Little Fish in a Big Pond (Ciaran)

[Harmony Muller-Barton]

Harmony had planned to spend the day in her room listening to some new CD's she'd gotten over the weekend. But then her mom had called...repeatedly. She'd tried ignoring the ringing over the sound of her stereo, but it kept popping up like an off-key note, just when she was starting to relax again. She could have just turned off the phone...or switched off the ringer at least. But that felt like admitting some kind of defeat.

So instead, she'd took refuge outside. Hoping she might run into Jess again, or maybe finding someone to shove in with the fishes, she walked over to the pond. But there wasn't anyone around.

"Just perfect," she said with a huff. She collapsed in a heap on the ground. She was bored, pissed, and worst there was no one around to help with either problem.

No one except the stupid fish. Or so she thought.

"This place sucks," she yelled out, letting some of her frustration into the air.

[Ciaran O'Reilly]

A small boy with startlingly blue eyes approached the Pond, secretly hoping he would be by himself. Ciaran O'Reilly was wearing a long sleeved t-shirt and thin gloves, with jeans and plimsoll type shoes. He was always overheated in the Summer, due to his phobia of showing skin in public: if a shadow hit uncovered flesh, it would turn blue quite embarrassingly.

As he came closer to the cool-looking water, he spotted a girl sitting there. She looked a few years older than him. When she shouted out he jumped, letting a small gasp out of his mouth. Hopefully she didn't notice him standing there.

[Harmony Muller-Barton]

Harmony hadn't noticed the young boy approaching the pond. But when he let out a gasp, she jumped as well. And was immediately mad at herself for letting someone startle her. Especially someone so small and odd looking.


"Dude!" she said, giving the younger boy a glare. "What the heck are you doing sneaking up on me like that? What are you some kinda little kid perv or something?" Poor kid. Not only did he have the misfortune of finding Harmony is such a mood, but to upset her before he'd had the chance to say one word.

"And what's with the outfit?" She asked, crossing her arms and giving the boy a once-over. "You expecting the next Ice Age or something?"

[Ciaran O'Reilly]

Ciaran was slightly flustered. He looked straight at the girl with his crystal eyes and looked a bit upset. Honestly, he didn't know what 'perv' meant, but he didn't imagine it was a compliment. The girl didn't look like the compliment giving type.

"No, I err..." His voice was small and high-pitched and his Irish accent was very obvious. "I didn't mean to sneak. I was just coming to the water." He felt uneasy and had more than half a mind to turn around and leave, but it was really hot and the small pool looked so inviting.

"You expecting the next Ice Age?"

Ciaran thought about how some scientists thought they were already in an Ice Age, but didn't say anything. Instead he just shook his head and stepped back a bit. The sun and grass was looking better and better.

[Harmony Muller-Barton]

No, Harmony was not the compliment type. Unless you had piercing, swore, or otherwise tormented those she considered lame. She was also not the 'welcome to hammel' type.

Harmony sighed, letting the kid see her annoyance as he stumbled to apologize. "Geez kid, grow a backbone, would ya," she said, rolling her eyes. If there was anything more annoying than a new student. It was a new student who tried to be liked by everyone and therefore never stuck up for themselves.

"Then what's with the get up?" she asked. Of course, she was starting to wonder if it was somehow power related. A lot of the freaks around here worse stupid clothes or had to avoid stuff so their power wouldn't go berserk. She was glad her own ability wasn't like that. She'd die from feeling so lame.

[Ciaran O'Reilly]

Ciaran stayed where he was as the girl spoke (closer to shouted actually). He was uncomfortable and wished the girl would just leave so he could get to the pond. Taking a step forward he frowned slightly. He really didn't want to tell her the real reason for his clothes, but couldn't think of a good excuse.

"I'd err... I'd rather not say." He took another step forward, looking at the water. Maybe she'd lose interest and go off.

[Harmony Muller-Barton]

Harmony scowled at the boy. Someone telling her that he'd rather keep something to himself was the equivalent of telling her 'no'. And Harmony didn't stand for that.

"Oh really," she said. "Well I'd rather you did." She took a step closer to him and followed his eyes to the pool. "Feel like going for a swim, freak?" She smirked for a second and then shoved her arms out at him, with the intent of sending him straight into the pond.

[Ciaran O'Reilly]

Ciaran looked up at the girl who loomed ahead of him. She took a step forward.

"Feel like going for a swim, freak?"

She shoved the small boy, sending him backwards in the direction of the Pond. He tripped and fell backwards. Life went in slow motion as he felt water on his back. A gasp escaped from his lips and he looked down to see the fish dart away from him. He looked up at the girl, a look of shock on his face. He opened and closed his mouth, a little like a fish himself. He could touch the bottom, luckily, but he could feel himself getting wetter and colder. He sort of gasped a word: help.

[Harmony Muller-Barton]

Harmony started to giggle the moment the boy went stumbling backward. The look on his face was priceless. And the small gasp was like icing on the cake. She hadn't really expected him to end up in the pond so easily. And she was a bit proud of herself for her handwork.

"What's wrong freak?" She asked. 'You don't like taking baths? You looked like ya needed one."

[Deleted]

Maebelle, Hammel’s gardener, had been tending to the flowers near the pond. It was a nice enough day and it seemed to be calm as well. A couple of students were walking about, but nothing too special was happening. As long as they minded their own business and let her do her job, the young woman would be happy enough. A soft smile was gracing her lips while fingertips smoothed over the petals of the bed of flowers, pleased to feel their happiness with the care provided.

What did feel out of place right now, however, was to sudden SPLASH reached her ears. Of course a couple of words from the conversation beforehand had been heard, but Mae knew just how mean young ones could be and she figured it would make the bullied one stronger. What she had not anticipated on was for him to end up in the pond!

She was quick to rise, wiping hands on her old jeans while stepping over. ”Hey! What on earth are you doing?!” A decent pace was added to her steps and Maebelle soon enough reached the pond while blue eyes glared at Harmony. She would deal with that girl in a second, but first she had to get that poor boy out of the water. Hopefully reaching out a hand would do the trick. So, sitting down on her knees, the brunette stretched her arm out to Ciaran.

”Take my hand. Can you reach it?” Her voice housing a hint of concern.