"I have practice today," Zed told Addison one Saturday morning in early July. "Coach wants us to go and check out the new field. Give it a go. Should be interesting."
Addison spun around in Zed's desk chair to face him where he sat on his bed. "Interesting?"
"We're starting official tryouts on Monday," Zed said. "Should be interesting. You got plans for today?"
"Dr. Jan suggested me and my mom do a 'day out' which is bullshit but I'm going so." Addison shrugged. "Should be interesting."
"Keep me updated," Zed said. "You want a ride to your house?"
"I love driving with you," she stated. "I'll just text my mom. Let her know."
"Okay," Zed said. He stood up from his bed and went over to his closet. "Gotta get dressed."
Ten minutes later, after Zed got dressed and they grabbed a bite from the kitchen, Zed dropped Addison off at her parents' home. "Text me when you're ready to be picked up," he told her, giving her a kiss.
"Okay. Bye Zed."
She climbed out of the truck and made her way to the front door. Zed watched her, waiting until she was inside and gave Mayor Missy a wave before driving off.
"You are quite possibly the hardest Zombie to track down."
"What're you talking about? I told you exactly where I was gonna be."
Bucky rolled his eyes and sat down next to Zach. "I had to walk here. It's so hot out there. And in here. What the hell? Are you trying to kill me?"
Zach laughed at him. "Some of us don't drive and walk everywhere," he said pointedly.
"Whatever," Bucky said with an eye roll. "Let's go eat or something. I'm starving."
Zach raised a curious eyebrow. "You wanna go get lunch with me?"
"No shit," Bucky stated. "I asked you on a date, so I obviously wanna go out with you. Maybe not in Seabrook though."
"Okay." Zach nodded and smiled. "There's a cozy little restaurant not too far from here. I just gotta take my bass back home."
"Mind if I tag along?"
"Not at all."
Zed locked his belongings in his locker, making sure to unlock the supply room and the girls' locker room before heading to find Coach.
The only other person there was Tomas Kaye. He was a rising senior and would be captain along with Zed. Of course, no one else who was trying out knew that those two were going to be captains.
"Hey Z," Tomas greeted. "If you go to the top of the bleachers you can see the whole field."
Zed whistled a little as he looked around. "I can see a little now and damn is it nice."
The bleachers were now fenced off from the field. Tomas unlocked one of the gates with his key, then unlocked a gate to get into the stands. They climbed up to the top, standing in the middle and looking over their new football field.
It was a combined football and soccer field, with the proper markings for both sports. The touchdowns were the neon pink and green dotted ombré with the big 'SHRIMP' label in the center of both. At centerfield was the Shrimp crest, facing toward the bleachers.
"I cannot wait to play on that," Zed stated. "It looks so fresh."
"It's so crisp and clean," Tomas agreed. "It's turf too! No more dirt and grass. Especially you, considering how much dirt you ate last season."
Zed rolled his eyes. "You're so funny," he said sarcastically.
"Coach said he might make us run track next year. Keep us in shape. At least we have a nice new track."
"I love this."
"They're gonna get a new baseball field and a new softball field. They're doing the gym right now. It's mostly to get more bleachers because there are rumors of you playing basketball next year."
"I hate rumors."
"We're just getting a completely new athletic complex," Tomas summed up. "This year's gonna rock. You should've done your singing-dancing shit for this year instead."
"I feel like you mention the movie every practice."
Tomas shrugged innocently. "You're a tough football guy who also doubles as a singing-dancing guy. Me no comprende."
"Give it a try sometime. It's fun."
Tomas just returned his attention to the field. "We got lights too. Games at night!"
"Oh I love being at school for that long."
"You're so negative," Tomas said with an eye roll. "I don't know what Addison sees in you."
"I'm only like this for you. You should feel honored."
"Ha ha," Tomas deadpanned.
From the locker rooms, Evangeline walked out and across the track. She stopped and looked around, then spotted them up top. "What are you guys doing?" she screamed up.
"Looking at the field!" Zed called back.
Evangeline walked along the track, heading to go join them. They began walking down from the top of the bleachers. "You really think Coach will let her play?" Tomas asked.
"Evangeline's good. She's got the aggression for defense but Eliza would kill me if I let her play there. I'd put her on offense. Girl's got hands."
"She's a girl."
"She showed everyone the rulebook. If she can prove her spot, she can play. Point, blank, period."
They reached the bottom of the bleachers as Evangeline reached the gate. "Hey," Zed greeted. "What time is it?"
"Time for everyone to get here." Evangeline stated. "Why do you guys get here so early everyday?"
"I drive lots of people around," Zed answered.
"I saw Addison and her mom on my way here," she said. "I think they went to a brunch place. Not my business, just telling you what I saw."
Zed nodded along. "You like the field?"
"It's sexy as fuck," Evangeline said immediately. "I wanna play on this right now."
Tomas laughed a little. "You and Zed are the same, it's kinda scary."
"It's a sophomore thing," the two of them said in surprised unison. They looked at each other suspiciously, then laughed.
Tomas rolled his eyes. "You underclassman suck," he grumbled.
"You love us," Zed said.
Tomas didn't answer. He unlocked the gate and Zed and him stepped out. The three of them walked along the track and back to the locker rooms.
"They should renovate the girls' locker room next," Eva said. "It's smaller than the school's bathroom. The cheer lounge is bigger. It's incredibly hurtful."
"There aren't a lot of girls who play sports," Tomas pointed out.
"It can barely fit the softball team. I know, I was in there during softball season."
"Come on, Evangeline, you already know our class is here to shake up Seabrook." Zed said. "By our graduation, we'll have a new and improved Seabrook. Guaranteed."
Evangeline grinned and went to lean against the wall while Zed and Tomas went into the locker room. They all put on their cleats and went out onto the field, walking along the outer ring of the new field. They weren't gonna work out that day, but they did do a few circuit drills around the new field.
After an hour, they all sat down in the grass and hung out. They switched their shoes and agreed to meet for lunch at a vegan restaurant downtown.
After lunch, Zed drove Evangeline to Zombietown where she and Eliza were going to hangout (in the Power Plant, away from Eliza's family). Dinner time came and Addison got dropped off by her mom. Even though they invited her in, she didn't stay for dinner.
Later that night, after they had finished getting ready for bed, Addison and Zed sat on the floor. The house was hot and sitting on the floor felt a lot cooler than in a chair or on the bed. "What'd you do today?" Addison asked.
"Checked out the new field. Got lunch with the team. You?"
"Hung out with my mom." Addison shrugged. "She made me plan my birthday."
"Did she?"
Addison nodded. "It's a pool party at Bucky's house. I'm gonna hate it, I already know. Are you gonna come?"
"Am I invited?"
"Of course. I don't care what my family thinks, you know that."
Zed hummed. "Zoey's birthday is the next day," he pointed out. "I think she'd like to go to a pool party before…"
"I feel you," Addison said. "You and Zoey and Zevon are all invited. Bree's gonna go and maybe Eva. I might be able to convince Taylor to come too. Eliza said she would try to come and Bonzo is super excited."
Addison squealed excitedly. "And then I can finally start planning my Sweet Sixteen! I've been waiting for years to plan it! I started but my parents made me promise to wait until I was fifteen."
"I bet it's gonna be everything you hoped for. And more."
"It is! I can't wait!" Addison said excitedly. "Oh my god, now I have a boyfriend. I get to pick out your suit and you get to be involved! This is gonna be great."
"Okay okay," Zed laughed. "Calm down so you can go to bed, Babe."
