Music de la Paranormal : Music of the Paranormal
Aura's Notes: This was, originally, going to be a Oneshot, but I didn't want to make it 10,000 words+ long. So, instead, this will be a short story. I don't own the song at the end, Rascal Flatts does. I might change the story name if I think of something better...
Anyways, I hope you enjoy Music de la Paranormal or Music of the Paranormal!
-Chapter 1- Where is the Heart?
It's been 6 years since Zim came to Earth and Dib was finishing up his Junior year of high school. His grades have caused him to skip ahead one or two grades and allowed him early access into high school, leaving Zim and his other classmates that he grew up with in Freshman year.
His life had been fairly busy; trying to stop an alien invasion wasn't the easiest thing to do. But somehow, he always tried to be optimistic about his future, even though it was like he's been bound to this fate… forever.
His sister kept supporting him and his actions from the shadows; so well hidden in fact that Dib barely knows that she does. His dad was a whole different story on the other hand. Under the pressure and stress of having an "insane son", he's tried many subtle times to get Dib to give up his "Para-Science". Dib's reason was always the same: "But Dad! This is me! This is who I am! If you take me away, what- no who will I be then?"
And Prof. Membrane's answer never changed, no matter how much it hurt his son: "I don't care."
Those harsh words always burned in the back of Dib's head. But, he was a strong-willed boy at 15-years old, 5'10", and 157.2 lbs. Sure he retained the same trench coat, unsmiling t-shirt, black jeans, and black boots, trend as he did when he was a kid, but that didn't mean he should be treated as a kid.
He lived a solitude life and high school only brought more struggles. None of his classmates liked him and called him "Emo" or "Psycho". "Goth-Kid" was probably the only thing he accepted, though "Crazy" worked too. Maybe because of his recent doctor's appointment deemed him "Medically Crazy" not insane, just crazy. This is just all proof of how his horrendous life has been… and the one day that changed it all…
Dib came home from school later than usual, books about popular ghost-hunting shows in his arms. His glasses were falling off, but he didn't have a hand to fix them due to the dozen books. Thankfully, their front door was unlocked and Dib made it in without too much trouble. Gaz was on the couch, her fingers tapping the buttons vigorously on her Game Slave III.
"Good afternoon Gaz." He smiled and set his books down on the table. "How was school?"
She paused her game and stared up at him. "Fine. I was going to ask you, but you seem to be happy so I assume it was-!"
"Fantastic!" he cried out in glee. "I got all A's again on my report card and I was asked to be in the school play!"
Gaz raised an eyebrow. "Really? I can't imagine a klutz like you can perform."
He rubbed the back of his head. "Well, actually, I was asked to clean up after rehearsals."
"That's more like it." Gaz resumed her game and ignored all existence of her brother. Dib smiled and went into the kitchen only to be awaited by his dad.
"Oh, hi Dad." Dib bit his lip and got an apple from the fridge.
He sat at the table, arms crossed and his foot tapping the floor lightly. "Hello, son, how was your day?" It was as if no real care were placed in his words.
"Great, but I know you're a busy man, so I won't keep you from your projects." He took a bite of hi apple and began to walk away, but his dad stopped him.
"Actually son, there's something I need to talk to you about. Can you come down to the lab with me, please?"
Dib rolled his eyes jokingly. "Sure thing."
Prof. Membrane led them down to the lab where Dib flinched as he looked around at the fancy machinery. He hasn't been down in the lab for years. Prof. Membrane stopped them in the middle of his lab and crossed his arms once more. At 6'5", he towered over his son and gave a fierce appearance.
"Look around, son, this is the Membrane Empire. But, like all people in this world, my time will come and this Empire will need another Membrane heir. I think you know where this is going. Son, this is the last time I'll tell you. No more of your "Para-Science"."
Dib clasped his hands together and pulled out the same plead. "But Dad! This is me! This is who I am! If you take me away, what- no who will I be then?"
And like always, his dad repeated the same hurtful words Dib can't stand. "I don't care."
"Why? Why don't you care who I am?" Dib yelled. "Why can't I be who I want to be? Why do I have to shape up and be who you want?"
"I made you for a reason. You're my clone for a reason. You weren't meant to stray from the path; you were made to succeed me."
Dib held back his tears. His dad really pulled out the trumph card this time. Yes, Dib was merely a clone of his father, already destined to be the next great scientist in the world. He was just a science experiment that walked among the rest of the population, their ignorance bliss.
"I allowed your studies when you were younger, hoping it would prepare you for your hard work in the future."
"But Dad," Dib furrowed his brow, "I'm not the best at science, if you get what I mean!"
"Don't lie to me. You come home will all A's on your science tests and your teachers write comments on how smart you are." Prof. Membrane smirked at the thought.
"You don't get it though! It's not me!" Dib knew this was his final plead.
"No longer, Dib, will I allow this. Paranormal Investigating is bannedin this house, and in your life, forever."
And that was it. Dib lost the sliver of joy in his life. He lost the thread of his humanity that he's been clinging onto for all his life. He lost Paranormal Investigating.
The rest of his night melted way into him staring at the ceiling in his room, no sleep, no freedom.
Morning came slower than ever and school passed without his usual care. Even the rehearsals, of which he's been so excited for, seemed dull and pointless. He just sat in the very back of the huge auditorium with his hand up to his chin, all the life sucked out of him. As the rehearsal ended, he didn't even notice the now empty stage. There was not a soul in the place.
He sighed, stood up, and made his way down to the stage. The director left him a note on where the cleaning supplies are and what he expects of him. Dib sighed once more and cleaned up the stage. Let's just say this play contains lots of sparkles and confetti.
Unknowingly, he was closer to the edge than he hoped and as he was finishing up moping, he stumbled over a large piece of furniture that made loud, heavy noises that rang out.
"Owwwww…" Dib rubbed his head and picked his glasses back up. "What did I hit…?" He drifted off as his gaze fell on the Grand Piano. It was clearly taken care of and polished recently; its black shiny cover gleamed.
"Um, I'm sorry!" No answer. He really was alone.
Dib picked himself back up and looked at the piano once more. Subconsciously, his finger slid onto one of the keys. The soft noise made Dib's eyes flicker. He tapped another key and another and another; an ongoing melody that strung together perfectly. Dib looked up at the sheet music for the musical and then he looked down at the same matching piano seat. He sat down and looked blankly around the auditorium, making sure no one else might have entered. All clear.
It didn't take Dib long to crack the code of the music and notes and soon he was playing a simple melody. But, what he didn't expect, is that he enjoyed it… he enjoyed playing the piano.
And a small smile, even for a moment, appeared on his face. For just a moment in time, his pain and depression disappeared.
That night, Dib tucked away to his room and spent his time on the computer researching about the piano and some simple steps and songs he can try.
Around dinner, his dad knocked on his bedroom door. "Son, dinner's ready!"
Dib's eyes darted to the door. He thought fast. "I'm busy looking up balanced equations! Just store the leftovers away and I'll eat later!"
Prof. Membrane remained silent, but because Dib couldn't see, a large smile came across his father's face.
He didn't like lying to his dad, but if he knew that he was straying even further from the "Real Science" path, his dad would ban playing the piano too. And this was something Dib wanted to keep, at least for now.
At school the next day, Dib paid more attention in his science classes than normal and when the rehearsals came, he was half-asleep once again in the back of the auditorium trying to appear invisible. Once the cast and crew left, that's when Dib quickly finished his cleaning duties and made his way over to the piano.
He unraveled the folded up sheet music he printed off last night from his coat pocket and set it on the stand. Dib's fingers gradually picked up the pace and within an hour, he was able to pick up the songs' speed perfectly.
"Did I bring any more music?" He shuffled around in his pocket for a few seconds before uncovering nothing. Instead, he decided to play around with the keys and make his own song. Dib began to hum out the pitch to himself as he touched the keys.
It was late when he came home for he caught his dad in the red beanbag chair by the door when he snuck in. Prof. Membrane raised an eyebrow.
"Care to tell me where you were and what you were doing out so late?" he questioned.
Dib balled up the sheet music behind his back, his hands shaking. "N-nothing. The rehearsal was running late and I had a lot to clean up." He quickly, with the music still hidden, ran up the stairs and slammed his door shut.
He breathed out a sigh of relief. "Thank God, that was a close one." Dib careful reopened the sheet music and set it on his desk, underneath other school papers.
His secret would be kept hidden, no matter what. He wasn't ready to lose something else important to him.
The school day went without much trouble although he did get a surprise visit from an old classmate: Zim.
"So, Earth-monkey, I haven't seen you around lately." Zim said nonchalantly at Dib's locker.
"I'm two grades higher than you, that's why." Dib quickly stuffed sheet music in his backpack.
Zim looked over Dib's shoulder. "What was that?"
Dib tried playing dumb. "What was what?"
"Don't act coy with me, Earth-stink; I know you're just itching to pull off my disguise in front of the whole school." Zim hissed.
Dib shrugged. "Not really." He shut and locked his locker. "Now if you excuse me, I have rehearsals to get to."
Zim cursed under his breath as Dib denied the chance of proof, though it was more of a taunt than it to actually happen. The Irken Invader aimed to get Dib back… back in time for his newest and by far most devilish plan. Death.
Back at the auditorium, Dib waited patiently until the musical rehearsal was over. His fingers were tapping the back of the chair in front of him, waiting for their cue on the piano. The director, much to Dib's thanks, cut rehearsal early due to the coming of severe storms. It was rather early in the school year, just mid-September in fact, so these storms weren't uncommon. Least of all did they scare Dib.
After completing his duties, he rooted himself to the piano and practiced the harder sheet music that he printed off. Though, within the first half-hour of practicing, thunder boomed from outside and echoed through the large auditorium. Dib kept pausing in his playing due to the lack of hearing his own work, but soon he had to stop all together the storm was so bad.
Cutting him losses, Dib packed up early and headed towards the exit. He made his way to the school entrance and he sighed.
Zim was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking out into the pouring rain that made visibility useless. Out of the corner of his eyes, Zim caught Dib walking over to him.
"Waiting for the storm to pass, Zim?" Dib asked nonchalantly.
Zim glared. "No, I'm enjoying the view."
Dib leaned against the wall across from Zim, one foot up against it, arms crossed, and his light brown eyes bearing into Zim's alien soul. "That's funny, Zim."
"Don't mock me, pitiful human. This is only a minor set-back in my plan."
Dib raised an eyebrow, but dropped it. "Well, whatever your plan is, good luck." Just as he said that, lightning flashed and lit up the whole hallway. The boys remained mere shadows in the light.
Zim narrowed his eyes. "Why, Dib? Why are you pretending not to care?"
Dib yawned and pulled out his cell phone to check the time. "That's the thing Zim, I really don't care."
Zim grit his teeth as Dib whistled his way outside, hood up, and walked home. Zim didn't like to be mocked or lied to, and this was no exception. He will get the filthy human to talk. One way or another.
Once home, the storm only seemed to get worse and they were even under a tornado warning. Dib didn't care. He simply snatched his laptop and stowed away to the basement lab, even though his father was also down there, working on a new project. Dib pulled up two tabs: One for chemistry, and the other was online piano lessons. Every time Prof. Membrane went over to his son to check up on him, Dib pulled up the chemistry tab.
"Ah, Endothermic and Exothermic reactions! Good starting choice, son! You're really getting the grip on this!" Prof. Membrane cheered. Dib gave a small smile and, as soon as his dad went to work, Dib pulled up the piano lesson.
Two weeks have passed since Dib first played the piano in the auditorium, and now he could play full songs. After his solo practice, he scrapped his stuff together and headed home. Late.
He was later than late, actually. Dib attempted to sneak in, but his dad caught him red-handed. Dib crunched the papers behind his back, but Prof. Membrane took notice and snatched them from him.
He eyed them angrily. "Is this… sheet music?"
Dib tried to take them back, but no prevail. "Give them back, please."
Prof. Membrane, without warning, ripped them to shreds. Dib fell to his knees, his big light brown eyes glued to the falling pieces of paper.
"You have a job to uphold. At least the paranormal was some type of science. Now, this music ordeal is just pathetic and inexcusable." Prof. Membrane walked away leaving Dib alone in the room.
Dib was shaking and, with a quivering hand, reached for the papers. His eyes filled with tears as he tried to read the music, but it was inevitable. His life was meant for pain and obedience. He wasn't meant to be a free spirit in this world.
But he could sure as hell try.
Dib raced back out into the night and straight to the school auditorium. The director gave him a spare set of keys so he can lock up is cleaning took too long. He ran down to the Grand Piano and, gasping for air, began playing his anger and frustration out. He memorized his first full song, and even learned to sing it.
"You feel like a candle in a hurricane,
Just like a picture in a broken frame,
Alone and helpless, like you've lost your fight,
But you'll be alright,
You'll be alright.
'Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend 'till you break
'Cause it's all you can take
On your knees,
You look up,
Decide you've had enough,
You get mad,
You get strong,
Wipe your hands, shake it off
Then you stand…"
Author's Notes: Well, this is really sad, isn't it. I don't think there's much to say here, but if there is, I'll try to let you know.
Please Review! {Thanks for Reading!}