The sound of annoying beeps blaring harshly in my ear caused my eyes to flutter open. All I could see was dark through my open window, the smell of saltwater filling the room.

My alarm said 5:15 A.M.

I stretched out on the bed, my muscles aching from the intense labour they endured yesterday. I blinked a few times to chase the sleep away from my eyes and then sat up slowly. I felt around the floor with my feet until I felt my slippers.

I slipped them on, standing up and hobbling to the bathroom. My brown hair hung in its natural waves across my shoulders. My tan skin was a little bruised and battered from yesterday but it looked fine. I ran my fingers through my hair, taking away the poofiness, and then brushed my teeth.

After that I dressed in a pair of white shorts and a navy blue tee. I flung my hair over my shoulder as I slipped on my flip-flops.

I was now dressed and it was time to get my little brother Ender up as well. Ender was ten and the light of my life. I had been taking care of him since he was four, all by myself. To say we were close was an understatement.

I knocked on his bedroom door.

"End, it's time to get up!" I yelled, clearing my throat after.

"I'm up!" He yelled back and I could hear a commotion from behind his door.

"Breakfast in ten, we have a lot of work to do!" I hollered back, then jogged down the stairs to the kitchen.

The house was large for two people, three-bedrooms with two bathrooms. The kitchen and lounge room merged into one big room on the first level along with a dining room on the left side of the stairs that was never used. The walls that were once painted a aquamarine colour were now faded. The white wooden floors had been scraped and eroded by sand, leaving them paint chipped. Though thats what living by the beach came with. Easily eroded wood and paint, and sand in everything.

I grabbed a pan from the cabinet underneath the stove and set it on the burner, clicking on the heat and grabbing a carton of eggs from the refrigerator. I cracked two into the pan, sizzling as they touched the hot metal, then grabbed a spatula and began moving the eggs around the pan so they wouldn't burn.

I turned down the heat when they were done so they would keep warm and then popped two pieces of bread into the toaster. While the bread was toasting I took two plates from the cabinet above the sink and snatched butter from the fridge, placing them on the bar.

"Ender!" I yelled and a few seconds later he bounded down the stairs. His curly brown hair was tousled. He wore a pair of cargo shorts and a light green tee that went nicely with his tan skin and grey eyes, just like me.

He smiled excitedly as he ran into the room.

"First day of summer bro, you ready?" I asked.

"Yes!"He jumped up and down.

"Grab the orange juice and the cups." I said, maneuvering around him to plate the eggs and snatch the toast without burning myself. I set our food on the bar as he poured the juice, climbing up onto the bar stool.

"Oh I forgot forks." I said, getting up and grabbing two from the silverware drawer.

"Way to go Car." He said sarcastically.

"Brat." I stuck my tongue out at him and he laughed.

"Mkay, eat up. We have a lot to do before we open." I said before shoving a fork-full of eggs into my mouth. He nodded doing the same.

I downed my breakfast and took my plate to the sink, turning on the water.

"Bring me your plate and i'll wash. Go check the radar." I said and he smiled, running out the front door and to the shop five feet away.

Our house and the shop were basically connected, the shop sitting the closest to the beach and our house just a few feet behind it, so our front door led to the back door of the shop.

I poured the soap on the plates, scrubbing them good before rinsing them and setting them in the dish rack to dry. I wiped my hands on a towel and then followed Ender to the shop.

He sat on a stool in the back room, the glow of the computer illuminating his face.

"Weather looks clear today and tomorrow but maybe storms tomorrow night." He reported, squinting at the screen.

"Well thats good. How many bookings today?" I asked, walking towards the front desk.

"Eight." He said, placing our tour book on the counter.

"Mkay. Lets go get the boat ready." I said and we both walked outside into the morning light.
Our boat was at the end of the pier, its white paint glimmering from its wash yesterday.

Ender grabbed the railing and pulled himself onto the boat.

"Lets just do a check to make sure everything is running." I told him and I started the boat up.

"Gas? Check. Lights? Yes. Ventilation? Yes again." I did my mental checklist aloud while Ender went below deck to double check of no pipe or pressure problems.

"Boats a go Car!" He called up to me.

"Cool, lets stock up!" I called back.

We raced down the dock to to the shop and clambered inside, taking crates in our arms as we made several trips to the boat. The crates were full of equipment needed for the Marina Ocean tours we gave. That was our business.

My grandfather had started it with my grandmother after they first married. My dad grew up learning the business and I did the same. Now that my parents were gone it was my responsibility to teach Ender the ways of the world and how to keep our family business alive, even though I wasn't doing such a great job myself.

During the winter season I worked three jobs to pay the bills and we still scraped by. Money just didn't go as far as it used to.

I didn't want to drag the family business down and I could not disappoint my family. They were all I had.

I was shaken from my thoughts by Ender running into the shop. "Boats stocked and ready, our first tour should be here soon."

Ender's grin was contagious. Everytime he smiled I couldn't help but do the same. He was helpful, respectful, and very charismatic. He looked so much like our dad that sometimes when I looked at Ender hard enough it hurt.

"Alright." I smiled lovingly at him. I walked to the broom closet, grabbing a broom, mop, and bucket.

"I'll sweep, you mop?" I suggested and Ender nodded, taking the bucket to the outside sink.

I began to sweep the shop, starting from the back and making my way to the front. Ender started to mop behind me. I opened the front door to sweep out the sand and other dirt that had accumulated on the shop floor and onto the wooden dock.

I shut the door behind me and began to sweep the boards in front of the store. I looked at the walls of the shop as I swept. They needed new paint. Maybe if I put aside an extra $20 a month, by the end of the year I could use the money to repaint the shop.

I returned back to my sweeping and flung the dirt into the muddy water by the shore.

I could see surfers in the water, getting ready for the morning waves. Other shops along the pier were opening their doors, getting ready for the first day of summer.

I waved at the shop owner next to us, a man named Ronan, before I went back inside.

"End I have some pamphlets for you to hang up on the bulletin board." I said handing him the stack from behind the counter along with a little plastic case of push pins.

As he filled the board I put away the broom and mop. Making sure the shop looked tidy.

The shop was little, with the same white washed floor as the house but dark wooden walls instead of blue.

Rope and fishnet hung from the walls and ceiling, the cliche ocean decor filling the room.

I made my way to the desk at the front of the shop, turning on the computer. I drummed my fingers on the desk as the ancient monitor hummed to life. Once it turned on, I opened the logging screen, checking our first booking of the day.

It was a group of four. The name was under-

The sound of the bell above the door jingling interrupted my reading.

A group of four men walked into the room. I say men but they were young, twenty at the oldest.

"Morning." I said as they walked in.

"Morning." They said back.

"We have a tour at 8." A male with curly sandy brown hair said.

"Yea, have you right here. You're the first tour of the summer." I smiled at them, finally looking at all of their faces.

The man who spoke first had tan skin, his face framed by his sandy, curly hair. The boy to his right had dark brown hair with blond highlights at the front, his skin tanner than the rest. The boy behind the first one had bright red hair, almost electric with skin pale as snow. And the boy to his left had blonde hair, gelled into a quiff.

They were all tall in stature, making me feel small.

"Alright well lets get your gear and we can get going." I said and began to lead the way to the part of the shop where we held the diving gear. I grabbed four masks and vests, handing them to the boys.

"You can find your suit size and change in the back while I take the tanks to the boat. Meet me there at the end of the pier when you're ready." I said, grabbing four oxygen tanks.

"Need some help?" The guy with the curly dirty blonde hair asked and I shook my head.

"I've got it." I smiled, picking them up with ease and sweeping out the door.

I remember when I was little and was helping my dad with the shop. I would carry one oxygen tank that seemed so heavy at the time to me while my dad carried four at a time to the boat. Eventually overtime, I was able to carry four like he did.

I placed the tanks on the boat deck and leaned against the side of the boat, waiting for the group.

"Ender, groups here." I said and he jumped up from the bow of the boat, running over to the starboard side where I leant.

"Small group." I said and he nodded, leaning his head next to mine on the boat.

I could see the group at the front of the pier as they walked to us. With their long legs, they made it over to us in record time.

"Ready?" I asked and they all smiled. "Alright then, all aboard." I swung myself around, and pulled myself onto the boat with ease.

"Ahh, who's this?" The curly male asked as he noticed Ender.

"That's my brother Ender, he will be assisting us today." I said and Ender stood up a little taller, puffing out his chest.

"Cool, nice to meet ya mate." The guy stuck out his hand and Ender shook it proudly. "I don't think I ever got your name." He said again but this time directed towards me.

"Oh, sorry. I'm Carter." I said.

"I'm Ashton. This is Luke, Michael, and Calum." He introduced, gesturing to the males behind him.

"Nice to meet you." I said. "Ender, lets get going." I told him.

"Follow me." Ender said in his grown up ten year old voice and began to lead the boys below deck.

I went to the bridge and hit the button that lifted the anchor. I then jogged down the deck, hopping off the boat, I untied the knot that tied the boat to the dock, tossing the rope to the deck and hopping back on the boat.

When I looked up I could see Ender showing the guys around the boat, Ashton flashing me a smile.

I went back to the bridge, pushing up on the throttle and steering us away from the docks. I turned on the ship's radio, letting the static buzz fill the air.

I drove us out to the reefs while Ender gave them the tutorial on the equipment.

"What about if I see a shark?" Asked the red-head Michael.

"You don't do anything. They will only attack if provoked." Ender explained and I smiled at his knowledge.

I remembered the first time I took him diving and we saw a shark, he swam alongside it calmly like I told him, admiring the creature before the shark swam away on its own accord.
Michael nodded at Ender. Michael didn't seem like the nature type.

I could see on the ship's GPS that we were close to the reef.

"We're here." I called and Ender dashed to the starboard side, and I dropped anchor.

As soon as we stopped moving I padded down the steps, and over to the group of boys.

"So Ender gave you your instructions on how to use your equipment properly, so now its time to dive." I smiled. "Sit on the edge of the boat, your back facing the water, and lean backwards." I instructed them and they all did as told. "Ender will stay on the boat and I will go in the water with you, just to make sure everything goes smoothly."

I made my way below deck and slipped off my shirt and shorts, into a wetsuit. I made my way back and placed my mask on my head, sitting on the edge of the boat and leaning backwards until the water touched my skin.

I let myself fall into the embrace of the ocean.
I swam back and watched as the boys followed suit, diving backwards into the water. They swam around for a few minutes, getting used to the ocean before diving under to explore the reef.

I took them to the pretty reef that we take all of our dive tours to. It was large enough and had a plethora of different fish, coral, and other sea creatures.

I swam to the bottom, running my fingers across the ocean floor. I looked to my left to see a pair of sea horses swimming alongside each other. I watched them in mesmerization.
I felt a presence next to me and looked to my right to see Ashton watching the sea horses as well.

I kicked my feet and swam away, watching the guys to make sure everything was fine.
I could tell they would be alright under the water and swam up, pulling myself up on the bottom step of the boat, letting my feet dangle in the water.

I took off my mask and took in a deep breath, running my hands through my wet hair.

"How's it going up there End?" I called.

"Good!" He yelled back, waving at me from the bridge.

"Do you wanna go swim with the boys? I can take over." I called back and he ran down the stairs.

"Yes!" He jumped from the bottom steps that led to the bridge.

"Have fun!" I laughed as he put on his mask, diving into the water.

I giggled at his enthusiasm and sat up, walking up to the bridge.

This was one of my happy places. It felt like it was just me and the world, that I could sail away to anywhere I wanted to. It could just be me and Ender. No bills, no worries, just us.
The boat and the water were my two happy places.

I went back below deck and changed back into my shorts and tee before grabbing a water bottle from the mini fridge.

I tromped up the steps to the main deck then took on the ones up to the bridge. I sat down on the stool, kicking my feet up on the control panel.

I listened to the static of the radio and the splashing sounds in the water before the timer on the control board beeped.

I sat up and walked down the steps to the end of the boat. I hit the water three times and in a minute, Ender surfaced along with the four other guys.

They swam over to the steps where I was and used the metal ladder to climb aboard. They took off their masks and breathed in the fresh air.

"That was incredible." The boy Luke beamed.

"Yea it was!" Ashton chimed in.

"Did you see those seahorses? They were so cute!" Calum said excitedly, scrunching up his cheeks on the word "cute".

"That fish was huge." Said Michael and I laughed at his wide eyes.

"I'm glad you guys had fun." I smiled.

"Yea, that was amazing." Ashton smiled at me.
I turned and walked up the bridge, pressing the button to hoist the anchor again.

After we were on our way back to dock, I turned down the radio so I could listen to Ender's conversation with the boys.

"You like the ninja turtles?! That's so awesome!" Ender yelled, high-fiving Ashton.

"Well duh! Who doesn't? My favorite is Raphael." Ashton said, getting excited.

"Mines Leonardo." Ender said, going on to brag about his comics and action figures.

I smiled at his enthusiasm. He was making friends, eighteen year old friends, but friends nonetheless.

I could see the docks in my vision.

"Ender!" I yelled and he looked up at me.

I pointed towards the docks and he smiled, jumping up from his conversation with the guys and ran to the starboard side, ready to tie the boat.

I drove us up to the end of the dock carefully and dropped anchor. Ender jumped off the boat, grabbing the rope and tying it around the wooden cylindrical post covered in barnacles.
Ender gritted his teeth as he tied the knot, pulling hard on the rope.

Once he let go and he examined his work, making sure it was tied tight, he turned to me giving me a thumbs up.

I gave him one back, turning off the engine and jogging down the steps. The boys all stepped off the boat and I followed them back to the shop. Ender walked with the guys, talking to them more about the ninja turtles.

Once we reached the shop, the boys changed back into their clothes in the back and I went to the front desk, typing in the information for their bill.

I heard footsteps and Ashton walked out, wallet in hand.

"Here ya go." He said, handing me his credit card.

I swiped it and handed it back to him.

"Thanks." He smiled at me.

Suddenly the back door of the shop burst open and Ender rushed in, his comic in hand.

"Look! This is #21, mint condition!" Ender said as he showed it to Ashton.

"Thats awesome mate!" Ashton said, bending down to talk with Ender. I listened to their conversation until the other boys came out.

"Thanks for the tour." Luke said.

"Yea, no problem. I'm glad you had a great time." I smiled.

The boys moved towards the door.

"Aww, can I go with you guys?" Ender asked.

"No Ender, we have more tours to give, and besides, i'm sure they want to have fun not take care of you." I said, ruffling his hair.

Ender stuck his tongue out at me.

"We'd love to take you along but your sisters right, you have a job to do." Ashton said.

"Alright. Well maybe we can play later!" Ender said excitedly and Ashton smiled back at him.

"Of course!" Ashton beamed.

Ender smiled before taking off to put his comic away.

"Sorry about him." I grimaced. "He doesn't usually get to hang out with guys so this was nice for him." I explained.

"Oh its all good. He's a cool little guy. I'd take him along with us anyway." Ashton smiled back.

I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"Well thanks for touring with us and I hope you enjoy Haven Harbor." I said.

"We will, thanks!" The guys said, their tall frames walking out the front door.

Ashton was the last to leave. "See ya around Carter." He smiled.

After the door closed behind him I sighed, letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding in.

A few moments later another group of eight walked in, ready for their tour.

'Seven more tours to go', I thought to myself before smiling sweetly at the new customers.

-

The sun was just beginning to go down as I drove the last boat of divers into the marina. I checked them out at the front desk as Ender tied up the boat for the night.

Once the customers left, I turned off the computer and flipped the sign above the front door to say closed,locked up the shop and then went to the house to make dinner.

I pulled the bread and cheese from the pantry, and placed a pan on the stove, making Ender and myself grilled cheeses.

Ender jumped on the couch, turning on the television to find his favorite cartoon.

I plated our sandwiches and plopped down on the couch next to him, handing him his plate.
We sat there, watching a re-run of scooby-doo while the sun went down outside the always open windows. Ender leaned down so that he was using my lap as a pillow. I let my fingers play with his hair until I could hear his soft snores.

I smiled at his cute little sleeping face. Slowly as to not wake him, I slid my arms underneath him, picking him up and carrying him upstairs to his room. I folded back his blanket with one hand and laid him down, tucking him in snuggly.

I leaned down giving him a kiss on the forehead and crept out of his room, closing the door gently behind me.

Stumbling down the steps and into the main room downstairs, I turned off the television and took our plates to the sink; turning off the lights and locking the front door.

Then I went back upstairs and to my bathroom, turning on the shower. I stripped myself from my salt water sprayed clothes and stepped into the spray of fresh water; letting it run over my skin, washing away the sand, salt, and sweat.

I used my coconut shampoo and washed my hair before shaving my legs and arms and then getting out.

I wrapped a yellow cotton towel around myself and walked to my room, changing into my pyjamas.

My sheets felt soft and warm as I slid beneath them, pulling the cotton up to my throat. I made sure my alarm was set for the next morning and rested my head back on the pillow.

The first day of summer was a success, long and tiring, but definitely a good start to the season.

Eight tours in one day was really good for business. I prayed that this would keep up and maybe we could pay a few things off.

I started creating a checklist of bills to be paid and things to be repaired but before I could even finish my list I fell asleep.