The North-East Wing houses the cafeteria of the establishment, and X is currently standing inside it, staring at the protective glass that separates her from an array of salads in small porcelain bowls. Theadora Hennessy, who is waiting to her left, taps the alien's shoulder softly.

     " Miss Pepper? Do you need help choosing? " As usual, she does not hesitate to banter.

The extraterrestrial happily jokes back. " Well, there truly is no greater dilemma than choosing between coleslaw and... Whatever that is. "

Frowning playfully, she looks up and apologetically asks the lunch lady to hand her a bowl of coleslaw, gifting her a polite smile. The old woman shakes her head, grinning back and obviously under the charm of the joyful new teacher. Ms. Hennessy orders a bowl of the mysterious salad, silently following the green-haired female down the serving counter.

Once they are both done assembling their respective meals, the theater instructor hurries her pace ever so slightly to walk next to her.

     " Would you like to sit together? You can refuse, I won't take it to heart... " She stops, thoughtfully, and adds: " Well, not too much. " The dark-haired woman winks at her interlocutor.

Delighted by her colleague's upfront interest to establish an amity between them, X gladfully accepts. Two rows of tables are saved for the teachers, at the tip of the oblong room which is closest to the chapel and the library. Therefore, that area of the lunchroom is adjoined to the East Tower. They choose seats at the second table, furthest from the students, next to Helen. The blonde female stiffens at their sight, which does not go unnoticed by the alien. Although the extraterrestrial is curious to find out the reason behind Ms. Woodward's behavior, she decides to respect her privacy for the time being and convinces herself that she will have ample time to either ask her directly or investigate the confines of her lovely brain later. She is not discouraged by this unexpected - yet subtle - event and greets her roommate:

     " Hi, Helen! How was your morning? "

Gulping, the mathematics educator shifts on her chair, visibly uneasy. After an elongated second, she gives them a reply. " Not too busy, I only had one class. What about yours, Xarya? "

The English schoolmistress is sitting right across from her, and Theadora chose the place that is to the alien's right. The jet-haired woman obnoxiously slurps apple juice from her clear glass, staring intently at the mathematician. X vaguely wonders about this gesture, answering her roommate over the noise.

     " It was great, I loved meeting more students. They are quite entertaining to teach. "

The theater instructor lets out a gasp of satisfaction, promptly clicking her tongue. Smirking, she comments, delicately resting her cup onto the wooden table:

     " Look at you, so optimistic. If you ever need any help, don't refrain from asking Helen or me. "

     " I will definitely ask for your assistance, if I ever require it. "

The strawberry blonde female stabs a piece of ham in her plate with a sharp and especially annoyed movement.

Raising her fine eyebrows inquiringly, the extraterrestrial then focuses on her meal. The coleslaw salad is quite enjoyable, even though she does not need to eat to remain alive. Either way, the supplementary nutrients cannot harm her. Xarya is sipping on Earth water when Theadora suddenly ceases informing them both about the play she is conducting - with a group of motivated orphans - to involve them in the conversation again.

     " Speaking of our best students, have either of you gotten to see Gunner in your classroom this year? " Her tone is laced with irony. She briskly turns, anchoring her amber irises to the most recent addition to their staff. " I mean, have you met him, Miss Pepper? "

     " I did. He arrived late to my first class, yesterday, and his friend and him acted in a most insolent manner. I did not wish to burden myself with their disrespect and demanded that they exit my classroom. Fortunately for them, they obeyed me. "

Thankfully, her voice was steady, composed and lighthearted as usual. Concealing her nervousness, the young woman empties her glass of water in a single gulp. If all goes as planned, her colleagues will believe this crafted version of the events that followed Hadley and Gunner's arrogance. Her goal is for that reality to be considered the truth by anyone who thinks back on her first day at the Institute.

The mathematics teacher attentively tears a piece of bread away from the asymmetrical slice she is pinching between her arched fingers, listening to the other educator's response.

     " Okay, well, I am not one to tell others how to teach... You can take my advice with a grain of salt, if you wish, but watch what you say around that kid. Gunner might not be the most pleasant, or the sharpest pencil in the box, as they say, but do not mess with him. Any insult you throw at him will blow up right back in your face. He has... " She leans in, with an expression as though she is conspiring, letting her spoon sink deeper into her bowl of carrot soup. " Influence around here. "

X's blood chills in her veins, and she stops breathing for an instant. Dustin warned her about the boy and, now, Theadora, too?! How does an unsophisticated - but cocky - orphan supposedly acquire so much power? The alien reacts with a short, cheerful laugh.

     " Miss Hennessy, I doubt this adolescent will cause me any trouble. He's simply an astray and mischievous young man. "

     " Oh no, " she giggles. " What have you done? I was starting to like you, Miss Pepper. Tell us what you told him! " The theater enthusiast's tone is profoundly intrigued and slightly concerned, yet majorly amused.

A loud clanging sound disrupts their exchange, coming from the serving counter. An unsettled employee frantically runs around the counter, picking up pots and pans, while most of them roll away.

Eager to help, Xarya raises from her seat and heads for the minor disaster. A few minutes later, the bell rings, and the lunch break is over.

The alien closes the door to her classroom behind her, relishing the fact that she managed to have a flawless afternoon. She swings her briefcase from one of her manicured hands to the other, and her heels are clicking against the tile flooring melodically with every one of her steps.

X holds a pair of doors that lead to the common gardens open for a small group of orphans. Pressing her lips into a peaceful smile, she follows them into the large outdoor space which is enclosed between the imposing walls of the educational institute's four wings. It has the attributes of a garden, but is nearly ladened with multiple picnic tables and benches. They are useful for anyone who would wish to study, consume food or linger about with only the Earthly sky above them. She crosses the area, letting her mind wander away from the present moment and down a meaningless - yet entertaining - stream of thoughts.

The extraterrestrial has almost reached the exit of the North Tower when her string of unimportant ideas and inconsequential memories is suddenly cut short by a shout, just as jagged as a pair of crooked metal scissors.

     " Miss Pepper! "

An old man, that X recognizes as being a history teacher, is striding towards her with a wide grin stretching his wrinkled skin. He is tall and lanky, and a vile stench of cigars and poorly-selected cologne always seems to surround him. The alien quickly slips into his mind to remind herself of his name, simultaneously confirming her hypothesis about his field of study.

She gracefully spins on her high heels, displaying her most polite facial expression to wave at him: " Hello, Mr. Granholm! How are you? "

     " I am doing fantastic, thank you, my dear. Have you, by any chance, seen Ms. Woodward? "

     " Not recently, unfortunately. I am not even certain whether or not she has already left her classroom, although I have no doubts you went there first. "

     " Indeed, I have. You have a very keen and accurate mind, Miss. "

Xarya chuckles softly. " Oh, thank you, sir. Is that all you needed? "

     " Yes, yes, I believe it was. Good day. "

The peculiar man totters away, supported by his long twig-like legs and slouching forward with his hands knotted behind his skeletal back.

She watches him until he has disappeared among the halls, finding herself in an empty corridor for the duration of a split moment. Hefty muddy-sounding footsteps scrape across the tiles in her back, breaking up the silence. Before she decides to detect the individual's identity by infiltrating their mind, a familiar voice bites through the air, drawling menacingly.

     " Xarya. "

The steps hasten and Dustin nearly barks at her, baffled: "How did you do it?" He violently clenches his left hand around her injured arm, and the extraterrestrial winces.

Without warning, he pulls her closer to him.

Startled, X tries to speak, but the caretaker almost drags her along as he speeds down the hallway.