in our mailbox, we here at Hyrule University pored over it carefully along with the many others that we received. Scholars from all over the country have applied for our fine institution; we are honored that you have chosen to apply as well. It is with great pleasure that we are offering you a place this coming autumn.

If you choose to follow through with the four years of college education that we are offering, please inform us of your decision by July 15th. Understand that we hold education at a high place. We do not expect little from you.

Looking forward to seeing you in the future,

Headmistress Hylia

Two pieces of very expensive stationary had just sealed my fate. I was going to Hyrule University.

I WAS GOING TO HYRULE UNIVERSITY!

"YES! I GOT IN!" I cried.

"I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!" My mom seemed just as excited as me as she flung both arms around me.

I was laughing so hard I was crying, and now I was coughing. I'd gone from ecstatic to feeling like my body was trying to fold itself inside-out - in seconds.

"Look at the other paper." Mom gently nudged the third sheet in my direction.

I picked it up, my racking coughs calming for the time being.

Not feeling like reading another letter (because I'd started to get a headache as well as a faint stomachache), I just scanned this one- to discover that I had been accepted into the Hyrule University music program!

My mom held me tightly, rocking back and forth. "I'm so, so proud of you, Link. I'm going to go call everyone; well, except for Dad. Let's wait till he gets home to tell him. I'll head off to work once everyone knows."

I grinned. "Okay. Can I-"

Before I could finish my request, there was a wild knock on the front door, and I skidded into the foyer in my socks to answer it.

I knew who it was before I opened the door.

"DARK!" I screamed as I flung it open.

"LINK! I GOT ACCEPTED!"

"ME TOO!"

Laughing, we threw our arms around each other. He picked up and spun me around and gave me a kiss.

Holding hands, we calmly entered my house.

"Mom, this is my boyfriend Dark," I introduced him while she was dialing a number into the house phone.

My mom looked up, seeming startled, then she grinned. "Oh! You're that boy Link's always talking about. I'm his mother, but you can call me Malon."

Dark grinned. "Nice to meet you, Malon." He shook her hand.

She smiled back at him. "You boys can do whatever. I'm leaving soon for work, but Dark, if you want to stay home with Link, that's fine with me."

"Thank you!" I hugged my mom, then grabbed Dark's hand.

He tugged me towards the door. "Let's meet the guys at Starbucks to celebrate. They all got accepted too!"

"THIS IS AWESOME!" I could barely contain my excitement; bubbles were practically spewing from my mouth at this point.

I wondered what Dark's reaction to his letter of acceptance had been. I wasn't about to ask him; I guess I'd never know.

(Dark's POV- before Link read his letter)

It was not a normal day.

Breakfast was oddly tense in a way I hadn't sensed since Mom's death. My dad's handsome face was tight and unsmiling. I looked a lot like him; I got my tall, lanky frame and thick black hair from him, and my red eyes and pale skin from my mom. My dad was tan and hazel-eyed.

"Dark." He folded his hands, looking grave. "I've got some news."

"Oh, God." I set down my fork. "Good or bad?"

He stared at me for a second, then eased into a grin. "Actually, I have two pieces of good news."

I laughed. "You scared me! Bring it."

Dad, chuckling as well, set a letter in front of me. A letter... from Hyrule University.

Not stopping to relish this moment for even a second, I tore open the massive envelope, speed-read the two letters inside, and shrieked, "I GOT IN!"

Dad let out a deep laugh. "I knew it! I'm so proud of you!" He reached across the table to hug me.

"Thanks, Dad." I sat back down. I'd just been accepted into my dream school- and the music program.

Oh.

My.

"What's the other good news?"

"Well," Dad started, smiling secretively, his face turning a pale shade of pink. "I was at work a couple days ago-" (my dad does market research for a living) "-and... I met somebody."

I grinned, though on the inside, I was cringing. "Oooo, what's her name?"

"Not her." Dad smiled at me. "Him. His name is Isaac, and he's... well, the best person I know, right behind you and your mother."

My smile became honest. "Isaac is a nice name. I want to meet him."

"He'll love you. And you'll love him. He's coming over for dinner this Friday."

"Well, I guess this is the time to tell you that I have a boyfriend too. Link. The new singer in our band." I crossed my fingers that Dad wouldn't flip.

"That's great, Dark. You can have him over for dinner on Friday too, and it'll be like a party!"

I laughed. We hadn't had a party in forever.

"I'm gonna call the grandparents about the university. They'll want to know." Dad reached over to touch my hand. "I think Mom will want to know too."

I swallowed a torrent of tears and nodded, heading upstairs to my monochromatic bedroom.

From under my bed, I slid my carved birch box that my dad had made for me last year. It was of a moderate size and wasn't much to look at from the outside; just a box made of stark white river birch wood, carved in a treasure-chest shape with a music note painted on the top. It didn't even have a clasp. But once you opened it... it still didn't look like much.

The box was lined with black velvet (inevitably, my favorite color was black). It was filled with memories. Photos. Notes. Little odds and ends. Every single memory of mom, all complete with mom's silver hand mirror that I would use to communicate with her. Well, in my mind, at least. It was just comforting to think that she could hear me talking to her.

Instead of heading straight for the mirror to tell mom my news, I slowly and carefully pulled each memory out of the box. A white peony, now dried, that we'd picked in Georgia together on a picnic. A photo of us side-by-side in front of Mount Rushmore that Dad had took. A note she'd written me on my first day of school that I'd found in my lunchbox (and immediately burst into tears).

When I reached the bottom of the memories, I found the mirror. I lifted it, clasped my hands around the handle, and glanced at my reflection for a moment. My red eyes had turned misty from remembering and I looked like I hadn't smiled in ages.

I shut my eyes and imagined that she could hear me.

"Mom, remember that school I was telling you about? Hyrule University and its music program? Well, guess what? I got in, Mom! I'm going to college at Hyrule University, and participating in the music program. I play guitar, remember? My band with Kafei, Mido, and Ganon got a new singer who's now my boyfriend; Link. He's a really great guy. He's really cute and funny and sweet, and smart and talented and I just love him. I hope you're not mad that I'm gay. Don't forget me. I love you."

I set down the mirror feeling spent.

Then my phone dinged three times in a row.

Groaning, I picked it up to see three texts that immediately silenced my groans.

Kafei: I got in! School and music!

Mido: I was accepted into both things!

Ganon: I GOT IN TO BOTH OMFG

Laughing at that last message, I replied to all of them with the same message.

Dark: ME TOO! I'm gonna drive to Link's house to see if he got in too, then let's all meet at Starbucks.

I got responses from everyone saying that they'd be there.

Turning off my phone, I grabbed my keys and hurried downstairs. "All the guys got in. I'm going to Link's," I called to Dad.

"Alright! Have fun with your friends, Dark."

With a smile emblazoned across my face, I flung open the door to greet the new day.

(Link's POV)

Half an hour later, Ganon, Kafei, Mido, Dark, and I were seated in a booth at Starbucks. The guys all sipped iced coffees and ate their choice of dessert; I stuck with an iced tea lemonade that I'd barely touched. My stomach had started acting up. Nothing major had happened yet, and I don't think anyone noticed that something was wrong (except for Dark, who kept asking me if I was okay, and of course I lied and told him I was), but still, I was not craving anything at all. I kept a constant hand over my belly, wincing whenever it gave a particularly uncomfortable lurch.

"You look hungry. Want a bite of my muffin?" Kafei, being the sweet guy that he was, held out the chocolate chip muffin he'd been eating, looking like he honestly thought he was helping.

Not wanting to hurt his feelings (or tip anyone off to my awful stomach pain), I took a brave bite and managed to utter a 'thanks'. I felt the hard lump roll down my esophagus and plop into my stomach, joining the tornado already happening there. I took a sip of tea in attempt to soothe the monsoon, but it only added to the revolution.

We all split the bill and left, me subtly tossing the half-gone iced tea and climbing awkwardly into Dark's car. A rough cough harrowed my throat, earning me a concerned glance from Dark. My head pounded and my stomach swirled like a washing machine as Dark started the car.

It took everything I had not to puke out the window before we pulled into my driveway.

I felt faint the second my feet touched the ground; Dark caught me before I collapsed.

"Link, seriously. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just clumsy," I lied.

"Okay." He obviously didn't believe me.

Once inside the house, I faked like I was fine. "Want a snack or something?"

"I'll take a granola bar." Even though we just ate.

"Okay." I grabbed two granola bars from the pantry, forcing myself to eat one of them while Dark ate the other.

Now my stomach felt worse than ever; it was as if it had turned into a swamp that was being spun on one of those Scrambler carnival rides while icy rain pelted on it and a baker's heavy hand tried to pound and roll it like dough. Coughing made it worse; add the pain of a thousand boulders hitting my stomach, and you've got what it feels like to cough with a stomach-swirl as bad as mine. My headache had also intensified, and it pounded with every cough.

"So, Dark, do you want to watch a movie or something?" Talking hurt even worse.

"Sure."

"What do you want to-" I couldn't finish my question. My stomach was trying to launch itself out of my throat.

I took a jarring sprint towards the bathroom, dropped myself down on my knees, and threw up directly into the toilet.

(Dark's POV)

"Oh my God, LINK!"

I raced after my boyfriend, hurrying into the bathroom.

I knew it. I just knew something was wrong with him. The poor thing hadn't looked well at Starbucks; he looked even worse on the car ride over.

"It's okay, it's okay." I brushed back the bangs that fell in his face and grabbed a handful of toilet paper that I handed to him (when he momentarily stopped puking) so he could wipe his face.

"Thanks so much, Dark, you're the best-"

"Shh." I rubbed his back, watching his eyes grow teary. "Not now."

Link started to say something, then turned and started throwing up again.

Oh, boy. This was going to be difficult.

A while later, Link had stopped heaving for the time being. I had him in bed with a bowl and a cold washcloth, blankets piled on top of him.

"Think some tea would help settle your stomach?" I asked.

He shook his head. "I don't know if I'd be able to keep it down."

"Do you know either of your parents' cell numbers?"

"No. My dad's is only for work and my mom doesn't even have a cell."

"Think you need a doctor?"

"No. It's just a cold, I think."

"Okay."

I reached under the blanket to rub his stomach. He'd changed into sweatpants but wasn't wearing a shirt, trying to combat the odd temperature changes that came with being sick. He closed his eyes and reclined his head on the pillow, seeming soothed.

"Sing for me, Dark."

Oh, what the hell. Why not sing for the sick boy?

"Alright. This is 'Things I'll Never Say' by Avril Lavigne." I cleared my throat, then imitated Link by taking an exaggerated deep breath (making him chuckle, then cough again), and started singing, wiping the sweat that I saw dripping from his hair.

"'I'm tugging at my hair, pulling at my clothes, I'm trying to keep my cool, I know it shows...'" Link seemed to relax even further at the sound of my voice, so I kept singing the whole song. Yes, I was supposed to be the punk guy, but I actually really like Avril Lavigne; even songs like this one.

"'If I could say what I want to say, I'd say I want to blow you... away...'"

When I finished the song, Link didn't tell me to stop, so I kept singing. I sang songs by The Beatles and All Time Low, from Wicked and Les Miserables, even my own version of 'Over The Rainbow.' I sang 'Counting Stars', 'Take Me To Church', 'He Lives In You', and 'A Heart Full Of Love'. I sang until my voice grew hoarse and Link was almost asleep.

"Dark?" he whispered when I'd finished my final song; 'Defying Gravity'.

"Yes?" I rubbed his stomach with one hand and ran my fingers through his hair with the other.

"You won't leave me while I'm asleep, will you?"

"Of course not." I bent to kiss his forehead. "No way am I leaving you alone."

"I love you."

"I love you."

He fell asleep. And I didn't dare leave him.

(Link's POV)

When I woke up, I actually felt a bit better. The digital clock on my bedside table informed me that it was almost five pm; I'd been sleeping for a while, then. I detected soft breathing near my face- when I rolled onto my side, I found Dark, curled up next to me, asleep.

I smiled at how cute he looked. His mouth was slightly agape, and he just looked so peaceful. He didn't snore at all and a little tuft of ebony hair had fallen into his face; it shifted with every breath.

Awwww!

Oh crap.

I leaned over the side of the bed, grabbed the bowl, and threw up into it.

I hated being sick.

I hated it a lot.

But, when I looked back at Dark, when I snuggled against him, burying my face in his shoulder, everything seemed brighter.

A/N: I can't decide if that chapter was cute, tense, or gross. You be the judge.