On the TV, the news reporter reports a major storm quickly approaching the Outer Banks.

"Hurricane Agatha continues its steady march toward Kildare Island," the reporter says. As I watch, I say, "Holy Shit." John B glances at the TV and turns away as he says, "Common Syd"

Later that day, we both head to the beach with our surfboards, the news reporter's words still ringing in my head. "Holy shit" I say under my breath as we stand there and look at the angry sea.

"Those aren't surfable waves John B". John B just looks at me and laughs and starts running to the water. "And he's going anyways" I say as I run after him. Once out on the water, I struggle to keep myself upright on my board as more and more angry waves crash around me knocking me off.

"John B i'm serious, these are surfable waves"

"Common Syndey, " John B scoffs, "You have no idea what you're talking about."

"No, but I do know that people have drowned in smaller waves then these"

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We all knew that the aftermath of was going to be big. What we didn't know was how things were going to go from calm to crazy.

"Yo, JJ you been outside?" I turned over to hear a smack, "I have polio, bro. I can't walk." I stretched with a yawn and sat up, the arm slung over my waist sliding off to sit over my hips.

John B waved at me and walked outside right before I looked over at JJ and moved straddling his back with a tap of my hands against his shoulder blades, "come on you big baby lets go check on the outside world unless you want me to put you in an Iron lung." I gave his shoulder blades a deep rub downward, stretching out the muscles under my fingers for a moment making him whine.

I crawled off of him without even thinking about what I had done before I trudged outside, John B turning to see me as he rubbed his face,  "she did some damage."

"Yeah, no power or service," I groaned looking at the large tree.

 I walked behind John B up to the HMS POGUE, "Agatha did some work huh?" JJ looked like he just woke up from a bender, torn up by pure liquor, "Yeah she did," I walked around the boat and pulled off a branch tossing it to the ground. 

"What you thinkin?" He smiled down picking another branch up and tossing it, "I'm thinkin that storm surge pushed all the crabs out the marshmaze, all those drum are gonna chase the crab."

"What about the DCS? Wasn't that today?" JJ asked John B who relpyed a little to happy.

"Nah, they're not gettin' on a ferry."

John B looked back at JJ for a second, "come on, think about it. It's God tellin' us to fish." JJ looked at him like he was high as he brought up fishing again.

"What about you Sydney? Wanna hang with some of your fellow pogues today?" I looked at him and grinned,  "You know I'm up for anything." We both looked at JJ and I smiled, "Say yes J." I did a little dance as I moved forward touching the side of the boat before pulling a small limb off the side.

I grin again and look at John B as motions for me and JJ to climb in "Mandatory saftey meeting?" I ask he nods. "You coming Syd?" I shake my head "I'm gonna go change, I'll meet y'all at the last dock" John B nods and they set off to collect the others.

                                                 --------------------------------

About  20  minutes or so I'm standing with Kie on the jagged, torn-up edge of the last dock, in a T-shirt and shorts with our bikinis underneath, both of us holding a cooler.

"Hey girls," JJ says waving at us. "Hey boys," I say as I put the cooler full of beer in the boat.

"Whatcha got? You got some juice boxes?" JJ asks Kie with a grin.

 "You know, just some yogurts and carrot sticks."She sets the cooler down with muted clanking.

"How about my kind of juice box?" JJ helped her on the boat and she sat down her ice chest, then helping me  "I brought Coronas," I grin tossing one to JJ.

"Ah Most important meal of the day" JJ jokes.

John B guns the engine and Mr. Madras gestures angrily, and for a moment it's the old retiree against us. Pope cuts a sharp turn. JJ, at the prow, motions as if he'll pour beer in front and have the wind blow it into his mouth.

"Hey, watch this," says JJ.

" It's not going to work. you've tried this like 600 times" teases John B

"it will," JJ says then turns to Pope. "Faster" Pope accelerates. Saltgrass and trees blur by. JJ taunts with the beer, just about to pour, when the boat lurches to a violent stop. JJ cartwheels over the railing: Kiara, I, and John B slam onto the deck.

The engine sputters as we all spraw John B stands slowly. He checks Pope, then makes his way to the prow to see JJ on his back in the water, groaning.

"You okay J?" I ask looking at him.

"I think my heels touched the back of my head" he groans.

John B turns to Kie and me "Kie, Syd you alright?"Kie nods standing up "Yep we're both fine. Jesus pope!"

"Sorry the channel changed," Pope says looking a little shaken

"No shit," JJ says as he swims back over to the boat. "Hey I saved the beer though," he says as he climbs back up into the boat

"Congrats JJ," says John B sarcastically

"Do you want a round of applause?" I roll my eyes.

"Guys I think there's a boat down there," Pope says squinting his eyes as he tries to get a better look at the water.

"Shut up," says John B

"No way"

"No guys I'm serious, there's like a boat down there for real," Pope says as he continues to squint at the water. "There's a boat" he points at the water as John B walks over.

"Holy shit he's right"

"Lets Go," I say as we all dive off the boat's prow. We swim down into the depths John B reaches the boat first gliding past three outboard engines. We all surface again and start swimming back to the boat

"You guys saw that right? That a Grady White"

Once back on the boat John B says "Thats the boat I saw when me and Syd surfed the surge"

"You surfed the surge?!?!" kiara looks shocked but not in a good way.

"Yeah it was hella crazy" I say grinning

"Thats my girl, pouge style" JJ looks at me with a smile

"Do we know who's boat it is?" asks pope

"Nope but were about to" walking over to the prow. John B pulls the anchor up and he holds it in his hands as he climbs over the railing of the boat.

"John B" I say looking worried

"What? Diver Down" He says grinning and saluting.

"Yeah he is" JJ says as he pushes john b off the boat. 5 min go by as we wait for him to resurface. 

Once he does we all rush over to help him.

"Looting potential?" JJ grabs his arm and pulls him up.

"No, but I did find a key"

"A motel key," I say looking at it.

"Yes a key Sydney"

"Great he salvaged a motel key" JJ rolls his eyes

"Guys we should report the wreck to the Coast Guard, maybe we'll get a finders fee," Kie says looking slightly anxious.

"Well work on something" John B starts the boat up again and starts to head back.

"Thanks Agatha you biatch"