This story is if Tally made different decisions in the Uglies book.
Tally left her interface ring on her side table and stuck a portable heater under the covers.
"Goodnight" Tally said to the room.
"Goodnight Tally" the room replied.
She climbed out of her bedroom window and hid behind the recycler. She remembered her and Peris doing this all the time back when Peris was still in Uglyville. She walked quietly to the river that separated Uglyville and New Pretty Town. She climbed down the rope her and Peris had set up a long time ago. Tally quickly walked along the rivers edge and crossed the bridge that she knew wouldn't tell.
She walked up a pleasure garden in the bushes and quickly grabbed a stray mask that some parade had left behind. She quickly ran up to Peris' mansion. Tally had got a ping from Peres and knew how to decipher the numbers and letters at the bottom to figure out where it came from. She walked into the mansion where everyone was in suits and ties. All the Pretties stood aside as she barged in. She started to hear teasing but that didn't concern her just now. She walked up a few flights of stairs because without her interface ring no elevator would come. Tally bumped into a Pretty as she was looking at the ground.
"oh excuse me" said the Pretty.
"I'm sorry" Tally replied looking up.
As Tally looked at the Pretty he started to become familiar looking.
"Peris?" Tally took off her mask to get a better look. "It is you."
She hugged him.
"Tally. You have to get out of here. You could get in serious trouble." Peris said. Tally and Peris had always snuck across the river to laugh at the empty shallow headed Pretties but had never snuck into a bash.
"Okay" Tally said as she turned around. She heard other Pretties coming up the stairs.
"I think the pig went this way." Tally knew they were talking about her because she had been wearing a pig mask. She went to pick up the mask but it had already recycled itself.
"Tally the roof" Peris grabbed Tally's arm and dragged her toward an elevator. He called one.
"Elevator requested" Tally and Peris stepped in.
"Roof" Peres told it. When the elevator opened at the roof a few Pretties nearest the elevator looked at them.
"Ew an Ugly." One said. They all started making comments like that. Peris rushed Tally passed them.
He turned around to face her. "Tally promise me you won't cross the river again or anything that could wind up with you in trouble with the wardens. I want to see you Pretty. Just get a bungee jacket and jump off the roof."
"Jump off the roof! I don't think I can do that" Tally exclaimed.
"Don't worry we do it all the time the jacket lifts you before you splat. Bye Tally" He then went and got in an elevator. Tally quickly went to the bungee jacket rack and tried to grab one, it wouldn't come loose. She found the emergency fire button and they all fell off the rack. Tall grabbed one and put it on. She checked for the green light like they taught you in school and jumped. What if I need an interface ring to make it work. Tally thought as she fell towards the ground. She looked down and saw a crowd of Pretties staring at her. She came about a yard from the ground then felt the strings tighten and yank her upward.
As she tumbled head over heels she tried to right herself. When she did she directed herself down toward Uglyville. She heard sirens start and hovercars come toward Garbo mansion. She soared down the hill and through the pleasure gardens when she finally stopped she pulled at cords until the bungee jacket loosened and fell to the ground. She ran to the river and saw a figure standing on the bridge. Tally Youngblood crouched behind a bush knowing it must be a warden. She kneeled there for a long time barely breathing. Finally, a twig cracked beneath her knee.
"I'm sorry" Tally said. Then she saw the figure walk up to her and peer at her through the bushes. Another Ugly. Tally got out from behind the bush.
"I'm Shay" she said. "Where's your board?"
"I don't have one"
"How did you get over here then, swim?" Shay asked.
"A bridge."
"Won't it tattle?"
"It's an old friend."
Well there you go the first chapter. I know nothing much changed but don't worry in the chapters to come Tally makes a decision that changes the whole coarse of the story.