Free Maggie Malone Makes a Splash by Jenna McCarthy

you’d think something bad about them for even a second,” Zac says. “I thought we were friends.” He storms off down the stairs and I’m left shivering at his words. But I can’t worry about my friendship with Zac right now. I have to tell Flynn. There’s no other choice. If I don’t, I’m pretty sure the endangered coral reef he’s so keen on protecting is in serious danger of being blown to Bangkok and back any minute. I rush out to the deck.
    â€œFlynn? I mean, Dad?” Don’t blow your cover now, Malone! I slow down and take a breath. He’s sitting with Lexi.
    Rats.
    â€œMarina!” Flynn says, wrapping me in a big bear hug. “Just the girl I wanted to see. It’s almost time for your dive. You ready?”
    I sort of nod, because what else can I do?
    â€œIt’s time for you to step out on your own now, without me. But I’ll be right here waiting to hear all about it. Of course, your buddy Lexi here is going to be your dive partner for the shoot,” Flynn tells me. “You know what that means… You two stick together no matter what.” Lexi just stands there and smiles like she’s not wicked Queen Matilda from the Mini Mermaid movie, which she totally is.
    â€œThat’s right, Mare. It’ll just be you and me down there,” Lexi says, pulling me from Flynn’s arms. “We’re going be a great team.” What are we calling our team, Lexi? The Coral Dynamos? I try to fake a smile, but I’m not good at that. The corners of my mouth don’t want to turn up.
    â€œI think I need to hit the restroom one last time,” I say, stalling. Well it’s not like I can say I need an emergency genie conference, is it?
    â€œMake it quick,” Flynn says. I give him a thumbs-up and practically slide down the steep staircase. I lock myself in the bathroom.
    â€œFffffffrank!” I whisper-yell into the metal plate that looks almost like a mirror since I am in full-on panic mode now. “Kinda need you right now! I’m about to be blown to bits! You can ignore me the next three times I call you, just not this time! Come in, Frank!” His face starts to come into focus but I can’t really see or hear him all that well since this piece of metal isn’t exactly a mirror.
    â€œMaggie! How…doing?” he asks, squinting his eyes to see me. “Is this the best mirror you could find?”
    â€œSorry! Just listen!” I say, because I really don’t have much time. “It’s true! I definitely heard Captain Jack and Lexi talking about blowing up the reef! With dynamite. You know, boom, boom ? And I’m pretty sure that little box I’m supposed to carry down there today has the timer inside it!”
    â€œOkay, Mags. I’m only catching about every third word you’re saying. I definitely heard dynamite and boom, boom ,” Frank says, getting serious like I’ve never seen him. “Sounds like you’re in over your head. What’s your plan?”
    â€œPlan?” I ask, practically in tears. “I don’t have a plan! Well, actually I do. It’s to not get blown up today! Got any ideas?”
    â€œMaggie Malone,” Frank says. “If there’s one thing I know about you, it’s that you’re a smart cookie. You’ll figure it out. Did you talk to Zac?”
    â€œI tried,” I moan. “But he got really mad. I’m not sure he’s even speaking to me anymore.”
    Frank looks like he’s thinking about this. “What about Flynn?” he asks hopefully.
    â€œI can’t get him alone!” I shout, jumping up and hitting my head on the ceiling of the tiny bathroom. “And I can’t tell him in front of Lexi or Captain Jack—”
    I can see Frank’s lips moving but I can’t hear a word of it. It’s like I’m watching a MeTube video with the volume turned down—but