After practice ended, Zach ran off to find Addison. She was in the stands with the rest of the captains and assistant captains and Zach ran up and hugged her. Addison let out a shriek but didn't fight it, turning her head to smile at him.

"How was your first cheer practice?" Addison asked.

"Awesome!" Zach exclaimed. He looked at the others watching him with mixed looks—disgust and confusion. "You guys are great captains, by the way. I can't wait to come back tomorrow."

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Tracey asked.

"Zach," Addison explained. "He's in a band."

"Oh," the Aceys said, all of their moods noticeably shifting.

Bucky narrowed his eyes at them. He then said to Zach, "We're having a meeting so you need to leave."

"I just wanted to thank Addison," Zach shrugged.

Lacey twirled her ponytail on her finger. "For what?"

"She knows what." Zach said. "See you guys tomorrow!"

Bucky didn't like to stay at home alone. His parents were out of town on business like they always were, so he went home with Addison and ate dinner with her and her parents. After he would go back home and sleep there.

"Addison," Bucky asked during dinner. "Why was Zach hugging you during practice?"

"Who's Zach?" his Aunt Missy asked.

Addison smiled smugly at Bucky. "Who is Zach?"

Bucky rolled his at his cousin. "He's a cheerleader."

"He also plays bass in a cover band," Addison said. "And he's cute."

"Don't you have a boyfriend?" Bucky asked.

Addison rolled her eyes. She turned her attention to her parents and said, "Zach is a zombie who Bucky was hanging out with a few days ago and they would be very cute together!"

Missy just looked at Bucky. Bucky frowned and slouched down in his seat. "I had one conversation with him—"

"That's false!" Addison exclaimed. "I can expose you so hard!"

"I have nothing to hide."

"Bucky went to the Zombie Mash and he was making out with Zach," Addison snitched. "And he wasn't with me and Zed through the night; he was with Zach."

Missy squeaked in surprise and Dale dropped his fork on the plate. Bucky sat up and shot a glare at Addison. "Do you know what your daughter does at those Zombie Mashes?"

"Do I want to know?"

"Addison is sexually active."

"No I'm not!" Addison argued. "That's a lie!"

"She sneaks off with Zed all the time," Bucky said. "Sometimes it's not even to a private place."

"He's lying," Addison stated. "Everything he's saying is false! Incorrect!"

"There's alcohol at the Zombie Mashes and she drinks."

"So do you!" Addison said. "He was so wasted last time! That's why he went home with Zach, because he couldn't even walk straight and he threw up!"

"Both of you, stop," Dale stated.

"He's lying Dad," Addison said.

"I frankly don't want to know who's telling the truth or not," Dale said. "You're sixteen and Bucky, you're eighteen. You both need to stop acting like children."

Bucky slouched down in his seat. They are quietly for a few minutes. Then Missy asked her nephew, "Is Zach cute or was that a lie?"

Bucky shrugged. "I guess."

"Did you really make out with him?"

Bucky nodded.

"Does Kitty know?"

"Of course she doesn't," Bucky stated. "Mom thinks it's all just a phase or some shit."

"Your lucky you guys had your argument here then," Missy said.

Bucky hummed in agreement. If he ever got in a relationship with a guy his parents would flip out.

Within the next week, Bucky figured out Bowling for Zoup's practice was an hour in the morning, especially now that they all went to cheer practice in the afternoon. Then they'd disperse and eventually meet up again at cheer practice. Zach sometimes stayed behind to clean and ended up practicing dance moves.

Bucky would drive Addison to her boyfriend's house in the morning and would lurk around to watch Zach whenever he got the opportunity. To be clear he did not have a crush on the Zombie. He was just curious as to what one of his cheerleaders was up to…all morning. And would sneak into the Power Plant to watch him move. He got a lot quieter as the days went on and Zach never seemed to know that Bucky was there.

School came the following Monday. The cheer championship was that weekend. Beside the practice during free period, Bucky had the cheerleaders practicing from four to nine. By the end of every day they were all exhausted beyond belief.

Wednesday after practice, Bucky was packing up and getting ready to lock up the gym when, instead of heading home, Zach made his way to him. Zach had been slacking in the last few practices and Lacey had pointed it out but Bucky ignored her.

"Hey, I'm just wondering if…if you don't mind helping me out? I want to help you out and be a part of the team, but I'm just not getting the routine."

"Yeah sure," Bucky said. "I didn't want to have to cut you but you were definitely holding us back."

Zach chuckled and dropped his bag beside Bucky's in the stands.

"Bucky!" Addison called from the gym doors. "What're you doing?"

"Go on ahead," Bucky called back. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Addison waved from the doors and left. She was the last one out of the gym, leaving just Zach and Bucky. "Okay. You stunt, and you're…front stage right."

Zach nodded and followed Bucky to the starting line. "Just watch me run through it real quick. Then you can tell me what you need help with."

"Okay."

He queued up the music and went through the routine. When he finished he turned to Zach and asked what he didn't get. "It all seems nice and well and easy, but I dunno. I'm trying my best."

Normally Bucky wasn't so helpful. He didn't stay after practice, especially when they went so late. He just cut them off. It was different because he felt that Zach had to be on the team, and he needed to keep him around.

By ten it was clear that Zach knew the routine like the back of his hand and was faking being bad at it. He good at faking being bad too.

"Dude," Bucky said as the clock drew closer to midnight. "I'm hungry. And it's getting late. Principal Lee will lose her shit if she finds out we were here this long."

Zach sighed and nodded. "Yeah, your right. My folks will be up my ass for getting home this late anyway."

"We could…practice some more. Tomorrow, during lunch."

Zach's face broke out in a grin. "Yeah, that'd be great. And if you're hungry, I've got some food hidden in the Power Plant."

Bucky raised an amused eyebrow as they made their way to their bags. "I thought you said your parents would be upset with you for being out so late."

Zach shrugged and said with a smile. "I kinda owe you for staying back with me for so long. Come on, I've got food that isn't Zombie themed and drinks—alcoholic and non, whatever you want."

They climbed up onto the platform where Eliza DJed from. "She lets me hide food up here as long as she can get some," Zach explained.

"It seems a little dangerous up here," Bucky pointed out.

"Oh if you were to fall you'd probably break your neck or die," Zach said with an oddly cheery voice. "I'd probably be fine though."

Bucky couldn't help but laugh a little. Zach grinned and sat down, pulling a duffle bag from under the DJ booth and swinging his legs under the bars. "Don't worry though," Zach said. "I won't let you fall."

Bucky bit his lips and felt his face heat up. Whenever Zach said something remotely nice it made Bucky feel…weird inside.

He sat down beside him, letting his legs hang over the side of the platform. Zach opened the bag and passed Bucky a cold sandwich and a coke. "There's beer in here too."

"How is everything cold?"

"Ice packs," Zach shrugged. "Oh and there's chips and more sandwiches and Zombie themed food."

"What's that?"

"There's like, brain flavored things. I don't know if they actually taste like brains since I've never tasted brains, but they're pretty good. Oh and Taffy Tongues. I swear they're all so good."

"Then I guess I'll try some."

They sat there for a while, eating in comfortable silence. They were both physically exhausted from practice and mentally drained from school. The Power Plant was empty and peaceful and it felt a little weird being in there alone.

"I know you come in here in the morning and watch me dance," Zach said suddenly.

Bucky blushed and kept his eyes on the ground. "I don't mind," Zach added. "I don't really perform much in front of people. I mean, besides the band. I'm talking about dancing. Cheering. All of that. Dancing is kinda like my guilty pleasure, ya know?"

He didn't, but nodded anyway. "Do you do anything just for yourself? Something that like, no one knows about?"

Bucky shook his head. "I…the only thing I've ever done that everyone doesn't know about is hang out with you. Even that, my cousin told her parents about. Not the hanging out, she doesn't know about that. About the Zombie Mash."

"Oh?"

Bucky nodded. "She's a bit of a pain in the ass, but she's like my little sister."

"She's cool," Zach said.

Bucky nodded in agreement. He leaned forward onto the railing. "My family, is just, they suck," he admitted. "They suck so bad."

"Except Addison?"

Bucky nodded. "I…I don't tell people about this. Everyone thinks I'm this perfect guy and…" Bucky sighed. "It's a lot sometimes."

"You can tell me, if you'd like," Zach said. "I won't judge you. I won't share. You can trust me."

Bucky looked at him, seeing how sincere he was. When he'd see Zach in school and with his friends, he was always joking around. In that moment though, it felt like he was seeing a new side of Zach.

"My parents work a lot," Bucky started. "Always traveling. My mom is in Canada right now doing god knows what. My dad is…in Europe somewhere. I don't even remember what either of them do for work. But hey, I see them twice a year if I'm lucky."

Bucky scoffed and rolled his eyes. "They make an effort to come on their wedding anniversary and…sometimes Christmas. Not my birthday, not Thanksgiving. Just their anniversary. Yay."

"Can I have a beer?" Bucky asked.

Zach nodded and pulled one from the bag, popping the lid off then passed it to Bucky, who took a swig. "When they're in town, it's fucking hell. I have to be even more perfect. I…I'm too short or too fat or too anything. Whatever you can think of, it's too much. I'm never enough for them, okay? On top of all of that, they can't stand the fact that I'm gay."

Zach raised an eyebrow at that. Bucky took another drink of his beer. "It's true. They're homophobic, they're anti-Zombie. Bigots. Everything. They don't know Addison and Zed are dating. They're never here anyway."

"That's awful," Zach said. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what I would do if my parents weren't supportive of me."

"It sucks," Bucky agreed. "It's why I hang around Addison. Her parents, they're a lot more open than mine. I don't even know how our moms are related. Addison's parents are just…I wish they were mine. They practically are. I basically live there. They feed me and look after me. They're amazing."

"I don't get it," Zach said. "You're eighteen. Can't you leave?"

Bucky shook his head. "It'd ruin our image. We can't be a perfect family if I left. I already ruined them enough. I'm already the homo cheerleader. Every time I see my parents—the people who gave me life—I'm just a disappointment."

"Hey," Zach said. Bucky turned to Zach. "You're not a disappointment. You're parents may not think your perfect, but I do. You…you're amazing. I love you, just the way you are."

Bucky slid the bag of snacks backward and put his beer down. Zach watched him intently, as Bucky slid his legs from over the railing and moved into Zach's lap. "I won't say I love you," Bucky whispered. "I…I can't."

Zach placed his hands on Bucky's waist and hummed in response. "I understand," Zach said quietly. "Does it bother you that I love you?"

"A little," Bucky breathed out. "Could you…say it again?"

"Say what?" Zach teased with a smile.

"You know what."

"Do I?"

Bucky rolled his eyes. "I'm sick of your voice."

"What're you gonna do about it?"

"You're pathetic, Zach," Bucky said with a slight smile.

Zach smiled and Bucky leaned forward, pressing his lips to Zach's. He snaked his fingers into Zach's hair, moving his lips against the Zombie's. Bucky pulled his lips back and rested his forehead against Zach's, breathing heavily.

"You really think I'm perfect?" Bucky asked.

"Every bit of you," Zach whispered. He placed his hands on Bucky's arms. "You're so amazing. I-I say I'm in love a lot. But I've never felt this way about anyone."

Bucky sucked in a breath. "I want to kiss you more, but I want to hear you tell me more. Tell me all the things you love about me."

"You're amazing, Bucky," Zach said. He moved his hands to Bucky's waist and pulled his own legs up, scooted back and rolled the two of them over.

"I can't believe I'm attracted to you," Bucky said in disbelief, shaking his head.

Zach grinned. "It's because I'm gonna tell you all the reasons why I love you." Then he leaned down and pressed a kiss to Bucky's lips.

A/N: WOO! They kissed and had a heart to heart and kissed more and AAAHHH! Now until Wednesday, I don't want you thinking they did anything besides kissing. Wholesome story here and if anything were to have happened, you'd find out in chapter 5!

Oh yeah, there is still a lot more to come. Until Wednesday my friends!