Perfectionism in Pink | A Zombies FanFiction

10

Josephine and Zed sat underneath the bleachers of the school even though the sky burned with streaks of fire as the sun kissed the earth goodnight. For Josephine, she had no one waiting for her and for Zed, the curfew was still a couple of hours away.

"So, your... friend-"

"Eliza."

"Eliza." Josephine corrected herself, rolling her eyes and fixing her crossed-legs to get more comfortable. "Hacked your Z-Bands and gave you super zombie strength... which you don't normally have?"

"Yep."

"...so then how come your fast and strong with the band working?"

Zed leant back on his hands with his legs stretched out and shrugged, trying to not let the compliment boost his ego too much. "I'm not."

"Bullshit." Josephine snapped out before widening her eyes and covering her mouth at the curse. "I'm so sorry!"

"You really think I care what you say?" Zed's eyebrow lifted up and his eyes rolled at the still horrified look on the human's face. "You've said some pretty anti-zombie and I'm still here."

"Why?"

"Because, I told you. I want to be friends. Every day is more progress so that I can show you and everyone else that humans and zombies aren't as different as we think." He was serious and passionate with his words which made Josephine uncomfortable because she still wasn't not anti-zombie. "Mark my words, Jett. You'll come to love the green eventually."

He said it so confidently that Josephine almost believed the zombie but all she could think of was the horrific face of the monster in the gym. She nodded slowly in response to Zed's passionate declaration.

"I-okay."

The rest of their conversation was light and mostly consisted of Josephine listening to Zed's stories of football, the other side of the fence, and human/zombie life. He seemed to tiptoe around his relationship with Addison, but all he did was confirm that there was something.

With the sky now covered in darkening shadows, Josephine and Zed parted ways with a small, awkward fist bump from Zed when she refused a hug.

Outside of the school, Josephine stared at her bike and frowned. Her cheerleading duffle was tied firmly to the back and her book bag was buckled on her as normal, her helmet teasing her in her hands.

She took one glance to the left, then to the right, behind her, in front of her, repeat. No one.

One foot on the left pedal, helmet on, deep breathe in. Kick off, right foot on pedal. Breathe out.

Pedal. Faster. Faster. Faster.

A huge grin plastered itself onto Josephine's cheeks as she went as fast as she could home on her bike for the first time. She didn't care if her skirt waved up too much or her hair became unruly, no one was watching her. And she couldn't find herself carrying if anyone was watching.

The wind was sharp, but felt like a familial hug caressing her cheeks and nose as if she was being welcomed home for the first time in years. The burning in her legs reminded her of young races with her brother down the sidewalk and back and she would win.

Home was too close, she mused as she pulled into the driveway her chest heaving and heart beating in the best of ways. She felt alive. Her conversation with Zed, not wearing make up, combined with the exhilarating bike ride had Josephine feeling like she was high.

But when she woke up the next day, Josephine sat at her vanity staring at the make up on her face.

Perfect again.