A/N: Thank you! thank you! Thank you! All your reviews really made my day! I'm super glad that your all enjoying my story! Hope you enjoy this next chapter! Please read and review. And remember to Comment! I luvs them!

Ch. 4

'Where is that evil annoying alien?!' Dib thought furiously at himself, it was yet another school morning and the paranormal investigator sat on the brick wall in the playground waiting for the bell to ring. Why a high school had a playground no one knew, but that wasn't bothering him today. It had been two weeks yet Zim was still no were to be found.

"This is bad. If the space creep is taking this long with his plan it can't be good. But I've gotta be extra vigilant since no one seems to notice!" it was annoying, the way his classmates seemed to go about their days without realizing the truth that sat in their class.

Dib growled pulling out his high tech goggles in hopes of spying Zim. "Come on alien. Show yourself." There were many times Dib almost snuck inside his base, but he knew better. If he did that he would inevitably get captured and the human race would be doomed. Throwing them back into his bag he snapped to himself "I'm not falling for his tricks! But I'm not giving in that easily. Where are you?" not having a chance to do his usual morning route to check all of Zim's usual "hang out's" the bell rang.

Cursing under his breath Dib hoped off the wall ignoring his fan group as he stalked to his homeroom "I got a bad feeling about today." He muttered to himself. But he decided to just keep on his guard until the menace showed up. He would have to go to Zim's lab if his enemy didn't show up. Even if he didn't want to, he had to do something. And soon.

Dread. That was only of the many emotions that filled Zim up to the breaking point. But he kept telling himself that he was doing this for Gir. Swallowing a huge lump in his throat Zim pulled the hood up on his grey sweatshirt and pushed the doors to the school open. All he wanted was to go back to his base, but he made a promise. And he wasn't going to let Gir down. Glad the halls were empty Zim made his way to his homeroom. Not worried about the notice of his absent, the school system never noticed.

Zim decided just to wear a big grey sweatshirt, black pants, worn sneakers, same contacts, and messy black wig, with the hair falling in front of his eyes. Nothing special, he didn't deserve to look nice and evil. He felt rare anxiety build up inside him as he reached his class; trying to breathe the Irken kept thinking repeatedly 'It's for Gir.' Before entering the class.

But immediately began to curse in Irken under his breath when every single student turned and stared. Ignoring his peers gazes and whispers Zim allowed his head to drop. When he would normally hold it up high, but instead kicked himself for choosing a seat in the front row.

Dib sighed deeply as he doodled onto a notebook, 'Homeroom is pointless.' He thought. And due to budget cuts, Homeroom was the same classroom as the rest of their classes. Also thanks to the stupid school system thinking children should grow up around the same teacher to create a sense of family enrichment. Mrs. Bitters remained their teacher.

Sighing dib looked over at Zim's seat, purely out of habit, 'Empty. Figures.' He thought breaking his pencil in frustration. Dib quickly thought up an excuse so he could be excused, maybe…a sickness, family emergency. What would work?

But just as Dib was about to raise his hand when the door opened, snapping his head up he spun around in his seat as the rest of the class did the same. Shocked Dib growled "Zim." It was Zim indeed, in an odd looking baggy grey sweater. Scowling dib was caught off guard as his enemy quickly looked around, ducked his head and shuffled over to his seat. Dib's jaw dropped, WAIT! Hold on! Did ZIM just scamper to his seat with his head hanging! WHAT?! That was impossible! This was Zim!

The cockiest alien he knew! Well…the only alien he knew. But still. Shaking his head Dib continued to stare at Zim as his classmates began to whisper to each other. Zim didn't seem to notice as dib stared. He pulled his hood down, and kept a fixed gaze on his hands. Which bore white gloves, dib didn't notice how Mrs. Bitters snapped at the class to be silent. He was too stunned by Zim; usually dib could tell what Zim was thinking. It's not that it was very hard, either anger, evil happiness, or anger. But now-Dib shook his head in a furry. 'I will find out what you're up to Zim' he thought to himself. And clenched his fist's, there was no way he was going to let Zim out of his sight.

-One long boring class about doom later-

Zim sighed in relief when the bell for lunch rang. The only break any student had all day, but today after noon classes were canceled for a staff meeting, so all the students were heading home, to the relief of a certain green student. Jumping up Zim dashed to the door, not noticing the sound of heavy boots following him.

Class was torment; the more he sat there the more the Irken was teased and even spat at. Just because some were attracted to him, didn't mean that EVERYONE liked him. Oh no, quite the opposite. Zim felt his eyes gloss over as the words of his peers rang through his head. 'Freak' 'Loser' 'You'll never find love'.

Bursting into the happily empty rest room, Zim couldn't hold back as tears began to roll down his cheeks. Looking into the filth covered mirror Zim cried silently, the taunts of his peers fading into the words of the tallest. 'You're not deserving of love!' hunching over the sink he clenched the porcelain sink allowing his tears the drip into the sink. 'You are worthless!' Zim only wanted to go home and curl up with Gir on the couch. While Gir gave him chocolate filled sugar coated marshmallows.

"ZIM!" Jumping Zim spun on his heel the loud banging of the door spooking him. "dib…" he whispered as Dib now stood before him stanched for battle. 'No! Not now!' Zim screamed to himself, 'He was too weak to protect himself.' Dib snarled stepping forward "I don't know what you've been up to ZIM." The investigator spat his name out, as Zim stumbled back "But I'm going to stop you. Right now." Zim backed up more furrowing his brow "Zim has done nothing Dib human. So…just leave."

Dib just grinned "Nice try." As he lunged at Zim, who mustered energy he didn't even have to grab the top of a stall door and flip over the human. Dib fell forward with a grunt "YOU CAN"T RUN FROM ME ZIM!" Jumping to his feet.

Zim didn't care about Dib; he just wanted to go home. Panting Zim was much slower than normal, before any of this happened he could run miles and not be tired. But now…Zim barely made it to the front door.

The sound of Dib's screams were breathing on the nape of the Irken's neck. Feeling his antennae stiffen Zim whipped the sweat of his brow as he jumped the last few steps. Unfortunately due to malnourishment and pure exhaustion, the usually agile Zim stumbled and fell. Angry with himself Zim was about to contact Gir when he was tackled to the ground. Shouting out Zim didn't even try to escape as Dib pinned him to the ground, sitting on him and keeping an iron like grip on Zim's small wrists.

Zim sighed going limp. "Finally. Now Zim! Tell me, what are you up to?!" Dib screamed adding slight pressure to his grip. Shaking his head Zim whispered in defeat "Nothing Dib." "Like I'm going to believe…" but the paranormal investigator stopped dead on his thought when he realized that Zim called him Dib.

Not Dib filth, stink, or pig. AND he wasn't screaming, fighting, kicking or even trying to defend himself.

"Zim?" but Zim cut him off shutting his eyes in acceptance in the eerily way of readiness as he spoke "Just call the Earth authorities like you wish Dib…it is what Zim deserves." Shaking his head in denial Dib whispered loosening his grip, once more feeling that gut wrenching feeling at the look of heart ache eked on Zim's face

"What's going on with you! Why are you doing this?" Tearing up Zim mustered up the last bit of strength he had left to push Dib off and jump up. His tears once more fresh as he stared straight into Dibs eyes and screamed "NOTHING! ZIM IS NO LONGER TO BE WORRIED ABOUT! NOW LEAVE ME ALONE!"

dib sat there on the cold concrete as Zim ran away, stunned, Zim was crying…he gave up? This just didn't make any sense! He had no idea what happened or why…but what he did know was that something was going on with Zim, and before he made any hasty decisions. Dib had to figure out what was bothering Zim…even if he didn't understand why he cared if his enemy was upset. …he just did…care. There must have been something he could do and soon.

A/N: Well there you have it! hope everyone liked it! Poor, poor confused dib! and poor sad Zim. Please comment and let me know what you think! XD