My first class goes by pretty quickly. Usually I'd be happy about that, but today I wish time would slow down. Every time I think about PE I get nauseous. I don't want to be in Link's presence today. The car ride was so uncomfortable and I have a feeling that Link is upset. But why? Because I thought he was dating Mipha? He should have just denied it when Malice said that at the pier. If anyone has the right to be upset it's me. 

I spot Pik at the other end of the hallway and try to hide behind a corner but I think he saw me. This just keeps on getting better... I know he means well and I'm not mad about astronomy anymore, but the way he talked to Link yesterday makes me furious and I don't know if I want to talk to him right now. He had no reason to be rude to Link. Or maybe he does have a reason. I have to stop assuming things about other people.

Pik appears from behind the corner and flashes me with his bright smile.

"Hey," he says and pushes his hair back.

"Oh, hi Pik."

"You didn't come back yesterday."

"I know, I... I felt sick. I was marked absent anyway so it wouldn't have mattered if I came back to class. I just went home right after Link showed up."

If I manage to keep eye contact he'll believe my fake story. That's right Pik, I wasn't here when Link got into a fight.

"So you know him?" he asks with a neutral expression.

"No, not really. I mean... I've heard about him and I know who he is, but I don't know him any more than the other students at HU." Keep looking at his eyes, Zelda.

"Alright. I thought maybe you guys were close since--"

"Nope, we're not," I quickly interrupt.

"Since he knew your name."

Shoot. I forgot that Link said my name in front of Pik.

"Oh well, who doesn't? I'm the president's daughter." I make a nervous laugh and shrug. My eyes dart to the classroom door and I quickly look back at him.

"True. I just thought he doesn't really talk to anyone," Pik says, sounding slightly suspicious.

"So do you know him?" I ask him back, hoping it will distract him from my lie.

"No. Same as you, I know who he is but yesterday was the first time we talked. Well, I talked. He... Link only talked to you."

"So you guys didn't talk more after I went home?"

"No, I thought he went after you?"

"Nope, I went home."

"Yeah, you've mentioned that. Three times." Oh no, he's definitely getting suspicious.

"Well, I better get going. I'll see you in astronomy tomorrow."

"Speaking of which," he says as I walk past him. I stop, turn around, and wait for him to speak.

"I talked to Astor after class. He said he'll excuse your absence and reset your grade."

"Wait what? What do you mean? Does this mean my grade is fine? I didn't lose any points?"

"Precisely. Thank me later. Actually, thank me now, let's grab lunch together."

"I can't, I have a class in five minutes."

"Pity. Maybe you could come to my gig on Friday night then?"

"A gig?"

"Yeah, my band plays at this bar not far from the dorms. You should come."

"Oh, I'm not 21 yet, so..."

"They don't ask for ID. You'll be fine."

That's a big no. A bar? A band? A boy? Yes, if I wanted Father to put me up for adoption I'd agree to this.

"It's really chill," Pik says and pushes his hair back again. "It's mostly college kids anyways. You could bring your friends too. Come on, live a little. I'm sure you'd love it."

"I don't think it's my cup of tea..."

He's the only guy who would smile at a reject. I hope he just drops it, but of course he doesn't.

"You won't know if you like it or not until you try it. Just come by for an hour, just for one song even, and if you don't like it you can leave and tell me every day how much my music sucks."

His smile is so contagious.

"I'll think about it." I won't. But I need to get to class.

"Sure you will," he rolls his eyes and smiles. It's my eyes, they always give me away.

"Thank you for talking to Astor. You're a lifesaver."

"Yeah, he wasn't pleased, but I got him convinced anyway. Try to be on time tomorrow."

"I will be there early," I say determined.

We say our goodbyes and I head to my next class. Pik confuses me on so many levels. He's too forward for my comfort and has no sense for personal space, but he's not a bad guy. He risked his own grade when he stepped outside with me to calm me down and then he risked his good reputation by going to Astor to fix my attendance. I'm grateful for what he's done for me, but I hate feeling like I owe him. 

During my German class I bring up my phone and text Impa in secrecy. I wouldn't usually do this, but I have so much to tell her and so little time to meet her.

*Hey, tomorrow at noon again?* I ask her and wait for a reply. After 3 minutes of waiting I put my phone away again. I don't want the professor to think I'm not paying attention.

One more class and two days until the weekend. I can't wait to be done with this week. This whole semester has been nothing but a nightmare and I don't see it getting any better.

At 3 PM I change into my gym clothes and sneakers. I tell myself over and over to just ignore Link and focus on PE but my eyes keep searching the gym for him. I spot him coming from the equipment room with two basketballs under his arms. His eyes meet mine immediately but he looks away as if he didn't see me.

"Gather around," the coach says and we do just that. "Today we're playing some basketball. I'll explain the rules in the second half of class. For now I just want you to warm up and get a feel for the ball and the hoops."

Luckily he isn't making us form groups again. I didn't mind warming up with Paya last time but she has a crush on Link and I'm not in the mood to hear her drool all over him. Not today. I look over to him right as he tosses the ball at one of the hoops. My eyes stay with Link when the ball falls through the net. He didn't even flinch when he lifted his arms and jumped, which means that he must be feeling much better today. I look over at Malice. For once she's minding her own business. She hasn't bothered me ever since the pier and I'm glad about it.

Link doesn't look at me once. It almost feels like he's purposefully minding my eyes. When the coach tells us to make two teams to play against each other, Link waits until I select my team and deliberately chooses the opposite team. I'm pretty sure that he's ignoring me but I really want to give him the benefit of doubt this time.

After class I stay for another two minutes until everyone has left. Everyone but Link. He's talking to the coach and I wait at the exit. My common sense is telling me to just go home but I need to know if Link is mad at me for something. If yes, then I want to fix it. We don't have to be friends, but I don't want him to be hurt or anything. He's a good person and if something is bothering him I want to resolve it.

He's done talking to the coach and starts walking to the exit, still not looking at me.

"Link?" I say when he passes me.

He looks at me briefly and keeps walking down the narrow hallway. What the heck?

"Hey!" I try again in a slightly irritated tone. Nothing. Not even a nod or a sign that he heard me.

I take a quick look around; no windows and no other students near us. I grab a hold of Link's t-shirt and he finally stops.

"I'm talking to you," I say annoyed.

He doesn't even look at me.

"I have practice," he tells me and I let go of him.

So he's not deaf after all.

"Are you ignoring me?" I ask straight forward.

"No."

What a bloody liar! He's obviously been ignoring me all day. He walks into the locker room before I can call him out for his lies. What happened today? How did we go from kissing each other to being strangers again? We drove to campus, we talked about the kiss, I said it was a mistake, and that's when the mood shifted. The second he got out of my car he acted cold. Am I missing something here? Did I do something to upset him? It couldn't have come as a surprise that the kiss was a mistake, so something else must be bothering him.

Enough of this madness, I'm not going to leave until I have an answer. I bring my hand up to the door to knock on it but it opens before my knuckles hit the wood. I can't believe I almost knocked at the men's locker room door without even thinking about it. I'm relieved that someone opened it just in time.