Author's Note:

Hey, everyone! Yes, I'm still alive. I am all healed up. Though on the professional side of things, COVID is still continuing to keep me constantly busy.

I cannot even begin to describe how hectic the past few weeks have been. I started a new job, which I love. Unfortunately, I have also had to help plan funeral services for a dear cousin who passed away. They loved fanfiction, too, and I will miss them dearly.

My apologies in advance, as this isn't the most exciting chapter. But I hope you are still happy to see an update! Hopefully, the next update won't take so long.

I love you all. Your likes and reviews continue to make my day!

Take care out there!

ZzZzZzZ

Addison groaned in concern as Eliza relayed her disastrous conversation with Bonzo. Zed's face was a mask of disbelief as his friend explained the tragic correlation between Bonzo's dad and Bree's sister.

"...And then, he broke up with Bree and took off, and now no one can find him." Eliza finished, burying her face briefly in her hands. She was emitting guilt and worry as they made their way out the front door of the Necrodopolis home and into the street.

"That's... Whoa." Zed said, raising a hand to his head and running it through his green hair. Addison could feel the utter shock and sense of helplessness radiating forth from him, and his head was a confused swirl of words and pictures as he processed the information.

"Eliza!" She said, trying not to sound frustrated. "I told you not to tell anyone."

She recalled the end of their conversation that morning, when she has whispered into Eliza's ear right before getting into her mom's car.

"Technically, you told me not to tell Bree." Eliza said, but she shot Addison a guilty look as they walked. "I know, I know. I should have kept my mouth shut. But Bonzo is my best friend, and it didn't feel right lying to him."

Addison sighed.

"I know you didn't mean any harm, Eliza." Addison said, reaching out and offering the zombie a brief squeeze on her shoulder. "Honestly, this was probably always going to go badly, no matter when or how someone broke the news to them."

This was exactly what she had been afraid of.

Now Bonzo was who-knew-where, having a complete freak out. And now, they were going to have to tell Bree what they'd learned, as well. Addison had no idea how she would take this news. She'd already been through way too much in the past twenty-four hours alone.

From a distance, Addison could see that her best friend was crying on Eliza's stoop.

"Oh, Bree!" Addison gasped. She instantly broke away from Zed and Eliza to sprint towards her.

"Addy!" Bree sniffled, looking up from the tissue she was using to dab at her face. "Bonzo broke up with me! Then he just, ran off. I don't understand what I did wrong..."

Her voice hitched, and fresh tears spilled down her cheeks and dripped onto her shirt.

Addison reached her friend, pulling her into a tight hug.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Bree." Addison assured her. "Bonzo's just upset right now, and he's not thinking clearly. He would never dump you; the guy is head over heels for you!"

"Then why did he say that?" Bree asked, dabbing at her eyes again and trying to compose herself. "We weren't even arguing or anything. It just came out of nowhere!"

"Bree..." Eliza cut in, leaning in to rest a hand on her shoulder. "Bonzo is upset because of me. I told him something, and it really freaked him out. This is my fault."

Eliza lowered her head, green curls cascading down over her face. "I'm so sorry."

She seemed completely out of her depth. Normally, Eliza was the voice of reason in a sticky situation, not the cause of it.

Bree blinked up at her, and then shook her head. "Eliza, I know you'd never do anything to upset Bonzo or me on purpose." She sniffled. "But, what did you tell him that would make him want to break up with me?"

Eliza's eyes widened, she exchanged a look with Addison and Zed.

Addison bit her lower lip nervously. Oh, man. How were they going to explain this to her? The last thing Addison wanted to do was upset her best friend even more.

"Bree," She said, hesitantly. "Earlier today, Eliza and I were talking. And we figured out something about... Well, um. About Bailey."

At the mention of her sister's name, Bree became still. Addison had no idea what was going through her head, but the emotions her friend was emanating were not what she had expected. Bree didn't feel overly upset or apprehensive. Just confused. Then, a wave of understanding made its way through her.

Bree shut her eyes briefly, then opened them again to face Eliza.

"You told him about his dad, didn't you?" Bree asked, her face going instantly from distressed to comprehending.

Addison, Eliza and Zed all wore matching expressions of shock. Addison felt her mouth hanging open, and instantly snapped it shut.

"You," Zed spluttered, "You knew?"

"Yeah," Bree replied. "I've known since before the first time we went to cheer camp together."

"What!?" Addison gasped.

She stared at her friend. Addison was at a complete loss for words, and the same seemed to be true for Zed and Eliza.

"Bree," Addison said. "How did you find out? Why didn't you ever say anything to anyone?"

Bree shrugged. "I did some research on the internet a while back, and looked up some records about that day in City Hall's records room. I was morbidly curious, I guess. My parents have never wanted to talk about it. But it wasn't too hard to piece it together, with a little work. And once I knew the truth, it wasn't exactly something I felt like sharing with other people. Especially Bonzo. I knew if he found out, it would upset him terribly."

"But," Zed interjected. "Didn't it upset you? I mean, I'm upset, and it isn't even directly related to me."

"Of course I was upset." Bree sighed. "I mean, I had this great friend who I had a huge crush on, and we turn out to be connected in this horrible, awful way."

She had stopped crying now, and was tucking the tissue away into one of her pockets.

"But, Bonzo has nothing to do with the kind of person his dad was, or what with happened to Bailey. He's suffered from Zen's actions just as much as my family has. It's not his fault, and it honestly doesn't matter to me. Besides," She said, a soft smile gracing her face for the briefest moment. "I love him."

Addison couldn't help but smile back at her friend. She could certainly understand that. Addison was pretty sure that there was nothing in this world that could make her stop loving Zed. She rubbed her thumb along the sapphire ring as she considered this, comforted by the token of his love resting on her finger.

"We need to find him." Bree said, looking suddenly distressed. "He's got to be so upset! I need to let him know that none of this is his fault, and that I don't blame him for anything."

She turned to Zed and Eliza. "You guys know how he is. I'll bet you anything he thinks that I won't want anything to do with him, because of who his dad was. He needs to know that's not true."

"We'll find him." Zed said, sounding confident. "He can't have gone far, and we know where all of his usual hangouts are."

"I can call Willa." Eliza chipped in. "She can have the wolves on the lookout, too."

Addison was wracking her brain, trying to guess where her friend might have gone. Poor Bonzo. She could only guess what was going through his head right now.

"Don't worry, Bree." Addison encouraged. "We'll find him in no time."

Bree stood up, dusting off her pants and sweatshirt. "Let's get to searching, then."

ZzZzZzZ

Mayar, Qamar and Aruna strode down the well-worn path of the main tunnel that led into Zombietown. After Willa had received a worried phone call from Eliza, the pack leader had sent Wyatt to the Crater. Wyatt, in turn, had asked that the Lunites be on the lookout for Bonzo. He had apparently gone missing after hearing some distressing information, and the others were searching for him as well.

Of course, Mayar had immediately volunteered to walk the tunnels around Zombietown, in hopes of hearing or sensing Bonzo's whereabouts. Qamar and Aruna, who had been with her in the dining area, had instantly agreed to join her.

The tunnel would have been pitch black, were it not for the three glowing heads of hair. Their long tresses emanated icy blue beams of light, which danced along the stone walls. Mayar briefly squeezed her friends' hands as they walked, arms interlinked.

Poor Bonzo. Aruna said, shaking her head sadly as she was filled with empathy for their friend. He has such a kind soul. I hope he will be alright.

Qamar reached across Mayar's shoulders to pat Aruna's arm comfortingly. I'm sure he will be fine, Aruna. Sometimes people just need to be alone for a while. As he said this, Mayar noticed the quick flash of a person's face passing through his thoughts. A human male, with deep brown eyes and dark, curly hair.

Ah, yes. Mayar said, suddenly smiling mischievously. How did your date with Bucky go this morning?

Qamar frowned and whipped his head around to face her. It was not a date.

But his surly expression did not match the confused lightheartedness that was now emanating from her friend. Mayar's smile broadened as she listened in on Qamar's thoughts. He was remembering running towards the beach with Bucky Buchanan, holding his hand tightly as he pulled him closer to the water.

Qamar! Aruna exclaimed in a scolding tone. You've been holding out on us! You went to the beach with him?!

Mayar, who was in the middle of the trio, held a tight grip on Qamar's hand as he tried to pull away. Abruptly, he was putting up mental walls, muffling the volume and clarity of his thoughts.

Oh, don't be like that. Mayar groaned, pulling him in and resting her head briefly on his shoulder as they turned a tight corner. We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.

But you should talk to us. Aruna said, in an obvious attempt to guilt-trip him. We are your best friends, after all.

Aruna flipped her hair in a dramatic wave, sending an arc of white blue light dancing across the ceiling of the tunnel. She then focused her gaze on him, as did Mayar, as they waited for their friend to respond.

Qamar rolled his eyes, and gave them both a withering scowl before sighing in defeat.

He stopped walking, and Mayar and Aruna stopped as well as they waited for Qamar to talk. He was blushing, as though about to admit some humiliating fact about himself.

"Bucky... Bucky is my soulmate." Qamar groaned out loud, his face now a brilliant shade of periwinkle. He lowered his head, determinedly avoiding eye contact with both of them as he stared at the tunnel wall.

Mayar felt her eyebrows rise up so high that she though they might disappear into her hairline. Aruna's mouth was open in a perfect "O" shape as she blinked rapidly. For a moment, they all stood silently in the tunnel as she and Aruna absorbed this news.

Oh. My. Stars. Aruna finally gasped, and raised her free hand to her mouth.

Mayar's face was now spreading into a genuine, happy smile. Her friend had found his soulmate! This was wonderful news, especially considering the rather stressful past few weeks. She didn't immediately understand his sour expression. Qamar absentmindedly fidgeted with a lock of his hair, twisting it repeatedly around his finger.

I just... How can Bucky possibly be my soulmate? Qamar finally said huffing out a loud sigh of frustration. Not only are we totally different species, but he and I are polar opposites of one another. It could never work.

As he said it, Mayar felt her friend's heart ache with confusion and sadness. She met his eyes.

He already loved him. She could tell, even if Qamar was heavily in denial about it.

Mayar put a hand to her own heart.

Oh, Qamar. She said. Of course it will work. You two are meant to be.

Absolutely! Agreed Aruna, who reached out to rest a hand supportively against Qamar's slumped shoulder. You need to trust your instincts. Have they ever steered you wrong before?

That's just it! Qamar said with frustration. Clearly, my instincts haven't allways been right. I have always disliked humans. Maybe even hated them. But now everything is different, and the last person I would ever have picked for myself is suddenly my mate. I don't understand how this could possibly have happened.

The universe works in mysterious ways. Mayar shrugged. And as the humans like to say, sometimes opposites attract.

She smiled, in spite of her friends somber facial expression. He may be concerned now, but she was certain that Bucky would be exactly right for him. Qamar needed someone who was outgoing and happy, and even a bit silly at times. He could be so serious and somber. It would be good for him to have a splash of exuberance in his life.

Aruna is exuberant enough for five people. Qamar said dryly, following Mayar's train of thought.

They all chuckled at this, and the walls of the tunnel echoed with their laughter as they presumed their walk towards Zombietown.

Yes, Aruna said. Perhaps I am. But that doesn't mean you couldn't do with a little added pep in your step, Qamar. And Bucky is fifty percent pep.

What's the other half? Mayar asked.

Drama. Aruna replied. Drama, and gorgeous eyes.

She wagged her eyebrows suggestively at Qamar, who seemed at least somewhat less somber than he had a few moments before. He smiled back at her.

He certainly is dramatic. Qamar said, titling his head to the side. But at least I'll never be bored, right?

Mayar grinned as they continued to stride down the tunnel.

She was still slightly worried about Bonzo, but was confident that their zombie friend would be found soon. But as they walked, she thought about Qamar, and his unprecedented pairing with the human cheerleader, Bucky.

While she and Aruna had joked about it, neither of them had ever guessed that the two men might actually end up together. But now that Qamar had discovered it, she was exceedingly happy for him. They could both be exactly what the other needed to happily balance things out.

As long as Qamar didn't mess it up, that was.