With a racing heart I storm out of the library and look around for Link and Mipha. Link is standing on a bridge that connects this hill with the second floor entrance of the science building. He's alone, phone in hand.

In a fast pace I make my way over to the bridge, still looking around to see where Mipha has gone.

"Hey," I breathe when I reach him.

He looks up in confusion, checks our surroundings, then puts his phone away.

"I was just about to text you," he says calmly, still a bit taken aback. I don't usually talk to him on school grounds.

"I saw you with Mipha," I begin, realizing how panicked I sound. I need to make sure he knows that it's okay to hang out with her, I just want to find out how much she knows and how she feels about it.

"She was telling me about her swim meet," Link explains, probably expecting me to throw words at him.

"How'd she do?" I ask composedly.

His brows relax and I can hear him exhale quietly.

"She did very well."

"Good. Good," I mumble. "But listen... I... Don't get me wrong, it's great that you two are friends, but, er..." I sound like a paranoid, jealous, lunatic. How do I put this in words? Why can't I form a normal sentence? I'm so scared that I will say the wrong thing. "Did you tell her?"

"Tell her what?"

"About us? That we are... figuring things out?" I cringe at my own words.

"No, you told me not to tell anyone."

"I know, I did say that, but... Well... Do you think that maybe... Maybe we should tell her?"

Link is speechless. Clearly he didn't expect me to ask this and he has no response in reach.

"I was just thinking," I go on, "she is your best friend, right? If you trust she won't tell anyone, I will trust her too."

"Why does she need to know? We haven't even decided what this is."

She is in love with him and I don't want her to find out from somebody other than him, but I can't tell him that. I chew my cheek and reach for my necklace. What do I say?

"I don't know," I shrug nervously. "If she finds out from somebody else she will probably be hurt."

"I don't think so. I don't usually talk to her about girls."

My stomach twists into tiny knots. Is he implying that there have been others? Of course there have. I shouldn't focus on that right now.

"Wouldn't you be hurt if she was seeing a guy and didn't tell you?" I ask.

His mien changes. This must be his first time imagining Mipha with a boyfriend. He doesn't look too happy about it and I regret bringing it up.

"Forget I said anything at all. I just want to make sure Mipha is okay. Over the past couple of months she has become my friend and I would hate to see her get hurt."

"You should tell her," he decides.

"Me? Why me?"

"It would be awkward if I told her. You girls are more likely to talk about this stuff."

"But you've been friends for a decade, if she hears it from me she will only think about why you didn't tell her."

"You're right."

"I am?"

"I'll tell her," he says impassively.

"Okay."

I don't think either of us is quite comfortable with the idea of Mipha knowing, especially since we haven't even started to officially date. And I'm sure we have different reasons to feel uncomfortable, but it's the right thing to do and I have no doubt that she will keep this between us. I don't see her expressing resentment toward either of us, yet I am afraid to ruin the friendship we've been building.

A sudden cheer below the bridge catches our attention. It's a group of engineering students steering their big spidery robot across the lawn. It distracts me enough to bring a smile to my face despite the circumstances. It's a fascinating study. Seeing the engineering students build stuff always enthrals me. I heard they are using ancient parts for the appearance which is all the more exciting. Archaeology mixed with engineering, what a beautiful fusion. Link seems interested too, but not enough to really examine their work.

"Wouldn't it be beneficial to have a little guardian robot following your every step?" I say to him with a shy hint at humor. Maybe this can lighten the mood a little. "If Ganon ever shows himself again, I'd just make my robot shoot lasers at him."

"What are you doing out here, Zelda?" Father's voice strews goosebumps over my body and I turn around horror struck to find him standing behind me.

Link is just as surprised but keeps himself collected. He lowers his head in respect and doesn't show strain. I on the other hand can hardly control the anger and fear rushing through my blood when looking at the stern man walking up to us. I clench my fists and search for an excuse that doesn't require a lie.

"I... I was assessing the results of the experiment with the robots. These pieces of ancient--"

"You said you were going to the library."

And you said you were going home. My nails dig into my palms and I take a slow breath.

"I was, I was there until a few moments ago. I have completed studying for today," I explain but his eyes narrow.

"Perhaps you should reevaluate your decision. I have been informed about your grades."

"I haven't received anything less than a 100," I am quick to defend myself, nervous that there is a poor grade I don't know about.

"That may be true, but extra credit work and ungraded quizzes are the only thing keeping you from a sinking grade point average. You are going to fail. Every day you spend away from home, away from the library, it becomes more and more evident that you have neglected our agreement."

"No, Father, I--"

"As my daughter, you currently have a crucial unfulfilled responsibility to this school. Let me ask you once more... When will you stop treating this as some sort of childish game?"

Tears fill my eyes but I blink them away. I must say something. I can't let him go on about my faults when I have done nothing wrong yet. I take a small step toward him.

"I am doing everything I can. I'll have you know that I take my work to tutors to ensure a perfect score. Just recently I visited the museum of political history to expand my knowledge of our family history. I went out of my way to prepare a structured display board for the annual scholar's symposium--"

"And now you are here wasting your time. You need to be dedicating every moment you have to your education."

"I already am," I say in a near whisper and gather the courage to speak up. "Don't you see... There is nothing more I can do! My hope... My hope is that you... That you'll allow me to follow my passion even if there will be times at which I cannot receive that 100. I will graduate with honors, I will make sure I am on the President's List every semester. I promise, I will be at the top of my class but even a genius could not satisfy your demands."

"No more excuses, Zelda! Stop running away from your commitment. As your Father I forbid you to tolerate any further distractions. I command you to focus on your education."

Is he referring to Impa? Or perhaps to Link? He hasn't said a word about Link standing behind me. Father turns away, his hands behind his back, and looks over the campus as he speaks in earnest.

"Do you know how the gossip mongers refer to you?" He pauses and my heart could not beat any faster. "They are out there at this moment whispering amongst themselves that you are the heir to a school of nothing. Nothing but failure... It is your responsibility to prove them wrong." He turns his head to look at me and my heart stops. "Do you understand?"

"Yes," my shaky voice utters. "I understand."

Without looking up from my feet I hear Father walking away. No tears have fallen yet and I am glad. It is bad enough that Link heard all of that, but even worse is the fact that Father believes that I am the key to this school's success. He is terrified of the rising of Lorule but there is only so much I can do. A single person is not capable of lifting an entire university's grade point average. Or its graduation rate or global admiration. I turn to look at Link. He must feel the same. He too has promised to lead this school to victory but what if we can't?

I haven't moved. I can't. I feel like Father's words are like blocks of ice around my feet. Link places his hand on my shoulder and gives me a look full of sympathy but I draw back, knowing that it's not the time and place to give each other public comfort. Father is already agitated, if he sees us like this he might let his frustrations out on Link.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper to him but he shakes his head compassionately.

When I look up, away from the stone ground, Pik is the first person I see standing at the other end of the small bridge. Not now...

"You let him speak to you like that?" Pik gapes.

I don't reply. I can't deal with this right now. So many things are just going wrong simultaneously that I am losing track.

"Somebody has to tell him that he can't talk to you like his slave. You have to tell him No, Zelda," Pik tells me. The irony...

"It's fine, Pik," I mumble, knowing he won't drop it.

"It's not fine. If you don't tell him, I will!"

"No!" I grab his arm when he turns to walk away.
I notice how Link makes an involuntary step toward us.
"Don't. Please don't. I have enough on my plate right now. As much as I appreciate your concern, Father will lose it if a pierced man covered in ink starts an argument about his daughter. Please just stay out of it." I let go of him. He looks furious, but not at me.

"How can you let him speak to her like that?" he spits at Link. "Everybody says you are so courageous but then why do you stand there like some dried up houseplant, unwilling to defend your girlfriend?"

For the love of the Goddess! "Pik!" I shriek. "Stop! He has nothing to do with this!"

"He has everything to do with this! It's his job to protect you, to make you happy, not to sit back and watch the show." Pik looks back up at Link who is turning slightly red. "Just what is wrong with you?"

"Go," I demand. "Just go, Pik!"

He hesitates. I can see it in his twitching hand that he has much more to say.

"She deserves better," he says to Link before he listens to my request and leaves. Nothing could be further from the truth. If someone deserves better it's Link.

I let my head fall into my hands and stifle a sniff. I believe Pik means well but attacking Link is unacceptable. He doesn't know what he's talking about. He doesn't know how many times Link has protected and defended me when I was in need for help, or how many time he has made me happy when I desperately needed a it.

"I am so... so sorry," I mutter into my hands.

"It's okay," Link whispers, only inches away from me.

The things I would give to just turn around and hug him right now. But somebody would see us and with everything that is happening right now I can't even think about risking getting caught with Link.

Father has managed to take my pride and drive away once again. I have to get that 100 on the upcoming astronomy exam. I just have to. And Pik is the only one who can help me with that. I have to make things right with him. The thought of running after him pops into my head but is quickly replaced by another person. Impa.

I promised to meet her at Daruk's at 6 PM and I am already running late. Despite Father's disappointment, Pik's agitation, and Link's feelings, Impa is my priority today.

"I'm sorry," I say to Link for the third time today, "I have to go. I told Impa I'd meet her--"

"I know," he gives me a subtle nod. "It's okay. Go."

"I'll call you later," I promise and get going.

Everything is falling apart and it feels like I can't do anything about it. I can save my grades or my relationships at the cost of the other. But managing both seems impossible.

---

I get to Vah Rudania only shortly after half past six. I went over the speed limit and still didn't make it in time. There is no sign of Impa and I pray that she is running late too but after almost an hour of waiting I finally decide to call her. It goes to voicemail, but not the one she had a few weeks ago.

"Procrastinating. Leave a long message, tell me a story, or sing me a song. Anything to keep me from getting actual work done. Blech."

The beep follows but I hang up and call her again. Where is she? I'm surprised when a rustling sound occurs instead of her voicemail.

"Impa!" I am relieved she picked up this time. "Where are you?"

"How does it feel to be stood up?" she snarls.

"What? No, I'm here, I'm at Daruk's. I'm sorry I was running late. There was this incidence with Father and then Link--"

"I don't wanna hear about it," she cuts me off.

"Impa, no, I'm sorry okay? I'm here now, I didn't stand you up."

"Yes you did!" Her voice breaks. "You said you'd come to my tournament! I didn't even want to fight when I saw that you weren't there. I kept telling myself you must have had a good reason to be absent, but you know what I had to find out when everything was over? Link had a game at the same time I was having the most important fight of my life. Doesn't take a genius to figure out that you chose to support him over me."

"I know, I'm so sorry, let me explain," tears now stain my cheeks and I no longer try to hide them. Daruk notices me silently weeping at the sushi bar but I don't care if he sees me like this. I just want to fix what I've broken with Impa.

"You know... I was cool with it," she says into the speaker, her voice cold and full of hurt. "I was cool with Link teaching you self defense even though it's what I do best, I didn't say a word when you hung out with Mipha at the beach while I was puking my guts out, heck, I was fine with you and Romeo playing besties. I put my feelings aside and cheered you up when you were dealing with drama, I beat up Malice when she threatened to share those photos, and I am basically the reason you are double majoring instead of being stuck in politics. I would have gone to the end of the world for you and you couldn't even make it to my tournament!"

"I'm so--"

"Save your breath. I tried supporting you, I tried comforting you, I tried everything. I tried being there for you whenever you needed me. All I asked in return was for you to be there. Just once. But you couldn't even do that. You couldn't be a friend, not even for a couple of hours. This tournament was going to be my breakthrough. When you didn't show up I gave up before it even started. I gave up, Zelda. I don't give up, ever. Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?"

She is trying so hard to keep it together but I can hear the tears and the pain in her voice. I will fix this. I don't care what it takes, I will fix it. I need her. I know I haven't been the best friend but I never meant to neglect her. I never meant to hurt her!

"Impa, please, what can I do to make this up to you?" I had this fun evening planned for us, maybe I can convince her to come to the pier after all and give me a shot at making this right. I know she can't say no to that.

"There is nothing you can do," she proves me wrong. "Just leave me alone. I don't want to see or hear from you. I'm done with you."

She hangs up and my mouth falls open. I try to gasp for air but my throat is on fire. No, this can't be happening. I call her again and again and again but she doesn't pick up. I try for another hour but she made herself clear; she doesn't want to talk to me. I haven't stopped crying, my eyes are bloodshot and the skin around my nose and eyelids are sore. How could I lose Impa like this? We have had fights in the past, yes, but never has she officially ended our friendship. 15 years of friendship and I managed to ruin it in my first three months of college. Whatever it takes, I will make up for it.

"Zelda, honey," Daruk approaches me for the seventh time in the past hour and a half. I still haven't eaten anything or drunk my soda. My taste buds are numb. Everything is numb. These tears have been a long time coming. It's not just Impa that is currently drowning me, it's everything.

"I still don't want to talk about it," I try to sound polite.

"I know... But I figured you might want a hug..."

I look up at him scratching his head. "So I called him," he looks past me at the entrance to the restaurant and I turn around to see whom he is pointing at.

"Link..." I breathe and get up from the stool to run into his arms.

He catches me and wraps his arms around my body, holding me tightly as new tears begin to fall. It is so good to see him, to feel him.

"Link," I cry into his hoodie. "I messed up. I--" I can't breathe.

"Daruk told me," he says softly and runs his fingers through my hair to calm me.

"You came."

"Of course."

"What am I supposed to do now? How can I fix this?"

He remains silent, just holding me by the door.

"Do you want me to take you home?" He offers once my breaths have calmed.

"No I don't want to go home," I sniff.

"Okay. Stay at my house then."

I shake my head, my eyes closed and my ear against his heart. "We can't go there. The party..."

Link rubs my back and suggests we step outside for some air. It's quiet and dark outside and I welcome the cool ocean breeze. Link brings up his phone and calls somebody. He should really change that lockscreen.
I recognize Revali's voice at the other end of the line.

"What?" he barks into the phone before Link has the chance to say a single word. Loud music is playing in the background and a bunch of indistinct voices can be heard.

"I need a favor," Link says.

"No," Revali refuses immediately, ready to hang up.

"It's important," Link presses.

"What do you want?"

"I need you to send everybody home."

What?

"What?" Revali speaks my mind.

"Just send them home. No party tonight."

"Why? What the hell do you want me to tell them?"

"Just do it."

"You are mental. Absolutely asinine."

"Please," Link bids.

"You owe me. Big time."

Link nods to his phone, "Thanks Revali," and hangs up.

"You're staying at my house tonight," Link says to me and takes my hand to lead me to his car.

"What... You just... You... Did you just end a party... Just so we can go to your house?" I ask the obvious.

"We'll take my car. Daruk will take care of your car until tomorrow. That way nobody won't know that you're at my place," his thumb brushes over my wet cheek. "You're going to be alright."

My common sense is telling me to say no, but I have nowhere else to go. I don't want to go home, I can't go to Impa, and if I stay at Urbosa's again she will most certainly get into an argument with Father and send me to the school's therapist.

With a stuffy nose and glossy eyes I look up at Link. "Can we make a stop at the pier? I need to buy something for Impa..."