Zelink Short Stories - Chapter 1: Chapter 1

My mind roamed as I watched my handsome knight swing his sword, parrying attacks from his fellow soldiers, taking on three at once. He's always been so talented, being able to beat experienced adults since he was a child. His father, a retired and honored member of the Royal Guard, taught him well. His skill has surpassed that of his father and of every other knight under my father's rule. It's why he's my personal protector.
I watch as he fights, his feet moving quickly and kicking up dirt in the training area. I'm supposed to be studying. Actually, I'm not usually awake yet but I wanted to watch Link train. I love watching his focus and determination as he knocks down his opponents, always coming out victorious while his fellow knights walk away with sore behinds from falling down so hard on the packed dirt.
Today has to be the day. I've been saying that for Hylia knows how long but today has to be it, I feel it. I want to tell him how I feel, how I really feel. We're already friendly as we're forced to be around each other. It wasn't always like that. I scoffed at my need for a protector and dismissed him as an annoyance. That was until he saved me from the Yiga Clan. I wanted to prove I didn't need him, that I could take care of myself. I snuck away from him in Gerudo Town. It was quite the feat actually, getting away from him. Nothing gets past him. Sometimes I think he let me get away on purpose to teach me a lesson. He's not the vengeful type, however. I think he merely slipped up, breaking his usually perfect streak.
I thought I was so clever sneaking away from my silent knight. His presence was suffocating! He never spoke, the only times being when he'd brief my father or forbid me from doing something due to the possible dangers. I slipped out of his watch, strolling through the desert with my Sheikah Slate. I thought I'd already proven my independence. I would go to Father when we returned to the castle and tell him of Link's mistake. He'd reassign him and I'd no longer be followed my the shorter than average blonde boy who never spoke. It was all going according to plan. By the next day, I'd be knight free and I could go about my days without him lingering over my shoulder. That was until I heard the mocking laughter behind me. They let me turn around to see their blood-red suits and their viciously sharp sickles as they tossed and twirled them around their wrists. I froze for only a moment as I realized my grave mistake. I snuck away from my knight and he had no idea where I was. This was the first time I'd needed him and he wasn't around!
I ran as fast as I could, the hot sand slowing me down as my feet sank inches with each step. The Yiga had uniforms designed for stealth with fabric that clung tightly to their slender bodies and allowed them to move quickly even in the deep sand. I could hear them as they chased me, constantly mocking me with their laughter. They were like predators who loved to see the fear in their prey before they killed. They had sworn to kill me, the Princess of Hyrule and they were handed their chance because I had foolishly escaped my knight.
I tripped over a rock I hadn't seen in my haste and fell to the sand. I was surrounded in seconds and they closed in, their sickles reflecting the bright sunlight. How stupid could I possibly be leaving Link for such a childish reason. I was practically asking to be attacked and I was going to die due to my immaturity. I squeezed my eyes shut and held my arm over my face as one of the Yiga raised his weapon, ready for the killing blow. If I were to die, I didn't want to see the sickle coming down. As I apologized to Father in my head and prepared for the end, I heard quick footsteps followed by a wet thwack and the thud of a body as it landed in the sand. I cracked my eyes open, realizing I was still alive and I saw the familiar bright blue of his Champion's Tunic and his dirty blonde hair tied back in a short ponytail. He had saved me! He stood in a protective stance in front of me, his sword raised and ready to strike down any Yiga that dared oppose him. They backed away in fear before disappearing in a puff of smoke. He had thrown himself in danger to protect me with no regard for his own safety. I no longer thought of him as a nuisance. He was someone I never wanted to be without.
He knocks down the last of his opponents by sweeping his foot across the ground, knocking the other knight off balance. He falls on his behind with a dull thud and my knight finally notices me. I'd like to think he's blushing and not simply overheated from his training. He's nearly impossible to read, hiding his emotions whenever they peek through. Though polite, he has always ignored my attempts at flirting with him. It could just be my lack of romantic experience. He must think I'm incredibly awkward, not that he'd ever admit what he thinks of me. It's frustrating. Infuriating even. I want to know if he returns my feelings. As the princess, I could order him to spill his feelings. Being the people pleaser he is, he'd only tell me what I wanted to hear and that's not what I want. I want his true feelings. Which is why I'm going to force him to be normal today!
The wind blows his unkempt bangs and sideburns as he resheaths the Master Sword. He strolls towards me with his usual stoic expression and his hands in fists. As barbaric as it may seem, some of my favorite trainings to watch is when he fights hand to hand. He may be small for a seventeen year old Hylian but he doesn't fight like he is. Only a few months ago I came to watch him train and was pleasantly surprised to see it was a hand to hand combat day. It was an especially warm day and the knights removed their shirts since they didn't know I was there. With all the shirtless boys I could've looked at, my eyes were glued to Link. You'd never know there were softly defined muscles hiding under his long sleeves. They were from years of holding heavy swords and shields, pulling back the string on a bow that I tried to replicate once when he wasn't looking. He makes it looks easier than it is. My gawking was rudely interrupted when a knight caught sight of me, calling out my title in surprise and the men scattered, grabbing their shirts in fear the King would find out about their state of undress in front of his daughter. Link had stared at me for a moment, his face and pointed ears as red as an apple before he pointlessly tried to cover his muscular torso with his hands and ran away. How disappointing that was after I'd been enjoying the view. Perhaps it was foolish for a princess to fall for a knight but I believe with enough dramatics, Father could be convinced. That is if Link feels the same.
"I didn't know we were going anywhere today, princess," he says after taking in my appearance. I'm wearing my traveling outfit consisting of black skin tight pants and a bright blue shirt with long sleeves. I'd asked my seamstress to take the waist in a little about a month ago with the hope Link would notice my figure more. All I received was frustration. Rather than looking at my body like I wanted, he'd kept his eyes on my face and didn't allow his gaze to travel any further down. He has too much self-control for a teenage boy. Or maybe he just didn't return my feelings.
"It was more of a last minute plan," I say, hopping up from the old wooden bench I was sitting on. It was a lie. I've been planning this "date" for months. I'd written it in my diary, scribbling out the parts I didn't like until I came up with what I thought would be the perfect day with him. I hadn't had the confidence to follow through with it until this morning. Now I must stick to it.
"Where are we-"
I grab his hand, cutting him off. I'll use any excuse to hold his hand. I pull him behind me so he doesn't see my flushed cheeks. "To the stables!"
He goes to my horse's stall automatically to retrieve my bright white steed. I love my horse but my plan today doesn't involve him.
"Actually, seeing as this is only a day trip, I was wondering if we could both ride Epona?" His brows twitch slightly, fighting a frown and he goes to his horse's stall instead: a strong brown and white mare he's bonded with. He saddles her with ease and I pat her nose, reaching into my bag to get an apple. "Do you think he likes me?" I whisper to her, hoping her loud crunching will cover my question. She nudges her nose into me and I grin. "Giving up your master's secrets are you?"
"I'm sorry?" Link says, pushing his horse's head out of the way so he can see me.
"W-what?" My cheeks burn. He heard me!
"I missed what you said." Thank the Goddesses!
"I was...talking to Epona!" He blinks at me slowly, his only tell for confusion. "Don't look so shocked! You do it all the time!" The tips of his ears turn a light shade of pink as he finishes tightening the straps of Epona's saddle. She whaps him in the face with her tail and he sputters, frantically pushing the horse hair out of his face. He really is adorable.
I follow behind as he leads Epona out of the stables. I nudge him out of the way when he goes to get on.
"Can I ride in the front?" I blush as I ask but it's part of my plan. It'll force him go hold onto my waist.
"I suppose...if you want." He stands frozen with his hands clamped around the reins.
"Could you help me up?"
He startles as if his mind was elsewhere. "Right...sorry." He helps me up onto his horse and I scooch forward to leave room for him.
He heaves himself on after, doing his best to keep his body away from mine. That's not what I want. I scooch back now so I'm sitting between his legs, my back against his front. It's a closeness I've imagined while I think about him before I go to sleep. I can't help but picture him kissing me while in an embrace. Even now I want him to hug his arms around me and pull me back into him like I won't ever get close enough to him. I crave his touch. I take every opportunity to hold his hand but at the same time, he always takes his hand out of mine. I only want to be more than friends. If we can even call ourselves friends in the first place.
"Princess," he says louder than usual.
"What?" I hadn't been paying any attention. He makes it hard to think about anything other than him.
"I asked where we were going." Always so serious. I heard he was more lighthearted before he was chosen by the Master Sword. What happened to that version of him? And why won't he show it to me? I lightened up around him and I'm a princess. If I can do it, so can he.
"Let's see where the day takes us."
"We aren't going anywhere specific?"
"I just kind of wanted to have fun today." I actually want to confess my feelings since he can't seem to get the picture.
"I'm sorry to ask, but did His Majesty approve?" Of course not. He doesn't know I'm leaving. I have to be sure of Link's feelings before I ask if I can marry him. He's not of royal blood like the other suitors Father has been bringing to the castle. I've turned them all away, my heart only longing for Link. I believe his status as a royal knight will give him the boost he needs for Father to approve. Hylia, he's my personal knight attendant! If he can protect me, why can't he be my husband? "Princess?"
"I approved of it," I say proudly. I don't see anything wrong in wanting to be normal for a day alongside the boy I've been in love with for almost a year now.
"Princess, he should know where you are-"
"I want you to call me by name today." I'm tired of the formalities. I want to be his Zelda, not just princess. "And you're with me. He put you in charge of my protection for a reason."
"That wouldn't be appropriate." I'd stomp my foot in frustration if I could. I don't care what's considered appropriate! I want to be normal! If I was a normal girl in Castle Town, we could've fallen in love without any obstacles. My crown is only a giant wall in my eyes with Link on the other side. Each time I've tried to get close to him has been me failing to climb it.
"I don't want you to call me a princess at all today."
"But princess-"
"You can call me princess all you want tomorrow but not today, okay?" If today goes as planned, he'll be calling me by my name from now on.
He doesn't say anything more, his silent agreement. Getting him to switch from Your Highness to princess was hard enough. He seems to think it'll be his head if he calls me by name. He's never said it but I so desperately want to hear it in his voice.
We ride for about a couple hours, not following the roads. He's shut down all my attempts at a conversation. Why won't he just talk to me? I've made my interest clear so why won't he tell me how he feels? Maybe I'm trying too hard. Or not hard enough?
We come up to the top of a small hill that has a pond full of flowering lily pads. The large tree shades at least half of the pond. It's the perfect place to spend the day with him!
"I want to stop right here!" I say, eager to get off Epona and pretend to be normal.
He stops the horse and hops off first, holding his hand out for me to take. I know it's his duty to help me whenever needed but he's such a gentleman! I gladly take his hand and let him help me down. He feeds his sassy horse more apples and I plop down against the large tree, running my fingers in the lush grass. There's no one else in sight, only us, making it the perfect spot to confess my feelings!
When Link still hasn't come to sit next to me, I take the Sheikah Slate and check my album to make sure I have room for another picture. I have several of him that I look at in my room. My mind always wanders back to the same daydream: him holding me close and kissing me. He's in his royal guard uniform, something he looks especially handsome in. None of the other knights compare as far as I'm concerned. Some of the suitors Father invited were not so pleasant on the eyes. Even the maids turned away! No one turns away from Link, especially not me. His perfectly messy bangs and sideburns frame his slightly rounded face. His brows are perfect as well, not a single hair out of place and they're slightly downturned. What I can't get over though are his eyes. They're piercing blue, both bright and deep at the same time. I love them more than any of his other features.
I look up from my secret collection of pictures to find him sitting out in the grass away from me. How rude! I let out a small huff of frustration as I get up from my comfy spot to join him in the sun, forgetting about my previous desire to add a new picture to my collection.
"And just what do you think you're doing?" I say with a playful attitude. My hands are on my hips as well, adding to the effect.
He looks up at me startled, the tips of his ears turning pink again. "Sitting?"
"Why didn't you sit next to me?" He must not like me if he'd prefer to sit so far away.
"You didn't ask." So I'm supposed to ask now? Why can't he just do something without being told?! I don't want to order him around! I want him to treat me like normal girl, preferably a normal girl he's interested in.
With another huff, I sit down next to him, close enough for our arms to touch. I don't get a chance to enjoy it before he places his hand in his lap instead. This already isn't going how I wanted it to.
Determined to not give up yet, I begin unlacing my leather boots. They're a new pair and very uncomfortable. I'd rather wiggle my toes in the soft grass. I free one foot after giving the boot a good yank, exposing half my calf and bare foot. That feels much better. I take off my other boot as well and stretch my legs out on the ground.
"Why don't you take yours off too," I suggest. "It's much better than those boots."
"I'm okay, princess."
"Hey!" My outburst makes him lean away from me slightly. "I told you I want you to call me by my name!"
"My apologies." He pulls at blades of grass, avoiding my gaze on purpose. I shouldn't have snapped like that. I'm trying to get him to open up to me, not burrow further into his little hole.
"Don't you ever wish we could have a day to be normal?" I ask, trying to start a conversation for what feels like the hundredth time.
He ponders for a moment. "I suppose."
"We'll now is your chance. No one is stopping you."
"You're here prin-" He clears his throat. The butterflies in my belly dance as I wait for him to say my name. "I'm in your presence meaning I'm on duty." What a little-ughhh!
"I'm giving you permission to act normal with me."
"That's not appropriate." If I hear him say that one more time!
"Please? For me?" He rips out another blade of grass and sighs before reaching down to his boots. A smile spreads across my lips. That's progress in my book! "See?" I say after he's barefoot like me. "Isn't it better?"
"I guess it is." He knows it is, he just doesn't want to admit it.
I fall backwards into the grass and grab handfuls of grass without ripping it out like Link. All I ever get to feel in the castle is cold stone. Sure there's the gardens but everything there is planned, symmetrical and maintained. I like how wild everything is out here. There's beauty in the untamed.
To my surprise and delight, Link lies down next to me, staring up at the fluffy clouds. He has his hands on his stomach to prevent any "inappropriate" touching as he would describe it. I wish he'd put them on the ground next to me. I'd like to hold his hand and look at the sky for hours with him.
"What's your family like?" It's the best question I could think of to try to get closer to him. Anything else seemed too personal and if I'm being honest, I'm not too sure how a normal family works. One that isn't based on royal bloodlines and duties to the people.
"You know my father." That's hardly an excuse to dodge my question. I didn't know him well and I was young. His father was part of my mother's detail. It's only fitting his son protects her daughter now. He protected my mother from the time she married Father to when she passed. He was even the one who ran and called for assistance when her waters had broken while she milled about the library. It's strange to think his father was standing guard outside the door while she gave birth to me. I'm sure he was thinking about his own baby, toddling around in their home in Hateno. Link was just over a year old when I was born.
"I didn't know him personally. I was too young."
"Well...he's loud." I smile at that. He was known for cracking jokes, even making the Queen laugh and everyone called him Lonk. I can't help but think his nickname played a part in naming his son. His personality doesn't fit his rough appearance either. He has a scar across his face from where he was slashed in a battle. He's also very large and has almost the exact same hairstyle as his son. I remember pulling his hair once when I was younger. I was running straight for a balcony and he chased me, picking me up when I tried to climb the edge. I only wanted to see because I was too short. As he carried back inside, I grabbed a handful of his blonde hair, curious to know if it was real or not. I remember liking his smile.
"What about your mother? What's she like?" I saw her once when Link was appointed my guard. It's easy to see which parent he takes after. She's short with brown hair and she's quite plump actually. She looked so motherly and after falling in love with my knight, I liked to imagine being her daughter-in-law. I don't remember much about having a mother but she looked like the kind of woman to treat anyone as her own.
"She cooks a lot." Another thing he inherited from his mother. He cooks for us on our trips and I think his food tastes better than what the chefs make in the castle.
"Did she teach you all those recipes you keep in your head?" He's blushing when I look at him.
"Some of them..." Why won't he ever go into more detail? I want to know more about him. I know he's more than a stoic knight and I want him to show me.
"Speaking of food, are you hungry?" It's not a question I really need to ask him; he's always hungry.
"I guess-" That's all I need to sit up and snatch my bag. I'd attempted to bake us small cakes. They're a little lumpy but they smelled good when I baked them. According to what I heard from maids, the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach and Link already loves food.
I dig out the two cakes wrapped in small cloth squares. "I made these for you," I say enthusiastically as I check them before giving him one so I don't give him the slightly burnt one.
He takes a bite right after I give him the cake. Worried by his lack of reaction, I take a small bite from mine. It's a bit crumbly and dry. That's disappointing. I was trying to make something good for him.
"I'm sorry, you don't have to-" He looks at me as he shoves the last bit of it into his mouth. "Eat it." He already finished it. It's been seconds.
"It's good," he says after he swallows. "Especially for someone who doesn't cook." Was that a...a joke? He scratches the back of his head, his face turning a cute shade of pink. "Um...do you have any more?" He likes it enough to want more! I happily give him mine. I'd rather watch him eat than eat it myself.
Once he finishes the dry cake, I ask, "Do you have any tips to make it better next time?"
"I think it's good already." The compliment makes my cheeks warm. He's just being nice. He couldn't have ignored the texture that well. Or what if he likes it because I made it? No, I shouldn't get ahead of myself. I've seen him eat rocks; a dry cake wouldn't faze him.
"Am I not worthy of your culinary secrets?" I tease.
"No, thats not I-um...I actually think it's good." He blushes furiously as he fumbles for the right words. It's adorable watching him get so flustered over my teasing.
"I'm only teasing." I bring my legs in and cross them with my body full turned towards him. "You're too kind though. Anyone would say they're too dry."
"I wouldn't." He turns away, scratching the back of his head again. He's so cute I want to squeeze him!
A mischievous smirk plays across my lips. I reach out and touch his shoulder with my open hand. He startles again and tries to lean away.
"Tag!"
"What?"
"You're it!" I scramble to my feet and run.
"Princess, where are you going?" he calls after me. A quick check and I see him chasing me. "Come back!"
I giggle as I go behind the tree, peeking around the trunk at the same time he does. I duck back around it, trying to go around the other side. He stops me again, confusion taking over his usual stoic expression.
"What are you doing?"
"Playing tag!" He plays this with the children in Kakariko Village and I sometimes join them. He always refuses to chase me even though I make it my mission to tag him when I'm it.
The next time I peek around the tree, he's smiling. Smiling! My heartbeat quickens. He's even more handsome with a smile on his face!
He pretends to go to the other side but really, he went right back to the side he knew I was going to run from. I squeal and turn heel with him right behind me.
I feel the light tap on my back near my shoulder. "You're it now." When I turn around, he's already running away.
"Get back here!"
I chase him around the pond and back towards the tree. I expect him to run around it, not to climb it!
"Hey!" I call from the base when he sits comfortably on a thick branch. "That's not fair!"
"You never said it was off limits!" I like this side of him but he knows I can't climb a tree!
I stomp my foot. "Come down right now!"
"Are you ordering me to?" I blush. I never order him to do anything. The last time I "ordered" him around when I told him to stop following me. That didn't work.
"You know I don't order you around," I grumble, crossing my arms over my chest. He looks too smug up there.
"Then come up here and get me!" Challenge accepted.
First I try jumping, reaching for his bare foot hanging from the branch. I almost reach when he brings his legs up, stretching them out across the branch. He even leans back against the trunk, resting his arms behind his head. He's way to smug.
I grab a low branch and pull myself up with all my strength. My cheeks puff out and turn red as I hold on to the branch for dear life, my legs and lower body dangling in the warm breeze.
"I don't think you're going to get anywhere climbing like that."
"Hush!" I bring my leg up, trying to hook it around the branch. It slips and I almost lose my grip on the branch. I try again, swinging my leg up and I hook it around the branch with my knee. Yes! I use my leg strength to pull myself up. Maybe I used too much force. I roll right over the top of the branch and fall onto the ground. I'm too frustrated to feel the thud.
"Princess!" He jumps down from the tree and is helping me up within seconds. "Are you okay?"
I grin. My clumsiness actually helped.
"I told you not to call me princess today." I tap his nose with my finger, startling him again. "And you're it again."
"Hey that's not-" I'm already running away. He doesn't get to say that wasn't fair when he climbed a tree to evade me.
I run straight into the pond, scaring the frogs that were swimming peacefully. Sorry little froggies! The water isn't too deep and only goes a little past my knees. The water is cool and makes me feel even more free with the mud squishing between my toes. Link splashes in after me and I giggle, scooping up water in my hands and throwing it at him. I splash him directly in the face, making him sputter. His wet bangs fall into his eyes and he pushes them away while kicking water up at me.
"Oh you're going to get it!" I laugh with the front of my shirt soaked.
"I'm going to get it? You splashed me first!"
We splash each other in the pond while smiling and I hear him laugh a few times. It warms my heart. He's really a wild boy who knows how to put on a straight face. I hope he never goes back to hiding himself from me.
All the running and splashing tires me out. I lost track of the time as well. We've been gone for hours now, frolicking in the sun like the kids we didn't get to be. The sun is going to set soon and I still haven't confessed my feelings.
I squeeze water from my hair when I step out of the pond. We're both completely drenched. It's uncomfortable with how my clothes are clinging to my skin but it buys me more time. Epona is a sassy horse and wouldn't appreciate us on her back while we're soaked like this.
I sit in the grass, tilting my face towards the afternoon sun. The warmth is delightful after spending so much time in the cool pond. Link sits next to me and though my eyes are closed, I can feel him looking at me. Please let today be enough for him to open up to me.
"Link?"
"Yes?" He didn't say princess. He didn't say my name either.
I do my best to ignore the butterflies fluttering in my belly. I'll never know if I don't ask.
"What do you think of me?" I hold my breath, waiting for him to answer. I'm equally as terrified for him to share my feelings as I am for him to say he doesn't love me that way.
"I'm not sure I understand the question..." That sounds like an excuse to me and I'm impatient. I don't want to go back to my bedroom tonight and hug my blankets against me while I imagine what his lips feel like.
"Is there anyone you're interested in?" I finally look at him, his face the darkest shade of red I've ever seen. He stares down at the grass, picking at it again. "Well?"
"I guess you could say that." My heart flutters.
"Do you talk to her?"
"Y-yeah." I might faint if my heart beats any faster. As far as I know, he doesn't talk to any girls other than me. The maids try without much luck.
Deep breath. This what I wanted. "What if I told you there was a boy I was interested in?"
His pointed ears droop. "Um...one of your suitors?" How could he possibly think that after all my attempts at flirting with him? "I-I think that's good then. Most of those princes seemed respectable-"
"I'm not interested in a prince," I say forcefully. That was bold of me but I've made it this far and I don't want to be a cucco about it anymore.
He finally looks at me, his round face bright red and he scratches the back of his head. He has to know how I feel about him now! Why isn't he saying anything? Now is not the time for him to be my silent knight!
Tired of his stalling, I squeeze my eyes shut and lean in closer with puckered lips. My own cheeks heat up as I wait for him to press his lips to mine. He doesn't.
"Prin-princess!" He stutters and I open my eyes, seeing him leaning so far back he's almost falling over. "It wouldn't be appropriate to-"
I ignore his protests, grabbing his damp Champion's Tunic and squeezing my eyes shut again, I press my lips onto his. My heart explodes. I'm finally kissing him after so long of imagining it. His lips are just as soft as I'd expected. The only problem is him trying to escape my kiss. His words come out as incoherent mumbles. Gently yet firmly, he pushes me back by my shoulders.
"We can't-" He desperately tries to stop me again. "Princess-" I kiss him again, him almost losing his balance. Why won't he just kiss me back and let me love him!
"Zelda!" I stop, my hands still clamped on his blue shirt. He said my name! I feel my heart beating out of my chest. My name said in his voice is everything I'd hoped for and more. "I-I'm just a knight," he says, defeated.
"You're my knight." When he still doesn't budge, I loosen my grip on his tunic. He doesn't love me back? I thought he did with the way he blushes if I attempt to flirt and the way he fumbles over his words. "You don't like me back?" I ask quietly, feeling my own sense of defeat. I had so much fun with him today and I thought he would finally let me get close. What am I supposed to do if he says no? Marry one of those princes with no personality and be miserable? Tears prick at my eyes at the thought. I want the boy in front of me, not some royal loaf.
"I-" He looks up at the now orange sky. "Hylia this is going to be my head," he mutters before tangling his fingers in my long blonde hair, pulling me back to him. He kisses me this time, slowly like he's been waiting for it as long as I have. His kiss takes away all the sadness I just felt, replacing it with more excitement than I can handle.
When he pulls away, I'm the one with a bright red face. I'd imagined him sweeping me up in a kiss like that but no amount of daydreams or fantasies could've prepared me for it. He stares at me with those blue eyes I love so much, his lips forming a small nervous smile. Words seem to slip from my mind. I'd practiced saying I love you and now I'm in the moment and my perfect knight is sitting in front of me, feelings out in the open, and I can't force my tongue to form the words I've been dying to tell him.
His smile fades slightly at my stunned silence. "Are you alright? Was that too much?"
"What? No!" Now he's the shocked one. "I love you!" I burst, the words coming out loud and aggressive, the opposite of how I'd practiced. He smiles nonetheless, making me melt into a puddle.
"I think I love you too."