2 months ago …..

Its my first day as a shark wrangler at Aquatica Research facility. The plane is just coming to a stop next to the floating island known as Aquatica. I can see lots of people milling about on the walkways with some that look like they are leaving. As the plane stops the side door opens to a small blonde woman with a pixie cut, and has a massive smile on her face.

"Hi, you must be Sarah, I'm Janice but everyone calls me Jan. If you'd like to come with me ill give you a tour and show you to your quarters."

She reached into the plane and grabbed my bags and turned to leave. I hopped out behind her, to follow on. We reached a gate that required a key code for access. When we made it to the main walk way Jan pointed to someone swimming in one of the pens.

"That is your partner Carter Blake, as you can see he is wrangling a new shark and most likely about to show off doing it." I looked into the water a saw a blonde man with red trunks on, and no protective gear other than what looked like mesh gloves.

"He does it without any kit on? Isn't that against a company policy or something?"

"it would be but Carter is know for not playing by the rules, so he doesn't listen."

Just as we were watching I saw the fin of a tiger shark in the same area, and heading towards carter with speed. We continued on towards the main entrance and stopped a a square jetty.

"This is where we keep the test sharks, we have 3 of them 2 first generation and 1 second generation female. Beneath this glassy surface, a world of gliding monsters. Its pretty scary stuff huh?" after this we wandered into the main structure and stood in the elevator.

"living below is like living in space. You don't get very many mistakes. There are 3 sub levels. Sub-level 1 is living quarters, 2 is wet lab and workshops and 3 is engineering and air locked wet entry. Ill show you to your quarters first and then to where you'll be working."

"okay thanks." The elevator shuddered to a stop at the first level and Jan opened the gate.

"altogether there are 22 rooms most are empty but roughly 10 are taken so you have your pick really."

"I don't really mind just as long as its comfortable." We stopped in front of a room and decided that it was mine we went in and placed my bags down, then it was down to sub-level 3 to meet carter and for him to show me the rest of the ropes.

Present day…..

"So Russel Franklin is flying in tomorrow with Susan and the test will be the day after." The day after? That's 3 months early.

"Jim, Bringing in the sharks ahead of schedule is a bad idea, its 3 months too early!" I had to voice my concerns as this was ridiculous we were no where near prepared.

"I know, but this needs to be done. Everyone needs to be top of their game for this nothing can go wrong." Jim wasn't very reassuring and he was one of the lead doctors. "Carter and Sarah you need to prep the Gen 2 and dose her up with the serum. And get all your gear ready for the test."

We both stood up and went to go get changed and ready for the long day ahead of us.

"Sarah" carter stopped me just before I walked into my room.

"yeah?"

" I know it'll be hard but we have to do our best no matter what our opinion is."

"I know we'll be fine. Lets get ready then"

half an hour later I was ready in my wet suit and was heading to the elevator to go down to engineering. I just stepped on the elevator when scoggins caught up with me.

"Hey Sarah."

"Hi Tom."

"Where are you heading to now?"

"Engineering." There was then an awkward silence. "Are you going to engineering too?"

"No."

"You do realise that your going all the way down just to go all the way back then?"

"Yeah I do, I just wanted to catch you real quick."

"What for, Tom?"

"I was just wondering if…. Maybe….. I…."

"What is it Tom?"

"Would you go out with me?"

I was not expecting that. Where the fuck did that come from. How the hell am I supposed to reply to that.

"um I'm not really looking for anything like that right now Tom, so I'm sorry but No."

I looked up from my feet when I finished speaking and saw his face fall with hurt. Thank god the elevator came to a stop otherwise I feel like the silence would kill me.

"I'll see you later Tom." I left before he could reply. I feel awful, he is such a nice guy, just not the one that I am interested in. Oh shit I wont be able to act on it either without upsetting Tom because I said I didn't want that. I've really stuck my foot in it now.

"You alright Sarah?" god that made me jump out of my skin.

"Jesus, Carter you scared the crap out of me."

"sorry I didn't mean to, come on lets get some work done."

"Yeah what do we need to get ready?"

"well we need to dose the Gen 2 today so as soon as jim brings the serum down, we will enter through the wet entry and put it into the shark then that'll be our job done for today."

"okay well lets get to it."

After a long day I was ready for a shower and bed, I was about to act on that when Brenda strolls into my room.

"Hey Sarah so look its susans birthday tomorrow, so we are planning a surprise party for tomorrow night, you in?"

"absolutely, sounds like fun."

"Alright so be ready and up on the surface by 7,then we will call Susan up. I'll see you then , bye."

"Bye."

And with that Brenda waltzes back out, and now it was time for my shower. After a very long nice and hot shower I was getting ready for bed when carter knocks and enters.

"Hey Sarah."

"Hi, you alright?"

" yeah yeah im good I just wanted to see if you were alright after earlier?"

"what happened earlier."

" I know that Tom asked you out and that you said no."

"okay?"

"and I was just wandering…."

"carter I swear to god if you try and change my mind because he is your friend, I will feed you to the sharks myself."

"no that isn't what I was trying to do, I was just wandering why?"

"I told tom the reason why."

"yeah but that isn't true is it?"
"you're right it isn't."

"then whats the real reason?"
"well…." It was now or never I should just tell him that I like him right. " its because…" fuck im sweating im going to need another shower. " I like…" okay this is it deep breath. " I like you." I close my eyes scared of the reaction it will conjure from him.

" Sarah?"

I wouldn't do it im not goning to look at him, I know what I will see there.

"Sarah look at me?"

I knew it he's going to let me down easy, I can feel it. that's when I feel his hand on my chin bringing my face up. I feel brave enough to open my eyes and when I do, I feel his lips slightly brush against mine, a touch so soft I would have thought it was a dream. Except I kmew it wasn't.

"Sarah I like you too."

"you do?"

"yes ive been looking at you for two months and now I know you feel the same, well it feels great!" he threads his fingers into my hair and tilts my head up with his other hand. He softly presses his lips to mine, so softly that i could barely feel it, but it still felt amazing.

"right, well now that we have that cleared up what do you wanna do now?"

"well i was just gonna go for a shower and bed, you can join me if you like?"

"i won't say no the that." the smile that appears on his face is devilishly handsome and with two dimples on either side give him a very cheeky look.