Author's Notes: Thank all so much for the wonderful reviews! They give me so much inspiration. I really hope I don't disappoint anyone. Once again, thank you very much! Now, on to Chapter 3!
Disclaimer: I do not own Invader Zim.
Chapter 3: A School Day
It was the first week of December, but snow already blanketed the town. The wind swept through the buildings and streets bringing with it a bone-chilling sensation. Even now, the snow is still falling, the frigid wind showing no mercy. Being that it was winter, the sun seldom shone, but one could tell it was there. The clouds covered the sky, the sun trying to break through but to no avail. An overwhelming sense of gloom accompanied the dull, grayness of the winter sky. Yet, this feeling of sadness and darkness was contradicted by the pure, white glow of the snow, curiously, a product of the dulled sky.
Laughter and lively chatter filled the school property. It was evident that there were many among the students gathered on school grounds that enjoyed playing in the snow. Snowballs flew across the area, snow angels were made here and there, and there were even attempts at making snowmen, though many were abandoned.
There was a giant clock mounted on a tower structure next to the school's main entrance. Seven o' clock, it read. It would be another fifteen minutes before the bell rings to signal everybody to come in.
In front of the school doors was a flight of stairs. On the bottom steps were two teens killing time; one was standing and the other was sitting on the second to bottom step. The one standing rested his arms on the railings. He had on a trench coat that waved in response to the wind. A hood covered his head, and his winter boots were heavy against the snow; the top part of the boots was covered by his pant legs. He sighed, his breath visible due to the cold.
"Man, it's freezing out here!" he complained.
"Stop being a baby," scoffed the girl sitting on the stairs.
She sat there, playing a video game, her eyes strictly concentrating on the hand held device's screen. Her thumbs moved at an amazing pace despite wearing gloves. Her shoulder-length, magenta hair swayed in the howling wind. She wore a skirt that went to her waist tied by a black, ribbon-like cloth that was just tight enough to show her curves. Her legs were covered with a pair of striped (alternating between black and purple), very high socks; and her boots started about two inches above her knees. She was sporting a leather jacket that stopped just below her waist and a scarf wrapped around her neck.
The beeping of the game continued until there was a crashing noise. "Game over" the voice in the game said.
The girl stared at the game wide-eyed.
"I lost?" she finally managed to say. "Ugh! Dib! Look at what you've done! You made me lose with all your stupid whining!" she accused.
"But I only said one thing."
"Well, one's more than enough from you."
Dib sighed, saying, "Oh, Gaz. Six years and you're still as cynical as always."
The girl eyed him. "Oh, Dib. Six years and you're still a paranormal nerd."
"Hey," Dib turned his body to face Gaz, "it's a hobby and you know it―just like your video games."
"I guess."
Turning off the game device, she stowed it away in her backpack that leaned against her legs. She stretched her arms above her head and then put them in her pockets. She blew in front of her―seeing her breath probably amused her.
"What time is it?" she asked.
Dib looked at the giant clock overhead. "7:05."
"Why did we come so early?"
"I don't know," he replied, shrugging his shoulders. "I just felt like it I guess."
"Why did I come with you?" Gaz groaned.
"Because you wanted to accompany your brother?" Dib said with a smirk.
"Very funny."
Dib started to laugh when something caught his eyes. He stayed motionless except when he leaned back on the railing.
"Look who's here."
"Hm?" Gaz turned her head to look at whatever his brother was seeing. "Zim?"
"Uh-huh."
"Ugh! You and your paranormal hobbies!"
"But, Gaz, look at him. Behind that disguise is a psychotic alien that wants to enslave us all! Green is the color of evil! Why can't you see that?"
"Look, Dib. Granted, he's an alien. But, why can't you see what I see? Six years he's been here and he's still a failure at the whole 'destroy all humans' thing."
Gaz looked at Zim again, crossing her arms. "If you ask me, he'll never succeed."
Zim trudged towards the stairs. When he caught sight of the Membrane siblings, he immediately straightened his body, trying to hide his current well-being.
"Showing weakness now will only prove to be fatal... well for my pride, anyway," he told himself.
Upon approaching the two on the stairs, he stood erect in front of them, in a fashion displayed by a soldier to his commanding officers.
"Greetings, Earth-pigs" he jeered.
At this remark, Gaz jumped from her seat to face the alien, menacing and intimidating in all perspectives.
"Call me a pig again and I will break your arms and legs."
Although it was not noticeable to anyone, Zim's knees shook from the threat. His form shrunk in the presence of this girl.
"I-I will keep that in mind, uh, ma'am."
The school bell rang.
Gaz rolled her eyes and turned her back to the Irken.
"I've had enough of this stupidity. Let's go, Dib."
"I'm watching you, Zim. You can't escape from my hands of justice!"
Zim turned his head sideways and said, "Yeah, yeah. Whatever, human."
The siblings entered the flow of students pouring in through the doors. They were among the last students to enter. With her brother in front of her, Gaz can't help but hear him mumble "Stupid alien."
She looked back at Zim over her shoulder to see him left behind. His legs gave way; his back leaned on the railings, sliding down steadily to a sitting position. An eyebrow rose at the sight of the alien grimacing at something, his hand gripping his jacket over his stomach.
"What's wrong with him?" she thought.
A sneeze echoed throughout the crowded hallway, but the incoherent noise that filled the halls overpowered it. Everyone went on about their business, undisturbed by the sickly boy that mixed in with their presence.
Zim stood in front of his locker, wiping his nose (or at least where his nose is supposed to be) with a tissue. He held up a book and a binder. Two metallic, spider-like appendages grabbed the materials and retracted back into his PAK. He closed his locker and crumpled the tissue in his hand.
"My sneezing's getting out of control," he noted. He cleared his throat, but winced from pain.
As he was about to leave, he was shoved against the lockers―his head making the loudest contact. He sat on the floor massaging his head. He turned to see a group of people (mainly consisting of jocks with varsity jackets) passing by, snickering at Zim.
"Oh, sorry about that, little man," apologized the guy in front of the clique, sarcasm obvious in his tone.
Their obnoxious laughter continued even after turning at the corner, probably looking for more kids to torment.
"Filthy beasts," Zim muttered to himself as he dusted his jacket. Picking up his head, he sees the other students looking at him, their faces exhibiting sympathy.
"No one's even coming to help, but they still feel sorry for me," Zim remarked inwardly. "Funny, isn't?"
He began to help himself up when he notices two feet in front of him.
"Twice now I see you on the ground," the person pointed out. A hand came down, offering assistance. Zim observed the hand questioningly.
"Well? Do you need help or not?"
There was no response with the exception of suspicion on his face.
"Come on," the voice insisted, "my arm's getting tired. You have three seconds. Three."
"But―"
"Two."
"W―"
"One."
"Fine!" the alien boy finally said. He grabbed the person's hand and got on his feet. He patted his behind and eyed the person who just helped him.
"Wh―"
"What?" the person said, returning Zim's quizzical stare.
"Gaz?"
She placed her hands on her hips and rested her weight on one leg.
"Is something the matter?" Gaz said, adding, "It looks like you've seen a ghost."
"Yeah, it looks like I have," Zim replied.
Crossing her arms, she glared at Zim.
"And what do you mean by that?" she spat.
"Can you blame me?" Zim argued. "The Gaz that I know is definitely not the one I'm talking to right now."
She closed in on Zim forcing him to back into the lockers; her finger stabbing into his chest.
"Oh believe me, Zim, I'm still the same old Gaz that can easily rip your arms off."
"Then why'd you help me?"
Before she could answer, a voice came from behind her.
"Gaz?" Dib called out. "And Zim?"
A scowl soon followed his puzzled look. "Harassing girls now, are we?"
Gaz met her brother's eyes and pointed a thumb at Zim.
"Him? Harass me?" Her stare returned to the alien pinned on the wall. "He doesn't have the guts," she gibed.
"True," agreed Dib. "Hey, I'm headed to the cafeteria. Wanna walk together?"
"What are we? In elementary?"
"If you act that way."
"You stupid― ugh! Fine, let's go. Later, space boy."
As they walked away, Dib leaned a little closer to Gaz and whispered, "Hey, what were you doing with Zim?"
"We were talking about pushing you off a cliff," Gaz replied plainly.
"What?!"
"Relax, it was nothing. We just bumped into each other. What do you think we were doing?"
"I don't know. When I saw you reach for his hand, I thought you were going to rip it off." He put his hands behind his head. "That would've made my day."
"You saw that?"
"What's wrong? Was it something I wasn't supposed to see?"
"How about you mind your own business?"
"Aw, that's mean, Gaz."
"I'm cynical, remember? You said so yourself."
Zim stayed in front of his locker, massaging his chest.
"Ow," he muttered, "she didn't need to jab at my chest like that."
"That was pathetic, Zim," mocked a voice that drew closer to him.
Zim turned to see who it was, his eyebrow rising. "Hm?"
"Then again, you've always been pathetic," the person continued.
"What do you want now, Tak?"
A girl with short, dark-blue hair approached Zim, her boots making clicking noises on the floor. She wore black jeans that hugged her legs with chains on both sides, and had on a purple button-down shirt open halfway to reveal a black V-neck shirt. She carried her backpack on one shoulder.
"Six years and you still have yet to prove your worth as one of us: a true Irken Invader."
"Did you come here just to say that? Or is there anymore you want to say?"
"Well if you must know, I―"
"If there's more, then just say it!"
"I know! I―"
"Say it to Zim's face!"
"Will you let me―"
"If you don't want to tell me, then I don't care," declared Zim, crossing his arms.
"You really are an idiot," responded Tak, mirroring Zim's pose.
"Who's really the idiot here, huh, Tak? Is it me or you?"
"It's definitely you."
"Oh, well, at least I have my dignity. Now, if you'll excuse."
Facing his back towards Tak, Zim started to leave. However, Tak had one last remark that stopped him in his tracks.
"I wouldn't say that your dignity is still intact after that little stunt."
"What stunt?" his back still to the Irken girl.
"Getting help to stand up from a human is pretty embarrassing, don't you think? At least have enough of your so-called "dignity" to stand yourself up. Stand tall, will ya? You're an Irken!"
Zim quickly turned around.
"But that's part of the disguise, isn't it? By accepting her hand, I would seem more like a human, right?"
"That's a stupid reason and you know it. If I didn't know any better I think you're going soft."
"Me? Going soft? Check your eyes, they might be going bad."
"Whatever. Just remember what I said. You are an Irken. You don't need pity. You can survive with the glory that comes with taking this planet down. Of course, assuming that I don't beat you to it."
The bells rang signaling the start of third period.
"There goes the bell," Tak cited. "Where are you headed?"
"Lunch," Zim answered.
"Doesn't that girl have the same lunch as you?"
"What are you insinuating?" Zim challenged.
A smirk found its way on Tak's lips, a response to Zim's reaction.
"Oh, nothing," she sighed.
She approached Zim and faced him squarely. Upon closer inspection, one could see that Tak was slightly taller than Zim.
"Engrave this conversation in your head, Zim. Don't forget what I said: You are an Irken."
"I know what I am," Zim retorted.
With a grin, Tak left him in the middle of the now empty hallway.
"Good," she said.
It was only one word, but it was deafening in the silence.
Chapter 3 end
