😂

Link finally decided to leave his room. He was still fuming.

He would have to explain this to Illia, she deserved to know why their date was ruined. Even if Link hadn't enjoyed it anyways it would be the right thing to do.

He would have never expected Zelda to do something so rash. Even as he knew he was mad at her, he felt extremely guilty, as though he shouldn't have been so rash with her.

He should have probably let her defend herself, and listen to her. Link had never been a good listener, Aryll could testify to that. Maybe...even though he couldn't understand how...Zelda was innocent?

Aryll skipped over to Link, "now that you're done pouting, why did Zelda and Tetra leave early?"

"I wasn't pouting," Link protested.

"Locking yourself in your room is pouting," Aryll said folding her arms, "that's what you've told me when I've done it."

"What is it?"

"Why did they leave early?"

Link was already regretting sending Zelda away. Even if Zelda had ruined the date, it had made the date more laughable. And if he ever got in a relationship, he would rather be with Zelda than Illia. Why was he so mad about the ruined date?

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Link. She's my friend. I deserve to know what happened."

She's right, Link thought, it's not like it matters if I tell her or not.

"In short, I just banished Zelda and her sister from ever coming here again."

"WHAT?"

Link scratched the back of his head, he had definitely been too harsh.

"And why did you do that?"

"Zelda ruined the date I was on with Illia," Link said, even though now he realized that she had fixed the date.

"Link you stupid idiot!" Aryll yelled clearly frustrated with his hastiness.

"Huh?"

"It was Tetra and myself who launched those balloons at Illia! Zelda wasn't there to ruin your date; Zelda was there because we had asked her to take us there. She thought we were going to take a walk! Zelda was the one who pulled us away from doing any more damage!"

Link stood stiff as a board. Zelda had been telling the truth when she said Aryll and Tetra had been the disruption. Link had blamed her and sent her away without hesitation.

"How could you do that Link? You didn't know the whole story."

Link didn't say anything as he slumped into the nearest chair. How was he supposed to fix things now?

He looked over at Aryll who looked utterly disappointed in him.

"Why did you do it then?"

Aryll gave a small sigh, "we didn't want you with her Link. We wanted you with Zelda."

"Why?" Link asked confused. You've been...trying to set her up with me? You..." he gave Aryll a small glare, "you knew she was going to ask me out at Thanksgiving huh?"

"Yeah of course we did," Aryll said with a cute wink, "Because she likes you Link."

Link's head felt like it had been flipped upside down and inside out. She likes you Link...

She likes me? Zelda likes me?

When Link didn't respond Aryll rolled her eyes and said, "you're seriously dense Link."

And that is when Link realized that he loved her. He remembered her beauty when they had walked through the meadow, and the fun he had when he danced with her. The way she laughed was mesmerizing. Her eyes showed the most sincere friendship.

He realized that he never wanted to be with anyone else. But now she must hate him.

"You're really stupid Link."

"I know Aryll."

But Zelda was completely innocent of what she had been accused of. She had left his home sobbing uncontrollably. She really loved him.

Link had to apologize as quickly as possible. Link stood up and walked towards the garage.

"Whoa where are you going Link?"

"To Zelda's."

"Hey! Let me come! You cut my time with Tetra short today!

"Okay, fine come get in the car."

_^_

Zelda was still in her room, sitting up on her bed against the wall, and reading her romance novel The Wooden Chair.

It didn't seem a quarter as appealing as it did a couple hours before she had traveled to Link's house that day.

Just thinking about Link made her sniffle a bit. And after a few sniffles a couple tears ran down her cheeks. Once those few left her eyes she couldn't help it as she dropped the book, hugged her knees, and sobbed.

She couldn't exactly blame Link. Though, yes, he hadn't let her explain, he had every right to be furious. If someone had ruined her date with Link, she wouldn't be happy about it.

She just didn't know the way out of this corner. She couldn't try to explain it to Link, he wouldn't listen to her. Perhaps she was meant to live with this heartbreak.

Would she ever see him again?

_^_

Link hastily knocked on the door and eagerly waited for it to open. When it did, Tetra stood at the doorway staring up at him.

"Hello idiot."

"Yeah yeah I know...where's Zelda?

Tetra simply pointed to her left and Link quickly ran past her and up the stairs.

"Zelda?" he called down the hallway.

After a moment he heard her squeak, "Link?"

He followed her voice and knocked on the door. The door opened and revealed a broken Zelda, her eyes still red from crying.

Link hung his head and started a long apology. "I'm really sorry for the things I said Zelda. I was hasty and assumed everything before hearing you out. My sister enlightened me of what actually happened, and I'm sorry for accusing you of-"

Zelda slammed into Link and threw her arms around him.

Taken back, Link carefully embraced her back. Had she already forgiven me?

As if she had just realized what she had done, Zelda quickly stepped back; stained pink could be seen on her cheeks.

She gave him a soft smile, "you don't have to say anything else Link, I completely understand and forgive you."

Link breathed out a sigh of relief, "are you sure everything's alright?"

Zelda gave a small laugh, "seriously don't worry about it Link. I would have been mad too if my siblings had ruined my date."

Link shrugged and gave her a sly smirk, "you know, even before Aryll told me that it wasn't you I kind of knew it wasn't."

Confused Zelda asked, "what?"

"There's no way that you could have thrown those water balloons so far without help, girls just aren't strong enough without-"

Zelda grabbed her book off the floor and hit Link over the head, "you were saying something mister?"

Link laughed and put his hands up, "just talking about how amazing you are."

Zelda laughed in response, "thank you Link."

The two stood silently for a moment, neither knowing what to say.

Zelda spoke up, "so are you planning on staying?"

"Sure, I can stay."