Link sucks in a sharp breath when I kiss him without a warning. For a split second I thought he'd pull away, but he takes that fear away when his hands cup my flushed cheeks without breaking the kiss.

All my negative thoughts fall apart under the soft pressure of his minty lips. He leans in to kiss me back. I can't find my breath but I couldn't care less. All I care about right now is Link. I've never felt like this before; so safe and so vulnerable at the same time. It's electrifying, like a thunderstorm, like hot and cold air colliding and forming into a tornado of emotions. I want more. My mind can't keep up. I just want this feeling to last forever.

As Link moves one hand to my back, my hands immediately move to his jaw involuntarily, allowing my fingers to tug on his thick hair. I don't know what I'm doing. This is all so strange and new to me, in a good way though. His hand on my cheeks and his touch on my lips are nothing compared to any feeling I've ever experienced. His kiss is gentle but the way he puts pressure on my back tells me that he's holding back. I scooch closer, as does he.

His nose strokes my cheek as he tilts his head to align his lips with mine, making the butterflies in my stomach dance. Both our chests are moving up and down rapidly. His hand puts more pressure on my back and I try to move closer but there's no more space between us. I'd have to climb on top of him to get any closer. Without thinking, my arms wrap around his waist and he groans into my mouth. I managed to forget all about his injury, I have to be more careful! I want to apologize, but he doesn't let me break our kiss to speak. I'm glad he doesn't.

I want to put my arms around his neck instead of his back, but the muffled sound of a car door being shut stops me. I draw back in a heartbeat, nearly knocking over the wine bottle behind me.

"What's wrong?" Link says breathless.

"Someone's here," I squeak horror-struck.

"O...okay. Your parents?"

"Improbable. It might be the chef..."

"You have a chef? Like a private chef?"

My phone lights up and the loud vibration makes me jump. It's a message from Father.

*Come downstairs.* It reads.

I feel the color drain from my face. It's him. He's here.

"It's my father, he wants me to come downstairs," I tell Link in a shaky voice.

It's about me skipping astronomy, it has to be... Other than the curfew, I've broken every single one of his rules today. Well... Kind of... Link isn't my boyfriend, but we kissed... We... For the love of Hylia... We kissed! Did that really happen? I can't freak out now. Not when Father is waiting in the driveway. I have to hide Link and act like everything is ordinary until Father leaves again. If he leaves again... What if he's done with work for tonight? Why is he so early today? He's rarely ever home before 9 PM, even on my birthday he usually works late. Why does he have to be early today of all days?

"Should I leave?" Link says and turns around to pick up his t-shirt.

Only now do I notice his many scars across his arms and back. I've never seen a body so marked by wounds and I'm intrigued to know the cause, but there's no time to ask about it right now. He pulls the t-shirt down to cover his scarred body but before he can make another step I grab his hand to stop him from leaving the room.

"You can't leave now, he'll see you!" I whisper, scared that Father will hear me even though he hasn't even entered the house yet.

"Then what do I do?" Link asks calmly.

"I don't know."

"Sneak out the back?"

"I don't know," I say again. "No. You'll get caught."

I slide the wine and first aid kit under my bed and get up to meet Father downstairs.

"Wait up here," I request and Link nods.

"Zelda," he whispers when I open the door to the hallway. "Your clothes..."

I look down at my jeans, they are covered in mud. Worse than that; I'm still wearing Link's track jacket. I hurry into the closet, toss his jacket into one of the drawers and change into leggings. I put on the Gucci sweatshirt Father bought for me when he visited the Netherlands last Christmas. It might cheer him up when he sees me in it.

"Stay here," I say to Link once more, and I'd say it three more times if I had the time.

I close the door behind me and turn the hallway lights on. Both our futures depend on me right now; if I can't convince Father to disregard my imperfect attendance in astronomy, I will watch my future burn to ashes, and if he finds out that a boy is here, Link won't see tomorrow. I feel like I'm moving into battle, shield and sword in hand. But whose side am I fighting on? Link's? Father's? Or.. my own? Who is the real enemy here?

In the foyer stands a tall man, his mien as grim as always. I'm internally screaming at my legs to move like a normal person, but I can't help but feel like my feet are moulded by cement.

"Zelda," he greets me as he hands his coat to the maid.

"Father," I bow my head to him. He notices what I'm wearing and his mien relaxes slightly.

"I thought you didn't like that sweatshirt."

"I do. I just don't want to wear it too often. It'll last longer that way."

"I can always buy you another one."

I nod, afraid to say something wrong.

"Are you sick? Do you have a fever?" He touches my forehead with his cold hands. "Your cheeks are glowing red." Next, his eyes move to my feet. "Why are you barefoot?"

"My socks got wet, so I took them off."

"You're home early," I change the topic before he can make another comment about my appearance. I hope he won't notice that I cried earlier. This is going fairly well though. He hasn't interrupted or shouted at me yet.

"Yes, I thought we could have dinner together tonight."

My mouth falls open.

"Oh."

"Is that a problem?"

"Not at all," I answer with a fake smile. Link will just have to wait upstairs while we eat. That's better than risking Father getting upset and taking drastic action. The smile I'm painfully holding on my face dies as soon as I spot Link's shoes by the door behind Father. I'm dead. I'm so dead. I have to say something to make Father leave the foyer.

"Will you speak to the cook then?" I bid. "I will go grab some socks in the meantime."

"What will you be having?"

"Anything," I say hurried. "You choose."

Why is he being so friendly tonight? Is this some sort of a wicked game? Is he tricking me into believing everything is fine? Like a crocodile holding perfectly still until a bird sits down in its mouth. Snap, that's when he'll attack. When I feel safe and let my guard down... Or perhaps he's testing me to see if I'll admit to my mistakes before he even brings it up, to see if I would tell him or lie. In that case, I should tell him about astronomy right away. No, I shake that thought right out of my head. But he already knows. Doesn't he? He'll find out sooner or later. I have to be extremely careful and think this through.

Once he has left the foyer, I fetch Link's muddy sneakers and rush up the stairs. I open the door to my room but leave the lights off. Link is sitting on the edge of my bed with his phone in his hands.

"Why are you sitting on my bed?" I hiss at him. What would Father think if he had been the one to enter the room? Link didn't even move when he heard the door open. I almost want to make him hide in the closet just to be sure he won't be found, but it's highly unlikely that Father will enter my room, especially when I'm downstairs.

When I step out of my closet with a pair of socks in my hand, Link is sitting on the carpet again.

"No, you can sit on the bed," I whisper. I feel bad that he thought I didn't want him on my bed. Link looks confused and I don't blame him.

"My father wants me to eat dinner with him. Are you okay just waiting up here until I return?"

"That's fine."

"Don't leave the room," I say to make sure he understands. "Don't make a sound and don't turn on the lights." I sound like Father giving commands. I hurry over to the window and pull the heavy curtains to cover the windows. We can't be too careful.

"If someone knocks, you hide." He nods. "I'm really sorry about all of this," are my last words before I leave my room again.

Dinner starts off pretty quiet, blending into an unusual exchange of small talk.

"How are classes going?" he finally asks and my heart sinks.

"G...good." I half lie, too scared to say anything else.

"Good."

"How is work?" I ask back.

"Good."

"That's... good."

I poke the broccoli and play with the peas as I'm waiting for him to start another round of small talk. After a minute of utter and most uncomfortable silence, I can't help but ask...

"How come you wanted to eat together tonight?" My heart is pounding so hard, I might not make it through the whole dinner.

"Must I have a reason to eat with my daughter? If anything, we should be eating in each other's company more often, wouldn't you agree?"

"Er... Yes."

"Perhaps I could try to come home early more often."

He puts his knife and fork down to look at me in earnest.

"Actually, there is something I've been meaning to discuss with you."

I swallow what feels like a rock and hold my breath. Here it comes. I brace myself.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news. I'll be gone over winter break again this year," he says but I continue to hold my breath. "I got the flight confirmation today. I'll be leaving on December 21 and returning on January 3."

He pauses and waits for a response. This can't be it. This can't be why he came home early and asked to have dinner with me.

"So we won't be able to spend Christmas together," he adds.

"Okay." This is the bad news? Compared to what I had expected, this is good news.

"I'm sorry, I was hoping to spend the holidays together this year, but I cannot postpone those meetings."

"I understand. It's your job, so it's important."

I'm a little disappointed that Father is leaving for Christmas for the third time in a row, but I'm relieved that he didn't mention astronomy at all. He probably doesn't know about it yet. If I explain my situation and offer to complete some extra work, maybe professor Astor will reconsider my attendance and Father won't ever know about any of it.

"I'm glad you're doing well in your classes. It must be very challenging, but it's a rewarding major, and I'm happy you chose to give it a try."

It's not like I had much of a choice... But I can't be angry at him when he's being so considerate. I'm more than a little confused about his friendly attitude, but it's nice to see him trying, so I don't want to question it. I just want to pretend that this is how it always is. Or how it could be. Father gives me a smile and continues to eat. He doesn't bring up any other heavy topics and I am surely not going to poke the bear. I want to talk to him about my classes and his unrealistic conditions, but not tonight. For now, getting Link out of this house without being caught is my main mission.

I thank Father for dinner and watch as he goes to his study. The cook is leaving any minute now and the maid is gone to finish her tasks as well. Looks like the coast is clear, so it should be possible to get Link to the front door unseen, but I'm still extremely nervous about this.

Link is still on the carpet when I return to my room. I stole some leftovers from the kitchen and brought them with me. I walk straight to the window next to Link and move the curtains to peek through the gap.

"See that light?" I point at the patio. "That's coming from the window of Father's study. Once that light turns off, we know that he has gone to bed. That's when you can leave."

"Why can't I just go now while he's in his study?"

"Because he could walk out at any given time and catch you. We can't risk that."

"If he sees me, just say we were studying together."

"He'd know I'm lying. I don't do study groups, not with boys. Weren't you listening? I mustn't have a--" I stop myself from saying more. I don't want Link to think I see him as my boyfriend now. We're not dating. We're not even friends. I don't know what we are exactly, but we can't be seen together. Ever... My heart aches at the thought and I want to punch my chest to make it stop.

"When does your dad go to bed?"

"In a couple of hours," I bite my lip. That's a long time to spend alone with Link.

"So you're going to keep me here like a hostage?" He smirks.

"Is this a joke to you? This is serious," I scold him.

"Then why are you smiling?"

What? I'm not smi...... I am! Why am I smiling? Why do I feel...so excited...and so terrified at the same time? It's making me nauseous.

"I brought you some dinner," I change the topic and hand him the plate. "You must be starving."

"Thanks," he doesn't hesitate to eat.

"I'm so exhausted." I sit down on my bed. The comforter feels so soft and inviting. I just want to--

"Sleep," Link reads my mind.

"What?"

"You had a really stressful day. You should sleep."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because you're in my room."

"So?"

"I'm not going to sleep while you're here. I have to make sure you leave without getting caught."

"Suit yourself," he shrugs and eats his food unruffled.

He's so uncomplicated. He does what he's told without a trace of resentment. When I yelled at him and he didn't argue back, I thought he was trying to provoke me, but now I see that this is just the way he is. He's honest and only speaks when spoken to. I'm not sure how to act around Link. He seems so comfortable and calm as we're waiting for Father to go to bed.

Minutes pass and we haven't spoken a word to one another. All I can think about is our kiss and the unfamiliar feeling on my lips. My stomach flutters whenever I glance at him. It's even worse when he looks at me too. I can't breathe or think whenever our eyes meet, even if it's just for a flying second. Are these mixed feelings of uncertainty and excitement normal? Did Mipha feel this way too? Mipha! Oh no, I forgot all about her! She's probably the sweetest, most loving and loyal girlfriend. And I kissed her boyfriend. I'm a horrible person!

This is awful. I don't want to be that girl. I don't want to be a homewrecker! I didn't even mean to kiss him, it just sort of happened! What am I going to do? Should I tell her about it? No, Link should tell her. But I don't want her to hate me. I also don't want them to break up because of me. It was just a kiss, it didn't mean anything, right? People kiss other people all the time. That's what they do in movies and books; they kiss and act as if it never happened... Who am I kidding? I'm not like that. I can't just pretend like it never happened. I kissed Link... and he kissed me back. I didn't imagine it, he actually kissed me and I was the one to break it off.

I don't know how Link feels about all this but it meant something... At least to me it did. He doesn't look anxious like me. Perhaps I should say something? Maybe not. He knows best what to do. It wasn't his first kiss, he has probably had other girlfriends before and maybe he has even kissed other girls while dating Mipha. I really hope he hasn't kissed anyone else...

Jane Austen will help me calm down. I grab Pride and Prejudice from my desk, sit against the headboard, and turn on my small book light to continue reading where I left off. Whenever I see the title I have to think about Pik. How he figured out that I was lying and how he said my family is prejudiced. After two pages I decide to sit under my sheets for more comfort. My eyes leave the pages again to steal a glance at Link. He's on his phone again, looking at something but I can't see the screen. What might Mipha be up to right now? Is she texting him? If she asks him what he's doing at this moment, will he lie or brush her? What will happen next? How will I act around Mipha during Biology?

Link and I aren't going to spend time together again, so I can only stay out of it and hope he'll make it up to Mipha. I have to practically force myself to keep reading my novel, keep myself distracted from this brewing panic. It only takes a few more pages and I go from sitting to lying under my sheets. Half a page later I fall asleep inadvertently.

(Thank you so much for reading Thinking About You! I absolutely love reading your comments! Don't worry, it's far from over, just wanted to say something quickly; I'm hosting a Draw This In Your Style challenge on my Instagram (@nebulace), I'm excited to see your takes on the AU characters! Next chapter drops on Saturday. Love you all sm <3 -Ace)