Addison's heart dropped as her brain processed Zed's words.

We need to talk.

She had been delighted to see his name pop up on her screen. Addison already missed him only a few hours later. She'd had to fight the urge to giggle mindlessly as she answered his call. Before she could speak, he had uttered these words to her.

We need to talk.

Those four little words in that specific order were usually the preamble to a profoundly serious conversation, usually the end of a relationship. Though Addison knew there wasn't any real relationship between her and Zed, nervosity had been gaining increasingly more space in her brain. She couldn't exactly remember what she'd replied to him, but she had suggested they met at the coffee shop that same night. She knew she couldn't wait, not knowing would surely kill her. All the same, she had fought an internal battle with herself at her choice of meeting spot. The coffee shop held a special place for her and part of her was uncertain that it was the best place for the heartache she was going to endure. However, the biggest part of her thought that if she had to be dumped by a fake-boyfriend, she wanted to have her favourite pastries around to cheer her up. Zed had agreed immediately, asking her if she was free two hours from then.

Which brought her back here, her hands wrapped around a ceramic mug, enjoying the warmth seeping through it from her hot chocolate. She debated sitting at her usual table, not wanting to push her luck, but the sense of familiarity and security it provided had won. Her seat also gave her a perfect sightline to the door. Although the little bell installed over the door usually brought Addison comfort and left her with a smile on her face, today it only caused her heart to quicken as she glanced over to see if it was Zed arriving. When he finally walked in, her breath caught in her throat. It hit her that once again, there was no turning back where Zed was concerned. She was completely and utterly under his spell.

Addison watched as he looked around the room, a nervous smile appearing on his lips as he spotted her and made his way to her. He shrugged his coat off and sat opposite of her, noting the cup in front of him. He raised an eyebrow in question.

"Hot chocolate. I try and limit my caffeine intake in the afternoon. Figured I would grab you one too."

She didn't know why she felt the need to share personal details with him, but she always did.

"Thanks. For the drink and for meeting me short-noticed." Zed drew a deep breath, bracing himself for what came next. "Look Addison, about the dating thing –"
"Don't worry about it, Zed. I told you, you could back out at any time. It was a long shot anyway!" She sighed, resigned to spend the holidays alone.
"Wait, what?" Zed was confused. "Who said anything about backing out?"
"You're not? But you said we needed to talk!" Addison argued.
"Shit! I'm sorry, Addison. I said I'd do it, I wouldn't just leave you hanging."
"Then what did you want to talk about?"
"It's embarrassing!" Zed admitted, bringing his hand to rub the back of his neck.
"More embarrassing than needing a date because I'm too different from the rest of my family?" Addison countered, rolling her eyes.
"Different kind of embarrassing."

Addison didn't say anything, sensing Zed needed to gather himself. They sipped their hot chocolate in a strangely comfortable silence. Addison watched Zed. He was running his fingers around the rim of his mug. She couldn't help but remember the feeling of his slender fingers laced through hers. His skin had been cooler than hers, but in a comforting way. She longed for that feeling again. Addison knew her cheeks were pinking up and couldn't help but be relieved that Zed eyes were firmly stuck on his mug.

"My parents were the stuff of stories. I… They were… it's kind of a zombie thing. Basically, they were soulmates." Zed's eye lifted from his mug, roaming over Addison's face before looking up at the ceiling. "I… It's a big thing. Even for zombies"

Zed took a deep breath and faced Addison.

"The thing is, my dad… My dad he wants that for me. He's been on me for ages to find someone. He's been pretty insistent actually… Like even when I was still with my ex. He called me earlier and he was going on and on and on. He wouldn't stop or listen to me. So, I kinda told him I had a girlfriend. It just slipped out and now he wants to meet you and I'm so sorry."

Before Addison could help herself, she snorted loudly, devolving in a fit of giggles. Zed looked so insulted that she snorted a second time, trying to compose herself.

"I'm sorry, Zed. It's just… Here I thought you didn't want to help me anymore, but you just need me to be your pretend girlfriend too."
"Oh! I guess that's true."

Their eyes met, sending both of them in a fit of uncontrollable laughter. It took several minutes before they both calmed down.

"You know you snort, right?" Zed teased.
"Don't remind me! My mom has been trying to break me out of it." Addison blushed brightly.
"I think it's adorable." Zed admitted.
"Oh!" Addison had never met anyone who thought it was cute. She hurriedly changed the subject. "So, it's a deal, then? You help me out with my family, and I'll help you out with yours?"
"It's a deal!"

They exchanged beaming grins then spent the next three hours talking about nothing and everything all at once. They talked about music, books, movies, classes, football and cheerleading but somehow both stayed cleared from broaching the subject of family. They did agree to keep their backstory simple: she's a cheerleader, he's on the football team can they make it any more obvious? They'd seen each other on the field and by sheer coincidence had shared a class this semester. They were friends and now they were more. End of the story.

AZAZAZ

In hindsight, maybe they should have talked about their families a little more.

The way Addison wrote and organized her notes in class, Zed is not exactly surprised to learn that she inherited it from her family. What did surprised him is the holiday schedule that she forwarded to him 3 days before the end of the semester; right before she apologized about it being last minute. Not that Zed knew anyone who had a literal schedule table of their holiday plans, but Addison told him it was the norm in her family.

Of course, Eliza's teasing had reached new highs after he let it slip that Addison had gone over the eight pages-long document shared by her family into a single table; Zed could admit to himself that maybe Addison was right about her family being out of this world. However, it thankfully looks like most of the items on Addison's list didn't involve her entire family. They had crossed off a few gatherings out of their schedules – partly so they could spend time with Zed's family and partly because Addison said they'd need a break of her family.

Zed studied himself in the mirror. He needed to get going or he was going to be late meeting Addison.

Showtime.

AZAZAZ

Early morning on the first Saturday back, Addison found herself wide awake. Today was the day. She was going to introduce Zed as her boyfriend to her parents. As much as she dreaded the fallout that was sure to befall her at the end of the day, above all she was excited. She was going to spend most of her day with Zed, the zombie – guy? – she really liked; not only that but he had promised to run interference with her family. The only thing that could have made her day better was to actually date him, but that was wishful thinking.

Addison hadn't warned her parents that she'd invited someone along for the day; she refused to put up with their questioning and lamenting any earlier than she must. She had enough of that on her phone calls with her mom. Twice a week since Thanksgiving, she'd had to listen to her mother beg her to get back with Warner. It got old fast. Hopefully, Zed would be able to hold his own against her parents; not that she wouldn't intervene if needed be. She just had a feeling Zed wouldn't let her no bad they got.

Zed and Addison had agreed to meet at her house. He'd text her once he'd arrived, she'd meet him outside and they'd face her parents together. Together. There she went again with the wishful thinking. After laying in bed for another two hours, Addison finally got up and started getting ready. Walking downstairs to grab a quick breakfast, she ignored her mother's pursed lips as she pointedly looked at her hair. They were not rehashing this conversation today. While they ate, she offhandedly mentioned taking a walk around the neighbourhood before starting on their full day. She figured she might as well get rid of her nervosity before Zed got here. She'd just put on her coat when her phone chimed with a new notification. This was it. Zed was here.

Showtime.

AZAZAZ

While Zed had his driver's license, he didn't own a car. Only about half of the families in Zombietown owned one. Seeing as zombies couldn't drive – let alone buy a car – before five years ago, it wasn't all that surprising. It did mean that Zed had to walk all the way from Zombietown to Addison's house in the swankiest part of Seabrook. He'd gotten more and more suspicious looks as he grew nearer to his destination, and he had to resist the urge to hunch forward and make himself unassuming. He had nothing to feel guilty about; he'd been invited by Addison, not that it should have mattered because zombies were allowed to go wherever they pleased, but people were prejudiced assholes.

He slowed down as he got to Addison's street, counting down the street numbers to the one he was looking for. As he texted her to let her know he'd arrived, he noticed the Zombie-patrol car parked in front of her house. He tried not to let it bother him, but habits are tough to break. Movement caught his eye and Zed turned his attention back to the house. Of course, this wasn't Zombietown and doors didn't creak the way he was used to, which he found unnerving; did everything in Seabrook need to be perfect and pretty and so damn quiet?

This foul mood didn't get to settle through Zed because Addison was crossing the doorway, waving and beaming at him.

"Hey Zed!" She said, feeling out of breath even though she had only walked a few feet.
"Hey Addison! You got tired of your car and decided to get yourself a Z-Patrol car?" He joked.
"I mean I could get out of any speeding tickets with it!" She played along. "In all seriousness though, it's my dad's; he's been driving it off-shift while his car is at the garage."
"Hold up! You never said anything about your dad working for Z-Patrol." Zed said, his heart skipping a beat.

Zed chewed his bottom lip worrying in worry. A Z-Patrol officer for a father could mean complications for Zed, maybe he should have asked more questions before he offered. After all, he didn't want to get arrested. Zed shook his head minutely. Who was he trying to fool? He would have done it anyway.

Addison looked at Zed, watching the confusion on his face. She swore she could see the gears turning inside his head. She didn't understand his surprise. How could he have not known her father was in Z-Patrol? Everyone knew who her parents were. The thought made Addison's breath hitch in her throat. Could it be?

"Zed?" She began cautiously. "Zed, what's my last name?"

Zed was taken off guard by the question.

"Shit! I guess I should have asked before, huh. Your boyfriend should know your last name. So?"

Addison felt her heart racing. He didn't know. Of course he didn't know; he would never had agreed if he'd known. He was going to back out of their deal for sure now! It was all her fault. She braced herself for rejection, but she had to be honest with him; it's not like he wouldn't know once he stepped inside.

"Wells, my last name is Wells."

She observed Zed, knowing the exact moment the dots connected in his mind. His eyes widened comically, his mouth dropped open and he looked at her in disbelief.

"As in Chief Wells, head of Zombie-patrol and Mayor Wells? Those Wells?"

Addison was incapable of meeting his eyes as she nodded sheepishly. Zed sighed in frustration. No wonder Addison didn't want to be alone. He's parents were the paragon of Seabrook's ideals: perfect marriages, perfect jobs, perfect home… and then there was Addison. Zed couldn't imagine what it could have been like growing up on their house while being different. Zed hadn't had it easy, sure, but he'd always known that his family loved and cherished him. Not despite his differences, but because they were what made him Zed. He knew his decision was still the same it had been that day in class, the same as it was two minutes ago. He was going to do this, consequences – many and scary, let's be honest – be damned.

"Fucking hell, Addie!" The nickname tumbled out of his mouth without meaning to. "Way to blindside a guy."
"I'm so sorry. I thought you knew." Addison sniffled, her eyes still fixed on the tip of her shoes and shame still burning bright in her chest.

Zed sighed, he was going to make her cry. He ran his hand through his hair, irritated by his own behaviour. That's the last thing he wanted to do. He sighed again, but this time he took the couple steps that put him right in her personal space. This girl did things to him. Zed feared he wouldn't ever be able to tell her no. He grabbed her hand gently.

"It's alright, Addie. I'm sorry too. I could have asked. I probably should have asked your last name… so we're both to blame. I… I'm also sorry for swearing at you… But I'm okay now. Let's do this… I mean, if you still want me to be here?" Zed rambled; though in terms of rambles, it was, thankfully, quite a short one.
"I do! I really do!" Addison looked up and couldn't stop the words from coming out, even though they caused her cheeks to flame again.
"The daughter of the chief and the mayor, huh. Any more unexpected family members I should worry about?"
"No! I promise there's not going to be anymore surprises! Well not any that I'm aware of."
"Alright then. If there's any more surprises, we'll handle them together."

Zed squeezed Addison's hand as he grinned at her, hoping that she'd understand the promise hidden in his light-hearted words. He took in the bright pink on her cheeks, basking in the warmth that filled him whenever he noticed she was particularly adorable.

Addison squeezed back, losing herself in Zed's expressive warm brown eyes. His words filled her with hope that she wouldn't be alone anymore. It felt like a promise. She knew she was taking it as such because of her crush on Zed, but she couldn't help herself.

They would have stayed there for a long time, gazing in each other's eyes, if not for the voice that resonated in the street.

"Addison!? Is everything okay?"

Addison and Zed jumped back, both startled as they hadn't heard the door opened. They turned to face a man in a smart three-pieces grey suit. Zed recognized him as the chief of Zombie-patrol instantly. He'd never had to do with the man personally, but every zombie in Zombietown – big or small – knew the man. He almost never made the trip to Zombietown, obviously preferring his cushy corner office downtown to the run-down streets of Zed's neighbourhood; his presence was thus reserved for terrible events like arrests or containments. He took a deep breath, refusing to let himself be scared of the man. He offered his hand to Addison with a smirk. She grabbed it with a determination she didn't know she had, she felt anything was possible as long as Zed was by her side.

"Showtime?" She asked.
"Showtime!" He confirmed.

I know it's taking me longer between every chapter but I do hope you enjoyed this one. I got stuck on so many different parts I thought I would never finish it. I'm pretty happy with the end result though.

As always, let me know what you thought! Reviews and kudos are the best dopamine high ever!