P4L | Outer Banks | JJ Maybank

No Pogues Allowed

John B tapped on the lens of the underwater drone. Cory giggled, letting out a burst of bubbles to rise in the water.

It moved forward as Kie swam past it, going straight for Cory. She yelped, as much as she could underwater, and began to swim away from it.

She surfaced, yelling at the boys. "Leave me alone!" She laughed.

She swam over to the dock, pulling herself up out of the water.

Her bruises were fading. It was a good thing. Cory was finally able to wear a swimsuit without feeling like everyones eyes were on her. Though... there was still one pair. JJ's.

She could feel his eyes on the back of her as she scrunched the water out of her hair. She heard a light slapping noise from behind her, and she figured that was Pope attempting to pull JJ's attention away from the girl he was clearly gawking at.

She was wearing his favorite swimsuit, though she didn't know it. It was a white ribbed two-piece, the edges surrounded in a light pink lace. He thought it made her look incredible.

Though he wasn't sure why he thought that. It was just Cory... Just... Cory...

John B and Kie surfaced behind Cory.

"Hey, once we get footage of the wreck, we'll bring it to a lawyer in town and file a formal claim," John B said.

"That's bullshit," JJ yelled back. "Why do we have to do that?"

"We have to," Cory said.

"There's maritime salvage law," Pope began to explain. "You can't just go to the bottom of the ocean and scoop a bunch of stuff up."

"I know, I know," JJ said. "It's just lawyers aren't cheap, bro."

"Well as soon as they see the footage, they'll work for a comp," John B rationalized.

"How do you know all that?" Kie asked.

"Cause my dad said it, like, a million times."

"Yeah, that's fair."

John B and Kie began back toward the dock.

"This tether is like really long," Pope said. "In the wrong weather, this thing could get pushed around."

"Then we'll go at dead calm," John B said.

"At slack tide?" Kie asked.

"So now we just gotta wait around for the right weather," Pope said. "And today is not that day." They looked over at the massive clouds on the horizon.

"You boys get these groceries over to figure eight," Heyward said, handing Pope some bags. He pointed at Cory with a grin. "Goes for you too."

"Yessir," Cory chuckled, saluting.

"Get straight back here when you're done. No fishin'," Heyward finished. "I promised delivery by this afternoon. Rich folks don't wanna wait for you lazy sons of–" Heyward turned to find JJ holding his arms out for the bags. "Oh, JJ, thank you. Sons of bitches."

"Right," Pope said.

The three finished loading up the boat, Cory and JJ keeping close watch of their mouths. They tried not to say anything too bad in front of Heyward. Didn't want him taking away our Popey.

They finished loading, waved goodbye to Heyward, and got into the cockpit. Pope began to drive, and JJ stood nearby. Cory pulled over a blanket and laid down on it.