Fourth period. Also known as cinematography class, where they did everything but watch movies, which was the whole reason why most people signed up for it.

Everyone except Eliza. And Eva. And Bucky. They ended up in cinematography due to scheduling changes and conflicts. None of them actually wanted to be there.

Eliza didn't get the option. When they got back from Winter Break, a new course had been added with a select group of students chosen to participate in it. It was Introduction to Zombism which was taught by Mr. Zeck, the former janitor. Principal Lee had chosen thirty Zombies and Humans to take the class. There was only one period, which meant that they all had schedule changes. They put Eliza into her core classes first, then gave her the only elective in the left over period, which happened to Cinematography.

Eva had been in the same boat as Eliza. Principal Lee figured that since Eva's mom was a big figure in the Zombie community, Eva would want to be in the class dedicated to Zombies.

And even though Bucky wasn't in the class about Zombies, his schedule had been a victim of changes because of everyone else's changes, and he got stuck in Cinematography.

The first week was very laid back. They did actually sit around and watch movies. The second week, they went through genres and movie styles.

Thursday during their fourth period, Mrs. Palmer had them sit down and take out their notebooks—the ones where the only thing they wrote were the genres and styles and their descriptions. She handed each of them a half piece of paper covered in words (an assignment).

"Film project?" Bucky read.

"Yes, Benedict, I'm glad you can read," Eliza stated.

Bucky just gave her a look, a sort of halfhearted glare. Once Mrs. Palmer had passed everyone the assignment, she moved to the smart board and pulled up a digital copy of the assignment.

"In Cinematography, you won't just be watching movies. It's the opposite in fact. We mostly watched movies while all the schedules were changed and everything was sorted out. Now we'll get down to work. And that is on the biggest project of the semester: the film project.

"You will be broken into groups of three or four and tasked with creating a movie with the same theme. This year, the theme is Zombies."

Eliza looked up at that. A lot of things that semester were about Zombies. The syllabus in her geography class had changed and now included a unit on Zombies and Zombietown. They added a whole class dedicated to Zombies where they were learning about the evolution of Zombie Tongue. And now this, where they would have to make movies about Zombies. All the attention honestly made her a little uncomfortable.

"Now I expect you all to have the common sense to know that this isn't a film where you spread hate and lies, but rather highlight the good. Zombies are not monsters."

A junior on the other side of the room raised her hand and Mrs. Palmer said, "No, Maria, you don't pick your groups. I've already created them."

Everyone groaned and muttered about how unfair it was that they didn't get to work with their friends. Eliza sympathized with them; she was a little disappointed that her chances of working with Eva had just dropped significantly.

"I'll announce the groups after I go over the assignment," Mrs. Palmer said. "Yes, I know all of it is on the paper I gave to you. I'm sure if I didn't explain though some of you would ask very ridiculous questions. And even if I do explain, you'll still be confused. But this way I get to give you attitude when you ask again.

"So the movie has to be between one and two hours long. If it's less than an hour you will lose points for every minute under. And if it is over two hours you will lose two points for every minute. You will be in charge of hiring actors and need at least four actors outside of your group. You also need at least two of your group members in the film. We'll draw up contracts next week as well as begin work on screenplays.

"The full movie will be due in May at a date to be determined. As we go through the course you will learn more about creating movies and pre-production, production, and post-production. Starting next week we'll go over how to write a proper screenplay. Your movie will be due in pieces. You need to have a screenplay done within the next two and a half weeks. And after that, five minutes of your progress will be due every week. It could be an actual movie scene or you and your group working on behind the scenes action. You all know how to access my class online so please be aware of any changes or announcements I make regarding your project."

Mrs. Palmer waited a beat, then switched the screen to the class page. The smart board displayed the class split into groups, six with three people and two with four. Eliza couldn't help but notice that almost every group had at least one Zombie in it. Some had two, but hers didn't. Her group was one of the one of threes: herself, Eva, and Bucky.

"Drogi Z," Eliza muttered. The Eva part was good. Everything else (read: Bucky) made her want to vomit.

"You have today and tomorrow to start gathering ideas. You need a finalized idea by Monday when you come into class." Mrs. Palmer said.

A minute later, everyone began breaking up into their groups. Eva migrated over to where Eliza and Bucky were seated. "So I don't know much about Zombies," Eva started. "I just moved here and all. I'm down to do whatever though."

"What about you, Benedict?" Eliza asked. "Are you down for whatever?"

Bucky frowned and shrugged. "What do you want to do?"

"What? Are you asking just because she's a Zombie?" Eva asked teasingly.

Bucky's cheeks turned red and he stammered out, "No-no! That's no-I mean—I didn't mean it like that!"

Eva laughed at his misfortune. The human was quickly becoming one of Eliza's favorite people. "I'm just picking on you, Bucky," Eva said. "I feel like we should make it a documentary or something. Maybe focus on a Zombie we know or something."

"Like who?" Bucky asked.

Eva shrugged. "Before you say it, I don't want a movie about me," Eliza stated.

Eva chuckled and grinned. "Maybe about a friend of yours?"

"Like Zed," Bucky suggested.

"Like Zed needs any more of a big head," Eliza said with a eye roll.

"Do you want to do a documentary sort of thing?" Eva asked seriously. "If you don't I understand."

Eliza shrugged. "I'm fine with it as long as it's not about me. Zed would work, but everyone knows and loves Zed. Lots of people could make a movie about Zed."

"Let's come up with a few more ideas through the day and regroup tomorrow," Eva decided.

In lunch that day, Zed had walked in and made his way to the cheerleaders' table. Eliza wanted to go up and bother him about it but the conversation he was having with the Aceys looked very serious.

"What're we looking at?" Eva asked, leaning into Eliza.

"That doofus," Eliza said. "Zed is very impulsive. Look at him, climbing onto the table."

Zed climbed up onto the table and looked around at the cafeteria, where people were already looking at him strangely.

"Excuse me everyone!" Zed called. "I have a very important announcement to make, if you could all quiet down!"

Everyone who wasn't already looking at him turned and looked at him then. Zed grinned and looked at their table. Eliza and Eva both looked and saw Addison grinning back.

"So on the other side of this room is the most beautiful girl in the entire world," he said, bouncing slightly with excitement and anticipation. "And, lucky me, she happens to be my girlfriend. And, bless her heart, she's still in love with me. So, because she's so amazing and because I also love her so, so much, I want to be big and showy and ask her out with all of you watching!"

Eliza groaned but was overpowered by the collective 'aw's throughout the room, especially from Eva. Zed grinned and leaned down, grabbing the flowers and pink bakery box, offering them slightly to Addison. She covered her mouth with her hands and shook her head despite her smile.

"Addison! My sweet! Love of my life! Etcetera! Will you do me the honor of going on a date this Friday night?"

Addison nodded silently. Bree nudged her and Addison stood up, walking quickly across the cafeteria. Once she was a few feet away, Zed jumped down from the table and walked toward her. He smiled at her sweetly.

Addison muttered something to him. "What was that?" Zed proclaimed loudly to the still-listening cafeteria.

"Yes! I'll go on a date with you!" she shouted, throwing her arms out for emphasis.

Everyone applauded and Zed grinned at his girlfriend, then leaned down and kissed her. Addison wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him more passionately.

"Get a room!" someone called.

Addison pulled back. Zed offered her the flowers with a smile, then opened the pink box. "Holy shit!" Addison exclaimed. "You got me avocados!"

From the back of the cafeteria, the lunch lady called, "Language," in her most uncaring voice.

Zed grinned and handed the box to her. He then looked up and around the room before saying, "Thank you, you can continue with your lunch."

"Oh my god! We should make our movie about them!" Eva exclaimed.

"What?"

"A movie about Zed and Addison," Eva explained in a rush. "How they got together or something! It'd be so cute!"

Eliza chuckled. "Zed and Addison? That's…you really think we could make a movie about them? I think…it could work."

"And it's a cheat to learn all about your inner-circle," Eva said. "I'm so excited! I'm gonna go find Bucky and tell him."

She jumped up and turned to head off to the front. She stopped and threw her arms around Eliza, nuzzling their cheeks together. Eliza stiffened and inhaled sharply. Her heart rate picked up to a speed that made her nervous.

"I'm so glad I've met you, honestly," Eva said softly. "I thought moving to a new town would be so hard but you made it so easy."

Eliza just nodded numbly. Eva pulled back, completely unfazed, and walked over to Bucky's table. When Eliza looked over at Bree and Bonzo still at the table and their knowing smiles, she felt her face heat up and waves of nervousness wash over her.

"I think my heart is beating," she said, half jokingly and all terrified at the prospect of feeling.

"Gerb gar gargiza," Bonzo said, aimed at Bree but loud enough for Eliza to hear.

"Shut up!" Eliza exclaimed in embarrassment. "I don't…" she pursed her lips then muttered, "I don't like her. She's my friend."

Both Bree and Bonzo looked like they wanted to say more, but Eva returned then. "Bucky said that Zed and Addison getting together aligns with the Zombies being integrated into the human community. He suggested we do it about that, where Zed and Addison are the main characters but it's really about Zombie integration."

"That…that could work," Eliza said with a nod. "I'll talk to Bucky to decide start events and end events so we know, but I think that'll be good."

"We're making a movie?" Bree asked curiously.

Eva nodded with a grin. "I'm sure you'll be in it a lot, Bree. And Bonzo. And even you, Eliza."

"As Zed's best friend and chairman of the Zombie-integration movement, I can guarantee I'm in it a lot," Eliza said with a grin. Then, she cleared her throat and sang in a voice mocking her own, "We'll never be accepted, Zombies need to rise up. Fight the good fight, stand for what's right."

"Oh, I forgot about the whole singing and dancing thing," Eva said. "You have a really pretty voice, by the way."

"Thanks."

Then, a little shyly, Eva added, "I hope you sing a lot once we flesh this whole thing out."

"She's blushing!" Bree gushed in a quiet voice to Bonzo. Luckily, Eliza only heard because of her Zombie hearing.

"Um, I gotta go…I need to see a teacher." Eliza lied.

"Okay, see you later."

Eliza packed up her stuff and grabbed her unfinished lunch, eating toward the trash cans to throw it out. She turned to exit, catching Eva watching her with a smile. Eliza gave the human a little wave before leaving.

'I hate this I hate this I hate this. Is this how it feels to like someone?'