High school is hard.
All Zed wanted was to try out for the football team. But this school is dominated by cheerleaders. The varsity team has been the same since their freshman year. And they didn't like the new kid trying to change up their positions on the roster.
A rumor started to circulate that the new kid, scrawny lanky Zed, is into dudes. And that's why he wanted to play football so bad.
Zed knew exactly who started the rumors. The other football players. They wanted nothing to do with him. They think he's too skinny to be a fullback like he was trying out for.
He hung his head low as he walked the halls towards the exit. He couldn't take much more of the snickering and dirty looks every time he turned a corner.
He just picked up the pace to get home as quickly as possible.
Addison caught wind of the rumors about the new kid. She overheard a group of cheerleaders gossiping about 'a green-haired freak' and she immediately knew who they were talking about. She perked her ears and watched them with a sideways glance.
"They said he doesn't even like girls." One said as she filed her nails.
"Not surprising. Who would want to be seen with him when he looks like that?" Another snidely replied, the group giggling in response.
Addison was suddenly fuming.
Yes. She had made a joke to him about swinging the other way. But she was only teasing! These snobs were spreading lies about the poor guy. Malice in their intent!
She's definitely not going to sit back and let it happen. Not to him.
Slamming her locker shut, she glared at the cheerleaders as she stalked past them. They all cowered together in fear that the white-haired outcast would attack at any given moment.
Lucky for them, however, she had her heart set on finding the subject of all those nasty rumors. She had to make sure he was ok.
When Addison finally reached the front entrance, she could already hear the loud laughing and taunting. Her feet moving quicker when she actually caught sight of what was going on. Zed was being shoved around in a circle of dudes, meathead football players, as they verbally abused and harassed him.
Oh, now she was pissed.
"Hey!" She yelled, marching over with fury in her eyes as she pushed through the wall of boys. She reached the middle and steadied Zed before he could fall, again. She saw the bloody scraps on the heels of his hands and the fresh tears in his jeans.
"What do you want Wells. Don't you have some laws to break somewhere?" The quarterback spat, earning some chuckles of agreement from his band of buddies. She glared at the blockhead.
His name was Tanner. She had known him for a long time, given they've been in the same school district basically their entire lives. But she also knew him more personally. They had their occasional flings but it was only behind closed doors. When they crossed paths in public, he would always make snide remarks and treat her like garbage.
Her jaw clenched in anger. It was one thing to treat her poorly. But to physically assault someone as innocent as Zed? She wouldn't stand for it.
"I think I've got some breaking to do here." She hissed back, ready to lunge at the brute. But Zed grabbed her arm.
"Let's just go, Addy." He persuaded softly, just wanting to get out of there. Seeing the desperation and fear on his face made her rage double. But she kept the best level head she could manage, shifting her position so she was draped on his arm.
"Back to your place or mine?" She offered with a hint of seduction in her tone, her implication clear for anyone in earshot. And she spoke up too.
He was fucking Addison Wells. And it was only his second day.
"Holy shit." Tanner muttered in shock. Addison and Zed were already halfway across the parking lot before any of them could even make a move to stop them.
"You didn't have to do that." He grumbled as they walked along the sidewalk when I finally crossed the street, off school property and home-free in their subdivision.
"What? Get those meatballs off your back?" She questioned in confusion.
"Yeah. I guess. Kinda? I don't know!" He yelled as he threw his head back in frustration. "I'm never gonna fit into the football team anyways. It doesn't matter." He sighed in disappointment. Addison raised a brow.
"Football means that much to you?" She asked. He nodded.
"You could say it's my family's legacy." He explained with a proud nostalgic look in his eyes. "All the boys of the family have been All-Star fullbacks that've led their teams to victory." Then he sighed again. "But I'm probably not even gonna make the team."
Addison frowned. Why did she hate that look on his face so much?
"You'll definitely make the team." She stated. Zed looked over at her curiously.
"What?"
"You must be pretty good if they're trying to knock you down a couple notches. They're jealous." She said like it was obvious.
"You think?" He asked hopefully.
"Yeah. Now, how're your hands?" She grabbed his wrists, stopping them in the middle of the sidewalk, and checked the scrapes. Zed winced when she plucked out a pebble. "They're not terrible. Probably be sore for a while. But you need to get them cleaned." She instructed and pulled him back onto their path towards home by one wrist she refused to release.
Addison barged into the Necrodopolis household, with Zed in tow, and headed straight to the kitchen. Not even bothering to look at his mother, who was in the middle of prepping dinner, as she shoved his hands under the faucet and washed the wounds at expert speed, yet surprisingly gently.
Zora stared silently in shock and confusion. But when the intruder started to dry off her son's hands, she shook her head to snap out of her daze and put on a firm frown.
"What in the world is going on?!" She finally voiced, marching over and snatching his hand from Addison's with a glare. She quickly looked him over, noticing the fresh rips in his pants. "Zed! Those jeans weren't cheap!" She pulled him away from the girl with a stern look on her face. "You better not have been rolling around with that white-haired harlot!" She accused through clenched teeth.
Zed blanched. "W-what?! No, Mom, it was nothing like that! Addison just—" he tried to explain but stopped abruptly when said girl pipes in.
"I wouldn't mind taking him out to roll in the dirt~!" Addison snarkily remarked, playing right into the role Zora was portraying her as.
Zed could basically see the smoke coming out of his mom's ears from how furious Addison's comment made her. And when he looked over, Addison was smirking at her. Only making things worse!
He was terrified (of both women) but prepared himself to get in between them if a cat fight broke out.
Right on cue, however, the front door opened. All three of their heads turned to see Zevon and Zoey waltzing in, completely unaware of the situation they were walking into.
Zoey obliviously came bouncing into the kitchen but halted abruptly when she suddenly spotted the white-haired teen standing there. Her eyes sparkled as she ran up to her.
"Are you Zed's new girlfriend?!" She asked excitedly.
Addison let out a loud laugh before leaning down to be more eye level with the kid. "No. But he totally wishes." She told her low, shooting Zed a wink that made him blush.
Then she straightened up and headed for the door. Waving over her shoulder and shouting, "See you tomorrow, Football Star."
Zed felt the heat rising up his neck into his cheeks. If he was honest, he was really loving the little nicknames she was giving him. "Y-yeah! See ya." He called.
The door closed behind her and Zora erupted. "That girl is a problem! I can't believe how she talked to me! In my house!" Then she turned back to her son. "You will not hang around with that trollop! I don't want you to see her, ever, again."
Zed was taken aback. "What?" His shock shifted into anger. "What?!" How could she say that?! He balled his fists. "She is the only person in this godforsaken town to be nice to me!" He shouted back.
Tears were welling up in his eyes and he hated it. He was so mad that he might cry. And he hates how weak it made him look.
Before any have the chance to actually fall, he stormed out the front door.
Zora made two steps to follow him before her husband grabbed her, hugging her tight to keep her in place. "Let him go, Honey. He needs to calm down. You need to calm down." He told her in a soft tone to soothe her.
"But he—"
"Is old enough to make his own choices" Zevon countered gently. She paused, thinking it over for a moment before tears filled her eyes and she hid in her husband's chest.
Her baby is growing up.
Addison hadn't even made it inside when Zed burst out his front door furiously, plopping down to sit on the front step. Her brows knit but she casually walked back across the street to see what was up. She took a seat next to him, giving a raised brow of curiosity when he finally looked at her.
"What's wrong, Hot Shot?" She asked.
Those warm little butterflies fluttered in his stomach again but he was too upset to blush.
"I got into a fight with my mom." He told her, he scrubbed a hand over his face and then combed his fingers through his thick green hair.
Addison let out a quiet laugh. Not at him, just that she's definitely been there before. She knew how much it sucks.
"About what? The ripped jeans? I honestly think they look better with the holes." She offered a smile of reassurance.
But Zed sighed. "No, she doesn't…like you…" he managed, regrettably.
"What. You don't think she'll invite me to Christmas?" Addison joked.
"Hanukkah, but no." Zed chuckled. She raised a brow and looked over at him.
"You're Jewish?" She asked in surprise and curiosity. Zed scratched the back of his head.
"Well, yeah. Is, that a problem?" He asked nervously. Addison smiled, he swore it started as a soft smile but then, as quickly as he noticed, it shifted to a sly smirk and she scooted up close with her hand on his chest.
"I heard Jews have all the fun during the holidays. You know, 8 crazy nights and all." She teased, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. Zed's face turned beet red from the raunchy implication about the religious holiday that he usually spends with his family. She grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him down for a rough kiss. "You're so cute when you're embarrassed."
Zed breathed a laugh before leaning in for another softer kiss. She gladly returned if it would help calm his nerves. Then she leaned back to offer him a smile.
"Your mom seems nice, Zed. I'm sure you can talk to her and she'll listen." She assured. Zed gave her a skeptical look. So she continued with a shrug. "And if she won't, well, I can tell ya I'm not gonna go anywhere just 'cause your mama said so!" She teased, making Zed genuinely laugh.
She softened and then punches his shoulder playfully. "Now get back in there and eat some of that delicious smelling food your mom was making!" She encourages.
Zed smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Addy." He said, leaning forward and hugging her. She's never been a hugger, but she'd make an exception since he obviously was one.
He pulled back with a wide smile and then hopped to his feet, heading for the door. He paused to look back at Addison, still sitting and watching him go in, "I'll be seein' ya, Addy."
She couldn't help but smile as he disappeared inside. He was always so goofy and fun, always knew how to put a smile on her face. She continued to sit there a few more minutes, taking her time to get up and walk back home.
A small smile refusing to leave her lips.
Zed walked in and leaned back against the door, taking in a deep breath before pushing off it to head into the kitchen. He was slow to round the corner, finding his mom and dad waiting there like he knew they would be. He was relieved to see the much softer expression on his mother's face, showing more concern than anger, and his dad offering a smile of reassurance.
"Hey, Mom, I—I'm sorry for yelling…" he started to apologize. But she shook her head with an emotional smile.
"No I'm sorry, Honey. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. You should stay friends with that girl." She told him sincerely but then her features shift to a mock-warning look. "But she better start being respectful in my house."
She cracked a smile when he laughed, nodding his head. "I'll make sure I tell her." He agreed. Zora smiled wider with humor and stepped forward with arms open. Zed gladly hugged her back, happy that Addison was right and his mom would be understanding.
Then she gave his back a pat as she pulled away. "Now go get washed up for dinner. It'll be ready soon."
Zed nodded and headed for the bathroom. He couldn't help but feel genuinely happy that he has such great parents.
