1269_UgliesFreeBook

UGLIES 91
“All of a sudden I wasn’t alone anymore. I wasn’t afraid
to go back out to the ruins, to look for David again.”
“But we never . . .” Tally blinked. “You finally found
him, didn’t you?”
“Not until two days ago. I’ve been out every night since
we . . . since our fight. After you said I was afraid to grow
up, I realized you were right. I’d chickened out once, but I
didn’t have to again.”
Shay grasped Tally’s hand, and waited until their eyes
were locked. “I want you to come, Tally.”
“No,” Tally said without thinking. Then she shook her
head. “Wait. How come you never told me any of this before?”
“I wanted to, except you would have thought I was crazy.”
“You are crazy!”
“Maybe. But not that way. That’s why I wanted you to
meet David. So you’d know that it’s all real.”
“It doesn’t seem real. I mean, what is this place you’re
talking about?”
“It’s just called the Smoke. It’s not a city, and nobody’s
in charge. And nobody’s pretty.”
“Sounds like a nightmare. And how do you get there,
walk?”
Shay laughed. “Are you kidding? Hoverboards, like
always. There are long-distance boards that recharge on
solar, and the route’s all worked out to follow rivers and
stuff. David does it all the time, as far as the ruins. He’ll take
us to the Smoke.”