Chapter Fourteen: Birthday Blues

Zelda was rush to the hospital and her friends and family were sitting in the waiting room, waiting for Doctor Lincoln with some good news. Chad and Nigel were pacing back and forth while Monty was calming his brother down. "Henry, she is going to be fine. Trust me…" Monty said.

"Monty, I can't lose her." Henry said. "I can't…" He was holding back tears. Then Father entered the room. "Ben…"'

"I am sorry I am late." He replied, sitting beside him. "How is she?"

"I don't know. I really don't know." Henry cried. "It has been a couple of hours and I am so scared. I am so scared of losing another part of me. I lost Reina and I can't afford to lose Zelda. I can't… I can't lose my little bunny. I can't lose Zelda." Then Father did something unexpectedly; he grabbed his little brother's hand.

"She is a strong girl like her father so I know she is going to be okay." Father said.

"She is a Uno after all." Monty said, grabbing the other hand. "Zelda Uno is going to be fine." Henry cried even more and all his older brothers can do is hold his hands tightly and never let them go.

"I am so worried about my Honey Bunny." Ruby said, crying.

"Hey, I may have known Zelda for a short amount of time but I know that she is not a quitter." Johnny said. "She never gave up on any of us so let's not give up on her."

"I am not giving up on her. It is just." She cried. "Zelda was my first real friend here. She stayed by me even with my sexuality. I was always alone and no one didn't want to be near me. She was the only person that wanted to be my friend." Zelda…

It was track of field practice and none of the girls wanted to be near me. I guess they were afraid that I might rape them of something. I may have interest in girls but I won't go that far. "Alright team, we have a near runner. This is Zelda Uno…" Our Captain said. I blushed when I first laid eyes on her. She was beautiful. "Alright Zelda, I want you to choose a running partner. Your partner is supposed to push you to your limit and you should do the same."

"Yes sir…" She said. She turned to the other girls and I knew right there that she will never choose me. I let out a sigh and walked away but I felt someone grabbing my shoulder. I turned and found her. I was lost in her shimmering emerald eyes. "Hey, my name is Zelda. Do you want to be my partner?" She asked, smiling at me. I froze in shock. She actually chose me. She actually asked me to be her partner.

"Are you sure?" I asked. "I mean… You don't want me…"

"Why?"

"Well, I am bisexual."

"So…"

"So are you scared that I might do something to you?" I asked. She started giggling in front of me.

"You are too funny. I know you are not that heartless." She said. "So what is your name?"

"Ruby…"

"What a cute name. I hope we can be very good friends Ruby." She said.

On that day, my darkness disappeared. I wasn't alone anymore. It is because of her that I made new friends. I have friends that love me of who I am. And even though she was with Chad, she didn't push me away. She kept being my friend…

I don't want to be alone again…" Ruby cried.

"Hey, you are not alone." Johnny said, pulling her into his embrace. "We are friends right?" She cried even more and hugged him back.

"Oh Johnny, thank you…" She cried. And maybe, she lead me to someone that might be my match. Someone that I never thought I will be friends with. "Thank you so much."

"Hey, I am always here for you Ruby." Johnny said, kissing her forehead. "Your honey bunny is going to be alright." She let out a small giggle. He smiled when he realize that she made her laugh.

Maurice was comforting Cree. Cree was not in tears but she was shaking. He grabbed her hand. "Hun, are you okay?" Maurice asked.

"I am not going to cry. I am not going to waste my tears. She is going to be fine." Cree said, shaking even more. "My dad is the best doctor here so I know that Zelda is going to fine. Zelda is not going to die on me."

"Cree, it is okay to cry you know." Maurice said. "I mean… I know you are a strong girl but it is okay for you to cry." Cree was holding back tears. He then made her face him and placed a cap over her head. "Cry Cree..." She started to cry and she used the cap to hide her tears. "Crying is not weakness so let it all out Captain Commander."

"Did anyone tell you that you are such a good guy?" Cree said, hugging him.

"Yes I know, it is a curse." Maurice teased, hugging her back. Zelda, you better not die on any of us… I still haven't thank you yet for what you did for me tonight.

"That leg is pretty bad." Cree said.

"But I need to get out there…" I said, forcing myself up.

"NO MAURICE, YOU ARE INJURED!" Cree snapped, forcing me down.

"But I can't let the boys down." Maurice said.

"But you can't even run." Ruby said. "You are no fit to play."

"Then I failed the team." I said, holding back tears. "I failed…"Then Zelda grabbed my helmet and let out a smile.

"You did your best Maurice." She said. Then an idea hit me. I grabbed her hand. She was shocked with the gesture.

"Zelda, substitute for me."

"What?"

"You are already a fast runner. Please play in my place." I begged.

"Yeah, you might help them win the game." Ruby added.

"You had tons of practice escaping from the PT teachers." Cree added.

"But those were teachers. I am going up against football players and they will tackle me down as if it is nothing. I may be fast but I don't know if I can catch a football and the team will be in trouble if they find out that I am in the game. It would ruin everyone chances." Zelda protested. "I can't…"

"Please Zelda… I am begging you." I said. She stared at the helmet for a brief moment. "You are my only hope."She put on the helmet.

"Alright…" She said, smiling. "I will do it. I promise that I won't let you down Maurice…"

She was amazing out there.

Maurice started crying too and hugged Cree tighter. So this is how Chad felt when he lost her the first time… .It feels that someone took the air and I can't breathe. Friends may come and go but there are some friends out there are meant to be forever and this can't be how I lose one of them. This can't be how I lose a friend.

Gwen walked over to Chad and Nigel who was still pacing around the room. They are so worried. I can't imagine what they are going through right now. "Hey Chad, I got you some coffee."

"Thanks Gwen…" He said, grabbing it.

"I also got you a soda." Gwen said, offering a can of soda to Nigel.

"Thanks…." Nigel said. They didn't bother to drink it. They were still pacing around the room.

"Gwen, I will get Chad while you get the kid." Richard said. "They need to calm down."

"Okay…" Gwen said, walking to Nigel and grabbing his hand. "Hey, how about you take a break from walking."

"No, I am fine." Nigel said.

"I am not asking you." Gwen said. "Sit…" Nigel didn't know what to do at this point. He didn't have any weapons and he was up against a teen. He didn't have a team to back him up and he was worried to lose Zelda. He let out a sigh and sat on a seat. She sat beside him. "My name is Gwen by the way."

"Nigel…" He said.

"Nigel? You are the cousin that she talks too much about." Gwen said.

"She talks about me?" Nigel said, turning to her.

"Yup, you were her favorite topic. Every time we are together, we chat about life and family. She will always tell me stories about you." Gwen said. "I thought we will chat about her love life but no, she talks about you." She gave me a smile. "When she talks about you, I can help but feel jealous."

"Why?"

"Well, I wanted that with my brother Johnny." Gwen said. "But I didn't know how because we were two different people. But hearing funny stories about you and her gave me the confidence and determination to fix the broken bond between me and my brother."

"I don't think that she loves me like before. I was so harsh to her this morning." Nigel said, holding back tears. "I stop believing in her and I pushed her away." He then started to cry. "I even told her that I hated her. I didn't even tell her I was sorry. I didn't even tell her I still love her. I didn't…"

"She knows…" Gwen interrupted.

"What?" Nigel said.

"Zelda may be an idiot sometimes but she knows that you are sorry." Gwen said. "I mean she forgives people easily. She forgave my brother and me even with all the stuff we have put her through. She kept on smiling at us and I am grateful." She gripped her chest. Very grateful…

"Hey Zelda, how was life in American Samoa?" I asked.

"Well, it was okay but…" She said, letting out a frown. "There was bully that was picking on me and it went too far. He hit me on the head and I fainted. It triggered my sleep fighting and I was beating him brutally. After that, everyone at school was afraid of me. I couldn't even make a single friend because they were scared."

"So you were always alone…" I said, frowning as well.

"It was okay but when I moved back here. I was so excited. I wanted to make friends even though I was too scared to." She said. "But I have Chad, Maurice, Cree, Ruby, Johnny, Richard, and you and I am so blessed." She touched her chest and smiled. "I will cherish all of you with my life. I want us to be friends forever."

"You really want that?" I asked. "Even with all the stuff I put you through."

"Yup, you are stuck with me for life so deal with it." She said, sticking out her tongue.

She forever will be my friend.

"I am grateful that I have Zelda has a friend. Zelda will never stop loving the people she holds dear even when she is in pain. So I know that she still loves you." Gwen said. Nigel opened the can of soda.

"Thank you…I needed that." Nigel said.

"Chad…" Richard said.

"I was supposed to protect her. I can't do anything right. I failed to protect her from Johnny and now this. You are right. I don't deserve to have her. I have failed her so many times." Chad said, freaking out. "I can't do anything." Then Richard slapped his face.

"You didn't fail." Richard said. "And I was wrong." He turned away from him. "You never stop loving her even when all hope was lost so you didn't fail." Chad sunk down to the floor. Richard sat beside him.

"Zelda…" Chad said, gripped his fist. He then started crying. "Please don't leave me again." Richard patted him on the back.

"She is not leaving you anytime soon." Richard said. "She never did…" Then Doctor Lincoln entered the room. Henry was the first one in front of him.

"Is she going to be alright? Please tell me she is okay." Henry pleaded, holding back tears.

"Mr. Uno, like I told you before that the surgery I have given her will either save her or not. I did all I could…" He said. Everyone was shaking with fear. "And she is going to be okay. She is stable now but still unconscious. I bet she will wake up soon." Everyone cheered we the news.

"Oh thank you doctor…thank you so much." Henry cried, shaking the doctor's hand.

"It is my job Mr. Uno." Doctor Lincoln said. Cree hugged her father tightly. "Cree…"

"Thank you Daddy." She cried.

"Can we see her?" Henry asked.

"Of course but only one at the time please. We didn't move her to her room yet. She is still in the operating room." Doctor Lincoln explained. "But Mr. Uno, you should be proud of your little girl. The wound she had was critical and there was a slim chance that she would survive. She is a tough girl."

"Just like her father…" Father said, patting his little brother's back. "Go to her…" Henry left with the doctor and he let out a sigh. "That was too scary even more me."

"I am happy she is okay." Monty said.

The next morning, Chad was not excited. It was finally his birthday yet his heart was aching. I think I should visit her before I head to school. He got out of bed and got ready. The minute he got downstairs, his parents were there to greet him.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHAD!" They cheered. Chad let out a small smile.

"Thanks mom…dad…" He mumbled.

"Chaddy-poo is there something wrong?" His mother asked.

"Oh, Zelda is in the hospital." Chad explained. "There was an accident and she almost died yesterday. She is in a coma right now."

"I am sorry to hear that son." His father said.

"Is it okay that we cancel the party today?" Chad asked. "I am not in the mood."

"But Chaddy-poo, we invited all your friends and…"

"Mom, I am sorry but it is not the same without her." Chad said, playing with his breakfast. He then took a bite and let out a sigh. "I have to go. See you Mom…" He kissed her on the cheek. "See you Dad…"

"Bye son…" His father said, watching him leave. "He really does love that girl."

"Don't tell me you are giving in." His mother said. "I still don't trust that Uno girl."

"Honey, I think it is time to stop this. I mean, I support you my love but this small feud has to stop." His father said. "Our son loves this girl. Remember when we were young like him and in love."

"Yes, you were a nerd while I was the captain of the cheerleading squad." She said.

"We were different and yet we were the same. Yes this Uno girl doesn't have any qualities that we want but she makes our son happy." He said.

"But her mother, she was…" She said. "She took everything from me. Ever since I met Reina, she was always better than me. She took prom queen from me, she took valedictorian, she took everything. Why do you think we push Chad to be the best? I didn't want him to feel like he was a nobody just like I did."

"But he is not because he will always be someone in our eyes. Reina didn't purposely take all those things from you." He explained, hugging her. "You were never a nobody my dear. I believe it is time to accept this Uno girl because we are treating her as a nobody."

"Honey, was I really that hard on that girl."

"We were both are." He said. "It is our son's birthday and I think the best gift we can ever give him is his freedom and also accepting his decision. Besides, we never took the time to know her. She is special to our son."

"I didn't want him to get hurt." She cried.

"He is strong like his parents." He said. "I know he will be fine. How about we visit this Uno girl today and apologize?"

"I need time. I am not just apologizing to her." She said. "I am also apologizing to Reina."

Chad made it to the hospital and sat in her room beside her bed. She was still resting and Doctor Lincoln told him that she will wake up soon but his heart ached when he stared at her on a hospital bed. "Hey babe, it's me Chad." He said, grabbing her hand. "I wanted to see you before I head to school. I will visit you after. Football season is over so I can come here right after." He then started crying. "I miss you. It is my fault you are here. If I was strong enough, you wouldn't be on this hospital bed."

"It is not your fault son." A voice said. He turned and from Henry Uno at the door. "Don't beat yourself up."

"Sir, I promise to protect her. And look, she is here and in a coma. I…" Chad cried. Henry Uno walked up to him and patted him on the back. "I almost lost her. I am so sorry that I didn't prevent this from happening."

"Chad, you did your best." He said, smiling. "Nigel told me that you guys got attacked by a hooligan and he was armed. She protected Nigel."

"But I was supposed to protect her." Chad said.

"Zelda is still here because of you. She is still alive because you brought her to the hospital. I thank you my dear boy." Henry said. "Zelda is the most precious thing in the world to me and I am happy you are taking good care of her."

"You are far too kind Mr. Uno." Chad said, wiping his tears.

"It is what you get when you married a naïve yet trusting woman." Henry said, letting out a small chuckle. "Oh I almost forgot…" He pulled out a small wrapped gift and gave it to him. "I found this in her room when I was packing her things. It had your name on it and I just remembered today is your birthday."

"Oh thank you sir…" Chad said, grabbing the gift.

"Well, you should head to school now." Henry said.

"Alright…" Chad said, kissing her hand. "I love you Zelda. Please wake up soon. I need you so much." He left after that and Henry let out a sigh.

"Oh my little bunny, I am happy that there is another man in your life that loves you as much as I do." Henry said. "You are such a lucky girl."

Chad went through the first half of school silent. He didn't want to be there but he had to because of his parents. All he could think about is Zelda bleeding to death. Damn it, stop thinking about that. She is still okay. She is still here. It was lunchtime and he was up on the roof, trying to calm down. He didn't want his friends to see him like this, to see him vulnerable and in tears. "Damn, you really know how to make a guy feel like shit Z." He said, letting out a chuckle. "You are totally going to get it when you wake up."

"Hey…" A voice said. He turned and found Maurice with crutches. "I was looking for you everywhere Birthday boy. It wasn't easy looking for you with this leg."

"Hey Maurice…" He replied.

"Come on, smile… It is your birthday." Maurice said, forcing him to smile. Chad will usually be irritated when Maurice touched his cheeks but there was no reaction.

"I am not in the mood." Chad said, frowning. Maurice let go of him and stood beside him. There was silence for a brief moment.

"How is Zelda?" Maurice asked, breaking the silence.

"She is still breathing but I am worried that she won't wake up." Chad said.

"Dude, don't worry. Cree's father is the best doctor in the city. She will wake up." Maurice said, patting his back. "She is going to be fine. You will see." Cree is worried about her too… She didn't come to school today because she was busy looking for any leads on Negative Zelda. Ruby, Johnny, Richard and Gwen are not in school as well. I was planning to help them but I felt I should be here. He then noticed an unwrapped gift in his hands. "What's that?"

"Oh, Zelda's dad found this in her room and it had my name on it. I guess it was another birthday gift she was planning on giving to me." Chad said, showing him a DVD case.

"I brought my laptop if you want to watch it." Maurice said.

"Thanks Maurice…" Chad said. I wonder what it is. He set up the laptop and put the disc inside. Then a video appeared and it was Zelda.

"Hi Chad, you are probably wondering why I am recording myself. Well, I want to say something to you but I was always scared to tell you." She said, blushing.

"Hey check the date… It is before you guys started dating." Maurice said.

"That date… It is the day she first came to our school." Chad said.

"I well… I… Oh my gosh, I am so pathetic recording myself instead of telling you straight to your face." She said, covering her face. "Oh no, I can't even say it to the camera…" She cut it and then another video appeared. She took a deep breath. "Hi Chad, how are you? What an idiot… He is not going to respond." She gave herself a face palm herself. "I just want to say thank you for saving me from Johnny and Gwen. You were amazing." She blushed. "We only have been friends for a short amount of time but I felt something when I held your hand." She smiled yet her cheeks were still pink. "I am sorry that I was forward. I didn't know what came over me. It just felt right."

"HEY ZELDA, LET'S PLAY SOME SMASH BROS!"

"Oh I have to go, it is game night with Nigel and I am going to kick his butt." She said.

"NO YOU ARE NOT!"

"Alright, bye Chad and I love you… Oh wait… I didn't… I need to edit that out." She said, blushing even more. Then the video was cut again. Zelda appeared once more in a pink dress. "Oh hi Chad, I am sorry for being secretive with you. I only wanted to make my mom's anniversary happy. I didn't mean to push you away." She blushed some more and let out a sigh. "I had fun today though especially with you. You are a good dancer. I felt that I was in a fairytale. It is silly that I am talking like a lovesick girl." She let a giggle. "I guess I really do love you but I am too scared to tell you. I am afraid you will laugh at me. I wonder if you feel the same way for me. Do you see me more than a friend?"

"Damn, she was crazy just like me. I felt the same way." Chad said. "I was a mess. I wanted to ask her out so bad but I was scared of rejection."

"I told you that she liked you." Maurice said.

"I have a confession to make if you don't mind. I course I am talking to a camera. It is not like I am going to show you this… It is too embarrassing." Zelda said. "But I think this is good practice. Chad, I remember a little bit about my childhood. I remember a blond boy and he was always nice to me. I guess he was my first crush and when I met you, those feelings return to me. Maybe you were that boy that I fell in love with. It is obvious that I am in love with you but I try my best to keep it to myself. I don't want to ruin our friendship. But if I can be honest, I love you Chad Dickson and I hope that I can have the courage to tell you." Then the video was cut and Chad let out a chuckle.

"She felt the same way. I can't believe all this time I thought she was just too naïve to see my feelings." Chad said.

"You two were both naïve." Maurice said. "Also you two took forever."

"Again I am sorry that we didn't rush things for you." Chad said.

Another video appeared and it was her jumping around her room and dancing. "HE ASKED ME OUT ON A DATE!" She cheered. "HE FINALLY ASKED ME ON A DATE!" She was dancing and Chad couldn't help but laugh even more. She moved to the camera and smiled. "I am so happy. This is the best day ever. I can't wait for the date." Then she stopped and blushed. "Wait, what happens if he tries to kiss me? Oh no, I am not ready. What happens if I am a bad kisser? Now I am not so sure about this date… Oh no, what happens if Chad changes his mind? I might lose my chance with him because I can't even kiss." She then turned to the camera. "I CAN'T BELIEVE I SAID THAT ON CAMERA!" She cut the video.

"I can't believe she freaked out over a kiss." Chad said. "If only she remembers that she was my first kiss."

The next video appeared and she was in tears. "I am sorry for crying like this. I am just so sad." She cried. "I finally got a date with him but his parents doesn't approve of me. They said that I am not good enough to be with Chad." She wiped her tears. "Chad is an amazing guy. He is loving and caring. He is considerate and funny. He is also good at everything. He plays all sorts of instruments; good at all subjects, good in sports, and also speaks six languages. I am nothing compared to him." She covered her face with a pillow.

"Zelda…" Chad said. "You were not nothing… Not even close."

"I then realize something. What does Chad sees in me? Why did he ask me out?" She said. "Does he really care for me? Those questions echoed in my head constantly. I can't believe I am saying this but I think his parents were right about me. I am a nobody and I think he deserves better." She cried even more. "What's worse is that, I can't stop loving him. Maybe I should just disappear. Maybe he wouldn't notice me but a part of me hopes that he will." She wiped her tears once more. "I am happy he is not here with me, he would probably think I am the most pathetic girl in the whole planet." She then let out a giggle. "I am such an idiot because I fell in love with a boy that is out of my league." She forced her smile on her face. "I think it is best to stay away from him. Maybe he will just forget about me." She started to cry once more. "Maybe… he will just leave me alone."

"I have never known she was going through this much pain that day." Chad said. "Zelda… I was always hurting you. I didn't want to be the reason for your tears."

"Hey, it wasn't your fault." Maurice said.

"It feels like it is. All I do is hurt her." Chad said.

"If he does notice that I am avoiding him, it makes me happy. I am still important to him. As much it pains me to let him go, I don't want to think it is his fault." Zelda said. "I love that guy and I know that there is someone out there that loves him even more. Chad doesn't deserve a clumsy, naïve, and weak idiot. He deserves so much better." The video cut and Chad was shaking. The next video appeared and it was her once more. "Hey… I thought of giving up on Chad but then I thought of fighting to be the girl that he deserves. I am in Track and Field, which just deals with running, but I feel uncomfortable people watching me. But I am doing it for him. I am even studying even more so I can get above average grades. I want to do it for him. I want to try. But how far would I go to be by his side? How much change should I make? Would I lose myself?" Then the next video appeared and it was her lying on her bed. "I just had a good night tonight. I was sitting in the park, thinking about how I tried to change myself. I was losing myself and I didn't want that. Then Chad came out of nowhere. He found me even though I was trying to avoid him." She blushed. "He told me that he loves me for me. A nobody like me captured his heart. I was shocked yet happy. But somehow, I was still pushing him away. I don't want him to fight with his parents because of me. But he insisted and I became selfish. I wanted his love and nothing more." She then touched her lips. "We kissed yet it felt like we kissed before. Silly but maybe it isn't. So I am actually his girlfriend now and I still have butterflies in my stomach. He loves me… He told me and I can't stop smiling." She then let out a giggle. "I sound like a stupid fangirl. Oh dear, I blame Chad for this."

"She is very cute when she talks about you." Maurice said.

"Yeah…" Chad said.

Then another video appeared and it was two days ago. "Hey Chad, you are probably laughing like crazy with these videos. I just want to let you know that I was crazy about you." She said, letting out a giggle. "I must be a mess. But I want to say thank you for loving me. I want to say thank you for choosing me. It is because of you, I have good friends and wonderful memories. I thought I would sink into depression when I moved back here but I feel happy and it is all thanks to you. You gave me a reason to smile. You gave me a reason to love life and I want to tell you that I am very blessed to have you in my life." Chad started to cry. "I will try my best to fix my bond with your parents. I promise. I will take anything that they throw at me. But more importantly, I promise to protect you. I am not strong like you and Nigel but I will try my best to protect you." She smiled. "I am sorry for being useless but I know one day that I will be able to protect you."

"Damn Zelda, that's my job." Chad snapped.

"She can make such a good speech." Maurice said, smiling.

"My heart will always be yours Chad and I know you will take very good care of it." She said. "So Happy Birthday Chad and please continue on smiling for me. No frowns on your special day." He cried even more. "I mean it Mr. Dickson." She scolded him as if she knew that he was sad. He let out a chuckle. "That's more like it. Laugh and smile… I love it when you smile. Don't stop smiling on me. I want to see that handsome smile that I love so damn much."

"You are too cheesy Zelda." Chad said.

"You are probably saying that I am too cheesy but I can't help it. I can't stop being cheesy around you Chad." She said. "But Chad, be happy and I love you. Happy Birthday." It was over and Chad let out a smile.

"Best birthday gift ever…" Chad said, wiping his tears.

"Yeah, it totally beats my gift."Maurice said, patting his back. "Zelda is going to come back to us."

"Thanks Maurice…" Chad said. "I can always count on you."

"Of course, I am your friend and I would always be here for you Chad."' Maurice said. "So do you want to get something to eat, my treat?"

"Sure, I would like that." Chad said, smiling. I will smile for you Zelda.