The next morning everyone returned to school and Addison couldn't help but miss Zed on her walk to school, but she could still join Bree who lived just a few blocks away.
"How's it going Bree?"
"We all know it could be better. I hope Zed's plan works. I don't want to go to Prawn without Bonzo."
"Bree stop. I know Bonzo wants to take you to Prawn just as much as Zed wants to make Prawn happen for me. I know there is no way Bucky wins the debate, everyone has at least some zombie friends. The adults may still think they're all dangerous, but I know our school can be united. Just as much as Zed said in his speech yesterday, and like we proved at cheer camp. We're better together."
"I hope you're right. Do you think the wolves will come to the Prawn if they can?"
"I don't know, they seem pretty stuck in their ways, but I'm sure everything will be better today. Yesterday everyone was just surprised or had first-day jitters. Everything will get better and better. You'll see."
"I hope you're right, I was talking to Bonzo, and apparently yesterday after school Zed and Eliza tried to talk to them about fitting in more, but they shot them down." Bree revealed as they walked through the school doors.
"Zed didn't mention anything about that to me. He still sounded just as positive and confident as always when I called him last night."
"How Bonzo explained it, Zed tried to get them to do it like the zombies do, trying to convince them that if they try to fit in everyone will like them more and won't be scared. But the wolves pretty much laughed in their face and said they believe in letting their true selves show."
"Maybe the wolves are somewhat right. I mean look at this." Addison said, looking at a poster in the hallways. "That isn't Zed, the hair is too dark, and his skin is much paler. You can't even see his Z-band. I feel kind of bad, I feel like this is just like him meeting my parents all over again. He told me he wished that he could be human so people would accept us but I told him I only wanted him."
"I'm sure it's not that bad, although I totally agree with you. Once Zed wins the vote and gets you to Prawn he'll be back to his normal self."
"I hope you're right."
"Hey there Addison." Wyatt walked up to her in the halls.
"Good morning Wyatt."
"I was wondering if I could talk to you about something?" Wyatt cautiously place his hand on her shoulder
"Sure what is-"
"There you are Addison." Zed's voice sounded behind her as he wrapped her up in a hug and pulled her away from Wyatt, whom Addison automatically leaned into.
"Good morning Handsome." she said, momentarily distracted. "How's the campaign going?"
"Honestly could be better but don't worry, I will get us to Prawn."
"I know you will, but even if you lose we can still have the night of our lives alone with all our real friends. We don't need Prawn to have fun."
"I know, but you're perfect and you deserve the perfect night, it shouldn't be taken away from you because people think I'm a monster."
"Zed you-" Just then the bell rang, signaling the approaching start of class.
"Looks like I have to go Gorgeous."
"I know, will I see you at lunch?"
"Sorry, me and Eliza will be busy campaigning."
"OK, see you in English then."
"Later."
"Both walked off in separate directions, leaving a frowning Wyatt abandoned in the hall."
"Well that went great, looks like I was right, that spineless zombie will be a problem. Maybe I'll be able to talk to her at lunch." He muttered to himself under his breath as he walked to his first class.
In most of her classes, Addison tried to focus on her schoolwork, but she couldn't help stealing glances at the wolves, but she was slightly unnerved. Most of them didn't seem to be actively paying attention to the lessons, none of them ever raised their hands, just sat in the back as their eyes scanned the room, and more often than not, staring at her. She was a little freaked out.
Yesterday after her adrenaline rush faded and she felt safe as always with Zed by her side after the werewolves stormed the gym, she had forgotten about Willa aggressively questioning her. Had she asked about that moonstone thing then too? Addison still had no idea what she had been talking about although she had a theory it must have something to do with the stone necklaces all the wolves wore, she hadn't gotten a real good look at them yet, but when they weren't glowing blue when the werewolves attacked, they were pale white like the moon. But if they all had moonstones, why were they asking her about them?
Also, why were they questioning her of all people? Despite how she acted most of the time, anytime her hair was mentioned at all she still always felt a flash of fear. Whenever the Aceys let Freak slip out, no matter how much she tried to ignore them, she would still hear it repeating in her head at night. Zed usually drove those thoughts away just by being himself when they said goodnight to each other.
Now, these wolves showed up and the very first thing they did was zero in on her because she was different. What did they expect from her? She was different but didn't have anything special about her. She was obviously human, why were all these wolves staring at her? She could almost swear their eyes showed a mixture of hope and fear before they turned away whenever she made eye contact with them.
When lunch came around, she sat at her usual table with Bree and Bonzo and because they had a Zombietongue test the next period and no Zed to distract her, they had a pretty good cramming session, spending nearly the entire lunch period only speaking in Zombie. Addison was so focused she didn't even notice half the wolf pack staring at their table in apprehension.
"Have you talked to her yet?" Willa hissed in Wyatt's ear.
"No, I haven't been able to get her alone."
"Do it today, or I'll do it tonight."
"Don't worry, she's a cheerleader, so we can just wait till she's done with practice after school to talk to her."
"Fine. Wynter, go with Wyatt. Make sure he stays on task."
"You don't want to come to cheer? I bet it will be fun."
"Absolutely not. If that too shiny idiot Bucky tries to talk to me I'd probably rip his throat out."
"That would be bad, I think I heard he's cousins with the Great Alpha."
"Just more reasons for me to stay away brother. Just do your job."
Taking the test wasn't too bad, Bonzo was a great tutor even at the last minute, and before she knew it Addison was in the gym and ready to begin cheer practice. She blew her whistle and called everyone to attention.
"I am so fired up for practice today! Together we can do anything!" Addison took a breath to continue her pep talk, but most of the cheerleaders were staring past her and Bree with grimaces of fear instead of their normal cheertastic smiles.
Addison and Bree turned around and Bree let out a small gasp of fright.
Crowding the bleachers were most of the wolves, just sitting there, quietly watching them.
Addison calmly walked up to the wolves. "Sorry, but this practice space is for cheerleaders only."
"Huh. Just try to get us to leave." Wynter threatened, standing up and leading most of the other wolves to do the same.
"Wynter." Wyatt once again cautioned, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Some respect."
Addison shook her head. "No, I don't want you to leave. I want you to stay."
Most of the cheerleaders, including Bree, looked around at each other nervously in shock.
"Show us what you can do." Addison challenged the wolves. "The cheer team is for everyone."
"Um Addison, no it isn't the cheer team is only for perfection." Bucky interrupted her.
"Bucky, need I remind you who the captain is?" Bree told him.
"It's you two, Bucky groaned, "but sure, the zombies are part of the squad since they earned their place on the team, you can't just let these mangy mutts join on a whim. We have an important competition to prepare for. As captain, it is your responsibility to prepare us for victory without any distractions."
"If they want to join us they can. This isn't a commitment to joining the team or a tryout or anything, but I think we can all have a lot of fun. Together." Addison turned back to the wolves. "Are you in?"
"OK then. Wolves! Let's go!" Wyatt ordered. As the wolves all let out howls accepting the challenge, before joining the cheerleaders on the court.
"5, 6, 7, 8!" Addison called out as they began, all the cheerleaders moving in perfect sync to the music.
The wolves started a little awkwardly, but soon got into the groove, each wolf ended up paired up with a cheerleader and began showcasing their own moves, but they were all moving in unison with each other, just as precisely as the cheer team.
As the practice continued, everyone's nerves quickly disappeared, and all the wolves were able to learn the cheer routines in a snap, and Addison encouraged the cheerleaders to learn some of the wolves' dance moves.
For the final routine of practice, they worked on their showstopper and with everyone working together Addison thought it looked better than ever. Especially when she got some height being lifted by Wyatt and Jacey. At the end, she vaulted up and was expertly caught by Wyatt and Jacey, although she landed a little off balance so instinctively wrapped her arms over Wyatt's shoulders.
When he let her down a moment later everybody was cheering, and clapping and sharing hi-fives all around. Wyatt pulled her into a hug in excitement and she happily returned it, smiling and laughing in happiness over his shoulder.
This is my chance. Wyatt thought to himself. Don't screw this up.
"That was so amazing. You are all natural cheerleaders." Addison congratulated the now expanded team.
"We wolves work well together." Wyatt told her.
"But I'm not a wolf. "Addison shook her head, confused.
"Hmm." Wyatt grunted, raising his eyebrows.
Addison heard labored coughing ahead of her and scanned the room with her eyes as Wyatt turned around.
"Wynter?" He asked.
Wynter had latched onto Bree's arm as she collapsed to the floor, sounding like she could hardly breath, her eyes glowing a sickly green.
"What's wrong, are you OK?" Addison ran to her side.
Wynter shared a look with Wyatt, unable to speak.
"She'll be fine, for now at least." Wyatt reassured Addison and Bree as the green glow faded from her eyes and necklace. "But we do need your help."
"With what?" Addison asked.
"Well done Addison!" Bucky interrupted. "With the werewolves on cheer, this vote is in the bag. I'm Bucky Buchannan, I'm sure you've heard of me, everyone has. I'm the former and soon to be future cheer captain once more, but for now, I am focusing my efforts on an issue very dear to my heart, the safety of Seabrook. And that will begin with voting on Thursday to keep the Mon- special safety laws in effect for everyone's wellbeing. Remember, a vote for Bucky is a vote for cheerfection!"
"Bucky this is not about politics. I've always felt cheer could unite. And look I was right, that was the best we have ever performed that routine."
Wyatt showed his teeth in a smile that slowly morphed into a snarl as he continued. "Bucky is it? We've been around this school all day, and we've seen you around. I will admit you have some great cheer moves, but you also have a big mouth and we werewolves have good ears, and a long memory. Our appetite's insatiable, there's nowhere you can hide. Our freedom isn't up to humans, its only up to us. We don't give a sniff about your election or poll or whatever you're doing. But trust me, an Alpha should be followed not insulted."
"Alright, got it." Bucky's voice was raised an octave higher than normal as he stared at Wyatt's fangs. "But if you change your mind, feel free to vote for me! Bucky Buchannan." Bucky continued to walk around, trying to get the other werewolves' votes while the Aceys passed around his posters, but with little success.
Wyatt walked closer to Addison, reaching down to gently take her hand, and looked her right in the eye. "You are a leader Addison." Addison looked up to meet his eyes. "But at something a lot greater than cheer."
Addison let out a small nervous smile, looking back down again to see their joined hands, his grip was warm, much warmer than Zed's but just as gentle. Then she looked up again to see Wyatt's smiling face. Is this why all the wolves are acting weird around me? Is there really something special they see in me? She wondered, maybe there was a reason she was the one to discover them in the woods. Willa had first called her out on her white hair, maybe it means something to them. All the wolves had a streak of white. She had never truly fit in at Seabrook, not since she met Zed on the first day and later revealed her secret. Him, Bree, and the rest of her closest friends were the only ones that ever told her that her difference was a superpower, beyond her close circle, she knew everyone else still judged her. As far as she could tell the wolves hadn't even thought about changing themselves for Seabrook, and look at what they could accomplish together. She was about to ask Wyatt more but noticed someone else in the corner of her eye.
"Zed!" She said, turning toward him, meeting his eyes for only a moment before he turned away from her and ran out the gym door. That look was one she had only seen once before, when he had found her during cheer initiation and she swore to herself she would never make him feel like that again. Something must be wrong. Whatever it was, she had to go help him.
"Zed!" Addison called as she left the gym, he was already halfway down the hall, but he froze when he heard her voice. When he turned around, his face was a mask of anger she had only seen on him a handful of times before. "What's wrong?"
"Werewolves! They're not interested in fitting in!" Zed shouted.
"They're into cheer." Addison happily reported, not quite understanding where he was going with this.
"No, they're into you. And you're into him. Them!"
"What? Why are you acting like this?"
"Do you know how hard it was for zombies? Now everything is just being handed to the werewolves on a silver platter."
"Actually they hate silver. I learned that in class today. And of course, I do, I have always been with you every step of the way."
"I'm trying to win this vote for my people. For you. So we can go to Prawn! So we can be accepted!"
"That's not being accepted." Addison motioned to the campaign poster behind him. "That's being afraid to show who you really are."
"Says the girl who wore a wig her whole life!"
They both froze there, trapped in that moment as Zed's words echoed around the empty hallway. Addison's heart felt like it was breaking in two, and with it, her entire world.
"Yeah." Addison said quietly, her voice shaking, tears gathering in her eyes. "I did. Because I always felt like an outsider. And even though I'm cheer captain, I still do. You know I don't have a place here! I don't have a zombie crew! I don't know what I am! So excuse me for respecting a pack of werewolves who're proud of who they are."
Zed looked just as lost as Addison felt, and she couldn't take it anymore she turned away, unable to stop the floodgates, letting her tears fall as she ran down the hallways, only wanting to get away from him as fast as possible.
She slowed down soon enough once she entered a hallway filled with other students. She wiped away her tears for the moment and tried to act like everything was normal, but she couldn't ignore everyone around her. Like always, every person she saw was wearing pastel pink or blue. The only thing that ever mattered in Seabrook was uniformity and she would never be able to fit in.
"How do people make it look easy? Are they happy or just good at deceiving? I just wanna bury that feeling for myself." Everyone at Seabrook fit in with no problem under the pastel veil and constant demands of perfection. Addison never could, she hid her real self for fifteen years, and from the moment she stopped, almost everyone hated her for no reason. Because she was different.
"I don't put the pressure in soulmates. I just want somebody who knows me. Cause every now and then I admit I need a little bit of help." Zed, she didn't want to think about him. He had always been there for her, telling her she was perfect every chance he got. Something was wrong with him, just as much as something was wrong with her for ever believing him. He was the reason she revealed her secret, and look where it got her, had he been lying to her all this time? He thought it was better to hide himself. She couldn't trust him. "Let your freak flag fly. Yeah right." She stopped and stared at one of his stupid posters, she honestly couldn't recognize him. "You should be yourself it's the coolest thing." Another lie. Addison tore it down and stuffed it in a nearby trashcan before moving on down the hallway.
Once she made it to the locker room she tore her cheer uniform off and threw on the blue jeans, shirt, and jacket she had worn to school that morning. The main reason she was even in cheer was so she could fit in, but she never will. Her broken heart tore down the barrier she built in her brain ever since she met Zed, and now the voices and the fear were back, and stronger than ever. If Bree wasn't the captain, she would never have been allowed back on the team, much less captain. Everyone else probably only voted for her because they had to. If Bucky was still in charge, she wouldn't even be on the team. Freak, freak, freak. Snowball, Snow White, White hair, Freak. Why was she born different? What was wrong with her?
"I don't feel like I belong, anywhere. The more I cover up my flaws, the more they appear. I gotta find where I belong." Fifteen years of hiding, for nothing, she threw it all away for him and for nothing. She gave up her shot at a normal life, for him, for nothing. She will always be the odd one out, the first thing everyone notices because she will never belong. Everyone only judges her for her flaws, they will never care about the real her because she is a freak.
She walked past the cheer room, where Bucky and the Aceys were all smiles, doing each other's hair and make-up, making sure they were all just as perfect as always. She will never be perfect, not to anyone, she will always be a freak.
She walked outside, and everyone was the same, everyone had their own groups, and they all belonged somewhere. The zombies belonged together, the cheerleaders belonged together, all the humans belonged together, and she doesn't belong anywhere. She will always stick out like a sore thumb. She tried to embrace her flaws, but that didn't help. The half of the cheer squad that made up the A-Team must feel the same way, no one will ever trust her, and she couldn't trust anyone either. Zed.
No, don't think about him. He…he just wanted to control you like everyone else, like Mom and Dad, the most important thing is that you keep the wig on. You can't be in public as yourself. You're an embarrassment. No one will love you if they know the real you. You can't let anyone know your secret.
Bucky had used her from the moment she joined the cheer squad, using her secret to keep her in line, The Aceys were always ready to spring on her like sharks, pointing out all her flaws, even when they didn't know the biggest one, she was always their target, all because of a tall handsome-
"No don't think about him. If he can't accept himself he doesn't accept you. How could he ever love a freak like you?"
"Everywhere I go, I don't feel at home, even my parents they act like they know." Her mom and dad had been acting better about her hair over the past few months, but how could she believe them? If she couldn't trust Zed, she couldn't trust anyone, least of all the two people who told her every day of her life they could hardly stand to look at her without her wig. She will never be the perfect daughter they always wanted. She could pretend, and they could pretend because she was a freak and everyone in Seabrook hated anything different, and different was the only word that will ever describe her. They always knew she would never belong at Seabrook, that's why they made her a secret, but even more so because they couldn't stain their perfect reputations by having a freak for a daughter.
She entered her house, she could see her parents smiling on the couch, but turned away because she didn't want to talk to anyone right now. She wanted to be alone, just like she always will be because she doesn't belong anywhere.
"Do I have to leave to finally see? Is there someone out there and they're just like me?" Why were the wolves so interested in her? Why was she different? Did they just want to learn about the freak too? Wyatt had looked like he was about to tell her something important before she ran off to talk to Zed. She should have just stayed with him. Then none of this would be happening. If they wanted her for something. She knew she would go. The wolves had been staring at her the last few days, but none had insulted her, maybe threatened to attack, but they hadn't lied to her, booed her off the field or talked about her behind her back, or wanted her to change or hide or pretend to be perfect.
But it would, Zed would still want her to hide her freakiness, just as much as he was trying to hide who he was. Addison still didn't know much about Wyatt yet, but he seemed like the opposite of Zed right now. He seemed to always be trying to talk to her, whereas Zed had been too busy with his campaign that she had hardly seen him this week. Wyatt never apologized for anything the werewolves did, they were proud to show their strength and unity, they were all different but that didn't stop them. They didn't fight each other because they were different.
She looked around her room, those nights Zed snuck in to make her feel safe. That time he caught her outside her window. That day he showed up on her porch and got tazed for being who he was. She had told him she trusted him with her life, but not anymore. She could trust no one because everyone hated her because of who she was. If they told her otherwise, they were lying. No one will ever love her, because she is a freak.
She glanced down at her charm bracelet, since Christmas, she had hardly taken it off, every symbol created a deluge of memories whenever she looked at it. She felt her tears start again. Z, A, Fist, Lightbulb, Siren, Pom-poms, all of it was a lie. She wasn't a cheerleader, she only made the team because Bucky wanted to control her, and Bree was her best friend but she never deserved to be captain. No one really chose to follow her. All those happy memories weren't real, just false happiness before everything came crashing down again. She didn't have anyone who truly loved her. The only that was true about that bracelet was the A for Addison, A for abnormal, for abomination, for anomaly. She opened the clasp and set the bracelet in the drawer on her desk. Where she wouldn't have to look at it. Like no one should have to look at her.
Zed. She wished more than anything she could tell her brain to stop. She tried to distract herself by remembering all twenty-three words for brains. Nothing worked, all her happiest memories were now broken by pain and misery. Just as shattered as her heart.
She skipped dinner, claiming she wasn't hungry and she really did have zero appetite. She made herself some hot chocolate with marshmallows, but it was as flavorless as liquid sawdust. She eventually tried to do some homework in the living room, but could hardly focus, everywhere in her house held memories of Zed. She couldn't think in her room, or the kitchen where he came for dinner sometimes, or the night they spent on the couch. She decided to text Bree for help on her chemistry homework. She put her phone back in her pocket and tried another sip of the hot chocolate when she heard a loud scratching sound outside.
She couldn't ignore the way her heart rose in hope and a tiny spark of happiness at the sound. "Zed?" She asked herself. But she tried to tamp it down, sighing as she opened the door and trying to control her face to stop her instinctive reaction to smile at him. She tried to convince herself she didn't care what he had to say to her. Prepared to send him straight back to Zombietown.
But when she opened the door, she couldn't see anything at first except for the empty streets. When she slowly stepped outside she saw five long scratches in the siding of her house. She gasped in fear and looked around, trying to see in the gloom.
She set her hot chocolate down on a table holding some flowers, and when she turned around, she saw the werewolves standing in her driveway.
"Come with us." Willa said, this was both the calmest and most serious Addison had seen her look, or all of the wolves for that matter. Again she saw that nervous expression of hope and fear on their faces.
"What's so important?" Addison asked.
"You are." Wyatt told her, letting out a small smile that calmed her fears.
