Gaz was impressed, the whole school was buzzing about Zim...she even caught some girls lamenting about hearing that he'd already asked Jack to homecoming. Even heard some descriptions of him in grey sweats at Gym. If that was true...add it to the pros list.

Gaz waited for Jack at the cafeteria doors as usual. She saw all of the jocks walking in their flock as they always did, but Zim and Jack were with them? What had gone on exactly? Jack was standing noticably straighter too, and she wasnt holding her backpack on both shoulders like she always did. It was hanging off of one shoulder...that always hurt her back though...

As the group approached Gaz Torque, their leader, addressed her.

"Hey Gaz, Jacklynn and Zim are going to sit with us today...you can too if you want, I know you two usually stick together."

"...what!?...You guys never talk to us!"

Jack came forward and smiled. " The guys had a run in with Dib, and well... hopefully he's going to back off a bit. You were right, no one wanted to hang out with me because Dib was always around."

As much as Gaz didn't want to hang out with the bro jocks of all people...she had to admit, her best and only real friend regaining a social life was something she'd support in any way she could.

"Yeah, ok, sounds cool. But you and I have to talk later Jack"

Jack huffed a laugh and nodded. "Oh yes we do."

Lunch went by pretty smoothly considering the drastic changes in atmosphere. Gaz learned that the bro jocks weren't all that bad. They were actually good people and pretty entertaining. They just came off as a lot dumber than they actually were. They even managed to get Jack to agree to tutor them. Gaz reminded them that they would have to pay her, they happily agreed.

More importantly, she got the low down on what happened at gym... apparently Dib had dropped his towel and made it apparent why he had been so insenced about Zim...Info that Gaz could have lived the rest of her life without knowing...though it did fuel a theory she'd been entertaining that Dib was a clone of her father gone wrong.

Most of all, she got to observe Zim some more. Ever polite, he made sure to pull back Jack's chair and carry her tray...he even carried her backoack for her, and gave her a napkin when some of her sloppy joe fell out if its bun. He and Jack went over some of his work from class together. Gaz had to admit, she liked them together so far.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zim

Zim was quite pleased with himself. Despite the hiccups, things were going fairly smoothly. All in all, he felt that he could chalk today up as a successful start to his mission. A huge relief considering the massive failure his arrival had been. There was still the rest of the day to get through though.

He caught the impressed expression of Gaz whenever he employed the mannerisms he'd researched about how males were expected to treat the female of their interest. Good. All according to plan.

He knew enough that the courting rituals meant he had to earn the approval of the females that Jack Lynn associated with...from what he could gather, that was only Gaz. There was the matter of her parental units, but that would come later.

The next subject that they had was chemistry...Zim figured that the humans were primeval in their technology...but this... he'd learned these basics as a smeet. He was relieved however, that based upon their periodic table of elements, they had a lot of the base componyneeded in much of his work. He'd already learned that much of Earth's life was carbon based...that was good seeing as Irkens were as well...that boded well for the breeding project.

He had struggled with most of the Earth subjects until this point...but this this was easy. He didn't even need Jack Lynns help, in fact he helped her a bit...Which left him mildly impressed. Her calculations were good, and the two mistskes she made were in more complex equations...

In fact, she presented higher than average ability in all things... He'd chosen a good subject indeed. By human standards, her figure presented well too. Since he'd be breeding her, she had what the humans called "good birthing hips". Studies had also shown that females with thicker thighs and buttox also seemed to birth more intelligent offspring. All good, very good...she also smelled good...which was also a plus. A. She was more pleasent to be around. B. If their genetics matched, that meant that she was giving off pheromones that Zim was responding to.

He still had yet to research the data on Irken mating and the workings of it...it had been over a thousand years since Irkens had started cloning... He'd have to see if his kind responded to pheromones. If other life forms were anything to go by though, he was sure that they did. And if so, that could be a sign that he and Jack Lynn may be compatible.

The next class was biology, which confirmed many of Zims theories...there was also a whole three chapters on the himan reproductive system...this school was proving useful indeed. He'd be certain to take all of these books to his base to study the information.

~~~~~~~~~~~Jacklynn

Zim was a genius...and Jacklynn...was a sapiosexual...this did not bode well for her. Zim was curious about how she did her calculations in chemistry...she showed him her anigram King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk. KHDBDCM. Kilo, Hecti, Deca, Basic, Deci, Centi, Mili.

He looked impressed and tried it himself and laughed. It was a good shortcut that serves her well in conversions. Biology was interesting, Zim took notes in Irkis and even read through about half of the text book.

Computer Lab was next...and Zim seemed apalled...when he received his assigned computer, he began speeding through the thing, adjusting settings and opening controls that Jacklynn didn't even know that were on these obsolete things.

he took something out of his backpack and plugged it into the usb port...the computer went nuts.

"Zim...what are you doing?"

"Hmm? Oh...this...this tech is baby. Upgrade systems."

Jacklynn watched as the screen seemed to be going through every website ever made...flashing like a strobe light...it was an epileptics worst nightmare. After about two minutes, the screen stilled, a strange insignia appeared on the desktop. Zim hit a few keys, using his translation device to read them, and a keyboard in Irkis popped up on the screen, he used this to translate the keyboard so he could use both hands to type.

Watching him type was strange...he only seemed to use his thumb, index and pinky fingers. Curiouser and curiouser.

By the end of the day, Jacklynn was exhausted. And her day had only just begun. She stopped at Zim's locker with him, he deposited a few things, but kept all of his books, reaching back to put them in his backpack.

"You're taking all of your books?"

"Zim needs to study."

Jacklynn just nodded and led the wy to the front exit. Gaz was there waiting.

" Let's get the hell out of here." She groaned.

"Long day?" Jacklynn asked a small smirk on her face.

"It would have been fine if not for Dib... luckily he has detention so he cant follow us."

"What did he get detention for?"

"Harassing me. I reported him since he kept bursting into my classes."

Jacklynn laughed. "Well good on ya...Your dad isn't going to be happy."

"Yeah, he night just finally send him to military school. we can only hope"

"Military school...is this a school for your militia?"

" Kind of Zim... it's mostly a place where parents send their wayward kids to be more disciplined. Its also like an introduction to the military."

Zim nodded.

Jacklynn adjusted her bookbag, Zim held out his hand. " Allow Zim Jack Lynn."

She waved him off with a smile.

"It's ok Zim, I'm used to it. Besides, thanks to you, my back is world's better."

She looked to Zim and seemed a little more serious.

" So Zim, I know you wanted me to tutor you, I'm more than happy to do that, but there is a ton of shit that i have to do still. you're more than welcome to join me, and we'll go over stuff as I work, Or you can come by later tonight when im done, but that wont be until 11 o'clock."

" Zim will accompany you. What is it you have to do?"

"Well...I have to stop by my neighbor's and check on him, take the dog out, and pick up my other Neighbor's kids from the bus stop...Today is a grocery shopping day, so I'll be taking the kids to the store with me...then I have to take them home, do homework and dinner...I have a tutoring session to do too...then I check in on the other neighbor, when the kids' Dad comes home is when I go home...Shit...home...Zim, are your parents going to be home? Do you think uour dad can check out that freaking tube in my wall?"

Gaz paused. " Tube in your wall? What?"

"Long story short, Zim has a weird pre fab house...the electricians did one hell of a job. There's this massive metal tube that bust through my wall last night."

~~~~~~~~Zim

His breath caught...shit... he'd forgotten all about that.

" The parentsl units of Zim are...away. No return any time soon. Zim will see how to fix."

Jack Lynn stopped and looked a bit dubious.

"Shit...I don't think you can fix it on your own Zim...the damage is pretty extensive...and I couldn't get a hold of the landlord even if the building were burning down..."

" There is always a solution to problems Jack Lynn."

She sighed and nodded. " I certainly hope so."

They continued walking, stopping briefly to split up with Gaz at her house. Zim and Jacklynn walked together to her apartment building, practicing English and grammar.

When they arrived, Jack Lynn took Zim into her neighbor's apartment...there was an odd looking earth creature that AI told Zim was a bull dog... it resembled a snorkplex and made weird snorting sounds. Jack Lynn greeted it, calling it Boris, and introduced Zim. Knowing how to safely approach odd creatures, Zim offered the beast his hand to sniff. The dog growled before slowly approaching, sniffing him, then lapping furiously at the appendage.

"Well, Borris certainly approves. GRAMPS! I HAVE A FRIEND WITH ME!"

A raspy old voice sounded from the other room.

"You dont have any friends. And why are you yelling Jackie? My hearing aint gone yet!"

"Ah, he has his hearing aid on now." Jack Lynn smiled.

"What?"

She laughed and turned to Zim. "It only works so well. Zim, that's Thurman, Thurman, this is Zim."

Zim looked at the old man approaching slowly with the aid of a walking device.

" Eh? Zim you say? Put 'er there son." He said holding out his wrinkled old hand.

Zim returned the greeting...and The man tried to shake his hand...why were they all doing that? Thurman looked perplexed.

"M'boy, it's called a hand shake. You shake hands."

Zims eyes widened in understanding. He followed the man's lead and shook his hand.

" There ya go! Nice grip! You can tell a lot about a man by his handshake y'know...You got a good one here Jackie...Though, you might want to see a doctor son... you're green."

" Zim has anemia Sir."

"Yer not from around here are ya son? what's that accent?"

" Zim is from...well...they speak a language called Irkis."

" Ah...well hang around Jackie son, she'll have you fluent in English before you can say dictionary. She's a good girl, brainy too. You treat her right now, you hear me?"

Zim nodded...this must be one of Jack Lynn's elders...it was crucial that he obtsin his approval.

"Sir, of course Sir. Zim will attend to all jeed of Jack Lynn."

Jack Lynn blushed and the old male smiled, making his face even more wrinkled.

" Good man."

" Gramps, stop it ..Zim has been nothing but a perfect gentleman."

"Good! That's what you deserve young lady. You've been through more than enough. And you dont have your ole man around for ya, so you have to settle for this old man."

He reached out and patted her cheek affectionately, then leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead. Zim was a little on edge about this, he thought that was inly a form of affection shared by mates...but a quick telepathic search of his AI told him that it is also shared between family and close friends...mates typically did this as well, but a kiss to the lips was typically only between mates. With this new information he settled down. Good, the old man was not a threat.

" Well, don't you worry about coming back tonight Jackie, Anias is staying over for a few days. Till Wednesday I think she said... She's having some work done on the house so her and the boy's will be here. She'll take care of me. You're more than welcome to suppers, remember that."

"Oh! Okay, I'll text her and get the details then. You still beed me to take Borris and do the shopping?"

"Nah, she'll be over just as soon as the kiddos are off the bus. But thank you sweetheart. You take care of yourself and your friend here. I'm going to settle in for a nap before the boys are here making a ruckus."

Jack lynn smiled. "Ok then Gramps. Ill see you soon then"

"Nice meeting you Zack, you remember what i said now, you hear? That there is marriage material dont go screwing it up!"

" Gramps!"

The old man laughed and waved them off.

"Plesent meeting you as well Sir."

With that, they left the apartment.