Free Friends Forever? by Tina Wells Page B

get Chloe and Ally to be better friends, Ally won’t pay so much attention to Jasper.
    Zee

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    After lunch, all of the seventh graders met in the main lodge so Mr. P could tell them about the next camp challenge. “We’re going to have a cabin decorating contest,” he announced.
    â€œCool beans!” Zee enthused. “I love coming up with decorating ideas. I could spend hours watching home-decorating shows.”
    â€œCabin one can totally win this,” Chloe said, turning to Zee.
    â€œI didn’t know you were into house decorating, too,” Ally said to Chloe.
    â€œThis contest is so perfect for Chloe,” Zee said. “Her bedroom is amazing. It’s an Italian kind of theme, and she even made a really cool mosaic mirror frame out of ceramic pitcher pieces.”
    Ally half-shrugged. “It’s too bad you haven’t gotten to see my room in Paris yet,” she said. “It’s really awesome.”
    â€œOh yeah,” Zee said quickly. “I’m sure—just like your room in Brookdale was.”
    â€œZee and I used to redo our bedrooms about once a month,” Ally said. “Remember, Zee?”
    Zee laughed. “Except for that one summer when we did it once a week.”
    Mr. P whistled, interrupting the girls’ conversation. “The theme is My World,” he continued. “You’ll have until dinnertime to transform your cabin.”
    â€œWhat do we use—sticks and moss?” Marcus asked.
    â€œSupplies are in the art cabin,” Mr. P explained. “After dinner, everyone will tour the student cabins and vote.”
    Kathi’s hand shot up. “That’s not fair,” she said. “The cabins with the most people will get the most votes.”
    Mr. P nodded. “Good point. No one can vote for their own cabin.” Then he clapped his hands together. “Okay, everyone. Get to work.”
    â€œLet’s go,” Chloe said to the cabin-one girls. “We don’t have much time.” They hurried out of the lodge to the art cabin.
    â€œMan!” Zee said as she scanned the shelves and tables covered with papers, paints, felt, and other craft supplies.
    Other seventh graders crowded in behind them.
    â€œThis is just like on Project Runway when everyone has to dig through car parts or tear through the grocery store in five minutes,” Chloe said. “Who can think that quickly?”
    â€œYeah, we should pick a theme—fast—so we get the right stuff,” Zee suggested.
    â€œYou know what would be incredible?” Ally asked. “A Parisian theme. Each corner of the cabin could be animportant landmark, and in the center we could re-create the Eiffel Tower.”
    â€œThat’s great!” Chloe began. “But since we’re in the woods and the whole trip is about the environment, I think we should do a nature theme. We could create a jungle—with animals from the rain forest.”
    â€œNo way! It’s too obvious,” Ally snapped. “We’re practically in the jungle. Duh.”
    Chloe looked hurt. And Zee was shocked. Ally had never had a problem expressing her opinion, but she was always nice about it. What was going on?
    â€œUm…can I talk to you outside for a second, Ally?” Zee said.
    â€œWhy?” Ally asked.
    â€œUh…there’s just something I want to show you.” Zee grabbed Ally’s arm and led her out the door.
    As soon as they got outside, Ally turned to Zee. “Which decorating idea do you think is best—mine or Chloe’s?” she asked.
    â€œI was hoping I wouldn’t have to choose.”
    â€œWhy? Because Chloe’s feelings get hurt so easily?”
    â€œActually, Chloe’s usually really tough,” Zee explained. “She just really loves animals.”
    â€œWell, I love Paris. That is where I live.”
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    Zee scrunched her nose. “Yeah. That’s