A Much Needed Hero

Chapter 16: Fun

[Link]

    "Link, you're going to be late!" yelled Calla.

    "Yeah, you can't keep your girlfriend waiting," added Aryll.

    "I'm coming, I'm coming." Link said, checking his appearance once again in the mirror. He was going for the ruggedly-handsome-but-I-didn't-try-at-all look, but he had been trying for the last 30 minutes.

He ran down the stairs. "Mom, does my hair look okay?"

"Oh, you look so handsome!" Calla's voice caught, and she held Link's face in her hands. "My little boy is all grown up and going to prom."

"You can't cry yet mom, it's only the day date." Link extracted himself from his mother's grip. "And I'm almost late, so I've got to zoom."

"Remember to hold open the doors for her, and to give her your jacket if she gets cold," Calla said, following Link out of the front door. "Oh, and have fun!"

Link laughed as he opened his car door. "Don't worry mom. I've got this."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Aryll said, appearing behind her mother.

    Calla hushed her and gave Link a thumbs up. "You've got this."

    Link ignored the nerves forming in his stomach. "Thanks, mom."

    "Now go! You're going to be late."

    Link laughed and got in his car. The clock read 12:25--He could make it.

    Link sped through the back roads to Sheik's house, luckily no cops were around. He pulled into Sheik's long driveway at 12:30, perfect timing. He parked behind Malon's car before getting out.

"See I told you he would be on time," Sheik said, as he and Malon exited his house.

Malon rolled her eyes and handed Sheik a few rupees. "Yeah, yeah."

"Where's Zelda?" Link asked. "Is she still inside?"

"No, she's running late," Malon said.

The screeching of tire wheels caught their attention as Zelda pulled into the driveway. She parked behind Link and hopped out of her car, dropping her keys.

"Sorry, I'm late," She said, stooping down to pick up her car keys. "I had some...um... trouble this morning."

Link frowned. "Everything okay?"

"Yep!" Zelda smiled. "Everything is good, now let's get going."

"That's the right attitude," Sheik laughed. "Everyone to the Sheikmobile!"

"No one, besides you, is going to call it that," Malon teased.

"Are you sure everything's okay?" Link whispered. He and Zelda fell a few steps behind Sheik and Malon.

Zelda sighed. "It's just my father."

"Oh?"

"He wants... he wants to talk to you before the dance tonight." Zelda looked up at Link, her brow furrowed. "I don't know why and I told him not to--"

"I'll talk to him."

"I don't know, Link. My father has been really snappy after our fight, and I don't want him taking his anger towards me, out on you."

Link smiled, trying to convince Zelda that he wasn't nervous at all. "Look, don't sweat it. I can handle whatever he's going to say to me."

Zelda squinted suspiciously. "Are you sure?"