Addison's heart was racing in her chest. Zed was looking at her earnestly; there was no traces of doubt or regret lingering on his face, his offer was genuine. Tears welled up in her eyes but she pushed them down. Zed had no idea how much his offer meant to her.

"Zed!" She breathed in awe.
"You don't have to say yes. I just… You shouldn't have to go through this on your own. I… I just wanted to help you." He replied halfway between defensive and embarrassed.
"You have no idea what you're offering." Addison blurted out, panicking at the thought she had offended him.
"Sure I am! I'm offering to stand by your side, look pretty and win your family over with my quick wit and charming smile," Zed countered, adding an overt-the-top wink for good measure.
"You're a zombie!"

Addison wished she could take back the words the second they were out of her mouth, but she couldn't speak a single word. Zed was frozen, hurt displayed on his face for everyone to see. Seconds passed though they seemed interminable. Zed cautiously schooled his features, his face a cold mask.

"I get it. Sorry. I won't bother you again." He apologized, already turning away from Addison.

Anguish spiked through Addison; she couldn't lose Zed, not when he was the only good person in her life apart from Bree. She grabbed his hand, lacing her fingers through his and squeezing tightly when he didn't pull away from her touch.

"No! That's not what I meant, I swear! You haven't done anything wrong besides being you… and you're amazing!" She pleaded with him.

Zed turned his head towards her, scrutinizing her face, looking for any traces of lie.

"But you are a zombie and my family… They hate zombies. I can't ask you to do this for me –"
"Addison"
" – I'm serious Zed. The things they would say to you. You don't deserve them." She explained.

Zed paused. Addison was wearing the most serious expression he'd ever noticed on her. And Z knows, he'd watched her before. He wasn't going to disrespect her by contradicting her brashly; he'd take the time to think about him, however briefly that time was. This entire situation would more than likely be a time-bomb, always a second away from exploding. It wasn't the type of situation he liked to put himself in the middle of. On the other hand, if what Addison had been saying minutes ago was true, she'd be a neon-flashing target for her family the minute she walked into any kind of celebration.

Zed's gaze fell to their still intertwined fingers. If he went through with this, he could have this. At the very least, he could pretend to have this for a short time. He now understood why people would kill for this feeling, a hand in theirs. He wasn't stupid, he knew he was setting himself up for heartbreak, but he couldn't get enough of Addison. There was already no-turning back; he'd take whatever he could get, his heart be damned. He had made his decision and he was going to stick with it. He breathed deeply before opening his mouth.

"I hear you. But I'm a big boy. You are not making me do this. I offered –"
"Zed."
"– my turn! I don't deserve what they could say to me, but you don't deserve what they've been telling you. I've faced zombiephobia my whole life, Addison. I can handle myself. Let someone else be the target for once."

Addison felt her resolve waver. She wanted this so bad. She had wondered so often what it would be like to have someone supportive by her side, someone who cared for her and would place her happiness and well-being above anything else. She'd never had someone like that before. And here was Zed, willing to put himself in the line of fire to save her from her family. She wanted to accept so selfishly. Not to feed him to the wolves and escape; but because she needed to know what it was like to have him, really have him. Zed would be her knight in shining-armour, she was certain of it. He would be attentive and kind and generous.

Addison wouldn't be allowed to keep him, but maybe she could pretend to have him for a short time. She knew she would make it into the New Year heartbroken, but it was her only chance. She'd never get a boyfriend – fake or otherwise – as amazing as Zed. She had made her decision.

"Are you sure? Even if you are now, you have to know you can back out at any time!" She insisted.
"Addison, would you make me the honor of being your fake boyfriend for the holidays?"

AZAZAZ

Addison had floated on cloud nine as she headed to her favourite coffee shop to meet up with Bree. After Zed's very romantic, albeit fake, proposal, they had exchanged phone numbers, promising to set up a meeting to go over their plan and their backstory. Class had ben good, but Addison had struggled even more than usual to stay focused, her eyes kept trailing back to Zed's profile next to her. She spotted Bree reading from a textbook, sitting at their usual table, in the far corner of the room. She smiled to the barista; a tall girl that had been a year younger than her back in high school. The girl waved Addison off towards her table, already starting on her usual. Addison's smile widened; she'd have to give her a little extra tip today.

"Hey Bree!" Addison startled her friend, sliding in her chair.
"Addie! Did you finally decide what you're going to do over break?" Bree asked, in her usual upbeat chatter.
"Yes." She answered, sighing dreamily.
"Oh my cheer! Spill, girl!"

Before Addison could open her mouth, a latte and a sandwich were placed in front of her. Addison's stomach growled loudly, causing a faint dusting of pink to color her cheeks. She had been so distracted by Zed in class that she'd forgotten to eat her pastry. When Zed had eyed four times in five minutes, she'd just pushed it towards him with a smile, assuring her she wasn't hungry. The memory made her cheeks deepen in colour. Addison shook her head, willing her train of thoughts away. She thanked the barista and turned back to Bree who was eyeing her with curiosity.

"Whatever this is, it's going to be soooo good. So you better spill!"
"I got myself a boyfriend?" Addison almost covered her ears at the loud squeal that came out of her best friend, but she knew she had to set her friend straight. "It's not for real, Bree."
"What?" Bree bemoaned.
"I was telling Zed I wished I didn't have to go alone, that I had a date. He offered to be my boyfriend… but like fake boyfriend."
"Wait, Zed… As in star of the football team, Zed?"
"I…"
"Addie, he's a zombie? What do you even know about him."
"Hey! He's my friend… I think? He's in my morning class. We've been talking most of the semester! You don't know him. So what if he's a zombie? Ill have you know he's the nicest boy around here. And you've never had problems with zombies before…" Addison argued, crossing her arms over her chest.

Bree frowned, looking at her best friend with curiosity again. Her mouth fell opened as things locked in place in her head, like puzzle pieces.

"He's the reason you've been so happy." She whispered in realization.
"Bree… I…" Addison couldn't find the words.
"He is, isn't he!?" Bree gushed. "I've been wondering why you took the whole Warner thing so well! Now you're dating him?"
"Bree…"
"Good for you!"

Addison looked at her friend in surprise.

"Don't look at me like that. You deserve the best, Addie! If he makes you happy, he's good in my book. You seriously need a good boyfriend."
"He is pretty amazing!" Addison admitted, smiling foolishly.
"You like like him. You like like a zombie! Your parents are going to freak!" Bree laughed.
"I…" Addison thought about denying it, but Bree was her best friend and she fiercely wanted to tell someone. "I do like like Zed. But Bree, it's all an act. He's doing me a favour, he doesn't feel the same…"
"Oh Addie! I don't want you to get your heart broken!"
"It's going to happen anyway, might as well indulged myself, no?"

Bree grabbed Addison's hand over the table. They shared a soft look before Addison's stomach interrupted their moment.

"Alright, eat your food and tell me all about lover boy!"

Addison beamed at her. She couldn't remember the last time they'd had a boy talk, but she had so much to say. In between bites and sips, she told Bree all about how exceptional Zed was.

AZAZAZ

Zed left the lecture and headed back to the apartment he shared with Eliza and Bonzo. When zombies had first been admitted in college, administrators had assured humans it was all safe and that they'd taken all the necessary safety measures. One of those safety measures had been converting an old apartment building in zombie-only dorms. Zombies could share classes with humans, but God forbid they would share dorm buildings so zombies had to get their own. The silver lining had been that they didn't care enough about any of them to forbit co-ed dorms. It had suited Zed and his friends just fine. While they were allowing zombies in most dorms now, they had chosen to keep their apartment even though it was on the edge of campus. Not only was it cheaper, they were mostly left-alone and that still suited the three of them just fine.

Zed stumbled inside his apartment, dropping his bag haphazardly near the door. Eliza was sitting on their old yet surprisingly comfortable couch, typing away on her laptop squinting at the screen and not wearing the glasses Zed knew she definitely needed but hid in her bedside table. Zed let himself fall on the couch and draped himself over it.

"Eliza!"
"Whatever you want, the answer is no!" She retorted, not even looking up from her work.
"Oh come on, E! It's such an amazing day today!" He stretched to poke her in the ribs.

His words more than the poking got her to turn her attention to him.

"You're being weird." She narrowed her eyes at her best friend. "Weirder than usual."
"I got a date!"

Eliza raised a single eyebrow, prompting him to continue.

"Well kind of"
"How can you kind of have a date, Zed?"
"Addison's family sucks and I offered to be her boyfriend for the holidays." He rushed out, avoiding her eyes.
"So let me get this straight –" Eliza started incredulously, "– there's this cheerleader you like. And you don't just like Miss Pompoms, no! You've been crushing on her for two years. I have heard more about her than I heard about Beatriz – whom you were dating I should add – and your dumb ass thought it was a good idea to offer – not agree, but fucking offer – to be her pretend boyfriend for the holidays."
"Well –"
"Are you out of your zombie mind, Zed?! In what fucked-up universe could this ever end well? She's going to break your heart!"
"This is my chance, Eliza! I can do this! I'll woo her, you'll see!" Zed pleaded.
"She's a cheerleader, a human one and you're a zombie. Think about it Zed, she couldn't handle this town's Seabrookness when her only difference was white hair, how do you think she can handle dating a zombie?" Eliza argued, her computer long forgotten as she started pacing their living room.
"You don't know her! She's a good person, E. I swear. I just think this could be something." Zed lowered his head in defeat, making Eliza sigh mournfully.
"Shit Zed." Eliza sat back down, dropping herself right next to him, not caring about his personal space. "We've been friends since we were in diapers; you're my best friend. I don't want to see you hurt."
"I know, but I have to do this. Trust me? You can always say you told me so when this blows up in my face."
"If. Not when." Eliza objected. "You're doing this, so you better put all your puppy-dog optimism behind it. If it blows up in your face, I'll get you drunk and then I'll say I told you so."
"So you think I have a chance?" Zed grinned like a fool at Eliza from where he'd dropped his head on her shoulder.
"Get off of me you big goof!"

Eliza pushed him away, grabbing her computer and locking herself in her room. Zed's grin was still firmly in place; whatever she said or how she acted, Zed knew she thought he had a chance. Eliza was nothing if not brutally honest, sarcasm notwithstanding. She'd talked him out of numerous stupid plans and tried to do the same for at least twice as many. She thought he could date Addison for real. The thought made him giddy. He shifted on the couch to make himself comfortable despite his tall frame when his phone went off. Zed stretched to grab it and answered, not bothering to check the caller ID. As he heard his dad's voice on the other end of the line, he regretted it.

Don't get him wrong; he loved his dad, he really did. His dad was a worrier, he'd always been; nothing anyone could do about it. The only person who'd ever come close was his mother and she'd been dead for more years than he'd had her. It didn't hurt as much as it used to, but he still missed her fiercely. His father had already started on his usual rant. For almost two years now, he'd been telling Zed how much he needed someone in his life other than his friends. His parents had met when they were 18 years old, soulmates to hear them talk. Zevon's love for his wife was rivalled only by his love for his children. He'd been telling Zed and his sister Zoey stories their entire lives and Zed ached to find someone to love that way. Zevon had liked Beatriz well enough, but he'd known from their first meeting she wasn't the one for his son. He had told Zed as much as soon as they'd been alone. In retrospect, the fact that Zed hadn't found it insulting in the least bit should have been a dead giveaway; but it had taken him another 3 months to break things up. There was something about Addison though. Something unknown that he couldn't explained but that pointed to her being the one.

He didn't know what was up with his mouth that day, but once again the words tumbled out of his mouth before he could process them.

"Dad, just stop! I have a girlfriend."

Zed almost face-palmed himself.

"You do? Well, why haven't you said so before, son! I can't wait to meet her." His father sounded so happy; Zed almost felt bad for lying to him.
"Yeah about that… I agreed to spend the holidays with her. I'll check with her, but I'll probably miss Christmas Eve or Christmas night, maybe even both…"

The news seemed to stun his father for a minute, but he rapidly recovered.

"Wow! Must be pretty serious then, son. You know we could always host one of those nights. I mean I do know virtually everyone in Zombietown."
"Yeah. Well about that…" Zed trailed off.
"What again?" Zevon sighed in disbelief.
"She's human."

A dull thud came through the line and Zed deduced his father had dropped his phone. Once he came back, they talked a little more. Zed refused to be interrogated by his dad only telling him Addison's name and that they shared a class. Zevon argued that humans weren't always nice, welcoming or fair to zombies, but Zed wouldn't hear a word of it. Someway, somehow, their phone call ended with Zed somehow promising to bring Addison home over break. Zed was screwed. He'd barely hung up with his dad that he dialled Addison's number.

"Addison? It's Zed. We need to talk!"

Slightly shorter than the last one, but I had fun writing it. Sorry it's taking so long between chapters now. I'm back in school and while I'm the one assigning the homework now, it seems I always have something to plan or to grade nowadays. Hope you liked this chapter, let me know what you think in the comments!