riptide- outer banks

ninety-three | nostalgia

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Kori exhaled as she finished tying off her ponytail, hands falling back down by her sides. She was uneasy. The fact that JJ was going down without her was irritating. But at least she was with him; she'd be waiting for him when he came back up. And Kie. Knowing that she was going down with him made her feel a little less worried. Not by much, but it was at least something.

"You got it?" Kori asked, eyes settling on her brother as he leaned down.

The speargun in his hand clattered as it hit the table. "Yep. Don't worry, Kor. We're gonna be fine."

Kie, on the opposite hand, was not comforted by the weapon. Eyes wide, she let out a breath. "Is that necessary?"

"Yeah, yeah, I mean reef fish–"

"Just for protection, okay?" Kori interjected, entirely cutting off John B to place a hand on her best friend's shoulder. "You got this."

Kiara could only nod her head as Kori pulled her into a hug. "I got this." She repeated, pushing out a breath as they separated.

"Just don't forget your safety stop, all right?" Pope reminded them. "Fifteen feet for three minutes. Hear that, JJ?" He asked, turning to the blonde. "Fifteen feet, three minutes."

"Copy that." He remarked, not bothering to glance back.

"Or what?" Kie wondered.

"The bends, remember? Nitrogen in the blood, excruciating pain, death–"

"Pope," Kori voiced, giving him a warning look as JJ did the exact thing. "You're not helping."

"What? She should know. It's part of it."

JJ just shook his head, hand extending to Kiara. She grabbed it, joining him near the edge of the boat. Kori took the remaining steps to her brother, green eyes filled with a mix of certainty and uncertainty. Confidence and incertitude.

Expelling a breath, she locked onto his knowing gaze. "Be careful." She paused, allowing her brow to raise. "I'm serious, J."

He was still momentarily. Then he was nodding his head. "I know. I will be."

As he lifted his hand up, Kori couldn't help the small smile that seeped into her expression. She lifted her own up, slapping the front side then the back before snapping into a fist bump. "And keep her safe. Got it?"

JJ smirked as he glanced at his girlfriend. "Got it. Let's do this thing."

"Diver down." Kie voiced.

"Diver...down."

Kori exhaled at the same time an arm came falling around her shoulders. She glanced up at John B, his small gesture meaning everything to her. He simply nodded. That's all he did, but it was enough to help her feel certain. Everything would be okay. They were gonna be fine.

"All right, Kie. You ready?" JJ asked, voice muffled by the mask he wore.

"Yeah. I'm ready." She responded, remaining where she was on the edge of the boat until JJ fell backwards in the water. Then she was falling, the two of them shortly disappearing beneath the surface of the shimmering liquid.

But, now it was the hard part– waiting.

"They're gonna be fine. Just a little look around and they'll be up." John B reassured her as she slipped out of his arms and the two of them returned to the helm of the boat.

"Everything look good?" She asked, turning to Pope.

"Yep. They've got about 45 minutes of air, so this should be quick, which is good. The tide is turning." He paused to pick up his walkie talkie. "You all good over there? See any cutters?"