Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this story blah blah blah yadda yadda snarf.

A/N: o.o you know what? Cereal shouldn't be called cereal. It should be called crunch stuff. By the way, I'm just assuming our lovable IZ peoples were 13 in the beginning. M'mkay? Oh and btw again...I know Gaz is Dib's little sister. But for this fic, she's older than him. It just works better that way *nods*



Four years.

It had been four years since Zim had left without a trace.

He left behind his strange house, and not a day went by that I didn't see it somehow.

From my window or in my dreams.

One certain dream was just me and this man in a room. The lights were low, and it was hot and stuffy, but he kept refusing to turn on the fans or open a window. He finally leaned forward and grabbed my hand; just as Zim had done, but then I'd wake up and cry like a little baby.

Today was the same as I woke up screaming with my alarm, then realized what had happened and decided just to get ready for school.

I passed Gaz in the hallway.

Since we were thirteen her purple hair had grown a considerable amount and she hadn't bothered to cut it. She was always too busy with her little GameSlave 23, I think...

She had turned 17 a while ago and my own birthday was fast approaching, but I never expected much from her or my father. Pizza, maybe, but usually that was just Gaz's pleasure.

I sulked to school, and sulked through my morning classes, sulked through lunch and when fourth hour came, I sulked some more.

I barely talked and when I did it was to voice an opinion. An opinion that was promptly thrown back into my face and laughed at, but I guess I was used to it by now.

As fourth hour got out and I was busy sulking to fifth hour, I caught a glimpse of someone who looked familiar. I immediately craned my neck and looked around feverishly, and caught another quick glimpse of him. He was with a girl...and if I didn't know better I'd say it was...

A girl pushed me out of her way, and then more people shouted at me to get out of the way. I tumbled forward, and gave up hope of finding out about who they were and entered fifth hour quietly.

Being older, I was taller and a little more blessed in the way of muscles, but I still felt pathetic. Well, of course I was.

The head cheerleader had pushed me around.

For the rest of the school day I played over what small amount of features I had caught from the boy and girl.

The boy was tall and well built, he had boyish features and charming eyes that seemed familiar and his skin was a tanned peachy color, while his hair was brownish-blonde.

The girl at his side was probably just a bit shorter than me, ''cute'' if you wanted, but she was a clear airhead and so not my type. Her hair was blonde, and her eyes were probably either green or blue.

The bell rang, surprising me, then I quickly darted from my class to my locker. Using a special lock and key device my dad had invented, I was able to open it from halfway down the hall, grab my stuff and dart.

On my way home I once again passed Zim's old house. Where as it used to look run-down and shady, today it almost looked alive again.

Then the door opened and the blonde from school stepped out.

My legs locked into place and although my knees felt weak, I found I couldn't do anything but stare at her.

I expected her to notice me, call me a freak, and run away, but she just closed her eyes and ran around in between the gnomes and sang a song.

It was kind of high pitched and pinched, but she had almost a childish quality around her, though she very well looked 16 or 17.

When I found the strength to break away, I cleared my throat and the girl looked at me momentarily then glided over to me, grasping onto my leg.

I raised an eyebrow and tried to shake her off, but she jumped up quickly, and looked up into my eyes.

''I know who you are...'' She said, her voice oddly familiar.

''Uhm, yea, I know who I am too.'' I said, not exactly sure what to think of her.

From inside the once dormant Zim house came a loud, sharp voice.

Simple as it was, it was almost enough to send me into seizures.

''Gir, get in here!''

That was the order.

The blonde stuck her tongue out at me and smiled, then ran up the pathway, straight into the door, before opening the door and zipping inside.

It only took me a moment to realize what had just happened, and I flew down the pathway, pounding on the door.

I could hear Gir inside laughing about something, followed by several loud crashes, and then the door opened slightly.

''Who is it?'' The male voice ordered.

Four years leading up to this day, and now my words were lost. ''Uh...I...''

That's about as much as I got out before the door swung open.

''You wha-'' His angry voice faded and his eyes grew wide.

For a minute we just stared at each other, the only noise coming from Gir hitting herself with a couch pillow inside.

I finally decided to speak, and though I formed the words, they were breathy and forced. ''Z...Zim?''

A/N:...now click to part 3…