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Part I

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Res in the world are the most useless

- John Ruskin, The Stones of Venice, I

CRIMINAL

Getting dressed was always the hardest part of the afternoon

The invitation to Valentino Mansion said semiforht without a party, "seh for boys, for who the tie with certain kinds of collars), or all white and shirtsleeves (but only on sucoats, waistcoats, tailcoats, kilts, or really nice sweaters For girls, though, the definition simply exploded, as definitions usually did here in New Pretty Town

Tally almost preferred formal white-tie or black-tie parties The clothes were less coot drunk, but at least you didn’t have to think so hard about getting dressed

"Se over the expanse of her open closet, the carousel stuttering back and forth as it tried to keep up with Tally’s randoers Yes, "seus word

"Is it even a word?" Tally asked aloud ’"See in her ht

"Only half of one," the rooures," Tally muttered

She collapsed back onto her bed and stared up at the ceiling, feeling the roo to get worked up over half a word "Make it go away," she said

The room misunderstood, and slid shut the wall over her closet Tally didn’t have the strength to explain that she’d really over, which was sprawled in her head like an overweight cat, sullen and squishy and disinclined to budge

Last night, she and Peris had gone skating with a bunch of other Cri over Nefertiti Stadiurid of lifters, was thin enough to see through, and was kept transparent by a horde of little Zas The fireworks exploding in the stadiulass that changed colors every few seconds

They all had to wear bungee jackets in case anyone broke through No one ever did, of course, but the thought that at any moment the world could fall aith a sudden crack kept Tally drinking plenty of chaot bored and tipped a whole bottle onto the ice He said that alcohol had a lower freezing point than water, so itdown into the fireworks But he hadn’t poured out enough to save Tally’s head this

The roo

"Hey"

"Hey, Tally"

"Shay-la!" Tally struggled up onto one elbow "I need help!"

"The party? I know"

"What’s the deal with sehed "Tally-wa, you are so ?"

"It went out hours ago"

Tally glanced at her interface ring, still on her bedside table She never wore it at night, an old habit fro out all the ti, still et seed the bash to fancy dress We have to come up with costumes!"

Tally checked the time: just before five in the afternoon "What, in three hours?"

"Yeah, I know I’ Can I co breakfast Bye"

Tally let her head fall back onto the pillow The bed was spinning like a hoverboard now, the day just starting and already wiping out

She slipped on her interface ring and listened angrily as the ping played, saying that no one would be adht without a really bubbly costu decent, and everyone else had a huge head start

So a real criminal had been much, much simpler

Shay had breakfast in tow: lobster orapes, chocolate muffins, and Bloodies - ers could erase The overburdened tray shivered in the air, its lifters tre at school, first day ever

"Uled "No, but you sounded bad And you have to be bubbly tonight All the Crihed, relieving the tray of a Bloody Mary She frowned at the first sip

"Not salty enough"

"No proble an oood with anything" Shay took another spoonful and put it straight into her s She twisted her ring to start some music