Summary–AU There are those moments in life where a few words or one sentence changes your entire view on everything you thought you knew. Most often for me they came from my best friend.LinkZelda friendship/romance
Disclaimer–I do not own Legend of Zelda, which belongs to its respective owner(s) and is only being used in a fan-made, fictional story.
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Title–Schooled
By–Moon Prynces
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Age 18 – Doing bad things + 1 = fun
"Link!" someone was shouting as they flew down the hall towards me. "Link!"
I looked up from my conversation with Mikau to see Zelda running my way with a bright smile and eager face. This was definitely trouble.
"No," I said as soon as she was in front of me.
Her face fell for a second and Mikau laughed at the two of us while I gave her a stern look. Then she smiled again as her determination came back.
"You can't say no! I've already decided!" she said happily. "Hi Mikau! How's Lulu?" she turned to him.
"Great," he smiled back. "She was asking about you the other day. Here, she got a new number and wanted to make sure you kept in touch." And he pulled out a pen while Zelda held out her hand for him to write on.
"Cool. Now if you'll excuse us Mikau, I'm sorry I have to interrupt your 'guy talk'," she motioned with quotes.
Mikau laughed again before saying bye and leaving us to head to his lunch period. I was still rifling through my locker.
"Shouldn't you be heading to Rauru's class right about now?" I questioned with a raised brow.
Zelda just shook her head. "No way! This is it Link. We're graduating in a month, why bother? I've already got the grades," she beamed. "And because the sun is shining and the weather is so agreeable I was thinking..."
I frowned while pulling out my chem textbook, hoping today would be the day she took them off our hands already. I was also anxiously waiting for the end of the school year. And like most of our class, I had mixed feelings about leaving high school for good.
"No," I said again, even though I hadn't heard her.
Zelda pouted and folded her arms, which I noticed were also empty. "It's the last stretch of our public school careers! Why can't we do things normal seniors do? I want to cut class." She spoke the last part quietly so as not to attract attention.
My head whipped around to stare at her. "What?" I stared some more before I started laughing. "That's all? I thought you wanted to prank your least favorite teacher–"
"Gaebora deserves it," she muttered.
I turned to her and laughed. "So what exactly is this grand plan of yours then? We'd cut class and do what?" I asked, just because she was starting to get pissed.
She smiled again like she'd already won. "Well the six of us could go and–"
"There is no 'six of us'," I interrupted.
"What? Why?" Zelda demanded.
"Sheik and Malon still have finals today. Saria's on the yearbook committee so they're still working out a few things and Mido got sent home sick. I'm not sure what he's got though..." I tried to remember.
Zelda groaned loudly and face-palmed.
"So you give up then?" I asked sweetly and leaned over her.
"Tch. We don't need them Link," she said confidently and grabbed my hand. "We are going to the beach." And then she shut my locker before I could take out my books.
I gaped at my locker and then at her face. Class was going to start in a minute and I could easily get away with being a minute or two late but Chemistry was on the other side of the school.
"What the hell," I said in slight anger and moved towards my locker.
"No," she said simply and pulled me away with the hand she was holding.
"Zelda," I said back seriously as she tried to lead me towards a stairwell.
"Do you have any more tests Link?"
"No," I replied through gritted teeth.
"Any papers to hand in? Reports to do? Projects or presentations?"
I glared at the back of her head and tried to pull my hand away. "No."
"Good. Because if you don't come with me I can just go alone." She stopped walking and let go of me. "Or I could just ask Ganon or something," she smirked.
"Ha! That's not really convincing considering he gave up on you after freshman year," I grinned. "But fine, you win. Let's go," I grumbled.
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It was almost twelve and we still hadn't left for the beach. I was busy rolling around on Zelda's bed while she picked through the swimsuits and wraps and whatever else she had in her closet.
"Zelda..." I groaned and stretched out her name. "I thought we were going to cut school for a reason! I could've had a better time watching Tingle draw maps."
She ignored me completely and walked back into her huge closet. And I'm not even kidding here. Her house had been seriously upgraded since her parents got divorced. She still lived with her dad across the street from me but her dad was hardly ever around because he worked so much. Which was how she was able to afford a whole lot of stuff that Malon and Saria borrowed (like the clothes) or Sheik, Mido and I came over to use (like the entertainment system).
"Come on," I nagged. "What if my mom notices your car in your driveway and comes over to see if you're okay? You know she'd do it," I said. "You don't even need a swimsuit! We're just going to hang out for a few hours and whatnot!" I whined.
She came out of the closet and looked up at me with a smile. Then she started talking about something completely random.
"Well guess what! I started working out like I said I would–"
"Which time?" I mumbled as I sat up.
She elbowed me before smiling and continuing. "So soon I'll have a six pack better than Sheik!"
I snorted. "Sure you will. Sheik's like a machine from the future or something. If we didn't know him since primary school then I'd actually believe that," I said thoughtfully, imagining Sheik with a robot arm and wires coming out of his back.
She laughed and threw something at me. "I'm so serious here. Sheik is going down! I'll be more fit than any of you losers!" she declared.
"How's that possible?"
She was picking through the clothes she'd thrown onto the bureau absently, like A.D.D. had kicked in or something. "Oh I just keep feeding Sheik junk food and the cupcakes and stuff I make. Usually he doesn't notice when I offer a–" She stopped slowly as her brain began to function again and realized her mistake.
I smirked. "What was that?"
"Um..." she glanced around. "I made some cupcakes! Wanna try?" And she smiled while laughing with me.
When we settled down I got up, grabbed a pair of her shorts and a random t-shirt, shoved them in her hands and pushed her into the bathroom.
"You've got ten minutes Zel'. Otherwise I'm leaving you here and taking your car." I grinned when she glanced back.
She sighed. "Fine."
After the door locked I sighed too. "Girls," I mumbled before throwing myself back onto her bed.
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It took us almost forty-five minutes to get there, and I'm pleased to say it was pretty deserted. Well of course it was – it was a Thursday! And even though it was sunny and warm, the water was still freezing.
When we got out and walked onto the sand I commented, "Hmm, well wow I'm glad we got here so early." Zelda looked at me. "I mean when all the other kids come from cutting class we'll have a spot already."
And then she shoved me playfully, but I was so caught off guard I almost pitched sideways into the sand.
I rolled my eyes. "Real mature Zel'. Especially coming from someone who's going to be graduating high school in less than a month."
She kicked sand at my legs and then stuck out her tongue.
"Zelda," I warned.
"Yes Link?" she answered with a sweet – and fake – smile on her face.
I gave a genuine smile. "Wanna check out the water?" I asked.
She looked worried before staring out into the ocean. "Well I don't know...I don't have a swimsuit on so I'd rather not fall in and get we– Link! Yo-you! Put me down!" she screeched from over my shoulder.
"Yeah right," I scoffed and grinned. "You kicked sand at me! It's only fair!" I shouted as I walked to the water front with Zelda struggling from over my left shoulder.
"I can't believe you'd do this to your best friend Link!" she yelled at me while hitting my back.
I laughed, because some people were staring at the caveman/cavewoman scene we were exhibiting. I pulled off her shoes and dropped them onto the sand, as well as taking off my own, before I took the two steps left to feel the cold water.
"Ah damn!" I hissed, and lost a bit of balance.
"Let me down now Link," she said calmly.
"No! You're gonna hit me!" I complained with a smile.
"No, I won't. I'll kill you."
I put her down because my shoulder was starting to ache and I was already mid-calf in the water. Lucky I wore shorts to school. "Geez Zel' did you gain some weight?"
She looked around quickly, probably for something to hit me with, but her shoes weren't close enough. Then the light bulb went off and she kicked water at me this time.
I flinched at the cold and tried to kick some back at her. With my bigger legs and more force, I heard Zelda gasp as the cold water hit her more exposed legs.
"See, doesn't feel so great now does it?" I smirked triumphantly.
"Okay, okay!" she yelled, hands out in front of her and bracing for another attack. "I surrender!"
"'Kay," I shrugged. "Wanna get something to eat?" I asked while walking back to our deposited shoes.
I glanced over my shoulder to see her surprised expression. I stopped walking and stared.
"Zelda...were you about to jump me?" I asked.
She gazed at me blankly...before she was off like a shot and sprinting across the wet sand while laughing. And of course I ran after her with raised fists and threats.
The few people that were at the beach on this wonderful day all probably thought we were troublemakers or something. We were too busy racing around like five year olds to care.
Damn, I forgot she used to run track.
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"Your side is crooked, Link," she said to me before scooping up some more sand.
I grumbled, "What was that?" And I accidentally punctured a corner of her tower.
"Hey!" she protested. "I saw that!" She tried to cover her broken tower with her hand.
"This sand castle is pathetic," I said.
Zelda glared at me. "No it isn't. If you would just try a bit harder then maybe we could finish before the sun sets!" she complained. "At least I finished the moat!"
"Yeah and that's all you did."
She gasped and then narrowed her eyes. "Are you saying I'm doing a shoddy job here?"
I narrowed my eyes right back. "Well I'm not the one whose side is crooked! It's yours!"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah!"
And before I knew it her hand swept across and knocked down whatever progress we'd made.
I planted my butt flat on the sand and turned to watch the water, and she followed my example.
"So now what?" I asked.
"I don't know. I've got sand all over me now." She cringed while trying to brush it off her arm and hands.
I started laughing. "Only we could start arguing over a sand castle."
She chuckled along too, and then under her breath said, "Yeah because it was your fault."
"What was that?" I asked quickly, even though I had heard.
"Nothing!" She put on her angel face and I grinned.
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"Thank you, best friend!" she said with a smile.
I shook my head and thanked the guy as he gave me my ice cream cone.
"Zelda, how can you let your broke best friend pay for you? It's not like we're on a date where you would expect the guy to pay!" I chided while licking my ice cream, though it was only because she didn't have her wallet on her.
She was too busy humming happily while eating her own cone.
We were now walking along the not-too-crowded boardwalk while eating this one last snack before heading back. It was almost four-thirty and it would probably take us an hour with traffic.
I would probably go home with a slight tan and sand would be coming out of my ears for a week but it was a pretty okay day. Just hanging out and doing nothing with someone I got along with too well.
And I still had to finish that paper...
Okay so maybe I did lie to her, but Zelda's my best friend and I gave her what she wanted. It's not like I had to spill blood to do it.
I heard a gasp on my left and stopped licking to see that Zelda was staring down with a forlorn expression. She looked up with that same sad face.
"I dropped my ice cream," she said and looked back down at it.
"Ah, too bad then," I said with a shrug and took a deliberate lick of my own ice cream cone.
Zelda looked up at me with bright eyes. "Wanna buy me another one?"
"Um, no," I said wryly. "You'll probably just drop it again," I joked.
She frowned. "That's not a nice thing to say. He must've scooped it wrong or something. I would never drop ice cream on purpose!"
I rolled my eyes as she rambled on about how ice cream was a wonderful thing and there were kids out there who would kill for some ice cream and she completely appreciated blah blah blah.
I held out my cone in front of her face with an aggravated sigh. I glanced over to see her staring at it.
"Lick," I said.
She smiled suddenly. "Thanks Link!" And then she moved to take it from me but I pulled it away.
"Hey, I didn't say you could hold it! You'll drop my ice cream and then where will we be?" I said.
"Fine," she grumbled.
I held it out again and she got one lick before I pulled it back.
"Hey! What was that!" she complained.
I grinned. "I changed my mind."
"Link."
"Alright, here." I handed over the cone for her turn at it.
"I have, like, the best best friend in the world!" she said happily, trying to butter me up.
"Uh-huh," I responded.
"Yup, because..." She trailed off and I looked over to see her sheepish smile. "Um..."
My ice cream was on the floor.
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We got back to the car and Zelda was about to start it up as I was walking to my side so I noticed before we got moving.
"Zelda, you have a flat tire," I stated as I got to the passenger window.
"What?" she asked with her brows coming together. I nodded and she cut the engine before getting out again. After circling the car twice in disbelief she said, "No Link, all my tires are flat."
I had noticed as she did but I didn't say anything. I stuck my hands in my pockets. "Hmm."
She sighed and sat down on the parking block that was painted yellow with some graffiti in marker. "I guess we're gonna have to call someone."
I took a seat next to her. "Alright, but who?"
"Definitely not our parents, right?" She looked to me.
"Right. But Saria's still gonna be in school until seven and Malon has to help out her dad."
Zelda bit her lip in thought and stared at her car. "Mido's probably still sick isn't he?" she asked rhetorically, but I nodded anyway. "Alright so then Sheik."
"Don't you have some roadside assistance thing?" I questioned.
She shrugged. "But then my dad would know."
I stared at her. "Okay let's think about this. We can call Sheik, have him pick us up and you'll come around tomorrow after school with new tires – because let's face it, you're going to have to tell your dad about it," I stated smartly.
Zelda grumbled and stretched out her legs. "Right, right," she rolled her eyes. "Stupid pranksters."
We sat around for a few minutes in silence. I slowly pulled out my cell phone and handed it to her.
"Hello?" she asked after a minute. "Yeah, it's me." Pause. "Well, Link and I had some things to take care of and–" She turned a little pink and then glared. "No! What in the world are you talking about? Is that Malon I hear in the background?" she demanded. "Of course not! We–" She waited as whoever it was spoke. "We're at the beach," she said through her teeth. "We decided to cut class and have some fun."
I watched her quietly as she went from happy to annoyed and back again.
"Look, we really need a favor." The person spoke up. "No," she said flatly. "My car's got nothing but flats and we were hoping Sheik could come and pick us up." I guessed she was talking to Malon, but then they switched again. "Sheik? Please?" she begged.
There was some quiet as she listened and her brows came together. I moved my arms to rest on my knees.
"Oh," she said, defeated. "Well as soon as you can then? Please? Alright thanks." And then she hung up and handed me the phone.
"What's going on?"
"Sheik's filling in for someone at work for a few hours and then he's swinging by to pick up Saria when she's done with yearbook. Aren't the yearbooks supposed to be done already?" Zelda sighed. "So then he might not be here until after eight to get us."
"And Malon?" I questioned thoughtfully.
"She's getting a ride to her dad's ranch right now. That's why she was with him."
We looked at her car in silence again.
"You sure you don't wanna call your dad or something?" I asked.
She shot me a look and then replied, "You sure you don't wanna call your mom?"
I frowned. "Right."
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We spent the next two hours sitting on a bench and watched people walk by. It was getting late and the sun was starting to set, as well as the evening breeze picking up.
Zelda was hunched over with her elbows on her legs and face in her palms. I was leaning back with my arm across the top of the bench behind her and head bent back in boredom.
"You know Sheik's gonna kill us when we get sand in his car." I chuckled at the thought of him glaring at us while we settled in his ride.
My eyes averted to see her smile a little. "Hmm." Then she shuddered when a breeze passed by.
"Wanna go wait in the car?" I asked.
"No," she grumbled like a kid. "I'm not cold."
I laughed at her. "Okay, sure."
My phone started to ring and I saw Saria's name pop up. "Hey," I answered as Zelda turned to look at me.
"We're on our way now. Probably be there in twenty minutes," she said cheerfully. "You guys sure get into a wonderful mess. Sheik's complaining about how we always have to bail you two out of stuff."
I grinned. "It's not my fault Zelda's such a kid. Someone has to take care of her," I shrugged.
I heard my best friend sit up suddenly and protest.
"Okay, just don't let her kill you before we get there," Saria giggled after hearing the background noise and hung up.
"Retract the claws," I said while putting away my phone. "Saria and Sheik are on their way. They won't want to ride in a car with a murderer."
Zelda shivered again and even though I wanted to say something, it wouldn't stop her from being stubborn so I didn't.
I sighed dramatically. "I don't know why you even brought me if you don't appreciate me being here!" I shot her a saddened look – completely false. "You wanna kill me and then I buy you ice cream and then you wanna kill me again!"
I watched as a smile crept up on her face. She stood up and stretched before offering me a hand. "Because I wouldn't have had fun without you Link!" she laughed happily. "You're my partner in crime!"
I half smiled and got up too. "Yeah, sure. So even if Saria and Malon had been available you'd still choose me?" I asked as we began walking towards the parking lot.
She looked thoughtful. "Well, I'd still want you to be there."
I rolled my eyes. "People pleaser."
"Who else would have given me their ice cream cone?" she smiled.
We got to her car and she leaned back against the driver's door.
"Alright," she paused and collected a serious expression. "Link, if I had to choose between you and anyone else out there..." I waited for a funny punch line as she built up anticipation. "I would still choose you."
I stared at her sincere smile, trying to get her to crack and start laughing but she didn't. I started to get a little uncomfortable so I turned to look at the parking lot entrance. "Yeah? Well then maybe we should just get married so I won't have to compete with your future boyfriends and husband," I joked.
I wondered what would have happened if I had said I would still choose her too. Probably some awkward sequence or chick flick kind of scene. But she probably knew it anyway.
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6-22-10