Yay!! A new chapter!! Whoo!!! I don't think this is my best chapter, but I think it's the longest one I've written. I know I say this often, but I hope the characters aren't too OOC. Thanks for all the reviews...it makes me happy!! And about how I portrayed Gaz in the last chapter...I used kinda used my high school self as a model for her (although I'm actually shorter by a couple of inches than what I made Gaz).
I don't own any of this stuff...wish I did though.
Now, on with the show!!!!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXThe ConfrontationXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Zim was speechless, and could only stare back at the creature that was tightly holding his shoulder with a vice like grip.
It's only a dream, he told himself. This dream creature cannot hurt me! I control it!!!
But it was hurting him and Zim was trying his hardest not to grimace or cry out from the pain.
"So, why have you come to disturb me," asked the stranger in a menacing tone.
"I should be asking you the same question, stink beast," Zim replied, staring at his captor.
He tried to get a good look at the stranger's face, but the hood covered up most of it. He was able to make out its mouth, but only with help from the moonlight.
"You are in no position to be speaking to me that way."
The smug attitude of the creature angered him.
"Let me go or you'll incur the wrath of ZIM!"
The stranger continued to hold on to him and appeared to be looking right at him, as if studying him, but of course he had no way of being sure. Zim struggled to loosen himself from the stranger's grasp, but it did him no good; it was too strong, and the more he struggled, the tighter the grip on his shoulder became. The creature obviously did not seem to want to let go of the alien. Not wanting to, Zim started to feel regretful that he had gotten himself in this position, but just as quickly decided that the situation may be for the best.
"I want to die and be done with it," he said more to himself than to his captor. He looked at the hooded being. "Just end my miserable life. You'd be doing me a great favor."
Zim had no clue if he would physically die due to the dream, but resigned himself to what he felt was sure to be his demise.
Then, to his surprise, the stranger let go of his shoulder and took a few steps back. Zim was unsure if he had unwittingly willed it to happen, and became curious. He carefully took a step towards the stranger.
"Tell me, who are you?"
It felt like a lifetime passed as Zim waited for some kind of response on that familiar beach. A chime was heard, and he inconspicuously glanced at his watch. To his surprise, the time had not changed. The stranger continued to stand there unwavering, until finally:
"My name is Penelope."
Zim was stunned that the stranger had actually answered, and the tone of voice had become gentle. This has to be some kind of trick, he thought. Yet, he took another step forward towards the stranger.
"Okay, Penelope...." Zim almost spat out. "Why do you disturb the great ZIM?! What is the meaning of bothering me as I slumber?!"
"I can't tell you that," Penelope whispered, as she walked slowly towards Zim.
"And why can't you?!"
"Because now I'm not even sure of the reason myself."
Zim did not know what to say, but walked towards Penelope until they were both standing inches from each other. He was a head taller than the creature, but some how felt that she had the upper hand. He brushed the thought away.
"Then remove your... hood...thing. "
Penelope shook her head. "No, I can't. At least, not now."
Zim tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"Are you a female?"
He heard Penelope laughing and saw her shoulders shake. He didn't find the question at all funny and became indignant. "Why do you laugh?! I did not say anything humorous."
Penelope stopped laughing and said, "You didn't say anything funny. Your question just took me by surprise. I guess you can say I'm female."
Zim started walking to the water, and stopped just at the edge where he could safely stand and look at his reflection. He was wearing his human disguise, and seeing this made him grin. He had wanted to appear in his dream with the disguise on, and he apparently made it happen. Then how come she didn't take off the cloak when I demanded her to, he thought. He promptly turned to Penelope.
"So, will you at least tell me why you wear that hood," Zim asked, glaring at her. "What is it that you hide?!"
"Who are you to ask that, Zim, when you are hiding yourself. "
Zim raised a non-existent eyebrow.
"I hide nothing!!!"
Penelope motioned that he look into the water again. Zim was getting ticked off.
"What kind of games are you playing, stupid dream creature?"
"Just humor me."
Zim turned back around and looked at his reflection again.
His mouth dropped open in disbelief.
"Where did my disgui..."
"You can't hide in this world, Zim," she said, cutting him off. "Sooner or later, the truth is revealed when one comes here."
Zim continued to look at his reflection; now two large, ruby-colored eyes were staring right back at him and his antennae were sticking up where the wig had been. He heard a chime go off, and immediately looked back at the wristwatch. It read 12:01. I'm losing control over it, he thought. He turned to Penelope, who had been standing right behind him. She put her hands lightly on his shoulders, her soft touch sending a strange sensation through him.
"I'm sorry."
Zim looked at her, confused and irritated. "Sorry for what?"
"For this."
Penelope pushed him into the dark water without hesitating. He felt pain flooding through him, as the acidic water burned his skin. He struggled to get out, but felt himself sinking further down, drowning in a sea of black, and quickly losing consciousness. He heard Penelope's voice again.
"Next time," was all she said.
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Zim stood in front of his locker, trying to remember the combination. He was out of sorts that morning; his mind was racing a million thoughts a minute. Out of frustration, he gave it a hard kick. He took a deep breath to keep from yelling like a maniac.
Who was she, he thought. What is she? How did she control everything so well? Maybe because I'm new to this dream control, and she was just a figment of my dream...
He opened his locker finally, and saw something blue flutter out, landing on his shoe. He bent to pick it up. It was a note that had been folded in half, and it was addressed to him. Curious, he unfolded the note and read the neat, cursive writing.
Zim—
At lunch, meet me at the library. I'll be in the Music and Art section. Don't be late. If you fail to show up, I will make you regret it.
It wasn't signed.
Zim looked around the hallway suspiciously, but noticed nothing unusual. He stuck the note in his back pocket, and got the things he needed out of his locker. He slammed it shut and walked off to his class.
Who would've bothered sending me this note, he thought, looking at the different students that passed him by. For a moment, he considered Penelope, but quickly dismissed that ridiculous idea.
Then, a light went off.
This is probably some pathetic attempt by the Dib-worm to trap me, he deduced. If his enemy had gone through all that trouble, who was he to disappoint?
"Okay, Dib, I'll play along."
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Dib was at a table, and around him sat his classmates creating their own works of art. Their art teacher, Mr. Biv, was busy organizing some upcoming school event, so he told his students that they could create whatever they wanted and submit that for an "A," as long as they did not disrupt class or drive him mad in any way. His students grabbed tempera paints, glue, clay, and whatever other materials were at their disposal and got down to work; many of them had failed the last assigned art project and really needed this break.
Dib had been sculpting with the clay, thinking of making a model of the Chupacabra, but he didn't get that far. He was looking at someone a few tables away, and this someone was busy with the oil pastels.
Dib got up and approached Zim's table, walking very slowly.
Now's my chance, he thought.
Zim was so engrossed in what he was doing; he didn't seem to notice Dib, who was now standing next to him and watching the piece that was being created. Dib was a little surprised at how Zim carefully picked and blended the colors he used, and how quickly the picture was being formed on that sheet of paper. He'd drawn a sky that was the color of dusk, grass that was so green and lush, and trees so life like, they'd tease anyone to climb on. And there were raindrops, small and delicate, slowly falling from the purplish-blue sky. Zim had created something that looked like it belonged on a wall in an art museum. Dib was so captivated, he had forgotten why he was there.
Then it came to him, and he was about to speak, when...
"So, Dib-worm, are you just going to stand there and gawk..."
Zim looked up at Dib, giving him an arrogant look.
"...Or do you actually have something of worth to mention to me here instead of the library?"
Dib looked a little perplexed. Library?
"What are you talking about? Library? You're right here!"
Maybe the note wasn't from the monkey, Zim thought. He shrugged.
Dib was fuming.
"You know damn well what I want, Zim."
Dib moved his face close to his enemy's.
"I know you're planning something under handed, even though I haven't been able to find evidence. I won't rest until I found out what it is, and you're lying on a cold, metal table with me holding a scalpel over you."
Zim stared back at Dib.
"You've been making the same, idle threats for a long time, Dib. You cannot scare the great ZIM!! Just...give...up."
One of girls in the class looked up from her water color painting and noticed what was going on with Dib and Zim. She frowned, got up from her seat, walked up to Dib and slapped the back of his big head.
"You're gonna get us in trouble," she warned. The rest of the class gave him threatening looks.
Dib, angry, was about to storm back to his table but noticed a large container filled with water on the art supply table. He grabbed it and went back to Zim's table.
"I will not give up," yelled Dib, throwing the water in Zim's direction. Zim looked up at Dib, and tried to duck the water headed towards him.
SPLASH!!!
Dib's face changed from anger to alarm. Zim had dove under the table, so the water missed him completely. But it didn't miss Mr. Biv, who had just walked back into the room.
The whole class went dead silent and everyone turned to Dib. Their teacher's face was red with anger.
"Dib," started Mr. Biv, drying his face with the handkerchief he pulled from his pocket.
"Mister..."
"Don't, Dib. I don't want to know why you had the need of throwing water at anyone in the class."
"But..."
"You, young man, will be spending your lunch hour with me, for the rest of this week and next week. Any objections?"
Dib hung his head. The class, including Zim, started to laugh. Dib eyed him, hatefully.
You'll pay for this, he thought, as he walked back to his seat.
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Gaz had told Dib that she was not going to make it to lunch that day. Her excuse was that she needed to research a topic for her history class, which was an outright lie, but it was not like he would care. He'll just sit with his loser friends instead, she thought as she made her way to the library. It was already the beginning of lunch; the hallway was empty of noisy students. She was a bit nervous; part of her wanted to go to the lunchroom and forget this stupid idea. But she was determined.
She walked past the checkout desk, and looked around. There were a few people around; some were at the tables doing homework or gossiping, while others were on the computers. As she walked by, Gaz noticed one of her classmates was online looking at a porn site. He made no attempt to hide what he was doing.
"Perv."
Gaz contemplated telling on him, but then dropped it. It's not my problem, she thought, walking towards the Music and Arts section of the library. Besides, it wasn't like he was the first guy at school to use those computers for a cheap thrill. She'd even caught Dib not too long ago. His reaction had been priceless...she had gotten behind him and poked him. He had screamed like a girl, fallen off his chair, and swore that his friends dared him. Right, Dib...it was a dare. Gaz chuckled to herself.
She walked past the reference section and saw a couple making out, which made her gag. They had their hands all over each other, and she could've sworn the guy was unbuttoning his girlfriend's blouse. "Get a room," she muttered, "or at least get to the backseat of a car."
Gaz kept walking, and upon seeing that particular section looming ahead, dread started to fill her; what if he wasn't there? Maybe I should have signed my name on that stupid note, she thought. But I did warn him...
She was there. All she needed to do was turn the corner.
"No going back."
Gaz held her breath and walked into the section....
No one was there.
Gaz exhaled and felt a little disappointed.
"I shouldn't be surprised," she said to herself, sitting on the carpeted floor, and leaning her head on a shelf. She sighed.
"Maybe I'll just have to try something else later."
Gaz fumbled with her book bag, trying to get at her Game Slave. However, she spied a book about calligraphy on the shelf she was leaning against, pulled it out and started looking through it.
"Might as well take advantage of being here."
As she flipped through the pages, she heard a familiar voice.
"Where is the Music and Art section?!! Tell me!!"
"Young man," she heard one of the librarians say, "this a library. We don't yell in here."
"Fool, I am ZIM!! I do as I please!!"
Gaz dropped the book, got up and went to the checkout counter. Zim was still arguing with the librarian. She shook her head as she planted herself next to him. She grabbed Zim's wrist and gave him a look of annoyance. The expression on his face obviously showed that he was surprised to see her.
"Ma'am...he's with me. I'll make sure he keeps quiet."
"See that you do," said the woman haughtily, as she went back to reading the Cosmo that was in front of her.
Wordlessly, Gaz pulled Zim back to where she had been waiting for him. Zim wouldn't shut up.
"Did you leave that note in my locker? What is the meaning of all this? Why aren't you saying anything?"
She pulled him into the Music and Art section, and sat back on the floor, pulling him down in a sitting position right next to her. Zim was about to ask the same questions again when she put her hand over his mouth.
"You're giving me a headache," she grumbled, rubbing her temple. "I'm going to answer you're questions, but first, you need to promise that you'll let me do the talking first. If you promise, I'll take my hand from you're mouth and I won't destroy you. Promise?"
Zim scowled at her, but nodded. She slowly removed her hand, and was about to speak...
...Until Zim instantly started talking again.
"Did your brother put you up to this?!"
She shot him a look that could've killed. He finally clammed up.
"Yes, I sent you that letter. And this was NOT Dib's idea. Look, the reason I wanted to meet up with you is...well...uh...um..."
Gaz nervously played with her necklace, looking for right words to say to him, but they just didn't seem to come out right. Zim looked at her impatiently.
"Well?"
She decided to be as blunt as possible.
"We should be friends."
There, she thought, short and sweet.
Zim just looked at her as if she'd grown another head.
"Friends? Why would I need friends, human," he ranted loudly, shaking his fists in the air. "An invader needs no one!!! No one!!!"
Everyone nearby looked up from what they had been doing and stared at Zim; he put his hands down and stared back at them. He then turned to look at Gaz, who just watched him intently.
You're not an invader, said a small voice inside of him. Remember? You're all alone.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
"I don't need anyone," he quietly choked out.
Gaz started to get angry, and could feel her blood boiling.
"You don't need anyone? You don't need anyone?! "
Gaz knew she was getting loud and people were now looking at her, but she couldn't help it. She felt like grabbing Zim by his shirt and slapping sense into him.
"So you didn't need anyone when Dib almost beat the crap out of you yesterday, huh? Huh?! You really handled that well on your own."
As soon as she had said all that, Gaz started to wish she hadn't...at least not as harshly.
Zim looked down at his hands. Gaz kept looking at the alien, and couldn't help but feel some sympathy for him. He looked even more depressed now than he did yesterday. You do need someone, she thought. Why are you being so stubborn about it though?
"Look, Zim," she said in her toughest voice, "I didn't waste my lunch and game playing time to have you say 'no' to me."
Zim raised his eyes back to Gaz, and saw in her face that she wasn't kidding around.
"Is that suppose to scare me, human?"
Gaz could hear uncertainty in his voice. He's scared, she thought, this is all new to him. He doesn't know if he should trust me. Cautiously, she put her hand on his shoulder. Surprisingly, Zim didn't shrink away from her touch. Their eyes met. He got the same feeling all over him like when Penelope had rested her hands on him during the dream. It was almost comforting...
What am I thinking, he thought, she's human!! The Dib-worm's younger sister! I can't trust her!!
"Why are you doing this," he asked her accusingly, suddenly pulling away.
Gaz ignored him and looked at the clock on the wall. Lunch was almost over.
"Listen, Zim. You're just gonna have to trust me."
She stood up and straightened her skirt. Then she offered her hand to Zim to help him up. He pushed it aside and tried to get up on his own, grabbing hold of a shelf and knocking down a couple of books in the process. Gaz rolled her eyes. This was going to a lot harder than she had anticipated.
"So, Zim," Gaz said, "I'll be coming over your house after school. You better be there."
Zim was completely shocked by this.
"What?! No!! Never!!"
But Zim's protest fell on deaf ears. Gaz was already walking out of the library.
He heard the bell ring, and walked out of the library along with others.
"What have I gotten myself into?"
I don't own any of this stuff...wish I did though.
Now, on with the show!!!!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXThe ConfrontationXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Zim was speechless, and could only stare back at the creature that was tightly holding his shoulder with a vice like grip.
It's only a dream, he told himself. This dream creature cannot hurt me! I control it!!!
But it was hurting him and Zim was trying his hardest not to grimace or cry out from the pain.
"So, why have you come to disturb me," asked the stranger in a menacing tone.
"I should be asking you the same question, stink beast," Zim replied, staring at his captor.
He tried to get a good look at the stranger's face, but the hood covered up most of it. He was able to make out its mouth, but only with help from the moonlight.
"You are in no position to be speaking to me that way."
The smug attitude of the creature angered him.
"Let me go or you'll incur the wrath of ZIM!"
The stranger continued to hold on to him and appeared to be looking right at him, as if studying him, but of course he had no way of being sure. Zim struggled to loosen himself from the stranger's grasp, but it did him no good; it was too strong, and the more he struggled, the tighter the grip on his shoulder became. The creature obviously did not seem to want to let go of the alien. Not wanting to, Zim started to feel regretful that he had gotten himself in this position, but just as quickly decided that the situation may be for the best.
"I want to die and be done with it," he said more to himself than to his captor. He looked at the hooded being. "Just end my miserable life. You'd be doing me a great favor."
Zim had no clue if he would physically die due to the dream, but resigned himself to what he felt was sure to be his demise.
Then, to his surprise, the stranger let go of his shoulder and took a few steps back. Zim was unsure if he had unwittingly willed it to happen, and became curious. He carefully took a step towards the stranger.
"Tell me, who are you?"
It felt like a lifetime passed as Zim waited for some kind of response on that familiar beach. A chime was heard, and he inconspicuously glanced at his watch. To his surprise, the time had not changed. The stranger continued to stand there unwavering, until finally:
"My name is Penelope."
Zim was stunned that the stranger had actually answered, and the tone of voice had become gentle. This has to be some kind of trick, he thought. Yet, he took another step forward towards the stranger.
"Okay, Penelope...." Zim almost spat out. "Why do you disturb the great ZIM?! What is the meaning of bothering me as I slumber?!"
"I can't tell you that," Penelope whispered, as she walked slowly towards Zim.
"And why can't you?!"
"Because now I'm not even sure of the reason myself."
Zim did not know what to say, but walked towards Penelope until they were both standing inches from each other. He was a head taller than the creature, but some how felt that she had the upper hand. He brushed the thought away.
"Then remove your... hood...thing. "
Penelope shook her head. "No, I can't. At least, not now."
Zim tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"Are you a female?"
He heard Penelope laughing and saw her shoulders shake. He didn't find the question at all funny and became indignant. "Why do you laugh?! I did not say anything humorous."
Penelope stopped laughing and said, "You didn't say anything funny. Your question just took me by surprise. I guess you can say I'm female."
Zim started walking to the water, and stopped just at the edge where he could safely stand and look at his reflection. He was wearing his human disguise, and seeing this made him grin. He had wanted to appear in his dream with the disguise on, and he apparently made it happen. Then how come she didn't take off the cloak when I demanded her to, he thought. He promptly turned to Penelope.
"So, will you at least tell me why you wear that hood," Zim asked, glaring at her. "What is it that you hide?!"
"Who are you to ask that, Zim, when you are hiding yourself. "
Zim raised a non-existent eyebrow.
"I hide nothing!!!"
Penelope motioned that he look into the water again. Zim was getting ticked off.
"What kind of games are you playing, stupid dream creature?"
"Just humor me."
Zim turned back around and looked at his reflection again.
His mouth dropped open in disbelief.
"Where did my disgui..."
"You can't hide in this world, Zim," she said, cutting him off. "Sooner or later, the truth is revealed when one comes here."
Zim continued to look at his reflection; now two large, ruby-colored eyes were staring right back at him and his antennae were sticking up where the wig had been. He heard a chime go off, and immediately looked back at the wristwatch. It read 12:01. I'm losing control over it, he thought. He turned to Penelope, who had been standing right behind him. She put her hands lightly on his shoulders, her soft touch sending a strange sensation through him.
"I'm sorry."
Zim looked at her, confused and irritated. "Sorry for what?"
"For this."
Penelope pushed him into the dark water without hesitating. He felt pain flooding through him, as the acidic water burned his skin. He struggled to get out, but felt himself sinking further down, drowning in a sea of black, and quickly losing consciousness. He heard Penelope's voice again.
"Next time," was all she said.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Zim stood in front of his locker, trying to remember the combination. He was out of sorts that morning; his mind was racing a million thoughts a minute. Out of frustration, he gave it a hard kick. He took a deep breath to keep from yelling like a maniac.
Who was she, he thought. What is she? How did she control everything so well? Maybe because I'm new to this dream control, and she was just a figment of my dream...
He opened his locker finally, and saw something blue flutter out, landing on his shoe. He bent to pick it up. It was a note that had been folded in half, and it was addressed to him. Curious, he unfolded the note and read the neat, cursive writing.
Zim—
At lunch, meet me at the library. I'll be in the Music and Art section. Don't be late. If you fail to show up, I will make you regret it.
It wasn't signed.
Zim looked around the hallway suspiciously, but noticed nothing unusual. He stuck the note in his back pocket, and got the things he needed out of his locker. He slammed it shut and walked off to his class.
Who would've bothered sending me this note, he thought, looking at the different students that passed him by. For a moment, he considered Penelope, but quickly dismissed that ridiculous idea.
Then, a light went off.
This is probably some pathetic attempt by the Dib-worm to trap me, he deduced. If his enemy had gone through all that trouble, who was he to disappoint?
"Okay, Dib, I'll play along."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dib was at a table, and around him sat his classmates creating their own works of art. Their art teacher, Mr. Biv, was busy organizing some upcoming school event, so he told his students that they could create whatever they wanted and submit that for an "A," as long as they did not disrupt class or drive him mad in any way. His students grabbed tempera paints, glue, clay, and whatever other materials were at their disposal and got down to work; many of them had failed the last assigned art project and really needed this break.
Dib had been sculpting with the clay, thinking of making a model of the Chupacabra, but he didn't get that far. He was looking at someone a few tables away, and this someone was busy with the oil pastels.
Dib got up and approached Zim's table, walking very slowly.
Now's my chance, he thought.
Zim was so engrossed in what he was doing; he didn't seem to notice Dib, who was now standing next to him and watching the piece that was being created. Dib was a little surprised at how Zim carefully picked and blended the colors he used, and how quickly the picture was being formed on that sheet of paper. He'd drawn a sky that was the color of dusk, grass that was so green and lush, and trees so life like, they'd tease anyone to climb on. And there were raindrops, small and delicate, slowly falling from the purplish-blue sky. Zim had created something that looked like it belonged on a wall in an art museum. Dib was so captivated, he had forgotten why he was there.
Then it came to him, and he was about to speak, when...
"So, Dib-worm, are you just going to stand there and gawk..."
Zim looked up at Dib, giving him an arrogant look.
"...Or do you actually have something of worth to mention to me here instead of the library?"
Dib looked a little perplexed. Library?
"What are you talking about? Library? You're right here!"
Maybe the note wasn't from the monkey, Zim thought. He shrugged.
Dib was fuming.
"You know damn well what I want, Zim."
Dib moved his face close to his enemy's.
"I know you're planning something under handed, even though I haven't been able to find evidence. I won't rest until I found out what it is, and you're lying on a cold, metal table with me holding a scalpel over you."
Zim stared back at Dib.
"You've been making the same, idle threats for a long time, Dib. You cannot scare the great ZIM!! Just...give...up."
One of girls in the class looked up from her water color painting and noticed what was going on with Dib and Zim. She frowned, got up from her seat, walked up to Dib and slapped the back of his big head.
"You're gonna get us in trouble," she warned. The rest of the class gave him threatening looks.
Dib, angry, was about to storm back to his table but noticed a large container filled with water on the art supply table. He grabbed it and went back to Zim's table.
"I will not give up," yelled Dib, throwing the water in Zim's direction. Zim looked up at Dib, and tried to duck the water headed towards him.
SPLASH!!!
Dib's face changed from anger to alarm. Zim had dove under the table, so the water missed him completely. But it didn't miss Mr. Biv, who had just walked back into the room.
The whole class went dead silent and everyone turned to Dib. Their teacher's face was red with anger.
"Dib," started Mr. Biv, drying his face with the handkerchief he pulled from his pocket.
"Mister..."
"Don't, Dib. I don't want to know why you had the need of throwing water at anyone in the class."
"But..."
"You, young man, will be spending your lunch hour with me, for the rest of this week and next week. Any objections?"
Dib hung his head. The class, including Zim, started to laugh. Dib eyed him, hatefully.
You'll pay for this, he thought, as he walked back to his seat.
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Gaz had told Dib that she was not going to make it to lunch that day. Her excuse was that she needed to research a topic for her history class, which was an outright lie, but it was not like he would care. He'll just sit with his loser friends instead, she thought as she made her way to the library. It was already the beginning of lunch; the hallway was empty of noisy students. She was a bit nervous; part of her wanted to go to the lunchroom and forget this stupid idea. But she was determined.
She walked past the checkout desk, and looked around. There were a few people around; some were at the tables doing homework or gossiping, while others were on the computers. As she walked by, Gaz noticed one of her classmates was online looking at a porn site. He made no attempt to hide what he was doing.
"Perv."
Gaz contemplated telling on him, but then dropped it. It's not my problem, she thought, walking towards the Music and Arts section of the library. Besides, it wasn't like he was the first guy at school to use those computers for a cheap thrill. She'd even caught Dib not too long ago. His reaction had been priceless...she had gotten behind him and poked him. He had screamed like a girl, fallen off his chair, and swore that his friends dared him. Right, Dib...it was a dare. Gaz chuckled to herself.
She walked past the reference section and saw a couple making out, which made her gag. They had their hands all over each other, and she could've sworn the guy was unbuttoning his girlfriend's blouse. "Get a room," she muttered, "or at least get to the backseat of a car."
Gaz kept walking, and upon seeing that particular section looming ahead, dread started to fill her; what if he wasn't there? Maybe I should have signed my name on that stupid note, she thought. But I did warn him...
She was there. All she needed to do was turn the corner.
"No going back."
Gaz held her breath and walked into the section....
No one was there.
Gaz exhaled and felt a little disappointed.
"I shouldn't be surprised," she said to herself, sitting on the carpeted floor, and leaning her head on a shelf. She sighed.
"Maybe I'll just have to try something else later."
Gaz fumbled with her book bag, trying to get at her Game Slave. However, she spied a book about calligraphy on the shelf she was leaning against, pulled it out and started looking through it.
"Might as well take advantage of being here."
As she flipped through the pages, she heard a familiar voice.
"Where is the Music and Art section?!! Tell me!!"
"Young man," she heard one of the librarians say, "this a library. We don't yell in here."
"Fool, I am ZIM!! I do as I please!!"
Gaz dropped the book, got up and went to the checkout counter. Zim was still arguing with the librarian. She shook her head as she planted herself next to him. She grabbed Zim's wrist and gave him a look of annoyance. The expression on his face obviously showed that he was surprised to see her.
"Ma'am...he's with me. I'll make sure he keeps quiet."
"See that you do," said the woman haughtily, as she went back to reading the Cosmo that was in front of her.
Wordlessly, Gaz pulled Zim back to where she had been waiting for him. Zim wouldn't shut up.
"Did you leave that note in my locker? What is the meaning of all this? Why aren't you saying anything?"
She pulled him into the Music and Art section, and sat back on the floor, pulling him down in a sitting position right next to her. Zim was about to ask the same questions again when she put her hand over his mouth.
"You're giving me a headache," she grumbled, rubbing her temple. "I'm going to answer you're questions, but first, you need to promise that you'll let me do the talking first. If you promise, I'll take my hand from you're mouth and I won't destroy you. Promise?"
Zim scowled at her, but nodded. She slowly removed her hand, and was about to speak...
...Until Zim instantly started talking again.
"Did your brother put you up to this?!"
She shot him a look that could've killed. He finally clammed up.
"Yes, I sent you that letter. And this was NOT Dib's idea. Look, the reason I wanted to meet up with you is...well...uh...um..."
Gaz nervously played with her necklace, looking for right words to say to him, but they just didn't seem to come out right. Zim looked at her impatiently.
"Well?"
She decided to be as blunt as possible.
"We should be friends."
There, she thought, short and sweet.
Zim just looked at her as if she'd grown another head.
"Friends? Why would I need friends, human," he ranted loudly, shaking his fists in the air. "An invader needs no one!!! No one!!!"
Everyone nearby looked up from what they had been doing and stared at Zim; he put his hands down and stared back at them. He then turned to look at Gaz, who just watched him intently.
You're not an invader, said a small voice inside of him. Remember? You're all alone.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
"I don't need anyone," he quietly choked out.
Gaz started to get angry, and could feel her blood boiling.
"You don't need anyone? You don't need anyone?! "
Gaz knew she was getting loud and people were now looking at her, but she couldn't help it. She felt like grabbing Zim by his shirt and slapping sense into him.
"So you didn't need anyone when Dib almost beat the crap out of you yesterday, huh? Huh?! You really handled that well on your own."
As soon as she had said all that, Gaz started to wish she hadn't...at least not as harshly.
Zim looked down at his hands. Gaz kept looking at the alien, and couldn't help but feel some sympathy for him. He looked even more depressed now than he did yesterday. You do need someone, she thought. Why are you being so stubborn about it though?
"Look, Zim," she said in her toughest voice, "I didn't waste my lunch and game playing time to have you say 'no' to me."
Zim raised his eyes back to Gaz, and saw in her face that she wasn't kidding around.
"Is that suppose to scare me, human?"
Gaz could hear uncertainty in his voice. He's scared, she thought, this is all new to him. He doesn't know if he should trust me. Cautiously, she put her hand on his shoulder. Surprisingly, Zim didn't shrink away from her touch. Their eyes met. He got the same feeling all over him like when Penelope had rested her hands on him during the dream. It was almost comforting...
What am I thinking, he thought, she's human!! The Dib-worm's younger sister! I can't trust her!!
"Why are you doing this," he asked her accusingly, suddenly pulling away.
Gaz ignored him and looked at the clock on the wall. Lunch was almost over.
"Listen, Zim. You're just gonna have to trust me."
She stood up and straightened her skirt. Then she offered her hand to Zim to help him up. He pushed it aside and tried to get up on his own, grabbing hold of a shelf and knocking down a couple of books in the process. Gaz rolled her eyes. This was going to a lot harder than she had anticipated.
"So, Zim," Gaz said, "I'll be coming over your house after school. You better be there."
Zim was completely shocked by this.
"What?! No!! Never!!"
But Zim's protest fell on deaf ears. Gaz was already walking out of the library.
He heard the bell ring, and walked out of the library along with others.
"What have I gotten myself into?"