Outer Banks ~ JJ Maybank

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"Who was that?" JJ asked, walking out of the bathroom, rubbing his wet hair with a towel. "Peterkin. Apparently, they also know about the Grady White-" "There goes the finders fee." "Yeah. But dickhead over here told he we didn't know anything about it." "Look, we at least have to check it out." "Speaking of checking it out, aren't you supposed to be getting scuba shit right now?" "Oh yeah." John B said, grabbing a bag and running out of the house. "Nice talk!" I called after him. "Did your shower help any?" "Yeah. It did." "Good. I think I know what will help your hangover. Fishing." "Oh, i know what you mean."

"When you said fishing I did not think you meant actual fishing." "What else could I have possibly meant?" "I thought it was like a new thing you were saying as code for getting high on the dock." "Well we can still get high on the dock but I want to fish. I find stabbing bait onto the edge of a hook is very therapeutic after a long night of drinking." He scooted away from me. "I'm kidding." "I don't know if I believe that." "Oh stop being a baby." "Okay. Just keep your hook away from me." I jokingly jabbed a hook in his direction and he jumped back. "What happened to you JJ. You pull a gun on someone and then you are scared of a fish hook?" "Sorry I don't want to get impaled." I laughed and cast out my line. "You are such a pussy."

Later that day we were back at the wreckage. "You have to make sure you don't come up too fast otherwise you'll get the bends." "Bends? Like, bend over..." "The bends can kill you." " Oh." "Dumb-ass." I said pushing past him and walking over to John B. "Are you sure you are good to do this?" "Yeah. Don't come up to fast, stop where Kie's shirt is." "And just don't die in general." "Yes. Don't die in general." He said. I gave him a hug and walked to the back of the boat. I sat down next to JJ, where Kie had been. We saw Kie kiss John B on the cheek and walk away. JJ tensed up a little and walked up to the front of the boat. "Diver down." "Diver down." John B said, jumping off of the front of the boat and disappeared under the water.

We had been waiting for about a minute when we started to hear sirens. "Oh shit. Cops." JJ said. "Should we dip?" I asked. "I swear if I loose my scholarship." "Just, act fricken natural." Kie said. "Hello folks." "Hello officer." We all said. "What are you kids doing out here?" "Oh, just taking a ride." I said. "Where's that boy that's always with y'all?" "Oh, John B. He's at home. He got really sick last night." "Well, doesn't that just suck for him." "Yeah." We all nodded, I took a quick glance off the side of the boat, checking on John B I guess. "I hate to tell y'all but the marsh is closed." "Really?" JJ asked. "Why is that?" "We are looking for a wreck. Have y'all seen anything?" "No sir." I said before any one else could get a word in. "Do you mind if I take a quick look around?" He asked. "Not at all." Pope said, helping the officer onto our boat. "Nice boat you've got here." "Thanks." We said, all knowing the boat isn't nice. He looked around and found nothing of any interest. "Well, y'all should probably be getting back home now." "Yes sir. Will do." I said, untying our boat from his. "Bye." We all said, waving at him as he drove off. The second he was gone, we all ran to the end of the boat and watched as John B resurfaced. "Did you find anything?" JJ asked eagerly. "Did I find anything." John B said, lifting up a bag from under the water.

We pulled him back onto the boat and he threw off the scuba stuff. He unzipped the bag and we all stood over him. "What is it?" We asked. He held up a gold compass. "Great. We did all of this for a compass." Everyone else walked away but John B and I stared at the compass, in awe. "Guys. What's going on?" "This was our Dad's." We said in unison.

The next morning, I woke up to find John B outside with everyone. "Good morning. Sorry I'm late to the team meeting. My invite must have been lost in the mail."I sat down on the arm of the chair Kie was sitting in. "What are we talking about?" "I think it's time we go into dad's office." "Do you have the key to get in?" "I don't know. It's worth a shot." "Okay. I don't see why not." We all got up and followed him to the door to Dad's office. He shuffled through some keys and tried one. We heard the lock click and opened the door. We stepped inside and the room was full of papers and boxes. "I've slept over here 6 thousand times and I have never been in the room before." "Dad never really let us in." I said looking around. John B grabbed a Routledge family tree thing and started explaining how the compass was passed down from generation to generation. "So it's cursed is what you're tell us?" I said. "No. It's not." "Everyone who has owned it has died." "So?" "So, I think we have company." Pope said. looking out the window as a big black truck pulled up. "Come on out Routledge!"One of them called. "Shit." We all said.

Everyone started to panic and we all ran over to the window. JJ, Kie, and I tried to pull it open while Pope and John B were blocking the door. "Can you hurry up please." Pope said. "it's painted shut." Kie ran and grabbed a letter opener and started sawing at the paint. We finally got it to the point where we could open it enough for us to get out. One by one, we all squeezed out for the window and landed in the yard. I was the last one out and I closed the window behind me and ran to the chicken house where everyone else was.