Perfectionism in Pink | A Zombies FanFiction

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"Hey, aren't you going to Zed's parade?" Josephine's parents were both staring at the girl still in her sweats at the counter. She slowly stirred the bowl of cereal in front of her. "Josie?"

Both parents were dressed and ready to go. Z-Patrol was going to be there in support of a pro zombie mission and her mom was going as a representative to the medical facility for all races. And Josephine... Josephine was struggling.

"Aren't you supposed to be helping with the award ceremony?" Jacqueline Jackson asked softly walking from the entrance to sit next to her kid. Her husband hurried pointed at his watch but she made a jerky motion over her throat and gestured to their only daughter. "Josephine?"

"I just..." the teen sighed as she set down her spoon and tried to find the words. "I can't... I can't."

"Sure you can!" Joseph encouraged as he grabbed his daughter by the shoulders and gave her a good shake. "One foot in front of the other, throw your jersey on!"

"You don't understand." Josephine shoved the hands off her and stood up. Her veins started to feel warm and she had to grit her teeth.

"Look, it's only a few hours." Her dad tried and she made the silent walk to the sink to clean her bowl. "Come on Josie, your teammate needs you!"

Josephine grabbed the brush and began scrubbing the bowl harshly enough that water flew onto the sides of the sink. The married couple took a moment to look at each other in confusion.

'Your turn." Joseph mouthed to his wife who looked offended. The man threw his arms up on exasperation. 'I tried!'

'What am I supposed to say?!'

'Girl advice?!'

'She plays football!'

"Doesn't mean I'm not a girl." Josephine interrupted dryly from the other side of the breakfast counter. Both parents jumped and her mom put a hand over her heart. "Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt the conversation about me behind my back."

"Look, Josie." Her mom sighed while taking her glasses off. "It's just... I- we can't understand if you don't explain what's going on, honey. Honestly, it's always been easier for me to talk to your brother."

Josephine tried not to let the words get to her. Really, she knew it wasn't an attack or insult or even a comparison. It was just a fact that her brother was always on a similar brain wave as their mother - look at the career he chose!

But... it still hurt.

As if she could hide herself, Josephine crossed her arms and shrunk backwards. Suddenly the photo frame of her parents was very interesting.

"Look, Josie." Her dad began again and she could tell he was trying to restrain the frustration he felt through his tight voice. He let out a slow breath and took a step to the counter with earnest eyes. "Let me level. Your teammate is in need and it's not just him. This could change the lives of so many people-" joseph stopped himself and looked at his wife. "Zombies? Uh?"

"Everyone." Jacqueline helped with a half smile and Joseph gestured to his wife.

"Everyone!"

"Everyone, huh?" Josephine repeated with a low breath before opening one of the drawers in the kitchen and grabbed the stack of opened letters. Angrily she threw them on the counter and some fell down on the floor.

Frantically she went throw the letters and with wide eyes read them off at random.

"Dear MISS Jackson, capitalized and in bold!" She threw the letter to her dad violently before grabbing up another and pointed at it with a smack.