Chapter 9

Zelda

I stared up at my ceiling, completely lost in thought. I had several hours until I hung out with Link again, since we'd made plans the other day at his music practice. I had been lying here for... I couldn't even remember how long.

And I was such a freaking girl...

I thought constantly about how he'd kissed me at his place the other day. And the way his eyes roamed over my body as his pencil flew swiftly over his sketch pad... I covered my face with my hands as the all-too-familiar heat coated my cheeks and I groaned. Glancing at the clock at the side of my bed, I swung my legs off the mattress and onto the floor. Midna was still asleep and I tried not to wake her as I stepped quietly into the bathroom for a shower.

Nothing very interesting had happened at the party that I went to with the other girls. Besides them interrogating me about Link like they were the F.B.I., it was just a fun hang-out night. Again, I hadn't seen Ganon around. Other times, this wouldn't bother me. Hell, it would make me happy. I pushed my hair back under the spray of water, combing soapy fingers through the golden strands. All I felt was nervous; when would he pop up again? And what would he do? As much as I tried to convince myself that the thing with Ganon was over, there was this sick, nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach that said otherwise.

Releasing a sigh, I rinsed my hair out as the warm water flowed over my shoulders in relaxing streams. I knew that the the right thing to do would be to report Ganon. Link insisted I do so, as well. He was subtle about it, but he tried to always be next to me ever since the incident with Ganon. Ugh! And I knew that I should tell on my father as well, but I... I... Ah, I don't know! I mean, "being scared" wasn't really a good excuse, was it? I was so worried about what he would do...

I started a bit as the water began to run cold. I hadn't even realized how long I'd been standing in here. I turned the knob and swept the shower curtain aside. My fingers reached out for the towel hanging beside the door and I wrapped it around myself, knotting it at the top. Absently, I wrung the water out of my hair with mechanical movements. My eyes rose to the foggy mirror in front of me and I rubbed my palm over a large spot to clear it away. Turning slightly, I opened the towel a little and glanced at the finally fading bruise that crawled up my side. I winced at the memory and quickly wrapped the towel around me again.

After I had gotten dressed and teased the tangles from my hair, I pulled the bathroom door opened and stepped out.

"Hey, Zelda." Midna smiled at me from where she sat on the edge of her bed. She stretched and stood.

"Oh, hi, Midna. Good morning." I replied, walking over to my own stuff. I glanced at her and smirked a little. "You hangin' with Zant again today?" I asked teasingly in an attempt to engage in normal, teasing conversation with a friend.

Midna giggled and nodded shyly. "He's just so amazing, Zelda." she sighed with a dreamy smile. I nodded slowly.

"You like him that much?"

"Honestly... I think I love him!" Midna blushed lightly at the confession and my eyebrows tipped up.

"Really?" I asked increduously.

Midna simply nodded and I shrugged one shoulder. Then, I thought of something to ask her. Turning to face her again, I said, "Hey, Midna?"

Midna's eyes looked over at me expectantly. "Yeah?" she said.

"Um..." I kind of fidgeted with hem of my shirt. "Is Link, uh... I mean, what kind of guy is he? Like... ugh..." I sighed, unsure of how to ask.

"Are you trying to ask whether he's a player or not?" Midna supplied helpfully.

"Yes!" I said. "I mean, he doesn't seem that way. But he seems like he wants to be with me and I don't know, I think I might wan tto be with him too, but I just wanted to know how he usually treats girls and-" I stopped abruptly, realizing that I was just blabbing.

Midna flashed me an amused smile. "Trust me, Zelda. He's nothing like that. He hasn't been witha girl since he's been here. He's got this thing about finding the right one." She gave me a suggestive look. "And it seems from how he acts around you - that girl could be you." She grinned and waggled her eyebrows at me. I felt my face heat a little, but I smiled, breathing a soft relieved sigh.

"Thanks, Midna, just..." I laughed a bit, after all the stressing out about the whole situation. "Thanks."

"No problem! Now, if you'll excuse me..." Midna made her way to the bathroom. "I'm gonna shower." And she shut the door behind her.

I looked around the room. I didn't want to just stay inside all day, so I headed over to the front door. My jacket lay across the arm of the sofa and I snatched it up as my other hand reached out to open the door. I had the jacket halfway on when the door opened and I yelped in surprise.

"Aw, my Zelda!" My grandfather exclaimed, standing right in front of me. It took me a second to register that he was right here. When it finally clicked, I rushed him, throwing my arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. "Oh!" he huffed as I nearly knocked him back, then he chuckled as he returned my hug.

After I'd pulled away, I looked at him, grinning hugely. "What are you doin' here, Grandpa?" I asked, closing the door behind me and starting to walk as he came beside me. "And are you... even allowed to be right here?" I laughed.

He smiled mischieviously at me and shrugged. I shook my head, a huge smile still plastered on my face.

"But of course I'm here to see you, princess!" My grandfather clapped me on the back and I rolled my eyes playfully at the use of my nickname that has been around since I could remember. "Since you left your father's early."

My smile faltered slightly at the mention of my dad and that weekend. "Oh yeah..."

He frowned and looked at me. "Was he rude to you again?"

I simply nodded. My grandpa knew that my father was rude to me all the time, but he knew nothing about the... physical stuff. And I had kept it that way forever.

He shook his head. "Ah, don't let that idiot get to you, sweetheart. He's just bitter and alone."

I didn't say anything. It's not like he was better when my mom was here. He was the reason she'd left. I'd missed my mom, but I never knew why she didn't take me with her right then, instead of saying she'd come back and get me...

"Hey." My grandfather's voice shook me from my thoughts and he laid a comforting arm over my shoulders, his hand curved around my upper arm. I smiled at him and we took a seat at one of the table out on the grass. There was almost no one outside, as it was pretty cold and the weekend.

Sighing, my grandpa crossed his arms over the table top. "I have to go soon, but I just wanted to see my favorite granddaughter." He winked.

I laughed and rolled my eyes playfully. "I'm your only granddaughter!"

"There ya go. But if you weren't, you'd still be my favorite, I'm sure."

I laughed again, shaking my head. I hadn't realized how much Id missed him until he showed up.

He stood up and I looked up at him. "Sorry this was such a short visit, kiddo. I'll come back and we can do something, alright?"

Frowning slightly, I stood and hugged him. Way too short a visit. My smile returned as he hugged me back and kissed the top of my head. "Sounds good, grandpa."

"Behave, alright?" He grinned as he pulled away.

I laughed lightly. "You behave." I scoffed. He chuckled and gave me another hug.

"See you, princess."

I smiled as he walked away, watching until he disppeared behind a building. I pulled my phone out and saw I had a message. I opened it and my stupid heart did a little jump to see it was from Link.

Hey, Zel! Just wanted to know what time was good for you for me to pick you up?

Pursing my lips with a barely contained smile, I typed out a reply:

6?

A reply came back barely a minute later.

Sure! :) See you then.

See you! :)

I dropped my phone back in my pocket, barely feeling the cold air anymore past the warmth spreading through me at the reminder of spending time with Link again tonight. Tucking my hands in my pockets, I stood and slowly headed toward the nearby coffee shop, thinking about whether Link was thinking of me as much as I kept thinking of him.

Link

I couldn't stop thinking about her.

I smiled and absently pushed my cell back into my pocket, leaning back on the sofa. I barely knew what was going on on the television screen that was playing some kind of cheesy sci-fi movie in front of me.

Ever since Zelda was at my place and I'd drawn her, I couldn't keep my thoughts from always wandering back to her. And then her soft mouth under mine. I pressed my lips together at that memory. And she hadn't pulled away, either. The dance was coming up soon too. This would be a good time to ask her out to the dance. And to be my girlfriend...

We hung out a lot. And I'd already taken her out and if her behavior around me was any indication, then she liked me too.

"What are you smiling about, dork?" Mikau grumbled as he shuffled out of our room and planted his skinny ass on the sofa.

I looked at him and chuckled. "About time you woke up. And I'm not a dork." I tried to kick at him, but he dodged, despite having just woken up.

"Dude, it's still freaking early. I didn't mean to wake up now."

I quirked an eyebrow at him. "You know it's one in the afternoon, right?"

Mikau made a face, as if he didn't believe me. "Well, I'd still be asleep. But your thinking woke me up."

I stared at him. "What - how the hell did my thinking wake you up?"

"The smell of smoke as those gears turned-"

I swatted at him and my hand made contact on his skin.

"Ow! Dick!" Mikau shoved me and I laughed. He rolled his eyes, but a grin peeked across his lips.

"I'm hanging out with Zelda again this evening." I told him and he nodded.

"Ahhh..." He chuckled.

"What?"

"Behave." He stated.

I shook my head. "Just stop talking, Mikau."

Mikau laughed and grabbed the remote from me, changing the channel. "What kinda crap are you watching?"

I shrugged. He switched the channel to another movie with... ninjas or something.

I zoned again as Mikau watched the screen. But this time, my mind wandered more toward Ganon and what he'd done to Zelda. She hated talking about it, but I'd really wanted her to say something to someone about the incident. If he did that again, I honestly can't be held responsible for what I might do to him. My teeth grinded together as the memory of him over her like that and her little cry of pain. The silent plea in her eyes when she looked at me. I sighed. The way she tried to repress all of those memories was like... Like she was used to just forgetting things like that. And that made me worry a bit. As if she were used to being treated that way and preferred to just put it behind her. I could kind of understand why she would want to just let the Ganon thing go, but the fact that she needed to say something outweighed that reason.

Zelda will come around. I'll just talk to her. But first, our date tonight. I smiled. I had no idea how long I sat there thinking until Mikau spoke again.

"What time were you gonna get her?" He asked, eyes staying on the TV. But at some point, he'd changed to playing video games. "Becuase it's like five or something."

My eyes flicked toward the clock. It was actually 5:36. "Oh, damn!" I muttered, jumping up from the couch and hurrying to go get ready, Mikau's amused chuckle following me down the hall.

Chapter 9! XD I'm sorry if this chapter kind of sucked. The next one is their whole date and things are gonna get more interesting. Familiar characters ( to some/most of you ) will show up soon.

Anyway, so... this is my first chapter on my NEW LAPTOP! Haha It's so awesome! XD Since school has started up again, I am going to do regular chapter updates on the weekend. Sometimes, if I have time, there may be a chapter or two in the middle of the week. But the weekend chapters are definite.

AND depending on the reviews I get on a chapter, I may just write a chapter during the week if y'all really want me too. :3 Depends on the reactions I guess.

Anyway, thank you for reading and please review! ( -and sometimes I just like to do random one shots, so if there is a pairing you wanna see, tell me. I prefer PM since I'll definitely remember, but you can put it in the reviews too! And don't worry, this story's chapters will always come first ;D Thanks!- )

- Nayrusapphire