---- Thank you for being so supportive and reviewing. I'm glad you like this story!
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SparkelMeMicah: When you first sent the review I was totally confused about who Zane even was. Now I know, but I still don't know if Tally chooses him or David…
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That's my super-long shout-out and author's note. To those who haven't reviewed (I've checked my story traffic page, I know there's quite a few) thank you thank you thank you for even giving my fanfic a chance! ----
They had chosen to leave the next night. Guy and Zaccai would be sixteen soon, and also, Mindelle really couldn't buy herself any more time. Both Jenay and Bale had come around for visits, and Mindelle couldn't think of any more lies to put them off.
"Honestly Mindelle you are so logic-missing. Why are you still in Uglyville? Where's the fun-making in that?" Jenay had squawked, although Mindelle suspected her sister – who, even as a pretty still wasn't as pretty as Mindelle – was secretly glad Mindelle was taking her sweet time in crossing the river.
Bale, on the other hand, had been much more persistent.
"With you we'd get in to all the bubbly parties," Bale had drawled. Even as an ugly, Bale had always been about partying. She'd gotten drunk many times and even lost her virginity as an ugly, although everyone said it was better to wait until you were pretty.
"Why?" Mindelle had inquired, "I'd look just like everyone else."
"But you wouldn't have to be operated on. Being cut open is so bogus. Your skin, like, totally stings. It's completely enjoyment-missing." Bale had reasoned.
Another thing Mindelle had always been worried about: The pretty lingo. Did you pick it up? Or was something done to your speech during the surgery, too? In which case, Mindelle was utterly doomed.
So, Mindelle and her new ugly friends had decided. And now it was time to go. Mindelle had been told to pack a bag with another change of clothes, some toothbrush pills, and a hairbrush. The uglies would take care of getting the food and water filters.
Guy had even suggested not to bother with a hoverboard, because it'd be better if she just rode with someone else. He was probably right, but Mindelle was going to bring it all the same. After all, she had to get to the Rusty Ruins somehow, and she sure as hell wasn't walking.
Mindelle had on her jacket, grippy shoes, and now hitched her knapsack over her shoulder. She looked over at New Pretty Town. The uglies had warned that, if they were caught, nothing good would happen. But what could be so bad? Despite her friend's words, she still didn't believe in Specials, and even if they did exist, what could they do to her? She was a pretty! No, better – she was a natural.
***
"They're not coming." Guy spat at the ground. Mindelle frowned, her thoughts on New Pretty Town.
"Yes, they are." Tayen insisted. Both Albany and Mindelle nodded furiously. Zaccai and Geo had to show up. Why wouldn't they?
"Face it. It's our lives or theirs. Obviously, Mindelle's influence has gotten to them." Guy snarled. Mindelle frowned.
"Influence? What am I, some Rusty drug?" She snapped, remembering her teacher's stories about how during Rusty times they'd get high off drugs, a bit like alcohol, except it could be deadly.
"You could stand being ugly when there was nothing but uglies around. Some pretty comes along and that changes things." Guy muttered.
Mindelle thought about how stupid new pretties tended to act. She didn't like being thought of as one of them.
"I am not a pretty. I'm a natural. I'm not one of them!" she protested.
Albany and Tayen shared a look. "Mindelle, you so should have been born ugly. Us and them. Isn't that the truth?" Albany sighed.
"Us and them and her," Guy hissed, but no one was listening anymore.
"Why don't we go to the dorm. See if they're there." Tayen suggested. But Guy shot the idea down. "We need the night, we can't waste more time. And anyway, it's not like we need anything from them. Albany has the supplies for Mindelle, and the rest of us have our own stuff." He argued.
Twenty minutes later and they all had to agree. There would be no waiting around for Zaccai and Geo. Mindelle felt her short-lived crush on Zaccai die out. But then she looked around her. She was in Rusty Ruins. In a few days, she'd be in The Smoke.
At that moment, Mindelle was the furthest thing from disappointed.