Chapter Four: Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

An alien! A real live alien! A living breathing walking talking piece of extra-terrestrial life just bopping around right under everyone's noses! And in my own class no less! What luck! It can't be a coincidence! It's crazy. It's amazing! It's going to be so much FUN!

Mai was in an extraordinarily jovial mood the next day. She walked down the street, smiling broadly, barely containing her excitement about interacting with the alien. She arrived at Skool extra early, hoping to talk to Zim alone. Of course, she wouldn't let on that she knew his secret-given the previous night's events; she doubted that he'd respond nicely.

Most people would be horrified that they were living in the same neighborhood as an alien. What's more is that they would be absolutely terrified that said alien tried to DESTROY THEM, but Mai really wasn't concerned with her own destruction. She knew that last night had been a close call- Zim alone was hard to compete with. Had her virus not worked, she would be laying on a dissection table or something of that nature. But it had worked, and she had gotten out of there safely. She hadn't left anything that could be traced back to her, not even a fingerprint.

As soon as she entered the classroom, her smile dropped. Zim was no where to be seen. Only one boy, or rather, an old man, was in a desk. He looked at her and waved, "Hi there!"

Mai smiled awkwardly and slowly started to back out of the doorway. She stopped as she bumped into someone.

"Gomen-nasai!" she said quickly, turning around.

"Mai!" Dib exclaimed, "Did you create the virus?"

"Hai, very effective. Keep busy for while."

"Great!" Dib grinned, "We can go after skool."

She shook her head. "Already go. Mission complete!"

"What?" he exclaimed, "You went to Zim's house, alone?"

She shushed him, looking around suspiciously.

"We were supposed to go together. Do you know how dangerous he is! You could've been hurt! Or worse! Are you-"

"DIB-KUN!"

He blinked, surprised that she yelled. She took a breath and continued, "I saw. Now, I believe you, Dib-kun."

Dib couldn't believe it at first. Had she really just said that? Those three words he had wanted to hear for practically his whole life? I. Believe. You. "Y-you do?"

She nodded.

He looked ecstatic. "YES!"

Dib punched the air triumphantly and suddenly wrapped his arms around Mai in a bear hug. After a moment, he realized what he had done and quickly released her, a slight pink spreading across his face. Mai didn't seem to think anything about it but Dib, on the other hand, felt very awkward. He didn't have much positive interaction with people, especially girls, and wasn't quite sure what actions were appropriate.

She looked around, fidgeting, as students began filing into class. Tugging on Dib's coat, she pulled him from his embarrassment. "Time to go."

He nodded, "Yeah. Right."

They took their seats in class and Dib wished they sat closer. Having an actual friend was a new experience for him and was a bit excited, especially since she was the only one to believe him about Zim. Maybe she would believe me about the Yeti Conference two years ago…

Mai was becoming increasingly anxious, waiting for Zim to arrive. It had been five minutes since class had started and he wasn't there yet. Is he coming? Is he sick? Is he skinning to do alien things? A dark shadow fell on Mai, sending a shiver up her spine. Slowly, she looked up to see her teacher looming over her.

"Your nervous foot tapping is disrupting class!" Ms. Bitters snarled. "One more disturbance and you'll find yourself in-"

BOOM.

The door banged open. A very frazzled and livid looking Zim stood in the doorway. He looked like he went through a blender… and survived. Mai was surprised at the fury behind his contacts. The Bitter One swooped upon him.

"Zim!" she rasped, "You're late!"

Aside from his disheveled appearance and aura of complete hatred, he was able to compose himself. "I apologize, I am late. On my way to skool, I was viciously attacked by a moose."

"A moose?"

He looked at her seriously. "Yes."

"TAKE YOUR SEAT!"

Zim complied. He had had one of the worst possible nights! Not only did an intruder intrude in his base and sabotage all of his equipment but they escaped too! He had to literally fight his own base and try to undo the damage it inflicted. It had taken all night to shut off his super computer and then he had the problem of fixing it. Zim was as exhausted as an Irken could be, and very VERY angry. He would have just stayed home instead of facing skool but Gir was in a more annoying than usual mood and he just couldn't put up with it. Not that being among theses filth-monkeys was any better.

Mai found it hard to concentrate. Almost impossible. Before he had been weird and somewhat mysterious but now… NOW, he was weird and definitely mysterious! She had to find out more about him and his alien ways. SHE HAD TO! RIGHT NOW!

It's a wig. An outdated wig. A messy outdated wig. A wig that's hiding antennas. A wig that's right in front of me! A WIG THAT'S ASKING ME TO RIP IT OFF!

The bell rang and Zim rushed out of the class before Mai could attack his head. Curse you bell… Curse you…

"Mai, are you okay?"

She looked up at Dib and blinked. "Hm?"

He waved a hand in front of her face. "You've been staring at Zim the whole class. I mean I was too but you looked really upset. Is something wrong?"

She followed him out of the room. "Iie… iie. Nothing wrong."

He nodded but still looked concerned.

Lunch was normal, Mai sat with the Membranes. Zim sat at his table, alone. Dib talked about plans to expose Zim. Gaz played her GameSlave. The food was alive. And Mai was just starting to zone out.

"…and then when he opens the door, it'll fall on him….river of tears but even that'll hurt! And then… put it in a box… but it'll be a decoy… Sweet taste of victory! What do you think, Mai? …Mai?"

"I feel sick." She said standing and left the cafeteria, leaving Dib somewhat confused.

Baka. You let your emotions override your plan. You could've let Zim know you know… not to mention everyone else. Its no fun if everyone knows his secret… Just me… me and Dib.

Mai went into the girl's bathroom to get away from everything. She had to clear her head. Meeting an alien was something she had to get over and quick if she wanted anything to come from it. It was like meeting a celebrity or a wild animal, one wrong move and you're done for-game over. No second chances.

She sighed, hearing the end-of-lunch bell. Following the sound of screaming children, she went outside into the recess yard. Students were playing jump rope and ball involved games and drawing on the ground- none of which appealed to her. She sat on a swing, not swinging and dragged her shoes in the dirt.

Looking around, she saw Gaz, playing her game, sitting off to the side of the yard with Dib talking to her enthusiastically. Not feeling like joining in the conversation, she stayed where she was. She spent the rest of the recess staring at- observing- Zim. He didn't do very much, just stood around hating the world and sometimes yelling out, "I AM ZIM!"

For a day that she had so much anticipated, she was relieved when the skool day ended and the final bell released her from its deadly grasp. "Mai, can I talk to you?"

She faced Dib who looked very nervous. "Hai."

"Look, if my plan seemed too… cruel and unusual, just hear me out. I mean he's trying to destroy the world, stopping him is our main goal, right? The means justify the ends…in the end."

She blinked in confusion. "What is Dib-kun talking about?"

He seemed just as confused as her. "Are you upset with me?"

"No? Why you think… oooh. I tell you. I get sick."

"That… wasn't an excuse to get away from me?"

"Why would I want get away?"

Dib smiled sheepishly. "Never mind, do you want to come over and plot Zim's doom with me?"

Thunder rumbled overhead as they walked towards the Skool's main doors. "Eh… maybe other day. Things to do?"

He seemed a bit discouraged but tried to shrug it off. "Oh… ok. Tomorrow then."

He said goodbye and ran ahead. As Mai followed his steps to the door, she heard a pained scream. Stepping outside, she saw Zim rubbing his face and glaring at the sky.

"Curse you, weather-human! You lied to ZIM!"

He continued to glare as raindrops started to splat the pavement. He yelped and tried dodging a few but ended up caught as the rain increased. Screaming as the rain burnt his skin, he retreated to the safety of the skool overhang. Zim, panting, caught his breath but then realized he wasn't alone.

"What are you staring at, filth creature?"

"You alright?" Mai asked, looking extremely troubled. The rain hurts him? Would he melt out there?

"Of course, Zim is alright! Zim is NORMAL! Zim doesn't mind getting wet!"

Mai sat down beside him and he quickly stood up, not wanting to be that close to her. "You DARE sit by ZIM? You have no authorization! Away with you, stink thing!"

"Nyaah. I can't."Mai sighed.

"Eh? WHY NOT?"

"I don't like get wet…"

Zim seemed confused. "Don't humans enjoy frolicking in the rain of misery?"

She adjusted her cat ears. "Not me."

He thought this over. "Then it is normal for some humans to DETEST the sky water?"

Mai looked at him, curiously. "Hai. Everyone different."

They didn't talk anymore to each other as the rain continued to downpour.

Mai began singing suddenly. "Rain, rain go away. Come again another day."

Zim narrowed his eyes at her. "This chant of yours… is it effective in dispelling the rain evils?"

"Sometime take awhile."

He raised a non-existent eyebrow. "Then chant again! Do it noooow. Obey Zim!"

"It… work better with more than one." She lied, smiling brightly.

Zim was thoughtful for a moment. "Fine then…" he cleared his throat. "RAIN! Raaaain… uhh be gone from Zim's sight immediately or face the wrath of Ziiiim. NEVER COME BACK!"

Mai stared at him as he glared at the sky, daring it to disobey him. To her surprise, but not Zim's for he knew how amazingly amazing he was, the rain stopped and the sun darted out. Zim punched the air. "Victory for Zim!"

"Wow… eh good job, Zim-kun."

He scoffed. "Zim's words are far more powerful than your pitiful human vocals! Useless, stink-beast."

Not quite catching the meaning of his insult, she nodded. "Uh right, I guess we go home."

"Wait…" Zim said apprehensively.

Her stomach tightened as he stepped closer to her. "Yes, Zim-kun?"

Zim stared at her for a long moment.

Then he swiftly pushed her off the stairs, into a puddle. She whined as his boots walked over her frame as if she were a bridge. Whistling calmly, Zim walked away from her and the skool as if nothing happened. Mai stood and looked down at her muddy, wet self and twitched.

"Shimetta…" she cried.

AN: Thank you all for the reviews- they're keeping this story alive! In case you wanted a picture of Mai, here she is:

http:/lvowl . deviantart . com/art/Mai-the-love-pig-181567084

Must remove the two spaces. Bit fuzzy but you get the picture... get the picture? GET IT?

Japanese:

Iie: No

Shimetta: wet

Don't think I missed any…. Tell me if I did. Hope you liked it!