Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim

Author's Notes: Okay one last romance chapter before we get back to the episodes. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

Thanks, for reading and please review.

(Later That Night…)

Dib groaned as he struggled to smooth out the wrinkles on his favorite shirt. He knew he should have thrown it in the dryer when he had the chance. Now Miz would be here any minute and he simply didn't have the time.

"You know you could just where a different shirt." Gaz said as she leaned in on his door frame. She was wearing her black halter top with a plaid pink and black skirt, and combat boots.

"Easy for you to say." Dib muttered. "Besides Miz likes this shirt."

"So, it is a date?" Gaz asked, looking serious now.

"No!" Dib shouted, and then a little less confident he added. "I don't know…maybe." He sighed. "Miz says he just wants to be friends for now."

"Then respect that." Gaz said.

"I do." Dib said.

"Good, besides he's a good guy he's not going to care that your shirt is wrinkly." Gaz added.

Dib smiled. "I know, I just want to look nice for him, you know."

Now it was Gaz's turn to smile. "Yeah I know the feeling." She admitted.

The doorbell rings then, and Dib is forced to ignore his shirt, so he can pull on his sneakers.

"Coming!" Gaz yelled and walked downstairs to open the door. She does, and smiles as she sees Miz and Peg waiting.

"I swear this place has something against the heat!" Miz snapped. "How can it be this cold in September?"

Peg giggled. "He complained the whole way here!" She said.

"And yet Mother Nature still doesn't know how to take a hint!" Miz yelled.

Gaz moved aside, inviting them in, and Zim hurried in thankfully.

"So, where's Dib?" Peg asked.

"One minute!" Dib yelled wrestling on his other shoe before racing down the stairs.

Zim watched him descend, and they both smiled as their eyes meet.

Miz was bundled up as usual, and Dib was starting to worry if the guy would ever last the winter.

"Okay let's get going before the place gets too crowded." Peg suggested.

Everyone agreed and soon Zim was out in the cold again. "I can't believe none of you have a car!" He shouted. "This is just sad!"

Peg laughed. "My parents are making me save up for my own car. Can you believe it?"

"Dib you're loaded buy a car!" Zim demanded.

"Why?" Dib asked. He was never really a fan of cars, they were death machines, besides in this crowded city walking was way faster than getting stuck in traffic.

"Because a car has heat, du!" Miz reasoned. "Honestly are you even listening to my complaining?"

Dib laughed. "Of course, I mean tuning you out is a death sentence."

Zim smiled wickedly. "You better believe it." He hissed.

Dib felt goosebumps creep up his arms.

Zim laughed at his obvious display of shock. "Your reactions really are priceless Dib."

Dib punched him, giving him his famous scowl, his glasses slid almost all the down his nose. "Jerk."

Zim laughed and pushed his glasses up his face. "Well, that's one thing checked off on my; to do list tonight."

"So, you're making him flustered on purpose." Peg asked.

"Of course, if he's flustered tonight's victory is already mine!" Zim snickered.

"Is not." Dib shouted. "In fact, I bet I'll win."

"Yeah when pigs fly." Gaz teased.

"Are you kindling Pigs would fly and his game would still be the same." Zim scoffed.

Dib pouted. Miz was being a little meaner than usual. "What's up with you anyway?"

Zim smiled. "Isn't that your job?" He asked. "Are you not the one who swore to figure me out?"

Dib smiled. "Okay fine play hard to get, it only makes my victory all the sweeter."

"You defeat me?" Zim asked and scoffed. "Cows would fly first."

"You know a cow could fit in a cargo plane and technically fly." Dib pointed out.

Zim smiled. "Well, someone's in a mood." He pointed out.

"I was in a great mood until you-" Dib stopped, realizing something. "Are you starting a fight, just to fight?"

Now it was Zim's turn to be defensive. Normal Irken behavior included fighting over nothing in particular, a trait in which he could not always hold. "No." He said looking rather disappointed.

Dib bit his lip, Miz was going into one of those ruts again. He had to figure out what to do, and he had to think fast. "Well, that's just stupid." He said, deciding that if Miz wanted to argue then he'd do so, anything to make him smile again.

"Well, your head is stupid!" Miz shouted back.

"At least I don't get cold in September." Dib yelled back.

"Well at least my breath doesn't smell like corn!" Zim shot back.

Dib stopped. "But I haven't been eating corn."

"You're lying!" Miz screamed.

Dib couldn't help it, he burst into laughter, this had to be the most ridiculous argument he had ever been a part of.

The girls shook their heads, they had started walking slower than the two idiots the moment they started arguing like a bunch of 10-year-olds.

"Don't you dare laugh at me; I am being very serious!" Zim screamed.

"And that's why it's so funny!" Dib shouted, still laughing. "I mean do you always argue, just for the sake of arguing."

"When I am in the mood yes." Zim snapped. "And if you can't live with that then perhaps your crush is pointless." Yes, that was the point here. If he started acting more like himself Dib would snap out of it. The he would stop that annoying blushing, and Zim could get things back to normal.

Or at least that was the plan anyways, but Dib blew that dream up in a matter of seconds. "Well, your tofu breath is the worst!" he snapped back.

"Well at least I don't wear stupid glasses." Zim went on trying his best not to panic. Dib was a better arguer then he thought. "Look at me I can't see ten feet in front of me without my glasses!"

"Well at least I'm not short!" Dib snapped.

Oh, he did not go there, Zim growled. On Irk he was one of the tallest beings of his race, but on Earth Humans were tall, and Dib was indeed taller, by a few centimeters, but still. The comment reminded him of his younger years. Zim had been born the smallest Irken in Irken history, and it took him ages to outgrow that name. Now this inferior life form was calling him short. "I am not short you stink brain!"

Now it was Dib's turn to smile wickedly. "Did I hit a nerve?" He asked.

"Tell me Dib how much do you like your spline?" he said sinisterly. He was very serious now, and the boy had no idea. You never point out an Irken's short stature, it was just asking for death!

Dib laughed. "Okay I get it no short jokes." He said in-between giggles.

"I'm not short!" Zim shouted. "I'm just as late bloomer." It was true, Zim was always behind on growth. As an Alpha he should be fully grown by now, but while Zim's senses developed beyond expectation his height was always lagging behind. He stomped his foot and pouted knowingly.

Dib smiled, Miz looked so cute like that. He opened the door as they reached the bowling alley. "Here accept this as my piece offering."

"I will do no such thing!" Zim snapped, walking inside. "There is only one piece offering I accept."

"Do tell." Dib said.

"A chocolate milk shake with fries." Zim said with a sly smile.

"You're just a little gold digger, aren't you?" Dib asked as he paid the guy at the front counter for their shoes before heading to the concession stand.

"I told you Dib; I am high maintenance." Zim mused.

"Well, you're not scaring me away that easily." Dib said before ordering. "Could I get the bottom less fries special with two large chocolate milk shake, and some chocolate doughnuts?" He told the cashier.

"Will that be all?" the Cashier asked.

"For now." Miz said, giving Dib a sly smile.

Dib laughed. "We'll be at table three." He told the Cashier.

"Very well that will be 25 dollars." the Cashier said.

Dib didn't even flinch, he just paid the lady and led Miz to table three.

"No fair, you're rich, how can I compete with that." Miz pouted.

"Why are you suddenly trying to get me to hate you anyways?" Dib asked, yes it was obvious where this was going.

"I don't want you to hate me." Miz answered as he went to choose his ball from the rack beside them. "I'm just testing the waters." He admitted.

Dib's eyes widen. Testing the waters, as in he was testing Dib's feelings to see if they were the real thing? Was he considering giving him a chance? "I thought you said you weren't gay." Dib asked.

"What? Can't a guy be gay curious?" Peg asked as she and Gaz joined them.

"Are you?" Dib asked Miz.

Zim thought for a moment, he was curious about this love thing in general, but to actually let it happen was just asking for trouble. The fact that he just might be growing feelings for the Dib should have him running in the opposite direction. However, he couldn't help but be drawn in by the boy, he was like a drug that had him hooked. He couldn't help it, nor did he want to. He like being around the Dib, and he would be, no matter how dangerous it got.

"Yes." He finally answered, making Dib blushed. "Now let's get you're defeat over with."

"Oh, that is it!" Dib declared. "You're going down!" He vowed.

Zim laughed. "Alright Dib do your worst!"

(One Humiliating defeat later!)

I can't believe you only made 30 points." Gaz said as they ate their food.

"This game hates me." Dib said. "I only came for the fries."

Zim snickered as he tried the cherry on top of his shake, it tasted amazing, so much so that he decided to steal Dib's.

"Miz that one was mine." Dib whined.

Zim laughed. "Still think I'm worth the trouble?" he challenged.

Dib sighed. "I'm going to go cancel our next round." He said, looking down. "I'm just not up for another beating."

Zim frowned as he walked away. Was it something he said?

"You know you could have cheered him on a little bit you guys." Peg said. "Our at least given him a few pointers."

Zim bit his lip, suddenly regretting his course of action.

"Dib had always been a sore loser." Gaz said. "He'll get over it."

"Gaz!" Peg complained.

"No Peg." Zim said. "I got this." He got up then and rushed over to Dib.

"About time." Gaz said. "I was wondering if he'd ever get it."

"You mean you set this up?" Peg asked.

Instead of answering Gaz kept right on complaining. "You see this is why I don't date guys, they're so stupid."

Peg laughed. "You think they'll evet figure it out?" She asked.

"Nope."

"GAZ!"

"Dib wait." Zim exclaimed.

"Miz?" Dib asked, as he was about to accept his money back.

"He's changing his mind." Zim said, pushing the money back at the cashier.

"I am?" Dib asked.

Zim nodded and grabbed his hand. "Let's go."

"But I suck at this game." Dib whined, dragging his feet.

"You don't suck, you just need proper guidance." Zim said as they stood in front of the pins.

Dib groaned but picked up his bowling ball. Only to squeak as Miz got up behind him and placed his hands on his fore arms.

"What's the matter?" Zim teased. "Too close for you?"

"N-no." Dib stuttered.

Zim laughed. "Whatever you say, now since you're right-handed you want to be to the right of the pins." He directed Dib to the right spot. "This way when your ball goes left, it will hit the pins dead center."

Dib nodded, realizing that Miz was trying to help. And gave it a try, He aims and shoots, and the ball goes sliding down the ramp, and just as Miz said, it hits dead center, and several pins fall.

"Not bad." Zim told him. "Now you want to add a little more force, so the back pins go down too."

Dib nodded, suddenly feeling his spirits lifted, and tried for the spare, only to curse as he drops the ball to hard and it ends up in the gutter. "Stupid game!" He growled.

Miz tightened his grip around him. "Don't have such a tight grip on your ball." He advised. "It thumps like that because you waste time loosening your fingers. Keep them loose, and the ball will glide with your movements."

Dib nodded, and tries again, but his grip is too loose and the ball flies backwards rolling into their table where Gaz and Peg were sitting.

"Dib!" Gaz said, as the ball barley missed her feet.

"Maybe not that lose." Miz stated.

"Sorry." Dib mumbled.

Miz gives him another ball, it' a size smaller, with medium holes. "Try this ball." Dib does so, but he's tired of this game by now, and just wants to go home.

Miz smiles as Dib lands a perfect strike.

Dib blinked in disbelief. "I…did it?" He asked.

"Yep." Miz said, then frowned. "Sorry for being a sore winner." He said.

Dib smiled, turning to him, "No sweat." He said.

Miz turned to return to the table, and Dib reached for him. "Miz"

Zim stopped as he felt Dib's hand on his shoulder. "Yeah?" he asked turning back to him.

"Thanks." Dib said.

"Any time." He told him, and he meant it. Why?

Because even thought there was a lot of things he couldn't understand when it came to Dib; there was one thing he did know for sure. He liked the way he smiled, and he would do anything to see that smiled.

And he would do even more to make sure it never left his face…

To Be Continued

Chapter End Notes:

Thanks for reading and please leave a comment. (If you want!) The Next update will be soon.

So, until then this is Emily Signing off…