Kurt pulls me into a large bright space with tables and leads me to the serving hatch. The person hands me breakfast. She then hands me a sheet to fill in of things I can't eat. I immediately tick chips/fries. I want to puke when I touch them. Do you know how unpleasant being boiled in oil is? And enough of the cells remain alive for me to feel that. I eat my breakfast then Kurt's dragging me along a corridor towards a large door. I don't want to enter but he knocks and then someone's calling 'Enter'. The door swings open and three people are there. A brown-haired man with red glasses, a pretty red-head and a bald man are all looking at me.
"Aca, sit down."
I shake my head.
"I prefer to stand."
He frowns but nods.
"Last month, Ellie turned up at our gates in a state of fear and told us that 'Aca told me to come here'. Kurt and Logan verified that Ellie was indeed the girl who stayed with you but were uncertain as to why you ordered her to come here. According to Kurt you were very protective of her and disliked the idea of ordering her to school. We later found out from her when she had a panic attack- don't worry, it wasn't serious- that you had handed yourself over to someone Ellie simply called 'Ring' to allow her to escape. On that note, Kurt insisted that we find and rescue you as a favour for you saving his life… and there is no doubt you saved his life. He was suffering concussion and too confused to teleport. But according to Ellie you can't go back to the streets. So I'm offering you a place in my school."
I freeze. He's right. I can't go back. But do I want to stay here? Then Kurt squeezes my hand and I decide.
"I'll stay."
I get a grin from Kurt and I smile back slightly. I quite like him. He's not as naïve as I thought he was. Then I snap back to reality.
"We'll need to see how far behind you are…"
"I'm not behind. I used to spend time in the library reading. That was before I picked up Ellie. And I was a year ahead when I left school."
He nods slightly.
"In that case I'll put you in Kurt's classes so he can show you around. And I think you can share a room with Kitty. I suppose you'll need new clothes and we have a student fund for that."
I nod. It's best I just listen then protest later.
"Here's your timetable. Kurt will show you round the school today and your lessons start tomorrow. And can I have your full name for student records?"
I stop dead.
"My birth name is forgotten. People call me Acacia or Aca. No surname, no birth certificate. It's safer that way."
"Safer?"
"Where I lived, if I was discovered to be a mutant, I'd be lynched, my family tested and then ostracised, my friends ignored. It's safer."
He frowns but then nods.
"This is Jean Grey-Summers and Scott Summers, two of the teachers at the school. They will be there to help you if you require assistance."
I nod again. There isn't much more I can do. Then the bald guy smiles.
"Kurt will take you to your room. And my name is Professor Charles Xavier. You must stop referring to me as 'the bald guy'."
Kurt laughs then blushes purple at the looks on his teachers faces then grabs my arm.
"I'll teleport us there and we can do the tour, ja?"
"OK."
Then I'm being crushed and we're outside a room. Kurt opens the door revealing twin beds and a desk as well as a wardrobe and chest of drawers.
"The bathroom is behind, that door. And now for the guided tour of the Xavier Institute."
I sigh. Kurt seems exuberant in his home environment. But his enthusiasm is catching so I decide to follow him without moaning.
