Bonzo grumbled in Zombie.
"I know my car's a tight squeeze, but it's a short ride!" Zed ducked into the driver seat, "Guys night starts in three…two…"
Bonzo assumed a cannonball position and shut the door, "ZONE!" He tapped his phone to launch their playlist as his best friend zoomed out of the Seabrook High senior parking lot.
"Hey man, thanks for being cool with us inviting A-lan. I know it was like an us thing, then we brought in Wyatt, now A-lan."
"M-more…the merrier?" He grinned, proud of his newly acquired English colloquialisms.
Guy night always started with a Z-mart run, for snacks, discount movies, or maybe even a new game if they had extra cash on hand.
"Dude, I've been saving up for Monster-slayer three."
"Zowie! Wanna play…but Eliza says…stereotype zombies."
"Yeah, I know. We get the lecture every time a new one comes out. Who knows? She may be right. But I fucking love that blaster, ok?"
Bonzo nodded excitedly.
"Oh yeah! Eliza! You excited for her to visit for Founders day weekend?"
"Yeah, but with Bonzo sometimes…Wyatt mostly."
"Figures…Is it weird hanging out with him knowing he's TOTALLY hooking up with your sister-er-step sister?"
He shrugged, "Not bad guy…Eliza can handle…"
The boys bopped into the store, list in hand: sour worms, hot chips, freezer pizzas, and Monster Slayer 3. Zed wondered if he could get away with completing his other shopping list at the same time. Sneaking some nicer chocolates into the cart whilst in the candy section was easy enough.
As they pushed the cart back to the front of the store, they passed the home décor section.
"Shit! Candles!"
"What?"
"Uh," Zed dipped into the aisle, "Addison likes them! I should…get her some…"
Bonzo looked confused for a second, but shrugged, "Maybe candles for Bree too?"
"Yeah! Yeah! Why not?" He starting opening lids and sniffing. They traded, making faces and comments about the different smells: good, bad, and ugly. "This is kind of fun actually…is this what girls do in stores?" He settled on one that smelled like cologne, along with a little package of unscented ones.
His friend confidently grabbed a green jar, "Trees!"
Zed raised an eyebrow, somewhat confused, but also somewhat relieved that maybe his motives went over his head. What did he know? Maybe Bree wanted to get it on in the forest?
The last item on the list would be harder to get away with.
"Um, hey, I just need to grab a thing or two real quick. Meet you at check out?"
Easy enough, he slipped off by himself to the pharmacy section. As an immature middle school boy, he'd noticed the "family planning" aisle and laughed at it. A little older, and he was wondering when he would be in need of such products. A little older still, and here he was, browsing the boxes. Heating? Textured? Weird. They seemed to compete to see who could offer the "thinnest feel", advertising things like "barely there" and "feels like skin". That was supposed to be better, right? But then what about sizes? How did a man buying condoms for the first time know what size he needed? Average maybe? For the first time, he regretted not taking the free condoms from the bowl in the health classroom.
Bonzo passed by the aisle.
Quickly, Zed grabbed a box and dodged into the next aisle, wondering if he'd been seen.
His friend looked around before ducking into the aisle himself and landing at the same section, seemingly having the same dilemma. He debated whether to say anything, and finally decided to join him.
"Well, uh, I guess we were looking for the same stuff, huh?" Zed sheepishly waved his box.
Bonzo had blushed at first, but quickly calmed down, "Too many…options."
"Ok right?! So it's not just me! I mean how do you even know what size?"
He shrugged and grabbed a brand notorious for larger sizes.
"Haha, very funny dude."
He wasn't laughing.
"…there's NO way-"
"I'll prove it-"
"No-nope-nevermind! I trust you dude…just…jeez."
Zed meant to ask no further questions, but his curiosity got the best of him on their way to the self-checkout.
"So like…Is this a planned thing or are you guys going with the flow?"
Bonzo scanned his share of the items without flinching, "Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?! Shit, man! Congrats? I think?"
"Breeska tours college. I go with her. College pays for hotel."
"A hotel?" Zed took the next kiosk for himself, "Damn…that's really nice…Maybe I should do something else…"
"You have plans?"
"Yeah, Founders Day- dad and Zoey are scout camping after the parade. So I'll have the house to myself that night. Addison told her mom she's staying with Eliza but really-ow!" Bonzo turned whiter than usual and punched Zed's arm. "Fuck!"
"We're live at Z-mart," The peppy news caster announced, "With Mayor Wells, who's launching a new economic initiative to bring more Seabrook business to Zombietown."
"Good afternoon!" Missy chimed into the microphone, "Zombietown has a plethora of businesses ready to service the needs of Seabrook citizens, as well as provide some unique products of their own."
"Shit, Bonzo, what am I supposed to say, hi MAYOR, what do I buy at Z-mart? Condoms, to use on your daughter."
"In."
"What?"
"Not on, in-"
"Whatever! Hold the bags!"
As the women and camera crews entered the store, the reporter locked eyes with him, "And if it isn't Seabrook's own football star!"
Zed had hoped they could sneak out the back, but once the hope was dashed, he put on his best smile and stepped into the shot, "Sh-hey! Nice to see you both again!"
The Mayor smiled, but he could tell her eye twitched a little, "Mr. Necrodopolis...always a pleasure."
"Oh, you two see each other often?"
The opportunity was there, and he went for it, "Yes we do! See, I happen to be in a relationship with the Mayor's very own daughter. Isn't that right?"
Anger flashed through her eyes, but only for a moment, "That's right."
"I'm so grateful to get to be around such a progressive family. Mayor Wells is really a trailblazer in zombie acceptance."
She then took her opportunity, "It is an honor to serve as a representative for both species."
"Now Zed, do tell, what does Seabrook's favorite zombie look for at Z-mart?" The reported pryed.
He laughed nervously, "Just junk food and the latest violent video games! Good evening Seabrook!"
Taking his leave, he ran to catch up with Bonzo, who'd already made it around them and through the sliding doors.
"Was it weird? The doctor I mean." Addison asked as she and Bree rode down the mall escalator.
"Not like I thought it would be tbh. She didn't make me undress or anything just to talk about birth control- which apparently isn't even effective for like a month anyway- which is fine because Bonzo said he'd get...protection- so yeah, all is well. Thanks for coming with me today!" Bree had a habit of bleeding once sentence into the next.
"You know I love a good mall trip." She sipped her coffee anxiously, waiting for the right moment to tell her friend about her new plans. She'd shared some about their last date night, but not the conclusion they'd come to.
The girls were on a mission. Down the hall and around the corner, they approached the pink facade. Pop music thumped loudly from the inside, and the smell of perfume was so strong, one might be afraid of inhaling the glitter of the body spray itself.
"So what are you looking for? Like a set or pjs or..."
Bree giggled as she picked up a leather bodysuit.
"Oh, ok!"
"Lol, Addison, I'm just kidding." She put it back and skipped over to a mannequin, "I love all the little teddies and stuff, but I'm on a budget. If I'm going to splurge, it should at least be something I could wear regularly. So, yeah, probably just a really cute set."
"Yeah, that makes sense." Addison started digging around in the panty bin, "Sign says there's a sale." She picked up a pair with a heart cut out of the butt, "Is this sexy? I feel like it's just not...functional?"
"Dang it girl! I was gonna get that one," Bree cracked sarcastically.
When their laughs faded, they explored in silence for a few minutes.
"Um...hey Bree..."
"Yeah?"
Addison took a deep breath, "I think I might look for stuff too..."
"Duh! We could even mix and match to get the good sale!"
She sighed, "I mean...yeah! But like...I might also NEED stuff...sexy stuff..."
Her friend oo-ed, "Like, for when the time comes for you two?" Her eyebrows bumped.
"Yeah! Yeah..." She spotted a white cropped corset, lace, with matching panties. "This is really pretty..."
"It's pretty! But it also looks pretty uncomfortable. How are you going to wear it under clothes?"
"Well...I might not...I could go change into it..."
"In the fifteen minutes it takes a parent to run to the store? I don't know."
"What if...what if we weren't dependent on 'a parent running to the store'? I hate the idea of having a magical moment together, and then him just taking me home like I'm some random hook-up. I want us to cuddle, go to sleep, make pancakes the next morning, I don't know...I know it sounds cheesy but-"
"Love isn't cheesy, Addie, although that scenario...sounds like a fantasy. I don't know if or when you'll get that much time alone, you know. Your mom's..."
"Crazy?"
"I was gonna say protective, but yeah, crazy works. There's no way she's going to let you have a sleepover with Zed."
"No...but she already agreed to let me have a sleepover with Eliza...for Founder's day weekend when she's in town...I'll stay with her Friday...then Saturday...go to Zed's."
"And Zed's dad?"
"Will be camping with Zoey and the scouts."
Bree squealed, "Oh my God! You just might actually get your wish! Buy it, buy it, BUY IT! Wait, wait...this is a BIG step."
"I know."
"Do you think you're ready?"
Addie picked up the lingerie with a sheepish smile and tossed it in her basket, "As ready as I'll ever be!"
The buzzer sounded and sportscaster announced another win for the Seabrook shrimp. Football players, fans, and cheerleaders alike erupted into uproarious applause. While the team swarmed on each other, Zed tossed off his helmet and ran for Addison, who squealed a variety of congratulations to him as he carried her bridal style back into the tunnel.
Somehow, they were the only ones in the locker room. When he put her down, she immediately stood on her tip-toes to kiss him- fast and harsh. Before he could wrap his arms around her she skipped a few steps ahead of him and pulled off the top of her uniform.
"What are you-"
"Catch me," She winked as she tore off down the rows of lockers.
"Addie!" He ran to catch up, but she was already gone. From the next row of lockers, a small, white skirt flew over and landed on his head. He was starting to like where this was going and began kicking off his cleats and socks.
Her giggles echoed from somewhere further down the hall. When he thought he'd found her, she sling-shot her pink sports bra in his direction. "Gotta be faster…" She taunted as he lost her again in the maze.
He tore off his jersey and threw his pads onto a random bench, "Addie?"
"Come find me…"
A shower turned on in the distance. Another couple steps ahead, a pair of lacy, white panties laid on the tile. His pants joined them as he went down to just his jock-strap.
"Found me," Addison taunted as Zed rounded the corner. She yanked out her ponytail and shook her hair seductively. With a sly smile, she moved under the water.
He gulped, watching the droplets roll over every curve of her beautiful body. Joining her, he dropped the jock.
"I don't want to wait anymore, Zed." She ran her fingers down his chest, "I want you NOW."
Without hesitation, he picked her up by her waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. His hands switched to under her thighs, holding her up, before swiftly lowering her down onto him. He plunged into her with one movement, causing her to cry out and grip him tighter. They worked together: him thrusting up while she pushed herself down. He felt like a god. She wanted him- hell- she NEEDED him. Their chorus of grunts and moans echoed through the locker room. It was almost too easy, perfect even. Their speed increased, as did they volume of their voices.
"Fuck me! Ah-Zed!" She shook violently, and he struggled to hold her as he growled and emptied himself into her.
"Good morning starshine..."
"What?! Huh?!" Zed shot upright, nearly yanking the sheets off his bed.
"The sky says helloooooooo." His phone continued to sing from his 'good morning' alarm playlist.
Confused, he ran his hand through his hair, and struggled to catch his breath. Was it a dream? He shifted under the covers, feeling the sticky mess around his crotch, already beginning to dry.
"Ah, fuck me!" He jumped up to start getting ready for school, "Guess today starts with laundry."