1269_UgliesFreeBook

126 Scott Westerfeld
She swallowed and stared back at him. His eyes shone
with tears.
“You promised you wouldn’t do anything stupid, Tally.
That you’d be with me soon. That we’d be pretty together.”
She touched the scar on her palm, still there, even
though Peris’s had been rubbed away. He reached over and
held her hand. “Best friends forever, Tally.”
She knew that if she looked into his eyes again, it
would be all over. One glance, and her resistance would
evaporate. “Best friends forever?” she said.
“Forever.”
She took a deep breath and let herself stare into his
eyes. He looked so sad, so vulnerable and wounded. So
perfect. Tally imagined herself by his side, just as beautiful,
spending every day doing nothing but talking and laughing
and having fun.
“You’ll keep your promise, Tally?”
A shudder of exhaustion and relief went through her.
She had it now, an excuse to break her vow. She’d made that
promise to Peris, just as real, before she’d ever met Shay.
She had known him for years, and Shay for only a few
months.
And Peris was right here, not out in some strange
wilderness, and was looking at her with those eyes . . .
“Of course.”
“Really?” He smiled, and it was as bright as the daybreak
outside.