chapter 5

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Holly grinned. “After you left last night, the party got good.”

“Oh, so it stank as long as we were there?” Ruth asked.

“Ha-ha,” Holly replied. “That’s not what I meant.”

“So?” Miriam prompted. “What happened?”

“First, some of Noah’s friends from Center City showed up. And they were totaled. Reeking of beer.”

“That must have been the group we saw,” Ruth said.

Miriam nodded. “And knowing Mei’s parents, they probably had heart attacks as soon as the first guy stumbled through the door.”

“That’s just the beginning!” Holly exclaimed. “Right after Mei’s mom kicked them out, she and Mei got into a huge fight. We’re talking total blow-out!”

“What did they say?” Miriam gasped.

“It was all about Noah, and how he’s irresponsible and a creep. But Mei kept saying it wasn’t his fault. He didn’t invite his friends. They just showed up. It got really intense!”

“Then what happened?” Ruth asked.

“Dr. Kamata kicked everyone out—including Noah. So we go out on the lawn—and there’s beer cans all over the place. Noah’s friends dumped them there after they got kicked out. And they toilet-papered Dr. Kamata’s car.”

“Wow,” Miriam muttered.

“What then?” asked Ruth.

“We had to leave,” Holly answered sadly. “But I heard more later. After everyone left, Mei and her mother went ballistic. Mei was hysterical, screaming and crying that her mother treated her like a child, that she loved Noah more than anything.”

Miriam noticed that Holly’s voice gained a slight edge on the word loved.

Holly continued. “And guess what happened after that?”

Miriam and Ruth stared at her, waiting.

“Mei’s mother said that Noah could never set foot in their house again. And Mei can’t see him anymore. She broke them up!”

“No way!” Miriam cried. “That is so unfair!” Holly didn’t reply.

Miriam studied her best friend. Holly was almost glowing. Obviously she still had her eye on Noah. She’s probably happy about this, Miriam thought. But Mei must be devastated.

Miriam felt terrible. She knew Mei was crazy about Noah. She would do anything for Noah.

Couldn’t Mei’s parents see that?

“Mei and her mother aren’t speaking,” Holly added matter-of-factly. “Mei’s father is taking her mother’s side, but not very loudly. He probably hates seeing his little girl cry.”

“Don’t be mean,” Miriam scolded her. “It’s not funny.”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry.” Holly said quickly. But Miriam could still see the spark of hope in her eye. “It’s just … I can’t help thinking …”

“About Noah?” Miriam asked.

Holly nodded.

“I’d forget that idea if I were you,” Miriam said. ‘After this, I bet Mei and Noah are more of a couple than they ever were. She’s not going to listen to her parents.”

“I know.” Holly slumped down on the bed. “I wish I never heard these rumors.”

“That’s a first,” Ruth muttered.

“What do you care, Ruth?” Holly replied angrily. “You’ve never cared about any guy before.”

Ruth’s eyes narrowed, and she took a deep breath. “How do you know?” she snapped. “You don’t know anything about me! And I know everything about you—whether I want to or not.”

“Hey,” Miriam said sharply. “Let’s all take a deep breath and—”

“What about Gary?” Ruth demanded. “You don’t have the guts to steal Noah from Mei, so you just string Gary along. He really likes you!”

Holly’s mouth dropped open. “I like him, too, Ruth! I do!”

“You’d never know it the way you obsess about Noah,” Ruth accused. She put on a fake high-pitched voice and imitated Holly. “‘Oh, Noah is so sexy.’”

“Gary is, too,” Holly shot back. “But … I don’t know. He’s just not that much fun. He’s always talking about basketball. I mean, who cares? Besides, this is none of your business, Ruth!”

“Stop it—both of you!” Miriam cried. She stepped between them. “I’m sick of this! We’re supposed to be friends.”

Holly turned to Miriam. “But she’s always taking Gary’s side! She’s supposed to be on my side!”

Miriam sighed. “Can we go to the game? I don’t want to miss the first quarter.” She thought it was incredible that the three had remained friends for so long. Ruth and Holly were so different. She also didn’t want to scold her friends anymore. It made her sound like someone’s mother.

“Yeah,” Holly agreed, pulling out her car keys. “Let’s do that. Okay, Ruth?”

“No, thanks,” Ruth muttered. “I lost my appetite for rah-rah. You guys go ahead.”

“Come on, Ruth,” Miriam pleaded. “It’ll be fun.”

“I promise not to mention Noah all night,” Holly said, attempting to be playful.

Ruth smirked at the comment, but shook her head. “Wish Gary and Jed good luck for me, okay?”

Miriam nodded, still upset by her friends’ arguing.

But by the time she had buckled herself into the passenger seat of Holly’s car, all Miriam could think about was Jed. She could hardly wait to see him take over the basketball court and single-handedly win the big game.

She had no way of knowing about the disaster that awaited her. No way of knowing what Jed was about to do.