A/N: Chapter five, everyone! -Is excited- So, I hope I'm doing okay so far. And I'd like to thank Jacob for being my beta, even if he doesn't know he is one. -smiles- He's awesomesauce. I'd like to thank all my reviewers and supporters as well as the song artists for producing such awesome songs I can paste the lyrics to in my story! Yay! Let's get on with it, then, shall we!??!

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING.

The next day at school, Dib found Zim sitting on the grass beside the school building. It still puzzled him, but he liked the way he looked, sitting there, with his usual scowl on his face and fidgeting with some alien toy or some of the grass, analyzing it. Not wanting to bother the alien and cause an uproar, he quickly passed by him, not catching the side glance the Irken gave him.

Dib reached his locker and sighed, exhaling the breath he had held since ascending the steps outside. His thoughts began to wander back to the green Irken, and why he had such a fascination with him. Trying to reason with himself, Dib came up with many possibilities, some of which, weren't too popular in his mind. The most reasonable, by Dib's standards, was that he still wanted to prove to everyone that Zim was an alien and get recognition from his peers, the world, and most of all, his family.

Dib had never shown it, but it really made him sad and heartbroken when his father made a mockery of his science, and when Gaz beat him up for being such a 'freak' in her words. The children in school were just ignorant, but Dib wanted their approval all the same. It baffled him as well.

"Freak!" Torque snickered and pushed him into the garbage can. The kids turned their heads and laughed as Dib pulled himself out of the garbage and spit out days old food and used napkins and straws. 'Jerks...' Dib thought as he swiped his hands through his hair, making sure he had gotten rid of all the filth. Dib didn't swear because he felt it was a waste of breathe, to just spout words that hardly made sense.

Feeling those hating eyes on the back of his head made him growl mentally and clench his fists. Dib turned and walked out of the cafeteria, enjoying the fading sounds of laughter, to have silence envelope him. Sighing out loud, he sat in the hall, closing his eyes and letting his mind drift.

Coming back to reality with a snap, he looked around, realizing that it was already dark out and he was alone in the school. Standing up, he ran to his locker, quickly unlocking it and getting his books. In his hurry, he failed to miss the note taped to the front of it. 'Dib, meet me at my house tonight.'

His shadow followed him as he ran along the streets, sharply turning the corner and seeing his house come into view. The lights were all off, which was strange for Gaz, because usually when he stayed out late, trying to expose Zim, she usually left at least the outside light on.

Turning the knob, he found it locked, and muttered to himself. Running his hands along the side of the step, he found the loose chip and flicked it out, grasping the cold metal in his hand. As he walked into the house, his ears rang at the silence. Not a living soul was in his house. At least, that's what he thought. "Gaz? Dad?" he called out tentatively, waiting for the usual, 'In here, son,' or, 'Shut up, you loser!' but nothing came. Not even a creak or the sound of a shutting door. He was alone. Trudging up the stairs, he came to his sister's room when he round the corner. Feeling daring, he opened the door and peeked inside. Seeing security's glowing eyes, he shuddered and looked at the bed. Seeing it flawless of any wrinkle or any sign of use at all, he sighed mentally, hanging his head and closing the door. Slowly and depressingly making his way to his room, he caught a glimpse of yellow on his door. Snatching the small piece of paper up, he read, 'Dib, don't even think about going in my room. If you do, you will pay. I went out with a friend tonight and I'm staying the night. Don't set foot in my room! -Gaz.'

Gaz had a friend? 'Jeez, poor soul,' he thought.

At least she left a note. He crumpled it up and dropped it in the trash as he walked into his room, flicking on the light. The darkness vanished and he threw his bag on his bed and turned his computer on. He checked his email, and IMs, and even his .gov account. As always, no one even left a, 'hey dork, I hate you,' for him. Nothing was ever fun in his life. The only thing that really kept him going was the fact that he wasn't stupid enough to commit suicide, and him; Zim.

Always, always, ALWAYS on his mind! It drove him to the brink of true insanity! Why; why did he always catch himself looking for Zim through the classroom window during recess? Why did he sneak glances at him during lunch when Gaz wasn't paying attention? Why did he write his name all over his books?! He paused, looking over to his bag. In a frenzy he pulled out his text books, seeing those three letters scattered along the spine and covers.

"Why me...?" he groaned, throwing his books down on the bed and turned, heading out for a walk. He didn't know where he wanted to go or where he was going to go. He needed to clear his thoughts and sort things out.

Stopping abruptly, he thought to himself, 'Okay...feet, just lead me now, show me where I need to go.' and as if they actually were listening, he was beginning to move forward. Letting his feet lead the way, he soon found himself in front of Zim's house. 'No....No....,' he mentally hit himself for being here, and for listening to his feet. Hearing the music that he was oblivious to until now, he sat down beside a gnome, closed his eyes and listened.

"Paper bags and plastic hearts.
All are belongings in shopping carts.
It's goodbye.
But we got one more night.
Let's get drunk and ride around.
And make peace with an empty town.
We can make it right.

Throw it away.
Forget yesterday.
We'll make the great escape.
We won't hear a word they say.
They don't know us anyway.
Watch it burn.
Let it die.
Cause we are finally free tonight.

Tonight will change our lives.
It's so good to be by your side.
But we'll cry.
We won't give up the fight.
We'll scream loud at the top of our lungs.
And they'll think it's just cause we're young.
And we'll feel so alive."

Dib found this song to be quite soothing, ceasing his troubled thoughts and mind. He let images of the Irken flow in and smiled in content. He was so entranced. So, intoxicated. He wondered how Zim always knew how to play such soothing songs. He vaguely remembered his question, why does he play the music? It always seemed to be just for him. It made him feel wanted, needed, and even, dare he think it, loved.

Immersed in his thoughts, he didn't hear the door open or the robo-parents. Zim pushed between them, seeing Dib, and couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face. Deciding not to disturb him at the moment, he watched the human sway in time to the rhythm. He soon found himself letting his eyes wander about the humans body and a beautiful image came to mind. Quickly pushing it away, he put on his usual scowl and cleared his throats, not quite alerting the human of his presence.

"Ah! So you DID receive my note," Zim declared rather loudly, gaining the startled human's attention. Dib stood, ready to bolt, but Zim held a hand up to stop him. "I'm not angry with you, Dib-human. Come in. I have something I need to discuss with you," he said, motioning with his hand for Dib to come forward. Dib's mind crashed.

'What in the HELL?!' his mind screamed at him. What was going on? Zim, letting him into his house?! It was almost like a dream. This would be the first time Dib entered Zim's home without murderous intent. 'What could this be?'

"Did you not hear Zim speak? Come in," Zim said to him, a slight tinge of anger in his voice.

"Z-Zim...What, what in the world? Who are you and what have you done with the real Zim?" Dib's voice quivered and Zim shot him a look.

"You claim I am impersonating myself? Stupid Earth creature," Zim chuckled to himself. "Must I drag you?" A sort of smile passed over Zim's lips but was gone before Dib could process it. Feeling a gloved hand wrap around his wrist, he swallowed harshly. Zim began pulling him inside, but Dib stopped him short. Zim turned his head, his non disguised eyes scanning him. "Something wrong?"

"What are you doing?"

"Inviting you into my home. It's human custom, is it not? Zim wishes to speak with you. I will not harm you, I promise. And Gir is out at the moment. Do you feel safe and assured now?"

"Y-yeah. Zim? You're scaring me....," Dib openly admitted. He always sort of had, just not an emotion deep enough to merit any mention, even to himself.

"I'm sorry. Do you want to sit out here? We can talk out here."

"Zim, just what do you hope to-"

"Just come on! Humans....," he mumbled the last part and Dib was dragged behind him into the house.

Finding himself seated on the couch in Zim's living room, he looked at the now relaxed Irken. He was inhaling smoothly. Counting four deep breaths, he watched him intently as his eyes opened again and Zim allowed a small smile once again. Dib swallowed. "All right, before I begin, I want to show you something. Would you mind closing your eyes for a minute?"

"What are you going to do?" he asked with an angry, yet frightened tone.

"No harm will come to you. Dib" Zim said irritatedly to the human on his couch, adding in the human's name just for a bit of spit. Humans were so paranoid. It was a flaw Zim hoped he would be able to accept and hopefully come to love.

"Okay...," Dib sighed and closed his eyes.

Smiling in victory, Zim began to walk closer to the human, leaning in closer to him. He waited a minute, smelling his sweet scent. Three, two, one... Dib opened his eyes as the thought came to him. "Hey, wait a minute, Zim, you called me-"

Before he could finish his sentence, a pair of warm lips met his, in a sweet clash and Dib lost himself. Losing himself in the greatest escape from his reality, and into the Irken's.

Forgive me!! This chapter was a fail, I know it. Please give me constructive criticism! Thank you! Song: Great Escape by Boys Like Girls.