Perfectionism in Pink | A Zombies FanFiction

4

Josephine very obviously didn't think Zed would make it, yet she tried to be nice about it. The chances of him even getting on the field were slim to none, much less playing in a proper uniform.

"I don't think you want honesty."

"Why would I ask for it if I didn't want it?"

"The same reason my mom asks if she's getting fat and my dad says no, then goes out and buys her clothes one size larger so she doesn't have to do it herself."

"Do all humans lie a lot?"

Zed asked a very interesting question that Josephine hadn't thought about. Do all families hide behind a perfect facade or was it just hers? Perfect clothes, hair, lawns, homes... so different from the zombie before her.

"I don't know." She admitted quietly and a small silence fell between them.

"So, be honest with me from now on. I won't bite." Zed said with a smile and soft eyes, before his face grew into a tease. "Unless you keep begging me to eat your brain, then I can't help you there."

Josephine eyebrows furrowed and she chewed on her lip nervously as the thoughts she wanted to say whirled around in her brain. She could hear her mom now telling her to stop ruining her lips and say what she needed to say politely or else they'd fall off. She stopped and sighed.

"You're a zombie."

"...Really? I had no idea!" Zed replied with fake enthusiasm, looking at his skin and clothes as if he had just received the secret to the universe. Josephine rolled her eyes. "Wow, thanks Jose-"

"No, I mean that as in they aren't going to let a monster on the team. You're undeniably faster and stronger than the humans here, so you should make it on the team..." Zed perked up at that answer. Finally she wasn't acting so stuffy and unreal! "But, everyone's afraid of you. Why would they let someone who eats people on their team?"

"To be fair, I haven't ever eaten a human." Zed pointed out, thinking maybe that would persuade Josephine, but the brunette only shrugged in response. The zombie sighed, feeling a little deflated because now the small voice of doubt in his head had a big voice of doubt on the outside. "I'll never know if I don't try."

What was she supposed to say to that? Go get 'em tiger? You got this? I believe in you?

Zed was not going to make the football team today. He'll be lucky to get to try out even. Thankfully, Josephine didn't have to respond at all because Zed was already running off at the first note of the bell.

"See ya later, Josie!"

Her nose scrunched up in distaste at the nickname.

And then the past ten minutes hit her and Josephine felt like she was going to puke. Alone with a zombie? By cheer, she was blessed to not be dead! Josephine quickly decided to do anything but think about the pleasant conversation and how during her next block she totally didn't watch Zed the zombie out on the football field.

Josephine focused on geometry, not how skilled of a quarter back Zed would be if he wasn't a flesh-hungry monster. He really did have a strong arm and quick feet, impressive cognitive skills matched with an optimism of getting back up again with a smile when they intentionally tripped him, or targeted him, or shoved his face into the turf.

She really shouldn't be watching the try-outs or feeling bad for a zombie or mentally cheering him-

Geometry. Yes, angles and things like that. She was doing geometry. Josephine Jackson was copying down everything that was on the board because she was a near perfect student. It was Friday, weekend was almost here which meant two days of cheer practice, running, and hopefully weight lifting if she could break it in there.

Her parents found weight lifting not very lady-like, but after explaining in presentation form how a home gym could seriously benefit her cheering skills through muscle gain Josephine was able to convince them into buying some weights for her. And her brother.

It was mostly her brother backing her up on how cool it would be to have his own weights so he could get better at football that really drove the nail through.

But a win was a win.

At the end of the day, Josephine was more than ready to go home and have some peace before the chaos of the weekend. Her parents would be gone and she could have a few hours of gym time before working on the audition piece to appease her parents.

"Jett?"

Josephine turned around to face a familiar blonde and kicked herself mentally. She had forgotten about her outburst at Addison earlier after a certain green haired distraction. The brunette shoved down her pride - and words about honesty - to apologize to the girl.

"Oh my, Addison! I'm so so sorry about earlier, I-I guess I was just afraid and lashed out. I feel really bad about it."

"Don't worry about it, Jett. I was just coming to see if you were okay. You seemed pretty shaken up about it."

"Yeah." Josephine agreed through grit teeth. She was not shaken up she was perfectly fine. "Thanks for checking up on me. I'll see you at try outs, yeah?"

"Of course!" Her attitude was too bubbly, too preppy, annoyingly perfect for a cheerleader. Addison grinned over at her friend and waved goodbye as she headed home. "Practice hard! In a week, we'll be wearing matching uniforms!"

"You too! Rest well!"

Josephine secretly wished that Addison would break her ankle while practicing over the weekend. The brunette snorted and got on her bike. Yeah, like that'd stop Addison Wells from getting on the team. Once again she had to fight urge to speed down home with her bike wishing that she could peddle as fast as she could home.

When she got home, Josephine did her usual routine before jumping down to the gym in her workout clothes. In front of the full body mirror, Josephine stared at her body and sighed.

Her mom had been a dainty three inches over five feet since high school, making her the perfect size for a flyer. Her dad was the perfect wide receiver at a foot taller than her mom and when her brother hit puberty... he shot right up at four inches over six feet, towering over everyone.

So everyone had expected Josephine to take after her mom just like how her brother took after their dad. Sadly, that wasn't the case.

Josephine was above average in height for most girls her age. She was two inches away from six feet tall and was no stick. She took after her dad in almost every single physical way with his brunette hair, muscles, height, and running capability. The girl constantly felt like the worst girl ever.

Her mother still had this fantasy that Josephine would be a flier, but every year at camp she would be partnered with a boy as a base since they were closer to her in height. The small comments on next year will be your year and to watch Addison fly had been exhausting.

But her brother would always be there to get her stress out. He was the first one to take her out on a run, to the gym, and throw a ball at her. She started to fall in love with working out and building her muscles. Sadly, the people around her didn't think the same.

It was for the best. Her parents knew best. As long as Josephine Jackson listened to her mom and dad her life would always be perfect in pink and bows and pretty dresses.

And nothing, not even zombies, would keep her from perfection.