It was a clear, cool night. Jack-o-lanterns lit the streets, houses were decorated so as to out-do their neighbors. The younger children were walking with their parents, getting the first of the goodies. It was a perfect Halloween night. The sun had just set but the kids had all ready lined up outside the haunted green house. A teenager of about 15 - much too old to trick or treat and still bitter about it - stood outside the house. He was wearing a grey hoodie, the hood covering his black hair. Every 20 minutes or so, he'd tell a batch of kids the story of the house. He smirked as the first group arrived, ready to hear the story then go off to get "the goods".

"Well, well, well. Weren't you kids hangin' 'round with yer parents last year?" the teen said.

"Yes Mister Spike," the boy dressed as a pirate said, "But finally, we get to go off on our own."

"Good, good." the teen nodded, "and, heh, you'll 'member to bring somethin' back fer yer ol' buddie Spike, won't cha?" the kids nodded, eager to hear the tale, "Right then, have a seat." Spike walked in between the gap in the gate that led to the door, "Welp, it was about a hundred years ago. A green skinned boy lived alone with his dog in this very house. Now the boy was crazy, so crazy that he'd actually killed his parents and had killed any social worker who tried to take him away. This boy, was believed by many to actually act and resemble an alien, so everyone stayed away, which was fine by the alein-boy. Yuh see, the kid thought he needed noone, thought he did better alone. 'Til he met another boy. He was a boy of both intelligence and beauty; everyone wanted him to be there's. The alein-boy had quite the crush on the pretty-boy and wanted him more than anything else in the world. But the pretty-boy shot him down. That angered the alien-boy, if he couldn't have the boy, noone could. So, he invited the pretty-boy over to his house one night; said he needed help with his home work. The boy agreed and came right over. As soon as the boy was in, the alein-boy took him down into the cellar. The pretty-boy struggled against the other boy, but the kid was too strong. The boy begged and scram and pleaded that the alein-boy let him go; then, he saw a long, sharp metal pipe sticking out of the wall, and that was what the other boy was heading toward. The pretty-boy cried and struggled with all his might to get free, but the alien-boy didn't let go; he pulled the pretty-boy into his arms and pushed him back first into the pipe. It went straight through the pretty-boy, but he didn't stop there. He walked himself into the pipe, still holding the boy in his arms. With his last bit of strength, he kissed the pretty boy. And they died, just like that. Now their sprits reside in this very house. You see those cracks in the wood on the windows? That's where the pretty-boy stands, watching and waiting for a chance to leave the horrible house. As the years have passed, the alien-boy's ghost has become strong. Now, he steals the soul of anyone who goes into the house, and uses it to be come more powerful. One day, he plans to use this power, to destroy the entire of the planet, so he can have the pretty-boy all to himself." Spike turned to look at the house. The children mumbled to themselves, and one stood up.

"That's b-s Spike." the kids turned to the red-haired boy, "I know for a fact that the alien-boy and the pretty-boy loved each other very, very much." Spike turned to the kid.

"Oh yeah, Donny, how do you know?" Donny opened his mouth when a girl scrams, pointing at the house.

"LOOK LOOK! A-a face! Do you see it!" the kids turned and began to scream and carry on. In one of the cracks there was a pale face. It had black hair and beautiful honey eyes behind thick glasses; he was staring at the kids. Just watching. Donny took a step onto the lawn, then another and another until he was right up to the window. He placed his fingers on the wood and smiled at the boy, who smiled back.

"Donny what are you doing!" one kid yelled, he turned around.
"I'm not afraid of ghosts." he said flatly.

"Fine," Spike said, "I dare you to spend the night." Donny turned back to the window. Dib was gone.

"Fine." he said, and in a hushed tone he added, "And their names are Zim and Dib."

- - - -

"What do you mean I can't stay the night!" Donny yelled. He was sitting at the table in the kitchen with Dib next to him.

"I'm sorry Donny, but Zim probably won't let you." Dib took a drink of his hot-chocolate.

"But if I don't do it everyone'll think I'm a chicken!"

"Would you have accepted if you hadn't known the house was haunted? You seemed scared out of your mind when we first met." Donny took a drink of his coco just so he didn't have to answer. Zim appeared from an elevator that had taken him up through the floor and dropped him off right in front of the sink.

"'Ello everyone" he said walking to the fridge to get a cola.

"Spike told the story to me and a bunch of kids last night." Donny mumbled.

"Ah, how'd it go?" Zim said cheerily.

"Fine, fine."

"Spike dared Donny to stay the night and he accepted." Dib said in a motherly "I'm telling your father you got in a fight/ got a bad grade" kind of tine. Zim choked on his drink.

"What! No, oh nononono! No. The only human I have and ever will let spend the night in my base is Dib," he walked over to the human, draping his arms over his shoulder, "but that's only 'cause I'm getting laid." he pecked Dib on the cheek. Dib blushed deeply.

"Zim stop," he muttered, "he's only ten!"

"Whatever." Zim said returning to his base. Donny blinked after Zim.

"Dib, everyone who hears that story thinks that you don't love Zim. They think you're only with him 'cause you have to be." Dib bit his tongue.

"Well, that's partly true." Donny's eyes widened, "You see, when me and Zim first met, we hated each other, and we still did up to the point he put that serum in me. I moved in once I, well, should've been 19. I couldn't risk anyone noticing that I wasn't ageing like my dad, sister, and classmates. So, I had to stay with Zim." Dib sighed sheepishly, "I guess I really am only with him because I have to be. But I know now that'd I'd be with him no matter what. I love him now." Dib smiled a small blush still on his cheeks.

"The story says that everyone wanted to date you." Dib laughed one of those "That's total bull-shit" laughs.

"M-me! Lusted after! HAHAHA I don't think so! I was one of the least sought after people in the skool! The only people who ever came to me were despite, horny, single, and sometimes drunk members of the football team." he continued his insane laughter which lasted a good 3 minutes before he slowed down and whipped a tear from his eye, "Heh..someone should do some research for that story."

"I could tell everyone the truth." Dib's laughter died.

"No. Nonono. Don't say anything. Just let them believe the story the way they do and things'll be fine!"

'Shit.' Donny thought