Bree was happily getting everything ready for a date night with Bonzo in her basement. They were planning on watching a few Bob Ross videos and painting some happy little trees and other scenes. Although Bonzo was the one bringing all the supplies Bree had too much nervous energy to sit still so she kept going over everything in the basement, removing even the tiniest dust bunnies she could find. While she was doing so her mind flashed back over the past few happy months, and one day in particular, the first time Bonzo came to her house and met her parents in person.
It was just before Thanksgiving when Bree and Bonzo had been dating for only about two weeks, it was their first real date night that would be just the two of them, and Bonzo was going to pick Bree up from her house.
Bree had been nervous that day, she knew all about Zed's disastrous first time meeting Addison's parents and was scared the same thing would happen to her and Bonzo. Her parents had never been vocally against zombies, but they were still scared of them and had taught Bree to always be wary around them. She was at first but once she got to know one zombie in particular, she knew she had nothing to fear.
Bree had been sitting in the kitchen with her parents waiting for Bonzo to show up. They had seen him before cheering and playing with the band at basketball games, so they knew who he was but just never met him. Bree's gaze kept switching between the window and the clock on the wall, counting down the minutes. She finally caught a glimpse of a flash of green outside the window and smiled in nervous excitement.
Their doorbell cheerfully rang and Bree jumped up to get the door before her parents could. She opened the door to reveal a smiling Bonzo looking down at her.
"Grallo Breezka."
"Grallo Bonzo."
Her parents walked up behind her and Bonzo's smile did seem to shrink slightly, and Bree inwardly groaned, she knew her dad must be trying to be intimidating or something to scare Bonzo. Thankfully Bonzo had refrained from their usual greeting hug.
"Hello Bonzo, it's great to meet you." Her mom said.
"Grallo Mrs. Jeffrey, Mr. Jeffrey."
"I'm sorry but do you understand us?" Her dad asked.
"Gra." Bonzo said.
"He can Dad, he can understand English just fine, he just doesn't speak it. And I've gotten really good at translating thanks to Bonzo and Mr. Z's class." Bree turned around so that now she was standing outside the door with Bonzo, facing her parents. She realized her parents looked somewhat fearful and that they were nervously craning their necks to meet Bonzo's eyes. No surprise, he towered over even her dad by several inches.
"So how did you two get to know each other? Her mom asked."
"Because of Addison and Zed, we started hanging out with each other when they started dating and we have a lot in common. And then after a while, as we got to know each other better and after Bonzo joined the cheer team we spent even more time together and started dating on Halloween." Bree explained.
"So Bonzo besides cheerleading what else do you do?" her dad asked.
"Arrt arg Garuzic."
"He's a really talented artist, you should see some of his paintings and drawings, and he's also a great musician. He's been part of the band almost since the beginning of the school year."
"Yes we've seen you performing at the basketball games and I have to say, your instrument is very impressive. This didn't pass on to Bree but I used to play the trombone way back when, your horn looks like its much more complicated, and it sounds like nothing I've ever heard before. Her dad told him.
"Grazias. I marar zomtimer"
"He said thank you, and he'd be happy to show you sometime Dad. Although between you and me," she jokingly loudly whispered, "I don't want to be here when you both start going into music theory and reminiscing over your glory days."
"I agree you and me can just stick to cheer." Her mom laughed.
"So can we get going?" Bree asked hopefully.
"And where exactly are you going?" her dad asked.
"Greery on Zrrop."
"We're just going to Cheer On Top to grab some froyo now that zombies are allowed to."
"OK, I thought I'd make sure. Bonzo, just keep Bree safe and keep her happy, and we won't have any problems. Got it?" Her dad asked.
"Gra. Gru Bye!" Bonzo waved.
"Bye, we'll be home soon!" Bree's mom waved back.
They had then left to go on a wonderful first date that Bree would always fondly remember. They still had a few communication issues back then, but with Bonzo's new phone if nothing else, he could always type in English what he wanted to say. Not to mention how much of a lifesaver he was when he helped her with Zombie as a Second Language, even though the only reason she took that class was to improve her relationship with him.
Back in the present Bree heard the doorbell ring and she ran back upstairs, yelling out, "I'll get it!"
She opened the door, just slightly breathless to once again reveal a smiling Bonzo, his arms and backpack full to bursting with art supplies.
"Grallo Breezka."
"Grallo Bonzo. Come on in."
They greeted her parents before escaping to the basement and Bree and Bonzo got to further work setting up their art studio. Bonzo had brought everything they could possibly need, easels, palates, paints and brushes, and even a dark green paint splattered tarp that they spread over the floor to make sure the basement stayed spotless.
They started the video and both attempted to pay rapt attention before they realized that Bob was going much faster than they possibly could, especially Bree. Although Bree was much more interested in watching Bonzo work. When he got really focused on a project, Bree loved to watch the different expressions Bonzo made as he created art. He was never tense, but so intensely focused nothing could break his concentration. His eyes constantly darted from one spot to the next, and his face would almost randomly shift from a smile to a frown, to confusion, to a eureka moment as he worked. Bree was eventually able to grab Bonzo's attention enough to start a conversation.
"So Bonzo anything exciting that you're working on right now at school?"
"We're begrinng to pragtize new Garuzic in Bandr forr arg zpring zow."
"Ooh what theme did Ms. Janith pick for the Spring Concert?"
Rovie Nochez
"Oh that sounds nice, and I know I told you before but everyone sounded so good at the winter concert I can't wait to see what you all do with that. Any songs in particular that you're excited for?"
"Gra we arrg playr Ztar Rarrs
"I love that song, I seriously can't wait to hear you perform. Will you have any solos or anything?"
"Gra."
"Grat zong ez it?"
"Zo I'm not zaying, ez zurprize."
"Fine I'll wait, but I know you'll bring the house down."
"Gru worrkin gra?"
"Well me and Addison are starting to plan out the cheer camp we'll have over spring break, but obviously neither Addison nor I have ever been to it before, so we have no idea what we're doing. Addison suggested we just ask Bucky and the Aceys but while they have been good since they came back, I feel like relying on them will end up turning into a major production."
"Grat Greer Carmp?"
"Every year over spring break the cheer team goes to this camp in the woods to have two weeks of total cheer immersion or whatever before the spring competition season to make sure we're absolutely perfect, and since Addison and I are the captains, we have to plan everything. Plus you know all the normal practices we have to plan, and working with the Mini Shrimp for the last few basketball games. And we finally settled on the design for the Spring uniforms. Plus normal school stuff, Addison and I have been swamped since we got back to school."
"Gru OKZ?"
"Yeah I'm fine, that's part of why we're doing this tonight, since school started again I've felt a little overworked."
"Gru doingr amazingr gar."
"Grazias Bonzo. Howz gor paingrar coming alongrr?"
"Almozt grone I'm dibugarr arppy trgrees. Arg gru."
"Yeah, I'm almost done too. I just have a few finishing touches on my happy trees too."
"A few more minutes passed by until Bonzo looked up from his easel and called out to Bree. "Gronz!"
"You're done? Just wait one more second and…done. Perfect. I'm finished too. Can I see yours? Bree asked as she paused the video that was still playing."
"Gra."
Now they turned their easels towards each other to display their masterpieces. Bree had painted a mountain rising into a cloudless bright blue sky, covered with snow and happy little trees all over its slopes.
Bonzo's canvas was now beautifully decorated with a scene of the sun setting over a lake, he had used his skills to the fullest like always even on this small piece, the reflection over the water looked like a mirror of the sky above it, and the muted green of his forest surrounding the lake was expertly shaded to show the growing dusk beneath the branches.
"Wow Bonzo yours looks so amazing, I almost can't believe this isn't a photograph."
"Grazias, gru pintarr ez grutiful gr."
"Thanks, especially that water it looks so real it almost makes me thirsty."
"Gru marrntain ez good, znowz on thr trrees looks colgr." Bonzo playfully shivered to demonstrate.
"Oh stop your just saying that." Bree blushed. "Are you hungry? I can go get us some snacks and we could play a game or something."
"OKZ."
Bree walked back upstairs while Bonzo gathered up all their used brushes and other tools to start rinsing them off in the bathroom.
Bree looked around her kitchen for a few moments, before she found the cookies her mom had baked earlier that day. She took a handful and some napkins and brought them back down to the basement. She set the cookies down on the coffee table and could hear Bonzo carefully rinsing everything to perfection. Bonzo was always just as serious with the upkeep of his tools as the final paintings and drawings themselves.
Bree quietly tiptoed to the bathroom hoping to surprise him for once, but like usual Bonzo's excellent hearing allowed him to face her with a cheeky grin right when she reached the doorway.
"Grr loud." Bonzo laughed.
"Someday I'll be able to surprise you." Bree returned, gathering up some of the freshly clean brushes to begin drying them off. They worked as a team for a few more minutes until everything was spotless to Bonzo's standards. They returned to the main room after packing up most of his things, while still leaving the easels up to let the paint dry, Bonzo joined Bree on the couch and reached for a cookie.
"Mmm. Ez grood."
"Thanks but I didn't make them this time, my mom did." Bree said, also eating her cookie.
"Delizioz I'llr hav arg thankgr"
"I'm sure she'll appreciate it. That'll earn you brownie points if you compliment her cooking."
"Brownies?" Bonzo asked confused.
"I mean like goodwill points, not actually brownies, but if she ever makes some soon I promise I'll bring you some."
"OKZ grot it." Bonzo nodded, while he knew English just as much as anyone, there were still lots of phrases and expressions that he sometimes needed help with, mostly for things zombies didn't usually deal with but Bree was always happy to explain, and she did love his adorably confused face that showed up in those instances.
"So what game do you want to play?" Bree asked him.
"I don grare gru chooze."
"OK, let me think…" Bree said, scratching her chin as she was thinking. "How about…oh I know how about Yahtzee?"
"OKZ."
So they played several rounds of Yatzhee for a while still discussing what they had going on at school and all their other activities before Bonzo glanced at the clock and his face fell slightly but he made his smile return to stay positive.
"Gra relog ez latr I gort go."
"Oh, do you have to leave so soon?"
"Gra."
"OK." Bree placed a kiss on Bonzo's cheek. "Have a goodnight."
"Grazias. Gar Gar Gaza."
"Gar Gar Gaza Bonzo."
They walked upstairs and said goodbye to Bree's parents, and outside on the porch they shared one more hug before Bonzo began walking home in the growing twilight.
The next day Bonzo called Bree and invited her to come to Zombietown for another date, but he didn't give away any details of what he had planned, but Bree was happy to go along with it. She walked confidently into Zombietown, she was just as comfortable there as she was in Seabrook, she no longer feared any zombies, and her confidence had grown immensely as the school year continued with her friends always by her side. Especially Addison and Bonzo.
She knocked on the door to Bonzo's house and it was quickly opened by his mom.
"Grallo Breezka." She said with a bright smile.
"Grallo Mrs. Mortenson." Bree returned with a smile just as bright.
"Breezka, calg me Zarah." Zarah chided her.
"Lo Ziento Zarah."
"Grom in, Breezka!" Zarah called out, "Breezka arqui!"
"Groming!" Bonzo's voice called down from upstairs and Bree could soon hear the pounding of his heavy footfalls
"Grallo Breezka." Bonzo said, enwrapping her in one of his signature hugs, that Bree could never help but fall into.
"Grallo Bonzka." She laughed.
"Gronde going?" Zarah asked.
"Growling Allzey."
Bree thought for a moment but she couldn't place those two words. "Ziento Bonzka grat meanr?"
"Perrfegzt Zurprize gren. Zo zprollerz."
"Alright I'm fine being surprised. Gru bye Zarah!"
"Gru bye Breezka, Bonzka."Zarah called out as she closed the door behind them.
They walked down the porch hand in hand and Bonzo led her further into Zombietown while Bree tried to puzzle out what Bonzo had said but her mind was drawing a complete blank, whatever it was she must not have heard it before. She also let her memories of her past interactions with Bonzo's parents flow over her.
Unlike her parents, who were always polite and supportive of Bonzo, if not a little scared and awkward at the beginning, Bonzo's parents had opened up to her almost as quickly as Bonzo did. She had first met them at the block party on Halloween, and they had acted like they knew something was going on between their son and his cheerleader friend even before she knew it. Then at their first meeting that Bonzo officially introduced her as his girlfriend had gone so well, they both had told her to call them by their first names, Zarah and Zam. Zarah had later revealed she knew they were more than just friends from all the sketches and portraits that were scattered around Bonzo's room. That information had made both Bree and Bonzo blush, but also made Bree love him even more.
They soon arrived at a dilapidated old building in the middle of Zombietown, and Bonzo waved his arm with a flourish. "Growling Allzey!"
Bree's eyes scanned the marquee above the door. "Oh, bowling alley I should have figured that out. Thanks, Bonzo this looks like fun."
They walked in and it took Bree's eyes a moment to adjust, it was mostly dark inside, with the walls covered in neon-colored graffiti and mostly lit by black lights to increase their glow. Bonzo confidently led her through the sudden shadows and up to a counter to rent their shoes and after doing that Bonzo helped her pick out a ball. They then walked over to one of the lanes but to Bree's confusion, there were two people already seated there. It took her a moment to recognize them in the darkened space.
One of them was obviously a zombie, under the glow of the lights, his skin looked almost ghostly pale, while his green hair was much more vivid than normal. But the girl next to him looked almost ethereal. Her hair almost looked like it was glowing a bright, pale blue color that Bree had never seen before, but she swore that she looked familiar.
"Addison! Zed! What are you guys doing here?"
"Bonzo invited us and we never turn down a chance to have a date." Addison laughed.
"I come here so often, I can walk around this place with my eyes closed."
"Good for you, I can barely navigate with my eyes open." Addison giggled, elbowing him playfully.
"Bonzo did you plan all this?"
"Gra pararg gru. Guzta?"
"Gra. Me Guzta. Grazias Bonzka."
"Shall we get started?" Zed asked.
"Yeah let's go!" Bree and Addison both gave matching cheers of enthusiasm.
They started their bowling, and both Bree and Addison were quickly left in the dust by their boyfriends. For both Zed and Bonzo, most of their bowls ended in strikes, and the few times they weren't they easily picked up the spares. Bree and Addison were evenly matched with each other, occasionally hitting strikes, but they also had their fair share of gutter balls. But they laughed it off, most of the time.
At one point Bonzo tried to give Bree tips that did help her a little bit, including helping to guide her arm and she ended up getting a strike but then Zed tried to help Addison in his own way.
"Hey Addison, you know you're supposed to aim for the pins right?"
"Very funny Zed, you're hilarious."
"Do you want any help?"
"Not from you." Addison said stubbornly.
"I can bring the dinosaur slide thing over so you can aim easier."
"We get it Mr. King Pin. You've obviously proven how great you are. You don't need to rub it in."
"How about we have a contest?" Zed offered, "To make it even it can be me and Addison vs you two. And the winners can choose what we do the next time we have a double date."
"Deal." Addison said.
"Letz go Bonzo" Bree called out.
"Gra Breezka. Zedski arg Addiska goingr darrn."
This game was very competitive, Bonzo and Zed were matching each other strike for strike, and Bree and Addison continuously swapped the lead with each other. Everyone was cheering each other on, and teasing each other when they lost the lead. Finally, the tenth and final frame came around, and they were dead tied. Addison was able to pick up a spare plus five pins on her last bowl. And when Bree was up, she missed the spare putting her and Bonzo behind.
"Ziento Bonzo."
"Ez OKZ Gre ztill gwin eze." Bonzo reassured her.
Zed went up, but right before he did Bonzo shouted out. "Zedski rremembrr the zotel grool?"
"What Bonzo? Uh, nothing whatever." Zed shook his head to clear it, but he couldn't stop the smile from breaking through his face. He threw his ball down the lane, but it was off-center and he couldn't get a strike. He rolled again and was able to pick up the spare though. Afterward he turned back to Bonzo. "Not funny that's cheating."
"What did Bonzo say?" Addison whispered to Bree.
"He said remember the hotel pool."
"What! Zed what did you tell him?"
"Nothing just that we went swimming I swear. Anything else he would be using his imagination." Zed said, putting his hands up in surrender.
"Gra. Perro I kner grood dizrractarn." Bonzo was laughing.
"Not cool man." Zed said before throwing his final ball. "If you win it is not my fault."
"Grat everr." Bonzo said, still smiling, he threw his ball down the lane with a spin and a flourish and easily made two final strikes to win the game.
"Great job Bonzo we won." Bree jumped up to hug him in congratulations.
"Good job you guys even if Bonzo had to trick Zed to win. How did you know that would work?" Addison asked.
"Addison I think we all know the effect you have on Zed, I think it just proves Bonzo has a good brain."
"Yeah, I admit it was good strategy on your part. Good game. This whole night was a lot of fun. So what are we doing next time?" Addison admitted.
"Fine, but for the record, I won the most games tonight, you were just cheating on the last one. Good job buddy." Zed gave him a pat on the back.
"It's OK Zed, you'll always be my champion," Addison whispered in his ear as they returned their shoes and started walking out.
"Grazias."
"I don't know we'll tell you guys whenever we plan something. See you at school." Bree called out.
"Bye Bree. Bye Bonzo." Addison and Zed called out as they walked towards Addison's house.
"Bye Zed. Bye Addison." Bree and Bonzo called back, as they split off in the direction of Bree's house as Bonzo walked her home.
"Thank you Bonzo these last two days have been just what I needed to let off some steam."
"Gru warlcom."
"Although now it looks like because you were so smart and sneaky we need to plan our next double date. I hope you have more ideas up there."
"Ov courze maz idearrs"
"Good then maybe I'll let you plan everything again because seriously this night was great."
"Gru night Bonzka." Bree said once they arrived at her front door.
"Gru night Breezka." Bonzo returned, wrapping her up in one more hug and placing a loving kiss on her cheek.
"Gar Gar Gaza."
"Gar Gar Gaza."