Well, I lied. I apologize. But it's up now, right...? I hope this chapter makes up for my misleading of all of you beautiful people. I hope with all of my heart that you like it. More WILL come, and soon! That I can promise.
Link sat next to his newest friend, who had questioned him with the efficiency of a Hyrule Armed Forces interrogator about various things, including his favorite video games, books, movies, and anime. The bus driver stood outside fiddling with the engine, curses rolling through his lips as he labored to repair the machine's amenities.
"Is he gonna get it started?" Wondered Saria.
"Not sure." Link said. "D-Do you wanna go?"
She put a finger to her lips in mock thought. "Sit here for an hour in the heat or... chill out at my place?" She snapped her fingers. "Let's go."
He swung the singular strap of his bag into a more comfortable position and slid into the center of the aisle, albeit a touch awkwardly. Saria, shouldering her bag also, followed after him smoothly, as if she were a Lady strolling into a pageant, cockily ignoring all of the attention lavished liberally on her.
Link couldn't help but admire her omnipresent tenacity and wit, not to mention her grace with limb and word. He had known her for about three hours, yet he already liked Saria. It was strange that he had made a friend so quickly, and stranger still that she was a girl. Link scratched the back of his neck as he walked, turning to fall in line with her.
"So," She said once they were a fair distance away from where the bus had broken down. "How long have you been playing?" She inquired. "Guitar, dude." She added with a smile at his confused expression.
Link felt a stupid grin on his lips and answered, "Uh, a-about four years." He stuttered. 'Damn it, Link!' Her eyes widened slightly. "Really? Four years... I've only been playing for two." Now it was Link's turn to be surprised.
"When we get to my house, do you think you could show me some stuff?" 'What!' Link thought. 'What could she not know that I can teach... her?' Saria led him as a person led a dog, urging him forward with small snippets of eloquent conversation.
"And here we are." Saria said. They had arrived at a small, blue apartment building nestled snugly into the edge of what had once been a clearing. It was simple, but not run-down or trashy. Large oak trees graced the land around, bringing nests of tulips, daises, roses, and juniper. The driveway sat empty.
"My mom isn't home, so it's okay to do whatever." Remarked Saria casually.
"Oh, alright." Link replied, pleased with himself for avoiding his usual halting speech. 'Really? Now I'm priding myself on finishing a two-word sentence?! What's your problem, Link?' He smirked at his thoughts. She quickly unlocked the door, granting herself and Link entry. The small living room was not well-lit, with cardboard boxes stacked against every wall, excepting the far one.
A loveseat sat shoved ignominiously between stacks of boxes, seeming at any moment ready to pop out. "Be right back," She said, gesturing simultaneously at the loveseat, "Go ahead, take a seat. You can leave your bag anywhere." She sauntered her way to a plain white door, shutting it behind her. Link sat, unburdening himself of his bag. With the way this room was set up, the only place to sit was... right next to him. He chuckled. Were the goddesses determined to embarrass him in every possible way today?
He liked the dim lighting of the room, but it could definitely- 'definitely,' he repeated in his mind- use some more seating. The apartment was a tomb, except for the slight rustling sound percolating throughout the room, most likely originating in what he guessed was Saria's room. He lounged, biding his time until she eventually joined him. He physically and mentally steeled himself, making a promise to himself that he would form a coherent, full-length sentence without any unwitting pauses.
As he did this, Saria emerged from her room, clad in her Kingdom Princess shirt and jeans. She had left her jacket, as it was fairly warm in the apartment. Saria sat down heavily next to him, heaving a satisfied sigh. "I hate school. Don't you, Link?" She asked noncommittally. "I am so freakin' glad that my first day here is over, and," She smiled at him. "I made a friend out of the pool of the coolest people in school." He crimsoned heavily, unsure of how to respond to this, so he remained silent.
"No words, Link?" She laughed, a sound laced with forest; leaves, sweet currents of wind, and birdsong.
"I've the power of speech." Link said smoothly. 'Hmm. I spoke.' Link thought, amused that speaking to a girl without stuttering required a semi-congratulatory thought on his part. He then nonverbally laughed at his amusement, causing him to roll his eyes.
While running this mental relay race with himself, he suddenly noticed Saria speaking to him.
"... Link?" She said, her tone indicating that she had repeated herself several times.
Link coughed, flushing, and apologized. "My mind wanders quite a bit. I hope that won't put you off."
She shrugged. "I guess it's like one of those times where you could say anything you want, and the other person wouldn't react." She grinned. "You ever see that commercial?"
Link nodded, flashing a grin of his own.
"Anyway... want to show off those mad skills now?" She asked eagerly.
She gestured at him to follow her. As he followed her, he hoped that he wouldn't make any more mistakes than usual while playing.
As she cracked open her door, he caught a hint of a delicate scent- perfume, perhaps. The scent was unknown to him, and the closest perceptual approximation he could make was vanilla, only a bit darker.
He stepped into the room and was immediately on his knees, metaphorically. Saria noticed his expression of awe and smiled proudly at her beautiful collection of various musical equipment. She had guitars on the walls, in two of the corners, and even an eight-string lying on her bed, not even mentioning the amplifiers and mixing arrays.
"Saria... how long did this take...?" Link asked weakly, gesturing.
"Oh, not long." She said, crossing her arms and studying him. "Most of them were gifts."
"I hope you kissed them senseless," He said, laughing. "Nothing less would have sufficed."
She giggled. "Yeah. So... what do you want to play first?"
Link cocked his head. "Are you even asking that question? Kingdom Princess, man."
Saria handed him her beefy eight-string guitar. "It's in standard, so just lay down a bass line and I'll follow you."
Link smiled mischievously, handling the gorgeous instrument with care. "Got it."
He began to play. Saria joined him after he told her what key it was in. They soon were playing a screamingly fast Kingdom Princess hit, rattling her windows. Link smiled, noticing a certain sheen washing over the air, filtering everything in extreme contrast and sharpening details. He looked over to Saria and watched her skilled, calloused fingers dance over her guitar's strings.
The When they finished the song, among many others, Link spoke up. "Wow, Saria. I've never played with someone as good as you."
She blushed, thanking him. "Same, Link. You're damn good. Almost as good as me." She gave him a wry smile, which he returned.
"Cocky, are we? Well, I will have to school you some other day; it's getting kind of late."
She checked her watch. "Damn, dude!" She exclaimed. "It's been like, four hours! How many did we play?"
"I lost count after that sweet little solo you did at the end of 'And Each Day We Take One Breath.'"
He returned her guitar to her, gushing further about how well she played guitar. He was screaming at himself to shut up, thinking that he was babbling, until he reached the door.
"Well, I had a lot of fun, Saria." Link grinned.
"Yeah, so did I." She replied. "Next time, though, we play games."
"Definitely," said Link. "So, I guess I'll seeya."
"Yeah..." Unsure of how to properly say goodbye, they stood there for a moment until Link extended a hand awkwardly.
She shook his proffered limb. Her hand was damp from playing for nearly four hours, as was his, so they exchanged an equal amount of sweat.
"Bye." She smiled at Link, a full, honest smile. Link reciprocated as best he could, watching her black-and-green head disappear behind the baby blue door.
Link noticed a great weight vanishing from his stomach. He sighed contentedly, feeling, for the first time since his father and brother had been alive, that things were going to get better. He lit up a cigarette as he walked through the warm atmosphere of the once-forest. He drank in the hearty sounds as he released his undesired smoke.
Well, I rewrote it. I'm sorry; I had to. I couldn't leave that horrible train wreck up on this site. Anyways, I hope this is better, and more bearable. As aforementioned, more chapters will follow this one soon, now that I have this new computer. Please R&R! It helps me get a clearer picture of what you guys (and girls) would like to see. Bye now!