saltwater | outer banks

13| kook of pogues

VENUS TOOK A DEEP breath once she broke the surface of the water and pushed herself back onto the dock.

"Everything in working order?" she asked, looking to Pope as she got to her feet.

"Yes, ma'am." He focused on the rig in front of him, watching John B and Kiara swimming back and forth in front of the camera. They had been testing the drone for almost an hour now, making sure everything would work perfectly when the time came to drop it in the water. So far, there hadn't been any issues.

"Cool." Venus let out a small laugh, her eyes following Kie as she made a kissy face underwater. She checked her watch, inwardly cursing herself. "I got to go. I told Jax I'd be at the shop, like, thirty minutes ago."

"I was wondering why your phone was ringing," JJ cut in, waving the device in front of her. "That boy is maddd."

"Great. Gimme my towel," she demanded, pulling at the fabric the boy sat on. "I'm gonna go change." She snatched her phone and wrapped the towel around herself, quickly drying off as she made her way back to the house.

The girl didn't even make it inside before her phone started ringing again, the name Jax displaying on the screen. She braced herself before answering, but she couldn't get a word in before he started talking.

"Maicy, you better get your ass down to the shop. You were supposed to be here an hour ago and I'm not—"

"Dude, I know. I'm sorry. I'm changing right now and heading over, I swear."

"I don't care, just get here!" While Jax's tone was a bit harsher than usual, this was the second time this month he covered for Venus' tardiness. He loved his little sister, but like every other sibling, she had her annoying moments. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Drive safe, please."

•

The dirt bike slid to a halt beside the auto shop, spooking a few bystanders as Venus hit the kill switch and swung off of it.

"Sorry!" she apologized, pushing the bike behind the building as quickly as she could.

She slipped in through the back door and made her way to her locker. She traded her belongings and helmet for a dark blue jumpsuit with her name neatly stitched on the front, boots, and some safety glasses.

"Beck!" someone shouted from behind the shop door.

Venus' eyes widened as she tied the final lace on her boot and pushed her way into the garage. The only person that shouted like that was her boss, Bradley, and although he was a loud person normally, his tone didn't seem very happy.

"Where the hell is Beck? I swear, every time I turn around, one of you asshats run off somewhere as soon as I need ya," he complained.

She slid her gloves on and emerged from around the corner, pretending she'd been there all along.

"Brad," she spoke up, tapping his shoulder. "I've been here. What's up?"

Bradley was a burly man that towered over Venus by nearly a foot. He always had a shaggy mullet and grease on his hands that never seemed to wash off. He was the owner of Brad's Auto Body and Repair Shop, and although he had a full crew working for him, he never seemed to go home.