What If They Meet Differently?

Chapter 4: Getting Ready for School

He ran but was stopped as Zim stopped him "Wait!" Dib turned to Zim "W-What is this school you speak of? D-Does it hurt the Dib-thing?" Dib was surprised at Zim's curiosity and, one would say concern. Dib grew a smirk "Are you worried about me?~" Zim felt his cheeks grow warm as he stepped back "Lies! Just... c-confused why the Dib would go someplace he sounds so scared of" Dib smirks as Zim crossed his arms turning his head away from Dib. Dib chuckles as he says "no no it doesn't hurt me... well, the school doesn't for the other students that go there I can't say much. They kind of hate me hehe. I go to school to learn more things. Human children go for 12 years, though they can get more if the so desire. I just can't be late cause I'll get in trouble for it." Zim took this in thinking "Hmm... Zim could benefit from this school. He knows very little about this dirtball... could use more information" Dib smirked then rubbed his head catching Zim's attention "Sure, you can, when you don't look like an alien. You go out there an people will try and dissect you" Zim stepped back as his antennas went up "D-Dissect?!" Dib saw him panic as Dib calmed him down "Woah Woah! If you leave the house. If you stay in the house you should be safe. I gotta go get ready and eat" On cue as Dib mentioned food, a weird odd rumbling noise was heard. Dib stood up straight and looked around to stop seeing a flustered Zim. Dib connected the dots and smiled down at Zim "Are... you hungry too?" Zim huffed, his little arms crossed as Dib chuckled. He couldn't help be fascinated with the alien, beyond the fact he was an alien.

"Let's go find you something to eat. What does your species normally eat?" Zim thought as they left the basement together. "Mmm... well, there are plenty we do eat. For an invader, we normally just eat off of nutrition packets full of carbohydrates" Dib walked into the kitchen thinking "Carbohydrates? You mean like sugar and bread? Hmm... sugar huh" Dib went to the fridge as Zim looked around the odd room. Dib pulled out an apple and then a soda "This should be fine. The soda is mostly syrup with no water anyway, and the apple has natural sugars. Here you go" He handed them to Zim as Zim looked to them odd. He then giggled as Zim nibbled on the can wincing "Ugh this is horrible" Dib smirked grabbing himself a soda. He then opened it, grabbing Zims attention with the loud pop noise of the can. Then Dib drank the soda, pointing to Zims can. Zim looked to his can and after some trouble opened the can. He nervously took a sip then was shocked "Woah! This is like the stuff my tallest eat!" He sips it down quick to dibs surprise "This is normal human treats. I have to ask, who are 'the tallest' you keep mentioning?" Zim looked up, half of his soda now gone "Oooh why they're my leaders. They trusted Zim to conquer the mighty earth! I am a great invader and they talked of how hard earth was to conquer. So naturally, they gave it to the might zim~" Dib was shocked "Invader? Like... you have military training?" Zim nodded as he finished the soda. He took a bite out of the apple and froze "Hmm... weird..." "What?" Dib spoke out "We have nothing like this on irk. We grow nothing so this is new to my people. Yet still someone sweet, and I don't feel ill. How odd" He nibbled on the apple as Dib smiled "I need to go get ready for school. Just wait here okay?" Zim nodded as he stayed there nibbling on the apple, making Dib smile. Dib headed up to his room. He was full of such nervous energy. How could he be so lucky to have an actual alien, in his own home! Though he had to be careful to not ruin his chance to learn more about the odd stranded alien. He quickly changed his clothing, brushed his hair, and brushed his teeth, He looks down the hall hoping his sister left for school without him. He put his ear to the door, and could not hear the beeps and boops of her console. She must have gotten ready and left while they were working on Gir. He gave a peaceful sigh of relief as he grabbed his backpack and headed back down to the kitchen.

Zim was still standing there to Dib's delight. "Hey there, sorry I had to get ready so I can start heading out to school." He slipped the backpack on as he pointed to the clock in the kitchen "I'll be back in 8 hours. That's how long school takes. It takes me 15 minutes to walk home. Until then I suggest you stay in my dad's lab, or in my room." Zim looked to him curiously, having now finished the apple "Why? What would happen if I stayed in this room or that one?" He points to the living room wondering if there was a security system he didn't know about. "Well... those rooms have windows and someone might see you. Plus there is a good chance of my sister coming home and finding you. I don't know what my sister would do to you." Dib shivered which made the words sink into Zim "Mmm... then I'll try your advice human, not because I want to!!" Dib smirked then chuckled petting Zims head again "You're such a weird little alien" Zim had his cheeks grow a nice blue shade as he swatted Dibs hands away pouting "Stop petting the mighty Zim!" Dib laughed as Zim began to pout "Hehe later space boy!" Dib waved as he headed for the front door. He waved to him one more time once at the door, then left.