Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 2: Discovering Her Roots

 The bus, driven by the mascot, wound through the expanses of trees. All of the cheerleaders, zombies and humans alike, were chattering over the upcoming school year. Bucky was loudly talking about his plans after he was school president to Lacey and Stacey in the front, Addison overhearing some of Bucky's plans to be 'anti-zombie.'

Bree was in the middle of one of her rambles when an excited gasp in the seat beside them interrupted her. "Yes!" Rhydian exclaimed.

Addison and Bree turned and saw Rhydian nodding his head as Maddy gave him a hug. "I just got asked to Prawn!" Rhydian exclaimed. Everybody on the bus cheered, Bucky and the Aceys looking back in disgust.

Addison and Bree both looked out the bus window. "I wish Zed would ask me to Prawn," Addison sighed. She thought of the Seabrook heritage of Prawn, a funny play on the traditional Prom with theirs being shrimp themed, and smiled.

"Well at least you know what's been going on with Zed ever since you got your shredded letters back. Bonzo won't even look at me."

Bree sighed as she turned and looked at Bonzo. He made eye contact with her for half a second, then quickly looked down. Addison looked back at Bree, patting her on the back. "It'll work out," she said, smiling.

She thought of Zed again, how he was likely saddened by her unfair radio silence, thanks to the Aceys. He likely thought she had forgotten about him, their amazing relationship shriveled into a sad version of itself.

She was thinking of what Zed's reaction would be when Bree tapped on her shoulder. "Look!" Bree exclaimed, pointing out the window.

Addison looked outside and saw a sign with her name on it. Bree began reading it. "Addison will you...go to the Prawn...with?"

Addison looked up and saw Zed standing on a ladder in the middle of the road, trying to screw a lightbulb into a giant light up arrow. "Zed!" She yelled. He looked up at the bus at that moment and let out a high pitched scream. They swerved to the side, swinging all over the road, holding onto the seats tightly. Addison looked out the window and saw Zed holding onto the bus with one hand. "Zed!" She yelled again. "Hi!" He yelled back. Zed put a hand on the window, lining it up with Addison's with a lovestruck look on his face. He seemed completely oblivious to his surroundings as he looked at her, just happy to see her after their long separation (one week). He lost grip on the bus, falling off and onto the road. He watched as the bus drove into the woods, running quickly after them.

Addison and the other cheerleaders screamed as they drove deeper and deeper into the woods, finally sliding to a stop. Bucky burst out of his seat and ran out the back emergency exit. "Nothing can happen to me, I'm way too important!" He yelled.

Addison stood. "Okay, everybody stay calm. Is anybody hurt?" Nobody seemed to respond to that, everybody was up and looking around.

Bree grinned from beside her. "Very future cheer captain of you."

Addison smiled, then realized Zed was still out there, likely hurt and on the road. "Zed!" She said again before running out to find him.

She ran deeper and deeper into the woods, watching it grow dimmer as the trees reached to the sky. She had lost her sense of direction soon after leaving the bus, just trying to get back to the road to find Zed, who would be sure to help them. She scraped her arm on a tree, the branch ripping her jacket, but she couldn't stop now. Addison's head began to pound as she ran, causing her to stop and steady herself against a tree. She took deep breaths as she struggled to stay focused on finding Zed. This could not happen to her right now.

A rustling noise came from off to her left. "Who's there?" she shouted.

She looked around as the rustling grew louder. "Zed?" She asked. Addison pushed off the tree, but her dizziness only increased. She held her hand to her head as she stumbled, fear filling her mind at the thought of being made helpless in an unfamiliar forest by one of her headaches. She looked around, seeing the huge rock at the edge of the small clearing, the trees thick and filled with bushes around her. The darkness of the woods crept in around her, made worse by her dizziness.