Zach woke up to the sound of an annoying iPhone alarm. The longer it played the more awake he was. He was spooning Bucky on the platform above the dance floor in the Power Plant. He figured out they were suspended in the air when he nearly rolled off.

Zach startled awake and so did Bucky, dropping his phone from the platform and hearing it shatter on the ground (and the alarm cutting off). "What the fuck?" Bucky muttered.

Bucky grabbed the railing and sat up, groaning at the process. Zach sat up and leaned against the railing. "Jesus, what time is it?" Bucky murmured. "Um…that was my alarm. My alarm for school. To wake…so it's…seven. Fuck." He frowned and said, "Oh shit, my phone," as if just realizing it had broken.

"Let's get outta if here," Zach said. "We gotta be at school in an hour. I haven't showered…or even gone home. My mom's gonna kill me."

"I'm never getting a new phone," Bucky complained.

Zach stood up and held out his hand for Bucky. Bucky grabbed it and let Zach pull him to his feet, falling forward onto Zach. "I wasn't ready to stand," Bucky murmured. He wrapped his arms around Zach who couldn't help but smile softly.

"Here, I'll help you down. Just don't vomit."

Bucky chuckled as Zach led him down from the platform and to ground level. They grabbed their school bags and made their way to the elevator. "Do you think you're going to throw up?" Zach asked.

Bucky shook his head. "I didn't even have one beer. Definitely not enough to be hungover."

"I don't particularly understand humans and alcohol," Zach said with a shrug. "Yeah, I've gotten blackout drunk and I've vomited and had headaches but…it just seems excessive in humans."

"Tell me about it." Bucky shook his head. They walked into the elevator and the door closed down as Zach pressed the button for ground level. "Hangovers suck but it kinda just goes away after a few hours. I usually keep some Advil in my car."

Zach hummed and rubbed Bucky's arm affectionately. He could feel Bucky tense, but he didn't move or scowl or push him away so Zach took it as a win.

When they got outside Zach walked with Bucky to his car. Bucky offered to drive Zach to his house which he gladly accepted, not really in the mood to walk in the morning. "You might as well just come up with me inside," Zach said. "Wash up a little. It's getting a little late to go all the way to your house. You might be late."

"You make a good point," Bucky said. "Will your parents mind? 'Cause I'm…not a Zombie?"

Zach shrugged. "They aren't home. Shift starts at five in the morning on Thursdays."

Bucky couldn't help but smirk slightly. "So what you're saying is that your house is empty? And you wanna just get ready for school?"

"You make a very good point."

They did end up leaving with enough time to get to school (Bucky went a little over the speed limit here and there though). On the drive, when they were stopped at a traffic light, Bucky decided it was a good time to make things clear.

"Zach, listen. Last night was good. It was amazing, and we had fun. But this doesn't mean anything. I-I can't have a boyfriend. People would lose their shit."

"Who cares what people think?"

"That's easy for you to say! You're a Zombie! People have decided they already hate you without even talking to you. It doesn't matter what people think of you because they all think the same thing."

Zach frowned and tilted his head at Bucky. Bucky sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. "I-I didn't mean to sound rude."

"I know what you meant, I'm not stupid."

"Look," Bucky sighed. "I've never been in a relationship in my life. You know why, I told you why. And none of that's gonna change just because you love me."

"So you're saying we can't be together because of your parents? Cause that's bullshit right there."

Bucky just sighed. "That's the way things work around here," he said with an undertone of sadness. "We don't do things to be happy, we do them to make other people happy."

"That's not how things work in Zombietown."

"Well I'm not from Zombietown!" Bucky snapped. "People already suspect I'm gay because apparently all male cheerleaders are faggots or some shit! Do you understand how angry my parents will be if they found out I was actually dating a guy? Let alone a Zombie?"

"Screw them!" Zach exclaimed. "Screw everyone! I don't care what the think, you shouldn't either. If they really loved you, they'd support you. No matter what."

Bucky frowned and said nothing. The light switched to green and he pressed on the gas. After a quiet second, Zach sighed and said, "I love you. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Zach leaned his head against the car window. The whole conversation was exhausting and they were nearly at school. "Just be honest with me Bucky. I-I feel like you aren't telling me something and it's just so annoying."

Zach noticed the way Bucky was gripping the wheel. "You'll think it's stupid."

"I would never," Zach said honestly. "It's kinda hard to think anything about you is stupid."

Bucky fought back the smile threatening to break loose. "I got in so much trouble when I tried coming out to my parents. My mom was sobbing. I-I can't imagine what it'd be like if I came home with a boyfriend, no less one who's a Zombie."

"But you said your parents are always out of town."

"My family practically owns Seabrook, they'd find out within an hour and would be on the first flight back to do god knows what to me." Bucky sighed and apologized, "I can't change my family, man."

"But you can't change yourself either."

"I can hide myself, though. I've been doing it for years." Bucky shrugged.

Zach let out a breath. The conversation was feeling a little pointless and the time he'd spent chasing after Bucky was feeling pointless too. What did he know about love anyway? It's not like he'd ever been in a relationship.

Zach got an idea then, so random and out of nowhere but still absolutely perfect. He grinned at Bucky who just raised an eyebrow. "You can hide our relationship too," Zach said proudly. "We could go out, be a real couple. But in secret. No one knows about it, and we pretend like we aren't dating. Then your parents never find out!"

It was a horrible stupid idea. But Zach was grinning and looked so proud of it, it was hard for Bucky to not smile and want to agree. "You know that means you can't tell your friends?" Bucky asked.

"It's worth it if I get to be with you."

"You make not dating you hard as hell," Bucky said with a grin. "But…I'm glad you want me that bad."

"Oh you want me just as bad. Maybe even worse. Who knows?"

Bucky laughed and glanced at Zach. 'Holy shit, that's my secret boyfriend.'

"Can I tell one person?"

"Dude!"

Zach laughed along with Bucky. "I'm sorry but I really owe this all to your cousin. She's fucking amazing."

"Oh you were conspiring with Addison? I should've known."

"Can I tell her?" Zach asked with excitement levels to match a small child.

Bucky rolled his eyes but smiled. "So long as she's sworn to secrecy. Though I doubt it'd be much of a problem, considering I've got enough dirt on her to send her to boarding school in Europe."

Zach laughed at this, then when he saw that Bucky was only grinning he asked, "You're kidding right?"

"She's my family, man. I've got more dirt on her then the earth has."

Zach chuckled and shook his head. "You're so cute and funny," Zach said. "How did I get so lucky to have you as my secret boyfriend?"

Bucky smiled at that. He didn't really have an answer but Zach was fine with just seeing him smiling, especially since Bucky rarely ever did.

They got to school not long after. The Aceys were waiting near Bucky's usual parking spot and looked at him in completely confusion and surprise when they saw a Zombie in the passenger seat. They both got out once the car was in park and Bucky stepped toward his friends while Zach made his way for the entrance.

"Bucky! Don't forget, lunch!"

Bucky put on his best annoyed look and nodded. "What're you doing for lunch?" Lacey asked incredulously.

"We spent all last night doing the routine and he still doesn't get it," Bucky rolled his eyes. "I've already turned in the roaster. Now I gotta get it through to him before we leave tomorrow."

"We could help," Stacey offered.

Bucky shrugged. "Five of us working on one person is overkill," he stated. "Besides what kind of captain would I be if I couldn't get a cheerleader through a routine?"

"Whatever you say," Tracey muttered.

Instead of heading to where he'd usually find his friends, Zach went where he knew Addison would be. He'd pass her in the morning sometimes, by Zed's locker just talking with him and his friends. If their other friends weren't around they were definitely making out against the lockers, which is how Zach found them.

Luckily Addison noticed him right away. She was giggle as she snaked her head away from her boyfriend and gave Zach a smile. "Hey what's up?"

"I need to talk to you," Zach said, trying to contain his excitement.

Addison noticed and gave Zed a little nudge. "Zed, I have important business with Zach," she said. She tilted her head up and whispered in his ear, something that Zach didn't catch.

"Alright," Zed agreed, pulling away completely. "But you guys gotta walk away. This is my locker."

"Yeah yeah, see you in class."

She grabbed her bag up from the floor and motioned for Zach to follow her. Once they were out of earshot of Zed and most people around them, Addison asked, "How was last night?"

"Awesome!" Zach whispered excitedly. "You're like, the smartest person ever! I didn't think your plan would work but it did I'm so happy!"

Addison grinned and giggled. "I know my cousin, man. Now tell me everything."

"One thing," Zach said. "It's a secret. Because of his parents. It's what he told me anyway."

Addison nodded along. "I forget about them sometimes. Makes sense. My lips are sealed." To solidify it, she pretended to lock her lips and toss the key away. "Did you guys like, have sex?"

Zach shook his head. "We came really close. After we left the gym we went to the Power Plant to get some eats 'cause we were both starving and I stash food there."

"Duly noted."

"And we were talking and he was just pouring his soul out to me and I just-I said I love him."

Addison squealed excitedly. Zach grinned at her excitement, rubbing a hand over his hair. "Then we started kissing which turned into…heavy petting."

He paused and Addison looked at him expectantly. "Then?"

Zach sighed blissfully as he remembered the previous night. He looked at Addison and she could tell what that face meant. She'd seen it a few times before, like at Regionals or with Zed during a Zombie Mash.

Addison bit her lip to keep from smiling. "You got a blowjob?"

Zach nodded and held up one finger. Addison stopped walking and moved to stand in front of him. Her mouth was open in surprise and excitement. "Holy shit! That's amazing!"

Zach just grinned and nodded in agreement. "I just…I gotta tell Roz but I can't because I can't tell anyone. Anyone but you."

"The way I see it, if Roz keeps it a secret then Bucky will never know you told her."

"Yeah but that's breaking a promise. I can't do that."

"Then be honest with him," she said. "Ask him if it's okay to tell Roz. Make sure you throw in how close you guys are and she's your best friend and all that. He can be really understanding on occasions."

"That's not comforting in the slightest, but okay."

"You got this," Addison told him reassuringly. "It can only get better from here, Zach."

He nodded in agreement. Then, on a whim, he wrapped his arms around her for a hug. "Thanks for helping me," he told her earnestly. "I couldn't have done it without you."

"What're friends for?"