Chapter 6

Zelda

Heat spread over my skin and my eyes cracked open to tiny slits, immediately closing again at the offensive sunlight slicing past my window into my eyes. After a few seconds, I sat up and blinked a couple of times. I was in my bed. Last night was kind of... I don't know... Ah, shit! Why does my head hurt?

...

After a very sluggish routine of getting ready for class, I strode toward the front door. Through my hazy mind, I realized that I had been drunk last night. Shame roiled deep in my gut and my jaw tightened. I... I didn't drink. I didn't want to stoop to my dad's level, so the fact that I was drunk last night meant I'd been really low. Ugh, that is not going to happen again. It can't, I really wasn't a drinker. I exhaled slowly. Just get through the day.

As I was reaching for the door handle, something caught my eye and I turned my head to something lying across the arm of the couch. I lifted it off the furniture. It was a jacket. A jacket that looked vaguely... familiar.

My jaw dropped and a small gasp escaped. This was Link's. I was sure of it; I remember him wearing it the day I left, on Friday. Wait - so, he had been here? Last night?

Oh goddesses... What - did we...? I wracked my brain for the memory. I barely remembered last night - yes! He had been here, he... he took me back here, but... after that it's all a blur. I swear to Din that if he... I sighed, running a hand down my face. I sort of knew how to handle this situation, just be calm. After all - minus the drunkenness - this wasn't exactly a new thing to me...

Jacket over my arm, I jerked the door open and stepped out, slamming it behind me as I made my way toward my first class.

...

By the time I got to my class, my head was pounding. I groaned lightly, squeezing my eyes shut. Taking deep breaths until the throbbing in my head was merely a dull hum, my eyes reopened and I scanned the room. No Link. He was usually here before I was. The class would start in just three minutes. Did he not want to face me or something? Oh no, does this mean he knows what he did and he can't just freaking face me?! So last night, he took advantage of me, then just left.

If he thought I was going to sit with him today, I sure hope he knew that there was no way that was happening now. The professor started speaking and the class quieted down a little. I did my best to focus, so many thoughts and emotions flickering through my mind.

...

Lunch finally rolled around, but I hadn't made a new plan yet of what I would do. Today was kind of sucking so far. Ganon decided to try and talk to me again today, but I was having none of that and eventually ditched him. He just couldn't take a hint. That guy seriously made me uncomfortable.

My footsteps eventually echoed over the tile floor as the rest of the students filed out toward the cafeteria or off campus. But another pair of footsteps sounded from behind me. It sounded like the person was jogging a little. Then I heard his voice:

"Hey, Zelda!" Link called, finally coming to stand in front of me. How could he just smile like that at me? So friendly. "You still sittin' with us?" He asked, then added. "Oh and are you feeling okay this morning?"

I just stared at him, resisting the urge to yell. Calm. "Why do you ask?" I said in a low voice.

Link shrugged a bit, in a way that showed he cared but wasn't making a big deal out of it. "Just wondering. Last night you were... pretty out of it-" he stopped when his eyes fell on the fabric still slung over my arm. "Is that mine?"

"Yup." I stated, all but throwing it at him. He held it and the expression on his face was one of realization as he probably guessed what I was thinking.

"Zelda, I helped you get back to your dorm. That's it." He said firmly.

"Really?" I said, lips pressed together. "Why was your jacket even off, hm? It's easy to just put on the rest of your clothes, you can forget a simple jacket." I felt my chin trembling slightly and the sting of oncoming tears at the back of my throat.

"No!" Link shook his head, running a hand through his hair restlessly. "Zelda, I would never - I know you don't know me well, but please. I would never take advantage of you like that. That's just... it's wrong." His expression was dead serious, almost pleading. And his voice deep with sincerity.

Something inside me told me to believe him and give him a chance. I pursed my lips uncertainly. "Why weren't you in class today?" I said, voice not as firm as it had been at first.

"I slept in. That's it." He answered easily.

Damn. There I go jumping to the wrong conclusion. Link was serious. I could tell by his voice and expression. I released a long, heavy sigh. I had just... I was way too used to being taken advantage of that I thought it could possibly happen here too.

"Link, I'm sorry." I told him sincerely. "I just... I'm sorry. I was scared-"

Link shook his head, stopping me. "No, you don't have to be sorry. I understand. Don't worry about it." He smiled easily at me, despite my accusations just a couple minutes ago.

I looked at him, simply nodding and he gestured with his head down the hall. "So... wanna eat?" Link asked. I let out a small, relieved laugh. I nodded and followed him down toward the cafeteria. We walked through the doors and, once we had our food, headed to the table Link sat at where a bunch of people were already gathered. I relaxed a little bit, ignoring my assumptions and avoiding any awkwardness with Link. We sat down at the table, across from each other.

"Dude, Link - finally!" A handsome Zora clapped a hand on Link's shoulder and grinned. Link nudged him back playfully and looked at the rest of his friends.

"Guys, this is Zelda. Don't be weird."

I felt myself turn light red as eyes turned to me from around the table. Link rolled his eyes at them and gave me a look that said They're always like this.

A soft voice broke the silence. "Hello, Zelda." I turned my head to a girl that sat next to me. She had deep, emerald eyes that seemed almost timeless and fair skin. Her blonde hair had a forest green tint to it and she wore a vibrant green dress that flowed around her petite figure. "I'm Saria." She held out a hand. I tentatively reached forward and shook her hand and smiled. I returned with a small smile and we withdrew our hands.

Then, suddenly, everyone was saying hello. I met everyone at the table - there was Ruto, a pretty, strong female Zora, the one that gad given me dirty looks my first day but now smiled warmly. Malon was a normal girl who owned a ranch with her father and had the brightest orange-red hair. Nabooru was Gerudo, so naturally, she had a slim, curvy figure, but strong and beautiful. Darunia was a Goron and had dark, rough skin and warm, chocolate brown eyes. He was also very big, as in large muscles coupled with being extremely tall. And Mikau was the Zora that had greeted Link first.

Everyone was actually nice and we talked all through lunch.

...

Link

Classes were finally over! I hurried out of my last lesson and headed toward the music room where they held the music club. I was a bit distracted from that mission, though, when I spotted the familiar hood going towards her dorm. Smiling, I went over.

She heard me coming and turned around with a small smile. I was just waiting for that real smile, a full smile that showed teeth. I would wait as long as it took. "Hi, Link." She said.

"Hey, Zelda." I returned. "I just wanted to say that having you at lunch today was... great." I glanced down at my feet a bit shyly, then back to her.

Zelda smirked a little. "Thank you." She slowly slid her hood down. She didn't do that for anyone... well, except the teachers, but that didn't count. A pleasant feeling filled my stomach. "It was... fun." She said, looking as if she hadn't expected it to be.

"Well, good." I said, looking at her and noticing her face again today. "Hey, do you... remember how you got those?" I asked, referring to the harsh bruises on her jaw and one below her eye. I assumed she'd gotten it last night, when she'd been drunk.

When she realized what I meant, her hood was suddenly back on and her hair fell around her shoulders. "N-nothing. I don't remember." She said, looking away from me.

I furrowed my brow suspiciously. She looked worried, almost... scared. "Zelda, what's wrong? What happened?"

"Nothing, Link! Nothing, just... none of your business." She shook her head and turned to go. I quickly caught her arm. She slowly looked back at me.

"Okay, okay!" I said. "Sorry, just don't go. I won't ask anymore. Please."

Zelda relaxed again, only slightly, she still was a bit tense. She nodded. "Alright. Sorry for reacting like that." She sighed.

"It's fine..." I knew something was wrong, something she wasn't saying, but who was I to push her? When she wanted to tell me, I'd be there. "Would you like to, um... come watch at the music club? I'm heading there now." I smiled encouragingly, hoping she said yes.

"Well, I don't..." she stopped, pursing her lips and looking up at me thoughtfully. She chewed her lower lip as if she were having some sort of internal battle with something. Finally she smiled a bit. "Sure, sounds fun."

What happened to her in the past? She acted like she was forcing herself to be with people, to hang out and talk. I didn't ask, though. Again, if she wanted to, she would tell me. She didn't even know me much. But I hoped that, one day, we did get to know each other well.

Instead, I just grinned at her. "Great! Come on!" I eagerly headed to the music room with Zelda in tow. When we got there, Mikau rose from his spot at the piano.

"Finally! We thought you weren't coming." He chuckled, then looked at Zelda. "Hiya, Zelda!" He said with such familiarity, you wouldn't have thought he'd just really met her today. I saw her smile, her expression way too surprised and happy for someone used to friends. Darunia tapped absently on his drums.

"Thank Din you're here, Link." Darunia rumbled, giving Mikau a look. "This guy has been 'playing' the piano for forever!" He shuddered and I laughed. Mikau made a face at the Goron, mumbling to himself about people being jealous.

Shaking my head in playful exasperation, I turned to Zelda. "You can sit there if you'd like." I suggested, gesturing toward a group of chairs. She nodded and went to sit down.

"Nabooru couldn't be here today, but she said she'll definitely come next meeting." Darunia informed me and I nodded.

"Alright, thanks." I said, stepping up to the microphone with my guitar hanging off me, the strap wrapping over my shoulder and down diagonally across my back. "Let's work on that new one." I told them, mechanically tuning my guitar by ear as I spoke. "That one needs work and maybe we could try a new key."

Darunia nodded, starting up the tempo, then starting out with light taps on the drums that increased in volume. I looked at Zelda, who was watching intently. We locked eyes and a light blush dusted her cheeks as the corners of her lips turned up a little. I grinned back at her as Mikau strummed through the bass line. Then I struck a chord on my guitar, opening my mouth to sing the lyrics out.

Halfway through, Mikau stopped. "Man, it just sounds wrong. We need something." He inspected the sheet music and I sighed, looking over his shoulder.

Zelda spoke up, suddenly right next to me. "I may be able to help..." I jumped a bit, startled, and looked at her. She glanced at me, then at the music on the table. "That measure can remain flat throughout and instead of sharps in this one - make the whole thing naturals with the last note being flat." Her slim index finger slid over the paper, pointing out as she explained. "Then change the key to F."

Using a pencil, I sketched out the changes she suggested and looked at Mikau. He shrugged. "Let's give it a try." Zelda stepped back, watching us. I returned to the microphone, glancing at the changes in the music as the three of us played it through the whole way.

"Aha!" Mikau laughed, thrusting his fist in the air. "Awesome!"

I looked at Zelda. "Damn, that was pretty freaking awesome." I chuckled. "So, you're into music."

Zelda shrugged noncommittally. "I dabble." She said with a light smile. Mikau shook his head.

"Aweeeesooome!" He sang, looking at the sheet music again.

My eyes stayed on Zelda, and hers were on mine. Her blue eyes watched me, makingslight chills skip down my spine. She was something else. And she just kept getting better and better.

Zelda

I watched Link as he watched me as well. I honestly didn't know what to think at this point. Link had that kind of effect on me. I wanted to get to know him more. Give him a chance. And I'm starting to think that, with him, that's not such a bad thing.

Chapter 6! XD Hope ya liked it and thanks for reading! I shall update again NEXT WEEK! :)

- NayruSapphire