Kurt walked into the otherwise empty room, holding the door open for Simon as he did so. Sitting on one of the empty desks, he looked at the bespectacled boy.

"So?" he asked.

Simon sat opposite Kurt. "You know what my questions are, Kurt. Are you going to answer them?"

Kurt sighed. "Ja. I did it. As you say, I can understand what you are feeling when called a freak. And, also, herr Alvers did challenge me, so it was within my interests to defend myself when he and his friends attacked me..."

Simon blinked. "You know, some people would have just said they were sticking up for me without claiming it was self-defence..."

Kurt smiled wistfully. "Ja, but I am a terrible liar."

Simon snorted with laughter and got up. "Okay, then. Thank you, Kurt. It means a bunch to me."

Kurt looked surprised. "That's it? You are leaving?" he asked.

Simon nodded. "I have somewhere to be," he explained. "And... this was also kind of a setup. I was told to get you here alone, so..."

Kurt looked wary. "Who told you that?" he said carefully.

Simon grinned and opened the door. "He's all yours," he said as he walked out. Moments later, an embarrassed-looking Vicki walked into the room.

Kurt blinked. "Um... guten tag?" he offered.

Vicki went red. "Uh, hi, Kurt," she said with a little grin. "How are you?"

Kurt shrugged. "Fein, I guess. And you?"

"Oh, I'm good," she replied. Sitting on the desk next to Kurt, she looked at the floor. "Um, listen... about yesterday... I thought it was really nice of you to stick up for Simon like that."

He grinned. "Ach, it was nothing. I'd have done the same for anyone."

Vicki just smiled. "I'm sure you would have. But... see, I wanted to thank you for the effort, and... well, would you like to go see a movie or something, sort of to say 'thank you'?"
God, he's cute...

Kurt thought for a moment. He'd not been to the cinema often, so it was a rare treat – made all the rarer by the fact that Scott would not be there to tell him off at every available chance. Hmm... Amara has not been happy with me lately, he thought. Perhaps she might care to join us... the films always are able to cheer me up... "Ja," Kurt agreed. "That would be good."

The two smiled at one another in complete misunderstanding as they made their separate plans – Vicki glad that a nice boy had accepted her offer, Kurt glad to be making a new friend. As they went their separate ways, wrapped in their thoughts, neither of them noticed the security camera in the hall, tracking their movements.

In Raven's office, Magneto was very aware of what was going on in the hallway as he watched through the security monitors. And was very interested in what he saw.


After school had finished, the students made their way to the vehicles to head back to the Institute. Jean had cheerleading practice, so wouldn't be heading back for a while, and so there was an empty seat in Scott's car. Kurt took it. Since the sky was clouded over with rain threatening, the roof on the car was up and the trip began in relative silence.

Eventually Kurt glanced at Scott. "Er... Scott..."

Scott looked at his friend, then back at the road. "Yeah?"

"I... I'm sorry I snapped at you during lunch," Kurt mumbled. "I was... annoyed at everyone then, questioning me all day and watching my every move, and... well, I vented mein frustrations on you. And I am sorry for doing so."

Scott blinked – he'd been about to apologise for annoying Kurt, so was a little taken aback by the apology. "Uh... that's okay..."

In the back seat, Kitty leaned forward to look at Kurt, who was riding shotgun in Jean's usual seat. "You're apologising? You, like, must be in a good mood or something. Like, what gives?"

"Yeah, spill it, blue boy," ordered Rogue.

Kurt shrugged. "I suppose I am. I have been making new friends today."

Evan laughed. "Who with? Simon the uber-geek?"

Kurt shot him a dirty look. "He's not, but nein. With his schwester, Vicki."

Scott's jaw dropped. "Vicki Kayle? You've been making friends with her?"

Kurt looked confused. "Ja. What is wrong?"

Evan clapped a hand on Kurt's shoulder. "Nothing at all, man. Just that you picked a date with one of the hottest girls in school..."

"It is not a date, Evan. She wanted to thank me for helping Simon, is all."

Rogue snorted. "Sure. And how did she want to 'thank you'?"

Kurt didn't get the sarcasm. "She invited me to accompany her to a film. Why?"

Rogue and Evan looked at each other and burst out laughing. "Your English lessons covered the word 'naïve' yet, Kurt?" hooted Evan.

"Vas?"

Rogue wiped tears of mirth from her eyes. "That's a date, boyo. You need it spelled out for ya?"

As Kurt blinked, stunned, Kitty just frowned. "What about Amara?" she asked.

"Oh," said Kurt absently. "Thought I'd invite her, too. Might not be in good taste, if this truly is a date, as you say..."

The laughter trailed off. Finally, Scott spoke. "You seriously didn't know?"

Kurt smiled wistfully. "I grew up in a village where everyone knew everyone else. Mit my appearance, I was never a popular choice for the ladies, and besides that I was taken away when I was ten years old. I then spent three years in the laboratories of Genetex, and when I escaped, the village was destroyed with everyone in it. Having nowhere else to turn, I ran from there, eventually coming to this country and living alone in the mountains for two years. Since then, you have seen everything that has happened in my life."

Kitty blinked. "Um... yeah?"

Kurt let out an exasperated sigh. "So, from that story, perhaps you can tell me: at exactly what point am I supposed to have had any experience whatsoever mit girls?"

No-one spoke for some time.

Finally Evan broke the silence. "Okaaaay then..."

"Yeah..." agreed Scott.

Kitty looked at Rogue. "Are you, like, thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Ah hope not," muttered Rogue, who was thinking about using a stapler to seal Kitty's mouth shut. Kitty took no notice of her tone.

"We so totally have to coach Kurt on dating..."

Kurt, in spite of his apprehension, managed a sickly grin as Scott ever-so- slightly increased his speed. The trip was still going to take another twenty minutes.

Oh, joy...


As they walked into the kitchen, Kurt was still blinking at what he'd been told. Logan was sitting at the table, reading the newspaper. Ororo was making a cup of coffee and greeted them as they walked in. Kurt began to head for the fridge; however, at that moment, the door swung open behind them and the other students walked in, Amara at their head. Kurt let out a strangled squeak and teleported out of the room.

Hank, bringing up the rear, raised an eyebrow. "And what has startled our teutonic friend?" he asked.

"Don't ask," Scott replied as he removed a can of soda from the fridge and took a drink. "He got a little lecture on the way home, and is just a little bit freaked out right now..."

Evan snickered, glanced at the confused-looking Amara, snickered again, and left the room with most of the others in tow. Bobby had the misfortune of staying behind as Ororo took a sip of her coffee – and promptly spat it back into the cup.

"Bobby!" she snapped. "Salt in the sugar bowl? Again?" She glared at the startled youth.

"But I didn't -" he tried, but Ororo just turned away to sit at the table opposite Logan.

PRRRRRRBBBBBPTHTHTHTHTHTH

As the whoopee cushion went flat and stopped its noise, Bobby let out a terrified whimper. Ororo slammed her hand down on the table and stood up. She strode over to Bobby, seized him by one ear, and was already lecturing him as she left the room.

Hank winced and turned to Logan. "I told you not to do it..." he singsonged.

Logan glared at him. "It was worth a try, Poindexter. We gotta start somewhere."

Hank removed the whoopee cushion from the chair and sat. "However, it's preferable that when one begins a project, he makes the situation better, not worse."

Logan snorted. "And do we see you making the situation better, Poindexter?"

"Yes," Hank replied mildly.

Logan blinked in surprise. "What did you do?"

"Replaced all her coffee with decaf."

"...good idea..."


Kurt paused outside the door to the rec room, took a deep breath, and entered. In one corner of the couch, Amara sat reading a book by the light of a single lamp, the only light source in the otherwise darkened room. Slowly, he walked over to where she sat.

"Amy?" he asked softly.

Amara sat up and blinked. "Who...?"

Kurt mentally smacked himself in the forehead and stepped into the light, becoming visible as he left the shadows of the room. "Just me," he answered sheepishly.

"Oh, hello Kurt," she smiled. She closed her book. "How can I help you?"

Kurt forced a nervous tremor out of his voice. "I must go into town for a short time. I have an... errand to run, and then I shall be returning early." The 'errand' was to turn down the charms of Vicki Kayle, but Kurt saw no reason to tell Amara this.

Amara made as if to rise. "Would you like some company?" she asked nonchalantly. Kurt waved one hand frantically.

"No! Eh... no thank you, Amy. As I say, I will soon be returning. I was just wondering..." Kurt swallowed as his mouth had suddenly become very dry. "...if when I returned, you would perhaps accompany me in a return to town? There is a film at the cinema I would like to see, and if you would like to come...?"

Amara shrugged. "Very well. What time shall you be returning?"

"Um... at around seven?"

"Good." Amara nodded. "I will wait for you then."

Kurt grinned and tried not to squeak with nervousness. "Sehr gut. I will be leaving, then."

Amara nodded. "Goodbye, then."

Kurt walked two steps and vanished in an explosion of smoke. Amara waited a decent interval, then shot to her feet and ran for the stairs. She needed a shower, and some advice from the other girls if they were willing.

Seven o' clock only gave her a few hours to get ready...