Yay! My first story!

I've been planning this one for a while, so I hope you guys like it!

I apologize in advance if any of the characters are OOC, I'll work on that.

Now… On with the story! *grabs popcorn*

I don't own Invader Zim or any of the characters.

Chapter 1: When Everything Was Still Normal

I remember the first day I moved into the new house. It's hard to believe that it was only three years ago, it feels like a million. Everything was… normal back then, I guess I could say.

It was a cold, overcast afternoon, sometime in February. I had been unpacking boxes most of the day with my family, and when I thought we were FINALLY done, I sat down on the couch, hoping to rest for a little bit, until…

"Karin! Come and bring this last box up to your room!"

"Coming Mom…" I said, not too happily. I dragged my 12 year old self to where my mother was, and picked up the box she was pointing at. After climbing what felt like a million stairs, I finally arrived at my room at the end of the hall.

After I had shut the door and set the box down, I immediately collapsed onto my bed, exhausted. I stared around at my purple colored, box littered room, thinking.

For one thing, I was glad that we didn't move too far away from our old house. Just across town. Our old house was just too small for our still growing family. So at least I would be able to see my friends every once in a while.

What I wasn't too excited about was that we moved too far away from my old school, so I have to start going to a new one. I wondered what it would be like. What kind of people there were, if the teachers were nice… I just hoped the food wasn't as revolting as it was at my old school. Well, in three short days I would find out.

I heard a knock on my door, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Karin, it's time for dinner." My father said. "Coming!" I said.

I took one last look in the mirror. I remember my curly red hair being about shoulder length and frizzy, my pale skin spotted with a few freckles. I adjusted my glasses, (I couldn't wait for the day I would get my contacts) and raced down to the kitchen.

I snatched up the piece of paper sitting on top of the counter and grabbed my black jacket off of the coat hanger. "I got to go Mom, Dad, love you!" "Bye, love you." My dad responded. "Goodbye sweetie, have fun at your new school! Oh, and don't forget to go to the office and pick up your information about your class, your locker number, and stuff like that." My mom called. "Okay!" I said, opening the front door now. "Bye!" And without another word, I was out the door.

So far, there was one thing I already loved about my new school. I could walk to it, no more days of taking that darn school bus. I got to the sidewalk and stopped, looking down at the map my mother had drawn for me.

OK, so I keep going this way until I get to that stop sign up there, I'll turn left, keep going until I get to the next stop sign…

I kept walking for about five minutes, only glancing down at the paper occasionally to see if I was going the right direction. So far so good.

I should be getting close to the second stop sign by now… It should be right around this corner…

I wasn't prepared for what happened next. I turned the corner and instantly collided into something… No, wait, it was someone!

"S-sorry!" I squeaked nervously. I backed up, hiding my already crimson face.

Well, this is embarrassing…

"Hey, that's OK." I heard a boy's voice say. I turned to face the person I had just collided with. He was about my height, maybe an inch taller, and looked to be around the same age as me. He had black, scythe style hair and had big, round glasses. He was also wearing a black trenchcoat, something I usually don't see people wear.

When I didn't respond, (I wish I wasn't so shy), he looked down at the map in my hands. "Are you new around here?"

"Yes. Well… kind of." He gave me a strange look. "Kind of?" "I just moved from across town last week. But my new house is too far away from my old school, So I'm going to the one closer to here." The boy's confused look instantly changed to that of understanding. "Oh, okay. I'm Dib, by the way. I'm also a paranormal investigator!" He said, smiling widely. "And this is my sister, Gaz." It was just then that I noticed the purple-haired girl standing next to Dib. She was playing a GameSlave 2, and didn't even look up when he said her name. "She's kind of busy at the moment."

"I'm Karin." He looked confused. "Like the two words 'car' and 'in' put together?" I blushed a little bit, and chuckled a little awkwardly. "Hehe, yeah." "Cool name." I smiled a little bit at first. "Thanks."

"Hey, if you're going to my school, let me show you the rest of the way there!" And with that, we were off.

Dib seemed nice. I haven't even gotten to the school yet and I'm already meeting new people! Maybe there's nothing I should worry about.

I started to ask him questions about the school, just so I would know what to expect.

"Well, um, the food can sometimes make you sick," and then he added in a low whisper "Don't plan on eating lunch on ketchup and rice day, and never, NEVER get the mashed potatoes in your eyes." Could it really be that bad?!

Dib continued. "My teacher, Miss Bitters, is scary, and I mean, REALLY scary."

OK, so far I can expect a school with disgusting food and scary teachers? Great.

But what he said next was what made me think he was crazy. VERY crazy.

"There's something else you should know too." He paused for a second, I guess to make sure I was listening. "There is an alien that goes to our school! His name's Zim and he has been here for over a year now. He's been trying to take over the Earth, but I've stopped him every time!" He looked proud, as if he really had saved the Earth more than once.

Did I believe him? Of course not! Did he expect me to believe him? By the way he was looking at me, I'm pretty sure he was. Aliens? That go to our school?! Aliens don't even exist! There was no doubt in my mind at that point that this Dib person was crazy.

When I didn't say anything and only continued to stare at him, his face fell. "That sounds completely crazy to you, doesn't it?"

I nodded very slowly. "Nobody believes me anyway," he mumbled sadly.

Well, why would they?

"But wait, you haven't seen him yet!" Dib shouted, his amber eyes lighting up. "Maybe you'll believe me when you see him!" He grinned at me, expecting me to say something. "Uh-huh…" Was all I could manage to say.
I could not have been happier to arrive at a school, especially this one. On the outside it looked old and run down, and I didn't expect the inside to look so great either.

Still with Dib and Gaz, I climbed up the steps and opened the door to what might have been the dirtiest school I have ever seen. There was paint chipping off of the walls, stains everywhere (even the ceiling!), and it didn't smell so good either.

"Well…" Dib said awkwardly, bringing me back to reality. "I guess I'll see you later then." "Yeah, see you." And with that, he and his sister walked off. Then I realized I didn't know where the front office was. "Hey! Dib! Wait!" He turned, "Yes?" he said expectantly. "Where is the office?" I called. "Oh," I guess he was expecting me to say I believed him or something. Anyway… "Just keep walking down that hallway, you'll find it, trust me!"

I did what he told me to do. I eventually ended up in a circle with doors all around it.

Hm, biology, taxidermy, detention, nurse, ah hah! Office.

I cautiously opened the door and slowly stepped inside. "Um… hello? Anyone?" I didn't see anybody in there, but I kept talking anyway. "Um, I'm Karin, and I'm new here, and I just need-" Suddenly, someone tapped me on the shoulder and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

I turned to see a short, skinny brunette lady standing there with a piece of paper in her hand. "Ah, you must be Karin. We've been expecting you." She said with a smile so wide, it was creepy.

She handed me the piece of paper in her hands which I assumed had my class information on it. "Now, off you go now." She said. I was more than glad to get out of that office.

I looked down at the paper and immediately groaned. Teacher: Miss Bitters.

I found her room easily and slowly, reluctantly, opened the door.

Almost right away a tall, ominous looking old woman in a long black dress stood up from her desk and stared at me.

"Um… Hello, Miss Biters. I'm Karin, and I-" "Quiet, child." She cut me off. Dib was right about one thing. Miss Bitters was in fact, REALLY scary.

"Class, we have yet another child joining the class. Her name is Karin. Now, let's give you a place to sit."

I turned around a faced the classroom for the very first time.

… There were no seats available, every single one was filled. I was just looking at the front row, and I had to do a double-take. The boy sitting closest to the door had green skin. GREEN SKIN! This couldn't be the Zim guy Dib was…?

No. No… It couldn't be. Maybe something's wrong with his skin. Yeah, probably just a skin condition or something. But alien? No way. I just hope Dib's craziness doesn't wear off on me…

"YOU!" Miss Bitters shouted, snapping me out of my thoughts and back into reality. She was point at a dark-skinned girl sitting next to Dib. "You are being transferred to the underground classroom!" Suddenly, a hole opened up in the ground, and the girl fell down into it. And, just as quickly as it opened, the hole closed, leaving behind a now empty desk. I stared at it, not moving, shocked at what just happened.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Sit down, child!" I scurried to my seat, not wanting to upset the monst- um, teacher, anymore.

Dib leaned over to me and whispered, "Told you she was scary." I nodded.

"OK class," Miss Bitters began. "Today, I will be lecturing you about Earth's doom, and how it keeps getting closer every day."

There was a chuckle. That sounded quite evil, might I add.

Miss Bitters was glaring at the kid with green skin. "Yes, Zim?!" she asked irritably.

"Oh, nothing…" Zim said. "Just the thought of Earth's doom getting closer… so much closer…" He started chuckling again, which turned into loud laughter, which then changed into an evil cackle. I couldn't help but stare with the other kids. He immediately stopped when he noticed everybody's stares. "… I'M NORMAL!"

I turned to Dib to see what his reaction was to this. "Whatever you're planning, Zim, I will find out and I will stop you!" He shouted, glaring daggers at Zim.

"No, Dib-stink, I don't think you will!" Screamed Zim, who was staring right back.

"QUIET!" Miss Bitters shouted. The other children didn't react at all to this, as if it was normal for Zim and Dib to start shouting at each other.

Then I noticed something else… Zim didn't have any ears… Wait, no ears?! What?!

"As I was saying…" Miss Bitters growled. Then she continued to drone on endlessly about Earth's doom. It was quite easy to tune her out, I quickly discovered.

I couldn't wait for that dismissal bell to ring.

So… what did you guys think?

Sorry if this chapter is a little boring. To be honest, this is probably the most boring chapter in the whole story. But I promise, it will get better, just you wait. :D

Since this is my first story, feel free to give me suggestions, tell me what you liked and didn't like, etc. Constructive criticism would be really helpful!

Thanks for reading!