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UGLIES 55
when you met me, I kind of promised my friend Peris I
wouldn’t take any big risks. You know, in case I really got
in trouble, and they got really mad.”
“Who cares if they get mad? You’re almost sixteen.”
“But what if they get mad enough that they won’t make
me pretty?”
Shay stopped bouncing. “I’ve never heard of that happening.”
“I guess I haven’t either. But maybe they wouldn’t tell us
if it had. Anyway, Peris made me promise to take it easy.”
“Tally, do you think maybe he just said that so you
wouldn’t come around again?”
“Huh?”
“Maybe he made you promise to take it easy so you
wouldn’t bother him anymore. To make you afraid to go to
New Pretty Town again.”
Tally tried to answer, but her throat was dry.
“Listen, if you don’t want to come, that’s fine,” Shay
said. “I mean it, Squint. But we’re not going to get caught.
And if we do, I’ll take the blame.” She laughed. “I’ll tell
them I kidnapped you.”
Tally stepped onto her board and snapped her fingers.
When she reached Shay’s eye level she said, “I’m coming. I
said I would.”
Shay smiled and took Tally’s hand for a second, squeezing.
“Great. It’s going to be fun. Not new pretty fun—the
real kind. Put these on.”