What Holly Heard Read Free

being evil, Miriam,” Holly admitted with a sigh. “It’s just that I’m so crazy about Noah, you have no idea!”
    â€œOh, I think I do.”
    â€œI can’t help it,” Holly moaned.
    â€œJust don’t do anything dumb tonight at the party, Holl,” Miriam warned. “Mei is crazy about Noah.”
    â€œThat’s the problem,” Holly cried miserably. “I am, too!”
    â€œThat’s because you can’t have him.”
    Holly glared at her. The coldest look Miriam had ever received from her friend.
    Miriam took a quick step back.
    Instantly Holly’s expression returned to normal. Still, a chill crawled up Miriam’s spine.
    Her best friend was losing it.
    â€œSorry. It just hurts so much, Miriam.” Holly sighed. “I would do absolutely anything to get Noah.”
    Miriam eyed her skeptically. “Anything?”
    Holly nodded and her eyes narrowed farther.
    â€œAnything.”
    Miriam felt another chill.
    What did Holly plan for the party tonight?

chapter 2

    â€œW here do you hear all these rumors, anyway?” Miriam asked Holly as they wandered down the hall toward the front doors of the school. Holly gave Miriam a ride home almost every day, since both girls lived on Fear Street. It was one of Miriam’s favorite times of the day.
    Holly laughed and tossed her blue scarf over her shoulder. “A good reporter never reveals her sources.”
    Miriam gave her a shove. “You’re no reporter!” she declared. “You’re a walking tabloid!”
    Holly pointed down a side hallway. “Isn’t that Jed?”
    Miriam turned to the water fountain outside theboys’ locker room and saw her boyfriend. Jed Holman wiped his mouth and stepped away from the fountain. He dropped something into his gym bag and zipped it quickly.
    â€œYeah, it’s him,” Miriam answered.
“Jed!”
    Jed whipped around at Miriam’s call.
    â€œI’ll be right back, Holl,” Miriam said. “I have to talk to him real quick.”
    â€œGo ahead,” Holly replied, waving her away. “I’ll wait.”
    Miriam half walked, half jogged over to the tall, muscular captain of the Shadyside Tigers basketball team. Miriam had been dating Jed since the beginning of their senior year, and it was now February.
    She was nuts about Jed. He was the most important thing in her life—which was why she could appreciate a relationship like Mei’s and Noah’s. Jed was a great guy. Smart, athletic, handsome….
    Miriam had always thought of him as her dream guy.
    That had changed over the past few weeks.
    The boy Miriam had fallen for was gone. Jed was still Jed, of course. But more and more often a dark, angry creature seemed to slide into his body. Jed had been acting like a different person ever since the basketball playoffs had started.
    â€œHi,” she greeted him. She pecked him on the lips. He barely responded. “What’s the matter?”
    â€œNothing,” he replied stiffly.
    Miriam knew he was lying. The dark circles under his eyes matched the gray of his Shadyside sweatshirt.
    â€œAre you up for the party tonight?” she asked cheerfully.
    â€œWhat party?” he replied.
    â€œAt Mei’s house,” Miriam reminded him. “We’re going with Ruth and my cousin Patrick. Remember?”
    Jed frowned. “No.” He looked so tired, so angry. She knew Jed had been concentrating on the playoffs. But how could he forget one of the biggest parties of the year?
    â€œDo we have to go?” he demanded.
    â€œI
want
to go. I’ve been looking forward to it all week. What’s wrong with you?”
    â€œNothing,” he growled, shaking his head. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Oh,
man.”
    â€œJed? What’s wrong?” Miriam cried.
    â€œNothing!”
he barked. “Nothing’s wrong! I have to go to practice, Miriam. I’ll