Addison woke up early the next morning, ready to execute her plan. She got dressed in the darkest clothing she had, unfortunately with her wardrobe being only pastel pink and blue, she put on dark blue jacket and jeans. She almost grabbed her wig automatically, but then she remembered she didn't need it anymore. She looked at herself in the mirror, almost having second thoughts about it before she remembered the look on Zed's face when he saw her yesterday.
She crept downstairs, and back in her parent's office were all their phones, Addison quickly sent the picture of her and Zed hugging to herself, and made it her background, thinking that taking that picture was the one good thing Bucky ever did for her. She also texted Bree what was going on since she had a million questions from yesterday.
She grabbed some cereal from the kitchen and ate it quickly. Once she heard her parents were awake and getting ready for the day she ran back up to her room. She then used some of her pillows to make it look like she was sleeping, and even placed her wig on her dummy's head.
Missy knocked on the door, "Addison your dad and I are going to city hall for our meeting today. Then afterward we will be going to the Regional Cheer Championship, would you like to come with us?"
"No, I'm grounded remember, I'll just stay home and stare at the wall. Plus, both of those are 2 of the last places I want to be." Addison answered sarcastically.
"Fine then, but don't leave the house without asking us and telling us where you are going if you need something." Missy said.
"Alright, Goodbye." Addison said.
After her parents left the house, Addison ran back down the stairs. She went outside and tried to walk casually towards the Zombietown barrier. When she got close she could see that her dad was telling the truth. Two days ago, there was no one there when she went to the mash with Zed, but now there were multiple teams of Z-Patrol guards watching the gate. A few blocks away, some bushes on the Seabrook side of the wall disguised a small hole where a drainpipe, came out. Zed had shown her it as they walked to the powerplant. Apparently, Eliza used it to leave Zombietown and get the parts for her computer years ago. For once thankful for her short stature, Addison was able to crawl through the pipe and into Zombietown.
On the other side, Addison quickly walked towards Zed's house, on the lookout for any Z-Patrols. She didn't see any, but she did see a few Zombies walking about, most ignored her, but a few of them were at the game yesterday, they looked surprised to see her there, but a few even smiled and waved. Already she felt more happy and comfortable in Zombietown than she ever did in Seabrook.
When she got to Zed's house, she walked up the stairs, a bit nervously thinking of yesterday, and knocked on the door. Zed's dad answered the door, looking surprised to see her.
"Hello, I'm guessing you're Addison." Zevon said.
"Yes Mr. Necrodopolis, I am, I was wondering if Zed was released yet. I really want to see him."
"Please, you can call me Zevon, as much as Zed talks about you I feel like I already know you." Zevon said with a smile on his face that quickly disappeared, "No Zed isn't back yet, but he should be here soon, they usually release zombies the morning after an incident. You're welcome to come in and wait with us."
"Thank you, I would love too." Addison said.
As she walked through the door, she saw a small green blur come running down the stairs.
"Hi Addison," Zoey said beaming, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm waiting for your brother to come home. We really need to talk about yesterday." Addison answered.
"Do you know what happened yesterday? Zevon asked, sitting in an armchair, and inviting Addison and Zoey to sit on the couch. "The last time I talked to him was before he left for school, then I watched the game but couldn't get close to him after."
Addison sat on the couch and Zoey immediately sat in her lap. "Yesterday, before the game Zed came to my house to meet my parents and it did not go well at all. They hate him for no reason, and my dad even tazed him. They basically tried to forbid us from even seeing each other, but then we left and went to the game, and at the end, everything went wrong, and my parents only blame him, even though they know that someone else was behind it. And now they are trying to ban zombies from Seabrook completely." Addison let her whole story gush out.
"Someone intentionally messed with his Z-band, why would someone do that?" Zevon asked.
"Well, actually Zed had Eliza hack it first so that he could use his Zombie strength to play and win games so that Zombies could be more accepted. But then at the game some cheerleaders got a hold of it hacked their bands completely. But only the Zombies are being punished."
"Zed hacked his Z-band? That Zter raag-" Zevon then shut his mouth to calm down, before looking frightened, "He should know how big of a risk that is. Why is he such an idiot?"
"He didn't do it just to play football, he did for all Zombies." Addison answered
"That may be so, but it is still a stupid decision." Zevon said. "The Z-bands keep us calm when they are specifically adjusted for each of us, any changes to that could do anything, from going rogue to making him sick, or even giving him a heart attack."
"Really?" Addison and Zoey both said, shocked at the danger Zed had been in.
"Then I promise you he will never do it again." Addison declared.
"Thank you, Addison, I have a feeling he'll listen to you better than me." Zevon said, with a small smile on his face.
Addison blushed, "So how much has Zed told you about us?"
"Pretty much everything," Zoey answered, "He never shuts up about how pretty, and nice, and cool you are. Speaking of, I love your hair, it makes you look like a magic princess."
"Thank you," Addison said, touching her hair self-consciously from the reminder. "You're the first person to ever compliment it."
"Really, I think it's so pretty, you should always wear it like that." Zoey said.
"I will, I won't be wearing my wig again anytime soon." Addison promised.
"We saw what you did yesterday, I'm guessing you were never Seabrook perfect, so that had to take guts both revealing yourself and standing up for Zed. Thank you." Zevon said
"I would happily do it all over again if I had to, I only wish I had done it sooner." Addison said.
They all heard a vehicle rolling down the otherwise quiet street.
"That must be them," He looked at Addison and Zoey with a smile on his face, "why don't you wait here and surprise him?" as he got up to answer the door.
Outside, Zed, Bonzo, and Eliza were leaving the Z-Patrol van.
"Alright, get out." An officer said as they opened the doors.
The three quickly walked out. Zed looked at his Z-band, "Sweet Eliza they have Wi-Fi now." He said trying to look on the bright side. "Too soon?"
Eliza responded angrily, "Cheerleaders stole my computer, sabotaged everything, yet zombies get the blame? It was stupid of us to think humans were gonna change. You know we tried doing it the nice way, now it's time to do it my way. Alright, we'll have a Zombie Uprising. Force them to make us equal or we tear it all down. Ok I've been waiting my whole life, alright I'm sick of waiting." Eliza turned and walked quickly over to her mother, anger in her every step.
"Oh, your father and I have been so worried." Eliza's mom said, hugging her as she walked to the door.
Bonzo and Zed gave each other pats on the back before going separate ways towards their houses. As Zed walked up to his porch, he met his father, who immediately grabbed his jersey.
"What were you thinking?" Zevon asked anger and fear in his eyes. "Hey, you could have died adjusting your Z-Band Zed. You don't have to change who you are son. I love who you are."
"Yeah, but they don't." Zed answered.
Both of them wrapped each other in a strong hug.
"Now come inside son," Zevon said putting his arm under Zed's shoulder, there's someone here who really wants to see you."
"Has Zoey been worried about me?" Zed asked.
"Yes, but there's someone else here too." Zevon answered
"Who-" Zed asked again, before a small green-haired blur wrapped around his waist.
"Zed!" Zoey yelled out. "Are you OK?"
"Yes, don't worry, I'm fine now alright." Zed said looking down at her, rumpling her hair.
"Who's a good boy?" Zoey asked. With a smile on her face.
Zed dropped down onto his knees and stuck his tongue out, "Ruff-Ruff, I am"
"Good boy." Zoey said, scratching his head.
Zed finally looked past Zoey and his heart almost stopped. There sitting on his couch was Addison, with her beautiful white hair, and a happy but nervous looking smile on her face as she watched him greet his sister. He got up as quickly as possible and walked over to her.
"Wha, What are you doing here? Addison, how are you here? Your dad sounded like he was going to do ever-"
Addison stopped him by reaching out and grabbing his hand. "I had to see you after everything, and it will take more than the Z-Patrol to stop me from finding you."
I'm happy to see you too, but how? Your dad sounded like he was on the warpath yesterday.
"They left the house early to go to the city council meeting and then they are spending the rest of the day at the cheer championships. It will be after dark by the time they get home so I can spend all day with you." Addison said
"Thank you for coming, but what if your parents find out?" Zed asked
"I'm already grounded indefinitely, what else can they do to me?" Addison said. "So, what do you want to do today?"
"Well first off, I need to shower, and then I need to eat, I am absolutely starving." Zed said as his stomach started growling. "I could eat anything right now."
"Scrambled brains coming right up." Zevon said.
"I agree, you really stink Zed." Zoey butted in with a grin on her face. "While you do that I can show Addison my room. Come on." She said, pulling Addison towards the stairs.
"Alright, I'll see you after you shower," said Addison, "this sounds like fun."
Zed followed them up the stairs before heading to the bathroom to change and get clean. Hot water had never felt so good. He hurriedly cleaned himself up and put on his normal zombie clothes. He then walked downstairs where Zevon already had a big plate sitting on the table.
"Thanks, Pops." Was all he said before he devoured the brains. When he paused to take a breath, he looked up and his dad looked at him worriedly.
"Are you sure your OK? I didn't even know about your meeting yesterday." Zevon said.
Zed answered "I'm fine but it's so messed up Pops, Addison's dad tried to stun me as I was walking to the door. I think her parents must hate zombies the most out of all of Seabrook. Then the game just gave them more evidence that Addison and I shouldn't be together. Her dad thinks I almost ate her, but that isn't what happened. Pops have you ever heard of a zombie being calmed down by another person before? Addison just talked to me and it allowed me to get back in control of myself."
"No, I haven't, but I really don't know. I do know you are treading in dangerous waters with you both trying to stay together. Be careful, I don't want either of you to get hurt, and not from you, from Seabrook." Zevon said.
"Thanks, Pops." Zed said, "I think we'll go visit the powerplant and light garden today, we have good memories there and there shouldn't be any Z-patrols over there."
Addison and Zoey came back downstairs, both with large grins on their faces. "That was a very informational tour Zoey. Thank you."
"You're welcome Addison. The next time you come over can you show me some cheer moves?" Zoey asked.
"I would love to Zoey." Addison replied. "Are you ready to go Zed?"
'Yeah, I am clean and full." Zed said.
"OK, we'll have to watch out for the Z-Patrol, if they see me here my dad will know in a heartbeat." Addison said.
Zed thought about that problem for a moment, then with a grin on his face he said, "Wait right there, I'll be right back." He ran up the stairs and into his room, opening his closet he pulled out one of his gray hoodies and brought it down.
If you want you can wear this, it will make you look more zombie, and cover your head to make you less recognizable, Zed said, "until we get to the powerplant."
"I would love to," Addison said, as she put it on, all she could smell was Zed's cloying scent and she stifled a grin. When she had it on, the hoodie practically reached down to her knees and her arms were way too short. The hood thankfully covered her hair so no one would notice it.
"Alright let's go." She spoke
"Bye Zed! Bye Addison!" Zoey yelled as they exited.
Zed thought Addison looked extremely adorable swimming in his hoodie, and he felt a rush of even more protectiveness than usual as they walked to the powerplant. He grabbed onto her hand and they walked side by side the entire way. Luckily they didn't see any Z-patrols.
"How are Bonzo and Eliza?" Addison asked him.
"We didn't talk much, Bonzo sounded exhausted more than anything else, but I think Eliza may actually start her Zombie Uprising this time." Zed answered.
"I don't blame her, maybe that's what's needed to change things." Addison said.
"I don't think so, that will just be proving to the world that zombies are monsters, there has to be a better way to change Seabrook for real." Zed said.
"You're probably right, but I don't want to think about that stuff right now, I just want to spend time with you while we still can." Addison agreed.
"Agreed," Zed said as they entered the powerplant, they walked through the main mash area, brightly painted with neon Zombie Tongue words all over. They kept going until they entered the light garden and sat on a ledge next to each other. Addison took off the hoodie, once again revealing her hair. She tried to smooth it with her hand but then couldn't look Zed in the eye. She had a slight look of panic on her face.
"Girl you look delicious, oh I mean gorgeous." Zed sang, "Addie I said it before and I'll say it a hundred times, it's beautiful, you're beautiful."
"You really think so?" Addison asked, "I want to be proud of myself, but every time I see someone looking at it or notice it in a mirror, I get scared again. School is going to be horrible on Monday," Addison started tearing up, "and it'll be even worse if you can't be there with me."
"Hey, remember what we said, just focus on being together right now, that's all that matters." Zed hugged her back as she once again was crying into his chest.
"OK, we can just talk, but how are you, what was containment like, both your dad and my dad made it sound like it was horrible." Addison asked, drying her tears.
"It was," Zed said, "It was super cold, and I know they do that because all zombies hate the cold, so that was bad enough then they locked down in a chair. Then your dad came in and started berating me while my Z-band was off so the chair was shocking me to keep me calm, while your dad was yelling about how I would never see you again. That is officially the new scariest moment of my life." Zed rushed out, he even started tearing up a little.
"Oh, Zed, I'm so sorry, did anything else happen?" Addison asked, rubbing his back.
"After your dad finished with me, they took me to a cold cell and gave me a small meal, but it wasn't enough, I was still starving and exhausted, so I just went to sleep thinking about you and everything." Zed answered
"Zed, you should have never been taken there, and I will do whatever I can to make sure that never happens again." Addison promised
I know but it wasn't your fault, your dad said some cheerleaders may have hacked Eliza's computer to mess up our Z-bands. Zed said.
"Yeah, he mentioned some of that to me too." Addison said.
"Addison, I'm sorry but I really think Bucky must be behind this somehow. We both know how he feels about zombies and me in particular." Zed told her.
"You're probably right, when I see him again I'll have a low kick with his name on it. "Addison said.
"I think you should throw in a punch for me, you're pretty deadly with those too." Zed joked.
"Alright mister, I have one more question." Addison said with a smile that quickly turned serious. "Your dad said that messing with your Z-band was super dangerous and that you could have given yourself a heart attack or worse. Did you know that and did anything ever happen to you besides your wrist?"
"I did know there was some danger to it, yes, but I thought the greater good was more important, plus after the first game went fine I didn't worry about it much until my wrist started hurting. I promise you that was the only thing that happened." Zed said.
"Good, now promise me you will never mess with your Z-band again, greater good or not, Zed you are the most important person in my life and I never want anything to happen to you. I need you in my life." Addison said, staring right into his eyes.
"I promise, and I agree wholeheartedly, I can't live without you either. No more Z-band hacks. I promise." Zed sealed his promise by gently kissing her hand.
Can we just stay here forever? Addison asked, "This is one of the only places I feel completely safe and secure. Right here in your arms."
"I know, I feel better anytime I'm with you. This and the saferoom will always be our place." Zed promised
"I wish I could just stay in Zombietown forever, even at the mash everyone immediately accepted me. We should figure out a plan so we can still see each other as much as possible." Addison said.
We could hope your mom fails at convincing the city council, but I don't there's much chance of that after yesterday. Zed said.
"And if I have my phone on me, my dad can track me, and he already said he would be watching you from your Z-Band. But I could turn it off whenever I come see you." Addison thought out loud.
"How did you get over here today? I heard the guards at the gate when we went through." Zed asked.
"I snuck through Eliza's tunnel that you showed me." Addison answered.
"Oh, yeah? I could try it but I'm guessing I won't fit as easily as you or her." Zed said.
"Probably not, I barely made it through." Addison said.
"Well, you can still come through there, maybe I can ask Eliza to give you some of her clothes so you can still blend in on this side and they'll actually fit you." Zed offered.
"Actually, I would much rather have more of your clothes to wear as a disguise." Addison confessed with a blush. "I am also keeping this." She patted the sweatshirt beside her.
"I guess the stories are true, we've only been dating a month and you're already stealing my clothes. I can live with that but only because you look so cute in Zombie chic." Zed teased her.
"Oh, and maybe I could die one of my wigs green to further blend in, and maybe even go through the gate past the guards. Wait that won't work I don't have a Z-band for them to check." Addison blurted excitedly.
Plus, you are way too pretty to pass for a zombie. Zed gave more reasons the plan wouldn't work.
"Oh please, Zed every zombie looks just as good as any human, some of them are much more handsome in fact." Addison defended him and the other zombies.
"You're right on that but you, in particular, are way too gorgeous to ever pass as a zombie." Zed stood strong on his point.
As they were talking they continued to move closer and closer together until Zed leaned forward and caught Addison's lips with his own both pouring in their love and passion for each other until they had to stop for breath. Both had huge grins on their faces.
"That was…" Zed started.
"Amazing." Addison finished for him. "Just another reason to see each other every day, I need my vitamin Z."
"I wholeheartedly agree I need my vitamin A too." Zed said.
Addison looked down at her watch. "Oh no, it's already late I should leave before my parents get home. "
They both got up and quickly went back to Zed's where they said goodnight to Zevon and Zoey, and Zed grabbed a few more clothes for Addison to take.
They walked to the hole in the barrier and went over their plan again.
"Hope my mom fails." Addison said, "But if she doesn't I should have at least 30 minutes after school every day I can come and see you in my disguise. If nothing else goes wrong."
"I love you Addison." Zed said
"I love you too." Addison said.
They gave each other one more kiss before separating.
"Gar Gar Gaza." Addison called as she climbed through the hole.
"Gar Gar Gaza." Zed answered.
Addison ran home and she arrived about 15 minutes before her parents did. She checked her phone in their office and saw several texts from Bree that Bucky had cut half the squad for supporting Zombies, and that Eliza was about to sabotage the Cheer Championship but Bree and Bonzo managed to convince her not to. Bucky then sabotaged himself by losing Seabrook's cheer winning streak since only half the team couldn't perform the routine. When her parents knocked on her door she pretended to be asleep, not wanting to talk about Bucky or anyone else, Thinking about Zed as she soon fell asleep for real.