Chapter Seven- The Break-Up

Once again, Dib's peaceful slumber was interrupted by a loud banging on his front door. But this time, it was far too late for anyone to be visiting.

Dib looked up at the clock groggily. It was three in the morning.

"There's only one idiot dumb enough to knock when there is a doorbell," he said very irritably. "Zim…"

Dib opened the door, a grumpy frown on his face. He was already pissed off at Zim from talking to Tak. But now, the idiot was pounding on his door at three in the morning.

"What!?" Dib almost shouted at Zim.

The alien wasted no time. "Come Dib, I have to inform you of our newest enemy," he said, pushing his way past Dib to get into the house.

Dib rolled his eyes. "Listen, Zim…," he began while shutting the door.

"Now I know you are already aware of her presence here because I saw you talking to her at the earth coffee purveyor," he said, putting his plans down onto the couch.

"Zim, wait," Dib tried to interrupt.

"I managed to overhear your conversation and I can already tell you what her plan is," he continued.

"Zim! Shut up!"

Almost instantly, Zim shot him a surprised yet annoyed glare.

Dib was standing there, very irritated. "You eavesdropped on us?!"

Zim looked around as if he was surprised Dib was asking. "Yes," he said very obviously, as if it were no big deal at all.

"You little bastard!"

Zim was clearly confused by Dib's reaction. "What's the problem, Dib-Stink," he asked.

"You're the problem, Zim," Dib said, pointing an accusing finger at the green alien.

"Nonsense," Zim said, wondering what had gotten into his partner. "Tak is the problem! She is trying to turn us against one another!"

"No Zim! She is the one making the most sense," Dib stated.

Zim squinted, still wondering what Dib meant.

Dib could see his confusion and decided that enough was enough.

"We are through, Zim," he said.

Finally, it clicked. "You are breaking our partnership!?"

"I'm breaking up with you! No more visits to my house, no more movies, and no more sex," Dib shouted, "As far as I'm concerned, things are back to the way they use to be. You and I are enemies."

Zim blinked a couple times. "You actually believe that we should not be partners?"

Dib put his hand to his forehead and growled in frustration. "You see, Zim! This is what I mean! This is not a relationship to you! You don't see me as anything but a good time! For once, I want someone who actually cares about me. Some I can rely on to be there for me when I need them. And you could never be that."

And for the briefest moment, Dib could see a streak of hurt and sadness go through Zim's eyes. But it did not last long.

"How dare you," Zim said, clearly holding a lump in his throat. "This is what I'm talking about! Tak's trying…"

"Tak! Tak! Tak!" Dib mimicked him in a taunting voice, "You know what, Zim? Stop blaming others for your own incompetence! Start taking responsibility for yourself! You have no one to blame but yourself! That's why you suck as an Invader and why your leaders banished you here!"

Zim froze. His bottom jaw quivered a little in a pout.

Dib pointed towards the door. "Get out of my house," he whispered.

Zim blinked in response, but began gathering up his things in silence.

Dib went to the door and held it open as Zim walked through. "Not even a goodbye," the little alien asked, turning around once he was outside. But the only answer he got was a shut door.

Zim sighed, but he refused to cry; that is, until he felt the small drop of water on his face. And with that it began to rain. But it was a silence rain, barely making a sound as it hit the sidewalk. Zim had remembered to bathe in paste, so the wetness did not bother him. But it did make him feel a lot worse. And as he began his walk home, he could not help but let one tear, as silence as the rain, run down his cheek.

"So this is what it feels like," he said, "a broken heart…"