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Hello, hello! Thank you to everyone who's come back to this story, I know we had a bit of a long hiatus, but seeing how much you guys like reading really keeps the train moving.
*honk*
"Oh, bite it! You have plenty of room!" Gaz shouted, teeth grinding as she gripped the steering wheel.
"Maybe they're headed to the party?" Dib offered beside her.
"Looking like that?" she gestured to the passing vehicle, "Please."
Dib shrugged, readjusting himself before returning his attention to the two passengers in the back. Zim stared out the window lazily, the container of cupcakes sat in his lap. The alien had been so eager to get out of the house earlier that Dib hadn't really gotten a chance to look at the setup he had. The alien had proven to be quite the competent cook in the past, a skill set Dib only knew about due to his failing home economics grade in middle school. Their friendship had still been on thin ice at the time and Zim had taken almost every opportunity to rub his experience in his face and smirking all the way.
...
"Do you require assistance, human?"
"Dude, it's an egg..."
"Mm, yes, but the recipe calls for a significant lack of shells."
...
"Hey, you think you can hand me the beater?"
The alien paused in mock thought, "Of course I can, however it may be best to start a novice such as yourself off with something safer first!"
Dib stood in disbelief as his partner sifted through the drawer before handing him a plastic teaspoon.
...
"AGAIN!"
Dib through his hands up in exasperation, "Oh, come on! What is wrong with that?!"
"It's too high," Zim said matter-of-factly.
"Where?!"
"Don't argue! Your instructor expects perfection and so do I- now start again!"
Dib grumbled to himself as he, once again, poured the milk out of the measuring cup.
...
That jerk...Dib sulked bitterly in his seat, adjusting his glasses out of pure habit.
"So, what are they, anyway?" he asked.
Zim straightened, sudden nervousness playing in his posture, "Oh...uh, it's just chocolate with pistachio frosting. I didn't really have a whole lot of time to make something more intricate, so..."
"Doesn't Jess have a nut allergy?" Gaz broke in, one finger tapping at her GPS in irritation.
At the realization, the car had gone completely silent. Zim swallowed anxiously. That's right...people had allergies, didn't they? Stupid! He, of all people, should know about allergies! What was he going to do? He didn't want to throw them away...but what if he poisoned someone? At his first real social outing, too!
"Ehh, nevermind," she continued, "I would just slap a sticky-note on it when we get there."
"Speaking of things that are green," Dib's eyes rolled over him, "I take it you still haven't been able to crack your pin?"
"It's more than a simple pin, but no."
Zim dropped his own gaze to his inspect his skin. He wouldn't lie, he was a little down when he'd discovered that he couldn't use his newer disguise. Tak's invasion all those years ago had left him slightly jealous. At first of her plan, but as time went on he found a new appreciation toward her competent disguise. Excusing his sudden "normal" appearance at school had been just as easy as dismissing his faults, it seemed. Now...with his Pak only operating for basic function, he couldn't generate the hologram. He'd worked almost tirelessly to unlock the machine, but the process was akin to pulling teeth. One step forward was met with two steps back and the constant connection and separation was beginning to wear on his system. He'd hoped he would be able to crack it in time for this party. His mind, his stress, his need for approval putting it in the forefront of his thoughts. It was important, but at the same time it wasn't...and with no other options left he was forced to break out his old wig and contacts again.
"I was...just going to chalk it up to the time of year." he mumbled, nails scratching absently on the container.
"Like a seasonal thing?" Dib asked, thinking, "Yeah...y'know, that could actually work."
"Great!" Gaz shouted, false cheer glazing over her tone, "Now that we have all of our current dilemmas in order- Dib!"
The few seconds it took for her brother to turn toward her came and went in a flash. Before he could utter a single syllable, the vehicle gave a solid lurch and he flew backward into the dashboard behind him. Gaz didn't bother gracing him with a look, moving with the momentum of her sudden stop with a wicked smile.
"Put your seat belt on next time."
The first thing Zim registered upon entering the house was noise. A cocktail mixture of buzzing chatter, localized conversation, and the rapid fluctuation of pounding EDM music. He made an effort to stick close to his friends as several other teens rushed passed him from all directions. Gir seemed to be the most excited of them all, pulling incessantly at his leash and making himself gag.
"Alright," Gaz said, turned toward them once they'd gotten to the confection table, "you two stay here and I'll be back with the note. Try not to get lost!"
Not waiting for an answer, she walked off into the crowd.
"Pretty wild, huh?!" Dib shouted at him above the noise.
Zim tottered on his heels, looking around, "Um...yeah. Do you know whose house this is?"
"No idea!" he shrugged, "see anyone familiar?"
He shook his head, "Not yet..."
The conversation died from there. Every now and again he'd have to scoot out of the way for anyone getting food or drinks, offering small smiles to those who cared enough to acknowledge his presence. Zim shot a quick look at Dib, who seemed quite content to simply stand next to him and snag food. The alien watched as he moved lazily along with the beat of the music and suddenly Zim was back to feeling like an outsider. Parties really weren't his thing, as much as he might have liked them to be. At the Palace, he'd co-hosted several gatherings and balls, but he'd never actually been expected to participate. Even on the rare occasions where he'd been swept out to dance, there was only so much freedom allowed. He tried to remember this department of earth culture...everyone seemed to be doing their own thing, but was there some kind of order to it? Was he supposed to just be standing here- doing nothing, talking to no one? Was it as hot in here for everyone as it was for him? Were the walls supposed to be shrinking?
All of a sudden, he felt something brush against his arm and before he could stop himself, he jolted.
"Hey, are you okay?" Dib asked, looking intently at him.
Was he okay? Of course! He looked down, where even Gir was staring up at him with a perplexed expression on his face. Zim blinked in confusion...had he been talking or something? Had he done something weird? Another glance at Dib reminded him that he still needed to answer.
He started, clearing his throat, "I...yeah. Yes, I'm fine."
Dib looked unconvinced, but before he could get out another word a familiar voice rose above the crowd.
"No way- Zim?!"
A flurry of red caught his eye and before he could protest, the container of cupcakes was snatched out of his hands and all but flung onto the table. He felt two arms wrap around his middle as a hard force ran into him and tuft of curly, ginger hair brushed against the side of his face.
"K-Keef?!" he sputtered.
"I haven't seen you in so long!" the boy shouted, pulling back only to rest his hand on his shoulders, "You've certainly gotten taller."
"But you're both still shorter than me." Dib cut in, thrusting a thumb in his own direction playfully.
Keef...it really was him. The first thing he noticed was that his ocular implants had been replaced. For the best, of course. He'd hate to think of the boy spending the rest of his existence chasing after hallucinations of his so-called "best friend", as genius as the idea had been. As opposed to the glaring red, the pair Keef now sported were dissimilarly colored- one side a frosty blue and the other sharp amber. The patch of freckles running along his face had gotten darker and the roundness of his face had evened out.
"I had no idea you were back in town!" he said with a wide smile, "How was your trip?"
Zim blinked, "My...trip?"
Confusion ran over Keef's face and he opened his mouth. However, before he could utter a single syllable, Dib jumped and shot in.
"Yeah, Zim!" he said nervously, his voice louder than necessary, "You remember your exchange trip abroad?"
Dib swung an arm around his shoulders, eyeing him expectantly until the hints finally clicked. The alien chuckled in false remembrance, his brain already working to construct a sound story around the lie. He felt heat course through him as he was put on the spot.
"Oh! Yes, that! It-it went well! Yes, lot's of...uh- people! And...educational opportunities..?"
Dib's grin became strained as he focused all of his self-control on not immediately slapping a hand to his face. A jolt of electric embarrassment shot through him, but the lie seemed to be enough for the redhead in front of them as he saw his face brighten up.
"It must have been incredible! What did you study?" he asked.
Another flash of intense heat ran over the alien and he resisted the urge to look at Dib, "Uh, international...diplomacy?"
It wasn't a total lie, right?
"Oh," Keef muttered, interest waning, "I didn't know you were into that kind of stuff."
"Yup!" Dib shouted, "Full of surprises, this one! Well, Keef, it was nice catching up with you- we'll have to do it again sometime. Say, Zim, why don't we go help Gaz look for those notes?"
Zim raised a hand in farewell before the container of cupcakes was thrust into his arms and he was being pulled into the other room.
"You told everyone I went on a school exchange trip?" he questioned.
"What was I suppose to say- that you dropped out of our last year in middle school to get married? I panicked!" Dib shot him a stressed look.
"Do exchanges even last that long?"
"How should I know?" he groaned, "Let's just find Gaz before anyone else has a chance to-"
He was cut off when he ran hard into something, the sudden stop creating a domino effect between the three of them. Dib felt an odd wetness run down his face and was struck with the sharp fruity scent of punch.
"Whoa!" a voice exclaimed above them.
Dib wiped at his glasses, adjusting them just enough to meet the eyes of a surprised, and wet, Torque Smacky. Physically, Torque seemed unbothered by being run into- his broad chest taking the brunt of the impact. The small paper cut in his hand, however, hadn't been so lucky as it sat crumpled in his grip. The liquid it had held now thoroughly soaked into the front of his shirt and making progress downward.
"Torque-!" the boy squeaked, "Oh, geez- I'm sorry, man! I- I-"
"Dude, chill out," Torque mumbled, raising his hands in placation.
Dib swallowed nervously, "Should I get, like, a towel or...?"
"Pssh, nah," he said cockily, "I got a million of these. Besides, it gives me an excuse to take my shirt off."
He threw his cup to the floor before lifting the soiled garment over his head, waggling his eyebrows at a couple of girls behind him as they swooned.
"But," he continued, face falling in mock seriousness, "if it stains, I'm sending you my dry cleaning bill."
Torque grinned in amusement as Dib continued to chatter apologies at him, barely taking a second to look past him at the person attempting to use his body as a shield. Unfortunately, a second is all it took for him to recognize that familiar face and even more familiar green skin.
"Hey, I know you!" the jock exclaimed just a little too loudly, effectively reeling in the alien's attention, "Zen, right?"
"Zim..." the Irken muttered.
Torque nodded, shuffling out of the doorway to stand before him. Or rather, loom over him.
"Man, it's been a minute-in-a-half! What'd you drop off the face of the earth or something?"
'More than you know...' Zim thought, "Actually I...decided to study internationally."
"Oooooh, gotcha," Torque said, "You can get a better education pretty much anywhere that ain't here. By the way, what's with the...?"
Never one for subtlety, Torque gestured along his body with a finger. Watching his movements in perplexion, it took a moment for Zim to register his silent inquiry. Electricity coursed through him as he was, once again, put on the spot.
Looking down at himself, he replied, "Oh! Right, my condition! It, uh...flares up when it gets...hot?"
Torque eyed him almost critically, long enough for him to start doubting the logistics of his own lie. He just hoped the teen didn't think back to all those previous summers where his appearance hadn't changed...
Then, Torque threw his head back and chuckled, "Oooh, like a seasonal thing! Yeah, my mom has something like that, too."
"Sorry to hear about your mom, Torque," Dib piped up, leaning toward them, "but we reeeaally gotta go. You wouldn't have happened to see Gaz in there, would you?"
He shrugged, "She's that goth chick with the purple hair, right?"
"I would say she's more grunge, but yes."
"I saw her go out back with some other girl- equally creepy." Torque said, making a face.
"'Other girl'?" Dib repeated to himself. He shook his head before grabbing Zim arm and dragging him in stride, "Good chat, Torque, we'll have to do it again sometime!"
Zim waved halfheartedly at the jock as Dib wove them through the packed kitchen area, Gir clinging onto his master's leg to avoid the rush. Upon arriving at the back door, Dib let go of him to use the hand as leverage against the frame as he slid it open. Only a handful of people were out, thankfully, lounging around on the deck. Out in the expanse of the yard, however, he caught the faintest glimpse of violet through the darkness.
"Gaz!" he called, paying no mind to the person she was with.
Upon hearing her name, the girl instinctively turned and her wary expression became justified as the pale and stoic face of Tak came into view.
Woo, finally done! Thank you all for being so patient! I've been working on and off with this chapter for since I posted the LAST one. But, we finally get to interact with Tak in our next installment! I'm still debating on whether or not I should break this story up into sections...I just don't want it to be super long. If I do, it would only be 1-2 parts. Like a trilogy, I guess. Let me know what you guys think! As always, thank you for reading!
