1269_UgliesFreeBook

UGLIES 201
It was foolish to wait. This would only get harder.
And what choice did she have?
“Tally? He’s almost—”
Tally snapped closed the pendant and shoved it into
her shirt.
Shay smiled slyly. “I noticed that before. What gives?”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on. You never wore anything like that
before. I leave you alone for two weeks and you get all
romantic?”
Tally swallowed, looking down at the silver heart.
“I mean, it’s a really nice necklace. Beautiful. But who
gave it to you, Tally?”
Tally found she couldn’t bring herself to lie. “Someone.
Just someone.”
Shay rolled her eyes. “Last-minute fling, huh? I always
thought you were saving yourself for Peris.”
“It’s not like that. It’s . . .”
Why not tell her? Tally asked herself. She’d figure it out
when the Specials came roaring in, anyway. If she knew,
Shay could at least prepare herself before this fantasy world
came tumbling down. “I have to tell you something.”
“Sure.”
“My coming here is kind of . . . the thing is, when I
went to get my—”
“What are you doing?”
Tally jumped at the craggy voice. It was like an old,