Dib couldn't control the butterflies multiplying in his stomach as he and Gaz got closer and closer to the Hi Skool. The nervous happiness that was going through him made him speak more than usual, and this made Gaz extremely irritated. He walked with an open posture, his arms spread out to the world. Beside him, the rainbow of joy ended in Gaz's dark cloud. Could he ever shut the hell up?

She walked in a hunched way, her hands tightly clasped around her backpack's straps, her head sunk into her shoulders. Shut up or I'll kill you. Shut up or I'll murder you, Gaz chanted in her head like a mantra. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden change of atmosphere. The quietness. It gave her so much piece she could smile and cry. But she didn't.

Out of curiosity, she peeked up with one amber eye. From across the block she saw Tak and Zim walking towards them on their way to Skool as well. A deep rage built up in her as she saw Tak. She couldn't quite explain it, but she knew that if there was anyone she wanted to erase from existence more than Dib it was Tak. She could feel it, something she didn't like, rolling off that foul creature's skin. But she also got a taste of something else, and turned her head to Dib, "Why did you ever like her?"

Dib looked down at her from the lower part of his glasses, and shrugged. He took her hand then, like he used to when they were younger to cross the streets. He felt the need to hold onto something when going anywhere near that disgusting green bastard, Zim, to keep from strangling him on the spot. He squeezed tighter as they got closer together, to the point Gaz hissed a sentence of hatred and yanked her hand away. They walked a step behind the alien and girl. Dib paused for a moment, 'girl' wasn't the right word for describing Tak. He shrugged it off, though, when he heard her nasally voice. He felt his sister shrink back in pain at the sound.

Tak's question caught him off guard.

"How's your father?"

      How's my father? What? Does she even know my dad? He raised a brow, and hesitantly proceeded to say he was fine. And Tak laughed, like it was some sort of joke. She walked on with Zim, who looked back at him with a blank stare before turning his head to face forward. Gaz gave an annoyed sound and went in as well.

Just as he was about to go inside after them, he felt two small arms snake their way around either side of his waist, then a warm body against his back. He didn't need to look to know who it was. His physical reactions let him know who it was. Unsure of what to do, without embarrassing himself, he put his hands over hers. "Errr, hello, Kyt."

"Heya," she said in a soft tone. Just as she was about to let go she felt another pair of arms and body crush them together, followed by Gir's voice. "AAAWEEE! I LIKE HUGS, TOO!!"

The two cringed in surprise and upon release, they released eachother to find Gir holding the door open for both of them. Both mumbled a soft "thank you" as they went in.

Dib was suddenly at war in his thoughts. Should he hold her hand? No, it's too soon. But we're in Hi Skool, Dib! It shouldn't matter...He took a deep breath and lowered his hand a little, reaching out to grab Kyt's. He hoped she didn't pull away. Her hand was rubbery and smooth... Wait? What?

"What do you think you are doing, Dib-stink?!"

Dib looked Zim in the eye and screamed, quickly shaking their hands apart. He had been so in thought he hadn't noticed they were in the locker pods. Zim made a face, and walked away growling, "Now, I must burn these gloves..."

Dib watched him, traumatized by what had just happened. What the hell had just happened?! He quickly wiped his hands across the lockers in hopes some of the dastardly alien germs would rub off. His whole body shuddered. "Disgusting."

He mumbled to himself as he went to Kyt, who hadn't noticed the little scene that had gone on. She was digging through her locker, seeming to have trouble getting something out. He leaned down a bit, reaching for it, "Here."

Thankfully, he was stronger than her and managed to pull it out with a gentle tug. She took it from him, smiling brightly. She leaned up a a bit, giving him a peck on the lips. "You better hurry to get your things."

He blushed, not only because she had kissed him but that he knew eyes were on them. He gave a quick nod and scurried to his locker, fumbling with the lock. He could feel hatred all around him. He was used to it. Well... Not for the same reason.

Dib tightened his jaw, so what if they hated him? He had Kyt. What everyone wanted since day one.

He marched to class confidently. Then he remembered he had Biology. Biology with Tak. AND Zim. Fuck! he groaned internally. The last thing he wanted to do was have to deal with the two freaks...

He went and sat in his seat in the middle of the room. His partner was a pretty girl. A preppy girl, who hardly spoke to him unless she needed his paper to copy off of. She was nothing to Kyt. No one was. And Dib knew anyone would agree...

As the bell rang for class to start, kids trickled in, hurrying to their seats before the teacher arrived.

The whole duration of the class, Dib didn't really didn't pay attention. He stared at the back of Tak's head in annoyance and hatred. For a second his eyes flickered down to her moving pencil. She seemed to be sketching something. He started to lean up and forward to see, until someone behind him hissed for him to sit down.

He had only gotten a glimpse of what she was drawing. It had wings. And sort of weird body since he hadn't seen, and it was engulfed in flames. Not like it was being burned, but like it thrived in fire. And the slight image he had seen stuck in his head all day somewhere in the back of his mind.

~¥~

"Ariiiiiiiiiii!" Kyt whined from the living room couch where she lay sprawled out, her blond hair up in a bun and a bag of chips on her lap. When he didn't respond, she forced herself to sit up, looking back into the kitchen. Ari leaned against the counter, his face focused on whatever the other person on the phone was saying. It was a familiar look on a somewhat unfamiliar person. Something wasn't right.

She heard him say something in a hushed tone before hanging up. She felt a wave of heat, and shivered. She didn't think twice of it though. "Ari?"

He looked up at her, looking tired. And old. "Mom's grave was robbed."

At that Kyt scrambled up, "What? Why would they take from her?!"

"Something very valuable."

       Kyt looked at her brother, unsure of how to respond. Something was swelling up in her. Something she was becoming far too familiar with. Ari waved a hand at his younger sister, "We have to go talk to the sheriff.."

Kyt stood there, her green eyes narrowed into slits. "What good will that do? It's been so long... It feels like so long... And they haven't found anything!"

Kyt began to pace around, running her fingers through her loose hairs. "Mom was all I had. Things at school aren't going right. No one is doing anything! Nothing has turned up! No weapon! No suspects! This isn't right..."

A soft sob escaped her as she whirled around to look at Ari. He looked tired. Like an angel that had just fallen from the heavens. He sighed.

He couldn't stand the sight of his sister so... Sad. Her eyes filled with tears. Of anger and despair. He could only imagine how she felt. They stared at eachother, speaking with only their eyes until finally Kyt brought herself together. Without a word she went to the door, slipping on a pair of sandals.

When they arrived to the sheriffs, what had been stolen had been more than Kyt could have thought. Not only was her mother's life was missing, but now her body.

For the rest of the week, Kyt found herself more haunted than she had originally been. She felt eyes on her at Skool. More than usual, and more sympathetic. What would be taken from her now? Her friends? Her best friends? Her brother? Maybe even her own life?

Kyt took a bite of her pudding in silence, looking above Gaz's head at lunch. She wasn't playing her GS4, but reading and going through several papers. Actually, she had been doing a lot of research-y like things. Kyt watched her.

"What is that?"

Gaz didn't raise a brow, or really showed any amazement at Kyt finally speaking. She shrugged, "Old news articles. I'm trying to see if I can find anything about what happened to your mother."

Kyt felt her stomach churn, she set her butterscotch pudding down slowly, swallowing her last bite. "And?"

"It's too strange. I never knew this town was so famous for its past of violence." Gaz said organizing her papers into a manilla folder. "Ten or so years ago some mad man had been found experimenting. On humans. He had their bodies. But it wasn't quite himself... It doesn't add up."

She grumbled something as the bell rang, sauntering off as the lunch bell rang. Kyt watching her back. She couldn't understand the feeling in her chest and gut. Why would someone who did such terrible things so long ago start up again? Knowing Gaz, she knew more than she was telling... Kyt crushed her cup in her hand.

If Gaz was so concerned why was she holding things back? If she was her friends, why didn't she tell her?! Kyt let out a frustrated sigh as she got up. Why was everything having to come in riddles? She just wanted to get the pain over and done with. This was stupid, it was torture!

Kyt stomped off, dropping her trash into the trash can, unaware of the small wisps of smoke and smell of burning plastic...