PROLOGUE

Beatrice Prior stared into the mirror, gazing at her plain features. She had brown, thick hair, eyes too far apart and an overly long nose that was out of proportion with the rest of her face. She let out a groan. She turned away from the mirror and looked out the window at the passers by, feeling like the Titanic. Her mood was sinking and she had no hope left to survive the days that follow.

Beatrice lived in Pretty Town. Her mother and father were both ranked as "pretty". It was often said that her father, Andrew, and her mother, Natalie should have been put in "absolutely gorgeous" but they never seemed to care.

Beatrice's parents were the forgiving sort. Whenever she didn't get an A on her assignment or broke a vase they never minded. Beatrice loved her parents and hated the thought of being forced to move into Ugly Town. It will mean that she will hardly see them again.

Beatrice's brother was certain to be ranked as "absolutely gorgeous" or at least "pretty". He had blond hair and blue eyes. He was tall and masculine and had a perfect smile. At school he was always the centre of attention. Caleb was kind and funny. He never minded that Beatrice wasn't pretty and that was one of the reasons she loved Caleb.

Beatrice looked at her poster above her bed in disgust. It listed the rankings of beauty in order. Absolutely gorgeous was at the top, then pretty, attractive and plain. At the bottom was ugly and hideous. She yanked the poster down in despair. Why couldn't she be pretty like her mother and father? Why did Caleb get their looks? It is not fair!

Beatrice walked over to the mirror again and studied her appearance. Tears flooded her face. She snatched a high heeled shoe she had been given for Christmas and flung it at her reflection. She felt like she had come across a fork in the road, unsure what to do next. But one thing was for sure Beatrice Prior couldn't live like this!

CHAPTER1

It was the morning of ranking day and Beatrice Prior refused to leave the warmth and comfort of her bed. This was the day that everyone would know that Natalie and Andrew Prior's daughter was officially ugly.

She caught the bus into town with Caleb. He looked anxious. Beatrice was crabby at that. Why was he nervous? Everyone already knew where he would be put.

The hub was in the centre of Absolutely Gorgeous Town. Every year the sixteen year olds would gather at the hub to be sorted into their groups. The people from Absolutely Gorgeous Town would come and observe the ceremony but no one from Hideous Town or Ugly Town would turn up because all the absolutely gorgeous snobs would snigger at them.

It only took five minutes to get to the hub because The Pretty Town people were the last to be picked up. When they arrived, Beatrice was the last off the bus.

At the ceremony, Beatrice sat next to Caleb and her friends Susan and Robert. They were talking silently amongst themselves and casting glances at everyone else.

Susan was tall and had wavy blonde hair, pulled into plaits. She wore glasses but didn't like to wear them.

Robert was also tall. He had brown hair and green eyes but they had the same perfectly rounded nose and long eye lashes.

The ceremony began at exactly nine. First to be sorted was Sage Niker from Plain Town, she was ranked as attractive. A loud whoop came from the crowd as Sage found her seat in the Attractive stands. As every person was ranked the cheers got quieter and quieter.

"Caleb Prior"

Caleb steadily rose from his place and walked down to the front.

" This young lad is….. Absolutely Gorgeous" Jean Whipersnash exclaimed, addressing the crowd.

Jean was head of "absolutely gorgeous" and always held the sorting ceremony. Jean was very tall and had blonde hair up to her shoulders. She had red lips and big, blue eyes. When she nineteen she had been chosen to host the ceremonies and to sort the sixteen year olds into their beauty groups. She was always on the front of magazines and modeling clothes on the TV.

Beatrice clapped loudly for Caleb but inside felt disappointment. How was she going to top that? She would have to live with being the let down child.

"Beatrice Prior" Jean announced "Please head down to the front".

Tobias sat at the top of the attractive stands chewing on his finger nails. Boredom seeped through him but his girlfriend had forced him to attend. Every time Tobias let out a yawn he would be slapped by his girlfriend, Lillian Pulvit.

Lillian was supposedly beautiful and had brown long hair and big blue eyes. Lillian and Four had been together since they were children but had started to grow apart. Lillian believed they would be together for ever and ever but Tobias didn't like Lillian that much anymore.

Tobias snapped to attention when Beatrice Prior was called. He had seen Beatrice around regularly and thought she was nice and funny.

"Beatrice Prior please head to the front" Jean Whipersnash announced in an amusing tone.

Tobias had hated Jean ever since she bullied him at school. Jean was always super popular and picked on ugly or even attractive kids. She was always voted for S.R.C and prefect. She had heaps of friend and everything she desired. Everyone always wanted to hang out with her.

Beatrice rose to her feet and walked down the stairs with her head down. She stood on the stage with her knees locked tightly together. Beatrice wore a simple, light blue dress that showed off her broad shoulders and slim waist. Her hair was in a subtle plait going over her right shoulder and her delicate feet were slipped into white flats.

"Ooh…..Interesting, another Prior." Jean grabbed Beatrice's face and swung it towards her. "Tricky…. Long nose, big ears but I see a lot of potential. Where should I put you?"

By this time Tobias was on his feet with his hand on his hips.

"How dare you treat her like that" Tobias yelled stomping down the stairs and onto the stage. "If you are asking me I think she is very attractive".

Jean glared at him with pursed lips.

"Mr. Eaton. I was not asking your opinion; go back to your seat now" Jean growled. "I do not appreciate your interjection."

Tobias Eaton trudged up the stairs with anger. How she dare grab her face, he thought. How dare she say she has a big nose?

When Tobias got back to his stand he decided to sit away from Lillian because she would just slap him and say he behaved disgracefully. By the time Tobias had found a seat, Jean had moved on to the next person but he couldn't see Beatrice. He looked for a while but could not find her.