Chapter Text
Zed’s floating free on the very edge of consciousness, chin against his hand, eyes closed, brain slowed way, waaaay down. You know the bustle of the cafeteria is actually kind of soothing when you let it fade into the background a bit. A soft buzzing hum that’s real comforting.
Something on his shoulder breaks through the calm, jolting him awake, half-jumping to his feet with a shout.
“I’m awake!” Not asleep. Nope. Completely awake. Across the entire cafeteria, every set of eyes is staring awkwardly at him. Maybe he was a little louder than necessary.
“Are you okay?” Addison is standing beside him, her hand on his shoulder having shocked him out his stupor. She’s in her cheer outfit, as she always is, her sparkling eyes brimming with concern as she looks at him.
“Absolutely.” The crooked grin settles on his face naturally, though it’s very obvious she’s not convinced. “Just catching a few extra zee’s before the game tonight.”
Tonight might well be the biggest of Zed’s football career. For the first time in years, The Mighty Shrimps are just one game away from going to the Football State Championships. They would have made it last year but after the ‘zombie incident’, the Shrimps were disqualified over safety concerns. The only thing currently standing in their way are the defending champions, the Roaring Racoons who’ve never lost a game to the Shrimps.
Coach has kind of been losing it. What started with 2 hours of practice twice-a-week has become 4 hours a day every day. It’s exhausting but it’s fine. With Zed on the team it should be an easy win; everybody says so. Everybody.
Coach; the Cheer Squad; the student president; the principal; Zed’s dad; Zoey; the Mayor; the lady who delivers the mail; the guy at the ice cream parlour; not to mention nearly every student that passes Zed in the corridor. It’s draining the entire team, but especially Zed.
Maybe it’s a zombie thing what with the restricted blood flow, but he’s been getting more pale these last few weeks; his eyes are more sunken, the dark veins beneath his skin linger longer, and the brain fog doesn’t like to shake away after he reactivates his z-band.
“Don’t push yourself.” Addison pins him with a firm glare. It’s not entirely an order, but it’s not not an order either. “I’m serious.”
“I’m fine.” Zed assures her as he steps forward, leaning down to gently bump his nose softly against hers, his lips curling into a soft smile. “I promise.”
Addison doesn’t seem convinced but doesn’t stop him, raising up on her toes to meet his nose. If she has doubts she doesn’t voice them, instead grabbing her lunch.
The ongoing success of the football team has kind of spun Bucky into a frenzy. There’s a pool among the zombies as to whether it’s fuelled by spite at Football outshining Cheer for once, or the fact that more games means more opportunities to show off in front of other schools.
Cheer practice has maxed out the amount of hours allowed for a student-led extra-curricular. After school, on the weekend, even during lunch break. Bucky had wanted the entire break but there was an intervention from the Principal about the necessity of consuming food in order to be able to perform Cheer so half the break it is.
Addison says bye to everyone, still eyeing up Zed as she walks away. The moment she’s out of earshot Eliza speaks up.
“Now do you believe me?”
“It’s fine.” Zed says dismissively, “Besides, Coach promised a week off starting tomorrow.”
“And humans always keep their promises.”
Eliza glares at him. She’s been getting on at him about overdoing it for weeks. Not just the risks of the z-band use but just overworking himself in general. She’s worrying over nothing. Zed’s got this.
“Trust me Eliza, there’s nothing to worry about.”