Dlbn: Hello, everyone! Here we go with another update. Feliz Día de los Muertos to everyone!
Nbld: Halloween was too busy for us to get the time to update, and yesterday was a bad day between me being busy, sick, and something you'll see in the dedications.
Dlbn: Then let's just explain then and move right into the Review Corner, huh?
Nbld: Wow, you rushing the Review Corner? World must be ending.
Dlbn: I know. In the words of Gir, I'm scared too.
Nbld: Review Corner! Thank you to Invader Johnny and Zim'sMostLoyalServant for reviewing! Candy for you both!
Invader Johnny: Considering how his life has been going, especially lately, it's not too shocking. Dib's losing his real friends for a relationship and popularity while Zim is losing his alleged best friend in exchange for friends and a girl that care.
Zim'sMostLoyalServant: Thank you! She's one of my other favorite non-main OC characters to write for. She's very similar to Sila, but her goals are different.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and the OCs you should all know by now. I'm introducing a very minor one here named Maddie. Minor as just being someone to move the plot along here and there and not be a main. Everything/everyone canon belongs to Jhonen C Vasquez. I make NO money off writing this.
Dedication: Today, we update with a heavy heart. The other reason I couldn't post yesterday (as mentioned in the AN in the start there) is that, unfortunately, we had to put my eldest dog, Missy, to sleep. She was starting to have seizures (vet said since she has no history, its likely she had a brain tumor that hadn't been detected because seizures are normally the first sign) and just wasn't doing good starting the day before Halloween and ending tomorrow. Her glucose was super low, and she wasn't responding to any of the treatment. Though it hurt, I didn't want her to suffer by making her live out the rest of her days that way. My son and other dog keep looking for her, Luke keeps asking for her. We bury her tomorrow. RIP Missy. There will never be another doggy like you. You were the kindest, sweetest, gentlest puppy ever. Except when your sister tried to hump you. Then you weren't having any of it. I miss you already, Missy. I'm glad they let me be there with you in your last moments. I'd hate myself if I let you die alone, at least you're with my parents and Rosie (a dog we had to put to sleep a couple years ago) now. I love you, Missy. Until we meet again. /3
Dedication 2: I found out yesterday when I messaged my cousin to let her know about Missy that her step-mother, Cathy, passed away from throat cancer Halloween night. I didn't know her well, but she babysat for me a few times and had me over for family gathering when I'm not even blood related to any of them (my cousin is the niece of my aunt I lived with growing up, who wasn't my biological aunt, but my mom's ex/girlfriend). She and my cousin were so close that my cousin called her mom instead of her biological mother. I'm sure it's hard on her and her brother and all the kids, too. You were a great woman, Cathy. RIP. Say hello to the rest of the family for me /3
000
Zim sighed as he checked the back of the grocery store for a missing case of energy drinks. He was normally a cashier, but the back needed more help than they had on staff, so he was stuck there for the night. Not that it mattered to him, since it meant less of a chance of Dib's crew coming in to find and harass him. He couldn't do anything about it because he was on the job, but Torque always knew just how to push him the wrong way. Dib was probably letting him know how to do it and the oaf was learning on his own. His job was safer if he was in the back. He found the missing case and pressed a button on his walkie talkie.
"Got the case." He stated. "Inventory row four, third shelf from the bottom."
"Thanks, Zim." His supervisor chirped back at him. "You can go on break. You too, Maddie."
"Thanks boss!" Maddie piped back.
"Thanks." Zim agreed.
He shut the walkie off and made his way to the break room. Maddie was already inside when he got there, feet up on the table and a magazine in hand.
"Hey you." She greeted.
"What's up?" He asked, punching his card to clock off for his break.
"Reading."
"Nineteen." He read the cover of the magazine. "Such wonderful reading material for a twenty-four-year-old woman." He grabbed his lunch from his locker.
"Least I'm reading." She laughed. "They have descent articles. Interviews mostly. And the "FML" stories are to die for."
"Nothing in this world is worth dying for." He sat across from her.
"Not even love?"
He laughed. "Fuck that shit."
"Zim Halen, such language." She winked at him. "Okay, spill." She sat properly and chucked her magazine onto the table. "You've been acting so different for the past few weeks. What's going on with you? Is it a girl?"
"I have?" Zim shrugged. "Torque and his gang of losers gets under my skin, is all."
"No, no. Before this shit started. Some new girl started at your school like two days before that. My cousin Jenah told me."
"I don't think I know her."
"She's a year under you." Maddie informed. "She said there's been a lot of new people, including teachers? What gives?"
"Shit happens."
"So, is that why you're in such a mood? I mean, yeah, those other idiots get under your skin, but you've been in a good mood for a while, even considering their existence."
"The new people?"
"Yeah. Not that I think you're upset by it but…"
"Yeah it's kind of that." He shrugged one shoulder.
"Is it a girl?"
"Well…"
"Oh?"
"New girl you're referring to is Lahna."
"A girl?"
"My sister; calm down."
"I see." Maddie laughed. "Your parents kick her out, too?"
Other than his family and Sila, no one knew much of his actual background. He'd told Maddie he lived alone after she had driven him home after a shift that ended at midnight and wondered where his parents were. He couldn't tell her everything since he had to pretend to be underage even at work, but he told her enough that she officially knew more about him after working with him for two weeks than his earth friends knew even now.
"Yeah, something like that."
"Great parents." She rolled her eyes. "Can't take your kids when they go through problem stages, don't have them."
"My problem stage was a problem life." Zim laughed. "But yeah, they were never all that attentive. My frigging brother practically raised us."
"And you don't know where he is, right? That's why you don't just live with him?"
"Nah, he's here now."
"For real?"
"We got a new coach since ours was hooking up with some high school broad."
"Ew."
"You can say that again. Anyway, we got a new coach. Moment the principal said his full name, I knew who he was."
"You didn't recognize him?"
"It's been years." He took a bite of his sandwich. "Took him a minute or two to recognize me and Lahna, too."
"I see. Okay, so one new student and one new teacher. One teacher and two new kids to go."
"Then came our English teacher, Mr. Sangre."
"Okay?"
"My damn cousin."
"For real? Chase, right? You told me about him, I think."
He nodded. "Yeah, his family moved away when we were just kids."
"Right. So that must be a nice reunion."
"I guess. Look on his face was priceless when he realized I knew who he was. I think he knew who I was the moment someone said my name. I recognized the last name straight off. He's the one that stopped me from beating the shit out of Torque for the locker incident."
"What a boob. The kid, not your cousin."
"I know."
"Two more."
"Sila and Zayena."
"Both girls?"
"Yeah."
"So, this is about a girl, I'm thinking? They're not related, are they?"
"No, not in the least." Zim laughed. "Sila's my best friend; has been since we were kids."
"Oh, must be nice to have her back then."
"Yeah. She's living with me. Dad up and left and then died when she was a kid, mother's in jail for bullshit she did. She's on her own now."
"Jesus!" Maddie sat back in her chair. "Does anyone where you're from know how to be a parent?"
"My grandmother does."
"Parent. Not grandparent."
"Then no, not really. But Ense does."
"Who?"
"Brother."
"Also, not a parent."
Zim laughed. "Yeah."
"That leaves this Zayena chick."
"That's a longer story."
"How so?"
"We used to be a thing."
"Ah, so there it is. The reason you're in such a good mood. Nice to see your old flame again? Damn, how do you all fit at the same table?"
"Yeah, it's nice seeing her. She's friends with Jessica though."
"Torque's girlfriend?"
"Yeah."
"I see. So, no chance of getting back together, hm?"
"Right under their god damn noses."
"Seriously?" Maddie all but cackled. "I love it. She knows they hate you, right?
"Hence the under their noses bit. My friends sort of know, but only Lahna and Sila know the full of it. I haven't said anything to Ense or Chase, and she doesn't intend on saying anything to her friends. Puts on this whole innocent little schoolgirl with social anxiety act. And it's a damn good act, too."
"How do you know it's an act?"
"She was never like that before. Besides, moment we were alone, she dropped that shit really quick."
"I see." Maddie giggled. "So, she'll be her true self when you're alone, hm? I wonder which the act is."
"That's what I'm worried about." Zim heard his phone go off and checked it.
Want to get off after you get off work? (wink, heart, kiss, kiss) ~Zayena
"Speak of the devil?"
"Yeah. She wants me to come over tonight."
"Sweet. Need a ride? I'm out at seven."
"Same. And thanks."
"No problem." She nodded. "So why are you worried? She's asking you to come over. Wait, her parents are probably home, so you're not getting lucky."
He laughed. "She's alone."
"Don't tell me."
"Basically."
Maddie groaned, running her fingers through her hair and scratching at her scalp as she tugged on it. "What happened to talking with your kids? I ever have any, I'm letting them know I'm there for them whenever and they don't need to act like little shits."
Zim chuckled. "Good for you."
"You want kids?"
"Not really."
"Why?"
"My reputation precedes me."
"I see." She nodded. "Okay, so enough dribble. What's got you worried? Clearly she likes you if she's inviting you over tonight."
"Yeah." He sighed, putting his food down. "I don't know. Like I thought the same about Dib, you know? That he was my friend and it would stay that way. I never thought he'd betray me. I'm worried if I keep thinking she's gonna stay my girl, she'll stab me in the back just like he did. She's friends with them and if they were able to turn Dib against me so easily…"
"I don't know your former friend, but it seems he just wants to fit in."
"Yeah, his sister said the same thing. She's pissed as all hell at him."
"Gaz, right? Yeah, I've heard she can be quite…terrifying."
"Not if you know how to handle her."
"I see." She nodded. "Anyway, the kid wants attention and friends. He wasn't popular growing up, right? So, he just wants that now. As for this girl, she likes you and from what you just said about her being your girl, I'm guessing she genuinely wants to be with you. This shy thing is probably the act if you know she wasn't that way before she came here. It's a defense mechanism. But you two have a history, unlike you and Dib. You guys were friends a few years, yeah, sure. But you dated this girl. And Sila. She's been your friend since you were kids. You don't think she's going to betray you, do you?"
"Not in a million years. Ya desen. Means for life." He stated. "That's our friendship, her and me. Stuck together til the day we die."
"And you're one hundred percent certain you don't have to worry about her betraying you?"
"The thought never crossed my mind."
"What if she hadn't known you were here and was friends with his crew?"
"She'd drop their asses in a heartbeat the moment she realized I was here, let alone how they treat me and all that shit. I know Sila like the back of my hand. She wouldn't betray me. Just like I wouldn't betray her. Not for all the money and booze in the world."
She smirked. "Then put a bit of that faith into Zayena. See how things play out. If you're that scared don't let her too close, alright?"
"I'm not scared."
"I don't know if you're trying to convince yourself or me, but if it's me, it's not working." She stood. "I gotta pee. Be right back. Just think about it, okay?"
"Yeah, sure."
He thought about it until their break ended. Maybe she was right. After all, Sila was confident in Zayena. Why shouldn't he be?
000
Zayena didn't seem all that happy when Zim showed up that night, dropped off by Maddie. The chocolate haired young woman had her arms folded over her chest and was tapping her bare foot on the ground in annoyance.
"Who was that?" She asked, tone accusatory.
"Maddie. I work with her." He replied. "Jealous?"
"With your track record, I have a right to be." She huffed and turned on her heel.
"Oh, come on now, don't be like that." He followed her in, taking off his shoes. "After all, my previous reputation must not bother you too much if you're still inviting me over at night."
"Even you can't deny the sex is good." She bit her lip, glancing coyly at him over her shoulder.
"Oh, so that's the only reason you let me come over here." He smirked. "I should have known you were using me for something."
"How does it feel to be on the other end, Junior?" She teased.
"Not that great. But, eh, you're hot. I'll let it slide."
She giggled. "You're not so hard on the eyes yourself, doll."
He joined her near the couch, encasing her from behind in his arms and nuzzling his chin into her neck. "It's just us now. You can do without the hologram."
"I thought I was hot as I am?" She giggled.
"Yeah, but I like your true self even more."
She shivered a bit. "It's kind of cold in here…"
"That's what you get for dressing like that. It's not summer here, Zayena."
She was wearing next to nothing with fluffy pajama bottoms and a tank top that looked more like a bra than a shirt.
"I was hoping you could warm me up." She turned to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "In my room…" She trailed as she kissed where his jaw met his chin.
"Your room, hm?" He wondered.
She nodded. "Mm." She continued to kiss down his neck and stopped at his collar bone. "I'd go further, but the floor isn't very comfortable."
"Then allow me." He put one arm behind her legs and the other behind her shoulders, swooping her up off the ground.
"Junior!" She squealed. "What do you think you're doing!?"
"Taking you to bed, my dear."
She laughed, tossing her head back as she looped her arms around his neck again. "My, you've gotten bold over the years."
"Gotten?" He smirked. "Apparently, you've forgotten just who you were dealing with." He set her gently on the bed.
"Maybe you should remind me." She answered crawling backwards towards her headboard.
He climbed onto the bed as well, looming over her as he followed her back against the pillows.
"Fine." He agreed, gripping gently to one of her wrists. "But just remember." He grabbed the other one and pinned them both above her head against the headboard. He could see the excitement dancing in her eyes. "You asked for it."
She giggled. "Bring it on, baby."