Author's note: Sorry, but this chapter is a bit shorter than usual! ^^

JustBeStill - Thanks! :D Hope this chapter is interesting too!

CC - Thanks! And you'll just have to wait and see! ;)

Chapter 4 : The Nightmare Begins part 2

"Today's lecture is about outer space... and how it will eventually implode in on itself!" Miss Bitters screeches. 'I thought this was supposed to be history class. Oh well, seems like this woman will lecture us on whatever she wants. Then again, mathematically proven and experimentally observed theories basically say that space and time (history) are one and the same... '

I snap out of my thoughts as suddenly, Zim stands on his desk with both of his arms up in the air. The other kids hardly seem to notice.

"Yes Zim?" Miss Bitters inquires. 'If he disturbed her lecture, it had better be for something worthwhile.'

"In the event of, say, a full-scale alien invasion, how prepared do you think this planet's defenses would be? Tell me!" Zim asks.

'Okay, he's definitely an alien.' I think, as my suspicions are practically confirmed. 'Let's just see how this goes...'

Miss Bitters, however, just ignores him and drones on, "as I was saying, the universe is just doomed. Doomed, doomed, doooooooooooomed," leaving me in a state of partial uncertainty.

'On the one hand, he practically admitted it. On the other hand, could any alien invader really be this imbecilic?'

Miss Bitters is now in a state of total obliviousness to her surroundings, as she continues to chant that one word, "doom, doom, doom, doom..." She's pretty much completely entranced, so she doesn't stop when Dib finally speaks up,

"Okay, am I the only one here who sees the alien sitting in class?"

I glance behind me at the students to see them all looking around for the said alien. 'You have got to be kidding me...'

"There!" Dib continues, pointing at Zim. "Right there!" I see Zim looking nervous and he appears to be sweating out of sheer fear of the situation. I feel like I might have to interfere soon, this feels like bullying. Even if it is probably true that he's an alien.

"That is no kid! He's an alien! An alien! One of the monsters I've been talking about! He's here to conquer Earth!" Dib states with utmost certainty, clearly aiming to start some sort of "witch-hunt".

There's a moment of silence and I notice Zim nervously looking at a button that has ominously appeared on his sleeve. He looks as if he's considering pressing it. I finally decide to intervene. Even if Zim said he was an alien invader, I kinda doubt it. He's probably just a lunatic. He doesn't deserve to be treated this way on his first day, right? I decide.

I whisper, "Zim!" and when he looks up, I wink.

I stand on top of my desk, like Zim did earlier, except facing the class and I ask with a wide grin on my face: "Who here feels they are different? Please stand up and make yourself heard."

I wasn't sure if this was gonna work, but I wanted to distract everyone anyway. However, someone in the back surprisingly gets up. It's a kid that looks...like an old man?

"How's it goin'? My name is Don, some of you might know me as "Old Kid"." He coughs, a dry old cough, the continues, "I'm not really old, but I have a condition which makes me age faster than others."

"Does that make him an alien?" I yell. aiming to start a cheer and the other kids yell back, "No!"

Then, surprisingly, other kids start to speak of their insecurities,

"My hair is the same color as my head!" A boy (AN: Bit doesn't know their names, but it's Melvin) yells.

"I dwon't actually wike dwagons, only unicowns!" A girl (Mary) says.

"I haven't changed my socks for a month!" Another boy (Carl) says.

"I don't like using the bathroom at school, so I hold my wee-wee all day long!" Says one boy (Zootch) and is followed by a silent pause as everyone gapes at him. Only a few monkey noises can be heard, for some reason.

I shake my head clear of the awkwardness and exclaim delightedly, "Yeah...Anyway! We're all different! So, let's give Zim a chance, shall we?" Everyone murmers their agreement -and I get down from my desk- until Dib speaks up (more like yells) again.

"This is what he wants you to think! I know what I heard last night! He's here to conquer Earth! Look no further than his horrible green head for evidence!" Dib yells derangedly.

"Insolent fool boy! It's a skin condition." Zim's eyes move from side to side as he says this. I know he's obviously lying. I hope I made the right choice in backing him after all.

"And where are his ears?! Is that part of your "skin condition", Zim? No ears?" Dib pushes his point further.

"Yes," Zim mutters, looking convincingly sad.

The students all look extremely angrily at Dib now and I speak up again, addressing Dib this time.

"Okay Dib, I think you've made your views clear. You have as much right as everyone else to state your opinion, but you can't insult your classmates. If you have a problem, take it somewhere else." I say, glaring at Dib.

"But- but-" Dib starts and the other classmates now speak up.

"Be quiet, Dib!"

"Stuff it Membrane boiiiiii!"

"Shut your freakishly big head Dib!1!1!" One kid screams.

Dib and I continue to glare at each other until the Bitters says, simultaneously with the bell, "Go now!"

A lot of the kids jump out of the windows of the classroom. Zim, -along with some others, such as Gretchen, who scurries off to the front- exits through the classroom through the door like a normal person. I follow him out of the building and so does Dib.

Dib rushes up to confront Zim who has stopped on the main steps of the building.

"Zim. Maybe your cruddy little disguise worked on everyone else, but I'll get them to see the truth."

"No one will believe you," Zim says in a sinister tone, turning back to Dib.

Dib slides down the banister to the front of the stairs and Zim and replies, "They'll believe if I bring you to them without your disguise." Then he pulls out a pair of handcuffs.

I walk down the stairs, following them. That is, until I notice the skool bus is waiting. I'd better go now or I won't have a ride home!

I speak up, "Sorry to disturb you guys, but I gotta go so..."

"No one cares, Bit!" Dib says agitatedly.

"Don't get your head-scythe in a bunch, Dib!" I say cheerfully, disturbing them further. "Anyway, byyyyyye!" I run away and through the open doors of the bus and glance behind me.

I see a chase beginning with Dib chasing after Zim with the handcuffs. 'This isn't good...'

Unfortunately, at that moment, the doors close and the bus driver starts the bus up, not even giving me a chance to find a seat.

I walk down the aisle and some girls from my class speak up, "Hey, sit with us, Bit." I politely decline and go over to around the middle of the bus, where I find Gretchen, sitting alone as usual.