A/N: Meh...Don't really feel like writing out a whole long author's note today. But, I guess I'd best write at least something considering how long I've been away with this story. Hmmm...Well, first let me thank the people who reviewed. I really appreciate that seeing as how it seems I managed to pull in at least a few people who either remember the story or found it back when it was posted on the ZO site. And of course, I send out much love to all our newer readers as well. I don't really have much else to say about this particular chapter save that it's finally revised. Hopefully I won't take as long getting the next chapter out but if I do, you guys can feel free to smack me with a fish or something. Ummm...Yeah...I guess I just don't feel like talking today. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow. I know I have some other announcements I want to make, but I'll make them later. I'm feeling kind of lazy right now. Anyways, hope you guys enjoy this next chapter. =3
In the Dark-Chapter 4: Distractions
Disclaimer- We do not own the cartoon that this fanfiction is written for, nor any of the characters from it. We do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Rating: M for later chapters
Zim: ZimPLUSDib
Dib/Gaz: Me
Tapping his pencil against the top of his school desk impatiently, Dib stared out the window from his seat, waiting for the bell to ring so he could leave already. It was almost lunch time and yet it was still snowing outside, though not nearly as heavily as it had been earlier that morning. He stopped his tapping and looked up at the clock. 5 minutes to go. Leaning back in his seat, he then let his eyes wander, looking for something interesting to stare at other than the snow for the remaining 5 minutes of class.
Nothing else seemed to catch his eye though as being all too interesting until he swept his gaze across the row of students Zim was sitting in. The alien was staring straight at him, though he looked away quickly when Dib noticed him. Sitting up straighter and looking away also to stare back down at his desk top, he wondered how long Zim had been staring at him. Was it possible that Zim had been staring at him this entire time and he just hadn't noticed? He felt his face heat up once again, though this time he had no idea why.
The lunch bell finally rang, though it could hardly be heard above the voices of students cheering for joy. Sighing in a bit of relief as the other students stampeded out of the classroom to try and get a good spot in line at the cafeteria, Dib didn't even bother hurrying as he had never been all that trusting of the slop they served at school after that one incident in the fifth grade that he'd rather forget. Ever since then, he had started bringing his own lunch from home. It was cheaper and less likely to eat his head off. Though today, he wasn't at all hungry for anything.
So picking up his things slowly, he began making his way to the cafeteria. He didn't have to worry about finding a place to sit at least. For as long as he and Gaz had both been going to school together, he had sat with her every day at the same table. Everybody else was too scared to even go anywhere near her, which had its perks at times when he needed to get away from any bullies looking to shove him in a locker during lunch time. Also, it offered him at least a small bit of peace from Zim who otherwise bugged him 24/7 when at school.
Disgusted by the food that was put before him, Zim, meanwhile, sat completely alone, poking at the cafeteria's spaghetti concoction of the day with a fork until he heard it emit a little 'Squee' sound. Feeling a little fearful when the meat ball then stood up and glared at him, he quickly swatted it away and yelled out part of the thoughts he had been thinking about all during his last class.
"I DON'T MAYBE WANT DIB!" Zim screeched before quickly covering his mouth and looking about at the confused children that were staring at him now. Blushing, he tried to think of an excuse for what he had just said. Unfortunately, he had none he could think of that the other school children would believe. So gulping a little, he raised a finger and pointed it at the discarded meatball instead.
"I mean...I hate you, dirty meat-ball." he said, closing his eyes tight and waiting for the children's responses. When the children merely returned back to their eating, acting like nothing had even happened, Zim peeked one of his eyes open, his bottom lip sticking out, then sighed in relief as he sat back and rubbed the sweat from his forehead. Just as he was about to return to 'eating' (or poking, in this case) the thing that was supposed to be spaghetti, he then suddenly sat up straight, as though a dog had just bitten him on the butt. As if just then realizing it, he slowly turned to see whether Dib had heard his outburst or not, a little afraid of what the other's response would be had he actually heard him.
Having jumped when he heard the other scream out his name, Dib almost instantly recognized the voice as belonging to Zim and turned to look over at the table Zim usually sat at during lunch. Their eyes met for a few brief moments, the flustered alien blushing and looking away after receiving a "What the hell?" kind of look from him.
"What was that about?" Dib muttered to himself before turning back around to stare at his still as of yet untouched lunch from home. He was used to Zim yelling out random things, but that was just plain weird, even for Zim. Why was he feeling this way though? Ever since the end of their first class that morning, things between him and Zim had turned awkward. Now he couldn't even so much as look at the alien without a blush coming to his face. And as it seemed, neither could Zim. Perhaps all he needed was some fresh air.
So, after about another 25 minutes or so of sitting with his sister, Dib finally pushed himself up onto his feet to leave, Gaz not even acknowledging his leaving. She was too busy playing one of her handheld game systems to care in that moment where Dib was going, which was fine with him. He wanted the last 20 minutes of lunch to himself to think anyways. So leaving the naturally noisy lunchroom full of students, he then made his way down to now empty hallways and towards one of the school's front exits. He doubted anybody would be outside in this weather. So, pushing one of doors open, he then took a few steps outside, a chilly breeze blowing past him and making him grip his arms and shiver as he walked out farther. White snowflakes clung to his trench coat as he stared up at the sky, a few flakes of snow landing on his face and melting almost the instant they came into contact with his warm skin.
A look of worry coming to his face when he noticed Dib had left the cafeteria, Zim blushed as he didn't feel he knew how to act in front of the human anymore. He wished that someone would just throw a piece of pork at him or something and break him out his current state of mind. Looking up, he then closed his eyes and gave out a sigh, crossing his arms. He had had an ingenious plan that morning but had now forgotten all about it. Something about replacing school desserts with a concoction of his own.
He had thought the plan foolproof that morning, but now that he had completely forgotten about it, all he could think to do was stand up and make his way over to the scary sister of the big-head boy. He cleared his throat before saying anything to Gaz.
"Why is the Dib acting so...Err...UNnormal today? I saw that he was telling you a lot of things during lunch, so I want to know...What is the stink boy's problem? AND DO NOT REFUSE ZIM THIS INFORMATION! I AM ZIMMM! And I can make a lot of horrible...err...THINGS happen to you if you do not answer truthfully!" he threatened, crossing his arms and looking away as he tapped his foot somewhat impatiently.
Glancing up at Zim as soon as he had addressed her, Gaz only allowed him a second of her attention before returning it back to her game. "Why do you care? It's not like he's getting in your way of world conquest or whatever the hell it is you're doing right now. I thought you of all people would be happy he's not being his old, crazy self. Besides, it's none of your business what his problem is. If you want to know so damn badly then ask him yourself. Now go away before I cast you into a nightmare world from which there is no return." she glanced up a second time to glare at him in an intimidating fashion.
She really DIDN'T care what was wrong with Dib, nor did she see any reason for anybody else to care, Zim especially. It wasn't like Zim could do anything to change how Dib acted. His problem lay in the past, and that's where it would stay. After all, the past was the past and it couldn't be changed. Moving on in life was all one could really do after disaster strikes. In a way, Dib had moved on, though a small part of him still clung to the past. THAT was what Dib had to get over, and she knew that unless he did so, he'd never stop acting this way during the holidays.
Stepping back a little, scared but not wanting to show it, Zim then just waved a hand in front of her. "I DON'T CARE ABOUT HIM SO MUCH! Besides...I would rather talk to YOU than to HIM. And you know it must be BORING him not being HIMSELF anymore. It's just not normal. And I can SEE that there is something wrong in that stupid boy's head! I can SMELL it!" he slammed his fist down on the table Gaz was playing at, disrupting her game play momentarily.
Growling out lowly but audibly when Zim refused to leave, Gaz tightened her grip on the game device she was holding and grit her teeth as the Irken was getting on her very last nerve. "Zim, if you don't care then don't ask because you're sure as hell not going to get any answers out of me. As much as I love to see Dib being tormented, this is a personal issue that even I wouldn't step ground on. If you're really so damn curious about it then you'll have to ask Dib about it, not that he'd tell you anything about it. Dib's never been all that open of a person and the chances of you actually getting him to tell you anything are slim to none. If I were you, I'd just drop it already and stop trying to figure it out because I'm not saying any more to you about this. Now, I'll give you one last chance to leave with your arms and legs attached to your body. GO! AWAY! Your voice is almost as annoying as Dib's is." she sent him a death glare. The way things were going, she was going to lose her game if Zim didn't stop distracting her.
A/N: And there you have it. =3 Future updates will come as I work my way through revising this story. ZPD and I hope you guys enjoy it though. =3 Especially if you read this before and thought my narrative writing sucked back in 2008. XD Hopefully you guys find it much better now though. So until next time~