Enter the Earth

SPACED OUT

Dib is distracted

These have been some really strange days for Dib. And by strange, he actually means: FUN.

Admittedly, Dib was having trouble accepting the fact that not only he had a close friend now, but that she also had teamed-up with him in his fight against Zim. Not 'having the whole  weight of the world on his shoulders', as he described it, actually felt nice.

Plus, hanging out with someone interested in what he had to say was a new experience he more than welcomed.

He liked your unending curiosity, and how the simplest of things could amaze  or move you. He especially remembered the time you two snuck into a zoo at night while you were chasing GIR only for Dib to see as you freed half of the animals. He was mad at first, but ended up having a laugh getting them back and explaining to you why this wasn't allowed. Dib in turn tried to share  less dangerous interests for you to try, and you ended up loving them all.

The two of you spent hours on end reading comics in Dib's room, talking about the plot and geeking over your favorite characters. There were also times where you'd go into his dad's lab to try your own experiments, trying to come up with new ways to discover the paranormal with science. They usually ended up in explosions and you trying to hide from Dr. Membrane, but that was just making memories. 

Dib taught you where to find the best slurpees in town, how to pick a good horror movie, and how to raise the dead.

And you, in turn, pushed him to enjoy himself more, and to not let Zim and what other people said consume his life. He liked spending time with you, and whenever he was defeated or someone called him crazy, he felt reassured knowing that there was someone that believed in him and would stay by his side.

Right?

Dib was walking to a nearby hot dog stand where you had arranged to meet for your next hang-out. The boy was in a pretty good mood as he approached the site, and  was surprised to find you already waiting there. He didn't notice the mild concern on your face.

"Y/n! You got  here early! guess what, I got that super-rare ouija board, with this, I bet we can finally summon that weird demon we met last time!"

"Um. that's cool, but-"

"I also got some ice-cream for the trip to the cemetery..." He interrupted, "Well...it's kind of melted by now...do you have a cooler on you?"

"Dib!" You finally caught his attention. "Actually...I came to tell you that we can't do that today, I kinda have uh- an emergency at home so..."

It wasn't a lie. Your computer had just told you he needed you at the base immediately to run tests on the planet and set some special protocols. It sounded pretty serious if you couldn't use your device to do it, so you agreed.

"Oh." Dib muttered with slight disappointment. "Well, why didn't you just called me? You didn't have to come all the way out here." He pointed out.

"Oh, that- well, it just came up so, you know...my parents just texted me." You said shrugging.

"...I thought you told me you didn't have a cellphone."

You berated yourself for not remembering all of your lies. "...Yeah, I- I just got one. Look, it's okay, we can do the demon thing again another day, you've seen how it is so you aren't missing out right?" You reasoned, already feeling the constant signal sending of your device telling you to hurry up.

With a hurried goodbye you avoided all of Dib's remaining questions and ran off.

The boy watched you disappear before turning on his heel.