False Hopes:

(Disclaimer: have you figured out I don't own Invader Zim yet? No? Well.you're an idiot then!)

Chapter 2: The Bus Ride of Doom

I smiled as a yellow bus pulled by my stop. I was beginning to worry since the bus was ten minutes late. I happily got on the bus. My stop must have been one of the last ones for most of the seats were taken, except for the very front one. I smiled at all of the new faces, but I seemed to be the only one who was happy about today. Looking around for Tak, I frowned as I failed to see her. She probably drove her huge ship or her "dad's limo" as she calls it.

I quickly take my seat in the front and slid to the window. Kids seemed too tired to talk, and who could blame them? It had ended summer, and most kids dreaded the first day of skool. But I wasn't like most kids. I sigh as it begins to rain. No matter, just another minor set back. I didn't mind rain ever since I found out water causes Irkens extreme pain, it was almost like they were allergic to it or something. I'm glad I found out early, even though Zim made some sort of protection suite out of glue, it's still fun to taunt him with water.

Ah, the last bus stop, finally. I had forgotten how long it took, or at least felt like since I only took the bus in middle skool when it rained. Otherwise me and Gaz would walk together. My eyes widened as the bus came to a halt. I felt my stomach turn over on itself as I saw my nemesis walk onto the bus. Oh no.it was.Zim! How he had managed to get the same bus as me is anyone's guess. Groaning I quickly put my backpack beside me hoping he'll think it's taken. I watched Zim nervously as I saw his eyes scanning the rows looking for a seat. It was then our eyes meet each other's. We quickly both shot a death-glare at each other in unison. He must have sensed my dreading of him sitting by me and shoved my backpack into me as hard as he possibly could. I groaned quietly and shot another glare at him.

"Move over stupid!" Zim demanded at me. The bus roared with laughter at his miserable insult.

I sighed in annoyance with my lack of a better insult and reluctantly obeyed. He grinned victoriously. Maybe I was wrong, maybe this year wasn't going to be any different.

Zim shoved me over so I had as little room to sit as possible. "Well DIB worm, this gives me a good time to tell you to not think this year will not be any different just because we're in high skool."

I gulped. I hate it when it seemed like he was reading my mind. I shuddered to think if he could read my mind. He just smirked and continued his little rant of the day.

"And I will still run these fleabags like a..uh. like a true leader I so am!"

I couldn't help but laugh at his pathetic choice of words. He glared at me threateningly.

"I see nothing funny about this stupid HUMAN!"

I smirked. "I do."

"What's that?"

"How pathetic you sound, and the thought of YOU being a leader!"

"Stupid stink-beast, I AM a leader! Your classmates of doom adore me, all I have to do is tell them to kill you, and you know they'll do it! But no..I want you to live a miserable life, you stink-worm don't disserve death!"

I gulped at him knowing he could tell them to kill me and they would obey. Shaking my head I try not to look nervous, that would please him. I quickly glared at him "gee thanks ZIM. Now I know you're too scared to kill me." Yea, I know I'll regret saying that later on, but to see the look on his face would be well worth it!

"Afraid?" He laughed. "ZIM is not afraid! Zim does not know the meaning of fear, DIB!"

I grinned trying hard not to laugh. "I don't know Zim, you seemed pretty scared of that dog this summer."

He laughed, but I could see him squinting as he remembered the dog of doom, so we called it.

It was early August and deathly hot. We had been fighting on the sidewalk and he pushed me into a yard with a huge dog in it that looked like it'd kill us. I had managed to grab Zim and pull him in with me - no way was I going to let him win! We both screamed in terror as the huge sleek black dog (you know the type, the ones that guard houses in all the movies) began to growl and chase us. The dog chased us for 10 city blocks before finally Zim had Gir come up and pick both of us up. To this day I still don't know why Zim saved me, and I hoped he didn't bring it up.

Zim couldn't help but shudder. "S.so were you. You were screaming louder than I was!"

"But" I reminded him "You were still afraid. So, the great Zim does know fear." I said 'great Zim' in a mocking tone.

Zim glares at me and quickly gets up as the bus pulls up to the high skool. He points a finger threateningly at me. "You'll pay for this DIB! Don't think you've won or anything, I just don't want to be late for skool!"

I smirked. Great, that means I had won. Quickly grabbing my stuff, I quickly followed him off and inhaled the air happily as I saw the high skool. Maybe this year will be better..

---------------------------------------------------- --------------- a/n: yay another chapter! Pretty good eh? No reviews yet ::snifflez:: but that's ok. I hope SOMEONE is reading this and making it worth while! PLEASE R/R!! THANKS! Anywho stick around to find out what happens to Dib at his first day of high skool!