a Cheerleader and a Zombie Chapter 16, a zombies fanfic

Bucky went to school the next day. He had to carry his books around for the lack of a book bag and kept close to Zach's side all day. People gave them weird looks but both Zacky and Bucky didn't care anymore.

Bucky was a senior and Zach was a sophomore so they didn't have any classes together. Zach still managed to meet Bucky outside of every one of his classes and walk with him to his next class.

Bucky moved his seat in most of his classes to stay as far away from any of the Aceys as possible. He ignored them when they tried to talk to him. He couldn't even think about talking to them at that point, too filled with rage to keep a civil conversation.

At lunch, he alternated between sitting with Zach and his friends and Addison and her friends. He didn't even have to interact with any of the Aceys until the end of the school day, when they cornered him and Zach at his locker.

"Where have you been?" Lacey asked.

"Why are you avoiding us?" Tracey asked.

"You guys are dicks," Bucky stated. His tone was dry and bored because he didn't care enough to hate them anymore. They just deserved an explanation. Despite his tone, they still flinched in surprise and hurt.

"You sent pictures of me and my boyfriend to my mom because you knew she was homophobic. I was locked in my house for weeks without much food, forced to lose obscene amounts of weight, because you thought you knew what was best for me. Don't bother talking to me. You nearly ruined my life, so I hope you're happy."

They all just gaped at him at a loss for words. Bucky gave them another second to stare in shock before turning away. Zach stayed by his side as they walked through the hallway.

"I kind of thought you would've given them a chance."

"They don't deserve my friendship," Bucky stated. "I'm done wasting time on people who don't deserve it."

They rounded the corner and nearly walked into Principal Lee. "Oh! Bucky, I was just looking for you."

"Me?"

"Yes, you have some…visitors," she said vaguely. "A few folks from the University of Kentucky want to talk with you."

Bucky squeaked, trying his best to keep his calm. "The University of Kentucky?" he asked in a small voice. "They wanna meet with me?"

"Yes. They've been trying to contact you through your parents but just went through us instead. Come on."

Principal Lee turned back into her office, holding the door for Bucky. Bucky turned to Zach with a wild expressions. "How do I look?"

"Amazing, as always," Zach said instinctively. "What's the University of Kentucky?"

"I'll tell you later. I don't wanna keep them waiting!" Bucky said excitedly, before rushing into the office.

The door closed and Zach turned and sighed. He leaned against the wall to wait for Bucky to finish his meeting (as if he would leave him there alone). Waiting against the walls turned into sitting on the floor. Thirty minutes had gone by and Zach was sick of waiting.

He saw Addison and Zed making their way down the hall and waited until they got close before falling their attention. "Hey, what's up?" Addison asked. "Where's Bucky? You guys have been pretty much inseparable."

"He's meeting with the University of Kentucky," Zach said.

"Really? That's awesome!"

"I didn't know Bucky wanted to go to Kentucky," Zach stated.

"It's the number two school for cheer in the country," Addison explained. "It's been at the top of his college list since he was eleven and went and saw them perform. I hope he gets an offer."

"He wants to go to Kentucky? Aren't there good schools here, in New Hampshire?"

"That's a question you should ask Bucky," Addison said. "By the way, Kitty and Dylan are getting a divorce."

"What?"

Addison nodded. "They've been cheating on each other for years, believe it or not. And literally stayed together to keep their perfect family in tact." Addison shrugged. "Heard they're leaving Seabrook too."

"That's kind of insane."

Addison nodded in agreement. "They deserve worse," she said. "But…if Bucky's happy then I'll let it slide. For now. Swing by my house later. My parents wanna make sure Bucky is actually okay before they leave this alone."

Zach nodded, waving goodbye as they left. Ten more minutes went by before Bucky exited the office, looking more ecstatic and flustered than he'd ever been. Zach stood up and Bucky looked up at him in wonder.

"I got an offer," he breathed out. "A full ride. To the school of my dreams."

"Really?"

"I've got the paperwork in my bag. I need to fill it out and fax it to them and then I'm a Wildcat!"

Zach grinned and pulled him in a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you!"

Bucky pulled away and looped their arms together. "Let's go home. I need to fill this shit out. Maybe I can get Addison to get all my paperwork."

Zach nodded along as Bucky kept rambling. He was happy for him, that much was true. But it had slipped his mind that Bucky would be going to college in the fall. And now he was going to a college nearly a thousand miles away.

It was a problem for later.

Later came five months later. Bucky had to be at the University of Kentucky of summer training in June. They already had a dorm room waiting for him and he had sent his belongings ahead of schedule.

The two of them had been avoiding the day Bucky had to leave for months. His departure date came sooner than either of them would have liked, and Zach found himself with Bucky at the airport, waiting for Bucky's flight to Kentucky.

"So this is it? You're off to college now." Zach said a little awkwardly.

"Yeah." Bucky said. "Do we…are we breaking up?"

"I-I guess? I dunno what to do." Zach admitted. "I don't wanna let you go. But college is a time for you to have fun. Meet new people and shit."

"So this is goodbye?"

Zach nodded slowly. "It's not like I could follow you. I'm not allowed to leave Seabrook."

"I'm gonna miss you. This—we—were good."

Zach nodded in agreement. He leaned forward and kissed Bucky, long and slow. He didn't want to let go or pull away. He just wanted to stay with Bucky forever, no college and no real world.

All too soon; Bucky pulled away and held his hand. "Will you come back?" Zach asked hopefully.

"There's nothing left for me here." Bucky said. Zach's expression fell but he did his best to keep a neutral look. "Addison will graduate in two years. My parents have disowned me and I can't live off of my aunt and uncle forever."

"What about me?"

"I do love you," Bucky said. "You shouldn't wait for me though. Enjoy the rest of your years in high school. And, if this was meant to be, then we'll know."

Zach sighed. "Okay. I'm gonna miss you."

"I'll miss you too."

"Now boarding Flight 322 to Lexington, Kentucky."

"That's me," Bucky said.

He adjusted his backpack on his shoulder and gave Zach one last kiss to the cheek. "Goodbye."

The first place Zach went was Alonzo's house. He wasn't even certain if Alonzo would be there, he just hoped he was. He really needed to see his best friend at a time like this.

Luckily, Alonzo and Zephyr were there. They seemed to have been relaxing when Alonzo opened the door for Zach.

Alonzo immediately noticed his friend's expression and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Bucky left," Zach stated. "We-we broke up."

Alonzo pulled Zach back into the house and into his arms. Zach couldn't even bring himself to crying. He let his friend hold him though, standing there while Alonzo said comforting words.

Zephyr came from the living room and asked, "What's up?"

"Bucky went off to college," Alonzo explained sadly.

"Could we just play music? I really need it right now."

The three of them stopped by Roz's house, then went to the Power Plant. They moved wordlessly, setting up their instruments and tuning up.

"Any requests?" Alonzo asked, looking at Zach.

After a quiet minute, Zach answered with, "Me With No You."

"You wanna sing?" Alonzo offered.

Zach nodded, then Zephyr started off the guitar notes.

"I'm not lost I just haven't found everything I need
I'm not torn I'm just getting it together
I'm not broken don't ya mind the pieces of me
You see scattered on the ground
I swear, I'll turn this thing around
I'm not home but I'm sitting here in my room
I'm photograph in need of a zoom
I feel far away I can't make out the face
It's all blurred since you went away
When you took your keys out you took a little piece of me

I'm a circle incomplete
I'm a heart that barely beats
All the memories stay forever like tattoos
I'm a star without a sky
I'm hello with no goodbye
I'm the the dreams we had that never will come true
That's me with no you

I'm a mark, I'm a martyr, I'm a victim, I'm a jerk
I'm an engine that just doesn't seem to start
I'm a kingdom with no king, I'm a king without a crown
So I fall down on my knees and I pray nobody sees
You got my attention, now please come back to me
(Come back to me)

Can't find the words to fit the melody
But I swear that I could sing it - when you were here with me
I'm all over the place, on a scale of 1 to 10
I'm a C (that's me)

I'm not lost I just haven't found everything I need
I'm not torn I'm just getting it together

Zach couldn't even finish the song. His voice cracked part wary through and he choked back a sob. Zach pulled the strap of his bass over his head and chucked the instrument with a cry of frustration.

"Zach!"

Zach turned to his friends, his eyes growing red and watery. "It's not fair!"

His friends softened and moved to him, surrounding him in a hug. "Zach," Alonzo said gently.

Zach just let his head fall and the tears roll down his checks. "It's not fair," he cried.

So…this wad technically the last chapter.