Chapter One

"I want you out of my house, I want you out of my home, and I want it done now!" he screamed, grasping the nearest vase and hurtling it at the whimpering boy across from him. "Why are you still here? Go away and never look back!"

A cry rang forth from the boy's mouth, and he did the only thing he could do: he ran. He opened the door, fell down the front steps, leapt up, and took off. He ran and ran and ran, until he felt like there was no air in the world left for him. Tears made a sloppy trail that anyone could follow—not that anyone would.

Why? Why? What did I do wrong? Why me?

After nearly a full day of running, night started to descend and the boy, at last, stopped his crazed flight. Sobbing loudly in an alleyway far from home, he questioned his very existence. Briefly he wondered where he would go next, and how he would survive—but only briefly. As the sun set, first bathing the world in twilight and then in the utter darkness only found in a small town, the boy decided it didn't matter—he didn't plan on living long. And as he sat, watching what he believed to be his last sunset, he silently prayed, asking for forgiveness.

I'm sorry I made you angry, Daddy. I'm sorry I wasn't good enough for you—I wish I could've been. I'm so sorry… so sorry…

Shit.

Caught again.

"Well, well, if it isn't our little Robin Hood."

"Hoodlum is more like it."

Then they were laughing, like the whole thing was just one big freaking joke. I'm so sick of this. "Let me go." Yeah, just like that. Don't yell; don't let them get a rise out of you.

"Shut up, boy. You're in no position to talk right now." The big gym teacher stood, nostrils flaring like an angry bull, with a cocky math teacher by his side. How did I get myself caught by these two idiots of all people?

"Indeed, Mr. Link." Who the hell used a title with a person's first name anyways? I struggled again, not like a little kid. I didn't swing my legs out and bawl; I just tried to loosen my arms from the meaty paws of the football coach. It felt like the blood stopped flowing to my hands. Isn't manhandling against school policy or something?

"I didn't do anything, for your information," I retorted briskly. All I wanted at that moment was for the big guy to let go of me. If there's one thing I hate more than people touching me, it's people touching me while insulting me.

"Listen, Shrimp, we know you're the one who's been sneaking into school at night, and it's time you confessed," the coach growled.

"Listen, Fatty, I don't know what you're talking about, now let me go!" Come on, Link. Keep it cool, don't yell.

"Listen, Orphan Reject—!" And I was gone. Something inside snapped along with the gym monkey's arm, and before I knew it, I was running. The math teacher shouted after me, yelling for someone to stop me, but no one would. They aren't all idiots; they wouldn't mess with someone who smashed the head football coach's arm in half.

I rounded another corner, breathing so hard that it felt like nothing at all. Just listen to the pounding of my footsteps, forget everything else, just stop thinking. That was easy enough, but why…

Why can't I stop running?

Suddenly I felt exhausted, despite the fact that I only ran outside to the bleachers that stretched around the football field. Ah, yes, the pride and joy of the school: the football team. Despite the fact they never win, and haven't won for something close to five years. I plopped down on one of the cool plastic seats, and gazed down at the track that wrapped around the field. I noticed a few girls warming up—must be the track team.

Sighing heavily, I used my hood as a pillow, and leaned back to rest my head on the seat behind me. Why am I always doing stupid stuff like that? As much as I loathe this school, why do I bother breaking in every night? Just for the thrill? Stupid.

"Stupid!"

"Excuse me?"

I sat up, feeling the blood rush to my head, to look at whoever interrupted me. Some blonde chick.

"What?"

"I was wondering if you're calling me stupid, yourself stupid, or just yelling for no reason."

"Oh." I wonder if she realizes how awkward this is. People don't normally walk up to me for any reason and start talking. "Uh, I think that answer's D?"

"Wow, if that's how you answer on all of your tests, I bet I could predict your next report card."

I smirked involuntarily and couldn't help myself. "Oh really? Then tell me, O Fortune Teller, what will my next report card look like?"

She really started hamming it up, waving her hands around, and scrunching her face up. "I see in your future… many Fs! But wait what's this!" I leaned forward a little more and simply had to inquire in a shocked voice:

"What? What is it? Tell me, O Fortune Teller!"

She smiled sweetly, before getting back into character, "I see a D! A D+ in fact!"

"It's a miracle!" I screamed, a little louder than intended. A few of the track girls looked up at me, probably thinking somewhere along the lines of, "What is that freak doing?" Not that it really mattered what they thought. The blonde-in-running-shoes next to me let out a small giggle at the strange looks.

"I think my friends want me to come to practice now," she said, turning away from me.

Okay, so go? I thought after she stood there for a few more moments without saying anything.

"Actually," she piped up, turning to face me again. "Uhm, my name's Zelda, and I didn't catch yours…?" She offered me her hand and I was sorely tempted to swat it away, laugh, and walk off. Not that I'm a mean person, but people and I don't typically mix. To be honest, I can't remember the last time I was friends with anyone for longer than one party. This thing, with this girl, could go for a whole day… wouldn't that be something?

"Yeah, Link."

"Yeah Link?" she retorted.

"Just Link."

"Okay," she replied with one of those too-sweet smiles. "I'll see you around Just Link." I opened my mouth to correct her, but before I could get another word out she jogged down to her friends.

Been one hell of a day so far.