Agh! I have made a grievous error in judgement. In the last chapter's Author's Notes, I was supposed to link you all to the magnificent glory that the Illustrious Crackpot drew, based on the Skoodge/Gaz chapter of this story. Just insert the dots to this link:
illustrious-crackpot(dot)deviantart(dot)com/art/Skoodge-n-Gaz-109674432
Thanks again, I.C.! It really is cool. :-) Incidentally, Weird Pairing Lovers, if you haven't already, feel free to take a look at my recent story "The Way It Has to Be." Anyway, enough chatter. Let's get to the story!
When Gretchen was younger, her favorite show in the world was Probing the Membrane of Science.
The little five-year-old girl would sit in front of the TV set every day, absorbed in the scientist as he pontificated about this or that obscure theory or new and amazing invention. There was no point in trying to distract her from it, and if someone dared change the channel during her program it was sure to start her crying, to her older sister's annoyance. Then she would spend the rest of the day until bedtime telling everyone about what she had learned, until this same older sister wanted to tear her hair out in frustration.
Gretchen loved Professor Membrane. He was so smart, so cool, so endlessly fascinating. Not to mention handsome...
She would beg her parents to take her to see the show live, but unfortunately something always got in the way. Still, it was Gretchen's fondest wish that soon they would be able to take her down there, so she could see him from up close and maybe even get picked from the audience to ask him a question. Her heart would just burst at the very thought of getting to speak to him.
So imagine her surprise when she just happened to see him on her first day of skool.
She was already really nervous about kindergarten, and when she was nervous, she got thirsty. Her parents had dropped her off early, when only about half the kids were already in class, so she raised her hand and asked the teacher if she could run to get a drink of water real quick. The teacher told her to hurry, and she ran down the corridor with her hall pass to the nearest fountain. She had just hopped down from the little step ladder they put for the younger kids and was heading back to class when she suddenly saw him from behind.
The famous Professor Membrane, walking down the hallway holding a little girl's hand.
Gretchen's breath caught in her throat for a moment, and she stared in astonishment, wondering if it could really be him. But there was no mistaking that long, peculiar lock of hair. Soft-looking, silky ebony hair that seemed to shine in the fluorescent lighting...
She shook her head. It took a moment for her mind to work again. It was Professor Membrane! Her idol! Just walking down the elementary skool hallway! She had to go and speak to him!
She took off at a run, flying right past her classroom after him as he headed for the parking lot.
"Professor Membrane! Professor Membrane!"
He didn't seem to hear her; he reached the front doors of the skool and opened them, walking with the little girl out of the building.
"No---Professor!"
She ran out the door after him, by which time he had already reached his car. She held out a hand and was about to call again, when suddenly she tripped over her untied shoe laces and fell onto her face. She let out a small cry of pain as she felt her large front teeth slam into her tongue. The professor, meanwhile, had picked up the little girl, strapped her into a car seat with a jolly "Here you go, daughter" and was now climbing into the front seat.
"No---Professor Membrane!"
It was no use. The car door closed, and then the vehicle pulled out, turned, and drove away.
Gretchen's arm went limp at her side, and her face fell. She felt warm tears build up in her eyes as she slowly climbed to her feet, rubbing the bruises on her elbows in pain. Slowly, sadly, she turned around and trudged back to class.
When she got there, it was just about time to start. The class was arranged at little tables, each set for four people; nearly all of them were filled. Still feeling miserable, Gretchen looked up from the floor just long enough to spot the last available seats, at a table only occupied by one other child. She trudged over and sat down across from him, still looking downcast.
The teacher started the class by standing by the blackboard and writing some words ("WELCOME TO SKOOL"), instructing everyone to take out a sheet of paper and copy them as best they could. As Gretchen began to copy, the boy sitting across from her paused, frowned at her, wondering why she seemed so sad. He tapped her on the arm; she looked up, startled. He gave a small wave. "Hi."
"Hi," she said morosely.
"You look sad. Are you sad?"
She sniffled. "A little."
"Oh. Well, don't be sad. My dad told me that skool is gonna be really fun."
He gave her an encouraging smile, then suddenly frowned, turning his head and giving her a funny look. "Say, you're not an alien, are you?"
She blinked in surprise. "...No."
"Oh. Okay then." Then he returned to his paper, writing the words easily without having to look up at the board.
Gretchen looked back down at her own word, copying clumsily, but glanced back up briefly at the boy. He had funny, messy black hair, with a weird tuft that stood up and swept back over his head. She thought his hair looked nice, all soft and silky.
Hmm. He looked strangely familiar...and also kinda cute...
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"Hey, what's your last name, Dib?" Gretchen asked years later, copying down the name of each of her group members onto a piece of paper. Their other two teammates, Zita and the Letter M, both seemed intent on not talking to Dib if they could possibly avoid it.
"Membrane," he said dully. Which wasn't strictly true, but it was the standard answer he had learned to give for simplicity's sake.
Gretchen began writing, then paused. "Like the scientist?"
"Yeah. He's my dad."
"Hmm." She tapping the eraser of her pencil against her large front teeth thoughtfully. "I think I used to watch that show..." She considered for a moment, trying to remember, then shrugged and went back to writing.
I'm rather fond of this chapter. :-) Invaderzimfannumber1 has pointed out to me that Gretchen's crush on Dib seems to develop sometime after "Room With a Moose," since she makes fun of him in that episode, but eh...crushes come and go.
