Holly asked quietly.
âMy fingers are sore, but thatâs no big deal.â
âNo, Miriam, it is a big deal. Jed tried to hurt you. What is his
problem?â
Miriam could see the anger on her friendâs face.
âItâs the pressure, Holly. Heâs so scared of losing the playoffs and the scholarship that heâs self-destructing.â
Holly scowled. âDonât defend him. Any guy who will hurt you like that isnât worth it.â
âHeâll be okay,â Miriam replied. âHe just needs a little time, thatâs all. Iâm
not
defending him.â
âYes, you are. Listen to yourself.â
Miriam realized Holly was right. âI canât help it, Holl,â she answered softly. âI care about him. I really do.â
âI know.â Holly put a hand on Miriamâs arm. âBut 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. Heâs messed up.â
The words echoed in Miriamâs 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 couldnât 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.
âThatâs really scary,â she said in a shocked whisper. âMaybe you should try to get him some help.â
âNo, heâll be all right. As I told Holly, he just needs some time. Heâll be okay.â
âI hope so,â Ruth murmured. âFor your sake.â
Miriam nodded. Jed
would
be all right. She was sure of it. After he got his scholarship, heâd go back to his old, lovable self.
Miriam was sick of her friends being worried about Jed. She decided to change the subject.
âWait till you hear
this.â
She giggled. âI almost forgot.â
She told Ruth about Holly and how she had eavesdroppedon Mei and Noah. How she heard that Mei was plotting to kill her mother so she could be with Noah. âIt scared Holly to death,â Miriam confided.
Ruth laughed, for the first time in ages. âServes her right! Itâs about time gossip got Holly in trouble.â
Miriam felt a little guilty for laughing at Holly behind her back. Holly had been genuinely frightened.
But since Ruthâs father died, her laughter was rare. Any humor, however twisted, was probably a good thing, Miriam decided.
âMei plotting to kill her mother,â Ruth said, shaking her head. âYeah,
right.
Mei wouldnât risk breaking a nail.â
âYouâre so mean,â Miriam scolded.
âWhat weapon would Mei use?â asked Ruth. âAn eye pencil? Nail polish fumes?â
âRuth! Stop it.â
âNo, wait, Iâve got it. Death by blow-dryer!â
Miriam couldnât 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.
âHey, Holl!â she greeted cheerfully.
Holly didnât reply. Her lower lip trembled, and her hands were clenched into fists.
âGuess w-what I just heard,â she stammered.
Miriamâs heart skipped a beat. âWhat?â
âMeiâs mother is dead.â
chapter 10
D ead.
The word exploded in Miriamâs head. For a moment everything went white.
Dead. Dead.
The word repeated, until it had no meaning.
âThatâs not funny!â Ruth gasped.
Holly shook her head. âIâm serious. They found her last night. At the bottom of the front staircase. You know. The spiral one.â Holly swallowed hard. âHer neck was broken.â
Miriam struggled to breathe. She opened