Uglies Read Online Free PDF

Tally as her course straightened out again.
    She’d made the turn!
    Tally spun to face Shay. “I did it!” she cried.
    And fell.
    Confused by her spin, the board had tried to execute a turn, and dumped her. Tally relaxed as her arms jerked straight and the world spun around her. She was laughing as she descended to the grass, dangling by her bracelets.
    Shay was also laughing. “ Almost did it.”
    â€œNo! I got around the flags. You saw!”
    â€œOkay, okay. You made it.” Shay laughed, stepping off onto the grass. “But don’t dance around like that afterward. It’s not cool, Squint.”
    Tally stuck out her tongue. In the last week, Tally had learned that Shay only used her ugly nickname as a put-down. Shay insisted they call each other by their real names most of the time, which Tally had quickly gotten used to. She liked it, actually. Nobody but Sol and Ellie—her parents—and a few stuck-up teachers had ever called her “Tally” before.
    â€œWhatever you say, Skinny. That was great.”
    Tally collapsed on the grass. Her whole body ached, every muscle exhausted. “Thanks for the lesson. Flying’s the best.”
    Shay sat down close by. “Never bored on a hoverboard.”
    â€œThis is the best I’ve felt since . . .” Tally didn’t say his name. She looked up into the sky, which was a glorious blue. A perfect sky. They hadn’t gotten started until late afternoon. Above, a few high clouds were already showing hints of pink, even though sunset was hours off.
    â€œYeah,” Shay agreed. “Me too. I was getting sick of hanging out alone.”
    â€œSo how long you got?”
    Shay answered instantly. “Two months and twenty-six days.”
    Tally was stunned for a moment. “Are you sure?”
    â€œâ€™Course I’m sure.”
    Tally felt a big, slow smile roll across her face, and she fell back onto the grass, laughing. “You’ve got to be kidding. We’ve got the same birthday!”
    â€œNo way.”
    â€œYeah, way. It’s perfect. We’ll both turn pretty together!”
    Shay was silent for a moment. “Yeah, I guess.”
    â€œSeptember ninth, right?”
    Shay nodded.
    â€œThat is so cool. I mean, I don’t think I could stand to lose another friend. You know? We don’t have to worry about one of us abandoning the other. Not for a single day.”
    Shay sat up straight, her smile gone. “I wouldn’t do that, anyway.”
    Tally blinked. “I didn’t say you would, but . . .”
    â€œBut what?”
    â€œBut when you turn, you go over to New Pretty Town.”
    â€œSo? Pretties are allowed to come back over here, you know. Or write.”
    Tally snorted. “But they don’t.”
    â€œI would.” Shay looked out over the river at the spires of the party towers, placing a thumbnail firmly between her teeth.
    â€œSo would I, Shay. I’d come see you.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œYeah. Really.”
    Shay shrugged, and lay back down to stare up at the clouds. “Okay. But you’re not the first person to make that promise, you know.”
    â€œYeah, I do know.”
    They were silent for a moment. Clouds rolled slowly across the sun, and the air grew cool. Tally thought of Peris, and tried to remember the way he used to look back when he was Nose. Somehow, she couldn’t recall his ugly face anymore. As if those few minutes of seeing him pretty had wiped out a lifetime of memories. All she could see now was pretty Peris, those eyes, that smile.
    â€œI wonder why they never come back,” Shay said. “Just to visit.”
    Tally swallowed. “Because we’re so ugly, Skinny, that’s why.”

FACING THE FUTURE
    â€œHere’s option two.” Tally touched her interface ring, and the wallscreen changed.
    This Tally was sleek, with ultrahigh cheekbones, deep green