Looks So Perfect / Kuni

[Tatum Reynolds]

---

This bikini washed her out. Of course, everything washed her out. She was white. No, not that nice creamy white that tans easily, she was white. The kind of white that touches the sun and burns immediately. 

Tatum looked in the mirror at herself in the bikini and winced. Her skin was too pale, her stomach was pudgy, and her breasts weren't perky enough. She couldn't possibly wear this swimming suit in public. No way in hell. She tore off the purple material and glanced into the mirror again. "Well, I could just go naked." She said aloud, hoping nobody was in the living room that could hear her talking to herself. At least I look good naked, she thought with a shrug and a triumphant glare at the unflattering bikini that lay crumpled on her floor. "I should burn you."

After digging through multiple unorganized drawers she finally pulled out a navy blue top with matching bottoms. Just simple enough that she might be able to pull it off. She pulled on the bottoms, followed by the top, and didn't find herself wincing as she looked into the mirror. This one could pass.

"Blue doesn't wash me out. I like blue."

Tatum wrinkled her nose and shook her head at her reflection, rolling her eyes at herself. "I'm not crazy, Tatum, I swear. I just have no friends to consult for this bikini situation." She wasn't just trying to convince her reflection. A sudden smile crossed her lips and she began laughing hysterically, pointing at the mirror. She was talking to herself! Oh, this was rich. She had gotten to the point of actually making conversation with herself to fill the silence. Well, who else is going to fill it? She thought gloomily, pulling on a pair of old shorts and slipping on worn out sandals.

She wasn't completely crazy, that's for sure, because she could still acknowledge the ridiculousness of her behavior. It must be lack of socialization. That's it. Her memories slipped to when she was thirteen years old and her brother assured her she was just "a different kind of brilliant" than everyone else. Whether it was something he'd said as a joke or if it was genuine, it would always stick with her.

A different kind of brilliant.

Tatum slipped out of her room, avoiding confrontation with her roommates. It wasn't that she didn't like them or didn't want to talk to them - it was the fact that there was only so many hours of sun to catch before it disappeared below the horizon. She wasn't set out to lay in the sun, but more so to work off her energy in the pool. She didn't have the patience nor skin that would tolerate laying in the sun.

When she got to the pool, she was surprised that there was only one other person there. She avoided eye contact and tried to ignore the pressing feelings of his emotions on her mind. It was like an itch she couldn't scratch, that's her best description. Like when you see something out of the corner of your eye but then you look and it's suddenly gone. She walked carefully on the edge of the concrete to set her stuff down on a chair when a sudden spray of water on her legs startled her, causing the small bag of belongings to fall from her hands and into the water.

The anger rose up like an explosion. "Are you fucking kidding me?! Two minutes in and already some jackass swoops right in and ruins what little free time I have. Damn it! You soaked my phone." She felt the heat rise up to her cheeks as she screamed at the stranger.

The anger left just as fast. "Oh my gosh...I'm sorry." The red in her cheeks was no longer from anger, but embarrassment. "I...don't know what came over me I shouldn't have yelled at you...I'm sorry..." So good at first impressions.

[Kunikpok "Kuni" Arrluk]

It was getting to be mid-summer, and as such, it was starting to get hot. Hot enough that, being from a town in northeastern Alaska (where summer highs rarely got above sixty), Kuni was dying from being overheated. Okay, maybe that was exaggerating slightly, but it was like this every year, where the Inuit boy had to dress in the least amount of clothing he could get away with and sink himself into a body of water for as long as possible until the temperature became more bearable.

That was why he could almost always be found at the pool or the lake during break, if he didn't just head out to the coast for powers training and, well, more water. Today, though, it was the pool - he didn't want to go to the trouble of walking all the way to the lake since it was later in the day already, and the pool was far more convenient anyway. And, since a good portion of Hammel's students left for summer break, he sometimes had the pool all to himself.

It seemed today was going to be that sort of day. There were only a couple people just leaving by the time Kuni sat his bag by the chairs and tugged off his tank top, already perspiring a bit just from the walk down to the gym. He wished he would have asked someone to come with him, but it was too late now. Kuni eagerly went to the edge of the pool and sunk into the water, letting out a relieved sigh as it immediately cooled and refreshed his skin. He just floated for a while, until he gradually sank under the surface, staying completely submerged for as long as his enhanced lungs could hold (about ten minutes) before popping back up with a deep breath.

He realized someone had come to the pool at that point. Kuni smiled broadly; he didn't recognize the girl, but given that they were the only two here, they were bound to interact. As a greeting, he trailed over to the edge of the pool where she was and gently splashed water her way, hoping to get a laughing response.

What he didn't anticipate was for her things to fall in the water and for her to start yelling at him.

Kuni immediately backpedaled, his features blank with shock and guilt. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" he stammered, diving underwater to grab her things as quickly as he could and returning to the surface with his cheeks burning. "I didn't mean to startle you, I promise I didn't mean any ill intent..." It was rare that Kuni made such an awful first impression. He was such a softie by nature, the idea that someone thought he was a jerk felt like a physical blow, and he was determined to fix it.

But then, the girl was apologizing, and Kuni stared at her, confused by this sudden change. "No... No, it's okay," the Inuit boy finally replied. "It was a really bad idea, I shouldn't have splashed you..." He meekly handed over her soaked belongings. "I, um, I can pay for a new one... I-I don't want you to think I'm a jerk," he said softly, unable to meet the stranger's eyes.

[Tatum Reynolds]

Her temper hadn't always been this easy to aggravate. It started with the side effects of her power, when she started to exercise them more. She began noticing changes in herself - scary changes. She'd get angry over the tiniest things that weren't even worth getting angry at. She would cry if she saw anything that was even mildly sad, or suddenly go from elation to depression. The only mood swing that she hardly ever got was happiness. That wouldn't be a bad side effect, feeling suddenly happy.

There was also the insomnia. There were nights that she'd sit up in her bed or pace in her room, angry at her body for depriving her of sleep. It was a constant vicious cycle of late nights and early mornings trying to stay awake enough in class to retain the material. It was amazing that she'd managed to pass the last four years at Hammel, and it'd be even more amazing if she graduated on time. Her mother had always said that she was the miracle for being brought into this world so weak and turning out so strong, but Tatum didn't feel strong. She felt hopeless, weak, defeated. Maybe that was just her destiny, to keep the natural order of things by being less than average.

She couldn't take back how badly she had lashed out at this poor guy who was simply trying to play around. An earlier Tatum might laugh it off and splash back, maybe even flirt a little. But that Tatum was lost to the crash that claimed her mother's life.

"No, no please, don't apologize. I don't know why I, um, reacted that way. I'm the one that should apologize." Her voice shook with the guilt of her behavior. Actually, I do know why. She thought lamely, swooping down to pick up her stuff and putting it back into the equally as wet bag. She felt the probing of his emotions and tried her best to ignore them and the temptation to ease his guilt. Invading his mind would only make things worse.

"Oh I know you didn't. I guess I was just distracted or something." Or trying to avoid you. Tatum managed to meet his eyes, figuring it was better than checking out his body or continuing to stare at the ground. She knew that her behavior was confusing him, and the best she could do was try to make a better impression. The last thing she needed was an enemy at Hammel.

Tatum took her dripping cell phone and shook her head, making a weak attempt at a smile. "I'll just put it in rice and it'll be okay. Don't worry about it, I don't think you're a jerk. You should think I'm a jerk - not that I am. Well, right now I am...was. I'm the dumb one for bringing electronics to a pool. Wow, I should really stop talking..." Her eyes glanced from the ground to him as she rambled on. The best thing to do would be to leave him in peace.

"Um, I'm Tatum by the way." Not that he cared. She began a retreat to a nearby chair. "Don't feel bad, seriously. It's a story to tell the grandchildren." What?

[Kunikpok "Kuni" Arrluk]

Kuni didn't suffer such emotional effects from his own ability, fortunately. His was rather more embarrassing than anything else, actually. The whole being able to stay underwater for a long time was cool and all, but... When would he ever use whale shifting to his advantage? It just liked to happen at the worst of times.

He could have it a lot worse, though, and he knew it. So he never complained. Actually, Kuni tried to just joke about it, because that was all he could do!

Still, he felt bad about how the girl had reacted, no matter how much she was trying to take it all back now. She'd reacted that way for a reason; Kuni couldn't believe she was completely alright. "Okay..." was all he said, his voice wavering. "It's... It's really alright. As long as you don't think I'm an awful person, then..." He trailed off, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck. "I guess that's all that matters."

If Tatum was worried about making an enemy at Hammel, she was talking to the wrong guy. Getting on Kuni's bad side was about as hard as dribbling a football. He just very rarely got mad at anything, because he was a) too easy-going, and b) just too dumb to really get angry.

"Put it in rice...?" he repeated, completely baffled. Kuni was technologically clueless, and so had no idea how this would help, but if she said so... "Well... As long as it's alright. I don't mind, really." He finally managed a small smile as she continued talking. "I don't think you're a jerk either," he told her honestly. "I think we just... Had a bad first impression. Because the second one wasn't bad at all." No, she seemed like a nice girl, he thought. Maybe she had a temper, but he knew plenty of people that did. It all rolled off of his back like water. He chuckled. "It's alright... Believe it or not, I've had my fair share of awkward first meetings with people lately anyway." Between Eloise and Greg, Kuni was starting to get used to it.

"Nice to meet you, Tatum," he said politely, his smile widening. "I'm Kuni." He rarely introduced himself with his full name, because people here thought it was strange. He blinked and tilted his head with confusion at her next statement as he slowly pulled himself out of the water to sit on the edge of the pool, still looking back at her over his shoulder. "I guess it could be," he chuckled cluelessly. Kuni sighed and looked up at the ceiling, mind wandering. "It's really quiet in here today," he commented. "Usually there are a lot of people around. Summer seems to make things so quiet."