"Wake up, Link..."

Just as he heard the words, Link's eyes opened and he sat up abruptly, feeling a pain in his leg and on his arm. He had almost completely forgotten what happened. How did he get to the nurse's office? All he remembered doing before now was falling. There were voices, too, but everything after that was a blur.

"You're fine, by the way," Midna said, examining the place on his leg where a bandage was wrapped securely around the cut, and the bandage on his arm. "Just a little accident, is all."

Link bit his lip and nodded at Midna, finally noticing that Zelda was sitting beside the orange haired teen. Currently, she was gazing at her hands, not really showing any emotion on the parts of her face that Link could see.

Midna nudged her best friend, causing the brunette to jerk her head up. Glancing at Midna for a moment, she looked the other way to see Link, awake and well.

A smile overtook Zelda's face—she was acting as if he just got stabbed multiple times and somehow survived. Midna could easily see this, but it flew over Link's head.

Link flipped his legs over the bed and stared at the bandage on his leg, while Zelda continued to look at him.

"I was the one who took you here," Zelda signed, while Midna translated her words from behind. Link nodded and mentally thanked her—hopefully she knew that he was thankful.

"The coach didn't see you at first," Midna said with a roll of her eyes. "Fucking pathetic. Imagine being that absorbed in some stupid track thing."

Zelda nodded. "From what I saw," she signed, "he was talking to another teacher, and then became distracted by that and everyone else. Didn't get a chance to see you." Midna translated these words when Zelda finished, of course.

She looked back up and away from her hands, accidentally making eye contact with Link. Zelda gasped a little when he sort of grinned lopsidedly at her, and failed to suppress a smile of her own. She waved a little for some reason and Link found it oddly endearing.

Midna laughed, standing up from the blue chair she sat in and walking towards the door. "I'm just gonna, y'know, tell the nurse that you're well and be on my way—bye!" she said in a rushed voice, quickly leaving.

As the door slammed shut, Zelda blinked and shook her head, looking at the ceiling instead of at Link.

Link stood up without any problems, feeling the cut on his leg sting for a second, but he was fine. Zelda grabbed his hand again on instinct, worried that he would fall or something. But he was fine and Link appreciated Zelda's support.

Things had already become awkward enough between them, and Zelda thought letting go would make it worse. She didn't know what to do now, but she followed what would make her happiest—holding his hand, of course. It was a simple gesture, but it made her smile on the inside.

They walked out of the nurse's office, with Link pretending to struggle as Zelda held his hand gently. People would assume they were a couple if he walked normally, so that's the plan he went with.

It wasn't a terrible feeling, though—holding Zelda's hand, I mean.

Hand in hand, they made their way back to the track field, where the coach waved to the two and approached them.

"I'm sorry I missed yer fall," he said. Very weird, annoying accent. Link wanted to punch him.

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Link said casually, forcing a grin on his face and letting go of Zelda's hand, much to both of their disappointment.

The coach discussed that Link would not be participating in the track section of their physical education this year and would be placed in the school's health class temporarily until it ended. Link solemnly accepted this fact. He was glad he didn't have any physical education for a good two weeks.

After that, school had ended, and Zelda walked beside Link as they made their way to the exit of Hyrule High.

Link waved to her, and then, feeling like that wasn't enough, he pecked the middle of her forehead with his lips. Zelda flushed at the feeling and nervously met his eyes when he pulled away. Shakily, she raised her hand up and poked the middle of Link's forehead with her index finger, a laugh escaping her lips.

She would've said something snarky, but Zelda knew he wouldn't understand her. So, she smiled cheekily and opted to leave their goodbye at that. Zelda began to skip away, but not without a final wave.

Then, Link remembered the console and video game. He could definitely do a lot of chores tonight; he'd have to see if his parents would even allow that to happen, though.

Zelda couldn't believe how lovey-dovey they were acting. It was almost as if they were a real couple—

Gah! Zelda, don't think that! her thoughts screamed.

Before Zelda could get too far, she stopped and turned her heel, rushing over to Link again. Zelda ran up behind Link and hugged him from behind when she was near him. This immediately stopped Link in his footsteps, a delightful feeling in his stomach brewing so suddenly.

They stayed like that, with Zelda pressing her forehead against his back. She didn't want to be creepy, but she liked the way he smelled. Everyone has a different smell, and once you smell that scent, you think of that person. Link smelled of wood and pines and comfort and home—Zelda wanted to bask in it forever.

Zelda wanted to say thank you, but she knew Link would not understand her signs and she couldn't even speak the damned words. She sighed and thought about how to express her feelings.

Why did she want to thank him, though?

Link made her happy. In such a short time, he had grown on her. It was unbelievable to Zelda—that she could end up liking the person she once despised. People really do change, after all.

Zelds couldn't dwell on the past forever. She had never been good at letting the bad things go. Almost always, she held onto her mistakes and problems.

This day and moment, she decided, was when she would turn that fact around.

So, as she let go of Link, her regrets and hatred—anything negative that she felt towards him— it dissipated. Link looked over his shoulder at her, his face flushed and almost laughable, but Zelda suppressed her laughs.

Link wasn't smiling for a second, but that quickly changed. He flashed one more small grin at her, waving his hand and beginning to walk home this time.

So bold. I can't believe a coward like me did that! Zelda thought.

She was happy, finally saying goodbye to her hatred and regrets. Today, she wouldn't let things weigh her down that much. Sure, she had a rough past. Full of neglect and unkind actions, things that had mentally scarred her. It's not like all of those memories disappeared forever, no. She still hung on to them, but she wouldn't let them affect her in the present anymore.

With joy in her heart, Zelda returned to her house, entering with the smile having already left her lips. Mother and Father greeted her merrily, informing her what would be served for dinner and such.

As soon as her parents let her off the hook, Zelda immediately retreated to her room, closing the door gently behind her.

Oh, screw the stupid deal we made months ago... I think I'm falling in love with... Zelda stopped her thoughts there, jumping onto her bed and staring at the ceiling longingly.

Had she really fallen in love with someone like Link? She had despised him for a good portion of her life, so why had she become this weak and let her heart be taken by him?

No, I'm not weak! she reminded herself, returning to reality once her parents called her down for dinner. Nor do I love Link. It's just a crush, that's all. I shouldn't think so irrationally.

Making her way downstairs and into the kitchen, her mind traveled over to her birthday, wondering what she would get. Or, if she would even get anything.

Maybe everyone would just forget it altogether.

Stop it. I can't think negatively anymore. I'm better now, she reassured herself, a smile taking over her face at the thought.

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