After my short confrontation with Revali, I check the time and realize that I'm running late for class! I arrive at the planetarium, breathless and panicked and stand in front of a closed door. This is a nightmare. I've never been late in my entire life.

I open the door quietly and slowly, hoping that I'll be able to sneak in unnoticed, but the whole class is sitting in utter darkness until the light falling from the hallway fills the room. Everyone turns to look at me and the professor halts their speech.

"Who is that?" The professor says, annoyance clear in his voice.

"Er... I..." I stutter. I hate this. This is horrible. "I'm new to this class."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"I'm..." I really don't want to tell the entire class that I, Zelda Hyrule, am late.

"Speak, or leave," he demands, standing in the center of the circular room.

"My name... My name is Zelda..."

"Rhoam's daughter?" His eyes scan me from head to toes and his frown curls into a horrid smile. "You're late."

"My apologies, it won't happen again."

"Take a seat or leave. Either way, I'm marking you absent."

"But I'm here now," I dare speak up against the professor. "I won't interrupt the class again, I promise."

"I suggest you do not argue my decisions! If you had read the syllabus, you'd know that being late results in an absence, which will affect your grade."

I did read the syllabus, and I do remember it saying just that, but it's not my fault that I'm late. It can't end now, I need a second chance, a chance to explain myself. I want to blame Link and Revali, but the bottom line is, I was late and I can't argue that. I knew I shouldn't have confronted Revali. Is this my fault after all? There is no one to blame but myself. I should have stayed out of it. I feel nauseous, my legs threaten to collapse to the spinning floor... I think I might pass out.

Two arms snake around me, giving me the support to hold myself up.

"It's okay, I got you" Pik's soft voice whispers as he helps me stand. "Come on, let's sit."

He walks me to the chairs and lets me down slowly. I almost forgot that he was in this class too. My brain is all scrambled. What just happened? What am I going to do? Wake up, please, please wake up from this nightmare. Pik opens his notebook, writes something down, rips the corner off, and hands it to me.

*We can't talk during class, it's forbidden* reads his note.

I ignore it and just stare into nothingness while the professor continues his lecture. The room is dark, apart from the projection of stars and galaxies above our heads. What an unfortunate setting... I really do feel like I'm in space, there is no oxygen for me to breathe.

Pik hands me another note. *Are you okay?*

That's when the tears start falling. I can't help it. I'm terrified of what will happen next and the way my body is shaking isn't helping. I crush his note in my trembling hand. What am I going to do now? I lean forward and bury my face in my hands, hoping to hide behind the chairs so that no one else will see me cry. Trying not to make a sound is only intensifying the pain in my chest but all I can do is pray to make it through the lecture and speak to the professor afterward. Pik's hand rubs my back compassionately.

"Let's step outside," he whispers close to my ear but I shake my head and feel my lungs quaking and craving for air.

"You are already marked absent. Sitting here like this isn't doing any good."

"Pik!" the professor warns him.

"I'm sorry, professor Astor, we'll take it into the hallway." Pik stands up and looks at me, "Come on. We're only disturbing the class. Let's take a minute to calm down outside."

I'm hesitant, but I follow his lead and step outside with him. Before I can process what is happening we leave the building through a back door. We end up behind the building, out of sight from anyone. The rain has stopped and three strings of sun rays pierce the ominous, black clouds aloft. The smell of wet grass, the salty ocean breeze, and the sound of seagulls meet my senses.

"Better?" Pik asks and I nod, swallowing painfully. I want to dry my tears but my hand is caught in something. I look down and notice that our hands are laced together. How long has he been holding my hand? Did anyone see us? Does it really matter anymore? Father is going to kill me anyway.

"Did you enjoy the show earlier today? I make a great Romeo, don't I?" He smiles a little.

"What? Seriously? I really don't want to talk about Shakespear right now."

"Now that we've established that you don't want to be distracted from whatever you're dealing with, it's probably best to address the problem directly. So I'm just going to ask... What exactly is it you're dealing with?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

I hear a splashing near us like those of a puddle when being walked through and jerk my hand away from Pik right as the person comes around the corner. He stops to look at us, a soccer ball in one hand, a water bottle in the other. You've got to be kidding me, I thought Link stayed home today?!

"What are you staring at?" Pik says to Link, who doesn't bother looking at him. His eyes are locked to mine. I don't want to imagine what my eyes must look like right now, but they feel swollen and sore.

"Is he bothering you?" Link asks me instinctively.

"Excuse me?" Pik snarls, slightly irritated by Link.

"No," I sniff and look away.

"Zelda, if he's hurting--"

"She said no," Pik interrupts him. Goosebumps rise on my skin as the two exchange looks like bullets, and I am frozen in the crossfire.

"Go away, Link," I cry in despair. Knowing my luck, Malice or Father will show up any moment and I'll be done for it.

"Go away, you've done enough damage! Every time you come near me, terrible things happen. Are you purposefully following me around? Are you trying to make my life dreadful?"

"No." His answer is simple and calm, making me all the angrier. Fight my words, tell me I'm wrong, don't just stand there like that.

If he's not doing it on purpose, then he's just here to enjoy the show. When he gave me his hoodie I thought that perhaps he... Well maybe he cared about me. How silly of me. I kept asking myself what he was thinking... thinking about me. I suppose it's simple; a daughter of the Hyrulean family yet unable to succeed academically. He must despise me.

"I think you should go," Pik says to Link, but once again, Link looks at me instead of him. This is too much right now, they both have to just leave me alone. I can't believe Pik made me leave class, and the longer I stand here surrounded by two guys, the more anxious I grow. 

Before either of them has the chance to say another word, I run off. I wasn't sure where I was running to until I spot the track. I need to talk to Urbosa right now, but once I reach the bleachers and see her waving at me, I remember that Link will probably pass through here too. I really can't face him right now, not after yelling at him. I don't know what it is about him, but he brings out the worst in me. I know I'm in the wrong for yelling at him when he only tried to help, but he has to see that he's only making things worse.

I stop behind the gym building to catch my breath. I have never been to this part of the campus, so close to the baseball field. It looks like there was a game, but the field is cleared and only a handful of fans are left, getting ready to leave. A bus with another school's logo confirms my suspicion. I recognize the red bore but don't think much of it. It's parked near me, the team is nowhere to be seen. I sniff and rub my cheeks dry, happy to be alone right now. Everything feels sore; the skin around my eyes is burning. I feel like a part of me just died. A really important part of me. I'm determined that I won't just give up, even if Father wants to force me to drop biology, I won't give in easily. I'll try to talk to him and tell him a lie that will grant me innocence. I'll do anything. Even if I have to beg on my knees.

The door of the bus opens and I look up from my feet for the first time in ten minutes. Three guys are carrying equipment into the bus until one of them spots me and smiles.

"Hey," he calls over but I ignore him. I don't feel like talking to anyone right now. I should probably head back to astronomy, provided professor Astor lets me.

I hear the guys laughing, then one of them walks over to me, a baseball bat resting on his shoulder.

"Hey there." His mouth is smiling but his eyes aren't. Something about the way he's looking at me makes me incredibly uncomfortable.

"Hi," I say, only to be polite, and want to just walk away, but he puts his hand against the wall behind me so that I can't leave.

"Where to?"

"I have to get to class."

"You sure?" He grins.

"Yes," I say and dodge under his arm to walk away. When I walk around the corner of the builder and see the track not too far away, his hand grips my arm and pulls me back with force. His two teammates have followed too, watching as he purrs into my ear.

"You don't have to go to class right away."

My entire body is frozen and the hair on my neck is standing up from the fear I feel in his presence. His friends look satisfied from the shock in my eyes, I think they're laughing.

"Ignore them," he tells me and moves his hand to my hip.

"Stop," is the only word my lips can form. It comes out as more of a whisper, even though in my mind I'm screaming.

"Don't be shy," he breaths at my neck and plants a kiss beneath my ear. "I know you like this just--"

Before he can finish his sentence, I slap him across the face and take two unbalanced steps backwards before I stumble and fall. We're both shocked. It was a light slap and the first time I ever hit someone. I didn't even have time to decide if I should really slap him, I just did. It had already happened by the time my mind caught up.

His teammates burst into laughter but he doesn't seem amused at all. He is no longer smiling and I'm no longer uncomfortable. No. I'm terrified. His eyes have turned into those of a predator staring at its prey.

"You stupid bitch," he snarls and brings his bat into position.

This guy is mental! He's dangerous. He has transformed into a monster, he's out of control! I know he's going to hit me, I know I should get up and run. But my legs won't move. Maybe his friends will stop him, but I doubt it.