“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?”