#23 – Disappointment

Even though he had done it all for him...

Dib came from a screwed up family. He knew that now, he accepted it. His family was messed up on every level from his always absent father, to his video game obsessed sister, to his missing mother. They were really messed up. Quite possibly the the most fucked up family in the world. He knew this, but God he was so sick of it.

Families were supposed to be there for one another. Parents were supposed to be proud of their children. Siblings were supposed to be slightly annoying and supportive. Instead of all that, Dib got a sister who yelled at him half the time and threatened him the rest. He had a father who was so busy being famous that he was never around. He had a dysfunctional family.

Dropping the plaque to the ground, Dib climbed into bed, ignoring the face that he was still fully clothed with his shoes still on. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right. Other children were born into families that loved and supported their children. So why had he been born into one where the UN was more important then the state Science Fair?

He'd done it for his father after all. He'd taken the path of 'Real' Science, been bored out of his mind, and created a project that had wowed every judge. His father had promised to come to the final competition. Dib had reminded him daily. He had written him e-mails and left notes on the fridge giving the date, location, and time. He had made an appointment with his father's secretary and yet his father had never come. Not even as the floating head video screen that his father routinely used for all of his children's skool functions. It was... It was...

...To be expected, he guessed. His father had never made much of an effort to go to any other of Dib's skool things. However, considering Dib had done all this to make his father proud he had hoped...

At least Gaz had been there. Even though she had just snorted when Dib explained his project to her and when he had won first she had still been there. She even didn't threaten him or anything like that. Plus, he had beaten Zim.

Stupid Zim. Using his stupid Irken technology to try and win the Science Fair. Dib had showed him at the very least. By using his natural human brilliance (and only a little help from Tak's ship... not that he was going to admit that to anyone) he had gotten first where Zim failed. The stupid short alien invader had spent the entire award ceremony alternately glaring at Dib and at the smug girl with the trained gerbils that had won second. Then, while Dib and the girl had stood in the center of attention, cameras flashing as reporters took their pictures, Zim had stalked off to grumble to himself.

Dib had thought he would feel a lot more pleasure from watching Zim be defeated so publicly, but he was too busy scanning the crowds for his father's face. Long after the crowds had gone, even long after the janitors had finished cleaning up and went home for the night, Dib had waited for his father to show up. Finally, Gaz had shut off her GS2, stood from her seat at her bother's side, and glared at him silently. "Let's go home," she growled lowly. "It's stupid here."

"Dad'll be here soon," he had muttered, staring blankly down at his plaque. "He's just running a little bit late.

If Dib had been looking at his sister he probably would have seen the look of pity that crossed her face before disgust took over. "He's not coming, Dib. Now let's go."

Gaz left the room. After a moment Dib followed.

"Not fair," Dib muttered to himself, pulling the blankets more tightly around himself. "Not fair."

"Food's here," Gaz shouted from downstairs. "If you don't hurry up you won't get any."

Not bothering to reply, Dib just pulled the blankets ever tighter his eyes slowly squeezing shut. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair at all.

Sorry for not updating for so long. It's the exam/project rush so I've been insanely busy. I'm planning on getting the second part to this particular one shot up on Friday or Saturday though, then two more up next week just in time for the Christmas holiday. With any luck this will all be done by the start of next semester.

Now to comment on Disappointment. I'm annoyed that this didn't turn out the way I wanted it to, but hopefully Regret (the second part to this) will manage to be better. Coming up after Regret is going to be Tradition (a holiday story) and then Christmas, both of which I feel are better (although Tradition needs some tweaking) and both of which are almost completely done.