Not painful, but strange and kinda awkward- Bree's description looped in Addison's head leading up to Founders Day.

That Friday night, she stayed at the Zambi residence while Eliza visited home, as Missy had been promised. It would explain why she wasn't at home overnight and why her car might be seen around Zombietown after hours. Bonzo was forced to evacuate to the Necrodopolis residence as girls took over his family home for a sleepover.

The Saturday morning of the parade, the cheerleaders were up at dawn, stretching and preparing. They would have to be warmed up, and in hair and makeup in time to welcome the children's cheerleading group that would be walking alongside them in the parade. Bucky, always on board with a good PR scheme, seemed unphased. The Laceys were agitated by the extra responsibility. Meanwhile, Addison and Bree were excited and honored to be in the position of the "cool older girls" they'd once looked up to as little girls themselves. They even made time to teach the smaller girls some warm-up routines and put giant bows in their hair.

As the football team wouldn't actually be playing that day, Zed didn't have to warm-up beforehand. Hair and makeup also being of no concern, he still beat the dawn. He had been brainstorming for an idea to make Addison feel special, and had landed on an idea that didn't stop their. Instead, he had a plan for the whole football team to show their appreciation to the cheer squad. After all, the girls cheered for them all year and they only returned the favor at the cheer championship. Maybe they deserved a little more.

Some of the boys borrowed the spirit van and helped Zed raid every doughnut shop in a ten miles radius. When the girls arrived at the gym, they were met by a breakfast and ballon display. A football heart symbol cheer banner hung over the table of pink and green sprinkled desserts.

"Two! Four! Six! Eight! Who do we appreciate?!" The chorus of male voices using one of their chants was comical, "CHEER!" Some of them jumped or waved pompoms.

As they mingled, Addison found her way to Zed, "Something tells me this was your idea."

"Maaaaaaybe," He gave her a quick peck, then wrapped his arm around her. "So...today's the day huh?"

"What?!"

"Founders day? The parade?"

"Right! That! Yeah..." She avoided his eye, her skin turning a deep pink.

He raised an eyebrow at first, then bit back a grin and kissed her temple.

The parade itself was magical. Addison and Zed felt like a princess and her prince atop a float, waving at the adoring Seabrook crowd.

Willa and Eliza had planned a protest of sorts, revolting against the supposed colonialist history of the holiday, but even they didn't cause much trouble.

By the time night fell, the teens were back in Zombie town for a good ol' zombie slam. Zed had even gotten Addison's bag from Eliza and Bonzo's shared car and into his trunk. Seeing the bag in his car made things real- he was really going to spend the night with the girl of his dreams. Bonzo must've noticed his happily zoned out expression, because he patted him on the back harshly.

"Ow what was that for?"

Bonzo bumped his eyebrows, then cackled something in zombie.

"Yeah, yeah, best thirty seconds of my life. Haha, you're fucking hilarious." Zed rolled his eyes and shoved his best friend as they headed into the party, where his friends immediately began a cruel game of keep-away.

Each of their buddies seemed to find a reason to keep Addison occupied, whether it be a song they HAD to dance to together or a snack she HAD to try. In all honesty, she was grateful for the distraction. Her anxiety began to rise, and had they not been already doing it, she may have tried to stall of her own volition. At one point, she peaked through a broken window to stare longingly at the glittering skyline of Seabrook proper in the distance. She felt a pang of homesickness and uncertainty, and part of her debated making some sort of excuse to head home instead.

Zed got antsy. Every time he thought he found Addison, she disappeared around another corner. Before pursuing her further, he caught himself, and shook his head at his own impatience. He was a romantic. He loved Addison. He was not some wayward teenage boy chasing whatever teenage girl was in front of him. She was the only teenage girl he was interested in- hell- she was the only person he felt really understood him. She had since day one. It inspired him to take it back to day one.

Suddenly, from her window seat, Addison heard the first few notes of a song- their song- one they'd made up together. She made her way back onto the dancefloor to find that most of the dancers had coupled off already for the slow song.

"I know it might be crazy, but did you hear the story?" The familiar voice called behind her.

She smiled and began to sing back, "I think I heard it vaguely." The homesickness faded away. Zed WAS home.

They leaned into each other, swaying and sweetly serenading one another until the song's end. For a moment, they stood still, staring into each others eyes as the song changed and the others returned to dancing.

Then she heard the whisper in her ear, "Let's get out of here." And her stomach dropped.

Zed drove with his hand on Addison's knee, per usual. This time, his driving was distracted, almost missing a familiar stop sign or two. When they finally got to the Necrodopolis residence, he took his dad's spot in the garage and grabbed her polka-dot pillow and cheer duffel from the trunk.

"Welcome," He playfully announced as they entered through the basement. "Glad to have graduated from down here for once, right?"

"For sure." In truth, she wasn't entirely sure. Previously the basement had felt full of frustration and limitation, but now it felt more comfortable. The upstairs felt intimidating. Even the main floor suddenly felt different.

He flipped on some lamps in the living room and shut the curtains, "I'll carry your stuff upstairs."

The suggestion made her mouth dry, "Cool, thanks. Um, can I grab some water really quick?"

"Yeah! Help yourself." He was grateful for the extra time, actually. Her pillow got tossed on the bed, recently upgraded to a queen, and her bag slide under the desk. After a deep, calming breath, he got to work lighting an array of tiny candles and arranging them on the nightstand, dresser, and desk. The one he'd picked with Bonzo made the whole room smell like cologne. Next, a towel got spread across the center of the bed, and some flower petals were sprinkled on the floor. He'd barely dropped the last one when the stairs creaked.

"Wow," Addie stood in the doorway, two water cups in hand.

"Addie! Hey!" Zed attempted to play it cool by leaning on the bedframe, despite clearly being out of breath.

"You did all this for me?" She'd only seen his room once before, and it was passing by on the way to Zoey's room to see a new bedspread she got last Christmas. Most of the items were some variety of dark green. With the lamp and candles, it had a warm glow. It felt homey.

"Of course...Addison, I...I want this to be special." He took the glasses from her, and put them on the nightstand, before turning back to her.

Addison hugged his waist, burying her face in his chest for a moment. His arms could envelop her completely. He pulled back enough to catch her chin and tilt it up to him for a kiss. She seemed to jump back.

"Oh! Special! Right! I have...something!" She jumped for her bag, "Um, bathroom's down the hall?"

"Yeah, last door." He was a bit confused. Had she been shaking when he hugged her?

"Perfect, thanks!" Quickly, she made her way down the hall and shut herself in the bathroom. While she made an effort to slow her quickening breath, she dove straight into the bag for her newly purchased lingerie. This time, it felt foreign in her hands. Regardless, she donned it: a white cropped corset and matching cheeky panties. Finally, she met her own eyes in the mirror, and was unable to decide whether she liked the outfit or whether she felt like a stripper.

"Breath Addison." She reminded herself. Her makeup got touched up while she stalled. Then, thinking about getting hot and sweaty dancing, she decided to splash herself off in the sink for freshness' sake. She fluffed her long, white curls in the mirror, grateful for what the wolves had taught her about styling. Out of other options, she reluctantly exited the safe zone and returned to the bedroom.

A creak in the hallway caught Zed's attention, just as he'd been debating how long it had been, "Wow...Addison..." His girlfriend appeared to him like a lacey, white angel.

"Tada...? I uh...I wanted it-this...to be special for you too...Is it too much or?"

"You look incredible..." He kissed her once before pulling his own shirt over his head. She immediately returned her mouth to his as he worked to undo and drop his pants. "Sorry," They were interrupted as he had to lean over and remove his socks too.

When he returned to being upright, and pulled her to him, she became aware of a warmth pressing against her belly button. Thanks to the foot-long height-difference, things didn't exactly line up. She realized that the height difference was greater than it used to be. As his hands almost encircled her whole waist, she realized that his hands were bigger than they used to be too. His shoulders were broader. His muscles were more pronounced. His body had more hair than it used to. Not only was he naked...he was a naked MAN now, far away from the scrawny kid she'd met freshman year.

Meanwhile, he'd recognized some changes in her too. Everything seemed fuller: her chest, her hips, her thighs, her ass. It emphasized the smallness of her waist in comparison. When he painstakingly unhooked the back of the corset, he recognized why she complained about having to layer two sports bras. He decided that whoever invented a top with MORE bra hooks than usual deserved to be punished. Once it fell to the floor, he picked her up under her thighs, wrapping her legs around his waist, and carried her to the bed.

Pressed together like that, she couldn't ignore how far up her abdomen he pressed. She began to panic, sure that there was no way he would fit in her entirely. Her eyes darted back and forth anxiously as he sucked on her neck. Gently, he laid her down, and continued kissing his way down her body. One finger looped around the hip of her panties and drug them down with him. Her eyes attempted to follow him, but got stuck on her own chest, as it thudded violently with each heartbeat.

"Zed, wait!"

Zed tried to fake a calmness in his voice, "Shhh, relax babe, not yet." He tossed her panties and eased her legs apart.

Addison flinched when she felt his breath and she nearly jumped off the bed when his tongue made contact with her, "What are you doing?"

"Like in the car? I...I just..." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "Some people say that it's...easier...for the girl...if...she- you know...before."

"Oh...I guess that makes sense." She laid back on bed again and tried to relax as he went back to work. Strangely, it didn't feel like it did the last time. Her body recognized pleasure, but her brain wasn't interested. Instead, she began counting how many times the pattern in the wallpaper repeated itself.

He employed his hand along with his mouth, inserting the first finger, following swiftly by the second. To test the waters, he tried a third-

"Ow!"

He sighed, understanding how difficult this was likely to be.

"I appreciate the trying, really, but I'd rather just...go on with it, you know. I think I'm just nervous."

"Addie- if you don't want-"

"I do!" She wasn't sure if she was trying to reassure him or herself.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

He nodded and moved to the nightstand drawer.

Laying there naked, she felt exposed with he opened the box of condoms and pulled out a packet. He climbed back up the bed to her, nestling his hips between her thighs. To her, it felt oddly formal.

"Are you sure?" He swallowed hard.

"Yes...?" She lied.

"We'll take it slow, ok?" His eyes tried to reassure her.

"Ok."

"Um...hold on..."

She braced herself on his shoulders as he attempted to enter her for the first time. Instead, he slipped away in the wrong direction. Realizing some extra help was needed, he used his hand to guide him.

"AH! Stop-take it out!"

Zed grimaced, "It's not even in."

She deflated in frustration, "Ok...try again I guess."

"Addie, I don't want to hurt you."

"Well...you kind of have to...this once...I think?"

He exhaled harshly, "I'm sorry in advance."

"It's ok-" She cut herself off with a gasp as he started to push his way in.

Feeling resistance, he groaned, shut his eyes, and forced himself forward until it gave.

"FUCK!" She grit her teeth and pounded the mattress with her fist. The burning sensation brought tears to her eyes.

He immediately pulled out, "Fuck! Addie, I am SO sorry." He rested his forehead against hers, "We can stop."

"Go again."

"What?"

"Go again."

With a deep breath, he moved forward again, clearing getting somewhere. Taking it slow, he struggled to make a few more strokes. It seemed like he slipped out each time. He didn't want her to see his frustration, much less his disappointment. Tonight was supposed to be magical: a romantic set-up, earth-shattering sex, and falling asleep cuddled in the afterglow. Instead: she was scared, he was nervous, they were both clueless, he'd hurt her, she didn't seem into it, and something mechanically seemed to be...off. With no prior experience, he definitely couldn't describe it. Moreover, he wouldn't want her to think anything was wrong with her.

She'd wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes squeezed shut. Tonight was supposed to be perfect, and all had gone to plan, other than getting in her own head. Despite loving Zed, and having practically begged for this in the car on the cliff, she psyched herself out when the time came. Now, trying, it didn't feel magical- it felt uncomfortable. Physically, it didn't even feel like he was going in all the way. She wondered if they were doing something wrong or if she was the world's most shallow woman. Hiding her own disappointment, she still wouldn't want to ruin his evening. She said nothing.

They knew each other too well, picking up on one another's uncertainty and discomfort. He removed himself again, having started to go soft anyway.

"Um...that was..." He rolled off of her, laying next to her and staring at the ceiling.

"We did it? I guess..."

"Yeah...for sure..."

"Uh...can I shower? Maybe we could get comfy-"

"Yeah! Cuddle...and watch a movie? Maybe?"

"Or that new episode of our show dropped-"

"Yeah! We can do that!"

"Cool..." She pulled herself to her feet, gently tugging the towel out from under him. Sheepishly, she covered herself with it as she limped away to the bathroom.

After a minute of processing, he also stood. He grabbed tissues from the desk to clean himself up and noticed a faint red streak.

"Oh God...Addie...I-" He leaned out the doorway into the hallway in time to hear the shower turn on.