Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

7

"Whoa, since when do you wear glasses." I rolled my eyes as I leapt on to the boat. The motion rocking us side to side before coming to a stop.

"Since I don't want to wear contacts 24/7, JJ. Maybe if you actually paid attention during our study sessions you would have seen me wearing them before."

"Oh I definitely would have seen you wearing them, I'm almost always staring at you, wifey." I slammed my palm on my forehead, missing his wink.

"Alright, let's get this over with. B you got the goods?"

"Always, T."

"Good, I hope you've got full tanks or else we may be SOL." John B's eyes widened when I said that. My own eyes widening as I set my backpack down and made my way to him. "John B, you did check to see if the tanks were full right?"

His gulp was all I needed. I didn't say anything else. Just made my way back to the front of the boat as we continued out to the marsh.

"Jesus take the wheel." I grumbled as I sat back down redoing my messy ponytail as I unbuttoned my fishing shirt. The heat of Outer Banks catching up to me as I let my skin breathe. However today it felt hotter than normal. Perhaps it was all the stress.

"Whoa, didn't realize we were getting a strip show." I didn't hesitate as I picked up a handful of ice and threw it at JJ.

"Ah! Cold!" I snorted as I leaned back on the front of the HMS Pogue.

"Only in your dreams JJ. Only in your dreams."

"Damn straight." I didn't bother reacting, pulling my baseball cap over my face to block the sun before closing my eyes for a few moments.

All too soon I felt a slight tap on my shoulder.

"Hey, Xena. We're here." I held back my groan as I uncurled from my side and sat up to face the Pogues. I blinked a second before I let out a soft sneeze.

"Good morning sleepyhead, bless you." I rolled my eyes but waved anyways.

"Thanks. Alright, what did I miss?" I asked as I stood up from my perch and stretched.

"Nothing much, other than John B getting completely empty tanks." I blinked slow and long, my eyes burning into John B's.

"Well there is some left in this one." He tried to defend himself but the damage was done.

"So only one of us is going down there? Great. I'm assuming at least one of you has some experience with Scuba diving?"

"Uh. No." I pinched my nose as I leaned on the steering console.

"It's kind of a Kook sport." JJ added.

Well shit.

"Do you?" I turned to JJ with an are you dumb look.

"I lived in Texas, JJ. Not really many places to go scuba diving there."

"Oh. Shit." I frowned thinking about how this may end in a suicide mission until I thought back to one of my freshman year coaches.

"I mean, I've read about it." Pope piped up.

"Great. Pope read about it. Someone's going to die." Kie groaned defeated.

"Wait, I did, weirdly enough, do something with scuba diving for extra credit back in freshman year. I might be able calculate the time needed to recoup so whoever is diving doesn't get the bends." I pushed my glasses back up my nose before making my way back to my backpack. Thankful I still had some of the tutoring stuff in there.

"Yes!" Pope cheered although the delight was ruined by JJ.

"Bends? Like," he grabbed the steering console and arched his back to throw his ass out, "like bend over and?"

"No, dipshit." I groaned as Pope looked at him seriously.

"The bends kill you." I motioned to Pope agreeing with him. "This is serious stuff. The nitrogen-" Pope was cut off by John B.

"I... I can dive."

"Yeah, you can dive. I'm cool with that." I rolled my eyes but rose an eyebrow towards John B. Completely catching the small shine of worry in Kiara's eyes.

"Since when can you dive?"

"I'll do it, it's fine." He assured the group. And I didn't complain.

"Pope and I can work on some calculations real quick. B, are you sure?" He looked at me, a slight hesitation in his breathing.

"I mean, it's got to be me right? I'd offer the tank to you, but I know you can't go more than ten feet. I'm not doing that to you." I gave John B a nod. The others silently agreeing with his sentiment.

The first and last time we dove deep for fun was during the spring. We were over looking at a tree root that grew into the water, and we dove in. I didn't think anything of it since I was fine when we went surfing. But when I followed them down the further we went the darker it got, I didn't make it past the 12 foot mark.

I shook out of the memory, it's not something I want to relive again.

"We'll make sure you don't die." I assured John B as Pope grabbed the pencil I held to him.

"Okay. So that boat is about 30 feet down." Pope started, the graphite spreading out onto the paper.

"Meaning," I started using my own pencil as I drew out the chart I had to memorize, "you've got about 25 minutes with the quarter tank of air right there." I pointed at the tank by John B's foot, "and typically at 30 feet a safety stop isn't required, however, just to be safe."

I did a quick line chart with feet markings and circled the point at which he should stop for about two minutes. I pointed at it before turning away from Pope to sneeze into my sleeve.

"You'll need to make your safety stop at about ten minutes." Pope spoke for me as I stepped forward towards Kiara. "Do it for two minutes."

"Yeah, okay, ten feet, two minutes. Got it." John B repeated as I whispered to Kie.

"Can you set a marker for him. I-" She set a hand on my shoulder and nodded.

"I got it." She winked understanding my hesitation. I smiled as I stepped back and gave her room to slip her shirt off.

Kie jumped into the marsh as I turned around to look at the boys. Every single one of them stared as she went under.

"Uh?" I snorted at John B.

"What was that all about?" I went to explain but shut my mouth as I moved toward JJ.

"I don't know, but I liked it, a lot. Ow." He whined as I slapped him upside the head, his hat falling forward as he reset it. "Damn, what was that for?"

"You being a hormonal boy. She was helping me out." They all cleared their throats as they reset.

"Uh, when you're down there, you look for the cargo hold. You'll stick this rink inside and twist and pull, okay?" I moved away from the two and back to my backpack.

"Hey! Hey, I tied my shirt to the anchor chain about ten feet down. It's where your safety stop will be." I set my school stuff back in my bag then went to go check in with John B before he dove in.

"Hey, if we get caught out here in the marsh, we're basically screwed so..." I waved Pope off as I ran through everything one more time with John B.

"I got it, mom." I glared at him. "I'll be okay, I promise."

"You better. Or I'm drowning you myself."

"Copy that." As soon as I moved Kie stepped up and shocked everyone on the boat. Our eyes wide and jaws open as she gave John B a kiss on his cheek.

"Diver down?" I looked at the other two who both gave me the same look.

"What the fuck?" I mouthed as John B jumped into the marsh.