A Much Needed Hero

Chapter 4: Friends

[Link]

Link felt nervous all morning.

What if Zelda didn't like his friends? What if she didn't even want to be friends? What if she didn't show up?

Ugh, he hated feeling so vulnerable and confused. Link took a deep breath, it was going to be okay he just needed to not freak out.

"Are you doing okay?" Sheik asked as they left Ms. Impa's class. "You've been quiet all day, and you're never quiet."

"Um, yeah, I'm doing okay it's just." Link cleared his throat. "I asked Zelda if she wanted to eat lunch with us today-"

"What's up guys?" Malon asked as she and Navi joined them.

"Link asked Zelda to eat lunch with us today and now he's totally freaking out."

"I am not."

Navi put her hand over her heart. "Aw, that's so cute, Link!"

"No it's not-"

"It totally is!" Malon clapped her hands in glee. "Does some one have a little crush?"

"What- no!" Link stuck his hands in his pocket; he'd only known Zelda for a few days. There was no way he could have a crush on her, right? "I'm nervous that's all. What if I came on too strong? She's really shy and I don't want to seem like a creeper. Or what if she doesn't show and then things will be super awkward when she tutors me-"

"Slow down," Malon chuckled. "You're overthinking things."

Sheik nodded his agreement. "Why wouldn't she come?"

Link drug his hands down his face. "Were you not listening to what I just said?"

"Look," Navi said as they arrived at their lunch table. "It was really nice of you to invite Zelda to eat with us. She seems really lonely and I'm sure she appreciated the gesture, but all you can do is invite and hope that she comes. I find it's best not to stress too much over stuff like this."

"But I don't think she's ever had too many friends and I don't want to mess this up for her." Link sat down and pulled out his lunch. "So if she does show up, can you all be super nice and inclusive?"

"Of course we will be." Sheik rolled his eyes. "We're not heartless monsters."

"Well some of us aren't." Malon muttered, glaring over Link's shoulder.

"Hey." A deep voice spoke and Link turned to see Ganondorf approaching. Link frowned. He always felt this strange uneasy feeling around Ganondorf. Maybe it was because Ganondorf was well over six foot and Link himself was barely scraping 5 foot 10 inches, but it was more than that. He always talked down to people and there was this glint in his eyes that made it seem like he was planning unimaginable horrors. But, despite this, Link still conjured up a smile as Ganondorf arrived at their table. "I was wondering if you had seen Nabooru around?"

"Last I saw her she was talking to Ms. Purah after class," Navi offered. "She still might be there."

"Thanks, I'll check there." Ganondorf waved, retreating back into the crowded cafeteria. "I'll see you guys later."

"I sure hope not," Navi said as soon as Ganondorf was gone. "That guy gives me the creeps."

"I know right." Malon shivered. "I heard he's been held back for two years."

"I had him in my math class last trimester, and he never did any of the homework, so I could see that being true," Navi said.

"He's a good basketball player," Sheik added, and then shrugged when Navi and Malon glared at him. "What? It's the truth."