A/N: Hey! It's Wednesday! Another chapter guys! And I've gotten to all the angst stuff in writing (it's coming soon—not next chapter but soon).

And hey, if you like this you should check out my top priority, my baby, my main Zombies fic, called Alwsys Had a Feeling. There may be some Zacky coming up in that, I dunno. It's loosely planned out.

Anyway! Enjoy this! We're almost at the cheer championship (which is literally one chapter for the whole weekend).

After school, Zach managed to sneak away from his friends and to the gym where he knew Bucky and the Aceys and Addison were. "Hey, um, I just wanted you guys to know that I might be a little late to practice," Zach said. He was addressing everyone but really talking to Bucky.

"Late?" Lacey asked in disbelief.

To everyone but Addison's surprise, Bucky answered, "That's fine."

"What! Bucky!" The Aceys exclaimed.

Bucky shrugged. "He spent an extra two hours here last night. He hasn't been home since yesterday morning plus he's still coming to practice."

The Aceys just gaped at him. Bucky rolled his eyes and said, "I'm not explaining myself! Go, Zach!"

"Thank you!" Zach called as he ran out.

Once he was gone, Stacey asked, "When did you get so nice?"

"That's Zach? That's the guy we're rooming with?" Tracey asked.

Addison sighed. "We have work to do before practice, guys."

After school ended and after he visited the cheer captains, Zach had found his friends and fellow band mates. "Oh look who's making an appearance?" Alonzo teased.

Zach chuckled. "I have so much to tell you guys!" he proclaimed. "Privately. It's a secret. Let's go to Zeph's!"

"You go AWOL for a day and a half and now we're going to hang out at my house? We have practice in an hour!"

Zach grabbed Alonzo's arm and pulled him ineffectively. "This is important! Come on guys!"

They weren't actually upset with him and followed him to Zephyr's house. Rizzo was in the kitchen with Zane and both waved as Bowling for Zoup went up the stairs and to Zephyr's room.

Roz flopped on the bed and Zephyr moved them more to the center and sat down with Alonzo. "What's so important that—"

"It's a huge secret you can't tell a soul!" Zach rushed out excitedly. He was nearly vibrating in place, bouncing on his heels in excitement.

"We won't tell," Roz murmured into the mattress.

"I have a secret boyfriend!"

Roz sat up and all three of them said "What?"

Zach grinned and nodded excitedly. He ran his fingers through his hair. "You're gonna shit your pants! It's Bucky! I'm dating Bucky!"

"What!"

Zach nodded enthusiastically. Alonzo was the first one to come from shock and say, "I can't believe Addison was right. It actually worked."

"You have to tell us everything," Zephyr demanded.

"Was it because of last night?" Roz asked.

Zach nodded. "After we left the gym we went to the Power Plant to get some eats. And then he just…he pouted his heart out and I was just so…so in love."

"Aw!" they gushed.

Zach smiled happily. "And we made out and…did some other stuff. And then he drove me to school! And we made out more during lunch! It was awesome!"

Alonzo stood and wrapped his arms around Zach, pulling him onto the bed. "I'm so proud of you! My little bebé!" He ruffled Zach's hair making the latter laugh.

"This is so great, man," Zephyr said. "Welcome to the relationship club!"

Zach laughed again. "Remember you can't tell anyone. Bucky's parents are very homophobic so if they find out…zongro."

They all nodded (not necessarily in sync). Zach slipped out from under Alonzo's arm. "I gotta run home to see my mom. I'll see you guys at practice."

"Don't go smooching your boyfriend!" Alonzo teased as Zach ran out.

Zach lived a few houses down from Zephyr. Both his parents were home and, to his surprise, sitting in the kitchen with four Zombie Patrol officers. When they saw him his mom stood up and rushed to him. "Zachary!" she exclaimed as she threw her arms around him. "Where have you been? We've been worried sick!"

Zach's dad made his way over as did the officers. "This is your missing son?" one of them asked.

"Yes, thank you officers," his dad said.

"Zach you have a lot of explaining to do," his mom stated. She pulled away from him and frowned, giving him a stern look. "You've been gone for hours! None of your friends had seen you! We can't file a missing report until it's been more than twenty-four hours! Why didn't you come home last night?"

Zach waited for the officers to leave before he went to explain. "I'm sorry, I was practicing late last night and the time got away from me."

"The time got away from you?" his dad asked disbelievingly.

Zach nodded. "I'm sorry, it won't happen again. I'll come home right after practice tonight and—"

"You aren't practicing tonight," his mother stated. "If you're gonna just disappear for hours because of this team you can't be on the team anymore."

"Wait, Mom—"

"I don't want to hear it!"

"Mom they're counting on me," Zach argued. "We're a team we have to work together everyone had to be there."

"You should have thought about that before you 'lost track of time'."

"Mom, please. I have to—don't make me beg Mom." His mom folded her arms and Zach sighed, then got down on his knees and folded his hands together. "Mom, Dad, please let me cheer. I'll do anything, just don't take this away from me. I really really want to. Double-triple my chores! I'll scrub the whole house clean just let me cheer."

His parents looked at each other, then at him and sighed. "Okay."

Zach jumped up and whooped loudly, then pulled his parents in for a hug. "But you can't cheer next year," his mom said. "And you'll have a full set of chores waiting when you get home tonight. Should keep you occupied for the weekend."

"Oh, the cheer competition is Saturday so I'll be gone the entire weekend," Zach stated.

Both of them groaned and Zach laughed as he pulled away. "I'll do all the chores though. I'll even finish my actual regular chores before I go to practice today."

His mom grinned and wrapped an arm around his neck, pulling him down and kissing his forehead. "Go ahead."

After practice ended, Zach hung around the student parking lot, waiting for Bucky to finish in the gym. It had been hours since they had spent any time alone and he couldn't pretend to need help with the routine anymore. He was just hoping Bucky's posse of cheerleaders wouldn't be following.

Lucky for Zach, it was just Bucky and Addison walking toward Bucky's car. Addison knew and therefore was the least of Zach's worries.

"Hey," Zach greeted.

Bucky grinned and so did Addison. "So I'm guessing you're not coming to my house, Bucky?" Addison asked with a smug smile.

"I have to go home, actually," Zach said. "My parents were pissed about last night. I had to beg to stay on the team."

He saw Addison cover her mouth to keep from gasping and Bucky try and fail to hide a smile. He stepped toward Zach and wrapped his arms around his neck. "So what you're saying is you begged your parents to be with me?" Bucky asked with a smug smile.

Zach chuckled and nodded. "You could say that."

"You're kinda stupid," Bucky said with a chuckle, then pulled Zach in for a searing kiss. He pulled back and said, "I'll give you a ride home. Addison, get in the back."

"You guys are too cute," she gushed as she climbed into the back.

Zach chuckled and leaned against the car with Bucky in his arms. "Day one of dating you had been amazing," Zach said with a soft smile. "I'm really looking forward to this."

Bucky rolled his eyes with a grin. "You're so full of affection."

"People usually just reject me. This is nice."

Bucky chuckled lightly. "As much as I'd love to continue this conversation, I need to get her home," Bucky said, gesturing to Addison who was watching them through the window. "And you too. You need to stay on your parents' good side so we can go to Manchester and win."

Bucky pulled away and made his way to the driver's side. Zach opened his own door and dropped his bag in, then climbed in.

"Can I be on the Bluetooth?" Addison asked.

Bucky rolled his eyes and looked at Zach. "Do you want to listen to her garbage music?" Bucky asked.

"Hey!"

"Don't worry Addison, I think you should play your music," Zach said.

"You're lucky you're cute," Bucky said.

"I'm also cute," Addison pointed out. "I've had a boyfriend a lot longer than you two."

"Shut up and turn on your music," Bucky told her.

Bucky went to his cousin's house first. She lived closer and it was pizza night so he could get some for the road. Addison invited Zach in too, for a quick bite if he wanted. "My parents will be fine with it, don't worry," she told him. "If we're lucky they'll be asleep."

Bucky just rolled his eyes. Addison unlocked the front door and the three of them stepped inside. Addison led them to the kitchen, where the mayor and the chief of Zombie Patrol we're sitting at the counter in their sleepwear. It was weird and made Zach a little uncomfortable.

They both looked at him oddly. "Hello Zombie Who isn't my daughter's boyfriend," the mayor greeted. "What are you doing here?"

Addison went into the kitchen and grabbed a box. "This is Zach, Bucky's giving him a ride home. I'm giving them some pizza." She thrust the box into Zach's hand. "Bye guys, see you tomorrow."

"Oh, Zach?" Mayor Missy asked with a curious eyebrow. She looked at Addison who nodded.

"Yes, that Zach." Addison said.

"Okay we're leaving now," Bucky said. "It's late. Zach needs to get home and I also need to go and pack my suitcases and…clean. I dunno. Bye!"

"Oh okay," Mayor Missy said. "Are you gonna pick up Addison tomorrow?"

"You know you could take me to school," Addison muttered. "You're my parents."

Bucky ignored her and said, "Yeah. I'll see you guys in the morning."

He turned and grabbed Zach by the arm, pulling him to the door. "It was nice meeting you!" Zach called as he was dragged out.

"You too!" he heard Mayor Missy call back.

Bucky closed the door and took the box from Zach. "Come on man, I seriously have to pack my suitcases," Bucky said.

"I packed while I was home, before I went to practice." They climbed into the car. "My mom said I couldn't leave until all my chores were done and I was all packed to leave."

"Eat some pizza," Bucky told him. "Also chores suck. I don't do any of mine until the day before my parents show up."

Zach chuckled a little and opened the pizza box. He gasped in excitement. "This is what human pizza looks like? Gar grut!"

Bucky laughed and gave him an odd look. "What was that? What'd you say?"

"What?"

"At the end. Was that Zombie Tongue?"

Zach nodded. "Sorry, it slipped."

"Don't apologize for speaking in your first language. Don't ever apologize for that. And if anyone ever gives you crap for it, it'd be my honor to beat them up."

"Aw," Zach gushed. "You're so sweet. Is it just 'cause I'm cute?"

Bucky smiled cheekily. "How'd you figure that out?"

"I mean, I expected you to be a lot more of a jerk. And you're not, which is only a little weird since I'm so used to it."

"You're not," Bucky argued. "We never talked."

"You're big man on campus," Zach shrugged. "You know: my cuz, Bucky's the Man. Look at how perfect he lands. Our very own cheer rockstar." To seal the deal, he even did Bucky's signature jazz hands.

Bucky laughed and grinned. "That was the cutest thing I've ever seen," he said with a smile.

Zach was also smiling widely. "Aw, you have such a cute dimple!"

Bucky kept smiling at him. "I don't think I've ever smiled so much as I do with you," he told Zach. "Now stop being so cute and eat your pizza. We're nearly at Zombietown."