Seeing as how I'm a bit pressed for time lately, mostly due to working in a busy coffee shop, I've posted an extra chapter to keep you guys satisfied…please don't hurt me! whimpers Okay, on with the story.

Story starts here:

"Computer, tell me what is in human saliva!" Zim commanded as he got ready for class. He had nearly forgotten about his self-appointed mission until a memory of Gaz was triggered while he was in idle mode. The computer listed off the 'ingredients' in a tone that could only be described as bored, the main one being water. "Will it harm me?" he wondered aloud. To his surprise the computer answered in the negative. Because of the arrangement of molecules, Zim seemed to be quite safe from human dirt-child spit. Where most would have found this subject disgusting, Zim was exhilarated. For once he actually looked forward to going off to that horrible skool.

He caught up with Gaz out front, pulling on her arm. "Where's your brother?" Zim immediately questioned and frowned to see tears in the girl's eyes. His concern was for naught, however, when he directed his gaze to where she pointed silently. Once their eyes locked on the sought-after target, Zim laughed and Gaz began to do the same. The ink marking Dib's skin was positively radiant. The words seemed to be written in some type of day-glo ink; the words seemed to pop out of his flesh into the third dimension. Gaz leaned against Zim as tears of mirth rolled down her cheeks.

"I can't breathe," she gasped in between chuckles. "That stuff worked wonders. Poor kid is going to have to go around like that for at least two weeks!" Zim cleared his throat, trying to regain composure, but ran inside the building when Dib happened to glance in their direction. Gaz waved sympathetically at her brother as he was accosted by Lisa and followed the alien boy into the dreaded skool. She snatched the hood of his sweatshirt and yanked forcibly.

"Slow down, geez. What's your hurry? Dib's not going to come after you. Lisa got to him first," she informed him as she looked up at him. She could barely keep a smile from coming to her lips as she looked at Zim. Her body's reaction to him was queer and unsettling. She hated feeling so giddy. She shook her head and thought of cheerleaders. It succeeded in getting her back to her rightful mindset.

"Human saliva is not harmful to me," Zim announced, quite loudly. He received stares that probably would have made circus freaks feel better about themselves. Gaz shook her head and walked away. Zim fell in beside her after catching up to the quick girl.

"You certainly have a way with words, you know?" she demanded sarcastically. "I don't know what you want me to do about your new discovery." Her tone was cold.

"Have I upset you in some way?" the alien inquired. She turned her glare away from her locker and to him.

"No. Why can't you just accept that fact that everything isn't always about you, huh? I don't need you," she stated angrily. She mentally berated herself as he recoiled as though she had doused him with a bucket of water.

"Fine. If you want to act like one of the many other stupid humans in this school, then go ahead. I will cease to exist in your life," Zim replied, feeling foolish and immature by his reaction. He knew that she wasn't actually upset at him, but her words hurt anyway and he intended to show it. He began to walk away.

She yanked on his hood once again, successfully choking him, and dragged him around the corner to the normally deserted hallway she had shown him several days earlier. "Stop acting like that. We both know that I didn't mean that the way it came out, and we also both know that you didn't do anything to upset me." She sighed and pursed her lips, racking her brain for somewhere to go so that they could talk.

Zim understood her distress to some extent and shoved her roughly toward the closet door. She glared at the sight and shook her head. "Not again. I do not want to get stuck in here and be late for class. If I'm late one more time I'll be in trouble and I don't want to deal with it," she said.

"I have a key that will work," he replied and held it up as proof. "Hurry up before we're seen and things are assumed. You humans have a real problem with jumping to conclusions," he began to rant as he unlocked the door.

"Shut up, Zim," she said simply and he did. He closed the door behind them and waited patiently. "I got passed a note in the hallway while you were screaming about saliva. It just kind of pissed me off."

"What did it say?" Zim inquired, his curiosity getting the better of him. She handed it to him wordlessly and glared at the wall as he unfolded it and read the contents. Who would have thought the ice bitch would put out for anyone, least of all skin-condition boy? He crumpled it up and tossed it into the mop bucket beside Gaz. "This is my fault."

Gaz shrugged. "It doesn't really matter. People are just stupid, and happy to be so."

"But you care." A simple statement, but difficult for her to acknowledge.

"Yes," she said after a moment. It was not an easy admission, especially not to Zim. "Damn them all, but I do care." She looked at him and attempted to smirk. "It could always be worse though. You could be unattractive."

"Me? Unattractive?" Zim looked as though to say such a thing was blasphemy. "The mere thought is inconceivable!" He would have continued ranting had Gaz not began to pound her head against the wall. Zim put his hand between her head and the wall. "You'll give yourself brain damage."

"If I'm lucky," she mumbled. She allowed him to stroke the side of her face, almost leaned into it. "I'm stupid to care."

"You're human."

"You have quite a knack for making things seem so simple when it doesn't involve you," she noted and laughed at his expression.

"Maybe we should bring these filthy pig-smellies taunts come true."

"I'm not sure I follow."

"They make fun of you for being cold and aloof, then make even more fun of you for showing even a little bit of affection. Why not go along with it? Pretend like you feel something for someone?"

Gaz stared him down. "And I suppose you are the one I should pretend to care for?"

Zim shrugged. "I am not trying to trick you into falling for me or anything, although that would be the inevitable result. After all, I am Zim! Mighty love-beast of this stupid planet!" He smirked at her. "Besides, I think it would be quite amusing to see you showing affection for something that runs without batteries. Could you imagine the looks on their faces?"

Gaz chewed her lip, considering his proposal. "You don't think I show affection for anyone?" She grinned evilly and ran gentle fingers along both antennae beneath his wig, a ghost of a touch. "Not even when I do that?"

"Now you're just teasing," he growled and pushed her hand away in annoyance. "Irritating female."

"Stupid Irken." She shrugged and stuck her hand out. "I think you have a good idea brewing, for a dumb alien. Want to pretend to be my affection-monkey?"

He clasped her hand, running a claw over her thumb. An action that caused tiny shivers to race down her spine, a not completely unpleasant sensation. "Only if you promise that your brother won't dissect me." He held up his other hand to silence her before she could come up with some mocking retort. "I am more than capable of killing the little pest, but he is your brother and I wouldn't take the satisfaction away from you."

"Very well. I'll see what I can do. Now let us out of here. I have to get to class. The first bell just rang."