Chapter Two: Squigglies
"GIR!"
Gir did a sort of triple somersault out of the kitchen, and landed with a metallic thud, face first onto the tiles in front of Zim.
"Yes, my master!" He shouted, his eyes glowing momentarily red for a moment as he jumped to his feet, standing straight.
"I'm going to be in the lab for a while, studying about this... "Camp," thing. You, take this, and write a squiggly, or something that looks like a signature." Said Zim, tossing the permission slip onto Gir's head.
"I like squigglies!" Replied Gir, and placed the permission slip on his head, giggling like mad, and running into the kitchen to find a pen. Zim followed, rolling his eyes, and crossed the kitchen to the toilet. He climbed in, and pressed the flusher. He was spun around momentarily before descending into the lab.
The next morning, Zim rose up from the toilet, a strange, Irken sort of duffel bag in hand. "Well, Gir, I'll be back in a week. Take care of the base while I'm-- GIR! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"
"Drawing squigglies!" Gir squealed. And indeed, there were small squigglies everywhere, from the couch to the refrigerator, up the wall, and on the ceiling. Zim growled furiously.
"COMPUTER!"
There was an odd yawning sound, and an unenthusiastic, "Yeah?" from his computer.
"Begin cleaning process, immediately! I want this place shining by the time I get back!" He snapped through gritted teeth. "And you," he shot at Gir, who was now spinning on his head like a top. " You're coming with me. I can't afford letting you run amuck around the base without my supervision." He opened the odd looking duffel bag, and held it out. "Hop in, Gir."
"Just a minuuuute!" Gir said, and ran off for a moment... After a second or two, he came back with his rubber piggy, and dove headfirst into the bag. Zim rolled his eyes, and adjusted his hairpiece, then walked over to the front door, and pushed it open, stepping outside.
"Put your permission slips on my desk, and walk out the door in a neat, orderly fashion," Ms. Bitters said, pointing a clawed finger at the door of the classroom. The students tossed their permission forms on top of her desk, and scrambled out of the room, pushing and shoving to make it out the door. Once everyone was out, Ms Bitters swept the permission slips into the trash can in her desk. There was a burst of flames, and they were all disintegrated.
Once they were all outside in front of the busses, Mr. Elliot, who was also going on the trip, called out to the students. "Okay, kids! So, everyone needs to have a bus partner! During the trip to Camp K. Y., you aren't allowed to leave your bus partner's side. When we get to the bus stop, you're to make bathroom trips together, and get snacks together. Don't ;eave each other's sight! Kay?" Mr. Elliot beamed stupidly at them all, Ms. Bitters Towering next to him, a disgusted look on her face. "Now, go find your partners!"
The students erupted with shouting, and scrambling to find a partner. Penny immediately grabbed Olivia's arm. Spoo and Melvin practically banged heads. Mary and Sara were hugging each other tightly. Dib turned his head to look for Gaz, but she gave him a look that made him step back a few feet. He bit his lip. Keef had a partner, as did Torque. Mongo, Poonchy, Mathew, even Old Kid! He searched desperately, completely overlooking Gretchen, who was waving her arms frantically at him. He went rigid, as he heard Zim's voice shriek over the noise.
"INSOLENT FOOLS! Any of you should be HONORED to have ZIM as a "Bus Partner"!"
"Oh no..." Dib muttered, and turned around to look at the little Irken. And indeed, all of the students were avoiding him, just as they were Dib. Ms. Bitters raised an eyebrow, looking from Dib, to Zim. Dib shut his eyes tightly, waiting for the worst...
"Dib! Zim! You two are the only loners without partners," she snapped, ignoring Gretchen like everyone else was doing. "Pair up now, and shut up!"
Zim froze, and turned his head slowly to look at Dib, just as Dib did the same. They stared at each other for a moment. Then, at the same time, both shouted, "NOOOOOOOOO!"