A/N

Quick heads-up: I apologize if this chapter is not as good as the others; I just had a really hard time concentrating today. Hopefully, I can make it up to you guys in the next chapter. Again, sorry and I hope you can still enjoy it.

Gaz waited by Zim's front door, counting down the minutes she had wasted standing there. She sighed and leaned towards the door.

"Come, on Zim! We are going to be late for skool."

Inside, Zim stood in front of a mirror, staring at his reflection.

"A mask to hide this abhorrent face; a mask to hide this horrid sight," he sang lowly to himself as he inserted his contacts. He gripped his wig and combed his fingers through the false hair before sliding his antennas back and placing it on his head. He casually greeted Gir who was still confused by his master's odd behavior and opened the front door. Gaz turned to say something, but stopped at the sight of the alien's dreamy state.

"Zim?"
H stared at her as if she were an angel, a masterpiece. He took her hand and led her to the sidewalk.

"Such beauty…" he purred.

"Um, thanks?" She was not sure how she was to reply. Ever since he had passed out in the bathroom on that day of rehearsal, he had been acting oddly. It was as if he had forgotten he was out of rehearsal and simply chose to continue acting like the Phantom. Many times she had caught him humming to himself while he admired her from afar. His unusual behavior began to make her uncomfortable. She looked over his appearance to see if there was anything that would give her a clue to his sudden change, but saw nothing. At least, until her eyes fell upon the strange device attached to his PAK.

"Zim?"

"Yes, my love?"

She shook her head and pointed.

"What is that?"

He glanced down at his back and frowned.

"Perhaps it will make me everything you need me to be."

"What?"

He pointed ahead and she realized they had arrived at skool. He walked ahead and left Gaz to question what he meant. Dib was waiting right around the corner, jumping out in an attempt to scare Zim. Zim remained emotionless. He eyed him in uncertainly as he stepped around and walked to his locker. Dib raised an eyebrow at the alien while Gaz walked up from behind.

"What's up with him?"

"I don't know. He's been acting this way since that day he passed out in the bathroom," she sighed. Her head snapped up the moment she heard a sound from down the hallway. She ran over when she saw a bully grab Zim and throw him against his locker.

"I heard you've become a singer, you green freak," the bully spat. Though, he faltered when he saw Zim smirking evilly. Zim reached his arm around to his PAK and began pulling something out. When the bully saw this, he slammed him even harder against the lockers. Zim continued smirking, but suddenly stopped as he heard a click. The impact had caused the dial on his device to switch off. Zim eyes slid shut and he seemed to faint for a moment in the bully's grasp. The bully stared, completely baffled, at the limp Irken. Zim woke a few seconds later and glanced around at his current situation. He then glared up at the bully and grabbed his wrists harshly. Twisting it, the bully howled in pain and released Zim. Zim shoved him back and stared at him.

"How dare you attack the mighty Zim!" he hollered.

Gaz watched the entire scene unfold before her. He had seemingly changed back to his old self in a matter of seconds. What is going on, she thought.

The bully had disappeared from sight, the crowd that had gathered finally scattered, and Gaz remained still. Zim did not realize Gaz was right behind him and continued with his business. Gaz walked up slowly, the scene she had saw staining her mind. Her heart raced as she realized that the item Zim had come close to retrieving from his PAK to use on the bully was a noose.

"This doesn't make any sense, Gaz. He had a noose in his PAK and was going to use it on the bully?"

"I know it sounds crazy, Dib. I don't know what is going on with him, but I think it has something to do with that device on his PAK."

Dib and his sister sat in the empty library during lunch, discussing what had happened earlier that day. Reviewing his behavior, Gaz knew she had to talk to someone and the only one she knew of was Dib.

"What device?"

She shook her head.

"I'm not sure what it does. But right before he blacked out that day, he was fine. After that though, he completely changed. When we sang our duet, it was like I was singing with… with…" But she could not bring herself to say the Phantom. She knew she would sound completely ridiculous. "I just want Zim back. Ever since he got jealous of Keef, he has changed into a completely different person."

"He was jealous?"

"Yeah. He kept saying that Keef was everything I need him to be because he was human. I told him it didn't matter, but he still thought it did."

"And you said that machine was making him act like a completely different person, right?"

She nodded, unsure of where he was going. "Yeah?" She shrugged. "But what does that have to do with—" Then she realized. Maybe Zim was trying to change himself. Maybe he was trying to act like the Phantom. But perhaps, he had gone a little too far.

"I have to go," she quickly said before leaving.

She raced into the lunch room, but he was not there. Gaz searched the entire cafeteria and walked up to Zita.

"Zita. Have you seen Zim?"

"I think he went to the bathroom," she pointed.

"Thanks." Gaz snuck out and walked up to the restrooms. Inside, Zim stared at the mirror.

"What has happened to me?" He took out a contact, observing his real eyes. "I appear normal, but my behavior is far from normal. I can't even seem to remember much. It all comes in a blur." He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "Maybe it is this device?" He glared at the machine which remained lifeless on his PAK. He had left the machine off since it had been forcedly turned off by the impact of the bully's assault and realized something was wrong. "That's it." He decided. "I will not use it anymore. Gaz loves me for me. I need to stop trying to act like this Phantom just to impress her. Besides," he walked towards the bathroom door, "she all ready told me Keef could never take my place."

Gaz saw the door open and smiled when she saw Zim. Zim jumped and began to stutter.

"Um," he rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "you didn't hear any of that, did you?"

She smiled and embraced him tightly.

"What's been going on, Zim?" she asked, looking up at him.

"It is nothing, Gaz. I am just letting my feelings get in the way. But I promise it will never happen again."

He returned the embrace and began walking back to the cafeteria.

"Oh, wait. I'll be right back. Meet you there?" she asked.

He nodded and she left for her locker. He waited outside the lunch room for her, but when she did not return, he soon grew bored. His mind began to wander and he thought of the device.

"Maybe I should store it in my locker until I get back to the base and deactivate it…" he concluded. He began heading towards his own locker, which happened to be near Gaz's. He casually walked by, but stopped. Right by her locker, Gaz was busy talking with Keef. And she was laughing. Zim knew it was hard to get Gaz to laugh. His eyes widened and he felt as though his insides were turning inside out. He had felt that way once before and he knew what the feeling was. He had felt it when the Tallest had told him he was a defect; the feeling that he had felt that day was betrayal. He knew that was the feeling he was experiencing as he remained still in the hallway watching Gaz. Her smile was beautiful, but it hurt to know that the smile was for someone else.

Emotions were uncommon and forbidden among the Irken race. His PAK could not handle the rush of the unexpected feelings and began to malfunction. He did not notice as it began sparking and the device attached to it clicked on. All he knew was the deep hate he was feeling as he glared wickedly at Keef.

"Perhaps I need to rid this planet of that fool. Then Gaz will be mine…" He hissed as he backed away into the shadows.

A/N

I know it was short, but hopefully it was still good. I appreciate your feedback and reviews. Chapter 7 will be up shortly.