_
The waves crashed against the beach. The sun set in a million pastel mint hues. Beautiful, just beautiful...
If only he wasn't alone.
Another beautiful sunset, absolutely shot to hell, cause he had noone to watch it with. There were cute couples to the left and right of him, per usual, slobbering on eachother like dogbones. As usual, noone for Dib.
Sigh.
He rolled over on his side, trailing his fingers through the sand. He was startled by a voice.
"Hello, Dib."
What a nice voice, so deep and resonant...made for radio. He glanced over. He couldn't see this mysterious stranger's face, he was sillouhetted by the setting sun...but it looked like his body was made for TV. Dib's heart jumped. "Hi."
"Why are you sitting all by yourself?"
Oh, that voice. "Noone else to sit with."
"Why wouldn't anyone want to sit with you?" The stranger sat beside him.
Dib rolled onto his stomach, head in his arms. "I don't know. Everyone thinks I'm a loser."
"That's silly." Suddenly Dib felt the strangers fingers running through his hair, setting little bolts of electricity through his scalp. he sighed a little at the calming touch. "Just cause you guessed the truth..."
"Yeah..." Dib moved a little, closer to the man. "Do I know you?"
"Yes."
"Then...how come you're just here now? Like, why not before?"
"I wanted to wait for the right day."
Dib looked up at the stranger for the first time. His eyes were a bright blue. A chill suddenly went through his body as the man took his chin in hand and tilted it upwards. "I wanted to wait for the right day to declare my love-"
and then they kissed, and it was beautiful, it was everything Dib had heard about, it was warm and nice and sent sparks shooting through his body-
and then he opened his eyes and came face to face with the pale red obelisks and the reptilian tongue hissing "Dib..."
_
Weakness
Chapter 3: Check Yes or No
_
"GYAAHHH!!!" Dib sat straight up in bed, cold sweat dotting his face. He fumbled his glasses off his desk and looked at the clock.
6:45. Great. 15 minutes till he woulda gotten up anyway. He reached over and shut his alarm off, still shivering. Zim...Zim;s green lips against his...he shuddered a little. He pulled off his sleepwear (an undershirt) and changed his boxers (cotton plaid), then threw on his shirt and pants. Last but not least the trenchcoat.
Dib always wore his trenchcoat, no matter what. Most people only wore coats when it was cold, and then only outside. However, Dib liked his trenchcoat so much he wore it all the time, 24-7, weather notwithstanding. He liked the way it looked, the way it billowed in the wind behind him like Superman's cape. It made him feel...important, somehow. He still had the coat he wore way back in 6th grade hanging in the closet, but since he went through his growth spurts it only hung to his knees. He had saved up his birthday cash last year and bought a new one of black leather-man, it stunk on hot days but it was SO worth it.
He went into the bathroom and splashed some water on his head, then used the comb to maybe try and make that weird part stick down...it was no use, that stalk of hair still stuck up like it was wired. He sighed, combed the rest of his head and set off for breakfast.
Gaz was already at the table, playing her GameSlave with a NutriGrain bar stuck in her mouth. Every now and then, another centimeter of the breakfast bar would disappear between her lips.
"Hello, Gaz-"
"Quiet. I'm on the 10th level."
He shrugged and poured himself some cereal. Same old Gaz.
_
They walked to skool quietly as always.
"Hey, Dib?"
"Yeah?"
"Is something wrong?"
Dib goggled down at his sister. It was astounding that she had even looked up from her game, much less noticed her brother's condition.
"Nope, I'm fine." He gave a weak grin.
She cocked an eyebrow. "You look like you're going to vomit."
"I'm fine, Gaz." They walked into the skoolyard. Dib glanced around quickly for Zim. After that creepy dream this morning, no WAY was he gonna let the alien boy corner him...there he was! Zim stood alone on the edge of the courtyard, looking for someone. Probably Dib. Dib gulped, then backed toward the door. He hid in the doorway until the bell rang, and the class filed inside.
Mrs. Bitters glared at the class. Yes, still Mrs. Bitters. Everytime Dib thought he might escape her iron fist, a teacher died or quit and Mrs. Bitters took the unfortunate victims place. Rumors of poisoning were never proven, but highly suspected. "Now then, class, begins another day of your mildly pathetic lives. Those of you who are capable of reading, turn to page 45 in your history textbook..."
Dib flipped the assignment open, then stuck a UFO magazine in the textbook. It was his standard practice to completely ignore everything the teacher said and get the assignment from Gaz after class. Things went along normally until a note landed on Dib's desk.
He glanced around, then unfolded it. It said:
"Dib-
I like you. Do you like me? Check:
__Yes
__No
Secret Admirer"
Dib glared. It must have been a note from Zim. He glared over at Zim, who glanced at him and smiled. Smiled? Since when did Zim SMILE?!?
He quickly checked no, and added "Rot in hell, alien scum" before folding it and passing it back.
A few minutes later, a girl near the front of the room burst into tears and ran out the door.
Dib sighed and slumped down in his desk. "That could have gone better."
