"Can I ask you something?" Link asks, his fingers are drawing little circles on my arm now. I hold my breath and nod. "What's your dad's goal exactly?" I exhale disappointed. "Obviously you guys live in a freaking palace so if it's money, he's got it."

"No, it's nothing like that. Money has never been his ambition, even if it might seem like it. He has a good heart and good intentions. He wants what's best for his people, you know? The college, the state... He could retire early but he cares about the school."

I sigh...

"I suppose it's flattering that he believes I have the potential to become a leader. For as long as I can remember he's wanted me to do what he has done and enter the field of politics. It started when I was still a toddler, when Mother was still around. It is his dream and every time I disobey him I take that dream away from him piece by piece. I feel awful but I can't cut my foot to fit in the shoe. I just don't feel passionate about politics."

"And what would your mother say to all that?"

I smile against his chest. "She would often look at me in the most loving way and say... Little Bird, you could become the first female president, you could lead the world if that's what you want... But... you don't have to."

Link remains silent, allowing me to dwell in the comfort of my memories. When his phone buzzes, he picks it up to check the notification. It's a Snapchat video from Karson.

"It's officially not your birthday anymore," he reads the time.

"In Alaska it is."

"We're not in Alaska."

"Shut the front door," I gasp. "You're telling me this now?"

"You're so silly," he unlocks his phone and opens Snapchat. His app is exploding with unopened messages. He watches Karson's video with me. Looks like the soccer team is still celebrating their victory with music and beer at the stadium. 

"Now the only strong team to defeat are the Boars. But we still have a month to train," he says with venom on his tongue.

"You'll do amazing. And if you don't, then I'll still think you're amazing," I say.

When the video is over, Link snaps another picture of us, arm in arm.

"I should probably leave soon, you look tired. You didn't even fight me," he tires not to chuckle because his chest would quiver beneath my head.

"No, don't leave," I cling to his arm. "Let's watch another movie."

"You sure?"

"Yes, please. We can watch The Blind Side or Karate Kid, whatever you want."

Link is easily persuaded and starts another movie. We share one of the comfortable longchairs. I only remember the first two minutes of the movie, suddenly Link is nudging me awake as the last credits leave the screen.

"It's almost 2 AM," he whispers, getting up slowly. I groan and curl my body into a tiny ball, unwilling to get up.

Link picks me up and carries me up the stairs to my bedroom without as much as a heave. He lets me down gently and covers me with my fluffy blanket. Hello bed, I've missed you.

"I don't want to freak you out," he says slowly, "but your plant is... glowing."

I open one eye to look at the Silent Princess resting on my desk, glowing in a divine blue light. "Oh."

"Oh?"

I chuckle at his adorable, innocent face and mumble against the mattress. "It's one of Mother's experiments. Urbosa said when darkness falls over me I should be my own light. I think she was hinting at this."

"You do realize that this is the beginning of every Marvel movie ever, right? That or being born a god."

"I'll go with the second option then, thank you very much." I roll on my back and smile at him. "Hey... How are you going to get home?"

"Uber."

"Or..."

"Or what?"

"Or you could just stay the night," I hide my sleepy face under the sleeve of my sweatshirt.

"But you'll probably yell at me in the car tomorrow if I do that."

"No, I promise I won't blame you. Please stay."

"It's not your birthday anymore. Your puppy face won't work."

"Pleaseee," I tug at his hand.

"I don't know. The floor is sooo uncomfortable."

"I can offer a large selection of guest bedrooms," I look up at his frown and counter it with a mean grin. "I'm messing with you."

I lift the blanket and scoot over to make room for him. He lies down on his back next to me but I don't leave any space between us. My body tightly wrapped around him I exhale in peace. Worst and best birthday ever.

After today I can really see us being more than friends. In a way we already are, just not officially. I desperately want to find a way to make it work. I like him so much, he makes me happy, and if there is a way for us to be together then I want to find it and make it work. He is the one, I can feel it with every part of my body, heart, and soul. More dreamy thoughts fill my head while I fall asleep smiling, holding his hand and never letting go until an annoying buzzing sound coming from the night stand wakes me in the middle of a good dream.

Is it my alarm? It would make a sound so that can't be it. Without opening my eyes I pat the space next to me to find Link's body. The buzzing won't stop, who is calling him in the middle of the night?

"Link........"

No reaction.

"Link," I poke some part of his face as I bury my head deeper into the pillows. He groans and takes my hand away from his nose to kiss the tip of my fingers, then he rolls over, pulls me into a tight hug, and falls back asleep within two seconds.

"Make it stop," I moan.

"Make what stop?" His voice is thick with sleep.

"The phone! Answer it or turn it off."

Link sits up and reaches for the night stand to end my suffering.

"It's your phone," he tells me and hands me my phone. Ugh, why is the screen so bright! I can't even read the name. "It's your dad," Link says, rubbing his shoulder.

"What?" I sit up next to him and answer the phone.

"Father?" I mumble half asleep.

"Zelda, are you home?"

"No, I'm at a carnival in Rio, can't you hear the music?"

"I do not fancy your sarcasm, young lady."

"Father, it's 5 AM, yes, I'm home. Where else would I be?"

He sighs. "I'm getting off the highway right now. There has been an incident, I'll be there soon." Something about his voice sounds off.

"What are you talking about?" I'm wide awake now and mouth to Link that Father is coming home but poor Link can't read my lips. He understands my panicked face however and jumps out of bed.

"There was a fire at the soccer stadium last night," Father says.

"A fire?" I look at Link in shock but he shrugs his shoulders since he can't hear our conversation. I put Father on speaker.

"Yes, some students were partying on the soccer field. The police think it was arson. They are investigating it right now. I just don't want you to be involved in any of it."

"I was home all night, why would you even think that I have anything to do with that?"

"Because Impa was there."

"Is she alright?" It's too early to picture my best friend's death!

"She is alright but she has been arrested."

"In what world is that being alright? Why was she arrested?"

"She was there when the fire department arrived."

"So were dozens of others!" I cut him off. It probably sounds like I was present. "People were posting videos, that's how I know."

"Be that as it may, the lighter that was found at the crime scene belongs to Impa."

"That's ridiculous. You've known her since she was 3. You know she would never set a fire like that."

His silence disappoints me.

"So when will you be home?" I ask annoyed and worried. Link is throwing his hoodie on, ready to bolt.

"I'm headed straight to campus, I'll arrive in less than an hour."

My chest falls down as I exhale a long breath. "Okay. I'll see you there."

We hang up at the same time.

"There was a fire?" Link asks, sitting down at the edge of the bed.

"Apparently so... But Impa wouldn't do that. Not on purpose."

"Some drunk probably just dropped their cigarette on accident."

"I should call her and make sure she's okay."

I ring her cell and wait impatiently for her to pick up.

"A is for academics and B is for beer. One of those two is why I am not here," her voicemail sings.

After the third unanswered call I give up trying to reach her.

"If you don't mind I'd like to head to campus early. You can use one of the guest bathrooms. I just need to shower and then I'm good to go."

"What about breakfast?"

"I don't think the staff will get here for another hour and I don't want to wait for them. Can we skip it?"

"No way," he shakes his head and gets up anew. "There's always time for food. You shower, I cook."

After a shower and heavenly pancakes, Link and I drive to campus together and get there by 6 AM. He has a change of clothes in his locker, so I park my car at the sports building. Police cars are parked in front of the stadium and Father is already here talking to one of the officers. Impa is sitting in the backseat, her hair is a mess and dark shadows circle her eyes.

While Link heads to the locker room to change, I make my way to the police car to speak to Impa but the officer stops me before I can tap the window. He jumps between me and the car and cuts Father off mid-sentence.

"Woah, what are you doing? Step away from the vehicle, Miss."

"I apologize," I take a big step back.

"That's my daughter," Father rubs his temples. "What are you doing here, Zelda?"

"I go to school here?"

"No what are you doing here? Go to the library until your classes start."

"I wanted to check on Impa." I turn to the officer. "She is innocent, please let her go."

"I can't, she's our main suspect."

"She would never set a fire, she doesn't even have a lighter, she doesn't smoke."

Impa is looking at me now, fearless, but exhausted. I want to open the door and hug her but I know I'm not allowed to get near her and it's killing me.

"What's the worst that can happen?" I ask the officer. Impa already has a record from speeding and theft, but she would never do anything violent or dangerous like this.

"The judge will decide what happens," the man tells me.

"She has to go to court for a little fire? It couldn't have been that bad."

"Zelda," Father's patience is wearing out drastically. He doesn't like it when I talk back to authority. "Go to your classes, we can talk about it tonight."

"You'll make sure that Impa's going to be fine, right?" I plead.

"I have contacted my lawyer, she's the best in the country. She doesn't usually take small cases like this, but Impa is part of our family and she will be alright."

"Thank you," I bow my head in gratitude and turn back toward Impa. She's smiling, assuring me that she's doing okay.

Since the two men are back to their conversation I decide to take a look at the damage. In the tunnel I can smell the remnants of smoke in the air and when I step out into the stadium I feel my jaw drop to the floor. Half the grass is black, just dead, and a couple of the chairs are damaged as well. The parts that are still green are littered in trash from the party but I can't take my eyes off the burned half of the field.

Link is at the other side of the stadium, probably as speechless as me. I walk over to him. He's holding a soccer ball in his hands and has a new set of clothes on. It's nearly identical to yesterday's outfit; gym shorts and a blue HU soccer t-shirt.

"I talked to the officer... Impa has to go to court for this. It wasn't her though."

"Hm... Maybe she did it by accident? It happens. She was probably a bit wasted."

"We both know who did this," I say furiously. "Impa stood up to Ganon and insulted him last week. Now Bonny and Clide are trying to frame Impa for arson." I have never felt so much hatred for a person. Ganon won't get away with this.

"More bad news," Link swallows, looking straight ahead at the burned grass. "Coach just told me that we can't play here until they fix the lawn. So the whole game schedule is changing. All the home games are moved to the end of October and all the away games are moved to now."

"I hate that all this is affecting you. I'm so sorry."

"That wasn't the bad news."

"Then what is it?" I'm getting slightly nervous here.

"The game against Lorule got moved forward."

"To when?"

He exhales a stiff breath and clenches his jaw. "Tomorrow."

---
(Hey guys!! I loved reading all your replies on my last author's note. It's so cool to see who you relate to the most and I really appreciate all the sweet messages you wrote for me <3 Love you guys so much! Here's another questions I've been dying to ask because so many of you tell me that my story helps you improve your English:

Where are you from?
Thank you so much for reading Thinking About You and for voting and commenting! :) xo)