A/N: This chapter gets intense at the end. You have been warned.

Zach saw a lot less of Bucky after cheer ended. Alonzo asked that they practice a few times a week, after school and on the weekends. On Wednesday, when Zach didn't have band practice, he went over to Bucky's house to have a 'movie date.' Bucky was upset that Zach had never seen a single Harry Potter movie.

"I didn't think you'd like Harry Potter."

"First of all everyone loves Harry Potter," Bucky stated. "It doesn't matter what you say it's a universal concept. They might have their opinions and shit but they all like either the movies or the books."

"Someone's a little defensive," Zach said. "When are we gonna start the movie?"

"Shut up," Bucky grumbled from his kitchen. "Do you realize what I did for you? I went to the grocery store—which I never do—and bought snacks and drinks."

"Aw! How sweet!"

"And I had to go to Addison's house—"

"Don't complain about that, you love going over there."

"Shut up. I had to go and get her movie collection because my cousin is weird and had a movie collection."

Zach just raised an knowing eyebrow. No matter how much Bucky talked shit about his cousin, it was pretty clear he loved her more than life itself.

"What other movies does she have?" Zach asked.

"Every DCOM ever created," Bucky said. Even though he was in the kitchen, it was obvious he was rolling his eyes. "They aren't even good! She's just crazy!"

"What's your favorite one?"

"High School Musical is the best thing ever created!"

Zach barked a laugh. "You just said DCOMs aren't good!"

"It doesn't count," Bucky stated. "If one movie in the series was in theaters the whole series doesn't count as DCOMs."

"You're so cute."

Bucky came from the kitchen with a few large bowls filled with snacks. "I hate you. Just FYI."

"I like your love language," Zach said with a smile. "You pretend to be all mean but it's just you being a sweetheart."

Bucky grabbed a handful of popcorn and tossed it at Zach. "Don't say that to me again."

Zach laughed and pulled Bucky by his hand. "Come on! It's movie time!"

"I need to get the drinks."

"How much did you buy?"

Bucky shrugged as he walked back to the kitchen. "I need to use a lot of the food money my parents give me, which I haven't been doing. So, splurge."

"There's no way we can finish all this in one night."

"Oh no," Bucky said without any actual feeling. He went back to the tv room with a bottle of soda and two cups filled with ice. "You should come over again tomorrow, so we can finish all this food."

Zach raised an eyebrow as Bucky sat down beside him. "Should I?"

Bucky nodded. "I mean, there's no way we can finish all nine movies in one night. You should also stay over tomorrow night, just because."

"I'll see what I can do."

"Good. Now shut up so we can watch the movies."

Bucky hadn't shown up for lunch, leaving the Aceys table without a 'ruler.' Tracey pointed out how Zach wasn't sitting with his group of friends.

"We have to do something about this," Lacey said in frustration. "Bucky's not thinking clearly and—ugh! We just need to snap him out of it!"

"But what can we do?" Stacey asked. "We can't just walk up to him and say 'hey you need to break up with your boyfriend because he's a Zombie' because that will go horrible for us. Remember when we tried to keep Zed and Addison apart?"

"That backfired," Tracey summed up.

"Someone has to be able to knock some sense into him," Stacey said. "Definitely not Addison."

Tracey grinned and laughed lightly. "Could you imagine trying to get her in our side? She's the biggest Zombie advocate in school. That'd never work."

"This is serious." Lacey snapped. "Our friend is being stupid, and we need to help him. Ideas people."

They sat and thought for a second. They obviously couldn't get to Bucky. They needed someone who could strike enough fear in Bucky, someone who was a major influence on his life. Obviously not Addison, considering her opinion on Zombies.

Stacey gasped with an idea. "Trace, do you still have those pictures?"

"Yeah, but I was about to delete them."

"Do you still have his mom's number?"

Tracey nodded. A smile slowly crept on his face as he got her point. "Oh yeah, I see your point."

The members of Bowling for Zoup had been fortunate enough to all end up in the same study hall. There was never any actual studying going on. They picked a table where they were hidden by bookshelves and far enough from the librarian so that they could do whatever they want, as long as they didn't start screaming (it happened twice already).

"Why are you actually doing homework?" Alonzo asked.

"Because this is study hall," Zach said obviously.

"Since when were you studious?" Zephyr asked.

"You guys are mean."

Alonzo chuckled and shook his head. "I wanted to have fun this period!"

"Well, I have a date tonight." Zach gave them a cocky shrug.

They all looked at him with expectant smiles. "You guys are still dating?" Alonzo asked.

"Duh."

"I thought he was just using you as a distraction or stress reliever or something," Zephyr admitted. "Which is why I had my reservations. But…it's lasted four days past cheer."

Alonzo gasped and asked, "Has your one week anniversary passed already?"

"Oh god," Zephyr groaned.

Zach just looked at Alonzo in confusion. "What? I don't know, maybe? Why?"

"Aw!" Alonzo and Roz gushed. "One week strong!"

"And you guys are going out on dates too," Alonzo went on. "Too cute!"

"What is wrong with you guys?" Zephyr asked. "Zach's had a boyfriend for a week and you guys lose your minds."

"We did the same thing when you and Alonzo finally got together," Roz pointed out.

"Okay that's fair."

"My boy's in a cute relationship," Alonzo said happily as he slung an arm over Zach's shoulder. "If you weren't going out tonight I'd take you to celebrate."

Zach rolled his eyes and smiled fondly.

Bucky and Zach had migrated up to Bucky's bedroom. It wasn't necessarily late but they had finished their movie marathon and decided to do their homework in Bucky's room.

"Do you really need help with your homework?" Bucky asked.

Zach shrugged. "I like it when you help me. You're a lot nicer than when you're teaching cheers."

Bucky smiled and kissed his cheek. "I'm only nice with you. You deserve it."

Zach grinned, then turned to give Bucky a kiss. It lasted only a few seconds. They heard a gasp in surprise and a curse in a voice all to familiar to Bucky. He pulled away from Zach and turned to see his parents standing in the doorway of his room. They all stared, frozen in shock.

It felt like Bucky's heart stopped. Every second dragged out and no one knew what to do.

Everything that happened next came all too fast. Bucky's mom named Kitty started sobbing. His dad, Dylan, turned red with anger.

Kitty was crying about how the devil had possessed her son once again and all that shit. Bucky managed to push Zach off the bed, watching almost in slow motion as his dad left the room and returned with a gun.

Zach gasped and Bucky shoved him to the window. Someone screamed—maybe it was Zach or maybe it was Bucky—when Dylan shot at them. Bucky forced his window open and pushed Zach out.

Before he could even check to see if Zach was alright or follow him, he was pulled away by his father.

"You sick son of a bitch," he hissed at his son. "Where did we go wrong with you?"

"Dad—" Bucky was cut off abruptly when his father hit him with the butt of his gun and cried out in pain.

His mother, who had been crying incomprehensibly, sniffed and asked, "Why do you hate us so much? W-why do you want to embarrass us? Make us look like fools?"

"It's about time I teach you how to be a man. My son will not be a dirty faggot."

A/N: Ah, the beginning of the downward spiral that is this story. It'll only get worse from here. This wasn't even in the original plan, guys! Originally it was just supposed to be some cute Zacky then I got inspired for lots of angst and holy shit here we are.

Leave a review?