The next day at school, the entire student body was subdued. Everyone had either been at the protest to save the powerplant and watched it go down, or heard about it from their friends. Humans and zombies alike were equally devastated. Everyone that is except Bucky.
His peppy voice sounded from the loudspeaker. "Attention everyone, this is Bucky, your future Prawn King! Reminding you that the Prawn is tomorrow night!"
Principal Lee's voice joined the announcement, also sounding just as morose as the rest of the school. "As you know, with the anti-monster laws still in place this is a human-only event."
Zed walked slowly through the halls, he hadn't seen Addison since the night before, and he knew better than to look for her. She gave him a second chance, and he immediately blew it. There was admittedly a tiny part of him that was grateful she wasn't a werewolf after all, but it didn't matter. Not just for Prawn, but for the rest of his life. He let his fear of the werewolves control him and make him just as prejudiced as Seabrook had been treating him and his friends their entire lives.
He walked silently through the halls, no one stopping to say hello or anything. He may have helped out at the powerplant last night, but their memories of the debate wouldn't be erased very quickly. Even if the student body later united to fight for the monsters. Zed almost wondered if the vote would be different if everyone could vote today before he dismissed it. It was all his fault that everything was wrong. From the wolves to Prawn, to Addison. He should have been the first person to listen to them and help them after everything he had been through. Instead, he was as scared as everyone else and refused to follow reason, letting his fear and anger make the decisions.
Zed noticed none of the wolves were in school. He shouldn't be surprised. He knew what Willa and Addison had told him. Without the Moonstone, the wolves will die. If he had listened to them and Addison, he could have helped. He could have talked to Pops and stopped this days ago. But he didn't. All he could focus on was Wyatt and Addison getting close and his inner monster rose to the surface. He still couldn't fathom what he had almost done to him. He would never believe it if the rage-filled images weren't permanently seared into his brain.
By the end of the school day, Zed was still just as miserable, in an effort to avoid Addison he had eaten his lunch alone in the safe room, but that was too painful so he ate in the locker room instead. He moved to the back of the room in all the classes they shared, leaving his normal seat open beside her. Other than searching for him in confusion during English, she had avoided looking at him all day. But still, no matter how hard he tried, his eyes could never leave the back of her head. He felt like the lowliest of creeps, all he ever did was hurt her, and she will never leave his heart or his mind. He deserved it. He deserved to feel just as alone as she felt.
When he got home, he sat on the couch and half-heartedly played fetch with Puppy for a bit, as he did, he noticed Zoey had given Puppy a little pink bowtie around his collar, and an idea started forming in his head. He had to go talk to the wolves. This wouldn't fix things, but it would be the first decent thing he had done all week. First he found Bonzo and Eliza and filled them in on the plan.
"Oh yeah, I am totally in agreement. This is exactly what I suggested from the start."
"I know, but I had to at least try to play by the rules first, even though I failed massively. Are you in Bonzo?"
"Gra." Bonzo's trademark optimistic grin returned. "Grablar Breezka?"
"If you really want to, I won't stop you. But imagine Bree's face when you walk in to surprise her."
"OKZ. I'm inz."
"Great, so can you two spread the word around Zombietown? I'm going to go talk to the wolves."
"You really think they'll come? They didn't look so hot after the stone was destroyed. Much less listen to you, the zombie that attacked them two days ago." Eliza reminded him.
"I think we can all agree I've spent most of this week being a colossal azz, especially to the wolves, right?"
"Yeah, totally."
"Gra."
"If they really are going to…you know. I should do at least one good thing for them. This isn't about the monster laws, it's about all of us enjoying the time we have and living life to the fullest. We shouldn't hide ourselves to make others feel safer. The change we want will never come then."
"Do you want me to come with you to check on Wyatt…and Willa and Wynter and all the rest of them?" Eliza quickly added.
"No, I need you here, and I need to apologize. I've been a monster to the wolves, and I need to make up for myself, by myself."
"Good Luck Z. Be safe out there."
"Don't worry about it, you just get everyone else ready."
He made his way nervously through the woods, it took him a while, and he made plenty of wrong turns, but he finally found the sheer gray cliff over the wolf den. It looked even more impressive in the fading sunlight of dusk. Without Addison to occupy his thoughts, he took in the never-ending constellations of stars that shone so much brighter outside of the city. It was beautiful. As beautiful as Addis- "No this isn't about her. This is about me and the wolves."
He took a deep breath. "I can do this. The worse thing that can happen is they say no." He slowly entered the den and after traveling a few yards in the darkness he entered the light again in the main cave.
He took in the scene in front of him, last time all the wolves were lively, howling and dancing in the moonlight. Now all of them were sitting or lying on the ground, wrapped up in blankets, coughing and shivering even though the spring night was relatively warm. No one challenged him as he entered, no one could.
Willa and Wyatt were bringing blankets and bowls of soup and water to their packmates scattered around the cave. They were so focused on their task, that neither noticed Zed until he was standing only a few feet away.
Both Willa and Wyatt looked up at Zed wearily.
Zed began his apology. "They were wrong to destroy Seabrook Power. And I was wrong about werewolves. You have every right to fight for who you are."
"Yeah, what are we now zombie?" Wyatt asked.
"You're fierce! You're proud werewolves!"
"They think we're monsters." Willa told him without any emotion.
Zed nodded. "We are monsters, and monsters don't follow the rules. You are right, who knows, maybe if us Zombies were brave enough to really fight for ourselves before now, the powerplant would never have been destroyed. I'm ready to stop hiding who I am. I'm a zombie, I always have been and I always will be. I don't need to change for anyone."
"Brave words. Why are you here?" Willa asked.
"To apologize. From the moment you joined the school, I've hated all of you for no reason. No good reason I mean. I thought you were just proving everyone in Seabrook right about us zombies, that we are dangerous and can't be trusted. I was a monster this week, for treating you like I have been treated my entire life. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry for attacking you. I have no excuse for that. I was worried about Addison, and I wanted to believe I was right, and I chose to lose control. I didn't want control, I wanted you to hurt like I have been hurt my entire life. And that was the wrong thing to do. I am so sorry that I hurt your family. I was the monster. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I wanted to extend an olive branch and do something worthwhile for you. All of you, that want to join us."
"Just spit it out. What is it?" Willa softly growled.
"Come to the Prawn. I didn't win the vote because I was an idiot. But you and the rest of my friends shouldn't be punished anymore for my mistakes. We're planning on crashing the Prawn. All of us Zombies, and we would love it if you would join us."
"How is a stupid dance going to help us?" Wyatt asked.
"It won't, but maybe it can help you forget at least for a few hours. You can have one last night of fun. All of us, together. I know Addison will want to see you again. She should have fun at Prawn, even if it isn't with me. You are a part of Seabrook, you should come with us."
Wyatt and Willa both silently studied Zed's face as they thought over his plan. Wyatt finally started. "Willa, I think we should do it. Anyone who's able and willing should go."
"Fine, I suppose we can go. What exactly is there at Prawn?"
"There will be lots of music and dancing, food, games, everyone having fun."
"I'll spread the word around the Den." Wyatt offered.
"Oh, do you have any formalwear?" Zed asked.
"No." Willa answered.
"Then can you come to Zombietown early tomorrow so everyone can get ready?"
"Sure zombie, Zed, we'll be there, for Addison and for our pack. We'll bring anything we can find with us. How about tomorrow afternoon?"
"Sounds great. I'll see you then."
Zed quietly walked back through the woods towards home.
"Do you really think this is a good idea Willa?" Wyatt asked.
"It doesn't matter, one last night of fun will be good for us. Plus we get to show Seabrook who's fiercest one more time."
The next day when the wolves showed up, Zombietown was a flurry of activity. Only about a dozen wolves were able to make the journey, and they brought some extra clothes and animal furs that they had. None had any sort of formal clothing among them, but that wasn't a problem.
The zombies were used to creating their own fashion out of the drab coveralls, so they could do a lot more with a lot less. Within a few hours, all the wolves had suits and dresses repurposed out of the clothes and fur that they brought with them or borrowed from the zombie residents.
Once everyone's outfits for the night were all sorted out, the wolves and zombies split up into different houses to get ready. Willa and Wynter walked over to Eliza's house, and they were already animatedly discussing their hair, nails, and make-up for the night. Zed could see Zoey following close behind them as they walked across the street.
Bonzo led Wilson, one of the wolves to his house to get ready, and Zed invited Wyatt to get dressed in his house. After pulling his tux out of his closet, he gave Wyatt his room to change while he got dressed in the bathroom.
Zed opened the garment bag and looked at his outfit for the evening, he had originally planned on wearing his pink suit to look Seabrook perfect for Addison, but just today as the wolves were getting ready, he noticed the dark red suit hanging in Paizley's, the seamstress's shop. He had asked if he could rent it for the evening instead and she waved away the thought telling him he could borrow it for free.
Zed decided he was done hiding who he was, he won't ever be Seabrook perfect, and he won't have to worry about matching with Addison. He was proud to be a zombie, and this suit was definitely Zombie Chic.
He pulled everything on and after tying his tie he walked back upstairs to check on Wyatt. He could hear muttered words coming through the door so he knocked politely. "Hey Wyatt, you almost ready?"
Wyatt opened the doors, and Zed had to admit, just to himself, that Wyatt did indeed look handsome on his ochre, fur-lined suit. But he had an annoyed pout on his face and he was holding the tie over his neck. "Howl the heck does this thing work?"
"I'll show you." Zed gave a light chuckle and moments later everything was in place. "You clean up well."
"Thanks, you too zombie." Wyatt smiled back before his face turned serious again. "Zed, I should apologize to you."
"For what? You didn't do anything wrong I've been a jerk to you literally the entire time I've known you."
"That is true". Wyatt chuckled, "but I know I'm the reason you did everything. Why you and Addison had your first fight, and then attacked us, and then stole her necklace."
"Yeah, I know I was stupid, I should have talked to you and her long before my emotions got the best of me. I know now you were only interested in her because of the prophecy."
"Actually…"
Zed froze in place.
"That first moment I saw her in the woods, I thought she was the most beautiful person I had ever laid eyes on, then my brain realized she could be the Great Alpha, and those two thoughts combined were my drive to get her to know us, and to know me."
Zed closed his eyes and took a deep, calming breath before opening them again. "Alright, I'm cool, go on."
"I was attracted to her, right from the start she caught my eye. Honestly, if Willa wasn't in charge, it would have just been me trying to find her and get us on our side. Then as I got to know her more, I realized just how close you two are. I was still using the excuse of the Great Alpha to get her alone and away from you, especially after your Do it Like The Zombies Do speech, I was worried you would stop her from helping us."
"And I almost did. I'm sorry."
"Look man, I just want to say, you were right about one thing, I did like Addison, or at least I thought I did, and I tried to separate you two for my own gain, even more than my pack. I'm sorry. But we wolves, we don't fall in love slowly, we have an instinct when we find our mates, we know. I've realized Addison was just my hope and fear and stress, all convincing me she could be the one. But she isn't, not for me. But she could be for you."
"Thank you for telling me this Wyatt, but it doesn't change anything. She'll hate me forever because of what I did."
"I wouldn't sell yourself short. When we first surrounded her in the woods, her only thought was to call for you for help. My biggest challenge this week was not just getting her alone to share our secrets, but getting her away from you. That was the reason we all went to cheer practice because I knew you weren't going to be there, and every time we talked, she found some way to mention you. Don't be afraid to fight for her. I mean that's why we're all dressed up in monkey suits right?"
"Yeah, don't get me wrong, this is to make up for how I treated you, but this is really for her. She really connected with you guys, I know she wants to see you all again. Did you really believe she was a werewolf?"
"I don't know, she matches the prophecy with her white hair, and from that moment I wanted it to be real so my own fantasy could be real. It has happened in the past. After the original battle, a few wolves tried to blend in with the town and had pups err children with humans. But since they never came into contact with a moonstone, their wolf powers never grew, so they lied dormant beneath the surface. Occasionally someone would feel the call to the wild and seek us out and join us. So there are definitely people in Seabrook living with werewolf ancestors. But Addison isn't one of them."
"So do you know anything about why she is different?"
"No, if she isn't a werewolf I have no clue."
"You know what it doesn't matter, it never did, I love her, just the way she is."
"Don't worry Zed, I know she feels the exact same way you do. You two will make it through this. Maybe you can name one of your pups after me when I'm gone."
"What? I…" Now Zed was blushing as much as he could beneath his gray skin. "Don't talk like that, and that is a wow. There are many, many, steps to take before we get to that." Zed rambled on and tried to change the subject. "So anyway are you ready to head out?"
"Sure. We got this Zed."
"I know we do Wyatt."
Zed and Wyatt were some of the last to join the crowd gathered outside his house in the street. Parents were scrambling everywhere taking pictures, and everyone was complimenting each other on their awesome new threads.
"There you two are! I almost thought you were killing each other again." Eliza called out.
"Don't worry, were all friends here. Aren't we Wyatt?"
"You bet Zed. Although I could totally take you."
"I bet you can." Eliza said, slightly blushing.
Wait a minute. Zed thought to himself, Was it just him, or was Wyatt trying to stand straighter as he stood near Eliza, and she looked like she was trying really hard not to smile as she took a deep breath in, and both of them kept making eye contact and quickly looking away.
Zed grinned to himself, if he was right, he couldn't wait to dish back out at Eliza. He couldn't wait to tell Addison…oh yeah. Wyatt had helped, but he still felt like his chances of a perfect Prawn night were below zero.
"Zed! There you are, you stay here I'll go get Daddy to take a picture!" Zoey said before running off, moments later returning with Zevon.
"Eliza, Bonzo, Zed, let me get a picture in before you leave." Zevon called out.
"Wait, I want everyone to be in the picture!" Zoey called out. In moments everyone was gathered around smiling for a picture, Zed holding up Zoey in the middle of the crowd surrounded by both zombies and werewolves.
"Say Brains!" Zevon called out.
"Brains!" Everyone smiled as a thunderstorm of bright flashes nearly blinded everyone.
"Is everyone here?" Willa called out after everyone took a moment for their eyes to adjust. "Lead the way Zed."
"Let's go!"
Addison stood by the Unification gate, gazing over the smoking ruins. "The center of Zombie and werewolf culture is in rubble and I still don't have a pack." She whispered to herself in grief.
Last night had been terrible, and today was even worse, as news spread about the powerplant, along with the news of Bucky winning the vote to keep Prawn humans only, everyone felt just as depressed as she was.
Her parents had both grilled her hard last night, demanding more answers about the werewolves. She told them almost everything, what the Moonstone was, and how now that it was destroyed, the wolves were all just waiting to die.
The one thing she hadn't told them was how she had thought she was a werewolf and had wanted more than anything to be one. When she got home she brushed her hair back into its normal style and just wore her regular Seabrook clothes. The werewolf outfit was as real as a Halloween costume for her. She was still different.
No one was really talking in the halls other than discussing their disappointment over Prawn, so no one bothered her at school too badly. She purposefully avoided Zed all day, but she couldn't help looking for him when he wasn't in his normal seat during English, she finally found him sitting in the back and then turned away immediately so she wouldn't start crying. She just stared at the whiteboard in front of the classroom, unable to actually focus but all day in the halls and all the classes they shared, she could feel his gaze locked on her.
She had so many missing pieces, not just Zed, but now the wolves were gone too, and the school already felt emptier without them there. She couldn't help wondering how they were doing. She felt empty, she still didn't belong anywhere.
She sat with Bree, Bonzo, and Eliza at lunch like normal, but their table was only filled with silence, everyone still too down to talk about much of anything. Addison's eyes couldn't help searching for Zed, but he wasn't in the cafeteria and seeing his empty seat beside hers only served as a reminder of everything he had done.
Addison and Bree tried to hold practice after school, but no one except Bucky and the Aceys could really focus so she cut practice short that day. After Bree said goodbye to Bonzo, she and Addison started walking home together.
"How are you doing Addie?" Bree asked.
"Not good, I feel like my life has been entirely flipped around this week, it hasn't even been seven days since we got back from Cheer Camp."
"I know, this week has felt like a lifetime."
"I went from having Zed being the one person I trust most in the world, to hating him, but I can't hate him. I finally find a reason that I'm different, but it's nothing but a storybook fantasy. I think I'm helping people and making new friends, but everything falls apart. I see Zed, and he gets hit by a bus. He asks me to Prawn and I have to say no. The wolves come and I'm scared, then happy, then scared again because of Zed. He chose to be a monster and broke every promise he made to me. He made me feel like a freak. Then we get better, and he does something even worse. He made me feel like a failure. He betrayed my trust, I can't forgive him, but I can't stop thinking about him. He claims everything he's done this week is for me, but I never asked him for anything, and he never asked me if I wanted it. I don't. I don't care about the stupid Prawn. It would have been fun, but it's only one night, and he gave up everything to try to get one night."
By this point, Addison was sobbing so Bree led her over to a nearby bench to sit. Bree gently rubbed her back in gentle circles. "It's alright Addie, you can let it all out."
"And then things finally get brighter and everything is literally blown up in our faces. And Wyatt and Willa and Wynter and everyone else is going to die and I was supposed to save them. But I couldn't because I'm nothing!"
After several more minutes of Addison letting her tears out, she started to calm down a little bit.
"Addison. You are not nothing. You did literally everything you could to help the wolves. Just like you always try to help everyone you meet. So the wolves were wrong about you being a werewolf. That is no one's fault. You are perfect the way you are."
"Thank you Bree."
"Do you really not want to go to Prawn? Because I agree there isn't any point in going without Bonzo or any of the other zombies there."
"Yeah, we can skip Prawn together, we can go to Zombietown and hang out with Bonzo and Eliza instead. I'm sure we can have way more fun. I don't want to go without…without Zed." Addison agreed as tears resumed falling down her cheeks.
"Do you want to talk about him now?"
"I don't know because he's all I can think about but, I don't want to. Ever since we first met, Zed has always been terrified of hurting me. And I always told him that he never will. But he did, over and over."
"I know you do. Just like I know I have nothing to fear from Bonzo. I'm sorry too though, I was the one who made him panic when you visited the wolves. I just saw the help text and we all assumed you were in danger. When we found you he didn't hesitate for a second before trying to "rescue" you."
"No Bree it isn't your fault. It was none of yours, and you all made up for it in the end, you realized the wolves weren't any worse than humans or zombies. We are all monsters. Humans are just better at hiding it under glitter."
"So do you still want to be with Zed?"
"I don't know, ever since we first met, my heart always felt lighter than air whenever I was thinking about him."
"So all the time?" Bree tried to lighten the mood.
"Yeah. But now, I feel nothing but emptiness here, dragging me down. I don't want to talk to him right now."
"Then you don't have too. Take your time, you can make the first move, or don't move at all, let him go. No one will fault you for that."
"Thank you Bree."
"You're welcome, but if you want my honest opinion?"
"Of course I do, you're my best friend."
"I know we only knew each other for like a day before Zed caught you at the Pep Rally and you got to know him. But Addison, if there is one thing I know about both of you, is that both of you aren't afraid to fight for what you care about. And there is nothing either of you care about more than each other. This doesn't have to be the end. This can be whatever you want to be. I know it hurts today, but I know you are way too strong to let this bring you down. You are Addison Wells! Cheer Captain! Practically honorary Werewolf and Zombie!"
"Don't let your differences stop you Addie. You never needed that wig. There is nothing that can hold you back from doing anything. I know in a few weeks we will crush the cheer championships and bring home that trophy. And that is all you. I could go on and on Addison. There are so many things in Seabrook that wouldn't even be possible without you. Girl you belong with everyone."
"Thank you again Bree, I'm feeling a little better, thanks to your amazing pep."
"You're welcome Addison. Call me if you need anything or just want to talk some more."
"Don't worry Bree, I will. Bye."
"Bye Addison."
Saturday, the day of Prawn, Addison was still pretty miserable. Her parents tried to convince her to go, but she wasn't hearing any of it. She just sat in her room all day, doing her best not to think about Zed or the werewolves but without very much success. Just after lunch, she got a call from Bree.
"What's up Bree?"
"Hi Addison, so you know how we agreed to skip the Prawn yesterday?"
"Yeah."
"Well, Bonzo called me, and told me I should still go, even though he can't take me."
"Of course he did, he's just as sweet as always. Did he give you any reason?"
"No, he was pretty tightlipped on the details, just insistent. I have my suspicions of course, but I think it might be a good idea. So do you want to go? You don't have to if you don't want to."
Addison looked over at her closet, where her blue dress was still hanging. Even just glancing at it still sent arrows through her heart. She didn't want to do anything without Zed in her life. But she tried to harden her heart. She didn't need Zed to have fun.
Addison took a deep, stuttering breath, "Yeah I'm in."
"Great! Do you want to come over to my house to get ready?"
"Sure, I'll be over in a bit. Addison hung up the phone and slowly gathered up everything she needed. Every step she took, just made her think about Zed more and more. She started to tear up a little. "I can't decide what's wrong, what's right. Which way should I go?" She whispered to herself.
When she came downstairs and told her parents where she was going, her mom insisted on driving her to Bree's house and waiting so she could get pictures. So, a short car ride later Addison and Bree were in Bree's bathroom getting ready.
First, they did each other's hair and make-up, both dolled up to perfection. And then they helped each other slip into their dresses. Once Addison was wearing her sleeveless, light blue gown, she started tearing up again.
"Oh no. Addison, what's wrong?" Bree quickly ran up to her. "It's OK, but we just got your makeup done."
"I'm sorry Bree, it's just, I'm supposed to wear this dress for Zed, to spend the night with him, and he isn't going to be there. I feel like I'm betraying him now because I promised if he couldn't go I wouldn't go, and now here I am getting ready to go to the stupid Prawn that will only serve as another reminder that he isn't with me."
"Addison, calm down OK? Deep breaths. Now I'm going to ask you a question, and I'm pretty sure I already know the answer, and I think you do too, but I want you to say it. OK?"
"OK Bree." Addison sniffled.
"Do you love Zed?"
"Yes of course I do. I'll always love him." Addison said without hesitation.
"I know you do Addie. I know you and Zed are way too crazy to give up on each other. Just trust me. I know you can still enjoy the Prawn. I wish Bonzo could be walking me down that red carpet too, but that isn't happening tonight for me either. I promise this can still be the night of our lives. For both of us. Are you still in?"
"OK I'm in. But what if someone asks me to dance? Or what if no one does, and we're just standing alone all night?"
"I doubt that will happen, we can just dance together, and eventually, we'll find some of our friends to enjoy the night together, even if the ones we really want to be there can't be."
"Alright, I'm OK. My make-up isn't too bad is it?"
"No you still look just as beautiful as always. You just need a tiny little touch-up." Bree said, applying a teensy bit more eyeshadow. "So how do I look?" Bree gave a little twirl in her pink dress.
"Absolutely fabulous Bree."
"Are you ready to go?" Bree asked.
"Yeah we got this."
They walked back downstairs for the big reveal and both of their moms had tears in their eyes. After several rounds of pictures where Addison and Bree were placed in nearly every pose imaginable they were finally on their way to the Prawn. Bree's dad gave them a ride in his car before dropping them off, telling them to call either him or Dale if they needed a ride home. They thanked him and walked side by side through the familiar school doors lit up with lights, balloons, and streamers.
"Bree, I'm nervous."
"Don't worry Addison, everything will be fine, and if you feel like you need to leave early, I got your back no matter what." Hopefully, you won't want to. Bree thought to herself.