The Almighty Error.

Sector Two.

                Dibs' Perspective.

It's been two weeks since school started. Still, no Zim.

After the first week, I had a gut feeling and knew I would never see him again. He's gone. This time, it seems for good.

Now, the third Monday of the school year rolls around and I simply go straight to my classroom for first period. Mr. Sweets.

I don't bother to even look at Zims' base anymore when I leave my house to go to school. It hurts too much to think of the memories that come with it.

Taking my seat by the window, the desk in front of me remains empty as the class fills up. I could only assume that would have been Zims' seat if he were here.

I think about it more often than I should. Instead of listening to Mr. Sweets' lessons, my mind wonders what it would have been like to have him here.

Suddenly, my thoughts are interrupted.

Loud noises erupt from the hallway outside the classroom, getting louder as the seconds go by. It sounded like someone was dragging some sort of metal object. The entire class is quiet now, all wondering the same thing. Who was causing all that ruckus?

Without warning, the door to our classroom swung open with such abruptness that everyone jumped. Thick smoke began to merge into the classroom, causing everybody to cough, including myself.

Once the smoke cleared, I saw the clear cause of this. A smoke machine, dragged across the floor and placed by the door. My eyes gaze upon who did this.

Him.

It was Zim. Standing on top of the poor students' desk closest to the door. His hands planted to his hips proudly, eyes closed with an expression of absolutely no guilt.

"It is I, the great Zim!! Bow before me, you earth worms!"

My eyes couldn't look away. They were locked on Zim. Fixated on him.

'Am I hallucinating? No.. the other kids see him too.'

As if on cue, one of Zims' eyes opened; looking directly at me. His expression changed now. It was like he was seeking my approval to his grand entrance.

And I will admit, I was excited to see Zim. So naturally, it was hard for me not to smile stupidly at the ridiculously flamboyant entrance he made.

I swore I saw Zim smile too.

However, Mr. Sweets snapped the class back to reality by speaking up. "Mister... Zim. Why are you two weeks late to attending my class?!" He spat, glaring at Zim to get off of the desk.

Zim however didn't shift his posture and stayed put. Only turning his head to see Mr. Sweets better while opening his other eye. "I come bearing an excuse slip!!" He finally jumped off of the table and marched over to our teacher proudly, slamming a slip of paper onto the teacher's desk. "Now, pathetic human, where is Zims' seating arrangement?!"

This whole time, my eyes never went off of the alien boy I've known for years. My mind swirling endlessly.

'He's back! Where was he? Was he plotting something?' I still stare, watching the teacher point in my direction. Meaning, Zim was going to sit in front me. 'He's acting like he hadn't just disappeared off the grid for over a month.. maybe he wasn't upset about how his leaders didn't want to invade earth? It's hard to get a read on him..'

Before I knew it, the Irken had already taken a seat in front of me. Turning his body to the window and looking back at me with that same expression from earlier. As if he was trying to read me. To figure out what my thoughts were on his return. If I approved of it.

After a minute, he finally smirked.

"Hello, Dib-human."

A shiver runs down my spine when he says my name. Eyes shifting between left and right, I feel weird now for having stared at him for such a prolonged period of time.

"What, does the Dib-Worm not know how to grovel at the feet of Zim~?" He teased, just like the good ol' days.

Finally, I look at him. When you're this close, you can vaguely see the natural magenta color of his eyes under the contacts.

Quickly evading my thoughts, I sputter. "Me? Grovel at your feet? As if, Zim!"

"You dare object to the groveling of my perfect Irken feet, human?!"

This felt more like playful banter than actual bickering. But I could tell he was enjoying this as much as I was.

"Oh, don't even get me started about your dirty Irken feet, Zim!!" Narrowing my eyes now, I smirk back.

My alien nemesis chuckles at my comment, not bothering to respond. His eyes were locked on mine for what felt like forever, until he slowly turned back around to face forward in his seat.

It's only when our brief interaction is over that I start to wonder again. 'Why was he gone for so long? What happened to him after the Florpus? I want to ask him, but.. would he even explain himself?'

As the day progressed, it was clear that Mr. Sweets' class was the only one where Zim and I would sit so close together. In the rest, we were completely separated.

Lunchtime eventually came around and I naturally took myself to my usual table to eat alone and take notes about how odd Zim has acted today and all the questions I had for him.

"You know, Dib-worm, you could just ask Zim those stupid questions rather than write them for yourself." The Irken had been reading over my shoulder this entire time and I hadn't even noticed.

In response to his comment my body jerked forward to cover the journal before quickly closing it. "Zim! I—" my head turns to watch as he circled around the table and sat down across from me. Folding his hands atop the table, his eyes pierced themselves into mine.

"Ask away, curious human." It sounded as if he was demanding me to ask him my questions, but his tone was not harsh, however still assertive.

I wonder if it's a trap. But curiosity gets the best of me.

"Well if you're serious about answering them..."

"I am." Is all he could say.

My head nods slowly, and so I open my journal and tap my pencil on the paper. "Why were you nowhere to be seen for over a month? Where did you go? Why are you acting like the Florpus didn't happen? How are—"

"Dib-brain, slow down." Zim cuts me off before I could continue asking any further questions. "I've been in my house this entire time, busy with.. projects. And I have... accepted the event that has happened."

He doesn't specify his answers. It's clear he wasn't being entirely truthful about it, so something must've been bothering him.

"So, the Florpus incident? Your leaders?" I push for more answers.

He looks almost uncomfortable now, no longer having eye contact with me. "Do not bring up Zims' Tallest."

'So there is something wrong.' I think.

"Zim.." I pause. "You said I could ask you anything. So what's going on with your Tallest?"

His demeanor changes now. The Irken stands up and glares down at me. He's hiding something but it was clear part of him wanted to tell me. "You dare try to get Zim to open up to you, pathetic human?!"

"What?! You're the one who wanted to answer my—"

"Silence!" He hissed, now pointing an accusing finger at me. "You play mind tricks on Zim!! Not again, Dib-stink!"

I watch him stomp away angrily, leaving me completely baffled at what just happened. Something was wrong with Zim. His actions swung all over the place, more than usual, which confused me. He isn't who he used to be.

And it's clear something is bothering him.