What Holly Heard Read online

  Gary came out with Teddy Miller and Luke Appleman. He grinned triumphantly, still riding high after his game-winning shot.

  Miriam caught his eye and waved. He waved back and jerked his head toward the locker room as if to say, Jed’s coming. Miriam nodded, and Gary continued on with his teammates.

  Finally Jed came out, his gym bag slung over one shoulder, his head down.

  “Jed,” Miriam called, her voice tight and shrill.

  His head snapped toward her. His lower lip was swollen and red. He seemed to stare right through Miriam.

  “Hey,” he uttered curtly.

  Miriam fell into step beside him. “What happened, Jed? Are you all right?”

  He stopped walking. “No, Miriam, I’m not. I came this close to getting kicked off the team, okay? Is that enough information for you and your friends?”

  “Why? What happened?”

  Jed snorted. “Weren’t you watching the game? That guy elbowed me on purpose. So I decked him.”

  He made a fake swing with his fist, and Miriam saw cuts on his knuckles from the punch.

  She took a step backward. Jed didn’t seem aware that she was there. The dryness in her mouth made it difficult to speak.

  “You’ve been elbowed before….”

  Jed laughed. A humorless laugh.

  “Well, maybe this time it ticked me off,” he sneered. “These guys come in here and think they can take shots at me. I don’t like being elbowed in the face.”

  He stepped closer to Miriam, glaring down at her. “Would you like it if someone pushed you around?”

  He poked her in the shoulder with his free hand. Hard.

  “Jed!” Miriam stumbled back a step, bumping the wall behind her. She frantically searched up and down the hall. It was deserted.

  “Would you?” he demanded, poking her shoulder again, even harder.

  “Ow! Stop it, Jed!”

  Miriam tried to slap his hand away. Jed caught it, crushing and twisting her fingers in his iron grip.

  “Jed!”

  “See?” he sneered. “You don’t like it, either. Now you know how I felt out there in front of all those people, humiliated and bleeding like some kind of loser!”

  Miriam tried to free her hand, but his grip remained locked. She stared into his eyes—and saw only delight there.

  Delight in the pain he was inflicting on her.

  “Jed,” Miriam gasped. “You’re hurting me!”

  He didn’t seem to hear her.

  He’s going to break my hand! she realized.

  The pain shot up her arm, and she started to scream.

  chapter 8

  Her scream snapped him out of his daze.

  He tossed down her hand, uttering a hoarse cry of surprise.

  She clutched her throbbing fingers to her chest and stared at him. She felt the tears coming now, fresh, hot, and unstoppable.

  Jed blinked as if coming out of a deep trance. He rubbed his temples, squinting.

  “Oh, no … oh, Miriam.” He backed off and tried to meet her eyes. “Miriam, I am so sorry.”

  “Jed, what is wrong with you!” Miriam felt her self-control slipping away. Felt the tears burning her eyes.

  She hated to cry.

  Hated Jed for making her cry.

  “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he murmured. “I’m out of control tonight.”

  Anger suddenly flooded Miriam. “That’s your excuse? You really tried to hurt me, Jed!”

  “I …” He let his arms flop to his sides. “I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry. I just… I might have blown everything tonight, Miriam. I’m going crazy.”

  Miriam spun around and strode down the hall. She had to get away from Jed. Her anger completely blocked out her fear.

  How could he hurt her? How? She wanted to scream.

  It was so sick! She couldn’t stand to be near Jed right now.

  “Miriam, wait!” he called after her. She could hear his footsteps.

  Suddenly another thought unfolded in her head. This is Jed. This is the guy you care about. And he’s hurting, and he’s scared. I don’t think he’s ever been scared before.

  Miriam turned back—and Jed stopped short as if expecting her to hit him.

  “Listen to me, Jed,” she growled, pointing at his chest. “If you ever, I mean ever lay a hand on me again, we’re through. Do you hear me?”

  He nodded. He avoided her stare. “I never wanted to hurt you, Miriam. I just … I only wanted you to know how it felt for me out there. Playing basketball has never been this hard before.”

  Miriam nodded. Her anger was fading. He looked so tired, so broken, like a scolded puppy that truly didn’t mean any harm.

  She could actually feel some sympathy for him. She reached out and gave his hand a squeeze.

  “I have to go. Holly’s waiting for me.”

  “I’m so sorry, Miriam,” Jed whispered. “You don’t know how sorry I am.”

  She nodded. “I know.”

  He kept his eyes on the floor. “Miriam?”

  She stopped. “What?”

  “Can I call you?”

  Miriam smiled. “I don’t know. Can you?”

  Jed gave her a wide, relieved grin in return. “Yeah, I can.”

  “Then, okay.”

  The February night was frigid, and most of the cars had left the school parking lot. Miriam spotted Holly standing next to her car, breathing clouds and jumping up and down to keep warm. When she caught sight of Miriam, she waved frantically.

  “Get over here!” she yelled.

  Miriam ran to the car. The engine was running. Holly appeared tense … and very scared.

  “Get in!” she ordered. She slid into the driver’s seat.

  Miriam quickly slid in next to her and slammed the door. The heater was blasting, thankfully.

  “What is it? What’s wrong, Holly?”

  “I … I just heard something…”

  Miriam groaned. “Holly, the last thing I want to hear is more gossip—”

  “No!” Holly cried. “This is different, Miriam. I heard this myself.”

  “Heard what?”

  “On my way to the car, I was digging through my purse for the keys. I wasn’t watching where I was going. And I passed Mei and Noah standing by Mei’s car. I wouldn’t have even seen them, but I thought I heard Noah’s voice.” Holly paused and took a deep breath.

  “And?”

  “They were talking. But it sounded more like fighting. So I stopped and hid between two cars where they couldn’t see me. I listened to them.”

  “Holly, I don’t believe you!”

  “Can you just shut up for thirty seconds and listen to me?” Holly snapped.

  Her anger stunned Miriam into silence.

  “They were talking about the night of the party, about how Mei’s mother won’t let them see each other. Mei and her mom have been fighting a lot worse than we know, Miriam. It’s scary. I never heard Mei talk that way before.”

  Holly paused for a breath.

  Miriam felt nervous now. Jed’s problems faded into the background as she concentrated on her friend’s words, on her friend’s fear.

  “What did they say, Holly?”

  “I was only a few feet away, Miriam. I swear I heard them say it. I swear.”

  Miriam wanted to take Holly by the shoulders and shake the information out of her. “Say what?” she demanded.

  Holly took a deep breath and leaned closer to her friend.

  “I heard them say they were going to kill Mei’s mother!”

  chapter 9

  “No way,” Miriam insisted. “That’s crazy.”

  “I swear, Miriam, I heard it myself!”

  “Okay, okay, I believe you!” Miriam soothed her friend.

  Holly seemed almost hysterical. Miriam had never seen her like this—truly scared.

  But Miriam didn’t believe that Mei wanted to kill her mother. It was totally insane.

  “Holly, tell me exactly
what you heard.”

  Holly took a deep breath.

  “At first I heard them talking about the party, about what idiots Noah’s friends were for crashing it. Noah said he warned them to stay away if they were going to drink. He said he was sorry he had gotten Mei into trouble. Then Noah shouted something like ‘There’s no way your mother can keep us from seeing each other.’”

  Miriam nodded. It sounded normal so far.

  “Then I think they hugged, because they were quiet for a minute. I couldn’t see them, so I don’t know. And then … and then I heard Mei.” Holly’s voice shook. “Mei yelled, ‘I’ll kill my mother for this.’”

  Miriam almost laughed out loud. “That’s it?”

  Holly glared at her. “What do you mean, that’s it? I heard her say it, Miriam, and she sounded like she meant it!”

  Miriam rolled her eyes. “I’ve heard Mei say that exact thing a thousand times, whenever she and her mother had a blowout. Everybody says it! Everybody wants to kill their parents when they’re angry.”

  “Yeah, but everybody doesn’t have Noah for a boyfriend!” Holly cried. “You should’ve heard him, Miriam! When Mei said she wanted to kill her mom, Noah took her seriously. He said it was a good idea. He told her he’d be willing to do whatever it took to make sure he could keep seeing her. Whatever it took, Miriam! Even murder!”

  Miriam thought about that for a moment. “It still doesn’t mean anything, Holl,” she decided. “Noah was just being dramatic—as usual. Mei would never do something like that. No one would.”

  Holly stared at Miriam, clearly not knowing what to believe. “Are you sure?”

  “Everyone says stuff like that, Holly,” Miriam insisted.

  Holly blinked. “Really?”

  “Really.”

  Holly let out her breath. “Okay.”

  Miriam shook her head. “Let’s go before we freeze to death.”

  Holly slowly pulled out of the student parking lot, and they drove toward Fear Street in silence. Miriam stared out her foggy window, trying to imagine what she would do if her parents told her she couldn’t see Jed.

  “Oh, Miriam, I forgot!” Holly cried a moment later. “What happened with Jed?”

  The night came back to Miriam in a rush—Jed punching and choking the Waynesbridge player, getting thrown out of the game—and nearly breaking her hand.

  She told Holly the whole story. Holly didn’t say a word until Miriam finished.

  “Are you okay?” Holly asked quietly.

  “My fingers are sore, but that’s no big deal.”

  “No, Miriam, it is a big deal. Jed tried to hurt you. What is his problem?”

  Miriam could see the anger on her friend’s face.

  “It’s the pressure, Holly. He’s so scared of losing the playoffs and the scholarship that he’s self-destructing.”

  Holly scowled. “Don’t defend him. Any guy who will hurt you like that isn’t worth it.”

  “He’ll be okay,” Miriam replied. “He just needs a little time, that’s all. I’m not defending him.”

  “Yes, you are. Listen to yourself.”

  Miriam realized Holly was right. “I can’t help it, Holl,” she answered softly. “I care about him. I really do.”

  “I know.” Holly put a hand on Miriam’s arm. “But if he tries something like that again, you have to do something. I saw him drop that guy on the court. Jed just totally lost it. He’s messed up.”

  The words echoed in Miriam’s ears as she massaged her sore fingers. All she could do was hope Holly was wrong.

  Monday morning at school Miriam met Ruth by her locker. Ruth had gone away with her mother on Sunday, so Miriam couldn’t phone her. Miriam wanted to tell Ruth all the news from Saturday night.

  Ruth was happy to hear that Shadyside had won the game. But her mood darkened when Miriam told her about Jed.

  “That’s really scary,” she said in a shocked whisper. “Maybe you should try to get him some help.”

  “No, he’ll be all right. As I told Holly, he just needs some time. He’ll be okay.”

  “I hope so,” Ruth murmured. “For your sake.”

  Miriam nodded. Jed would be all right. She was sure of it. After he got his scholarship, he’d go back to his old, lovable self.

  Miriam was sick of her friends being worried about Jed. She decided to change the subject.

  “Wait till you hear this.” She giggled. “I almost forgot.”

  She told Ruth about Holly and how she had eavesdropped on Mei and Noah. How she heard that Mei was plotting to kill her mother so she could be with Noah. “It scared Holly to death,” Miriam confided.

  Ruth laughed, for the first time in ages. “Serves her right! It’s about time gossip got Holly in trouble.”

  Miriam felt a little guilty for laughing at Holly behind her back. Holly had been genuinely frightened.

  But since Ruth’s father died, her laughter was rare. Any humor, however twisted, was probably a good thing, Miriam decided.

  “Mei plotting to kill her mother,” Ruth said, shaking her head. “Yeah, right. Mei wouldn’t risk breaking a nail.”

  “You’re so mean,” Miriam scolded.

  “What weapon would Mei use?” asked Ruth. “An eye pencil? Nail polish fumes?”

  “Ruth! Stop it.”

  “No, wait, I’ve got it. Death by blow-dryer!”

  Miriam couldn’t stop herself from laughing. She had forgotten how funny Ruth could be. She leaned against her locker for support, laughing as she pictured Mei chasing her mother with a can of hair spray.

  She opened her eyes to find Holly standing in front of them.

  “Hey, Holl!” she greeted cheerfully.

  Holly didn’t reply. Her lower lip trembled, and her hands were clenched into fists.

  “Guess w-what I just heard,” she stammered.

  Miriam’s heart skipped a beat. “What?”

  “Mei’s mother is dead.”

  chapter 10

  Dead.

  The word exploded in Miriam’s head. For a moment everything went white.

  Dead. Dead.

  The word repeated, until it had no meaning.

  “That’s not funny!” Ruth gasped.

  Holly shook her head. “I’m serious. They found her last night. At the bottom of the front staircase. You know. The spiral one.” Holly swallowed hard. “Her neck was broken.”

  Miriam struggled to breathe. She opened her mouth, but couldn’t speak.

  Dead.

  She couldn’t believe it.

  They’d just been joking about it!

  Wait! Miriam thought suddenly, her mind racing. This is only gossip! It’s something Holly heard. It didn’t really happen.

  Did it?

  Miriam stared at her friend. Holly hadn’t moved. Her eyes were frozen wide and she absently bit her bottom lip. Her color was bleach-white.

  “She did it, Miriam,” Holly whispered. “Mei killed her mother.”

  “No!” Miriam choked out. She didn’t want to believe it. “Mei could never do that. Never.”

  “Then explain what happened,” Holly growled. “How did her mother die?”

  Miriam tried to make herself think. “I don’t know! Maybe she had an accident. People fall down the stairs all the time.”

  “You don’t really believe that, do you?” Ruth demanded.

  Miriam had to turn away. She didn’t know what she believed.

  “Of course she doesn’t!” Holly cried. “She knows what we all know. That Mei or Noah pushed Mei’s mother.”

  “It’s crazy,” Miriam insisted. “I know Mei! She wouldn’t do it! No way!”

  “Yeah, but you know Noah,” Ruth said pointedly.

  Miriam didn’t reply. She hadn’t thought about Noah. She had no idea what he would do for Mei.

  He hung out with a bad crowd. Miriam knew he sometimes drank, and he bragged about doing dangerous things.

  But was he capable of murder?

  “Come on,�
�� Miriam said. “People don’t kill their parents just because they can’t date each other!”

  “Keep your voice down!” Holly snapped. “Do you want the whole school to hear?”

  “What should we do?” Miriam asked.

  Holly nervously tugged at her blue scarf. “I think we should go to the police.”

  “No!” Miriam protested.

  If they told the police, it would be like admitting that she thought Mei had murdered her mother. Miriam didn’t want to believe that.

  Holly turned to Ruth. “Help me convince her, Ruth. You know Mei did it.”

  Miriam saw Ruth’s eyes grow icy. She had been quiet since hearing Holly’s news, perhaps shocked into silence, Miriam thought. News of a dead parent probably made Ruth think of her father’s death.

  “Are you okay?” Miriam asked her friend.

  “Yeah,” Ruth replied, expressionless. “I don’t know what to believe. Why would anyone want to watch their parent die?”

  No one replied. Miriam couldn’t imagine herself even considering killing her parents.

  The bell for homeroom exploded in Miriam’s ears, making her jump nearly out of her skin.

  “Before we go,” Holly insisted, “I have to know what we’re doing!”

  “Nothing,” Miriam replied. “We don’t have to do a thing.”

  Holly gaped at her. “Are you kidding?”

  “Holly,” Ruth began.

  “We have to—”

  “Holly.” Ruth yanked her sleeve.

  “What?” Holly growled, her teeth clenched.

  “It’s Noah,” Ruth replied, gazing over Holly’s shoulder.

  Miriam spun around. She drew in a quick breath.

  Noah Brennan was walking toward them!

  “Oh, no,” Holly whispered.

  Noah looked frightening. So tired, his hair uncombed and hanging in his face. His eyes red-rimmed and bloodshot.

  “What do we do?” Holly whispered.

  “Don’t say a word,” Miriam replied. “He doesn’t know you overheard them in the parking lot.”

  “So you do believe they did it,” Ruth muttered.

  Miriam ignored her.

  Noah’s eyes leveled on the three of them as he approached. His eyes were hard and cold.