How to Outswim a Shark Without a Snorkel by Jess Keating Page B

swimsuits? That was a whole new level of awkward. “Everything I have at home doesn’t fit anymore,” I admitted.
    â€œI can help you, you know,” Ashley said. She blinked at me expectantly.
    â€œWhat do you mean? Help me with an outfit?” I couldn’t stop my voice from squeaking like a mouse.
    â€œObviously.”
    â€œI think I’m good,” I said. I had no idea what she had in mind, but Ashley’s help wasn’t something I was eager to beg for. Although she did have great style. But still. Had to be a trap. This wasn’t hanging out at the zoo together. Shopping would mean the mall. Her territory. At least here I was surrounded by sharks and crocodiles and other creatures that could keep me safe. Once I learned to control them like an army, that is.
    Ugh, I’m turning into Daz.
    â€œOh, come on,” she said, glaring at me. “Let me help already. We can go shopping at the mall and get new suits. I haven’t gone shopping in weeks,” she whined.
    I stiffened. This had to be some sort of joke. Some evil plot to get me in a dressing room so she could grab all my clothes and leave me in the dust, wandering naked through the mall. Can you imagine that headline?
    â€œShopping?” I asked. “Together?”
    She shrugged. “Why not?”
    Now it was my turn to give her a look. Because you’ve hated me since first grade. Because you make my life a living hell. Because you volunteered to work in the zoo simply because you enjoy torturing me.
    But I didn’t say any of that.
    Because I wasn’t sure of any of it. At least, the last bit.
    â€œOh come on, Ana,” she said. “I know we’ve been jerks to each other, but maybe we can just…drop it for the summer. You know?”
    Jerks to each other ? Since when was I jerky to her ?
    She clucked her tongue when she saw the question in my eyes. “There’s no reason why we can’t help each other out.”
    There was the catch.
    â€œWhat do you need help with?”
    She batted her best doe eyes. But underneath, her face was hard, like she was trying to look strong. “I’m nervous for the presentation,” she said finally. “I just want a chance to practice for someone, and Patricia is too busy, and my sister is always at the gym for swim trials.” She shrugged. “And you’re here.”
    I hesitated.
    â€œAnd you already know what I have to say, so you can actually be helpful . You know?” She tapped her foot. “We can make those memorization notes together for me to use.”
    The walls began to feel tight around me. I guess it sort of made sense for us to help each other out. Or did it? I tried to imagine telling Bella or Liv about going shopping with Ashley. That would be like telling them I’d suddenly taken up Latin for the fun of it. Since when did being almost thirteen come with so many tough decisions? But Ashley wasn’t acting like any of this was tough. She was confident and acting like this was no big deal.
    But was that part of her trick?
    â€œI’ll have to think about it,” I said. I hated myself for being so wishy-washy. I wanted to know for sure what I wanted to do, instead of feeling like one giant question mark. But this felt too weird to be true.
    Ashley nodded. “’Kay, give me a call tonight if you want to go. We can meet tomorrow afternoon. That will give us almost a week to get our outfits ready for next Saturdayyyy ,” she said in a singsong voice. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a teeny pink notecard with a kitten on it, with her telephone number written in calligraphy. See what I mean? Ashley had a card like a businesswoman.
    I took it from her and stuffed it into my pocket. “All right. I’ll let you know.” I gathered my books and left as quickly as I could without looking like a total freak.
    I had some thinking to do.

Chapter 9
    Giant cuttlefish have