1269_UgliesFreeBook

UGLIES 205
“It was pretty easy, really. Once I got the hang of Shay’s
directions.”
“Not that easy. Took you what, ten days?” David asked.
“You left the night before our birthday, right?” Shay said.
“Stroke of midnight,” Tally said. “Nine days . . . and
a half.”
Croy frowned. “It took a while for the rangers to find
you, didn’t it?”
“I guess so. And they almost roasted me when they did.
They were doing a huge burn that got out of control.”
“Really? Whoa.” Shay’s friends looked impressed.
“My board almost burned. I had to save it and jump in
the river.”
“Is that what happened to your face?” Ryde asked.
Tally touched the peeling skin on her nose. “Well, that’s
kind of . . .” Sunburn, she almost said. But the others’ faces
were rapt. She’d been alone so long, Tally found herself
enjoying being the center of attention.
“The flames were all around me,” she said. “My shoes
melted crossing this big patch of burning flowers.”
Shay whistled. “Incredible.”
“That’s weird. The rangers usually keep an eye out for
us,” David said.
“Well, I guess they missed me.” Tally decided not to go
into the fact that she’d intentionally hidden her hoverboard.
“Anyway, I was in the river, and I’d never even seen
a helicopter—except for the day before—and this thing