Zombies

Chapter 20

I find an empty room and slide down to the floor. I don't know what to think. My whole life I've been the odd one out of my family because I didn't want to cheer, I know no one would ever tell me but I knew they thought me lesser, maybe me being part alien makes sense that I was never like anyone else. But the difference between Addison and I was that I knew who I was, I knew I was a bit odd and that art was my passion, not cheer. Addison was always wondering who she was and now she finally knows, but now I don't know who I am. Everything is so confusing. My face is buried in my hands when I hear the door open and feel someone slide down next to me, I look over to see Zed looking at me worried "are you okay Harper?" he asks softly and tears prick at my eyes "no" I reply honestly and look away. He moves our position so that I'm sitting sideways against his chest before kissing my head and resting it in the nook of his neck, "talk to me, you know I'm here for you and I always will be" "soon? I just wanna stay like this for a while" I say grabbing his left hand and holding it in mine. We sat there holding each other for a couple of minutes before I told him everything I was thinking "oh Harper, it's going to be okay" "what if it's not, I'm an alien, things are gonna change I just know it" "well I'm here if things change well deal with it together" "what if were not always together, then I'm all alone" "you're not alone, I'm not going anywhere and you have your sister" "I don't think I do, she's all I've had, and now that she's found herself she'll leave, and what if you don't get into mountain college, I know you will because your you, but-" "I will get in, I promise you" "maybe I don't wanna be an alien, I can not be one right" "Harper-" "no, I know, you're right, it's who I am, I can't change that" "that's not what I was gonna say, but you think it so it must be true. And Harper, just because you're an alien, doesn't mean things are different, if you think about it you've always been an alien, you just didn't know. You're still the same amazing Harper, and I love you, alien or not".

Zed and I head back to the aliens and my sister. "Sorry... What did we miss?" I ask them "Addison does not possess our stardust spark, she is not truly one of us" "oh Addison I'm so sorry" "It's okay Harper, I guess it's your turn to try now," she says handing me the small disk "right, what do I have to do?" "Just try to lift it" A-li instructs. I concentrate on the disk in my hand and a small light surrounds me. "She's doing it" A-spen exclaims, the light goes away and the small disk falls back into my hand, "whoa," they all say "what?" I look down at myself to see that my outfit has turned into one of the alien's outfits, and my hair has turned blue. "Holy shit" "welcome to our family Harper" A-spen smiles.

Addison, Zed, and I beam back down to go home, Zed and I walk hand in hand while Addison is on my side. "Addison, are you alright? I know how much you wanted this" "yeah I'm fine" "Addi I'm your twin, I can tell when you're not okay" "the aliens won't accept me, I may be part alien but I'm still alone" "oh Addison, because of you no one in Seabrook has to feel alone, you made this a place for people to call home" "I'll still help the aliens find the map to their new home" she decides "good, and I'll be here to help you every step of the way" I say placing a hand on her shoulder.

Once we get to our house, Addison goes inside while Zed and I stay out the front for a bit. "Harper, I want you to know that it doesn't matter how far away we are from each other we will always be together" "you have no idea how happy I am to hear that, I never wanna let you go, I don't think I would survive," I say leaning into his chest as he kisses my forehead. "Your gonna ace your interview tomorrow, I can't wait to go to college with my handsome football star," I say and he laughs "I better, everyone's counting on me to be the first zombie to go to college" "you're not alone either Zed, now I have to figure out how I'm gonna hide this from my parents," I say gesturing to my hair and the little hexagons on my face, "don't hide it. It's hot," he says and I swear my face turns as red as a tomato "alright lover boy, but seriously my parents are gonna freak" "what about your brown wig? That could work, but Harper you don't have to hide it, you know that right" "yeah, yeah I know, it's just a lot" Zed then tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear and connects our lips for a soft kiss, "what was that for?" I asked flustered, "what? I can't kiss my beautiful alien girlfriend whom I love?" he says and I can't help but smile and kiss him again "I love you so much, it's getting late though, you should get some rest for your interview" "yeah your right, I'll see you tomorrow, bye love," he says and walks off blowing me kisses, I laugh at him, blow one back and he dramatically catches in and holds it to his heart before turning around and walking home, that's when I open the front door and walk inside with the biggest smile on my face.

Before going to bed that night I had gone to Addison's room and given her the alien disk, "keep practicing, I'm sure you have stardust in you, I can feel it" I say before hugging her and heading to bed.