The Deep End » Outer Banks [JJ Maybank] BOOK ONE

XVII: Day-Blink

day-blink
noun. the moment at dawn where, from some point on the mast, a lookout can see above a low-lying mist around the ship.

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From where she stood at the bow of the HMS Pogue, Lee spotted Sarah and Kiara sitting on the edge of Heyward's boat, where they had been trapped overnight. The morning sun reflected off of the water brilliantly and she had to squint her eyes to see clearly. The boys whooped from behind Lee as they approached Kiara and Sarah, waving at the two girls they had stranded. Lee shook her head to hide a gentle laugh.

"Uh oh!" Pope called mockingly to the girls.

John B cupped his hand around his mouth, shouting, "You guys forget your keys or somethin'?"

"You guys need a tow?" Pope yelled.

Lee rolled her eyes at their antics as she stepped up to the edge of the Pogue, ready to grab onto the larger boat. She waved sheepishly at Kiara, who stuck her tongue out playfully.

"You gotta admit," John B said, steering the boat up in front of the other girls, "it was kinda funny."

Kiara shook her head as Lee reached out towards the other boat's ladder, scoffing.

"John B," Kiara said, pursing her lips.

John B raised an eyebrow. "Uh, what's that?"

Kiara smirked. "Mastermind, huh?"

"I'm always plannin'."

Lee scoffed. "Unfortunately," she muttered, looking over her shoulder at John B with a playful smile.

He rolled his eyes in response.

"Some patriarchal bullshit," Kiara stated.

Lee reached down, grabbing the mooring line as the Pogue came to a full stop in front of the other boat.

Sarah nodded in agreement with Kiara. "Yeah, that sucked," she said.

Lee narrowed her eyes at the two girls, but at their warning looks, said nothing. It was clear to her that John B's plan had miraculously worked since the girls were actually agreeing on something. Of course, they couldn't give John B the satisfaction of knowing it had worked. Lee winked at Kiara and Sarah, letting them know that she would keep quiet.

"You still love us though, right?" JJ said, grinning from the stern of the Pogue.

Lee smiled softly at his comment. Things had been relatively normal since the previous night. Although Lee was still struggling to feel trusting in their friendship, she was trying to follow her mother's suggestion to wait on pushing for more. Patience had never been one of Lee's strengths, but she knew that her mom was right about tastes changing. After all, when Lee had been a kid she hadn't liked broccoli, but now, as a teenager, she loved it. Maybe she was JJ's broccoli.

Kiara shrugged. "Maybe Lee," she replied, grabbing the mooring line that Lee offered her to tie off the smaller boat.

"Yeah, whatever," Sarah said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.

John B coughed in disbelief. "You still hate me?"

"A little," Sarah said, crossing her arms. "We're both gonna get you back when you least expect it," she warned, glancing at Kiara.

"Watch your back, boys," Kiara added, grinning as she tied off the boat.

Lee bit her lip, looking curiously between the girls. "Am I one of the boys?"

Kiara laughed. "No way," she said, standing up. "I'm gonna need your vast experience with revenge for this."

"I, for one, welcome that challenge," Pope said, shrugging.