Zelink Short Stories

I'll Be Waiting For You

First story of the new year. And if any of you don't know, I have another book I just finished called The Both Of Us (Zelink obviously). Also, I'm going to start posting chapters for a new one soon which is kinda similar to this story here just with a lot more substance. I'll make an announcement once that one is ready for your eyes.

Here's your song suggestions for this one:

Love- Lana Del Rey
Yosemite- Lana Del Rey

For context, this is set in 1944 (before D-Day). That little detail will make sense later.
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With school over, I finally have time to relax without assignments and due dates hanging over my head. I sit on my favorite bench in the park and open my current novel. I'm almost done with it already and I started it yesterday. I've had plenty of time to read since Father is busy and Impa has been off doing lord knows what. She better not get herself into any trouble. It might be a bit of a stretch to hope for that though.

It's not long before wild kids come out to play after getting kicked out by their mothers to run off the extra energy. Some of the boys are playing war, mimicking their fathers and older brothers on the front lines. The girls have their strollers, taking walks with their baby dolls through the thick summer grass. It's easy to forget what's happening away from home while admiring this peaceful scene. It just seems so far.

I slip out of my book when I feel eyes on me. I look up, seeing a boy looking back at me near the pond. He gives me a slight wave before turning back to the pond, scratching the back of his head. He didn't even give me the chance to wave back. I keep looking at him anyway. He's blond with messy bangs and sideburns and he's wearing a cream colored military uniform. Maybe he just enlisted. He can't be much older than me.

I give up when he doesn't look at me again. The ducks can't be that interesting. Or maybe they are. He is a boy after all. I admire their ability to find entertainment in nearly everything.

I return to my book, glancing up occasionally. Each time, he manages to look away at precisely the suspicious moment. I want to get a good look at his face if he's getting a good look at mine. I never thought I'd be so curious about an army boy watching ducks at the park. I certainly didn't expect to be disappointed when I find him not standing there anymore. I look around, trying to spot this mysterious military boy of mine. How did he disappear?

I write it off as him getting too nervous. A lot of boys get nervous, not that they have to be. Us girls don't bite. Nervous boys are cute. It means they're genuine.

The spot next to me is taken a little while later and I assume it's a girl with her baby doll. Until he scooches closer and I see the now familiar cream colored military pants. Maybe he's not so nervous after all.

"H-hi," he says when I look up at him. He is handsome. "I was trying to find one to match your dress." He smiles, holding up a blue flower. So that's what he was doing.

"Is that where you disappeared to?" I say, taking the flower. I can't help but turn a little pink. I've never had a boy go out of his way to pick a flower to match my outfit.

"You were looking for me?"

"Maybe." I face forward again, smiling smugly to myself. I tuck the stem of the flower in my book, marking the page since I don't think I'll be getting much more reading in at the moment. "Did you enjoy looking at the ducks?"

He scratches the back of his head again. It's cute. "I mean I wasn't really looking at the ducks."

"What were you looking at then, army boy?" I smile when his cheeks flush.