Alrighty, everyone! Here's chapter 8! :D This chapter is shorter than the others, but it's not gonna be a regular thing. The next chapter will be longer! ;D

Chapter 8

Link

"Okay, let's run it again!" I called out to everyone. Darunia shifted a bit behind the drums, before tapping out a light beat and, soon, Mikau's bass joined in. Nabooru, our backup vocals, adjusted her mic, then added in some harmony.

I inhaled and began singing the lyrics.

We were supposed to perform at the dance coming up before the winter break. Which was in about two more months, but we were kind of off to a bad start. I remained calm though - we always ended up okay and we just needed practice. We'd be fine.

As my lips formed the worse to the song, my eyes slid to the empty space where Zelda usually sat. She had a test or something to make up, but she promised she'd meet me by the time our meeting ended. I loved how much closer we were getting and how she seemed to become more used to me every day; more familiar. My mind once again replayed last night and I grinned around the song lyrics. I'd almost kissed her right then... but it hadn't really felt right. Trust me, I wanted to! First, I had to know for sure if she felt the same way about me. And I wanted her to become more comfortable with me, because sometimes, I could still feel her become tense around me or act nervous. And I didn't want that. I wanted her totally comfortable.

So, I could wait a bit longer.

Mikau and I strummed out the last chord and Nabooru's exotic voice echoed the last note.

"That one was better, guys! Nice." I slid the strap of my guitar off my shoulder. "Let's call it a day." I gripped the guitar neck and gently rested it up against a wall. I looked back up just in time to see Zelda stroll in and the regular smile tilted up the corners of my lips.

"Hey." I said, walking over with my hands shoved into my front pockets. Zelda smiled back at me - the reserved smile again. Not the full one.

"Hi, how was practice?" She asked, slender fingers curled around the strap of her backpack. I remembered how it had felt when her fingers had curled into my shirt last night as she held onto me and my heart skipped. I cleared my throat.

"Pretty awesome, actually!" Mikau exclaimed, popping in from out of nowhere. Zelda giggled lightly and he grinned, winking at me. I rolled my eyes at him and he chuckled, gesturing to me with a jerk of his thumb and talking to Zelda. "Mr. Dreamy over here probably wouldn't stop thinkin' about you - his mind was everywhere tod-OW!" Mikau rubbed his arm after I'd punched it hard enough to actually move him a couple feet. Zelda's eyes widened slightly and an adorable sheet of red heated her cheeks.

"Shut up, Mikau!" I hissed, rolling my eyes again. He just laughed.

"You prefer I call you Mr. Hair-"

"Goodbye!"

Throwing one more joking smile at Zelda, Mikau waltzed out along with Darunia who was stifling a laugh.

"He's... just..." I shrugged, clearing my throat again. Damn Mikau...

Zelda laughed a bit. "No, it's fine." She smiled. "He means well."

I doubted that, but I didn't voice anything. Instead, I said, "So... what are you doing this weekend?"

Zelda's lips quirked a bit as if she were trying to repress a big smile at my question. Ducking her head shyly, she shrugged. "Nothing really."

"Well, we should do something." I suggested.

"Sounds good." She said, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. She'd let her hood down a lot more frequently now.

"Hey, Zelda?" Zelda and I both turned at the sound of Nabooru's voice as she approached us. I'd forgotten she was still here.

"Yeah, Nabooru?" Zelda looked at the Gerudo girl expectantly.

"Well, the other girls and I are gonna hang out tonight and I was wondering if you'd like to join us. Midna said she was coming too."

Zelda pursed her lips in thought, considering for a minute. Finally she nodded. "That would be cool. I'd love to." She smiled.

"Great!" Nabooru beamed. "Just meet us all at Malon's dorm at eight o'clock, 'kay?"

Zelda nodded again eagerly and the Gerudo girl gathered her stuff, waved goodbye, and left. I started slowly heading for the door and Zelda fell into step beside me.

"That's cool you get to hang out with them. They really like you."

Zelda laughed. "Well, that's good. But now I gotta do something 'til then."

I looked at her. "Actually I was going to ask you if you'd come to my room to hang out and we could talk. Plus I, uh..."

"What?" Zelda pressed, eyes on me.

"I wanna sketch you." I admitted, smiling shyly at her.

"Oh?" Zelda looked straight ahead again, smiling. "Wow. No one's ever drawn me before. Sounds fun!"

"Cool!" I said in relief.

"What about Mikau?"

"Oh, he's hangin' out with Ruto the rest of the day. She'll keep him busy." I chuckled and she smiled.

"Okay."

...

Zelda

Link held the door open as I stepped inside, then followed right behind me and shut the door. I glanced around his dorm room and smiled. Most of it seemed so him, the rest definitely Mikau's.

I glanced at Link as he set his messenger bag on a nearby chair, then held his hand out to take mine. Smiling, I handed it over.

"You want something to drink? Or are you hungry?" Link looked at me.

"Oh, um. Water's good, thank you." I replied. He nodded and went to get me the drink as I sat on his couch, looking around. A minute later, he returned with a glass of ice water.

"Thanks." I smiled up at him.

"No problem." He held his own glass of water too as he sat beside me. After several moments of silence, he spoke again, "Hey, Zelda...?"

I looked over at him. "Yes...?"

"I've just been... curious about some stuff. You mind if I ask you about them...?" I swallowed nervously and a cold chill wiggled through me, but I nodded. Link shifted so that he leaned back on the sofa. "Why do you always wear a jacket? I know it's cold outside, but... even inside?"

I fidgeted a little and stared down at my lap. "I just... it's comfortable." I said, giving a half-hearted shrug and looking up at him. He didn't look convinced.

"Well, okay remember, like, last week when I'd found you, ah... drunk?" He kept his eyes on me and I struggled to do the same.

"Yes." I answered slowly.

"You had told me that it 'helps' you... Did something happen? Because then your face had all these-"

"It was nothing. Really. Just..." I sighed and tightened my jaw. "Nothing." Again, Link's expression indicated that he knew I was lying. I knew I couldn't keep everything from him forever, especially since we'd gotten so close. But I didn't want to tell anyone just yet...

I could tell Link wanted to push the subject further, but he never pressured me. He sometimes asked questions and if I didn't answer, he dropped it. He could only keep that up for so long though. "Okay. Last concern..." he said.

I braced myself and nodded slowly.

"Shouldn't you go... report what Ganon did to you yesterday?" His voice had become soft as his blue eyes glanced into mine.

He'd asked me that just this morning too, but I'd never gotten to answer. So I thought about it through the day. Reporting Ganon would be the logical thing to do in this situation, but it was over and I didn't want to think about it again. I don't know, I just didn't want to say anything. Ugh, that sounded stupid, but nothing had happened. I'm okay... sort of. I just don't want to deal with that attention!

I pursed my lips and sighed. "No... Well, I should, but please don't. I don't want that attention and all that. Plus it's over. So, just..." I shook my head.

Link lifted an eyebrow as he stared at me. "That's it? But Zelda, he could do it to you again. Or maybe someone else!"

"I don't want to talk about this now, Link." I groaned, rubbing my temples. I would think about it later, just... no. Not now.

Link sighed lightly and nodded. "Fine." He relented. Which usually meant it'd come up again. "Okay! Well... that aside, um, you ready?"

I looked up at him as he stood, slightly confused. And then the previous conversation melted away as I remembered the other reason I was here.

My heart sped up and my stomach flipped at the idea of him drawing me. Looking at me so intensely, focusing on several parts of my body as he sketched...

I felt my whole body warm at the thought and tried to stay calm as I looked at him. I simply nodded, not trusting my voice to be steady.

"Okay, uh, this way..." strangely, he looked just as nervous as I felt. He led me into his room where several sketches were scattered atop a small desk. Various things - like the tallest tree on campus, streets lines with restaurants... And they were brilliant! I'd seen a couple of his rough drawings before, but these were beautiful and some were re-done in charcoal.

Link's voice broke through my thoughts and I turned to him as he spoke. "So, do you mind laying here?" He asked, gesturing to his bed then turning a light shade of red as he babbled on. "Unless it makes you uncomfortable, I mean, I'm not trying to do anything, I just-"

"It's okay." I smiled at him reassuringly, though my hands shook a little. Link wasn't the kind of guy to come on to me like this, or really any way... he was always making sure I was comfortable with even the simplest things. So I stepped up to the bed and lay across it, breathing in deeply to steady my heart. But I only got his scent, something exotic and woodsy. I couldn't resist inhaling again, then blushing as I remembered he was still there probably thinking I was some sort of weirdo. I turned my face in the direction he was. "So... like this?"

Link stared at me a second, chewing his lower lip in that habit he had when he was thinking. And it was kind of...um... hot. So I inconspicuously averted my gaze as he thought.

"Here." Link's voice was right next me. I hadn't realized he'd moved and I tensed as his breath whispered over my cheek. He placed a light hand on my forearm, gripping a little as if he intended to move it. I nodded my consent as he waited. Then he moved both my arms and positioned them over my head, one a bit higher than the other. I was so very aware of his skin on mine and kept my eyes on the veiling while he did his thing.

Link looked down at me, head slightly tilted, pondering possibilities for my position. After several seconds, he spoke, voice a bit husky, "Um, okay. I'm going to move your leg now..." he told me and I nodded again. He moved my leg so that my knee was bent and pointed toward the ceiling, then my other leg went completely down on the bed, relaxed. Then he circled the bed until he leaned against the wall right in front of me and I tilted my head back to see him upside down. "Good, right there." He said, smiling a little. He came forward and spread my hair around so that it fanned around my head, his knuckles occasionally brushing over my neck or jaw. I bit my lip and I heard his sharp intake of breath.

Clearing his throat, Link stepped back and sat against the wall, sketch pad and pencil in hand. Staring at me intently for a bit so that my skin tingled, his eyes fell to the paper and he began sketching. His gaze switched between me and the paper, and he would sometimes give me an easy half-smile. I could feel my heart racing in my chest. I just hoped my face wasn't red.

I have no idea of how long we stayed like that. But then the pencil ceased its smooth movements over the paper and he looked at me. I shifted a little and then, when he didn't protest, sat up and looked down at him. "Is it done?" I asked softly. He blinked, then nodded, looking down at his work. Sliding off the bed, I stepped toward him and kneeled at his side. Link turned the sketch pad toward me so that I could see.

"Oh my goddesses, Link. This is amazing!" His slightly surprised and pleased smile was adorable. I looked over the drawing and grinned. "How did you learn this?"

He shrugged. "Well, some lessons, but... I mostly had to teach myself." He chuckled. It really was brilliant; he was amazingly talented. "I'll probably re-do this one in charcoal..."

I clapped my hands together and nodded. "Great! You have to show me when it's done." He nodded with a smile. I looked at him and our gazes locked. Heat rushed through me, all the way to my toes, as Link's hand came up and his knuckles brushed up my arm to my shoulder. He slowly slid the sketchbook off of his lap and his other hand came up to cup my cheek.

"You are a fantastic model." He whispered, smiling warmly. I blushed.

Shrugging, I replied softly, "Anyone can just... lay there."

"But most of them can't look as good as you while doing it." His voice was thick and his breath ghosted over my lips. My breath caught in my chest. I didn't realize I'd been touching him until my fingers curled in the front of his shirt and subtly tugged him closer.

One of Link's hands glided down my side and curved over my hip. His other hand remained on me, sliding around to cup the back of my neck. His fingers sifted through my hair; I shivered and his grip tightened. We looked into each other's eyes, barely an inch or two between us. Mu mouth was so dry and my breaths came in quick gasps. I wet my lips with a quick flick of my tongue and his gaze dropped to my mouth. His jaw worked and he tore his eyes from my lips to look at me again.

"Zelda..." he breathed in his deep timbre, sending another pleasant shiver through me. "Don't feel pressured or anything, but... Oh Goddesses, I really want to kiss you right now. Badly." His voice sounded strained near the end and he unconsciously moved closer. A warm tingle went through me at his statement. And oh man, did I wanna kiss him back...! I looked at his longing expression, leaning forward slowly. He inhaled deeply and met me halfway, his lips pressing into mine softly. A shudder rolled through him and I think that tiny whimper was me...

My hands moved up and immediately went into his hair. It was soft. Silky. His arms wound around my waist and pulled me up against him. Soon, our kisses grew more passionate and our hands were everywhere. He caught my lower lip between his teeth, then smoothed his tongue over the bite. My lips parted and a soft sound came from the back of my throat. He tugged me forward until I was in his lap, straddling him, and his hands pressed into the small of my back. My heart was racing at impossible speeds and I felt him everywhere. His skin touched mine and delicious warmth ran through my body. I pressed closer to him and a low, almost-growl, sound came from him.

I pulled away to gasp for air, but his lips never left me. Instead they made a burning trail of kisses down my neck and my thighs tightened around him. His mouth brushed over my collarbone and I breathed out a heavy sigh. Link returned his lips to mine and our kisses grew slower, softer. His mouth moved against mine tenderly and his gentle hold on me made me almost melt. After what seemed like much longer than reality, we parted, both of us breathing raggedly. His swollen lips turned up in a breathless smile. I was still registering the whole thing. He'd kissed me...

Link stared up at me, taking one of my hands. I could feel the heat that spread over my cheeks.

"Um, I... I..." I blinked, trying to gather my thoughts. Taking a deep breath, I tried again. "I should go... it's almost seven..." I felt so lame, but I needed to... think clearly. There was no way I could right now.

"Oh, right. Yeah." He said, nodding and I shakily rose from his lap. He stood as well, smoothing out his shirt. His hair was a messy mass of soft dirty-blonde waves. I grabbed my things and walked to the door. I turned to face him again.

"Um, thanks and uh..." What was I supposed to say? Thanks for kissing me? I settled for, "I had a good time."

Link smiled, a light red dusting his cheeks. "Yeah, we should... do it again sometime." I blushed terribly and cleared my throat. He smiled a bit knowingly and placed one more kiss to my swollen lips. Barely a brush of his lips; I almost didn't feel it. "Bye, Zelda. Have fun. And be careful."

I simply nodded, my grip deadly tight on the strap of my backpack. Smiling slightly, I opened the door and reluctantly left.

...

Eventually, eight o'clock rolled around and I still didn't know what to think about Link and me kissing. As I headed to Malon's dorm, all I could think was I definitely liked it. But was I ready to be that close to him, or even in a relationship? I know he never said anything about going out with me, but something told me he wanted to. His expression said all that. But the way he'd kissed me... I warmed at the memory of his arms around me and his lips on mine. I wouldn't mind doing that again, actually...

I knocked on Malon's door and a few seconds later it opened. "Hey!" Malon grinned and pulled me inside. "Just in time! Guys! Zelda's here!"

We walked into the room where the rest of the girls sat: Nabooru, Saria, and Ruto. Midna had already been gone when I got to our dorm, and now she sat on the sofa here.

"Sorry you had to wait on me." I said and Nabooru shook her head.

"It's totally fine! You ready?" The other girls jumped up and nodded, talking animatedly with one another as we all headed back outside.

"So... you were with Link." Nabooru came up beside me and smirked mischievously.

I turned red and opened my mouth to ask how she knew that, but she interrupted before I could, "Midna said you wern't in the dorm with her and I even saw you walking with him back to his and Mikau's dorm. But Mikau wasn't in there." Her smirk widened. "So what did you guys do? Alone?"

I suppressed a laugh and shook my head. "Just, ah... talked and he wanted... to draw me-"

"He sketched you? Oh Goddesses..."

"What?"

"Link only saves that for girls he really likes. He even told us he was waiting for the right girl to come along. He turns down, like, every girl. He's looking for someone specific, I think..." she gave me another knowing smile.

I looked at her, raising an eyebrow slightly. "And exactly how many girls has he done that with?"

Nabooru looked at me and her thin brows raised a bit as she watched me. The smile on her lips widened to a big grin, then she answered. "None."

That's Chapter 8! I hope you guys liked it! Thank you for everyone who reads this - makes me so freaking happy! :D

I will update as soon as I get some reviews! XD

- NayruSapphire