It's back! I took it down because I wanted to redo some things it. I would like to think microwaved noodles for making this story so much better than what it was originally.

Summary: It's the summer right before senior year. Dib and Membrane get into another fight and Dib leaves. He ends up in front of Zim's house. Unexpected things happen that will never be forgotten.

Disclaimer: I do not own any character of Zim, sadly. It's all Jhonen's. The only thing I have is the story idea.

Chapter One: Running Away.

Dib hunched over his computer, his spectacled eyes reflecting the glow of the computer screen. Summer had finally begun after a tough junior year. Three entire months without being picked on would be like heaven compared to the nightmare high school had turned out to be. After a few beatings, he had finally learned to simply stop trying to convince everyone of Zim's extraterrestrial nature. If they hadn't believed him in grade school, why on earth would they now? Besides, it was obvious Zim was far too incompetent to actually enslave the human race.

All of the Irken's plans had failed. Zim had saved the planet more times than he had harmed it, and Dib usually helped, too. He'd noticed over the past few years that Zim had been slacking off. The alien hadn't tried anything in ages. He even stopped bothering with Dib since he'd decided to leave him alone.

Because Zim stopped trying to take over the planet, Dib's life grew fairly boring pretty fast. He didn't have anything to do in his free time. He was still into the paranormal, but Zim had been his main focus ever since they had met. Dib stopped bothering to contacting the Swollen Eye Ball, and they weren't complaining.

Dib didn't like it. He was so obsessed with Zim, nothing else really mattered. He kind of... missed... chasing the little alien around.

Professor Membrane was ecstatic that Dib no longer 'insane'— maybe now he could get his son into 'real' science! He had tried many times to persuade him, but always failed. Dib wearily heaved himself out of his desk chair for dinner. Gaz was already at the table waiting as Membrane's floating screen hovered by the table. Two bowls were clutched in its metallic claws as little neon green letters read 'Do you love me?' Dib thoughtlessly pressed the 'yes' button and the stew was set in front of him.

Gaz began to shovel the contents in her mouth the moment the bowl touched the table. Dib merely poked at his the stew moodily, not particularly in the mood to eat. He glanced at the clock and gave a small start— it was almost time for Mysterious Mysteries to start! He scrambled from his seat and clanked his full bowl on the counter.

Just as he was about to click on the wide screen, the door burst open dramatically, revealing a profile only one person could claim.

Professor Membrane was home.

Unfortunately, the first thing he saw when he came home after a hard day of wiring things directly into other things was his daughter attempting to play her Gameslave and apparently suffocate herself to death with stew, and his son nearly giddy with excitement as the Mysterious Mysteries theme played.

Groan. "Son, you know how I feel about that horrid program. Turn the television off immediately!"

Glare. "Fine. I'll catch it at eleven, anyway."

Membrane stepped forward threateningly. He'd found, through years of life experience, that a simple step forward could unnerve even the most stubborn opponents. "Don't you dare smart off to me."

Gaz rolled her eyes. Whoopee. Another fight.

Dib groaned in disgust to save face, but attempted to retreat to his room without looking like he was running away from an argument.

"Don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you."

Dib froze with his hand on the stair banister, his teeth grinding. "You weren't talking to me just then, Dad."

It was Membrane's turn to feel enraged. "Look, boy. My house, my rules. You seem to be forgetting who I am."

It was then that Dib uttered the most cliché, teenage-angsty thing one could say.

"WHY can't you just leave me ALONE? I don't want to be just like you!"

Membrane laughed. "Oh, come now. This paranormal obsession of yours is just a phase. You'll soon wise up and become a TRUE scientist like myself!"

"Dad. That's never. EVER. Going to happen."

Dib could feel his father's glare turn cold even through those thick goggles. "Then get out. I'm sick of arguing with you over this."

Gaz paused her game and looked up, a single eyebrow raised.

"Way ahead of you, Membrane," Dib spat.

And with that, Dib was out the door.

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Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it. If so review and let me know. Or if you didn't like it, review and let me know. (Obviously I want you to review .). Look for the next chapter in about a week and I'll keep to that this time for sure!