A Boy and a Zombie

Problems

Riley POV

'This is so unfair.' I thought. "Ry!" Zed called behind me, "Last night, I wanted to help when the zombie patrol arrived, but I was just, I was afraid.", "Bae, it's not your fault." I told him, making him look relieved. "My parents won't let me near technology until they meet you." I informed him. Zed knows how big of a computer nerd I am. "Great! So, I'll just win them over with my quick wit and charming smile." Zed said, confidently.

"No. Not great. They don't know you're a zombie." I said, "And they hate zombies.". "Yeah. I'm so sorry." I said, "I'm sorry for making things difficult for you." He said, "Zed, you've done nothing wrong. You really think your making things difficult? My life was already difficult cause people couldn't handle the fact I have a skin issue." I said, holding back tears.

"Don't let people get to you, Ry. I'll be with you no matter what." Zed said, giving me a reassuring smile, "You know what? If my family can't accept zombies cause their different. That must mean they can't accept me either." I said, "Woah, that might be taking it a little too far? Plus, doesn't your dad also have Vitiligo?" Zed said, "Yeah, you're right." I said, realizing how stupid the sentence I said was.

~~~

"I can't do this anymore, there's something you need to know." I told my parents, "Okay." Mom said, "Now we're getting somewhere." Then we all heard a knock at the door and my parents walked over to go open it. "Woah, wait, you do not wanna open that." I said, "Where are your manners?" Mom said, "Don't be ridiculous." Dad added.

"Okay, fine. Open it. Yes, my date to the homecoming game is...", "Handsome." Mom interrupted, 'What?' I thought, I went to go look for myself and saw Zed standing there looking like a human.

'Eh, I like him better as a zombie.' I told myself, "You look-", "Dashing!", 'Wow, mom is in an interrupting mood today.'. Zed handed my mom some flowers and make small talk with my dad. "We're gonna go to the Homecoming game." I said, walking past them, "Nice meeting you." Zed said, before we walked off. "How did you, Y'know?" I said, "I adjusted my Z-Band." Zed replied. "I can feel the energy coursing through my bones right now. It's awesome!". "Hey, we still got time before the game. I owe you a real date. We did kinda move fast." Zed said, I laughed knowing what he was referring to, "Sounds great, Babe." I said.

~~~

I was in the dressing room helping Addie, "Take your pom-poms out there today, Bree." Addie said, "But I'm not a starter." Bree replied. "Who says? It's time things changed around here." I added.

I sat down on the bleachers, next to Eliza and Bonzo once more, as the two teams got ready. They started playing and Zed got tackled down almost immediately. 'Oof, I hope he's alright.'. After a few more games the score was Mighty Shrimp: 32 and Eels: 37. I ran down to go see Zed, "Hey." I said, "You okay?", "Yeah." He responded, "Almost there. I do this and we win.", I looked around to make sure no one was looking and gave him a peck on the lips, "Good luck. We'll all be cheering for you." I said.

I walked back up the bleachers and sat back down, "Give me a Zom!" Addie cheered, the crowd did as she said, "Give me a bie!", "Bie!" We all repeated. Bucky came up to her and it looked like he tried to stop her. Addie pushed him away and cheered, "Give me a Zom!, "Zom!", "Give me a Bie!, "Bie!", "What does that spell?", "Zombie!", "What does that spell?" She repeated. "ZOMBIE!".

After that I could barely hear what Bucky yelled at her, but I swear he said, "You're off the team you freak!". 'What a dick.' I thought, all of the sudden Bree started to cheer too, "Go, Zombies! Go, Zed!". Bucky then said, I'm assuming, the same thing to her. After the crowd was done cheering, Addie and Bree came up on the bleachers with us. "Hey guys." Addie said, "O-oh, hi Addison." Eliza said, nervously, I patted the seat next to me for Addie to sit down, making her be right next to Eliza. 'I'm such a good wingman.' I thought to myself, smugly.

Zed managed to get the win, however something was off. "Hey, Liza. Is Zed okay?" I asked, "I-I don't know, our Z-Bands are acting up." She answered. We all watched as Zed seemed to zombie out again. "Shit!" I uttered, all of us run down the bleachers as the Z-Alarm went off. Then Bonzo and Eliza also zombied out as well, before Eliza fully zombied out she said, "Focus on Zed, Riles.".

I told Addie and Bree to run to safety, while I ran in the opposite direction to look for Zed. I spotted him going behind the bleachers, and darted after him. I caught up and realized he was pursuing Bucky. 'As much as I want him to eat Bucky, it'll just make things worse.' I thought, "Zed!" I yelled out, He looked at me and instantly seemed a bit calmer. I approached him slowly, "You're gonna be okay, Babe." I said, he growled softly and walked towards me as well.

"You're gonna be okay." I repeated, placing a hand on his cheek. His Z-Band beeped and it looked like he was returning back to normal Zed. I gave him a kiss and he came back to his senses. I couldn't care less that Bucky saw the whole ordeal, I just wanted Zed to be okay.

Suddenly, a police officer came from behind us and put Zed in handcuffs, "No, no, no. Why are you taking him?" I said to him. I ran after him as he placed Zed into the back of a police van. Two more officers placed Eliza and Bonzo into the back of the van, too. "You can't do this! These are my friends!" I said. "We don't have human friends." Eliza said.

I turned around and saw my parents, "Listen, you don-" I started before mom cut me off. "You don't have to explain anything, honey.", "Go get your man." Dad said. "Thank you, oh and dad. Never say that again." I said, before running towards the van. "Zed, please." I said, "Ry, I'm sorry. Maybe they're right. Maybe we shouldn't be together." He responded.

"What? No! No, don't say that!" I said, trying to stop them. Addie suddenly came up from behind me. "I can't believe the ACEYs would do something like this." She said. I should've fucking known it was them. I had better things to worry about right now, though.

"Hey! You did this to him!" I said to the crowd, "All of you. He was your monster." "You made him feel like he had to risk his life to belong!" Addie joined in, "All because you couldn't handle someone different.". "But you had no problem using him to win your stupid game!" I said.

Then Addie did something that not even I expected, she took off her wig revealing her white hair to the crowd. I guess she was trying to prove a point, but the crowed didn't care and just continued on booing.