Shay and Tally became good friends in the previous novel after both of their good friends had their surgery. Shay told Tally about the Smoke and tried to convince her to go there, but Tally refused. However, on the day she was to have the surgery, Tally was taken to Special Circumstances and told that if she did not go to the Smoke and set off a tracker for Special Circumstances to find them, she would never get her surgery. Tally did as she was told and Shay was turned pretty upon her return to the city.
Shay and Tally resume their friendship in New Pretty Town after Tally is turned pretty. However, as Tally and Zane fight to become bubbly, they try to help their friends find ways to become bubbly. In doing this, Shay begins to remember how Tally betrayed her in the Smoke. Shay then begins a new clique, called Cutters, who cut their arms to become bubbly. In the end, Shay becomes a Special Circumstances agent and she is involved in the plot to force Tally to do the same.
