FYI: This Story is A ZADR AU of the original Invader Zim TV Series that aired on nickelodeon where Zim is actually a well-respected and successful invader, who is loved by his leaders, and his people. He has a good disguise and fits in perfectly with the humans, and befriends Dib, and lives a double life while trying to keep his secret under wraps.

Zim is not short in this AU he is average human height. Also, all characters are aged up for obvious reasons. So just think of invader Zim happening in high school instead of grade school. I wanted to write a story with a smart respected Zim, and give my readers a feel for what the series would have been like if Zim wasn't defective, and was actually appreciated for his loyalty, and tireless efforts. I also added a little ZADR twist because who doesn't like ZADR? Also, this is different from my Prince AU series. Zim is just a regular Irken in this story with no royal heritage.

Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim

Author's Notes: And now back to Zim, and Dib. I wonder just how creepy Keef will get. Let's find out shall we?

Chapter 25: Best Friends? (Part 2)

(Back with Dib…)

He should have known Miz would win…

Of course Miz would win the race to school, his legs screamed the words "Fast Runner!"

"Not bad." Dib complemented as they reached the front steps of the High school.

"Not Bad yourself." Zim admitted as he allowed himself to catch his breath, Earth had 5 times the gravity of most planets he had visited, including his home planet Irk. So running was a little harder than he was used to. Luckily though his PAK was already reconditioning his body, adapting him to the new gravitational pull.

Yes, being Irken had its advantages.

"LATE!" a creepy and all too familiar woman screeched as they walked through the front door, with Gaz and Peg not far behind.

"Mrs. Bitters?" Dib asked almost fearfully as they walked up to her. "What are you doing here?"

Mrs. Bitters looked around, as if to make sure she would not be over heard; and then she answered. "After last night, the counsel and I agreed that Dib needs constant surveillance." She explained. "The enemy knows your every move Dib, for your protection several members of the Swollen Eyeball have joined the school staff."

Dib visibly gives a sigh of relief. So he would be protected after all.

"What a relief." Zim voiced his feels openly, not looking a bit concerned, and he wasn't. He had been expecting this after all the humans weren't stupid, and he had made it very clear that Dib would suffer if he ever caught him.

"So does that mean we're not getting detention?" Peg asked hopefully.

"Oh no you're getting detention." Mrs. Bitters assured them as she began to write up their slips.

"Oh come on!" Dib snapped. "It was Keef's fault, I have a restraining order and everything, and he violated it, and made us late."

"And I will explain that to your father." Mrs. Bitters assured him as she passed out the slips. "Put the longer I can keep you under our watchful eyes without drawing suspicion from the enemy, the better off you will all be."

"Fine." Dib mumbled, taking his slip. "But this better not go on my permeant record. I can't afford another tardy this semester."

Mrs. Bitters nodded and then in a sinister and evil voice she snapped. "Now get to class you worthless parasites!"

The four rushed off to first period, having missed home room.

"Wow she's scary." Peg admitted, of course she never knew Mrs. Bitters until she joined the Swollen Eyeball, since she didn't live in Dib's home town during her elementary school years.

"She only acts like that because she hates kids." Dib said. "She thinks acting scary will discourage them from approaching her with annoying questions."

"I bet it works." Peg mumbled.

"I don't know." Zim mused. "I kind of like her." He admitted.

"You're the only one." Gaz joked.

The rest of them snickered before parting ways.

"See you at lunch." Dib told Miz.

Zim nodded, he and Dib only had home room and 5th period together which was a bit of a downer to both of them. For different reasons of course, it was a downer to Dib because it meant he had no one to talk to throughout the first half of the day. And it was a downer to Zim because he had no way of keeping an eye on his enemy until he saw him later in the day. This could be a problem if the Dib ever discovered his secret identity. However the chances of that happening prematurely was slim, or it was until a certain nuisance decided to jump up in front of Zim and snap a couple of picks with his camera.

"Hey Miz." Keef chimed happily. "Don't mind me just taking some pictures for the yearbook."

Zim blinked blindly for a moment, and groaned openly as Keef came into view, he highly doubt the boy was on the yearbook committee. If anything it was an excuse the boy used to take pictures of people.

This of course was true, Keef was known to snap several pictures a day, and while the yearbook committee had asked for pictures from him before, he wasn't officially a member.

"What are you doing Keef?" Zim dared to ask as they entered the same first period.

"Oh I have first period with you." Keef said. "You probably didn't notice since you're always in the front row right beside the door."

Zim blinked twice, in disbelief. This kid had a class with him? He had been going to this school for a week now and he didn't even notice. Which meant, 'This kid actually has some skills when it comes to spying' he realized. "No I know that." He lied. "I mean why did you just take my picture?"

"I told you Miz." Keef answered, his voice growing dark again, like before. "Dib is mine, and I will get rid of you."

"Oh?" Zim asked as he sat down in his usual seat, and to his horror Keef sat down beside him.

"Yep I plan to find something about you." He said openly. "Something that would make Dib hate you before your date tonight."

"Date?" Zim looked confused. "We don't have a date?"

"Dinner ate the Bowling Alley." Keef countered. "Sounds like a date to me."

Zim's eyes widen. 'He was still watching us! I hadn't even noticed!' A million red flags just went up in his mind, and they all gave a clear message. Not just anyone could slip under Zim's radar, and this Keef was aiming to find out something to ruin their plans for the bowling alley. 'Something like the fact that I'm really an alien!'

Oh yes, that would defiantly put a dent in his plans, and bowling had nothing to with it.

"So Miz." Keef said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Got any secrets?"

Zim resisted the urge to claw the boy's face, but just barely. The guy reminded him of nosy, cadets who crowded around him whenever he was unfortunate enough to be in their presence. Wide eyed, and noting his every move, asking a thousand questions and interpreting his every word in their own twisted way.

'This is bad.' He admitted to himself. 'Dib is a part of my cover, the fact that we are friends is why the Swollen Eyeball is not looking at me as an enemy.' And now this idiot could ruin everything!'

Yes, it would seem Keef was going to be a big problem indeed.

'Not if I can help it.' Zim vowed. "First off Keef it's not a date, we're just two guys hanging out after school. And secondly I did not give you permission to take my picture so either you delete it or I take this to the principal's office."

"Lot of trouble for just a picture." Keef taunted. "Sounds like you do have something to hide, I knew you were too good to be true, my Dib deserves better."

"He is not your Dib!" Zim shouted, despite himself.

"Mr. Richards there will be no yelling in my Class!" Mrs. Edwards, his first period English teacher snapped.

It wasn't until then that Zim noticed everyone was staring at him, he bit his lip. 'This kid is nothing but trouble, I have to get rid of him and fast!' "Sorry Mrs. Edwards." He said. "But could you please have Keef move to his usual seat?" He asked as kindly as possible. "He's harassing me, and taking Pictures without my consent."

Mrs. Edwards looks almost sympathetic upon hearing this, and turns a stern look towards Keef. "Keef how many times have I told you to ask first?"

"I was just-" Keef began, but obviously this was a very common argument that he had with Mrs. Edwards, and it was obviously not up for debate.

"Camera now!" She demanded, holding out her hand. "And return to you usual seat!"

Zim couldn't help but smile, teachers were so easy to manipulate, especially when you're new.

Unfortunately Keef sees his smile, and returns a smile of his own "Well played." He admitted. "But don't think this is over." He whispered before getting up to hand his camera over to Mrs. Edwards.

"You can have it back at the end of the day." She told him. "And you will delete the picture you took of Miz."

"Yes Ma'am." Keef said cheerfully before returning to his usual seat in the back.

Zim followed his every move, and for good reason; this was far from over. Keef made that all too clear.

"Alright class open your books to page 243." Mrs. Edwards said, beginning her lecture.

Zim allowed her words to fade into the far regions of his mind, as he began to search for a solution to the ever growing problem. 'This Keef does not seem to be the one to back down easily.' He thought. 'What am I going to do about him?'

At first he was tempted to tell Dib, but then dismissed it. After all, it was clearly obvious that the Dib could not handle the problem. 'Why handle it?' he thought to himself. 'You're over reacting the kid maybe sneaky, and persistent, but he's not going to find out the truth.'

Yes, as much as it pained him, the only thing he could do was ignore the unstable teen.

The rest of class went by without a hitch, and Zim couldn't be help but breathe a sigh of relief, that is until he left the class room, and was blinded by yet another camera flash.

"Did you seriously think I only had one camera?" Keef scoffed as his eyes readjusted.

"Seriously?" Zim had a hard time withholding his hissing tone that time, if the Irken elite had one weakness it was his lack of patience for others. And Keef was already pushing it! "Why are you doing this?" He asked.

"Dib is mine." Keef proclaimed.

Zim rolled his eyes. "I'm not trying to date him." He snapped. "We are just friends."

"Not for long." Keef swore. "I'm the only man in his life."

"I'm beginning to see why." Zim admitted doing his best to resist the urge to snap his neck. The child was even more annoying than a cadet, and his possessive behavior over Dib was beginning to nag at him. 'Dib is my enemy, mine! Not his, this worm needs to learn his place. Only I can make him cringe, filch and or shake in his boots!'

He wasn't entirely sure why he felt so possessive over the child, after all his other enemies from previous missions had multiple enemies themselves. So why did he see red every time Keef spoke possessively of Dib?

It wasn't like he cared about the child…Did he?

That was the thing, Zim was being honest when he told Dib he "Didn't know how he felt about him." Because he didn't, Dib was strange, while the other humans were gross, Dib was interesting. Dib was like an uncharted territory, a challenge that had yet to be mastered. And for Zim such a challenge made his veins pump with adrenaline and excitement. It was a feeling that Zim had not felt since his first Irken assignment.

'Since Lard Nar…' he reminded himself, and yet somehow the feeling was stronger with Dib, though he wasn't sure how that was possible. He shook his head, he was getting in too deep, letting his emotions go unchecked. Most of the time he could ignore his emotions when it came to a mission, but with Dib it was different.

And he couldn't even begin to figure out why.

What made Dib so special?

Another camera flash draws him out of his thought, and this time the hissing tone in his voice is well noted. "Listen Keef." He snapped. "I can and will break that stupid camera of yours." He warned.

Keef smiled, and showed Zim the picture he just took. "Looks like Mr. Nice guy isn't really nice!" He taunted.

Zim sees the picture, and yes the image of Miz is anything but nice, but he forces himself to calm down; to not be lured into the obvious trap. "Please, all I have to do is explain to Dib that you were pestering me during the photo and your story crumbles." He pointed out.

Keef seemed to agree to this. "True, but if I follow you all day, I'm sure to find something, and if not I defiantly have you running for the hills."

"Run?" Zim scoffed. "I don't run from anything, I run towards it. And you are nothing compared to the things I've had to deal with."

"We'll see." Keef said. Laughing rather manically. "We will see." He then begins to snap several blinding pictures.

Zim feels dizzy, the flashes are setting off his ocular implants, making it hard to see. "Stop that." He snaps.

"Make me!" Keef challenged.

Zim was half tempted to take him up on that offer, but he knew the school had a zero fighting policy, so he doesn't take the bait. "I'm serious Keef!" He warns, though it's an empty threat.

Unfortunately Keef knows this and continues snapping pictures, causing Zim to do the one thing he's never done in his life.

RUN!

He ran down the hall, blindly trying to get way from the flashes of the camera; he knocked a few people over in doing so. He hurriedly said sorry to them and went on his way, Keef followed, laughing as they went.

"Wait until Dib sees this." He taunted. "Not as tough as you pretend to be hu?"

Zim couldn't believe he was running from a child! He was the Almighty Zim! Irken Elite, number one invader of the empire! The scourge of nine galaxies, the one man army who single handedly took out 300 enemy troops. He ran from no one! And yet, the only solution was to run, thankful his eyes readjusted as he went and he managed to dive into the bathroom.

He picks a stall and locks it before allowing himself a breather. The Irken rubs his eyes, they hurt from the flashing lights, and to his dismay a headache was forming in the back of his mind. "Perfect." He whispers. "Just Perfect."

"Ready to give up?" Keef asked.

Zim turned to see Keef peaking over into his stall from the one beside him, no doubt he was sitting on the toilet seat in order to be tall enough.

He snaps another picture as he looks, and Zim's PAK begins to register his distress, it activates and makes a binging sound.

"What was that?" Keef asked.

"My phone." Zim answered quickly. "Must be a text."

"Really?" Keef asked. "It sounds like on the movies when a weapon is arming itself."

Zim almost choked on air, because that was exactly what that sound meant. His PAK had registered the boy as a threat due to the level of stress he was causing him, and was now putting several weapons online for quick use.

"Yeah I like that sound." He lied. "It's cool sounding, so I used it as my ring tone." He pulled out his phone and pretended to check it, only to see that he actually got a text.

Dib: Where R U?

Zim bit his lip, he and Dib had made of habit to walking to class together, since his first day of school. Sure they had little to no class together, but all of their classes were fairly close to the each other so walking together was ideal.

Got caught up

He texted back quickly, he didn't want to tell Dib about Keef just yet, thinking it was best to handle this himself.

Dib didn't take long to answer back.

Dib: It's Keef isn't it?

Zim sighed, well so much for that plan.

"Is that my Dib?" Keef snapped.

"He is not your Dib!" Zim yelled, as the boy tried to snatch his phone away.

"Give it!" He shouted.

Zim raced out of his stall, and Keef did the same, he then goes to tackle Zim without a second for thought. Zim allows himself to be knocked down, put keeps a firm grip on the phone in his hand. 'This child is relentless.' He realizes, doing his best to prevent his PAK from defending him. Of course usually a PAK will not arm itself in less an Irken is met with a challenge they cannot handle. But since Zim was refusing to fight back his PAK was mistaking his refusal for distress.

'If I don't do something quick my PAK is going to kill this kid!' He realized. So he did the only thing he could do. He reared his fist back and punched him.

The punch wasn't supposed to be hard, but it sends the boy flying backwards into the wall, his camera shatters on impact.

Zim winces as he notices blood trickling from the boy's nose and lip. "Oops." He whispers.

Oops doesn't even begin to describe it. Zim and Keef had been by the stall closest to the door, and Zim's blow had slung the kid across the room against the far wall. Of course his PAK was to blame, the device increased the owner's strength in emergencies. For example, Zim once lifted his own Voot Cruiser off of himself after Gir had caused it to fall from a support hook during maintenance.

And to the Irken's dismay something registers on Keef's face, he can see it in his eyes.

"What are you?" Keef yelled. "Some kind of freak? No way a kid is that strong!"

'This can't be happening.' Zim thought as he got to his feet.

"That's it isn't it? You're one of those freaks Dib reads about in his books!" Keef said trying to pinch his nose, but he screamed upon touching it. "You broke my nose you freak!"

"Yeah well none of this would have happened if you hadn't tried to take my phone!" Zim shouted, trying to figure out how he was going to handle this.

"Oh no you can't pin this on me!" Keef shouted. "Once I show the principal this Dib will see you for what you really are!" He said, before racing out the door.

Zim let him go, and the moment he was gone a small piece of his PAK unlatched from the device, and hovered in front of Zim.

The small piece, appears to be a floating screen, the screen turns on. It's Zim portable computer brain, and it doesn't sound happy. "Sir why did you not use me?"

"Are you mad?" Zim hissed. "If this child goes missing who will they suspect? The last one he was seen with!" he answered for the brain before it could respond. "Now stop pestering me with your pointless lectures and advise me on how to fix this!" he hissed.

"May I suggest a code Purple?" The computer asked.

Code Purple…

Zim slowly began to smile. "Yes a code Purple would do lovely I think."

"I'll prepare a pair right away." The computer answered.

"No make two pairs." Zim ordered.

"Two?" the computer asked.

"Yes, this incident just might have proven useful to us." Zim assured the computer.

"Very well." The computer said, and made the order. "The Package should be here by lunch time."

Zim's smile grew impossibly wider. "Perfect!"

-To Be Continued