Zelink Short Stories - Chapter 6: Chapter 6

My cat very rudely smacks me in the face when I try to take a nap. It's what he does when he wants to be fed since he knows I can't hear his meowing.
I sit up and glare at him. I had a long day at school and I was trying to ignore the project I have due at midnight. Zelda, my best friend, has been getting on me about it, acting like I won't graduate if I turn it in late.
My cat whaps me in the face again and even adds a meow that I can't hear. Dramatic as ever. I pick him up, carrying him under one arm to the kitchen. All he wants to do is eat but then again, so do I.
My phone vibrates before I get my cat his food. Texting Zelda back is a priority. I'd asked her if she wanted to hang out after school tomorrow since we haven't been hanging out much lately. I'm not sure how long I've had a crush on her. Maybe ever since we met in kindergarten. She was the one person who wanted to be my friend. She even learned sign language so we could talk. How could I not fall head over heels for the girl who wanted to be nice to the deaf kid?
I open our chat, hoping she said we could hang out. *I can't tomorrow :( * That's always what she says.
I've liked her forever but I've never told her. Each attempt only discourages me, especially after I'd gotten her flowers this last Valentine's Day, only to watch the guy she liked give her chocolate at her locker before I could get to her. Those flowers ended up in the garbage in the boy's bathroom. And then it sucked more because her and that Ganon guy only dated for a month and I was the one comforting her. But she still likes him. I mean, why would she like me over him anyway? He's at least 6'2" and on the varsity football team. I'm a couple inches shorter than her, pretty much giving up all hope that I'll have a late growth spurt. I play volleyball, a sport not nearly as exciting as football. And I'm deaf. I'll never hear her voice or talk to her normally. Usually I enjoy my quiet bubble until I'm with her, reading her lips as she signs, wondering what she actually sounds like.
*the day after?* I text back, knowing the answer is going to be the same.
My cat wiggles under my arm, frustrated that I haven't fed him yet. I give him a scoop of food before getting myself a snack to wallow in self pity with. I settle on Goldfish and a Capri Sun like the seventeen year old toddler I am and sit on the couch with a blanket draped over my head like a hood. The perfect setup for feeling bad for myself.
I scroll through our pictures, waiting for her to respond. She always takes forever. She's probably working on homework or something like she always is. Or she's with her other friends.
We have pictures that go back to when we were six. I find the one of us sharing a birthday party. We were both missing our front teeth, grinning at the cake her dad bought us. We were always together back then, never doing anything without the other. And now she's busy with harder classes and she has new friends. I feel like a burden always asking to hang out.
I look up from my pity party when mom comes home in her scrubs. She's a nurse and works weird hours. I'm at home alone most of the time with our fat cat since it's just us. My half-sister lives with dad and they live in another state. It bothered me at first that he'd move so far away to start a new family but I'm happy with mom and she's happier away from him. Just because I couldn't hear the fights doesn't mean I didn't feel the house shake when doors would slam or miss it when she'd try to hide her tears from me.
What do you want for dinner? she signs.
I can eat the leftovers. She already looks tired; I don't want to add to it.
What's left?
Spaghetti I think.
I don't want that. She smiles. Let's order pizza. I mean I'll eat anything.
My phone buzzes again and I get ready for another disappointing text from my best friend. That is until I read it.
*I can come over tonight for a little bit.* Yes!
I knock on the wall behind me to get mom's attention. Do you care if Zelda comes over? I sign when she looks back.
Of course not. She hasn't been over in awhile. Tell me about it. It'll be good to see her.
I smile a little as I text back. *come over before I eat all the pizza*
I shove the rest of my Goldfish into my mouth and suck my juice down after. She doesn't live far so I don't have much time. I fold the blanket I was cocooned in and drape it over the back of the couch before putting my video games and controller back into the cubby in the entertainment center. Mom watches me run around the living room with an amused smile. She knows I like Zelda even though neither of us has mentioned it.
I'm going to go clean my room, I sign quickly before going to my small and very messy bedroom. I pick up all my dirty clothes and walk across the hall to throw them in the washing machine. Hopefully there's nothing in the pockets. I make my bed next. I really need to wash my sheets but there's no time for that.
Picking up the last of the random things on my floor, I take a step back to look at my somewhat organized room. It looks better than it did before now that it's lacking the 'tornado hit it' vibe.
My eyes land on the cologne my mom got me for my last birthday. A little wouldn't hurt. I spray some on my neck and turn around as I rub it in with my wrist, freezing when I see mom leaning on the doorframe.
Why are you looking at me like that? I sign, doing my best to stop blushing.
Nothing. Just wanted to tell you she's here.
I slip past her, sliding a little in my socks as I rush to the front door. She's reaching up to knock when I yank the door open. We smile at each other before doing our handshake, the same one we've had since fifth grade. We hug next and I hang on a little longer than usual.
Are you wearing cologne? she signs when we pull away.
I put some on before school, I lie, suddenly embarrassed of putting it on in my attempt to get her attention.
Well you smell nice. Her smile makes my cheeks heat up. She's the most beautiful girl I've ever laid eyes on. Not that I've ever had the confidence to tell her. I don't want to ruin our friendship by confessing my feelings.
Mom saves me by greeting Zelda. They talk to each other but sign at the same time so I still know what they're saying considering my lip reading skills aren't always the best. And Zelda has a bad habit of talking too fast and I can't keep up.
Did you finish your project? Zelda asks. I knew that was coming.
Does it look like I did?
She frowns. It's due tonight.
I turn around jokingly. That is a benefit of being deaf. If I'm done interacting with people, all I have to do is look away. Boom. Problem solved. Mom didn't share the same excitement with my discovery in elementary school when I figured out I could look away from the board and my interpreter, completely ignoring what I was supposed to be learning so I could doodle all over my worksheets.
Zelda attacks me from behind, jumping on my back. I hoist her up and carry her to the couch, throwing her onto it. I smile at her as she laughs. I wish I could hear it. I bet she sounds as pretty as she looks.
I'm starved by the time pizza gets here even though I had my pity snack and a sandwich when I got home from school.
I inhale almost an entire pizza by myself, never leaving my hands free for long to join the conversation. I'm too hungry and sometimes I just like watching. It's nice not always being expected to join the conversation but other times I feel left out when I'm with people who don't know sign language. It's just how it goes.
Wanna watch a movie? I ask Zelda before taking her plate to finish her crusts.
I just have to be home by ten. Then there's plenty of time.
You guys have fun, Mom signs. I'm going to bed. She has an early shift tomorrow.
She kisses my head and rubs Zelda's shoulder before going to her room, leaving me alone with my best friend and secret crush.
I scarf down the pizza crusts while Zelda laughs at me. She's so pretty.
How do you eat so much?
It's a talent. She shakes her head and playfully rolls her eyes before getting her phone out and starts typing. I know she's at my house right now but I feel a pang of jealousy anyway. She spends less time with me and more with her new friends and it doesn't feel good that she takes forever to respond with me but now she's replying to whoever is texting her right away. I don't want to feel jealous but she's supposed to be my best friend.
Do you want ice cream? She doesn't see me ask so I tap her shoulder. I watch her say 'what?'. I asked if you wanted ice cream.
Is that even a question? Ice cream it is.
I get us ice cream and we sit together on the couch while I look for a movie. She's still typing and smiling at her phone. Does she smile at it when I text her?
I put on her favorite movie: Beauty and the Beast. I usually read instead of watching movies. If I have to read the subtitles anyway, I might as well just read a book. I watched a movie at her house once when her other friends were there and they complained about the subtitles, even turning them off when she went to grab something and she didn't notice when she came back. And I didn't want to cause a problem so I just sat and watched the silent movie. It was a movie I'd wanted to see too. I never rewatched it.
Her ice cream is practically melted by the time she starts to eat it. She's been on her phone the whole time, not once looking at the movie I thought she'd want to watch again.
My curiosity takes over. Who are you talking to?
Just a friend. She blushed when she answered. I feel my heart sink a little in my chest.
Paya?
No.
Impa?
No.
Purah?
Why do you want to know so bad? I drop my hands. It's just a friend okay? No one is stopping you from talking to your friends.
Feeling worse than I did before she came over, I sign again. You know I don't have any other friends. Anyone who tries to talk to me at school is just nosy about my deafness. They don't actually want to get to know me. Not like she did.
I glue my eyes to the movie again. I'm pathetic really. Did I really expect her to never want hearing friends? People she could actually talk to? People she wouldn't get made fun of for hanging out with?
She taps on my shoulder to get my attention. It's Ganon.
My heart sinks to my stomach. I didn't know she was talking to him again. Is he your boyfriend now?
Not exactly.
I shake my head and think of what to say next. He's just playing with her but she can't see it.
Why are you talking to him then?
He asked me to prom. That hurts.
I thought we were going together. There's no point in me going if I'm not going with her. I can't hear the music and I don't have other friends. I don't even have another girl I'm interested in that I could take. I'll just stay home and eat snacks, probably cry when I see her pictures and wish it was me with her.
You never asked.
I didn't know I had to. I scratch the back of my head. We always said we'd go together.
He likes me and wants to take me.
My jealousy takes over. He's a meathead! He doesn't actually like you, he just likes being seen with you because you're pretty!
He does too!
Then why didn't he go to your debate? I went. I helped her practice, making jokes saying she needed to speak up because I couldn't hear her. She won it too.
He had a football game! She signs angrily with a scowl. He couldn't miss it!
I would've! I always put her first.
Why are you so upset about it anyway?
Everything spills out. Because I've been right here the whole time but you'd rather have a jerk! I'm too upset to worry about what I just confessed.
She gapes at me. You like me? She signs after a few moments of staring at me.
I love you.
I'm sure I said the wrong thing when her face goes red and she looks away. But I've kept my feelings hidden for so long, watching her get hurt by that guy. I'd never treat her like how he does. I may not ever get to hear her laugh or sing but I'd love her more than anyone else could. I already do.
Why did you never say anything before?
You weren't listening. I look away. I just ruined our whole friendship didn't I? I shouldn't have said anything. I'm never going to get to be more than her friend.
I didn't expect her face to be so close when I looked back to apologize. I definitely didn't expect her to kiss me. Not that I'm complaining.
I lean closer when I feel her start to pull away. I'd imagined my first kiss before but this is even better. I part my lips to kiss her deeper, tilting my head to the side. I've never felt my heart beat this fast before. I never want to stop.
She tries to pull away again and I follow her as she leans back. I can't make myself stop. I've wanted to kiss her for so long.
She taps on my shoulder to finally get me to pull away and she stares past me with a horrified look on her face. When I turn around, I match her bright shade of pink. Mom is in the kitchen getting water looking amused. My first kiss ever and Mom saw it. She's at the fridge filling her water bottle, smiling at us with a 'look what we have here' expression.
Now I'm going to bed, she signs, walking back to the hallway. I already know my fate tomorrow. She's going to torment me with questions and tease me.
Sorry, I sign to Zelda, my face bright red. I didn't mean to embarrass her like that. But I really want to kiss her again. I'm late to the kissing game already, spending all my time waiting for a girl who liked another guy. She kissed me though so maybe she loves me back?
It's okay.
This is kinda awkward now. I scratch the back of my head while she plays with her hands. What do people do after they kiss for the first time? Kiss again? Then what? And what does that make us now? Am I supposed to ask her to be my girlfriend?
Wanna go to my room? I ask instead. I hope she doesn't take that the wrong way. I just feel bad that Mom caught our first kiss.
Sure.
I'm glad I cleaned my room and made my bed. The only thing out of place is my fat cat making biscuits on my pillow. We both sit on my bed and I pet my rumbling cat as an excuse to keep my hands occupied. I just don't know what to say. I never even expected her to kiss me let alone return my feelings.
Want help with your project? she asks. Sounds like we're both making up excuses.
Yeah.
I get out my laptop and scattered notes. I barely have any of it done. At least I don't have to present it. I guess I could but all anyone is going to get is hand motions that mean nothing to them. Zelda used to do presentations with me when we were younger and in the same classes together. Even if we didn't work together, she'd sign the entire time she was talking during her presentations so I'd know what she was saying. Not that I paid much attention to what she was saying. I was too busy thinking about how pretty she is.
With her help, it doesn't take long to finish my project. She's a wizard when it comes to school as far as I'm concerned. She makes writing essays look easy, completes assignments in minutes, and is always the first one to finish a test. But she can't be athletic if her life depended on it. That's where we're the opposite.
I turn in the project, knowing I'm going to get an A because Zelda helped me. I can't imagine how horrific my grades would be if she hadn't been helping me all these years.
Thank you, I sign, putting my laptop away and trading it for my fat cat. He rolls around in my lap, obviously content with the attention he's getting. I watch him meow at Zelda and she says something back to him, scratching behind his ear. My cat can hear her but I can't.
You're welcome, she signs back. I should probably be heading home now.
I check the time. It can't be that late already. I thought you had to be home by ten?
I do. But I'm pretty tired. Oh. She's probably regretting our kiss and she doesn't want to be mean. I'd rather she just say it was a mistake instead of letting me think she likes me back. She still likes Ganon. I doubt she'll ever like me more than him.
You can forget everything I said, I sign without looking at her. If you still like Ganon, I don't want to get in the middle of it-
She places her hand on my cheek, making me look at her. I don't want to forget what you said. And I like you too. She does? I try to not get too excited.
What about Ganon?
I don't like him that much. He's not nearly as fun as you.
You think I'm fun? I say, smiling a little.
Of course I do. You're a dork. She's been calling me a dork for as long as we've been friends. I guess I just didn't think you liked me like that. I thought you were just being my best friend. I'm sorry for not noticing your feelings sooner.
It's okay. She smiles and pulls her phone out again, typing frantically. What are you doing?
Telling Ganon I can't go to prom with him and that I don't like him. Finally! I'm not the vengeful type but I was getting tired of him. He's actually really rude and hated how he treated Zelda like she was some kind of toy that'd be waiting for him when he got bored. I'm bored if I'm not with her.
Wait. If she's not going with him then...she's gonna go with me? I have to ask! She's waiting for me to ask too. I'm blushing and I couldn't care less. She knows exactly how I feel now.
Will you go to prom with me?
Yes Link Farore, I think I will. I grin like a kid on Christmas. I've pictured us going to prom together since we started high school.
Can I kiss you again? I sign before I think. She's just so perfect and I want to show her that I love her. I've only been dying to kiss her for years, practicing on my hand and pillow in case I ever got to so I'd know what I was doing. I know I'm not the first boy she's ever kissed but I want to be the last.
Aren't you going to ask me something else first?
What? What else am I supposed to ask her? Where she wants to eat before prom?
She crosses her arms over her chest, looking annoyed and amused at the same time. I don't want to mess this up before it even starts!
You're a bit dense sometimes. When I still don't get it, she rolls her eyes and begins to sign again. I want to be your-
OH!
I grab her hands to stop her, my face going redder than it's been all night. Why is this so hard? Why am I suddenly forgetting how to sign when I've been doing this my entire life? I've only signed these exact words in my mirror during my pity parties.
Will you... I pause, my hands shaking in the air. This is embarrassing. Do you want to be my...I want you to be my girlfriend. I want to hide. Why did I say it like that? I didn't ask. I stated. I was going to ask!
My heart refuses to function when she kisses me again. Everything I've been hoping for is finally falling into place when I thought it never would. I can't help but smile against her lips. She's not just my best friend anymore. She's my girlfriend too. She wants to be my girlfriend even though I can only tell her I love her in silence.