CH2

Zim spent the rest of the day arguing to himself about whether or not he would go through with meeting Gaz after skool. He was still very unsure if what he was doing was the right thing even as he opened the door to the restaurant and walked inside. He found it odd that he would feel a sense of joy when he saw Gaz sitting alone at a booth but quickly brushed it off as nothing to concern himself with. She sat there reading a paperback book, and by all appearances seemed not to notice Zim walk up and sit down across from her. He noticed there was a large pitcher of some dark colored liquid and two glasses, one empty and one full of the same liquid on the table.

"I've already ordered," she commented as she turned the page and continued to read. "Would you like some Pepsi?"

"Um, about this plan of yours," he nervously tapped on the red and white checkered table top. "Perhaps I should try this another time."

"Why? It's going to be just as hard for you to do this later as it is to do it now," she urged putting down her book reaching for the pitcher and pouring some Pepsi into Zim's glass.

"What makes you think this is hard for me?" he defiantly snapped. "I admit I'm not looking forward to tasting anything that comes from this cesspool of a planet, but I suppose one must make great sacrifices in order to prove they're truly worthy of the greatness they possess."

Gaz sighed at his egotistical rants and handed him his glass, now full of sparkling fizzing soda. "Here Napoleon, drink up!"

He took the glass and studied it closely. He eyed the bubbles as they made their way to the top of the glass and popped as they contacted the air. Slowly he brought it to his mouth only to have several of the bubbles explode onto his face, invading his nostrils and even squirting into his eye.

"Will you just drink it!" she ordered him impatiently. He slammed the glass down, spilling some of the soda onto the table and glared at her.

"I will as soon as it stops attacking me!" he snapped sharply but before he could pick up the glass and try again, an elderly woman walked by and stopped in front of their table.

"Oh my!" she gasped in a worried voice. She examined Zim closely, especially at his green colored skin. "My poor boy; you look closer to death than I do!"

Zim huffed offensively. "It's a skin condition I can't do anything about it," he explained.

"Oh you poor precious thing," the old woman cooed. She then reached out for his face and grabbed his cheek. He jerked away from her but not before she managed to give it a good squeeze and a shake.

"Well you be sure to eat all of your dinner tonight young man; apparently you need all the nourishment you can get."

Gaz bit her lips together to keep from laughing at Zim's humiliation as he rubbed his sore cheek for a moment.

"Why did that petrified putrid relic do that to me?" he demanded for an answer.

Gaz shrugged her shoulders. "It's a form of affection. Nothing as significant as a kiss of course, but for someone with S and M issues I guess it's a pretty sweet thing to do."

"Hmmm, good to know," the alien smiled evilly then bravely picked up the glass of Pepsi and raised it to his lips.

"I suppose I should get this over with." Courageously he took a drink and in spite his gag reflex, swallowed the dark liquid in a hard gulp. He held his breath for a moment waiting to feel any sudden changes in his body. When he felt that the danger had passed he exhaled slowly and even relaxed a bit now taking a lengthy drink of Pepsi. But then suddenly he began to notice a swelling in his belly. He looked down at his midsection then back at Gaz in terror.

"What have done to me!" he asked her accusingly. "Did that cowardly brother of yours tell you to do this to me? I'm going to die now! I know it! I…" he felt the swelling grow in the pit of his stomach. "I'm…I'm going to explo…" …then suddenly and without warning, a loud bubble of carbonated gas shot up from his gullet. "…e-a-k-k-de!"

A sudden look of embarrassment and shame came over Zim as he sat back in the booth. "Excuse me," he quietly uttered.

"Pah!" Gaz rolled her eyes. "You call that a belch? How weak,"

She then took a good long gulp of soda herself and allowed the gas bubble to roll up her esophagus and opened her mouth. "E-e-e-a-a-ech!"

"Blah! You humans are so revolting. Only a species as insignificant as yours would find bodily noises worth competing over," Zim sneered disgustedly.

"What competition?" she taunted back. "If that's the best you can do, well there's really NO competition now is there?"

"Do you dare to challenge me? I AM ZIM!" he shouted.

"Yeah, I do. I've heard better burps come from babies -human babies, Zim!" Zim's eyes bulged with furry and defiantly he grabbed his glass taking a huge swig. He waited impatiently for the desired results.

"A-a-a-a-l-ch! Ha-ha! Top that you pathetic human!"

Gaz said nothing; she just took her glass and drank all of it at once. "E-e-e-au-au-au-gh! I think that qualifies," she smugly grinned. Zim fumed and reached for the half full pitcher sitting on the table and began to chug. "Glug, glug, glug"

He drank the whole thing and almost as soon as he put the pitcher down he let out a belch loud enough to shake the windows. "E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-AH-AH-AH-AH-H-H-H-H-H!"

"Touche," she surrendered and sat back in her booth and a very smug Zim sat back as well, completely satisfied with his victory. Just then the pizza arrived.