Schooled

by Moon Prynces

AU From learning Sex Ed at age five to understanding the difference between being lonely and being alone, Link is taught more than one possibly should from his best friend – Zelda. Life's a classroom: always teaching and being taught. friendship/romance

5. Age 22

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.

xoxo

Title–Schooled

By–Moon Prynces

xoxo

Age 22 – Between being alone and being lonely

"So you're still going out with him?" Malon asked eagerly. I groaned out loud as their girl talk started in the middle of my living room.

Zelda nodded with a smile. "Yup. Almost six months now. It's wonderful – he's wonderful." I rolled my eyes when her eyes got all bright. "Malon I think he's The One." Both girls squealed excitedly at that.

"Ugh, can't you guys wait till I leave the room?" I complained. "And really, why are you both here at my place if you're not here to see me?" I questioned and got up from the sofa.

I walked to the kitchen as Zelda shushed me and went into detail about her boyfriend. To tell the truth it was an accomplishment that they made it past two or three months, but to jump to marriage and happily ever afters? Well as long as she's happy...

I grabbed a kettle and started boiling water. I took my time getting out the mugs and tea bags, hoping they would be finished by the time I returned to them.

I looked around at the plain kitchen with a few accents that Zelda forced me to get. It was amazing that I could find such a good apartment so soon after high school but there was no way I was going to dorm with a bunch of hormone driven college kids.

I was still working part-time and hoping to finish up school by the end of the semester. Then I could get started on my chosen field of study: architecture. Lucky me, my parents tried to help me with my expenses. I could hardly wait to get started on my real passion, and to get paid for it.

Zelda and Malon were taking things a bit slower with school, and they both still lived at home and partied most Saturdays. I shook my head. How our little group managed to stay friends was beyond me. I still hadn't heard from Sheik, Mido or Saria lately.

The whistling started and I grabbed it quick to stop the noise.

While pouring the water I laughed at their talk of the future. I was in no way ready to get married and have a family. Dating was the last thing on my mind since I started the more difficult courses, about two years ago. And you know what? Who knew if I'd ever be ready.

I sighed before lifting the tray of mugs, spoons and sugar.

"I can't believe this Zelda, I'm totally jealous of you for once!" Malon said, leaning back into the sofa.

For a moment things were quiet and I stopped walking as I watched Zelda's face go from surprise to carefully indifferent. Malon's head snapped up at the tense air and her eyes went wide. I slowly began my trek to the coffee table again.

"Oh Zelda! That's not what I meant to say! It just came out like that by accident! You know I don't think–" She stopped short and looked up at me for help when I gently put down the tray.

I plopped down on the sofa next to my best friend and slung an arm around her shoulder carelessly. "So are you ladies done gossiping about things that don't concern you? Unless you were talking about me and how handsome and awesome I am of course. If so, then please feel free to continue," I grinned at them.

Malon smiled gratefully but we'd probably talk about this later. There was a small pause before Zelda finally turned to look at me as well with a small upwards twitch of the lips.

"Link, the only thing that could make you more awesome is if you got us something to eat," Zelda said sweetly.

I groaned and Malon laughed at me.

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Zelda left early to get ready for a date and I was stuck cleaning up with Malon. Not that I don't enjoy her company and all but I knew we were going to have a talk.

I grabbed the plates that had been laid out with pie that Mido's mom had sent me a few days ago. Now it was completely gone and I didn't have dessert for tonight.

"Link, have you talked to Zelda lately?" Malon asked me as she grabbed the empty beer bottles.

I cringed. "You know how she gets. She says a few words and then maneuvers her way around the subject." We walked to the kitchen and dumped everything in the sink. And being the wonderful friend she is, Malon started to wash the dishes for me as I watched.

"You're her best friend Link! You've known her longer and better than any of us! I would think after all these years she could open up to you about all the real issues bothering her," Malon said, scrubbing away.

I rolled my eyes and hopped up onto the counter. "What makes you think she's being bothered by anything? Things are going great for her. Her dad's making more money than ever, she sees her mom around holidays, doing almost perfect in classes and now she's got a boyfriend that'll probably give her the rock."

Malon snorted at my way of referring to a marriage proposal. I chuckled to myself as well.

"Didn't you see how things went an hour ago? She turned cold at a few words," the redhead kept on.

"Oh come on, it was what you said. Anyone would have flinched at that. You hit a sore spot, Malon."

She started scrubbing more with her brows coming together. A plate was loudly placed into the dish rack to dry. I felt bad for making her feel guiltier now.

I sighed and jumped down, moving to push her away from my cutlery before she tried to stab me. She moved aside after a tiny protest and I finished up.

"She'll talk when she wants, Malon. I know I'm her best friend, but that doesn't mean she can't keep some things to herself," I spoke softly to the girl who was standing awkwardly behind me.

I heard as she let out a breath and moved away. "Alright. I hope that guy does her some good, she really deserves it."

"Really? And what about you? You, like, stopped dating last year. What happened to that?" I glanced over my shoulder as she casually walked around the table and sat down at it.

"Oh, you know. I decided to have an arranged marriage. Daddy's going to help me pick out someone to see if we'd be a good– Link, are you okay?" she jumped as I dropped a few utensils on the floor in shock.

"You? Arranged marriage?" I stared at her.

Malon stared back at me blankly, waiting for the obvious question.

"As long as you're sure," I said instead and turned back to the sink.

xoxo

There was no slamming of doors. There weren't loud gasps of pain. I didn't even know she was in my apartment or how long she had been there until I had woken up at around one a.m. to go to the bathroom. On my way back to my bedroom I was sharply pulled out of my dream-like state when I heard the muffled sounds coming from my living room.

The only person that would come around this late or stayed the night often enough was Zelda. She claimed it was for various reasons – her house was lonely with her dad out most of the time, my place was closer to campus (and it was), or she was just using me as her personal alarm clock (she still had trouble getting up on time these days).

"Zelda?" I asked through the darkness and moved towards a light switch. The sounds stopped abruptly before the light went on.

She sat on the floor against the front door with her knees pulled up and arms wrapped around them. Her face was completely drenched in tears and she winced at the brightness that flooded the room.

"Zelda, what happened?" I asked, walking closer in quick steps. I crouched onto one knee and waited.

She looked up at me while her mouth was hidden behind her arms. "He broke up with me," she said simply. I was about to move in for a hug but she went on. "I was busy making plans for the future and getting all giggly and excited but he didn't see any of that." Her face was turned down and buried for a second. "I can't believe I sat here five hours ago and talked to Malon about all these stupid plans!" she berated herself.

"Zelda, here, come on. Let's go sit on the sofa and–" I tried to say.

"It's all a lie, Link!" she shouted after lifting her head up for a moment. "There is no one out there for me!" she yelled through the sobs. "Soulmates and life partners and all of it." I stared blankly. "There isn't someone out there for everyone."

I stared at her, not quite sure what to do. After all the break-ups and disappointments Zelda's been through she never liked to cry so much. She did every once in a while and called it 'healthy' to do so but she didn't like to dwell on things. Instead of locking herself inside for a week and watching sad romance movies with a box of tissues she was always out and about the next day. She never even liked to let me see her cry.

"It'll be okay, Zel'. Don't worry about it."

Her head, which had dipped back toward her knees pulled up to look at me but I doubt she could see much through all the tears. "I don't want to be alone forever, Link," she whispered, and if I wasn't so close I probably wouldn't have heard her.

I carefully sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She caved quickly and leaned on me, still crying. "But you're not alone. I'm here. I've always been here."

She cried more. "Link, you're an idiot," she glanced up at me. "You'll find someone. You'll get married, have kids. You're going to leave me some day too." And with that I found she was clutching onto my shirt like she was drowning.

I couldn't think of anything to do. No one wanted to see Zelda hurt, and I would be the first to beat up anyone that tried to break her but she always dealt with everything by herself. I never had the chance to play that best friend card. I rarely was allowed to comfort her.

We were quiet while she tried, and failed, to calm down. I rubbed her arm with the hand I was holding her with and leaned my cheek on her hair.

I kept thinking of something, anything. What came out of my mouth didn't get to go through the filter in my head. Luckily they weren't harsh words and actually helped.

"Psh, me get married, Zel'?" I started, becoming horrified at my rampant mouth. It didn't stop there. "Trust me, that's not gonna happen unless...wait."

I turned to her and it made her look up at me. She wasn't sobbing anymore, probably from the conversational tone I had going on. It made things seem so normal.

"You're looking for someone to marry right?" I asked rhetorically and pointed a finger in realization. "That's right!" I answered myself. "So if you need someone to marry and I could only marry you then it's settled!" I grinned.

Zelda stared at me for a minute. I didn't let my unease show and kept up the grin. Finally she smiled so brightly it was like the sun rose in this one apartment.

She moved her arms to encircle my body and leaned back onto me.

I wanted to start on how she was only twenty-two and there was still so much time to try and find that perfect person. She shouldn't be worrying about it so much right now.

But I didn't. It was more than that, I knew. She wasn't being conceited in wanting someone's attention or in a hurry to settle down. After her parent's divorced it threw her for a loop. She was completely lost. She was still lost. Zelda was just really good at smiling and saying everything was fine.

"You're right, Link." I glanced down at her but only saw the top of her head. "I'm not alone." I started to smile. "I'm lonely."

With the smile gone now I tried to hold on and convey the things I couldn't say to her.

xoxo

I would like to thank those of you reading (and reviewing). Don't worry about my earlier comment at the end of chapter two! I was only expressing slight dismay at the underwhelming response. It doesn't mean I'm crying my eyes out, waiting for more people. I'm a picky reader myself these days. I have been messing with the summary to see if I can capture the interest of more people.

Let me take this time to notably thank those of you that have reviewed with good intentions...

Wow...thanks to LadyZayriah who apparently has reviewed chapters 1-4. I did not realize until just now. There is WritersBlock XD, who also has reviewed two chapters. And going in order from the beginning there is Linkandzel, lv1s, TheFinalCountdown, and Dash Handsome.

I don't like mentioning people specifically without a personal reason these days (especially because now I'm wondering what would happen if I thanked someone by name and they changed their pen name in the future? awkward...).

Anyway here is an update I'm sure you would like to know. I have finished seven chapters, but it might take one or two more to wrap things up. Chapter 6 should be up in about a week. Thanks for reading!

6-30-10

Finally! Time to post! I should probably wait until morning but I have a long day ahead of me so I would rather do this now. Thanks for reading!

7-1-10

2:15am