Tally sped around a flag and approached the turn she could never make. She shifted her weight into the turn her board kept tipping up and she felt her crash bracelets kick in a little keeping her on board. She shifted her feet too far forward and fell through the air. Her crash bracelets kicked in and twirled her around by her wrists. They put her on the ground gently and Tally started rubbing her wrists in the spots where the bracelets had dug in.

"Shay I don't think I'll ever get this let's just give in for the day."

"Oh c'mon Tally just one more time then if you still don't get the turn then we can call it a day."

"Fine" Tally said picking up her board and getting on. She went to the top of the slalom course and started down. She made the first few turns with ease and then approached the turn that always dumped her. Tally started slow and then started to come around the turn. She made extra effort to keep her feet in the right places and her board tipped and her bracelets kept her on board. She came around the turn then fell off.

Her bracelets caught her and she was put on the ground.

"Shay I did it" Tally yelled.

"Good job" Shay said coming beside Tally.

"So how long do you have before you turn?" Tally asked.

"Two months and twenty-six days" Shay answered in monotone.

"Seriously me too" Tally exclaimed.

"Wow we have the same birthday" Shay said. She got back on her board and started to drift over the treetops. Tally caught up to her.

"Tally I think you're ready to visit the ruins."

"I've been to the ruins before."

"Not on a class trip at night, tonight."

"I don't know Shay. I mean Peris said not to do anything crazy that could make me get in so much trouble that I don't turn."

"Oh c'mon Tally have you ever heard of that happening?"

"Well, no"

"C'mon just come with me to the ruins tonight"

"Well okay" Tally agreed.

That night Tally grabbed her board and snuck out her bedroom window. Her board was on of Shay's old boards that Shay had given her. Tally met Shay down by the river as they had planned. Earlier Shay had taught Tally how to trick the safety governs so they wouldn't tattle. Shay handed Tally a pair of goggles.

"What are these for?" She asked.

"You'll see."

They mounted their boards and took off down the river. They soon hit the white water where the goggles were necessary. Shay and Tally laughed and screamed as they were sprayed in the face and when they would reach small drops. Soon they were at the end of the river.

"That was the best. Okay where do we go from here?" Tally asked.

"From here to the ruins there is no natural vein of iron so we have to carry our boards."

"How did we ride the river then?" Tally asked as they began to walk.

"There are minerals from the mountain. Like when the Rusties used to pan for gold."

"Oh" Unable to use the metal from the river to lift itself the boards kept getting heavier and heavier as they moved further away from the river. When they reached the ruins Shay said that they could get back on their boards. They weaved in and out of the burnt down buildings and they finally reached a big structure made of wood and metal.

"This is a roller coaster. The Rusties used to ride in little cars and go on this track. It's like a solid hoverboard track."

"Neat" Tally never thought of the Rusties having fun. Only of that last fateful day where the Rusty civilization went up in smoke.

"C'mon Tally. Let's go"

"Um Okay" They both went to the start of the coaster and started up the big hill. Then when they got to the top Shay yelled back "Take the rest fast." They went down turns and loops and finally went up a small hill, and went down the hill Tally heard Shay scream and waited then went down at top speed. She felt the board drop out from under her. She was in freefall. Her crash bracelets fell limp on her wrists and she was in freefall. After a slow count of five she felt her board slide under her and she was going along the track again. She sailed the last bit of the track at stumbled off her board which followed her like a little puppy.

"SHAY why didn't you tell me there was a freefall drop?" Tally exclaimed.

"I don't know. More fun that way."

"Well it wasn't fun."

"Sorry, do you forgive me?"

"I'll let you know"

"Alright. Oh there's something else I wanted to show you?"

"Does it involve free fall?"

"No" Shay led Tally to the tallest building in the ruins. Then she went closer to the wall and started to rise slowly.

"Shay what are you doing?" Tally called up.

"Just follow me" Tally started up the wall how Shay did it. When they both got to the top Shay pulled a safety spark out of her backpack and lit it. She held it in the air like she was signaling something, or someone. When the sparkler went out Shay just stood there looking around. Then another flare went off about five buildings away.

"Okay Tally let's go" Shay said then began to descend.

"Shay, where are we going?" Tally asked as she began to descend.

"To meet David" Shay said simply. Once they got to the bottom they started out for the building where the flare had come from.

When they got there a figure stood in the corner. He came up to them carrying a board and a backpack on his back. He was about 18 and was an ugly.

"Hello I'm David" He said.

"I'm Tally. Not to be rude but what city do you come from?"

David turned to Shay "Shay didn't you tell her anything"

"Well –"

"Tally I don't live in a city per say"

"Where do you live? Out here?" Tally asked confused.

"Well in a city far away where no one becomes pretty"

"I don't believe you"

"Tally it's true" Shay said speaking up.

"So what are you doing out here?" Tally asked.

"Bringing Uglies who don't want to become pretty into my city"

"So you take them form their homes?"

"No, no one has to come. It's just for people who want to escape the city." David replied.

"Oh" Tally looked at the ground.

"Okay well I will be back here in a couple of months so come and visit." David said

"Okay bye" Shay said

"Bye" Tally said looking up.

"Bye" Said David riding off. Tally and Shay rode off to the edge of the ruins.

"Isn't he awesome?" Shay asked Tally as they picked up their boards and started walking.

"Yeah but I still can't quite get the not turning pretty thing."

"Well he comes from a city called the Smoke and believe it or not there are quite a few Uglies who don't want to turn."

"But why wouldn't you?" Tally asked.

"Well because when you're pretty you're boring."

"What are you talking about? Parties every night, extravagant beds and tubs, delicious food and lots of friends. What more could you ask for?"

"Maybe I don't find that stuff fun. Maybe my definition of fun is pulling tricks and coming out here and riding the coaster."

"We can still do that stuff as Pretties." They had stopped walking now and were facing each other.

"Yeah but Pretties never do. Even the trickiest Uglies never pull tricks once they turn."

"How do you know?" Tally asked.

"You're not the only one who has visited Pretties. I've seen them. No one pulls tricks there!"

"Well maybe they don't need to. Maybe they have just grown up and have no need to pull tricks!" Tally yelled.

"Yeah maybe." Shay said then turned and got on her board and hovered onto the river. "Race you" Shay took off and Tally followed, laughing.