Zim didn't see Dib for the rest of the day

Zim didn't see Dib for the rest of the day. That didn't exactly bother him, more so when he realized that the reason for it was that Dib went home for the rest of the day. He was sure that if Dib wasn't careful, he would come to school the next day with bandages on his neck from his very claws and cast around his leg or arm from his father.

The teacher droned on and on about god knows what. Zim could tell that the teacher was attempting to enlighten the class, excite the soothed minds of his peers. Maybe even encourage a student or two to score higher then simply passing. But it was a futile effort, anyone without a blindly optimistic view of the world could tell that much.

The next and last fifty minutes of class was going to be an utter waste of time. Zim slipped his hand into his book bag and pulled out some homework he got from an earlier class. Math and science could be almost done immediately thanks to the aid of his Pak and his training on Irk. But things such as English and History, those were the topics he had to work with, practicing grammar drills and reading about the lives of dead humans until night turned into day and the text danced Dunkley across the pages.

Zim scowled. He hated human culture. He hated how America came to be and how Macbeth killed everyone he loved. But in order to be the perfect student, in order for him to the best, it was vital for Zim to master every topic the teachers dished out. His entire life, from smeet-hood to his graduation ceremony from the Invader Academy, no one has ever said so much as a 'good job Zim!' or 'keep up the good work!'

He came out as a loser, who praised himself day and night loudly. He had driven himself to utter madness and was too blind to see the error of his ways.

Now, on this god forsaken planet, Zim could for once think with such clarity. Zim didn't like himself. He hated himself.

"Things will get worse. Spork… The mighty Tallest Spork! For so many years, I thought he was dead. I thought I killed him. And he comes back, saying 'oh, I faked it so I can avoid the throne!'" Zim thought bitterly to himself. "I'll get caught, and then I will be executed! Oh Irk, I don't want to mud up my name anymore then it is now."

"Just one week." Zim muttered out loud. "And no more."

Several students shot a look at Zim, wondering what exactly he meant by that. The boy behind him kicked his seat. "Shut up green boy." He sneered.

Zim imagined himself ripping apart the boy, limb from limb. He imagined the blood gushing out his eye sockets and the gargled screams of mercy. He imagined taking what was left of the body and using it for horrible experiments.

But all he said was, "Columbine," and the whole class got very quiet.

XxXxXxX

"Books are amazing." Spork said, as he flipped though the pages happily. "You can't attach a wire or cord to them, so you have to read them by hand. Instead of getting the whole story in five seconds, you have to wait to see what happens next. Each page is a special surprise, and at the same time a burden. You want to know how it ends but you never want it to."

Gir tilted his head to the side. "Like the Scary Monkey Show?"

Spork sighed. "You know what I mean, right computer?"

The computer chuckled. "I'm a computer, I can't enjoy reading like you."

"Mini-Moose?"

"Nya!" She cried.

Spork glared at her. "That was uncalled for you floating… whatever you are!"

"Ooooooooo, Mini said a BAAAD word!" Gir screamed with glee.

The computer proceeded with scolding Mini-Moose on the use of proper language. Spork rolled his eyes the best way an Irken knew how and went back to his book. It was an interesting story about a young boy who was treated cruelly for his entire life, and how he was suddenly whisked into a magical school with strange creatures and odd vocabulary.

But half the pages were torn out so he couldn't enjoy it as much as he wanted to. By the time he looked up, it was almost time for Zim to come home.

XxXxX

Dib lay back in his bed, closing his eyes as he went. His father wasn't home yet, and neither was Gaz. He had no attention of telling any of them what had happened at school.

"Sooner or later, he'll suspect something." He thought to himself. "He'd probably try to expel Zim so I'll become the top student again. Or maybe he'll just get mad at me that I lost a fight to a foreign kid."

He opened his eyes again, suddenly realizing something. Things cannot go on like this. He had to get out, get away.

"I'm leaving." He whispered. "But not yet."

XxXxX

Short chapter, I know. But I couldn't think of anything. Enjoy and await the next chapter. And I'm sorry if there are grammar mistakes. I am really trying to fix that.

Plus, I don't know what Mini-Moose said.

Little jerk.

Nya!