"Have you seen this?" Malon asked as she sat next to Zelda in poly-sci Monday morning.
Zelda lifted her head from her book, "What?"
"This," Malon brandished a tabloid magazine in front of her face. Zelda just rolled her eyes.
"I never read those magazines," she replied. "All of their stories are made up."
"Yeah, but you're in here," Malon flipped to the article. "With Link."
"What?" Zelda heard a voice behind her say. She and Malon turned to see Link standing with his mouth open in shock.
"Apparently they saw you two at the concert Saturday," Malon explained as Link tore the magazine from her hands. Zelda leaned over to peak at the article while Link skimmed it. There was a picture of her and Link near the stage talking with the lead guitarist, Mikau, before the show started. On top of the picture was seal proclaiming 'Gossip Stone Exclusive.' Her eyes next traveled to the large red bolded headline.
Princess's New Mystery Beau
"So you're my mystery beau now?" Zelda asked teasingly. Link looked up after finishing the article, but he didn't seem to find the same humor as she did. His face seemed a little green, and his mouth was pressed into a thin line as if he was afraid something other than words would come out if he opened it.
"Link, are you okay?" she asked just as the professor called class to attention. Link simply nodded in response and handed her the magazine. She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. As far as tabloids went, The Gossip Stone wasn't that bad. Zelda eyed the article suspiciously and began reading, completely ignoring the lecture in front of her.
It seems that the Princess of Hyrule has been busy in more ways than one while beginning her studies at the prestigious Hyrule University. Hyrule's darling princess was seen at Saturday's Indigo-Go's concert with a mystery man she presumably met at the college.
Princess Zelda, a highly noted fan of the Zora group, was sporting an Indigo-Go's tee with dark washed skinny jeans curtesy of Beetle's and blue high top shoes straight from Rem's new line. A classic casual look as expected from the ever fashionable princess.
Her date, on the other hand, appeared to be rolling with an outdated skater-grunge look borrowed directly from the 90's. With multiple piercings, dyed hair, and board shoes from The Moonlight Merchant, this is clearly not the boy we would have picked out for a date with the princess. But if he's out with the lovely Zelda Nohansen Hyrule, then at least he should have a good personality.
Zelda felt ready to crumple the magazine and throw it in the trash. How dare they insult Link like that? Just because he wasn't some prep-school pre-med student he suddenly wasn't good enough to go on a date with her? She sat fuming though the rest of the lecture. It wasn't until the professor dismissed them that Zelda remembered Link's reaction to the article. He probably never wanted to go out with her again. She turned to him and found him still slightly green.
"I'm sorry," she started as she began to walk out of the lecture hall. "I should have warned you that might happen. The press likes to treat me like some fairy tale princess, and I guess they think that anyone who isn't the perfect Prince Charming won't be good enough for the darling princess of Hyrule."
"No, I'm sorry," Link wouldn't meet her eyes as they walked. "I shouldn't have, - it's stupid. I'm sorry; this was stupid." Zelda's eyebrows drew together in concern.
"Link, I don't think the same way those trashy tabloids do," she explained. "I love your skater-grunge look, your piercings are hot, and that green streak though your hair makes it seem like you don't care what anyone thinks of you. At least, that's what I thought."
A small smile appeared on Link's face, "Nah, I just care about what you think, Princess." He ran his fingers though his bangs. "I just got scared thinking you wouldn't want to be around me if it's gonna give you bad press."
"I don't care about what the press thinks," Zelda snorted. "I really like you, Link, so I plan on hanging out with you for a while. Is that okay?" She turned to face him as they reached the math building.
Link's smile grew into his trademark crooked grin, "I think I'd be okay with that."
"Good," she smiled. "I'll see you later then?"
"Indeed you shall," Link smirked and took Zelda's hand before she could turn to leave. He bowed slightly and brought her hand to his lips like the perfect gentleman would do. A strange sensation struck through Zelda when his lips touched her skin, like a jolt of lightening that struck straight into her soul. She looked into Link's eyes and gasped. They were a shocking blue more clear than any cloudless sky, and they seemed to stare deep within her soul. Then he blinked, and his eyes returned to their normal electric blue.
"I, uh," Link cleared his throat and shifted his grip on his longboard. "I need to go, gonna be late for bio."
"Right," Zelda said breathlessly. "Yeah, later." She quickly turned and entered the math building, absently rubbing the spot on the back of her hand where Link had kissed her. He had never done anything like that before.
So why did she seem to recognize the move as if it was an old habit of his?