"Happy New Year," I say to Father as I walk small circles in the sand.

"Would it be a terminological mistake to wish the same to you?" He asks from 6000 miles away.

"You would be equally as wrong as you would be right since 50% of the world has passed midnight while the remaining 50% has not."

"If that is so, then I will go ahead and wish you an early Happy New Year. Unless you are available to call again at midnight?"

"I'm not staying with Urbosa until midnight," I say.

"Will you be with Impa?" 

Impa and Urbosa are the only two people who are both in touch with me as well as with Father. If I'm not near one of the two, Father has no way of contacting me. He could send me an email but it's not the type of communication you wish to have with your daughter on New Year's Eve.

"Maybe. I'm not sure yet," I say honestly. I still haven't decided where I'm spending the evening. Of with whom.

"Well... either way, I wish you a perfect evening."

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

We are approaching the end of our phone call and I still haven't found a way to thank him for his gift. Such simple words, and yet my tongue refuses to verbally shape my gratitude.

"I should get back now," Father says distracted.

I can imagine it clearly; his business partners in the other room, wearing their $15 thousand suits while they wait anxiously to open their $50 thousand sparkling wine. Meanwhile, Link is helping Revali, Kafei, and Anju to set up the New Year's Eve party at the frat house with crates of cheap beer and brandless bags of chips.

"Give my regards to Urbosa," Father bids.

"Okay," I nod.

"And thank you for calling. Perhaps we can call again soon? I have to check my agenda but I should have some time on Monday."

"Father?" I pause. I can hear indistinct chatter from his end of the line. I don't allow it to distract me. "Thank you for your letter. And for the lodge. It means... it means a lot to me. Everything you said in that letter was... I mean... Thank you."

"I am glad you liked it." I can hear it in his voice; he is smiling. Now I'm smiling too.

"When you get back from Europe, would you like to have dinner with me?" I ask, chewing on my cheek.

"I'd love to have dinner with you. If you choose a restaurant, I will gladly make a reservation."

"How about we eat at home?" I offer him.

"Home?" He clears his throat. I haven't used that word to refer to his house in a while and I think he noticed that. I'm glad when he decides not to point that out. "Y-yes. That will work. That will work perfectly. Just send me your availability and we will set something up."

After we say our goodbyes and hang up the phone, I walk back inside. Urbosa is sitting on the sofa chair, Riju is back in her room.

"Thank you for lending me your phone," I say as I hand it back to her.

"Anytime, Little Bird," Urbosa smiles up at me. "How did he react?"

"He was surprised when he heard my voice instead of yours. He is at some kind of business party get-together thing in Austria, so he couldn't talk for long, but he appreciated the call."

"I'm sure he loved hearing from you. He gave you the lodge, huh?" She gives me another smile, a smug one.

"How do you know about that?" 

"He told me a few weeks ago."

"So..." I take a seat on the sofa. "You and Father still talk then? You are still close friends?"

"Nothing has changed about our friendship," she assures me.

"Oh, good," I sigh. "I was worried that me leaving home could put you in an awkward spot of having to choose a side."

"I trust we are all mature enough not to let one's decision to move out tear us apart."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that... I have been acting pretty immature and I am embarrassed about that. When we met for dinner two weeks ago, I shouldn't have run off like that. Father was trying to find a way to talk to me and thought involving you could help us. I let my anger get the best of me. I'm sorry."

"Little Bird," Urbosa smiles and tilts her head. "I'm not mad at you. I will admit, I was a little sad that you felt you couldn't talk to me, but I don't hold it against you. I'm sure this whole year hasn't been easy on you. I hope you know that you have a home here and that you can always talk to me."

"I know. It's just that Riju is already living with you and I just didn't want to burden you with my problems."

"I understand that. Still, I'm here for you."

I get up and give her a hug. "Thanks, Urbosa. You have no idea how much that means to me... Here, I have something for you." From my pocket, I reveal a folded piece of paper and hand it to her. "It's more from you than it is for you." I would have liked to hold on to it but it's not mine to keep. Urbosa unfolds the paper and reads the first line of the letter.

"Oh wow," a vast grin stretches across her face and her eyes fill with tears. "This is quite a few years old," she chuckles.

"Father found it at the lodge and thought Mother wrote it."

Urbosa shakes her head. "I remember writing this note. I wrote it the night we returned from the springs. You were in utter despair and fearful for the future. It was truly heartbreaking to see you struggling to carry all this weight on your shoulders when you were still just a child."

"I hardly remember what it felt like or what I was praying for, but I do remember you keeping me company at the springs." Urbosa has always been there for me. She couldn't do much to change my mind, but she always made sure that I didn't feel alone. "May I ask who this letter was for?"

She folds it up again. "Myself. It must have fallen out of my journal. Thank you for returning it to me."

Urbosa and I talk for another two hours during which I open up to her about the past two months. I tell her all about Link and how I have been living in the frat house. She is having a hard time believing me and I can't blame her; everything I say sounds far-fetched or made up. It is so far away from my typical life. At least my stories seem to amuse her. She continuously praises me for my bold decisions and applauds my actions. When I notice how happy she looks when I tell her that my life is not solely focused on good grades anymore but on making memories and stepping out of my comfort zone, I notice just how happy I am about the same.

The sky has turned pitch black by the time I make it back to the frat house. Dozens of cars are parked on the side of the road and loud music compels everyone to dance. Only three and a half hours remain until the craziest year of my life ends. I have to find Link to find out what his plan is for the night but every couple of steps I am stopped by people. First Kafei and Anju by the door, then Teli when I pass the living room, and Prissen on my way upstairs. I shake them all off and make it to Link's door.

"Princess!" Impa greets me, walking out of the bathroom. When did I switch from having one friend, to having to greet every person in this house? I let go of the doorknob and turn to Impa to hug her. She smells like alcohol already.

"Remember not to drink too much. And don't get into any fights, you're still on probation."

"Yeah yeah," she rolls her eyes with a smile. "Could you be any more of a party pooper?"

"Yes," I answer honestly. "Hand me your car keys."

"I don't drink and drive."

"I know for a fact that you do, so give me your keys."

"One condition," she says, pulling out her keys. "You're gonna have a drink with us."

"No."

"Come on, one drink."

"No," I shake my head and walk back to Link's door.

"You're not gonna hide away all night, are you? You'll party with me, you promised."

"I never made such promises, but yes, I'll come downstairs and spend some time with you as long as I don't have to drink or smoke."

"Deal," she grins and places her car keys in my hand.

Just as I grab Link's doorknob again, Malice's voice sounds, "Leave me alone!"

I take a step back as Impa takes one forward. Malice comes rushing up the stairs, followed by Ganon. She pushes past us with a sour face, steering toward the bathroom. Ganon chases after her, not paying any attention to us, and grabs Malice's arm before she can slam the door shut.

"Let go!" She shouts at him. His mien is dark and his grip tight. "Don't fucking touch me! I mean it!" When she jerks away and falls backward into the bathroom, his foot blocks the door and he steps into the doorframe.

"Stop acting like a crazy bitch!" Ganon hisses, pulling her up with one hand.

The door behind me opens as soon as Ganon's voice fills the hallway and Link steps out of his room. Without a word, he positions his body in front of me. I want to just drag Link back into his room and lock the door, but I can't leave Malice with this violent man. Leaving Impa alone with them would be even worse.

When Ganon spots us, darker shadows fall over his features. He rolls his eyes halfway but focuses on Malice. She is back on the floor. "Get up!" He hauls her arm.

"Fuck off," she slaps his hand and kicks her legs. What is going on between those two? I know they broke up but I thought she isn't talking to him anymore.

Link takes a step toward them but I quickly hold him back by his wrist. Ganon didn't seem to take an interest in Link when he saw him. We shouldn't play with fire. Maybe Ganon will give up and just leave.

"Go back to your shitty apartment and live your waste of a life somewhere else!" Malice orders Ganon, still refusing to get up.

"I'm not leaving without you."

"Why not? Wouldn't be the first time," she hisses.

"I'm fucking sorry, okay? Fuck, why are you even here, I thought you hated these parties." Ganon takes a look down the hallway and I freeze when his eyes roam past me. He looks back at Malice and tries to pull her up again. "Get up!" he orders but she kicks his arms when they try reaching for her. "What's your problem? You tell me you don't want to go back to him but you refuse to come with me."

"Come with you? I hate you!"

"So you'd rather stay with him?" Ganon barks. "How goddamn stupid are you? I'm offering to take care of you, why are you being such a cunt?"

"You can't even take care of yourself! You're drunk and high as we speak, just get away from me!"

Thick veins align with the tattoos on Ganon's neck as he steps into the bathroom. I hold on to Link, as tightly as I can, not to keep him back but to keep myself from losing the balance in my trembling legs. Malice might hate Ganon more than I do, but I fear him ten times more than she does. He is violent and dangerous, and who knows what Karusa told him about me. I need Link to leave the scene before Ganon snaps at us and mentions Karusa.

"Get up or I'll make you," Ganon warns.

"Always talking shit but when it depends on it you're quiet. You should have said something sooner! You just left like a coward!" Malice cries.

"I didn't have a choice!" Ganon shouts.

"Neither do I!"

"Yes you do!" Ganon yanks her arm enough to pull her up from the floor. Keeping one hand around her wrist and the other around the back of her neck to steer her back toward the stairs, he threatens, "You're not going back to him. I won't let you."

"Hey dickhead," Impa blocks their path. "Remember me? Looks like you finally found your balls. Too bad I'm about to castrate you."

"Impa," a frightful whisper falls from my lips as I hold on to Link. I can't keep them both on the leash and Link's fists are already clenched and his eyes have narrowed to keen slits of spite. 

Ganon doesn't bother to answer or even look at Impa. He is too focused on getting Malice down the stairs. She has stopped fighting and walks alongside him. If she looks back, even if it is just a glance in my direction, I will follow her, call the police, or fight Ganon myself. All she has to do is give me a sign that she needs our help. But she doesn't turn around. By the time they reach the bottom of the stairs she even has her arms wrapped around Ganon's. They leave through the front door without any more struggle and I am left to process what just happened.

"Ugh, I hate him," Impa huffs, placing her hands on her waist.

Link cups my cheeks and scans my shocked expression. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," I breathe. My heart is racing but fortunately, nothing worse happened. I'm just confused... Why would Malice suddenly go with him after trying to fight him off like that? Neither of them seems too fond of her new boyfriend and I doubt that he is very different from Ganon but it's still up to her who she wants to be with. I hope she knows what she's doing. 

She shouldn't have left with him, but then again, I don't know the full story. She is old enough to make her own decisions and knows how to defend herself. If she really didn't want to go with Ganon, she would have fought harder. And if she really needed help, she wouldn't have pushed me away those times I tried to offer her my hand.

"Did he say something to you?" Link wants to know. I shake my head at him and shift my eyes to Impa.

"You're lucky that he ignored your comment," I scold her.

"He's lucky that I didn't whoop his ass," she counters without the slightest trace of fear in her voice. I admire her for her bravery but I wish she would keep quiet in situations like that. "I'm going to play beer pong now. You coming?"

"In a bit." I need some alone time with Link. We haven't seen each other all day and after dodging this colossal bullet, I long to relax in his arms for a moment.

"Okay but don't take too long," she winks at me and returns to the party.

Link and I disappear into his room before more people fill the hallways. He waits for me to take a seat on his bed before sitting down next to me. His jaw is tense but his eyes soften when he looks at me.

"Boars should be banned from Hyrule," he huffs.

"I agree. At least that one."

"Sorry, I don't want to ruin the mood," he kisses my cheek.

"It's okay. We are lucky. It could have gone so much worse. I just worry about Malice. She doesn't seem comfortable with Ganon, yet she stays with him."

"It's incredible that you care so much about her even though she treats you so bad sometimes. One of the reasons I admire you," he gives me another kiss. I blush and smile. "Is it okay if we change the topic? I wanna ask you something."

"Sure, what's up?" I turn my head slightly to look at him.

"Would it be a problem if people saw us together?"

"Together as in...?"

"You know--" he clears his throat. "Kissing."

"Hm... I don't know." Although we have talked about it back in Mammoth Lakes, I didn't expect this to happen this soon. He knows I want to be with him, officially, but kissing him now, in front of others... it just doesn't feel right. "It would be impractical because we would have to explain why we are kissing even though we aren't... we don't have... we're not..." I cringe at myself. Why can't I just say it out loud; we aren't boyfriend and girlfriend yet.

"I understand. I'm just asking cause I kinda want to kiss you into the new year. I thought you might like that. I'm glad I asked though."

"Oh. Er--can't we do that up here too?"

"No, I can. For sure. I mean, I don't have to at all. It's not a big deal. But I still wanted to ask, just in case we're not back by midnight."

"We?"

"Yeah. I thought I'd show up to the party for once."

"Really?" I raise both eyebrows at him. "You never attend your parties."

"I know but some people come to see me. I don't want to sound arrogant but I should at least make an appearance. I'll be back up here by midnight."

"Are you doing this because of what Revali said last week?"

Link shrugs. "He's right, isn't he? It's kind of a dick move to hide up here or go practice while he has to deal with my fans."

"Don't think that about yourself. You're a good person and far from arrogant or self-centered." I lean my head against his shoulder. His hand rubs my back as muffled music fills the short silence. "I'm sure Revali will appreciate the gesture. But don't expect him to admit it."

"I don't," Link chuckles and kisses the top of my head.

After a couple of minutes, we leave his room. For the first time, we actually leave his room at the same time. The few people who actually notice us, gape at us in the rudest way and I can already sense their desire to comment on our sudden appearance. As much as I would love to avoid any kind of rumors regarding Link and me, I am sick of hiding and sneaking around, leaving his room one at a time, and always fearing what might happen if someone sees us. Screw that. It's the end of the year, new beginnings lie ahead of us, and I am not scared anymore. At least I'm trying not to be. Courage doesn't come to me as naturally as to others.

"Let's find Impa," Link says to me, drawing even more eyes to us. He doesn't usually speak in public, I'm sure people are taken aback by his behavior.

We head downstairs and spot Impa pretty immediately. She is the life of the party, dancing, shouting, and laughing. Just as we reach the ping-pong table, she scores a ball and jumps up and down with a huge grin on her face.

"Suck it!" she laughs and points at Karson on the other side of the table. He picks up the cup and finishes the drink.

"Rematch!" He requests.

"Hey Impa," I interrupt with a small smile.

"Hey! Didn't expect you to crawl out of your cave this soon!" She cheers.

"Just stopping by to make sure you see me at the party. Now you can't claim I didn't show up in case you get too intoxicated and forget that I was here with you."

"Well, since you're here you should play with us," she smirks.

"Sure. Link and I can go against you and Karson."

"Um, check again, buddy. Your playmate is a little preoccupied I think," she points her finger past me and I turn around to find Link by the sofas, caught in a very one-sided conversation with a group of strangers. Girls, mainly. That was fast. One minute he is standing right behind me, the next he is trying to talk his way out of talking.

"Oh," I nod. "I suppose it's just me then."

"I'll join the game," a familiar voice says from behind me. Prissen, holding a red cup, takes the place next to me and dips the ping pong ball in one of the cups on the table. "You and me versus them?" He asks me. 

"Okay," I say, only to be polite.

"The usual wager?" Prissen smirks at Impa.

"Duh," she smirks back at him.

"Wait, hold on a second," I gasp when Prissen gets ready to take his shot. "What's the wager?"

"A kiss," Prissen says, eying Impa.

"Only if he wins, which never happens," she laughs.

"And what happens if you win?" I ask Impa, fearing the answer.

"Then he has to go around and tell people how awesome I am," she grins and laughs at Prissen when he misses his first shot.

"This bet only counts for you two, right?" I ask them. 

"Yeah, but you can enter a bet too," Impa smiles, scoring a ball.

It only takes a couple of minutes for Prissen and me to lose the game. He is off to praise Impa while Karson convinces us to play Drunk Jenga with him and his girlfriend. Of course, the architect wins the game three times in a row and two hours later, Impa is slurring half her sentences as she tries to explain the next game to me. I've spent more time down here than I initially planned and I think I deserve to go back upstairs now. 

"Don't go yet!" Impa hiccups when I tell her that I am leaving the party.

"I've been here for hours and played more games with you than you can probably count right now."

Impa brings up her hand and starts to count using her fingers. "I think it's been like what, five games? Stay a little longer. Link's probably busy with his fangirls anyway." I frown at her words, trying not to imagine what they are implying. "I didn't mean that," she apologizes. 

"It's fine." He is certainly not busy with his fangirls, I tell myself. He is probably back in his room already but I should still check and make sure he is okay. 

When I find his room to be empty, I panic. I don't want to overreact but I can't help but worry. It's been hours since I last saw him. I head back downstairs and search the living room and kitchen. Nothing.

The music is disturbingly loud and the smoke makes it hard to think straight. Where did he go? I check every room downstairs but he is nowhere to be found. This can't be how I end the year: panicked and all alone in a house of intoxicated teenagers.

"Hey Zelda," Anju raises her cup toward me when I pass her on my way out the back.

"Hey, have you seen Link?" I ask her.

"No? Should I have? She laughs. "Isn't he in his room?"

"No."

"Huh. He probably left then. You know he doesn't like these kinds of parties."

"I know but he actually attended tonight's party. He wouldn't have left without informing me first." My pulse is beating so heavily, it's borderline painful.

Kafei joins us and gently tucks on his fiancé's arm. "Let's go to the living room, we're starting the countdown soon. Oh, hey Zelda, you doing the countdown with us?"

"Er-N-no, have you seen Link?"

"He's out back, I think," Kafei nods toward the glass doors. 

"Thank you!" I hurry outside and scan the backyard. No sign of Link. People are starting to head back inside while I'm growing more and more anxious. I bring up my phone to call him even though I know he left his phone in his room.

No answer, just as I thought. Was he drinking? Did he leave with one of those girls he was talking to? Did they kidnap him? I'm so glad no one can hear my thoughts. People would laugh at me... But still, where did he go? I text him, not expecting a response.

"Hey," Link is suddenly standing right in front of me, hands in his pockets. I look up from my phone to find him soothing my worries with a smile. "Heard you're looking for me."

"Who told you?" I only interrogated half the party.

"You did," he holds up his phone to show me his lock screen. "Three minutes till midnight."

"Let's go back inside then," I say but he shakes his head.

"Follow me." He walks me over to the side of the house and climbs onto one of the dustbins.

"What are you doing?" I chuckle.

"We're going up to the roof."

"No, we are not," I laugh in denial.

"Come on," he holds out his hand, waiting for me to take it. Is he being serious? I can't climb up to the roof. "Do you really want to end the year in fear?" He smiles.

I sigh and take his hand, allowing him to pull me up. This doesn't seem secure at all. Link uses the window sims to climb onto the lower roof, then he turns around to watch me do the same. Or at least try to do the same. I just can't find a good grip. 

"Two minutes," he rushes me with an amused smile.

"This isn't as easy as it looks," I hiss, trying to pull myself up.

"You mean it doesn't look as easy as it is?" he teases. "Here, take my hand." He pulls me up and shows me how to get onto the big roof. Then he pulls me up again and carefully leads me to the top of the roof. He takes a seat next to a black box and kindly contains his laughter when I plunge down next to him, exhausted gasping for air. "See? Wasn't so hard."

"Nooo--not--at all," I pant and roll my eyes.

"You're cute."

"I'm sweaty." I let my head fall back and try to find a star in the night sky. I hate light pollution...

"So, what is your new year's resolution?" Link asks placing the black box in front of us. 

"I plan on never climbing a roof again," I pant.

"A bit unrealistic, don't you think? You couldn't stick to it this year, why quit now?"

"Dork," I laugh and finally catch my breath to ask him about the box. "What's that?"

He pulls up a lighter and grins. "Fireworks."

"What?" I gasp, nearly falling backward down the roof. "You're going to set the house on fire!"

"We're on the roof and I'm aiming them skyward," he calmly explains. "My new year's resolution is to quit arson, so you have nothing to worry about," he jokes.

"It's not the new year yet, so that's not very reassuring."

"Fair point," he shrugs and chuckles.

"10, 9..." we hear the crowd counting from downstairs.

"Ready?" He looks at me with the most lovely smile.

"No," I frantically shake my head. This is the epitome of safety hazards.

"7..6..." they cheer.

"What about now?" He asks and I nod.

"Okay," I whisper. Let's end this year in a bang. No more fear, no more hesitation, and missing out. No more regret.

Link steadies the box a few feet away from us and lights the fuse. He quickly returns to me, puts his arms around me, and pulls me closer. "Next year, we could watch the ball drop live in New York City if you want," he smiles at me. Last year I spent New Year's Eve alone in my room, waiting for it to be over, next year I might spend New Year's Eve traveling across the country with my boyfriend. What is happening to my life and why am I falling in love with my future when he holds me like this?

"New York City is too busy. I like this more," I admit. "It's more... private."

"Yeah, it's pretty neat." He soots closer.

"3...2...1..." they whoop in synchrony.

Link smiles at me one last time before he leans in to kiss me. 

"Happy New Year!" Everyone cheers, just as the fireworks go off. I shriek and flinch but Link keeps me close and chuckles at my reaction. He covers my ears and kisses my nose. Okay, I'll admit it; this is better than hiding in his room. I have butterflies dancing in my stomach as his lips embrace mine. Fine, it's perfect. 

He backs away slightly and cups my cheeks. "So, what will be your first words of the year?" he asks me with a smirk.

With sealed lips, I ponder. What shall be my first words? I know what he wants me to say and I admit it would be pretty perfect but I don't want to be part of the echo of a million people. I don't want to say it just because everyone else does or just because the calendar resets to January. Link will have to wait a little longer to hear those words from me. I smile and kiss him instead. For now, this is all I have to say. 

Excited for the future, I look up at the fireworks and pretend they are the stars. "This will be our year," I say with a genuine smile.

-----

(Hey guys! Thank you soooooooooooo much for 10K votes on Thinking About You!!!!! Votes and comments really help the algorithm so keep doing that hehe :)

I quickly want to address something regarding the last couple of chapters and the way Zelda was acting. Lots of you kept saying she should tell someone about the assault. When she finally did tell Link about it, many comments were still not satisfied with her, because she kept some details to herself. It's not easy to talk about assault or trauma and while it can help the healing process to open up, not everyone feels good doing it. Sometimes it can even feel worse to talk about it. We can offer to listen and be there for them, but we should never push them or show any kind of disappointment when they are unable or simply not comfortable talking about it. Just wanted to say that :) I'm glad lots of you are understanding and show the support and empathy a person in Zelda's situation would need/want. This is a very supportive community and I'm proud of the way we all treat each other with respect! Love you guys!!)