1269_UgliesFreeBook

30 Scott Westerfeld
face. But because we’re friends, I thought maybe . . .”
“Yeah. So how’d it go?”
Tally thought for a second, looking out at the rippling
water. Peris had been so pretty, and grown-up looking,
and he’d said they’d be friends again. Once Tally was
pretty too . . . “Basically, it sucked,” she said.
“Thought so.”
“Except getting away. That part was very cool.”
“Sounds like it.” Tally heard the smile in Shay’s voice.
“Very tricky.”
They were silent for a moment as a hovercar went
over.
“But you know, we haven’t totally gotten away yet,”
Shay said. “Next time you’re going to pull a fire alarm, let
me know ahead of time.”
“Sorry about getting you trapped here.”
Shay looked at her and frowned. “Not that. I just meant
if I’m going to have to do the running-away part, I might as
well get in on the fun.”
Tally laughed softly. “Okay. Next time, I’ll let you know.”
“Please do.” Shay scanned the river. “Looks a little
clearer now. Where’s your board?”
“My what?”
Shay pulled a hoverboard from under a bush. “You’ve
got a board, right? What’d you do, swim over?”
“No, I . . . hey, wait. How’d you get a hoverboard to