Little Miss Perfect (The Perfect Trilogy: Book One)

Changes

Eliza was gone before Casey could try and explain her side of the story in more detail. Part of her was angry, another part of her understood completely.

She had decided to eat lunch with Addison and Bree still not entirely cooled off from her confrontation with Bucky and still a little misty eyed from her conversation with Eliza. She was still thinking about the 'food for thought' she had offered her. "Hello students this is principal Lee as you may have heard allowed to eat in the cafeteria." There was a murmur of disapproval, "Ugh just deal with it."

As if on cue they all walked in with Zed, Bonzo and Eliza leading the pack. They walked all the way to the back by the trash cans, but they didn't look mad, more thrilled. Casey couldn't tear her eyes away from Eliza. She wanted to go over there and speak to her but the whole cafeteria including Bucky, who was at their roped off table with an empty seat next to him, would see. He already looked pretty peeved from the dent in their perfect reputation as many had started to stare at the empty seat.

"I just love the thought of flying through the air, oh my god oxygen is so overrated," Casey snapped a look at Bree in confusion just as Eliza turned to look at her. "As so is dirt, ugh. I hate doing the dishes, but I love soap. Isn't it weird," Bree looked at Addison who was looking away dreamily. "Addie? Are you okay Addie?" she waved a hand in front of her face.

Casey looked at her and followed her eyes to Zed who, along with Eliza, was watching Bonzo juggle apples, "my hearts racing and my palms are sweaty," she answered.

Bree gasped and put down her cupcake, "Oh no you have the flu."

Casey shook her head with a small smile, "No, she has a crush."

"It's Zed."

Bree spared a look at the zombie and turned back to them wide eyed, "Wait you like-like him? You can't like a Zombie? Wow."

She blinked back to reality, "that's bad, right? Really bad. My parents would so freak out," She looked between Bree and Casey. "Are we still friends?" She asked them. Casey, who had just miserably shoved an entire cupcake in her mouth raised an eyebrow. Bree answered first, "Hello I have your back no matter what. It's just I don't want anybody to break your heart," She looked back at Zed's table. "Or devour it." She turned back and saw Addison terrified expression, "B-but this is great, I mean. Look I swear on all that I hold dear, mostly glitter lip balm, I will tell nobody," she made a zipping lip motion.

Casey finally managed to swallow the cupcake and turned to Addison, "I love you Addie, we've been best friends since daycare why would I stop that now. Nothing's changed, Zed's just another boy I'll have to beat up if he hurts you. I won't tell anyone either."

She sighed, "Well, nothing's going to happen. He probably doesn't even remember my name."

"Addison!" He called from across the cafeteria and waved. The whole room paused, Eliza saw Casey's lips press into a thin line, her eyes widened and she gripped the sleeves of her oversized varsity jacket, or rather Bucky's varsity jacket, in her fists.

"Well, I can't be rude," she stood up with a smile ignoring Bree's pleas for her not to. She grabbed Casey's arm who was shaking her head holding on to her table in a death grip. She wanted someone to come with her. The older girl was glancing between Bucky and Eliza nervously. Addison eventually managed to pull her to her feet. She stood stiffly next to Addison with a scared look on her face. "Hi um, as they say in old Zombie tongue, gazar nady garzane garsick. I looked it up on the internet."

Casey stifled a giggle, "I'm pretty sure that's not right," she whispered seeing the amused looks on the Zombies faces and remembering her conversations with Eliza by the lake.