always tired (modern zelink) (discontinued)

incredibly awkward

"So... Zel, how have you been?"
She laughed. "What an awkward way to start a date."
"Heheh. Yeah... we did see each other earlier... and I said the exact same thing... Honestly, I'm really stupid sometimes."
"Me too. Anyway..."

She looked down at the menu in front of her. They were ways so awkward around each other. It wasn't like they had just met, either. They had known each other for quite a while.

It's just Link, she told herself. Just Link. You got this. Deep breaths. Start a conversation.

"Um... The weather is nice."

No! Stupid! Ask about his sister, his friends, anything but the weather! He'll think you aren't interested if you talk about stupid things like that.

"Yeah. I like spring. Except the bugs. I hate them."

See, he thinks you're uninterested- wait. He replied? Like, an actual, genuine reply? Maybe he's the stupid one...

"Heheh. Yeah. Mosquitoes are the worst. So, uh, how's your sister?"

Wow. Nice going. Now he'll think that you think his sister is like a mosquito.

"Still annoying. Honestly, she's comparable to a bokoblin."
There was an awkward pause. How would she reply to that? If she agreed, he'd probably think she didn't like his sister.

Luckily, the waiter came just in time.
"What would you two like?"
She examined the menu. She probably should have done that before. Now she was wasting the waiter's time.

"Um, I'll just have a salad."

Wow. Now he'll think you're boring.

"Me too."

The waiter nodded, writing something in a notepad. Then, they walked away.

She let out a breath she didn't even know she had been holding.

"Hey, Zel? You okay? You're looking a little..."
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine."
"Oh. Okay. That's good. You just seem kind of distracted, that's all."

*^*

Soon, the waiter came back, holding a tray. They put a bowl in front of her and Link.
"Enjoy your meal."
"You too- shit!"

Link smirked as she clasped her hand over her mouth.

You stupid excuse for a human! "You too," I swear to Hylia~
Who in their right mind would say that to a waiter? A dumbass, that's who.

She groaned, putting her head on the table.

"Zelda, it's fine. I didn't mean to laugh. I do that all the time."

She sighed and looked up at him.
"Okay... fine. Sorry about that."
"Really, are you okay? You seem awfully nervous. Although, that's to be expected in this situation... Zelda? Zelda?"

Why was he talking so much? He never did that. Maybe he did that when he was nervous. And it would make sense if he was nervous. Anyway, he just said that.

"Zelda? C'mon, are you okay? You look awfully pale."

She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. She had to calm down.

In... Out... In... Out...
There you go. Keep doing that.
In... Out... In... Out...
It's okay. It's alright. Everything is fine.

She opened her eyes. Link looked worried.

"I'm fine. I'm just a little stressed. About... everything. Y'know?"
He nodded and smiled. He began eating his salad, but not before adding a ton of ranch dressing.
She rolled her eyes and started eating as well.

*^*

He occasionally stole a glance at her whenever he got the chance. Which wasn't often, because he was driving.

She was looking out the passenger window. Her chin was resting on her hand, and her arm was propped up against the window.

I wonder what she's thinking about...
Probably how awkward I am. That date went terribly.
Hylia, I'm such a failure.

He stopped at a stop sign and put his forehead on the steering wheel.

"Link? Is everything alright?"

He nodded.

She laughed a little.
"I know. It's fine. That was incredibly awkward. At least it wasn't our first date."

He smiled and nodded.
Their first date had been much better. After all, they were still doing this. If it had been even close to the failure that this one was, they would have stopped seeing each other.
This would probably end it anyway. They had gotten this far, and he'd end it with his awkwardness and stupidity.
After all, this was only the second date. They still barely knew each other.

Maybe, if they kept going out, the next date would go better.
It was unlikely that they would, though. This date was an absolute disaster.

Hopefully she didn't hate him or think he was weird or stupid or anything.
He knew those things were all true, though. He was an absolute mess.

*^*

~755 words~