A/N
Wow! This is my longest chapter yet! I think you guys will like it. A lot of jealousy and drama in this one :)! Tell me if any of the characters are too out of character. I am trying to make them all act the way you would imagine them too, but this being a Zagr, they are naturally going to be a little out of character. I just don't want it to be cheesy. Anyways, Enjoy and Review!
Gaz assumed that their talk would make everything okay between her and Zim. She realized she was wrong on the first day of rehearsal. Mr. Elliot waited for everyone to show up before beginning. Gaz sat on the edge of the stage, reviewing her script and waiting for Zim. He finally arrived and took a seat next to her. So far, he had been acting pretty much the same, though she realized he kept glancing at mirrors or pulling at his shirt. She was not sure why he seemed so self-conscious, but decided to wait and see if would tell her first instead of her having to pry the information out of him like the other night.
"So let me get this straight: Christine does kiss the Phantom at the end, right?" Zim questioned, messing with his wig. She nodded, reassuring him for the hundredth time that day.
"Yes, Zim. She does. But…"
He faced her quickly.
"…But what?"
She was searching for the best way to tell him that in the play, Christine ended up with Raoul, not the Phantom, and she was supposed to kiss him. Though, each time she imagined telling him, she usually imagined him strangling Keef with a noose, just like the Phantom in the real Phantom of the Opera. Luckily, before she could explain, the teacher began talking.
"Okay, guys! I see many familiar faces and may I just take this opportunity to say how proud and happy I am to see you all!" Mr. Elliot exclaimed. He beamed at the body of students proudly, but it quickly faded as he saw that everyone was staring at him awkwardly.
"Okay," he cleared his throat, "before we begin, I want you all to get acquainted. Try to find the people you are most likely going to be working with and just talk a little."
Gaz nervously led Zim into the crowd. Yeah, talk a little. I doubt that is what Zim wants to do with Keef, she thought to herself while she searched the crowd.
"Well, I don't think there is anyone specific we need to meet." She grabbed his hand. "Let's go back to the stage."
She began leading him back, but he tugged his hand out of her grip and glared viciously at someone across the room.
"Perhaps there is one person we should meet." He hissed.
She watched him cross the room and caught up quickly when she saw him nearing Keef. Keef was busy talking with a group of rejects, but dropped the conversation the moment he saw Zim. Zim stopped in front of him, eyes narrowed, fists clenched.
"Hi, Zim! It's me, Keef! Remember me?" He asked, excitedly.
"Oh yes, Keef," he nodded slowly, "I remember you. How could I forget?"
Keef laughed.
"You were a good friend too, Zim. Hey would you like—"
"No I do not want to be your friend again, foolish worm-baby!" Zim yelled. He remembered his last experience with the annoying kid. Keef looked hurt, but simply returned to smiling.
"Oh, Zim. You always did have a good sense of humor." He laughed.
Zim's eyes widened in annoyance and Gaz held him back as he began walking towards Keef angrily.
"So I heard you were the Phantom. And Gaz is Christine, right?" He looked at Gaz and smiled. Gaz tried to answer, though Zim jumped in front of her and held her behind him protectively.
"That is right," he growled, "she is. Why does it matter to you, filthy human?"
Keef shrugged.
"I don't know. Well, see you guys around!" He continued smiling as he disappeared into the crowd. Zim stared him down the entire way.
"You don't have to protect me from Keef, you know." She huffed.
Zim shook his head.
"I do not trust him. Stay away from him, Gaz-love!"
She pushed him away to which he looked at her as if she had gone insane.
"The three of us got the main parts. You'd better get used to seeing him because we are all going to be together a lot for the next few months."
His eyebrows furrowed and he crossed his arms, sighing in defeat.
"Fine. I suppose you are right. But do not go near him when you are alone."
"I don't need a bodyguard because of Keef, Zim."
"No, but you need me there."
She became annoyed with his over-protective nature.
"You aren't going to be there every single time. I doubt every rehearsal is going to be you, me, and Keef. Sometimes the teacher likes having days where it will just be me and Keef or just you and me. Maybe even just you and Keef."
He cringed at the thought.
"I do not understand how that moron got such a major part. I mean, look at him!"
He pointed across the room at Keef who was trying to balance a pencil on his tongue. The pencil tipped and fell down into his throat. Keef gagged and rolled across the stage, his hands grasping at his throat. He finally swallowed it and regained his composure: smiling like a mindless idiot, at least that is was Zim thought.
"Maybe the same way an alien and a shy, creepy girl got the lead roles of Romeo and Juliet and the Phantom of the Opera." She laughed.
He shrugged.
"I guess."
She knew he was just trying to protect her, but she did not feel like Keef was a threat. And he wasn't, at least not to Gaz. But to Zim, he was a threat to their relationship. She leaned against him, holding onto his arm. He looked down at her and at the sudden physical contact.
"I know you are trying to protect me, Zim," she smiled, "but I'll be fine. And you don't have to worry about Keef coming between us. No one could ever do that."
She ran her hand across his wig and he smiled, but it quickly faded.
"I hope you are right, Gaz."
She gazed up at him sadly. Suddenly, the teacher clapped his hands and all at once, the students gathered around him.
"I would like to begin reading over the scripts today. We will be reviewing the first few scenes during the next couple of rehearsals. So when I call your name, please grab your script and I will ask you to read a part aloud."
He called some names, the students read aloud, and went back to their original seats. The teacher called Keef and Zim smirked. Let's see how good of an actor you really are, Keef. He thought to himself.
Keef stepped onto the stage and cleared his throat before glancing at his lines. When he began, Zim's smirk slowly faded more and more until it was completely gone. By the time he was finished reading, Zim's mouth was hanging to the ground practically. Gaz eyed the Irken in confusion.
"Would you like to try one of the songs too, Keef?" Mr. Elliot asked.
Keef nodded and the teacher handed him the lyrics. Zim fidgeted with his hands nervously. Surely he can't be a good singer too, right? He thought. Right?
Keef waited for the piano to play the melody before beginning.
Long ago
it seems so long ago
how young and innocent we were
She may
not remember
me, but
I remember
her...
The students clapped in approval and Zim grew even more jealous.
"That was wonderful, Keef. Now I would like to have Christine and the Phantom up on the stage."
Keef walked off of the stage, much to Zim's liking, and he and Gaz stepped up.
"I would like you two to try your hand at a song together. Would you mind?"
Gaz smiled at Zim who shyly gazed at the ground. She nodded.
"That'll be fine."
"Good!" He searched for the lyrics and handed a paper to each of the two. While the person at the piano flipped through their music to find the proper song, Zim tapped Gaz nervously.
"I am not sure I want to sing in front of all of these students, Gaz."
She grabbed his hand.
"Don't you remember what you told me on the night of the final performance of Romeo and Juliet? You said to not worry about them, that we were living that night for you and me only. It's the same for this musical: we are doing the entire thing for you and me and me and you alone."
He nodded and straightened up a bit. The piano began playing and Gaz took a deep breath before beginning.
In sleep he sang to me,
In dreams he came.
That voice which calls to me,
And speaks my name
And do I dream again?
For now I find,
The Phantom of the Opera is here,
Inside my mind
Zim waited for the right moment to begin his part. When he did, Gaz couldn't help but notice him and only him.
Sing once again with me,
Our strange duet.
My power over you,
Grows stronger yet.
And though you turn from me,
To glance behind.
The Phantom of the Opera is there,
Inside your mind.
She smiled as she noticed he was beginning to block out their surroundings and grow focused on her, him, and their song. Gaz was so absorbed in Zim that she nearly missed her next lines.
Those who have seen your face,
Draw back in fear.
I am the mask you wear.
Zim chuckled lightly as he saw her lack of attention on her part.
It's me they hear.
When Zim sang that last line, Gaz could see him getting more and more into character. It was odd to see how much he reminded her of the Phantom. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts, her voice blending perfectly with Zim's.
My/your spirit and my/your voice,
In one combined.
The Phantom of the Opera is here/there
Inside your/my mind
The song was not quite finished, but the pair heard the piano beginning to stop so they too stopped. The room was filled with applause and Gaz shook her head disappointedly as she was sure she saw Mr. Elliot wiping a tear away. Not this again… she thought.
"That was perfect, you two. Absolutely breathtaking!"
The other students nodded in agreement. Zim sneered when he saw Keef giving him a thumbs up in the crowd. Gaz noticed he stepped closer when he caught sight of Keef and held onto her tightly.
"This is going to be one long musical…" She mumbled as Zim watched her every movement once she got close enough to Keef. When the teacher told the students what he wanted next, Gaz instantly wished he hadn't.
"Okay. Now I would like Christine and Raoul to try a song together."
Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Zim's right eye twitch.
"Um… I'll be right back. If you want, you can sit over there and wait for me, okay?" She tried to smile as she pointed. He did not agree or argue. Instead, he stiffly walked over to where she had pointed, sat down, and stared like a zombie as the pair made their way up to the stage. Keef waved a greeting and Gaz nodded in reply, seeing Zim sending the poor kid death threats through his icy gaze alone. The music began and Keef began.
No more talk of darkness
Forget these wide-eyed fears
I'm here, nothing can harm you
My words will warm and calm you
Let me be your freedom
Let daylight dry your tears
I'm here, with you, beside you
To guard you and to guide you
Gaz's part came and when she began singing, she could see Zim stiffen tremendously. He gritted his teeth in anger, but when he heard the lyrics she was singing to Keef, his mouth hung open slightly and his eyes widened. He was no longer angry. In fact, he was far from angry. But he was very close to sadness. Actually, the only word she could use to describe his expression was betrayal; utter and plain betrayal.
Say you'll love me every waking moment
Turn my head with talk of summer time
Say you need me with you now and always
Promise me that all you say is true
That's all I ask of you
She ignored the clapping that followed and got off the stage. She walked over to Zim who simply smiled up at her.
"You were great." He stated in a near-whisper. No trace of his previous state remained. He seemed completely fine with the entire idea of her singing with Keef. Little did she know, he was dying inside at the sight of her with him. He had changed so quickly, she nearly wondered if she had imagined it all. She took her seat beside the silent Irken and focused on the teacher.
What if she meant those words she just sang? What if I lose her? Zim's heart pounded as he thought.
As the teacher babbled on and on, Zim ignored his every word and used that time to think. And when Zim thought, trouble usually followed close behind.
So that high-pitched, happy human thinks he is good at acting and singing, huh? I bet he thinks he has charmed Gaz enough to steal her away. Hmph, not while I am around. Just wait until the next time Gaz and I sing together. I will certainly give them a memorable performance. She could see him smiling evilly out of the corner of her eye. Oh no… she thought, what is he up to now? Keef saw Zim's wicked smile and laughed to himself. Gee, I sure am happy that Zim is my friend again. I wonder if he is excited to see me too? He foolishly thought. Little did he know, Zim was ecstatic.
Gaz noticed Zim had left rehearsal rather quickly, but decided to shrug it off.
"Who knows what that crazy alien is up to half the time." She laughed as she walked home. A few streets away, Zim zipped into his base, passing Gir who was in a near TV coma.
"Computer, please take care of Gir for me. I have work to do." He commanded.
Behind him, a metallic arm extended out of the wall and grabbed Gir by his head. It shook him repetitively, waking the small robot. It set him on the ground with a squeak and pulled back into the wall. Gir remained still for a moment, but seconds later he was squealing and rolling on the floor, hugging a waffle to his chest. Even in his lab, Zim could hear his giggling.
"Oh, that insane little robot…" He mumbled as he pulled a tool out of his PAK. In his hand was a small device similar to a dial. He grabbed a tool from above and sent a charge of electricity throughout it before holding it up triumphantly to the ceiling.
"I am a genius!"
"Master?"
He faced his computer and awaited the sure-to-come lecture.
"What?" He whined.
"What are you doing?"
"I am making something that will guarantee that the foolish Keef will not steal Gaz away from me. He thinks he can act so good, well I will certainly prove him wrong." He unattached his PAK and set it on the table in front of him.
"What exactly does the machine do?" The bored computer droned.
"Once attached, this device will make me act and think just like the character I am to portray!"
"You are saying it will make you this Phantom?"
"Almost. I will not be him, but I will act much like him. That way, I will give a memorable performance."
"Master?" His computer asked in concern. Though he could care less what Zim did, even he could see it was a plan that was sure to fail.
"Don't worry. I can turn it on and off whenever I please."
"Are you sure this is wise, Zim?"
"Of course it is, why wouldn't it be?"
"What if something goes wrong?"
Zim couldn't think of a response so he decided to dismiss it entirely.
"Computer! I do not pay you to lecture me!"
"You don't pay me at—"
"Silence!" He interrupted.
The computer sighed and obeyed. Zim attached the device to his PAK and smirked.
"Wait until the next rehearsal, Keef." He spat the name. "I will surely sweep Gaz off of her feet and away from you."
Gir walked in at that moment and grew afraid at the dangerous tone his master's voice had taken. Yet, Zim was oblivious and continued to grin wickedly as he finished the last adjustments.
A/N
I think this was a pretty good chapter. I thought Zim's plan at the very end sounded like something he would do: make a decision right then and there and ignore his computer's advice lol. Oh, and just so you know, when you saw the lyrics
My/your spirit and my/your voice,
In one combined.
The Phantom of the Opera is here/there
Inside your/my mind
Zim was singing My spirit and your voice, while Gaz was singing Your spirit and my voice, and Zim was singing Inside your mind while Gaz was singing Inside my mind. They sang it at the same time and I didn't want the typing to confuse you. I hope that cleared it up for you, in case you have never seen the movie. But I do recommend either watching the movie or even just going to youtube and checking out the videos of the songs so you can get an idea of how Zim and Gaz will be performing. Well, before I ramble on and on, I hope you enjoyed the story and chapter five will be up very soon!