1269_UgliesFreeBook

UGLIES 279
lock of her singed hair. “You’re still taking risks.”
“I guess so.” Standing here in the darkness with David
felt like a risk, like everything was about to change again.
He still had the look in his eye, the pretty look.
Maybe he really could see past her ugly face. Maybe
what was inside her did matter to him more than anything
else.
Tally stepped onto a fist-size stone on the path and
found an uneasy balance on it. They were eye to eye now.
She swallowed. “You really think I’m beautiful.”
“Yes. What you do, the way you think, makes you
beautiful.”
A strange thought crossed her mind, and Tally said, “I’d
hate it if you got the operation.” She couldn’t believe she
was saying it. “Even if they didn’t do your brain, I mean.”
“Gee, thanks.” His smile shone in the darkness.
“I don’t want you to look like everyone else.”
“I thought that was the point of being pretty.”
“I did too.” She touched his eyebrow where the line of
white cut through it. “So how’d you get that scar?”
“An adventure. A good story. I’ll tell you sometime.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
“Good.” She leaned forward, her weight pressing into
him, and as her feet gradually slipped down the stone,
their lips met. His arms wrapped around her and pulled
her closer. His body was warm in the predawn cold, and