Orthodontics in the Zombie Apocalypse

7. Family Reunion (1/2)

I've had a relatively strained relationship with my dad for as long as I can remember. He was never mean or hurtful; he just wasn't around all that often after the divorce, and I can't say he was all that checked-in even when we lived together. My parents split just over four years ago. It needed to happen. Quite frankly, I think I was more ready for their divorce than they were, solely because I could see that it wasn't working, even as they tried to convince themselves that everything was fine and stitch up the gaping holes in the very fabric of their relationship. Those were the best four years of my life. My mom was an extremely gullible woman, so her overwhelming enthusiasm to be a part of my life--contrary to my dad--was no big issue. I told her I was meeting with friends to study when really we were going to a party, and she bought the lie without a second thought. My dad would have known I was lying before the words left my mouth. He would have grounded me for a month--not that he would actually bother to check that I was biding my time. That said, I never dreamed of him becoming a zombie! We've had our share of family drama, but I'm certainly not looking forward to leaving him physically impaired.

I see Mikah glance my way, but he doesn't get involved. I think he realizes that this is one zombie I need to handle on my own. A better friend would have just killed my dad and saved me from needing to do it myself. But, then, I don't have Mikah around to be my friend. He's just literally the last boy on Earth, and my guide to a certified orthodontist.

My dad's deep blue eyes stare me down, unfocused and glazed over with a yellowish hue. He emits another moan and charges.

I dive out of the way and swing the pipe at his back as he stumbles past.

He's a very wiry man. Tall, and almost sickly thin with dark, curling hair covering most of his body, visible on his forearms as he sprawls on the pavement, stretching the length of an average car. He pulls himself up to one knobby knee, dazed but not enough to disorient him entirely. On his feet again, he towers over me like I am a sandwich just before lunchtime.

My lips press together into a thin, disapproving line. "It's really not fair," I complain, twirling the awkwardly-shaped pipe in my hands, almost dropping it. "The only time in my life that I can remember you paying attention to me, it's because you want to eat me!" I shake my head. He's not my father anymore, so I have no qualms about beating him to zombie pulp.

I run at him as he emits a loud, detached, "Mmmeorrg." His head is my piñata before he can utter another incoherent word.

Mikah stares at me as I finish hitting my father with the pipe until he is far beyond the ability of twitching. Angel and Mikah have collectively incapacitated the other zombies enough that we can now outrun them--however they managed that.

"You don't look sorry," he comments, swiping a piece of entrails off my cheek.

"Should I?" I search the ocean in his eyes, the waves calmed to almost a single blue. The depth in the color is evident; it appears to be one color now, but when he shifts into the light his eyes explode with hundreds of various blues.

He's calm in an unsettling way. Or is he shocked? By his response, I gather that he's more shocked than anything. He is likely freaking out inside. Not calm, then.

"Didn't you say that was your dad?"

I shrug. "So? He's not my dad anymore. I haven't seen that man in months, and even then it's been more like years since he checked in to my life."

"You hardly even hesitated."

"I hit my mom with my car this morning," I add shamelessly. There's an air of proudness hidden in the words.

He shakes his head. "She was a zombie, right?"

One of my eyebrows pops up. "Of course she was a zombie. What kind of lunatic do you think I am?" I cast my father's quivering remains a sidelong look. "Besides, she was going to make me late for my orthodontist appointment."

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A/N

Welcome back to zombie-killing season!

No matter who they were before--mother, father, sister, brother, cousin--if they get between Piper and her chance of getting her braces off, they are dead! Hopefully this only pertains to those already undead.

Thank you for reading this far into Orthodontics in the Zombie Apocalypse! (I like to abbreviate it as OZA.) Leave a comment and/or vote and you will forever be in Piper's good graces. Otherwise...

I'm just kidding! I appreciate the ability to spread my own, twisted sense of humor, whether that means I am recognized for it or you (maybe) chuckle and move on.