When Josephine next woke up her mom was sitting in the guest chair of a hospital room and her dad was outside the door on the phone. Her eyes blinked into awareness and she shifted her head to look at her mom.
The adrenaline from being near murdered had sent her heart into a frenzy that she had felt calm, but in reality she was seconds from a heart attack. Literally almost scared to death.
Thankfully, they were able to get to her before she had one, but her heart had gotten dangerously close and once the danger was gone her body went into rest. It had been 24 hours, but she was fine.
Her dad got off the phone and drew his daughter into his arms, giving her a long squeeze and holding back his tears. "Don't worry. You're safe now, sweetie."
"Dad..." She choked out, the events finally getting to her. When was the last time she had truly gotten a hug from her dad? "I'm so sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for." The officer said, pulling back and wiping the tears from Josephine's eyes with a sad smile. He had watched her grow into a strong, resilient girl even facing a zombie. Twice. His face grew cold at the reminder of why they were here. "It's those zombies and that administration for putting you and the rest of the school in danger."
"what?" Josephine asked meekly, the moment gone and replaced by her dad's anger.
"All zombies have a week long suspension until the council decides what to do with the monsters." Josephine dad's anger turned into a sickening satisfaction, one that made the teen feel queazy. The man mistook it for anxiety, because he lightly patted her leg in comfort. "But don't worry, honey. They'll be cleaning their lockers out by Friday."
"Just in time for the cheer championship!" Her mother jumped in with a soft smile, her hand grabbing hold of Josephine's. The girl only stared wide eyed at her mother as the woman spoke rapidly about how her daughter was so strong and would be good for practice by Monday morning. "And we told your brother not to worry, to focus on his studies. He wanted to come down, but we insisted you would be fine!"
If Josephine thought the last few weeks were the most hollow she had ever felt, it compared nothing to the week she had from then on. She wanted her brother.
But instead, when Sunday rolled around she was out of the hospital and her ankle was wrapped, iced, elevated while at home.
At school she was hailed a savior to some and a cursed object to others, people either came up to her in congratulations and well wishes, or stayed away from her. At cheer practice, Bucky only complained that the bandage she had didn't match the outfit before inspecting for zombie paraphernalia.
She wasn't sure if she was lucky or unlucky when she made the cut. Going through the reduce numbered routine was painful, each jump and move sent painful shocks of warning up her leg, but she grit her teeth and went through.
It wasn't until she lifted up a normal flyer did her ankle scream and so did she.
Bucky was mental, she decided, as the captain stalked over to Josephine and demanded why she ruined the move.
"My ankle, Bucky. I-I can't base my feet to the ground without it hurting-"\
"Fine. Then you're flying."
"Hold on, Bucky. Jackson is the tallest and has the most muscle out of all of us girls." Lacey interrupted with a frown, stepping closer to Bucky. Ever since the zombie attack, the boy had been slowly losing his mind as if a zombie had gotten to at least part of it. "We can't throw her-"
"Did I ask for your opinion, Lacey?" Bucky smiled thinly, eyes widen in challenge as he stood in the girl's face. His voice dropped dangerously, eyes still freakishly wide. "If you don't stand down, I'll tell everyone that you got botox this past summer."
Lacey blinked in shock at her supposed friend, but backed down all the same with a gulp. The other Acey's stared at the ground quickly, when Bucky stomped over to them and pointed at Josephine.
"You three are going to put the broken one up in an extension prep to a cradle on Friday, do you understand?" Bucky left no room for arguments. He was truly a mad man lost in the competition. When the three nodded he nodded back. "Good, good. Now, get in your places!"
The Acey's looked at Josephine and Josephine looked at the Acey's in more understanding than they had ever done before. They all knew that this wasn't going to end well, but Bucky wasn't going to let them go so easily.
Josephine probably would have been hurt less if she hadn't complained.
But her mom was so happy to hear that she would watch her daughter fly. She had always known Josephine would be just like her mom.
It was Wednesday when Josephine realized that the precious Addison was no longer on the team and her hair was a shocking platinum color. Her and Bree now sat in the farthest corner of the cafeteria alone, but continued laughing as if everything was normal.
By Friday, her ankle was swollen and angry, constantly screaming at her to let the poor part rest. But she couldn't. She had to be perfect, which meant daily practices. Multiple practices. Practices in her sleep.
"Alright, people. This is my shot at winning." Bucky said thinly to the team as they waited for their name to be called in. "Don't ruin it."
Soon enough Seabrook High cheerleaders were called onto the stage and Josephine ignored her ankle as she hopped on and waved at the crowd. The song started and Josephine moved how she was supposed to before backing up to get in position for the prep.
Tracey grabbed onto her waist and Josephine put her hands on the female Acey's shoulders. All four said their own quick prayers as Josephine set her foot onto Tracey's hands and nodded to Lacey on the beat. When she jumped into the smoosh all she could feel or see was static.
Pain.
With a small cry, Josephine's body spasmed and fell from the Acey's hands and onto the mat. For a bit, she just laid there until Tracey grabbed her by the arm and Lacey grabbed the other. Josephine groaned as she was helped up and her arms wrapped around their shoulders.
"I think they're booing us!"
"No shit." Josephine snapped out, finally done with the charade. Wincing she looked over at Bucky and narrowed her eyes at the captain. "We're shitty because of your manic decisions."
"You... you..." With the heat of the heckles, lights, and eyes Bucky felt like he was going to combust at any moment. "You're off the team!"
"I don't wanna be on your fucking team anyways!" Josephine hollered back over the crowd and shoved the Acey's away. She went off the stage in a limp, leaving Bucky and the Acey's to fend for themselves. While walking closer to the wings she saw a familiar group of freaks smiling to each other before sighing and walking the other way.
Josephine sat down on a chair and sighed, ignoring the commotion on stage and looking over at a cupcake on the table.
She ate that fucking cupcake.
"Hungry?"
With mouth full of cake and icing, Josephine looked up at Zed. The zombie had his hands in his pockets and his eyes looked worn to a near ancient degree as he looked over the girl. Josephine swallowed and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Not as hungry as I've seen you"
Zed flinched back and Josephine instantly felt shame flow through her at the low blow.
"That was low.. I'm so sorry-"
"No, I am. Look, I just want to-" Zed interrupted, but before he could continue Addison had run over and grabbed him by the arm.
"Come on, Zed! We've gotta go make a change!" The peppy girl then looked over at her old friend and smiled a little softer. She let go of the zombie and held out a hand to Josephine who looked at it hesitantly. "Come on, Jett. We need a base."
"...I've got a shit leg."
"But you've got a great arm." Zed interjected with a smile. Josephine swallowed her emotions and returned it, grabbing Addison's hand and allowing herself to be whisked away to the planning of Seabrook true cheer.
Josephine wasn't up front or on show as she stayed in the back to cheer, instead she went through the motions until Bree was sent her way. With a soft smile, the brunette ignored the pain one more time as she put her hands out to throw the girl in the air.
After getting Bree down safely, she stumbled, but Bonzo easily picked her up and set her on the taller stage. Josephine smiled and thanked the zombie, continuing her cheer sitting down.
She got a great view of the historic scene from up there as she only had to throw her arms up and down, but watching zombies and humans coexist felt...
Perfect.