1269_UgliesFreeBook

396 Scott Westerfeld
When they reached a calmer part of the river, Shay
spoke up again. “So, Tally?”
“Yeah?”
“Why do you want me to hate you?”
“I don’t want you to hate me, Shay.” Tally sighed. “Or
maybe I do. I betrayed you, and I feel horrible about it.”
“The Smoke wasn’t going to last forever, Tally. Whether
you turned us in or not.”
“I didn’t turn you in!” Tally cried. “Not on purpose,
anyway. And the whole thing with David was just an accident.
I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Of course not. You’re just confused.”
“I’m confused?” Tally groaned. “You’re the one who . . .”
She trailed off. How could Shay not understand that she’d
been changed by the operation? Not just been given a
pretty face, but also a . . . pretty mind. Nothing else could
explain how quickly she’d changed, abandoning the rest of
them for parties and hot showers, leaving her friends
behind, just as Peris had so many months ago.
“Do you love him?” Shay asked.
“David? I, uh . . . maybe.”
“That’s sweet.”
“It’s not sweet. It’s real!”
“Then why are you ashamed of it?”
“I’m not . . . ,” Tally sputtered. She lost concentration
for a moment, and the back of the board dipped low, sending
a sheet of water up behind them. Shay whooped and