A Much Needed Hero

Chapter 2: Help

[Link]

A frown spread across Link's face as he examined his latest math test. He had received a whopping seventy out of a hundred. It was a C, meaning he had passed, but if his math grade kept slipping he'd be kicked off of the basketball team. Link huffed and ran a hand through his hair. He had meant to study last night, but he'd been so exhausted after practice that the numbers had seemed to float off the page.

"You okay, dude?" Sheik asked, leaning across the aisle separating their desks to try and see his score.

Link hid his math test friend from his best friend's prying eyes. "Yep."

Sheik flopped back into his seat. "You know you're one failing grade away from being benched, right?"

"I had no idea," Link rolled his eyes.

Malon gently hit the back of Sheik's head. "Leave him alone, Sheik."

"Ow," Sheik protested, rubbing the back of his head like the playful hit had actually hurt.

"Oh stop being such a baby," Navi said from behind Link.

That was one nice thing about his math class, all of his friends were in it, though maybe that was one of the reasons his grade wasn't doing so hot.

Their teacher, Mr. Beedle, cleared his throat and glared at the group of friends. "Would you please all listen while I'm teaching?"

They all muttered apologies and returned to taking notes. Throughout the lesson Link tried his best to understand what was going on but numbers just weren't his forte. The lecture seemed to last an eternity before the sweet ring of the bell released him from his math prison.

"You guys go ahead," Link said, waving his friends along. "I'm right behind you."

His friends waved goodbye, and Link waited for the rest of the class to filter out before he hesitantly approached Mr. Beedle.

"What can I do for you, Link?" He asked, organizing some papers on his already neat desk.

Link gulped, his palms starting to sweat. "You see, sir, I really can't afford to let my grade slip anymore, and I just can't seem to make sense of all these numbers and equations."

"I see," Mr. Beedle tapped his fingers on his desk. "Would you be open to receiving help from a tutor? Maybe one of your friends-"

"No!" Link bit his lip. "I mean, I'm happy to receive help from a tutor, just not from my friends." Link dropped his voice. "I don't want them to know I've been, uh, struggling."

"Understandable, let me think..." Mr. Beedle furrowed his brow in thought, and his fingers drummed ever faster on the desk. "Hmm, do you know Zelda King?"

Link paused, the name sounded familiar. "Maybe?"

"She's short, with long blonde hair, and is very quiet."

Link snapped. "Yes, I do know her. She's in my biology class, I think we're partners for this next unit."

Mr. Beedle leaned back in his chair. "Zelda is smart and very patient, so I'd imagine she'd make an excellent tutor. You should ask her and see if she can help you out."

"Will do! Thank you." Link turned to leave.

"Link?"

"Yes."

"Can I tell you something in confidence?"

"Of course."

Mr. Beedle hesitated. "I think Zelda is struggling too, but more with the social aspect of school. She's lonely and doesn't seem to have friends. You're a good kid, Link, and I think if you wanted to you could really help her out. Now I'm not asking you to be best friends with her, but if you could maybe be extra kind to her, I'd appreciate it." He smiled. "Plus that'd probably increase your chance of convincing her to be your tutor."

"I'll try, Mr. Beedle, and thank you." Link turned and this time he actually left the room, his mind in deep thought.

He really needed help with math and maybe getting tutored by Zelda would help him. But could he also help her? To be honest, Link hadn't known she'd existed until yesterday when they'd been paired up in Biology. It's not like he'd purposely overlooked her, it's just that she's extremely quiet- almost like she tries to make herself invisible.

The tardy bell rang, and Link hurried off to his third hour hoping he could convince Ms. Impa to excuse his tardy.

***

"Can you believe her!" Sheik complained as they exited Ms. Impa's class and started towards the lunch room. "Two pages of homework! I have a life you know."

"Well it's not her fault you wasted the time she gave us in class to work on it."

"Come on man, you're supposed to have my back."

Link laughed. "You're right, my bad," He cleared his throat. "I can't believe Ms. Impa gave us homework, it's so unfair."

"Thank you!" Sheik nodded his head in agreement. "You know- uh, Link, you okay?"

Link had paused in the hall after spotting a familiar blur of blonde hair dodging down the hallway. "Yeah, I just need to take care of one thing really fast. I'll meet you at our table."

"Uh, okay?"

Link left Sheik behind as he followed Zelda down the bustling hallways. When he was close enough he called out, "Zelda!"

She tensed at her name and tried to shrink even deeper into her baggy blue hoodie, but she didn't stop.

"Hey Zelda!"

She ignored him again and seemed to speed up- what was with her?

"Wait up." Link maneuvered around a group of freshman girls and gently grabbed Zelda's elbow. She flinched at his touch and seemed to brace herself for a hit. Link gawked at her, that definitely wasn't a normal response, was she okay? Before he could say anything more Zelda opened her eyes and she seemed shocked to see him there.

"I know you heard me," Link let go of her elbow, searching her eyes for answers as to why she was acting so strangely. "Are you okay?"

"Uh, yep!" Zelda smiled, but Link had faked a smile enough himself to see that it was forced.

"You looked kinda freaked out when I stopped you-"

"Oh I'm just a little tense, that's all." Her eyes were darting around nervously, and she was bouncy on her heels. "Got lots to do."

"I feel that," Link wanted to make her feel comfortable, what should he do? "Um, are you ready for biology next hour?"

She paused her nervous movements for a second, had his stupid question actually worked? She bit her lip. "Yeah, about that, I'm actually headed home right now so I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay I'll see you-"

Before he could finish his sentence she had bolted out the outside doors. Link followed behind her catching the door before it could swing shut. He was about to call after her and ask if she could tutor him, but what he saw made him pause. Zelda was frozen before a car that must have been hers, but it was graffitied in mean words. A sick feeling filled his gut as other kids around him started laughing at her. Link clenched his fists, he didn't care if he barely knew Zelda, no one deserved to be treated like that. He was about to go out there and see if she was okay but Zelda got in her car and drove off.

"Link?" He turned to see his friends walking towards him, Malon had been the one to speak. "Is everything alright?"

Link walked back into the building, his thoughts racing. "What do you know about Zelda King?"

"Not much," Navi said. "I've had her in a few of my classes, but she was always quiet and kept to herself. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, it's just..." Link paused, recalling Mr. Beedle's request. "I think that Zelda could use some friends."