Dib looked around for the familiar pinkie-purple of Zim's uniform shirt. He'd spent the rest of yesterday deciding what to do today and how he should bring the news report up. After freaking out for an hour or two he'd finally settled on just asking Zim directly. Something was going on and Dib wanted the truth. He squinted at the Skool yard through the misty rain before deciding that Zim would be inside, avoiding the 'acid'.
Dib slid into the Skool building, trying to find Zim before class. Everyone else was talking about the news report and the same question was on all their lips, where was Zim? Dib by-passed the canteen since Zim didn't even go there for lunch anymore so he wouldn't be there now. Dib glanced into the library, spotting Zim at one of the tables. He trailed over, noticing Zim's change of clothes. He had barely seen Zim in anything other than his uniform for the whole time he knew him. The handful of times he did were few and far between. A small pause in Zim's sketching told Dib that the Irken had noticed his arrival. Zim looked so different in these clothes, more 'normal' and Dib liked the way the large hoodie smothered the Irken's small frame. It was kind of cute... Dib blinked, pushing the thought aside to dissect later.
He took a seat next to Zim. He probably should have sat across from him but Dib wanted to prove that even yesterday did not make him scared of the Irken. Zim slouched beside him, pencil dropping to fall onto his sketch as he turned to face him. Dib glanced at the page since Zim hadn't bothered to hide it. Magenta eyes blinked at him, waiting for Dib to speak.
"We need to talk," Dib began, almost laughing at the cliché line. Zim watched him in silence, propping his chin up on one of his hands.
"About?" Something passed through Zim's eyes but Dib couldn't place it. The stupid contacts Zim wore masking it into obscurity. Dib pressed on, the clock on the wall telling him it was almost time for class.
"A lot of things. First though, the news yesterday..." Zim blinked at him, giving him a questioning gaze.
"News?" He echoed and Dib sighed, didn't Zim watch TV?
"On the TV?" He ventured, seeing if Zim would figure it out on his own. The Irken shook his head.
"I still don't understand but we'll have to talk later. The bell will go in less than five minutes." Dib faltered as Zim packed up his stuff into a normal backpack. He'd only just noticed Zim's 'Pak' was missing. The Irken stood and Dib acted.
"Wait!" He grabbed Zim's sleeve, the soft fabric still damp to the touch. Zim hissed at him.
"Don't you dare ruin my hoodie." He warned and Dib almost let go. He didn't as if he did then Zim would escape.
"Why the new clothes?" Zim sighed.
"Let's talk at lunch," A dazzling smile stunned Dib and he found his hand empty. Zim had never smiled like that before... with no malice to be seen. Zim winked at him. "If you can find me~" With that Dib found himself alone. He blinked since when could Zim smile like that? Why had he smiled at him? Dib looked down at his hand... probably just to get away. With a sigh, Dib looked around the library, finding himself alone. The darkened corners unsettling. 'Wonder if there's any ghosts?' Dib thought before standing and heading to class. He had a lot of questions to ask Zim later.