A/N This story is set before uglies. The technology is less advanced and uglies aren't really ugly, they are just like you and me. This story is about the operation and how they managed to change society so that normal people are 'ugly' and the operation changes them to 'pretties'. This is a story about one girls resistance towards the operation, and how she realised what Tally learns in Uglies all by herself, and how she resists against the whole thing. It's also a story about change, and unrequiented love and how things change even when you don't want them to. Enjoy chapter 1, 2 will be up soon!

"He's been gone two whole days! Not even one ping Joy! Not one! I'm so worried. The last I heard from him, he was going to the dentist to get a filling, then I don't hear from him for two days. Seriously it s not like him. Urg...this is so bogus!" worry fills me from the top of my frizzy matted ginger hair to my huge size nine feet. Jason never leaves this long without telling me where he's going.

"Lily, please chill. He ll be fine, no worries! He's 18. I know your completely in love with the guy, but maybe he needed some time to think. You guys are together all the time, literally all the time. Maybe he just needed some space," Joys eyes twinkle. She has these piercing emerald eyes which are so assertive; they make you want to believe whatever she says. She ruffles are fingers through her short, dark hair.

"I know, you re right. Maybe that's what's up with him. I'll just leave it. I guess I shouldn't be that bothered. He is entitled to his own life. I owe him that much!" our laughs are carried away by the wind.

I glance at the view. The whole of the city is laid out before me. It looks so fragile and innocent. Construction on the other side of the river is taking place. Four big sky scrapers mask the sky like giant unwanted intruders. The council won t tell us what it s all about; we all assume its more office buildings or something. Nothing exciting.

I place my feet on the hover board and I wait until It has adjusted to my centre of gravity. Gently we descend from the low rooftop. We slalom through some large pine trees, about the only ones left in the park. The others were moved to make way for the metal grid which kept the hover boards levitating.

Ping. Ping. Ping.

"Someone's pinging me! Crap, JOY! I m landing for a second," she is away off into the shrubbery ahead.

"Hello?" I quickly answer the ping.

"It's nice to hear your voice," a voice exclaim's on the other end of the small device attached to my jacket. The voice is crackly, but I vaguely recognise it.

"Jason? Is that you? I ve been really worried? Where are you? What s going on?" quickly I blurt out loads of the questions which have been going around in my head in the past few days.

"Listen I can't stay long ok. Everything is great, more than great! Go to the town square tomorrow at noon, ok? I'll see you then. I've missed you so much babe," his deep rugged voice sends shivers down my spine. Then something clicks. Babe? Since when does Jason call me babe? Urg.

"Ok? Details would be nice...," the line goes dead.

A breathless Joy lands beside me.

"What was that all about?" she exclaims.

"It was Jason, he was ecstatic about something. I m not sure... ," I stand here dumbfounded. The whole conversation happened a bit suddendly.

What just happened? I'm really sure it's something I'm not going to like either. Sudden phone calls? Babe? Disappearing acts? I know I sound like a nagging mom, but seriously Jason doesn't do things like that ever.

I m pretty sure there's something fishy going on.

I guess I'll wait till tomorrow at noon to find out.

A/N The construction over the bridge is new pretty town being built.