HI! : 3. I actually wanted to write this chapter earlier, but since I have a lot of ideas in my mind that I can't use, (sadly for me), I've decided to suck it up and go along with it as I write. Every single thing could be different, but it's already been established. : ). Also, as I said before, this story will have multiple POVs.

Disclaimer: I don't own Invader Zim. The show belongs to Jhonen Vazquez.

Dib's POV:

I can't believe I got sent to the back of the class, just for trying to expose that monster. On the bright side, I've finally found someone who believes me. Maybe if I ask her, she'll want to be my partner. She'll have to be second in command, though. Well, behind Gaz. All I have to do is ask her… but what if she's no different from everyone else who pretended to believe me? …. I guess it couldn't hurt to ask.

"Psst! Psst! New girl! Psst! Hey!"

She didn't even turn around. I have to find another way to get her attention. I grabbed a piece of paper from under the desk. Luckily, I had my special pen with me. Let's see… what exactly should I write? Ooh, I know!

After I had written a thoroughly convincing note, I folded it into an airplane. "I hope this works."

I threw it in her direction, and with the help of my aiming skills, it had hit her head.

"Ouch!" I guess my skills are a little too advanced. After she had picked up the note, she rubbed the back of her head.

"Oh, it's a note!" I could barely hear her say. "Let's see here…" She said, unfolding the plane.

"Dani! Throw that piece of trash away and pay attention! This lesson will be on your final test."

"Yes, Ms. Bitters." She stood up and walked to the trash can by the door.

"I wouldn't normally care if you children failed or not, but the less children to pass means the less I get paid."

"That's awful. I'm sorry to hear such a thing."

"And that is why I'm teaching you children that the worst thing you can do on this planet is live on it."

Zim raised his hand.

"What is it, Zim?"

"So, if there was a hypothetical device that somehow sucked the life force out of all humans, what would it take for it to work?"

"There already is something that works that way. It's called having a job."

"…Is it normal for the first day of school to be the most depressing day of my life?"

He laughed. "Of course it is, you stupid, naïve human! What else would it be?"

"I don't know. In my old school-"

"I don't care!"

"How dare you interrupt me!"

Ms. Bitters growled. "Go to lunch! The less I have to deal with this, the better.

"But he started it!"

"Dani, this is the first and last warning I'm giving you. The next step is detention."

"Yes, Ms. Bitters." She sighed, walking out the door.

"Get out of my way, pig girl. I am trying to get to lunch."

She turned around, still standing in the doorway.

"You know, my dear, you could say 'excuse me'. I'm sure it wouldn't kill you."
"Silence you cow!" He yelled, pushing her out of his way.

Her right eye twitched. "You little-! "

I grabbed her shoulders, holding her back.

"Wait a sec. I need to talk to you."

"Who-? Oh, you're the one who wrote the note!" She smiled as I let her go. "Uh… 'Dib', isn't it?"

She extended her hand. "I'm Dani."

I shook her hand.

She raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Your hands are a little tense."

"Oh, sorry," I quickly placed my hands inside my pockets. "I'm just new to making friends."

"…"

"Jeez; why did I just say that!?" I said, slapping my forehead.

"Don't worry about it." She said, waving her hand. "I know what you meant."

"Oh." I could see her as a pretty good partner, so far. I assume she believes me about Zim being an alien, so that's a step in the right direction.

"So, can you show me where the cafeteria is? I would go exploring, but I don't want to get in trouble again."

"Just follow me. I still have to ask you some things." I started walking. She followed close behind me, looking around the hallway.

Dani's POV:

When we got to the cafeteria, I noticed a bunch of students standing in line to get their lunches. Luckily, I didn't have to. I had already had my lunch inside my book bag.

"Are you getting in line?" He asked me.

"No, I-"

"Great!" He grabbed my arm and started dragging me to a table. "We can get through this a lot faster."

"What are you-"

"Sit here." He pointed to a seat next to a girl with purple hair. It didn't seem like she was going to say anything to us, being more focused on the video game she played.

"Hi!" I smiled at her.

"…"

"…"

"…Hi." She said, still playing the game.

"So… what are you playing?"

"Dib, if your friend keeps me from beating level 65, I'm going to rip your arms off and make you eat them."

"Why would you do that to me?"

"Because you're the one that brought her over here."

"Just hold on. I'm almost finished."

"What are you doing?"

"I just need to put the batteries in... and… there! Turn around, Dani."

I turned to face to table. "Okay, but-"
He was standing on the table in front of me, waving a mini flashlight in my face.

"Do you believe in ghosts?" He asked.

"Yeah, I guess." I shrugged.

"What about Bigfoot?"

"Not entirely, but I-."

"What about aliens?"

"Yes, I do! In fact, I have a book that explains a lot of things about aliens."

"Do you have it with you?"

"It's always in my book bag with me. It talks about alien civilizations, extraterrestrial life, astrobiology, and super toast. I didn't read about that last thing since my grandfather ate super toast and exploded."

"…Oh. I'm sorry to hear that…"

"Don't worry about it; I didn't even like him. He used to throw hot soup at me every time he got upset."

"Um... should we go ahead and…?"

"Go on."

"Bonus question: Do you believe that Zim is an alien?"

"Yes, but isn't that kind of obvious?"

"Congratulations, Dani; you've passed." He said, turning off the flashlight.

"What did I pass?"

He slid off the table and sat next to me. "Didn't you read the note? I was testing you in order to see if you were capable of being my partner."

"What do you mean by that?"

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his side. "Just think of it, Dani. You and I, exposing Zim for the alien he is. Going on adventures, tracking ghosts down; finding Bigfoots, and other stuff; we'll be the best paranormal investigators ever!"

"I don't want to be a paranormal investigator when I grow up."

"Oh. Well, I'm sure that'll look good on your resume."

"You said that we would go on adventures, right?"

"Yes."

"That sounds pretty fun."

"All you have to do is agree to be my partner. So, what do you say?"

Adventures, ghosts, fame, and adventures? It all sounds too good to be true! I could study all types of different species, travel to different places, and get all the pie I want!

Although, this seems a little too much for me to handle right now. I'm never the type of person to pass up an opportunity, but this could be dangerous.

Also, I just noticed that this kid still had his arm around me.

"Look, Dib, I'm flattered, and I want to be you partner, but don't you think that we should take things slow."

"What do you mean?"

"I just think that we should be friends instead of being partners right away."

"Oh, I get it. You're nervous. Don't worry, Dani. I'll bring you with me on the smaller investigations before the big ones."

I sighed. "Could we just call ourselves 'friends' before we use the term 'partners'?"

He shrugged. "I can work with that. I'm glad that I could convince you with my well-written note."

"You mean the note that said ''Will you be my partner?'' with a square box next to each to each option? You wrote ''please' 'a bunch of times next to ''yes'', and a frowny face next to ''no''."

"Seriously? Do you have to be so desperate?" The purple-haired girl says, getting up from the table and walking away.

"…"

"…."

"That's Gaz. She's my sister/sidekick."

"…Oh."