Zed crams his textbooks into his locker, huffing at the haphazard stacking method that would probably bite him in the butt on Monday. He didn't care. He was so sick of school.

He had a test in four of his six classes, most of which he was sure he failed. And his health teacher was definitely out to get him, calling on him for every question when he knew Zed didn't know the answer. He was slouched in the back, why would Mr. Brocket think he was paying attention? And of course, his last period—French, of all classes—he'd had a surprise verbal quiz which he definitely bombed.

The only upside is that today, he can head to the football field right after school ends, get in some preseason training. Darius, the sophomore who was training to be quarterback, was going to go out with him and they'd get in some unsanctioned training.

"Hey Zombie." Zed jumps, his books nearly toppling out. He spots Wyatt in the corner of his eye, leaning against the locker beside him and smirking.

"Hey," Zed breathes. "Scared me."

Wyatt chuckles. "I can tell." Zed huffs, going back to trying to force his locker closed. "You need help there, bro?"

"Um, yes," Zed mumbles.

Wyatt ducks between Zed's arms, pushing against the books. They've done this dance before—though usually it's Zed helping one of the wolves out—and Zed slips his arms out and starts pushing the locker door. Wyatt pulls his hands back just as it clicks closed, both of them letting out a sigh of relief.

"Thank Z," Zed mutters. The metal rattles as the poorly stacked books fall onto it. Zed jumps while Wyatt barks out a laugh.

"You good bro?"

Zed stares, an eyebrow raised because they both knew it was obvious he was pissed. Wyatt just shakes his head. "You don't wanna talk, do you?"

"Not really," Zed says. He starts walking down the hall, heading to Addison's locker in the East Hall. It's only a minute long walk and Wyatt follows along blindly. "Bad day," Zed continues. "But at least I can play some ball."

Wyatt nods. "Football right? That's like, your thing, yeah?"

"Yes sir."

Wyatt chuckles, for no apparent reason. Zed can't help but glare. Wyatt's joy was not appreciated. Not at a time like this, when pretty much everything was awful. The only thing that could make him feel slightly better was…well Addison.

Wyatt and Zed round the corner, and there she is, talking with Eliza by her locker, gorgeous white hair braided down her back with little zombie beads and barrettes sticking throughout it. He knew he shouldn't rely on his girlfriend as his only source of comfort on bad days, but he couldn't help it. Addison made his heart flutter, his whole body relax. Because if he was with her, everything just felt better.

Wyatt clicks his tongue and Zed looks down to him, raising an eyebrow. "You're worse than a lovesick werewolf," Wyatt explains.

"Why are you even hanging out with me?" Zed asks. Last he knew, the wolves didn't like zombies and zombies didn't like wolves. They may not hate each other, and some of them fit together a lot more than others, but it was a pretty accurate general statement. "I thought you and your pack hated me."

Wyatt makes a face—one both disgusted and unsure. "It's...debatable." Ouch. "You aren't too bad, Zombie."

Zed nods slowly. "Right," he draws out.

He would be much more offended if Addison hadn't turned around, grinning. "Zed!" she exclaims.

He can't help but grin too, her energy instantly changing his, all for the better. He takes the three steps to her, wrapping his arms around her middle and nuzzling his nose into her neck, drinking her in. He hadn't seen her since third period, where they both got written up for talking, even though Mr. Malek hadn't passed out the tests yet. Addison had taken her detention quietly. Zed did not. Which was why he spent his lunch serving detention and would be spending the next three lunches in the same place.

"Hi," he mumbles against her skin. "I missed you."

Addison giggles. "I missed you too, Z."

Zed briefly remembers his friend, who had just been talking to Addison, and lifts his head. "Hey Eliza," he greets.

Eliza rolls her eyes, and it irritates him a little. But in the end, he brushes it off, holding Addison tighter and chuckling.

"I can't believe I'm a second thought to you," Eliza grumbles. "Me! Your best friend!"

Zed and Addison both chuckle. "Sorry Eliza," Addison says. She pauses, and both zombies stare at her expectantly. Addison frowns and Zed lets her go, standing up to watch her. She smiles sheepishly and says, "Uh, I forgot what we were talking about."

Eliza groans but Zed laughs. He can tell she's pouting, an adorable pout like always. He really loves her.

That's when he notices that Wyatt is nowhere to be found. His smile falls; he kind of liked talking to him. Well, he didn't, but he did. It was a love-hate relationship between the zombie and the werewolf. They had started to get along well since Prawn two weeks ago. Mostly for the sake of their mutual friend/girlfriend (respectively), Addison.

Before he can dwell on it for too long, Eliza yanks him into her and Addison's deep discussion on how she's going to get the history teacher fired for his completely unfair and rigged test that day. And he forgets about Wyatt, at least for the moment.

Zed leaves Addison at the gym, where she's running some cheer clinics for the new cheerleaders. He doesn't quite understand the details, but she's very happy about the task, which makes him happy.

He heads over to the football field, dropping his stuff in the locker room and changing quickly into some shorts and a tank top. He grabs the mesh bag filled with old footballs from Coach's office and heads out, even taking the liberty to run a couple of laps around the field before setting up at the west endzone. He's about to unload the bag and pick out a good firm ball when his Z-Band buzzes.

DARIUS: Hey Z can't make it out today

DARIUS: Failed my history test and my parents grounded me

Zed drops the bag, muttering, "Damnit."

There went his plans for the day. The one thing he had been looking forward to, ruined by the same thing that made it awful to begin with. He can't help but growl, a rumbling sound deep in his throat. "Shit," he mumbles, squatting in the grass. He scrubs a hand over his face. He hated school, he hated being tested on things he didn't know and struggling for so long, so hard, for nothing. All he wanted was to do was relax and play football after a long, hard day.

"Yo Zed!" Zed lifts his eyes, frowning at the three sets of boots, dark leather and steel copper toes, three people he didn't want to see right now. He stands, giving the three wolves the stink eye. Willa's got an annoying smirk on her face and continues speaking, "Is there a reason you're pouting in the grass?"

"Not pouting," he grumbles. He grabs the mesh bag and hauls it over his shoulders. "I was just going home."

"Aw." He glares at Willa, who doesn't even care, a teasing, mocking smile on her face. Her brother is standing next to her, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes on Willa, smirking lightly. Wynter's on Willa's other side, her elbow rested on Willa's shoulder. They look like an elite squad, which irritates him more. "Something the matter?" Willa teases.

Zed smiles pointedly. "Nope," he says. "Why are you even on the football field?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Willa teases.

But Wynter says, at about the same time, "The woods back there are a short cut to the den!"

Both Willa and Wyatt groan, though Wyatt's is much more amused and entertained. Zed watches boredly. "Wynter!" Willa groans.

Wynter grimaces. "Sorry! Bad wolf!"

Zed nods, slowly. "As much as I'm loving...whatever this is—" He gestures to them, "I'm gonna go."

Wyatt frowns, his eyebrows going up. "Wait, I thought you were gonna 'do football' today?"

"You...remember?"

Willa rolls her eyes but Zed ignores her. He's much more concerned about what Wyatt said. They had talked earlier, sure, but it had barely been five minutes. It was oddly...touching, if he was being honest. He can't help but smile.

"Of course I remember, it hasn't even been an hour since we talked, Dude." Zed fights the urge to go 'aw'. Wyatt then turns to his sister and packmate. "You guys go on ahead." Zed grins. Was Wyatt doing what he thought he was doing?"

"What? Why?" Willa asks.

"Zed's gonna teach me to play football."

Both Willa and Wynter pause for a moment, their faces twisted in what looked like confusion. It's a kind of funny look, one that Zed has to force himself not to laugh at. Mostly because he's terrified of them (more so Willa than Wynter, but still). Then they both ask, completely taken aback, "He is?"

Wyatt grins and Zed can't help but do the same. Who would have thought that Wyatt of all people was the thing to turn his day around? Certainly not Zed.

"Yeah," Wyatt says to his sister. He looks at them and shrugs. "Should be fun."

Willa scoffs. "Well I gotta see this."

Zed rolls his eyes. He squats again, tuning out the werewolves and searching for a couple of good footballs to play with. He may not have been getting in the type of practice he wanted—he would either have to teach Wyatt the basics or just get in a mild workout instead of running half plays—but it was better than nothing. And he could still have fun with it. Most zombies didn't know the rules as well as he did, but playing in the street with them was still fun. He was sure Wyatt could be fun too. Or hopeful.

Zed stands and Willa and Wynter are gone, walking over to the bleachers. Wyatt is watching him, his lips twisted in a frown. "What?" Zed asks.

"Nothing."

Zed nods. "Okay, well." He picks up a ball, gripping it in his hands. "I can throw and you catch?"

"Yeah." Wyatt starts to turn, then pauses and fixes Zed with a glare. What's worse is the slight glow to his moonstone. "If you tell me to fetch I will gut you," he growls.

Zed swallows, his mouth suddenly dry. He nods in response, afraid of how his voice will sound. Wyatt grins, a grin that looks kind of wicked, mixed with the fangs and the glowing moonstone—Zed's sure his eyes are yellow too—and it sends chills down Zed's spine.

"Let's, uh, get started?"

Addison climbs the metal steps, stopping once she's on the bleachers. Eliza had texted her, telling her to meet her at the field for some 'amazing surprise.' And she was not wrong.

Her boyfriend and Wyatt were down on the field, playing some modified version of catch, with Wynter playing as a 'defender.' It's a true sight, really. Zed laughs every time Wynter tackles Wyatt, who pops back up and curtseys each time.

Addison laughs. Wyatt rolls in the grass while Zed goes over to Wynter, and Addison takes the break to turn and look for Eliza, who's sitting in the middle with Willa. They're talking, huddled close together, and Addison refuses to interrupt. Something about the way they're sitting, their proximity and the smiles they share, tells her it's not her business to break it up. So instead, she heads back down the steps and to the field.

Wynter sees her first, bouncing excitedly, waving her arms around. "Hey Addison!" she calls.

Addison smiles, giving her an equally excited grin. Zed pulls Wyatt to his feet and they both look over at her, grinning. She skips over to them, joy bubbling in her chest. Something about Zed playing football with the wolves just made her day. She stops in front of them.

"Hey guys, what's up?"

Zed's teaching us football and it rocks!" Wynter squeals.

Addison giggles, raising an eyebrow at her boyfriend. Her very sweaty boyfriend. He was...a lot hotter after some time spent in the sun, working out, muscles glistening.

"Wynter's a natural," Zed says. "Can't say the same about Wyatt."

"Hey!"

Zed grins and Wynter starts teasing Wyatt. Addison eyes her boyfriend, catching his eye and slyly stepping to the side. He smirks and follows, the two of them stepping away from the wolves.

"You're hanging out with the wolves."

"They're cool," he says.

"For werewolves, right?" Addison teases.

Zed giggles, shaking his head. "Nah, they're just...cool." Zed shrugs. "It was just me and Wyatt at first, but then Eliza showed up and sent Wynter to come play."

"I'm glad you're having fun," she tells him. "Still wanna walk me home? I can wait."

"Yeah, give us like, twenty more minutes," he said.

"Kay." Addison steps closer, standing on her toes and leaning up. Zed takes the hint and leans down so she can press a kiss to his cheek.

Addison and Zed both straighten out. "I'll be your personal cheerleader," she says. "Mostly 'cause I don't think we should intrude on...whatever's going on up there." She nods to the bleachers and Zed glances over, nodding.

"Agreed." He gives her one last smile, then turns. Addison starts walking back to where the spare balls are, ready to watch the entertainment. Zed claps his hands together, walking to Wynter and Wyatt. "Alright, who wants to throw?"