Out the window, the sun was just beginning to turn the towers of New Pretty Town pink.
Cat-vomit pink. She looked at Peris, exhausted and confused. 'How long have you been here?'
He shifted uncomfortably in her window chair. 'Long enough.'
'Sorry. I didn't know you were coming.'
He raised his eyebrows in beautiful anguish. 'Of course I came. The moment I figured out where you were, I came.'
Tally turned away, unlacing her grippy shoes as she collected herself. She'd felt so abandoned since her birthday, it had never occurred to her that Peris would want to see her, especially not here in Uglyville.
But here he was, worried, anxious, lovely.
'It's good to see you,' she said, feeling tears come into her eyes. They were red and puffy most of the time these days.
He beamed up at her. 'You too.'
The thought of what she must look like was too much. Tally collapsed onto the bed, covering her face with her hands and sobbing. Peris sat next to her and held her for a while as she cried, then wiped her nose and sat her up. 'Look at you, Tally Youngblood.'
She shook her head. 'Please don't.'
'You're an absolute mess.'
Peris found a brush and ran it through her hair. She couldn't meet his eyes, and stared at the floor.
'So, do you always go hoverboarding in a blender?'
She shook her head, lightly touching the scratches on her face. 'Just tree branches. At high speed.'
'Oh, so getting yourself killed is your next brilliant trick. I guess that would just about top your current one.'
'My current what?'
Peris rolled his eyes. 'This whole trick where you haven't turned pretty yet. Very mysterious.'
'Yeah. Some trick.'
'When did you get modest, Squint? All my friends are fascinated.'
She turned her puffy eyes to her friend, trying to figure out if he was kidding.
'I mean, I already told everyone about you after that fire alarm thing, but they're really dying to meet you now,' he continued. 'There's even a rumor that Special Circumstances is involved.'
Tally blinked. Peris was serious.
'Well, that's true,' she said. 'They're the reason I'm still ugly.'
Peris's big eyes widened even more. 'Really? That is so bubbly!'
She sat up and frowned. 'Did everyone know about them but me?'
'Well, I had no idea what anyone was talking about. Apparently, Specials are like gremlins; you blame them when anything weird happens. Some people think they're totally bogus, and no one I know has actually seen a Special.'
Tally sighed. 'Just my luck, I guess.'
'So they're real?' Peris lowered his voice to a whisper. 'Do they really look different?
You know, not pretty.'
'It's not that they're not pretty, Peris. But they're really…' Tally looked at him, gorgeous and hanging on every word. It felt so perfect to be sitting next to him, talking and touching, as if they'd never been apart. She smiled. 'They're just not as pretty as you.'
He laughed. 'You'll have to tell me all about it. But don't you dare tell anyone else. Not yet. Everyone's going to be so intrigued. We can throw a big party when you get yourself prettied up.'
She tried to smile. 'Peris…'
'I know, you're probably not supposed to talk about it. But once you're across the river, just drop a few hints about Special-you-know-what and you'll get invited to all the parties!
Just make sure you take me with you.' He leaned closer. 'There's even a rumor that all the bubbly jobs go to people who had tricky records as kids. But that's years from now.
The main thing is to get you pretty already.'
'But, Peris,' she said, her stomach starting to hurt. 'I don't think I'll…' 'You'll love it, Tally. Being pretty's the best thing ever. And I'll enjoy it about a million times more once you're there with me.'
'I can't.'
He frowned. 'Can't what?'
Tally looked up at Peris, clutching his hand. 'You see, they want me to tattle on a friend of mine. Someone I got to know really well. After you left.'
'Tattle? Don't tell me this is all about some ugly-trick.'
'Sort of.'
'So, tattle away. How big a deal can it be?'
Tally turned away. 'It's important, Peris. It's more than a trick. I made my friend a promise that I'd keep a secret for her.'
His eyes narrowed, and for a moment he looked like the old Peris: serious, thoughtful, even a little bit unhappy. 'Tally, you made me a promise too.'
She swallowed and stared back at him. His eyes shone with tears.
'You promised you wouldn't do anything stupid, Tally. That you'd be with me soon. That we'd be pretty together.'
She touched the scar on her palm, still there, even though Peris's had been rubbed away.
He reached over and held her hand. 'Best friends forever, Tally.'
She knew that if she looked into his eyes again, it would be all over. One glance, and her resistance would evaporate. 'Best friends forever?' she said.
'Forever.'
She took a deep breath and let herself stare into his eyes. He looked so sad, so vulnerable and wounded. So perfect. Tally imagined herself by his side, just as beautiful, spending every day doing nothing but talking and laughing and having fun.
'You'll keep your promise, Tally?'
A shudder of exhaustion and relief went through her. She had it now, an excuse to break her vow. She'd made that promise to Peris, just as real, before she'd ever met Shay. She had known him for years, and Shay for only a few months.
And Peris was right here, not out in some strange wilderness, and was looking at her with those eyes…
'Of course.'
'Really?' He smiled, and it was as bright as the daybreak outside.
'Yeah.' The words came out so easily. 'I'll be there as soon as I can. I promise.'
He sighed and hugged her tight, rocking her softly. Tears rose up in her again.
Peris finally released her, and looked out at the sunny day.
'I should go.' He waved at the door. 'You know, before the…thingies…all wake up.'
'Of course.'
'It's almost past my bedtime, and you've got a big day ahead of you.'
Tally nodded. She'd never felt so exhausted. Her muscles ached, and her face and hands had started stinging again. But she was overwhelmed with relief. This nightmare had begun three months ago, when Peris went across the river. And soon it would end.
'Okay, Peris. I'll see you soon. As soon as possible.'
He hugged her again, kissed her salty, scratched cheeks, and whispered, 'Maybe in just a couple of days. I'm so excited!'
He said good-bye and left, checking both ways down the corridor before departing. Tally looked out the window for another glance at Peris, and realized that a hovercar was waiting for him below. Pretties really did get whatever they wanted.
Tally wanted nothing more than to fall asleep, but acting on her decision couldn't wait.
She knew that with Peris gone, the doubts would come back again and haunt her. She couldn't stand another
