1269_UgliesFreeBook

UGLIES 247
She shrugged. “It wasn’t that bad a trip, really.”
“It’s not the traveling that takes courage, Tally. I’ve
done much longer trips on my own. It’s leaving home.” He
traced a line on her sore hand with a finger. “I can’t imagine
having to walk away from the Smoke, away from
everything I’ve ever known, realizing I’d probably never
come back.”
Tally swallowed. It hadn’t been easy. Of course, she
hadn’t really had a choice.
“But you left your city, the only place you’d ever lived,
all alone,” David continued. “You hadn’t even met a Smokey,
someone to convince you firsthand that it was a real place.
You did it all on trust, because your friend asked you. I guess
that’s why I feel I can trust you.”
Tally looked out at the weeds, feeling worse with every
word David said. If he only knew the real reason she was
there.
“When Shay first told me you were coming, I was really
angry at her.”
“Because I might have given the Smoke away?”
“Partly. And partly because it’s really dangerous for a
city-bred sixteen-year-old to cross hundreds of miles alone.
But mostly I thought it was a wasted risk, because you
probably wouldn’t even make it out of your dorm window.”
He looked up at her, squeezing her hand softly. “I was
amazed when I saw you running down that hill.”
Tally smiled. “I was a pretty sorry sight that day.”