Chapter Two: Yipes! Snakes and Stripes!

"Let's go Fuzzy," growled a familiar voice.

Kurt jumped backwards in fright, slamming his head against the wall. Evan waved at Kurt as he left for school.

"Logan. You scared me," he said, slightly angry.

Logan stepped out in front of him.

"Professor Xavier wants to see you. He says it's urgent."

Kurt looked at Logan fearfully.

"Urgent? Vhat is wrong?"

"It's about the break-in last night. That's all I know."

Kurt nodded and tried to calm himself.

"Okay. I'll go."

Logan nodded and walked down the hallway. Kurt 'bamphed' outside Professor Xavier's office. Pacing nervously outside Xavier's office, Kurt tried to bring himself to enter.

I'm going to get blamed for this. I just know it, Kurt thought.

After a moment, he opened the door and stepped inside. Xavier sat behind his desk and he smiled at Kurt, the light from the window behind him reflecting off his bald head. Kurt relaxed slightly.

Good. He's not mad, Kurt thought.

"Hello Kurt. I hear you found the person who broke in last night. Do you know who she is?"

"N-n-no sir. I vas just trying to take a shower before school and found a voman in my bathroom."

Xavier nodded.

"All right. You should get ready for school or you'll be late."

"S-s-sir. Vhat about the voman? V-v-vhat vill become of her?"

"Scott should be taking care of her and then I will question her. No harm will come of her, I assure you. I'll even keep you updated if you like."

Kurt nodded.

"Thank you very much sir."

"You're welcome, Kurt."

"Goodbye sir."

"Goodbye Kurt."

Kurt walked out in time to see Scott escorting the girl from his bathroom down the hall towards Xavier's office. His eyes softened as he saw her. She was dressed in clothes that seemed to be a few years old. Her shirt was too small with holes and dirt stains all over. Her shorts were almost worn into non-existence and her sneakers had slowly turned into loose sandals. She smiled at him as she walked past and said a quiet, shy, "Hello."

Kurt smiled and said, "Hello."

He looked at his watch after they passed and gasped.

"I'm going to be late for school! Scheiße!"

He bamphed up to his room, praying that being idle wouldn't make him late again.

Scott waited patiently in Kurt's room until he heard the tub draining. After making sure that Kurt had left, he knocked on the door.

"Miss? Miss? Are you decent?"

A quiet voice chimed through the door.

"I'm almost dressed."

Scott waited another minute before the doorknob started to jiggle as she tried to open the door.

"Um... It's stuck," she murmurs through the door.

"Oh. I... uh...I accidentally broke the doorknob. I'll knock it down if you'll just step back."

"That's okay. I can get out. I got it," she replied.

"Got it?" Scott said aloud.

Suddenly, he heard a hissing and he looked down to the bottom of the door. A thin, black and green striped snake slithered out from the bottom of the door. It looked up at Scott, flicking its tongue out at him. Scott picked it up in disgust and prepared to crush its head. Suddenly the snake started to morph into the young woman. In no time, his hand was pressed against her face. All Scott could do was stare.

She blushed and through his fingers asked, "Um... Could you let go of my face?"

Scott dropped his hand to his side and stared. Smiling, the girl held out her hand.

"My name's Alara. What's yours?"

Scott held out his hand almost instantly.

"Scott."

She shook his hand and grinned widely.

"Nice to meet you."

Scott nodded briefly, then shook his head and smiled.

"I think you need to speak to Professor Xavier. He has a few questions to ask you."

Alara shrugged.

"Okay I guess."

Scott nodded and motioned towards the door. Opening the door quickly, she stepped into the hallway and instantly headed in the direction of Xavier's office. Scott looked surprised as he followed her towards the office.

She knows her way around? But she's never been here before, Scott thought.

As she passeed Kurt in the hall, she smileed and said a small hello. Kurt replied with a hello as well, then bamphed to his room after muttering about school. Alara went straight to the door and opened it quickly. Xavier looked up in surprise.

"Scott, who is this?" he asked.

"She's the one who broke in last night. She says her name is Alara."

Xavier smiled at Alara.

"Hello. Please sit."

Alara sat obediently in a chair in front of her desk. She shook slightly from fear, but otherwise seemed perfectly at home.