The next day was to go on as the day before; Zim sent decoy to school while he remained behind to do his labwork. The class was getting settled just as before as Ms. Bitters watched uncaringly.
Decoy entered the classroom with a smile on his face. He approached Ms. Bitters holding a shiny red fruit in his hand.
"Good morning Miss Bitters, I have an apple for you." He presented his gift proudly to the teacher, her face showing annoyance and bewilderment.
"Thank you Zim" she said half-heartedly "Now take your seat with the rest of the class!"
"Yes ma'am." He did so quickly.
"Be careful with that Ms. Bitters," Dib warned almost popping out of nowhere. "It could be poison, or some kind of alien bomb." He glanced at Zim with his hateful glare then faltered to confused disappointment when the alien did not glance back with the same expression. Instead he stared at the black board waiting for the daily lesson with a smile.
Ms. Bitters calmly tossed the apple into the trash basket, not because of what Dib had said but because she had no need for an apple, especially one given to her with such disgusting sweetness.
"You should learn to mind your own business Dib," she uttered with distaste "or else it may prove fatal one day."
Dib cocked his eye and looked back at Zim who was still sitting, smiling.
Around lunchtime Dib's curiosity had grown into an endless list of questions that obsessed him. He spewed out each and every one to his sister as he watched his foe from across the cafeteria.
"It just isn't like him Gaz, why would his behavior change so drastically? He's up to something, I know it."
Gaz peeked up from her Gameslave at her brother for a split second and sighed with disgust. Why must she have a brother who rambled on about the stupidest things, she wondered to herself as she zapped a few killer ninjas on her screen.
"Maybe He's trying to bring up his grades." She suggested trying to appease her brother's ravenous curiosity.
"Aliens don't care about grades," he stated "Zim has something planned, he wouldn't just start paying attention in class because the teacher told him to. No, he has to have some ulterior motive." He turned to Gaz leaning slightly. "Maybe he's trying to cover something up, trying to make himself seem innocent so no one suspects anything. I mean, he even gave in his homework this morning!"
"OOOH Contact the media! Zim did his homework!" Gaz said with bursting sarcasm then snapped, "Gees Dib, nobody cares."
"You should care," he retorted "What ever Zim has planned it may involve the entire school. This could be BIG!"
"Whatever." She returned to her game.
Over by the other end of the cafeteria a small boy carrying his lunch tray got tripped by one of the large burly bullies that were always picking on the weaker kids. The muscle headed boys laughed at the smaller child's misfortune and mash potato covered face.
[ANALYZING: Bullies]
[PROGNOSIS: Jerks]
A black- gloved hand stretched downward toward the tripped classmate some help up.
Dib gasped and dropped his fork as he bared witness to Zim helping a boy to his feet. Normally the alien would have simply pointed and laughed at another's pain, but today he was being helpful and cheerful and it sent a pang of fear through Dib's mind.
"Did you see that?" He shouted to Gaz. "Zim would never help someone like that!"
Gaz shook her head.
"Maybe he wants to be nice for a change."
Dib didn't respond, instead he stared at Zim as the alien made his way back to his lonely table to resume staring at the daily lunchroom cuisine without touching it once.
"His behavior is so strange, he's acting normal, which for Zim isn't normal, so that's what makes it strange and not normal If he were acting normal he'd be acting strange which for Zim is normal but it's strange for us because we're normal except to Zim we're strange because he's strange but for him that's normal..."
Dib continued to babble, annoying Gaz further to the point of distraction.
"It's finally happened Dib, your brain has gotten so sick of listening to your mouth it's left your head completely."
"I mean it Gaz," he insisted "I need to figure out why he's acting like this."
Gaz sighed again and decided to humor her brother.
"Maybe he was abducted by aliens and replaced with a clone."
Dib jumped up smiling.
"Hey yeah! Maybe..." He smacked his forehead with anger, embarrassment and frustration as reality sunk in, "He already IS an alien!!!"
Gaz held back a chuckle, she loved it when Dib made himself look stupid. She smiled to herself and continued with her game.
Children crowed around the amusements of the playground yelling and shouting in typical rowdy fashion. Dib lay against the brick wall organizing his thoughts. The questions jumbled in his brain. He glanced over to the monkey bars where Zim was swinging playfully by his arms, smiling. What was with that smile? It was so creepy and accompanied with a light cheerful giggle it made Dib shutter uncomfortably. He gathered his courage and calmly approached his nemesis.
Decoy dangled from the monkey bars laughing giddily. He was having fun despite what his master has told him about school. Swinging lightly watching the gravel move beneath his swaying feet he smiled and glimpsed up catching sight of Dib coming towards him.
"Ok Zim," Dib shouted "I am getting sick of this act you're putting on. I'm on to you so you may as well tell me; what are you doing?"
Decoy looked around processing the question.
"I'm playing on the monkey bars." He said.
"No. I mean what are you planning?" Dib grunted angrily.
Decoy swung his legs over the top bar of the metal structure and let himself dangle from his knees hanging his arms down letting gravity control them.
"I was planning on going on the swings next."
Dib growled with frustration, his patients at its end.
"Don't play dumb with me Zim!" He yelled loudly "I know you have something up your sleeves!"
Decoy inspected his arms.
"I do?" he questioned.
Dib faced the upside down Zim gritting his teeth, boiling with rage and hate.
"You can end this charade Zim, I see right through your little ploy. I will know what you have planned, it's only a matter of time!"
[ANALYZING: Dib]
[PROGNOSIS: Head looks funny upside down]
No snide retort, no insult to his species, no statement of denial or dread, just a smile. Dib froze with shock only his eyes could follow as Zim jumped down from the monkey bars and looked for something else to do.
He was so calm, fearless, confident, a chilling horror to observe. Dib was completely thrown off by his enemy's reaction. He shock it off, the world was in danger and he needed to find out what that little green man had planned. Re-narrowing his eyes with determination, he pursued Zim.
Decoy heard footsteps behind him getting closer, louder, faster. He turned and saw Dib following him as he made his way across the playground.
Zim sped up upon seeing Dib behind him, but that didn't stop the boy from continuing the chase, he ran faster following the E. T. as he ducked around seesaws and under the slide. He would not give up, not until he knew exactly what Zim had arranged for the planet. By the time the two ran past the sandbox they were both running at full speed. With a furious leap Dib jumped onto Zim knocking them both down. Dib turned Zim to face him, holding the alien firmly by the shoulders, panting to catch his breath, sweat and sunlight gleaming off his glasses.
"This is it Zim." Dib managed to yell as he panted. "You will tell me now! What are you planning? What are you thinking?! Tell Me!!!!!"
A giggle. A tiny laugh was the response. It grew louder and longer into a chuckle then exploded into a fit of unstoppable laughter. Dib quickly released Zim's shoulders and recoiled in fear of the sound.
"Why are you laughing?" He asked meekly " What, what's so funny?"
More laughter, hardy and full, stabbing Dib to his very soul.
"Stop that! What's so funny? Are you laughing at me? Why? Stop laughing! Why are you laughing?! Why are you laughing Zim?! What's so funny?!? What???!"
The laughter stopped suddenly. Decoy got up, walked slowly to Dib, smiled, and thrust out his hands.
Dib wanted to run but fear froze his feet to the ground, leaving him prey for his foe. His eyes widened as Zim crept up and firmly tapped the human's shoulders.
"TAG!" Decoy yelled, "You're it!" he smiled and laughed as he ran across the field calling "Can't catch me!"
"Can't catch me"? Was that a threat? A warning? A challenge? Dib stared as Zim ran away. The sound laughter ringing in his ears, that smile haunting him. It was so innocent looking, so cheery. Dib shuttered, that smile sent chills down his spine. A feeling of doom came over him, paranoia settled into his heart. That smile. He grasped his trench coat closed close to his chest, Pure fear. The rest of the world seemed to darken away as he watched his rival run away still wearing that smile.
Decoy entered the classroom with a smile on his face. He approached Ms. Bitters holding a shiny red fruit in his hand.
"Good morning Miss Bitters, I have an apple for you." He presented his gift proudly to the teacher, her face showing annoyance and bewilderment.
"Thank you Zim" she said half-heartedly "Now take your seat with the rest of the class!"
"Yes ma'am." He did so quickly.
"Be careful with that Ms. Bitters," Dib warned almost popping out of nowhere. "It could be poison, or some kind of alien bomb." He glanced at Zim with his hateful glare then faltered to confused disappointment when the alien did not glance back with the same expression. Instead he stared at the black board waiting for the daily lesson with a smile.
Ms. Bitters calmly tossed the apple into the trash basket, not because of what Dib had said but because she had no need for an apple, especially one given to her with such disgusting sweetness.
"You should learn to mind your own business Dib," she uttered with distaste "or else it may prove fatal one day."
Dib cocked his eye and looked back at Zim who was still sitting, smiling.
Around lunchtime Dib's curiosity had grown into an endless list of questions that obsessed him. He spewed out each and every one to his sister as he watched his foe from across the cafeteria.
"It just isn't like him Gaz, why would his behavior change so drastically? He's up to something, I know it."
Gaz peeked up from her Gameslave at her brother for a split second and sighed with disgust. Why must she have a brother who rambled on about the stupidest things, she wondered to herself as she zapped a few killer ninjas on her screen.
"Maybe He's trying to bring up his grades." She suggested trying to appease her brother's ravenous curiosity.
"Aliens don't care about grades," he stated "Zim has something planned, he wouldn't just start paying attention in class because the teacher told him to. No, he has to have some ulterior motive." He turned to Gaz leaning slightly. "Maybe he's trying to cover something up, trying to make himself seem innocent so no one suspects anything. I mean, he even gave in his homework this morning!"
"OOOH Contact the media! Zim did his homework!" Gaz said with bursting sarcasm then snapped, "Gees Dib, nobody cares."
"You should care," he retorted "What ever Zim has planned it may involve the entire school. This could be BIG!"
"Whatever." She returned to her game.
Over by the other end of the cafeteria a small boy carrying his lunch tray got tripped by one of the large burly bullies that were always picking on the weaker kids. The muscle headed boys laughed at the smaller child's misfortune and mash potato covered face.
[ANALYZING: Bullies]
[PROGNOSIS: Jerks]
A black- gloved hand stretched downward toward the tripped classmate some help up.
Dib gasped and dropped his fork as he bared witness to Zim helping a boy to his feet. Normally the alien would have simply pointed and laughed at another's pain, but today he was being helpful and cheerful and it sent a pang of fear through Dib's mind.
"Did you see that?" He shouted to Gaz. "Zim would never help someone like that!"
Gaz shook her head.
"Maybe he wants to be nice for a change."
Dib didn't respond, instead he stared at Zim as the alien made his way back to his lonely table to resume staring at the daily lunchroom cuisine without touching it once.
"His behavior is so strange, he's acting normal, which for Zim isn't normal, so that's what makes it strange and not normal If he were acting normal he'd be acting strange which for Zim is normal but it's strange for us because we're normal except to Zim we're strange because he's strange but for him that's normal..."
Dib continued to babble, annoying Gaz further to the point of distraction.
"It's finally happened Dib, your brain has gotten so sick of listening to your mouth it's left your head completely."
"I mean it Gaz," he insisted "I need to figure out why he's acting like this."
Gaz sighed again and decided to humor her brother.
"Maybe he was abducted by aliens and replaced with a clone."
Dib jumped up smiling.
"Hey yeah! Maybe..." He smacked his forehead with anger, embarrassment and frustration as reality sunk in, "He already IS an alien!!!"
Gaz held back a chuckle, she loved it when Dib made himself look stupid. She smiled to herself and continued with her game.
Children crowed around the amusements of the playground yelling and shouting in typical rowdy fashion. Dib lay against the brick wall organizing his thoughts. The questions jumbled in his brain. He glanced over to the monkey bars where Zim was swinging playfully by his arms, smiling. What was with that smile? It was so creepy and accompanied with a light cheerful giggle it made Dib shutter uncomfortably. He gathered his courage and calmly approached his nemesis.
Decoy dangled from the monkey bars laughing giddily. He was having fun despite what his master has told him about school. Swinging lightly watching the gravel move beneath his swaying feet he smiled and glimpsed up catching sight of Dib coming towards him.
"Ok Zim," Dib shouted "I am getting sick of this act you're putting on. I'm on to you so you may as well tell me; what are you doing?"
Decoy looked around processing the question.
"I'm playing on the monkey bars." He said.
"No. I mean what are you planning?" Dib grunted angrily.
Decoy swung his legs over the top bar of the metal structure and let himself dangle from his knees hanging his arms down letting gravity control them.
"I was planning on going on the swings next."
Dib growled with frustration, his patients at its end.
"Don't play dumb with me Zim!" He yelled loudly "I know you have something up your sleeves!"
Decoy inspected his arms.
"I do?" he questioned.
Dib faced the upside down Zim gritting his teeth, boiling with rage and hate.
"You can end this charade Zim, I see right through your little ploy. I will know what you have planned, it's only a matter of time!"
[ANALYZING: Dib]
[PROGNOSIS: Head looks funny upside down]
No snide retort, no insult to his species, no statement of denial or dread, just a smile. Dib froze with shock only his eyes could follow as Zim jumped down from the monkey bars and looked for something else to do.
He was so calm, fearless, confident, a chilling horror to observe. Dib was completely thrown off by his enemy's reaction. He shock it off, the world was in danger and he needed to find out what that little green man had planned. Re-narrowing his eyes with determination, he pursued Zim.
Decoy heard footsteps behind him getting closer, louder, faster. He turned and saw Dib following him as he made his way across the playground.
Zim sped up upon seeing Dib behind him, but that didn't stop the boy from continuing the chase, he ran faster following the E. T. as he ducked around seesaws and under the slide. He would not give up, not until he knew exactly what Zim had arranged for the planet. By the time the two ran past the sandbox they were both running at full speed. With a furious leap Dib jumped onto Zim knocking them both down. Dib turned Zim to face him, holding the alien firmly by the shoulders, panting to catch his breath, sweat and sunlight gleaming off his glasses.
"This is it Zim." Dib managed to yell as he panted. "You will tell me now! What are you planning? What are you thinking?! Tell Me!!!!!"
A giggle. A tiny laugh was the response. It grew louder and longer into a chuckle then exploded into a fit of unstoppable laughter. Dib quickly released Zim's shoulders and recoiled in fear of the sound.
"Why are you laughing?" He asked meekly " What, what's so funny?"
More laughter, hardy and full, stabbing Dib to his very soul.
"Stop that! What's so funny? Are you laughing at me? Why? Stop laughing! Why are you laughing?! Why are you laughing Zim?! What's so funny?!? What???!"
The laughter stopped suddenly. Decoy got up, walked slowly to Dib, smiled, and thrust out his hands.
Dib wanted to run but fear froze his feet to the ground, leaving him prey for his foe. His eyes widened as Zim crept up and firmly tapped the human's shoulders.
"TAG!" Decoy yelled, "You're it!" he smiled and laughed as he ran across the field calling "Can't catch me!"
"Can't catch me"? Was that a threat? A warning? A challenge? Dib stared as Zim ran away. The sound laughter ringing in his ears, that smile haunting him. It was so innocent looking, so cheery. Dib shuttered, that smile sent chills down his spine. A feeling of doom came over him, paranoia settled into his heart. That smile. He grasped his trench coat closed close to his chest, Pure fear. The rest of the world seemed to darken away as he watched his rival run away still wearing that smile.