Gaz ducked her head lower in annoyance, her hair creating a temporary shield against outside distractions; namely her brother and Zim. She was stuck walking behind them on their way home from the High Skool bus stop. At times it seemed as though the bus stop was further away than the actual skool. Times like this. Luckily she had found her Operation: Annihilate Earth game squished between the sofa cushions. The volume was turned up as high as she could get it, but nothing seemed to block out the sounds of Zim and Dib coming up with growingly stupid stories that were somehow supposed to prove their worth and superiority over one another.
It never ceased to amaze her that they still competed with each other like that, even after six years.
She tried to concentrate on beating the fourth level until the sound of Dib's voice yelling about victory over Bigfoot grated on her last nerve. That and the cold wind seemed to be ceaseless. "That's it," she growled through gritted teeth. Gaz saved her game, turned the player off, and stuck it safely in her bag. Once that was done she proceeded to barrel in between Zim and Dib, who were taking up most of the sidewalk. "Out of my way, morons," she said angrily and quickened her pace.
Dib stared after her in confusion as Zim bent down to pick a metal something up from the grass. It looked like a charm for a bracelet. "What was that about?" Dib asked aloud. Zim shrugged and dropped the charm into the boy's hand.
"She dropped this. But it seems unlikely that she is upset about a charm," Zim replied. Dib handed it back.
"Oh well, she'll cool off eventually." Dib started for his house again. Zim fell in beside him.
"You are not worried about your sister, Dib-monster? I have done research in the time that I have spent on this pathetic planet and I know that families are supposed to be important."
"I care, but I've learned not to go after her when she's like that. Gaz likes to be alone."
"People do not like to be alone. I have learned this. I watch this so-called T.V. I see how you humans operate. At least they do not like to be alone all of the time." Zim thought about the last few years he had been on the planet. "I can prove it!" he shouted suddenly.
Dib looked over at his companion and gestured with his hand for the alien to continue.
"Gaz doesn't really speak to us. She doesn't really hang out with us. She seems to pretty much not like us or any of your filthy kind at all. Yet she walks with us every day and she sits with us at lunch. Granted she always has that stupid game thing. She must want to be around people some of the time." Zim fell silent.
"You seem to see a lot of things about her," Dib said, his voice low. "But I guess someone should." They paused outside the Membrane house.
The alien laughed. "Foolish human stink-beast! I see lots of things about lots of things!" Dib cracked a smile. "Why did you tell her that I had invader things to do? You know it was not true." The smile faded.
"I'm…not sure. Look, Zim, I'm sorry I mentioned anything about it. I wasn't thinking. Just…whenever Gaz wants someone to actually hang out with her…the results are usually bad."
"I shall keep that in mind. Until we next meet, Earth monkey!" With that Dib went inside and Zim headed for his home.
As he turned the corner leading to the cul-de-sac, the extraterrestrial stopped dead in his Irken march. He rubbed frantically at his bothersome contacts, but the image before him stayed the same.
