Well, perhaps there could be a plot where a new student arrives at school who seems to be interested in Zach. This makes Bella jealous and she starts to act out in strange ways. Zach is confused by Bella's behavior until he realizes that Bella has feelings for him. Then, they have to navigate their new - found feelings while still dealing with the pressures of the football team and school life.
A possible plot is that Bella and Zach are paired up for a school project that has nothing to do with football. At first, they struggle to get along because they are so used to their football - related dynamic. But as they dig deeper into the project, they discover new things about each other. For example, they find out they both love a certain type of music. This new - found knowledge brings them closer and they start to develop feelings for each other outside of the football context.
One plot idea could be that Bella and Zach get into an argument over a football strategy, but then they realize they both have the same goal and end up working together better than ever. Another could be a situation where Zach gets injured and Bella has to step up to help him both in his recovery and on the football field. Maybe they also go on a double date with their friends and some comical misunderstandings occur during the date.
One popular story could be about Zach and Bella's first encounter on the Bulldogs' field. Maybe it details how they initially clashed due to different ideas about the game but then gradually developed a mutual respect.
One idea could be that Bella and Hunter get into an argument over a football strategy, but then realize they both have the same goal of winning the big game and end up working together better than ever. Another could be a situation where they accidentally get locked in the school gym overnight and have to rely on each other to get out and also face their feelings for each other during that time. Or perhaps they both enter a local talent show separately and then decide to team up at the last minute to create an amazing performance.
Archive of Our Own (AO3) is also a great place to look. It has a large collection of fanfiction, and you can search specifically for 'Bella and the Bulldogs Zach and Bella' stories. The site has a good tagging system which makes it easier to find the type of story you're interested in.
In fanfiction, their relationship might start to develop when they have to face a common enemy. Let's say there's a rival football team that tries to play dirty against them. Bella and Zach would need to rely on each other's strengths, Zach's physical skills on the field and Bella's strategic thinking. As they work together to overcome this threat, they start to respect and like each other more. This respect could then turn into deeper feelings as they spend more time together off the field too, like studying together for school or just hanging out with friends. They might start to notice little things about each other that they find endearing, like the way Zach always ties his shoelaces in a double knot before a game or how Bella bites her lip when she's thinking really hard about a play. And slowly but surely, their relationship would grow from just being teammates to something more special.
Some fanfictions might take a more creative turn. They could introduce elements like a mystery within the Bulldogs' world. Maybe something is going wrong with the team's performance and Bella is on a quest to figure out what it is. Or perhaps it's a love - triangle - like situation where Bella is caught between two characters associated with the Bulldogs, which adds an interesting layer of drama to the story.
Another fanfiction idea could be that Bella gets an opportunity to play against a rival team from her past. This team used to bully her or underestimate her, and now she has a chance to prove them wrong. It would be full of drama and exciting football action.
One great fanfiction could be about Bella and Troy's adventures outside of the normal Bulldog events. Maybe they go on a road trip together and face various challenges along the way.
Often, Bella's injury can add drama. It can make the readers worry about her future in the team. If she's the star player, the team might struggle without her on the field at first. This can create suspense as to whether she'll recover in time for important games.
One common theme is friendship. Their relationship often starts as a friendship that then develops into something more. They support each other through school and sports, which is a big part of the fanfiction.
One idea could be that Bella is a new nurse in the hospital and she discovers a secret patient who has a mysterious illness. She then teams up with a brilliant but reclusive doctor to try and solve the mystery.