1269_UgliesFreeBook

124 Scott Westerfeld
fire alarm thing, but they’re really dying to meet you now,”
he continued. “There’s even a rumor that Special Circumstances
is involved.”
Tally blinked. Peris was serious.
“Well, that’s true,” she said. “They’re the reason I’m still
ugly.”
Peris’s big eyes widened even more. “Really? That is so
bubbly!”
She sat up and frowned. “Did everyone know about
them but me?”
“Well, I had no idea what anyone was talking about.
Apparently, Specials are like gremlins; you blame them
when anything weird happens. Some people think they’re
totally bogus, and no one I know has actually seen a
Special.”
Tally sighed. “Just my luck, I guess.”
“So they’re real?” Peris lowered his voice to a whisper.
“Do they really look different? You know, not pretty.”
“It’s not that they’re not pretty, Peris. But they’re
really . . .” Tally looked at him, gorgeous and hanging on
every word. It felt so perfect to be sitting next to him, talking
and touching, as if they’d never been apart. She smiled.
“They’re just not as pretty as you.”
He laughed. “You’ll have to tell me all about it. But
don’t you dare tell anyone else. Not yet. Everyone’s going to
be so intrigued. We can throw a big party when you get
yourself prettied up.”