Chapter Three:

"You should have seen his face when he figured out that I was the one that threw the pizza at his head, Gir!" Zim laughed as he and his robotic "dog" walked through the town shopping center.

"Whee-hee! Flying food!" Gir squealed and ran circles around Zim as they passed the old library. He suddenly stopped and glared through the large display window at the musty bookshelves, the eyes of his costume slightly glowing red as his LED eyes changed color. "Master- I'm picking up threatening signals. Somebody wants to destroy this planet."

Zim peered through the window as Gir spoke. The lights were dim, he couldn't imagine anybody wanting to enter the building, yet he felt compelled to investigate. "If anybody is going to destroy this disgusting planet, it will be Zim." He muttered, mostly to himself, as he swung the door open.

The library smelled of mildew and dust, as if nobody had once taken a rag to any surface in the many years it had been open. Zim hadn't even seen anybody in this library since Gir's attack on it long ago. "I don't think there's anybody here, Gir." Zim stated as he passed through a few shelves. The words barely left his mouth when he heard the faint fluttering of pages and the clicking of somebody typing. He looked down at his robot, who had suddenly ducked behind him and whimpered as if scared. "Oh, come on. Quit being such a baby."

They ventured to the back of the abandoned library, following the occasional shutting of a book or typing. Finally, Zim saw in the very back corner, barely visible due to the failing light, the bright pink fluff that was the newest bane of his existence. He cleared his throat to announce his presence, Rik didn't respond. "What are you working on?" He asked, leaning over her shoulder.

"Oh, well, you know, stuff." She replied as she turned towards him, their faces only a few inches apart. Zim hadn't ever been this close to a human before; he realized just why all the boys at school had been fawning over her. He noticed that her already abnormal eyes had flecks of gold and silver in them, giving them a beautiful yet eerie glowing effect. They gave him the impression that she was hiding something.

He glanced at her computer screen, filled with web pages of Earth's history and scientific looking sites. "Doing a history project for school?"

"I guess you can say that." She replied, a small smirk crossed her face.

Zim stood straight and narrowed his eyes as he studied her expression. "What do you mean?"

Rik closed her computer and motioned for him to sit. "I think you know what I mean." She replied.

"No. No, I really don't."

"Wow. And here I thought that after all this time, you would appreciate my help taking over this pathetic excuse for a planet."

Zim froze while his brain processed what she was saying. "Are… are you Irken?"

"Good boy!" Rik exclaimed, clapping her hands. "Speaking of 'good boys,' where is your SIR unit?"

Zim paused, he had completely forgotten about Gir, hadn't even noticed how quiet it was until Rik mentioned it. "Gir?" A low rumble sounded throughout the library, shaking books to the ground and knocking shelves over. Suddenly, the shelf right behind their table shattered into a million little splinters as Gir came shuttling through the air, squealing in utter delight. "Gir!"

The robot returned to the floor in front of Zim. "Yes, master?"

"Let's go home." He turned to Rik, she had hastily packed up her laptop and a few large books. "I guess I'll see you at school." He left before she had the chance to invite herself over.

Zim arrived at school the next morning to find Rik waiting for him patiently atop his usual seat, not budging even as he sat down. "Can I help you?"

"I'm here to help you, remember?"

"I don't recall the Tallest ever assigning two invaders to the same planet. Ever." Zim said, pushing her gently off his desk. She put her hand down and leaned towards him, so close he could smell the sweet scent of her perfume. "Besides, I don't need help."

"I'm so sure." She scoffed. Zim noticed the other students filing in as the bell rang and turned his attention away from Rik. She huffed before slamming herself down into the seat next to him.

"Well, class, seeing as how today is standardized testing day for sophomores, there will be a change in scheduling today." Mr. C droned on as he swiveled his chair slowly in front of class, giving each student an icy glare. "Since it is a half day for all other grades, I get the joy of being the only teacher you'll see today."

Dib tuned Mr. C out and glanced to the back of the classroom. He saw Rik and Zim passing a note back and forth. "She's passing notes to him in class? Shit. I gotta do something before he steals my girl!" He shot his hand into the air. "Mr. C! I'm sorry, but I can't seem to concentrate on what you're saying over the sound of paper crumpling in the back of class!"

Mr. C slowly rose from his chair, towering over the students. His face was stern and unpleasant. "There are two things I do not tolerate in my class." He growled. "Interruptions and tattle tales." Mr. C turned towards Dib. "One more outburst from you, Membrane, and it's detention for you. Understand?"

"But-"

"So glad we see eye to eye." The teacher said as he returned to his desk and continued his lecture.

School could not end fast enough in Dib's opinion. As the bell rang, he rushed to catch Rik before she left. "Hey, Rik! Got a moment?" She turned as he approached. "I was uh, wondering if we were still on for Friday?"

"Oh, right! We had plans, didn't we?" Rik replied, smacking her forehead with the heel of her hand. Dib's stomach dropped, he knew she was going to bail on him. He was shocked when she smiled and said, "Of course."