Uglies Read Free Page A

know if we were still . . .”
    Tally held out her right hand, the scarred palm facing up, sweaty dirt tracing the lines on it.
    Peris sighed. He wasn’t looking at her hand, or into her eyes. Not into her squinty, narrow-set, indifferently brown eyes. Nobody eyes. “Yeah,” he said. “But, I mean—couldn’t you have waited, Squint?”
    Her ugly nickname sounded strange coming from a pretty. Of course, it would be even weirder to call him Nose, as she used to about a hundred times a day. She swallowed. “Why didn’t you write me?”
    â€œI tried. But it just felt bogus. I’m so different now.”
    â€œBut we’re . . .” She pointed at her scar.
    â€œTake a look, Tally.” He held out his own hand.
    The skin of his palm was smooth and unblemished. It was a hand that said: I don’t have to work very hard, and I’m too clever to have accidents.
    The scar that they had made together was gone.
    â€œThey took it away.”
    â€œOf course they did, Squint. All my skin’s new.”
    Tally blinked. She hadn’t thought of that.
    He shook his head. “You’re such a kid still.”
    â€œElevator requested,” said the elevator. “Up or down?”
    Tally jumped at the machine voice.
    â€œHold, please,” Peris said calmly.
    Tally swallowed and closed her hand into a fist. “But they didn’t change your blood. We shared that, no matter what.”
    Peris finally looked directly at her face, not flinching as she had feared he would. He smiled beautifully. “No, they didn’t. New skin, big deal. And in three months we can laugh about this. Unless . . .”
    â€œUnless what?” She looked up into his big brown eyes, so full of concern.
    â€œJust promise me that you won’t do any more stupid tricks,” Peris said. “Like coming here. Something that’ll get you into trouble. I want to see you pretty.”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œSo promise me.”
    Peris was only three months older than Tally, but, dropping her eyes to the floor, she felt like a littlie again. “All right, I promise. Nothing stupid. And they won’t catch me tonight, either.”
    â€œOkay, get your mask and . . .” His voice trailed off.
    She turned her gaze to where it had fallen. Discarded, theplastic mask had recycled itself, turning into pink dust, which the carpet in the elevator was already filtering away.
    The two stared at each other in silence.
    â€œElevator requested,” the machine insisted. “Up or down?”
    â€œPeris, I promise they won’t catch me. No pretty can run as fast as me. Just take me down to the—”
    Peris shook his head. “Up, please. Roof.”
    The elevator moved.
    â€œUp? Peris, how am I going to—”
    â€œStraight out the door, in a big rack—bungee jackets. There’s a whole bunch in case of a fire.”
    â€œYou mean jump?” Tally swallowed. Her stomach did a back-flip as the elevator came to a halt.
    Peris shrugged. “I do it all the time, Squint.” He winked. “You’ll love it.”
    His expression made his pretty face glow even more, and Tally leaped forward to wrap her arms around him. He still felt the same, at least, maybe a bit taller and thinner. But he was warm and solid, and still Peris.
    â€œTally!”
    She stumbled back as the doors opened. She’d left mud all over his white vest. “Oh, no! I’m—”
    â€œJust go!”
    His distress just made Tally want to hug him again. She wanted to stay and clean Peris up, make sure he looked perfect for the party. She reached out a hand. “I—”
    â€œGo!”
    â€œBut we’re best friends, right?”
    He sighed, dabbing at a brown stain. “Sure, forever. In three months.”
    She turned and ran, the doors closing behind her.
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