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The boat ride was silent. The teens silently second guessing whether or not they wanted to actually do this. JJ looks down as Estrella leans her head on his shoulder. He then looks around now noticing everyone's solemn expressions, "Yo, guys, lighten up. Okay? All right? You're making me nervous. We're gonna slide down there, take a peek. Worst that can happen, it's not there, old fart's disappointed, we go home. Pogues win. Okay? That's the worst."
JJ then picks up a beer he brought, "Meantime though, who wants to crack one with me?"
"No. Hey, hey. No." John B says taking the beer from him, "No drinking."
"All right. It just takes the edge off." JJ shrugs
•••
"John B, we're in Coast Guard territory now. Should be about 20 yards. One o'clock. Okay, that's close enough." Pope says before turning to JJ, "Hey, slow her down. We're at the drop site now."
"JJ, what's our depth?" John B asks
JJ turns on the monitor, "Seventy-eight."
"Okay. Ready?"
"Here we go." Pope says, "Switch out. You guys get ready. John B, keep us in position."
•••
"They hit the drop site." Cleo says as she looks out into the water through the binoculars
"Just keep a lookout for the Coast Guard." Sarah sighs
•••
"Honestly, it's kind of like surfing The Point, you know?" JJ says as Kie helps Estrella zip up her suit, "We're upstream, and then the rip is just gonna... take us out."
"Yeah." John B nods
"Yeah."
"Right." Estrella nods. She looks up as JJ sets a speargun down, "Is that necessary?"
"Yeah, yeah, I mean, reef, fish-" John B lists
"And the man in the gray suit."
"That too."
"Don't forget your safety stop, all right?" Pope says, "Fifteen feet for three minutes. Hear that, JJ? Fifteen feet, three minutes."
"Copy that."
"Or what?" Estrella asks
"The bends, remember? Nitrogen in the blood, excruciating pain, death, et cetera, et cetera." Pope says. Estrella lets out a deep breath as she nervously adjusts her suit. JJ looks up to Pope, "She should know. It's part of it."
JJ looks to her, "Hey, you good?"
"Yeah." She nods
"Okay." He says taking her hand and pulling her up
