Note: I'm really off my knockers for posting more stories than I can handle. I'm not one to post multiple ones and never update them again, no. I like to take things one step at a time, but these plot bunnies are killing me! I have too many to count inside my head. This is really going to be difficult guys...I have four other stories on stage and a gazillion others waiting behind the curtain. This one would not leave me alone, so...the newest addition to the family. *Confetti and cake*
Like my other story that I'm working on, AHK, I will be putting up the songs that I was listening to while typing this.
I don't know what else to say...Enjoy?
Chapter 1
.
Yoav - Where Is My Mind?
.
The street was empty, devoid of any sign of life. In fact, the entire neighborhood seemed that way. Nothing skipped across the street. No animals had crossed in hopes of getting to the other side. The dark, grim clouds covered the city; a misty fog had swept its way through every alley and every crack in the buildings. It was quiet. Too quiet.
Dib stared out the window from his room, sitting on the bed with his arms resting on his knees. His hair ever the same style, his blue shirt had lost some of its color to overuse, instead of wearing his black pants he wore grey sweatpants. He had grown a significant amount since his fifth grade year. Now a junior in high school one could say he almost looked…normal.
But really, what was normal?
Most people took his gradual change as a good sign, meaning that he was finally seeing things for what they were. A few others, like his dad and Gaz, were skeptical of his change. Gaz was stubborn sometimes and that she could thank her dad for. She had refused to acknowledge him for months before she realized that nothing was going to change his mind and that even she couldn't beat him back into his old self. She begrudgingly accepted that he was this way now. Everyone was like that. They had accepted.
But somewhere deep down inside Dib, it wasn't accepted. It was shunned. The idea of it was horrid, terrible in fact. Years of ridicule and accusations of needing to be in a mental institution had been his final limit. So he retreated. Unlike in other cases, he didn't cut, he didn't wallow in self pity, he didn't want to be alone all the time, he never tried suicide.
He never fought against the pressure suddenly put on him, but he never gave up too. Not really. He knew that deep down there was still that little kid who believed in the paranormal with all he had. Someday, maybe someday, he will be free of it.
I guess not, Dib thought bitterly. He let out a sigh he didn't know he held and slowly stood to his six foot height. He towered over most of his classmates and that gave him the advantage of glaring down at his used-to-be-bullies. They never bothered him anymore. No one did. They were scared. And he knew that they had a right to be scared. His classmates didn't know him anymore. Hell, they didn't know him to begin with. One look and he was deemed a lunatic for what could've been for the rest of his life. To them, he was someone else. Possible something else entirely.
But he could relate to them as a human. People feared what they didn't know or didn't understand. First impressions are made, followed by a truce. Time would pass and people would learn to adjust to the different atmosphere, but not accepting. Never accepting. Sooner or later they would feel threatened and try to eliminate said threat. It's happened many times before. Even now, it's still happening.
Only one person came to mind when he thought of something misunderstood. But he had fled when learning that he wasn't a threat. He was slowly emerging into life on Earth. And he hated it. The message was very clear when he left.
Irkens weren't the only threat in the universe. Humans were too, maybe even more powerful.
In his head, he replayed what the alien said to him. He remembered how rigid the alien had been. How afraid he was.
.
.
"I don't believe you Zim! I never have and never will! I'd rather die than listen to any of your advice!" He snarled
"I always knew that you were ignorant of the truth Dib! You refuse to believe anything that isn't right or that can't be explained! Get out of your own stupid little fantasy world! What I just discovered is that we Irkens aren't the threat to you filthy earthlings. You humans will be the death of each other and I won't be here when that day finally comes!"
.
.
Snapping back into reality, Dib shook his head briefly before descending down the stairs. Although he wore a mask of indifference, he was frantic inside. He was suspicious of Zim the moment he gave up trying to conquer the planet. He waited, and waited. He didn't really know what the hell he was waiting for and that confused him. All his plans of capturing Zim flushed down the toilet when he finally saw the alien interacting with his classmates. He was talking to them! And laughing!
And thus began the downfall of Dib.
Shaking his head again, he decided not to think about that.
His father was in the kitchen sitting at the table holding his cup of coffee, looking down at it in thought. His head snapped up when he heard the sound of feet shuffling on the carpet. "Ah, son! Glad to see you down before your sister! You know how she's always complaining about you sleeping in. Not that I disagree of course." He raised his cup of coffee but never actually drank it.
"Yeah,"
"Any plans for your last year of school?" His father stood up, leaving the coffee on the table. Slowly but surely, he walked up to Dib and placed his hands on his shoulders.
"No, not really. I might have to look up some colleges and whatnot." Dib shrugged.
The grip on his shoulders tightened and Dib looked up at his dad.
"Son, just remember. There is the option of becoming an investigator..." He trailed off at the end, taking in the calm expression on his sons face.
Dib sighed, "Dad, you know that's not going to happen. I gave that up a long time ago. There is no such thing as the paranormal."
By that time Gaz was up and stomping down the stairs, her facial expression turning into a grimace when she caught the end of said conversation. She walked to the kitchen and wacked Dib on the back of the head on her way to the fridge.
"Morning stupid,"
"Ow! Dad!"
"I didn't see anything."
"Gaz just hit the back of my head!" Dib shouted, reaching up to hold the tender spot.
Grabbing the carton of orange juice Gaz walked to the table, harshly poking his side.
"You're always talking," She glared at him, "that you gave up your stupid dream, that you grew out of it. We all know that's a lie." Her voice turned bitter at the end.
"It's because it's true!"
"Shut up,"
After drinking her cup of orange juice she picked up her bag and harshly grabbed the collar of Dib's shirt, successfully dragging him out the door.
The walk to school was silent. To Gaz, it was a comfortable silence. To Dib, the tension in the air felt like you could cut it with a knife.
They were both consumed in their own thoughts to notice the odd green and purple house just down the street was once again occupied.
.
.
"Welcome new students, in the front office you'll be given your schedule to know what classes you have. And welcome back upperclassmen! School will not start 'til 9, so that gives you all plenty of time to find your classes. Have a nice day!"
That lady sounds too happy for a day like this, Dib thought.
"Nice day my ass," Gaz said, glaring at her own schedule. She didn't need to choose these classes, so why the hell did she? Art, Photography, Culinary, Band, Geometry?! She can't do any of this stuff! Crumpling the cursed paper in her hand, she made to throw it away 'til the familiar beep from the intercom echoed throughout the hallways.
"Attention students! Do not throw away your schedule! Your teachers will need proof that you are in their class!"
"Well shit."
She angrily turned towards Dib but noticed that his attention was on something else. Or rather, someone else.
Following his line of sight, she turned to look at what caught his attention.
He was sitting across the cafeteria at one of the abandoned tables, his lean figure hunched over. His black hair, a few spikes sticking out, draped over the front of his face.
Dib squinted, looking at him intensely. His eyes caught sight of a chain around his neck. He could've moved closer if he wanted to but his stance said differently. His eyes closely followed the chain and they widened as he caught sight of the pendant hanging from it.
'He can't be…'
As if sensing that someone was staring at him, the boy lifted his head up, looking around the large room. Burgundy eyes met gray and he stared. Both of them did.
Dib's lips moved on their own, as if they wanted to say the one name that Dib so desperately tried to forget.
"Zim…"
.
.
A/N: Alright, listen up. I'm not so sure on this one either. This is a plot bunny! You have been warned. I will post this up as 'Completed' unless I want to continue it. Tell me you guys' thoughts. I'm supposed to be working on an assignment in Photoshop but the nagging in my head pulled me back to this document.
Dib is not emo and neither is Zim. I won't have them dress all black and have piercings and the usual boy cut nowadays, I hate picturing that because it ruins the entire image.
.
Halloween265
.