Wrong Number 2 Read Free Page B

in beside Deena. “He says we’re going to win. What are you staring at?”
    â€œOver there,” Deena replied, pointing across the court. “See that man sort of leaning next to the door? Doesn’t he look kind of weird?”
    â€œHuh? What man?” Jade demanded.
    Deena glanced down. The man had vanished.
    A whistle brought their attention back to the game. For the next hour Deena forgot everything but the game.
    The Mattewan Blue Sharks were one of Shadyside’s main rivals. And the first contest between the two schools was one of the biggest games of the year.
    â€œGo, Tigers!” Jade screamed. Every time Shadyside got the ball, she jumped up in her seat. “Slam it, Teddy!”
    Along the sidelines, the cheerleaders did their routines, urging the fans to yell even louder.
    At the end of the first half the score was tied at thirty-five. In the second half the lead kept changing. Neither team could get ahead by more than a basket.
    â€œWhat a game! What a game!” Deena cried. She was on her feet along with everyone else. The cheers were so loud, the bleachers shook, and Deena thought the roof might blow off!
    Only a few seconds on the clock. “De-fense! Defense!” the Shadyside Tigers cheerleaders cried.
    â€œ De -fense!” echoed the fans.
    Mattewan called time-out. Deena watched Corky Corcoran, the head cheerleader, do a double flip. Then she led the maroon- and white-uniformed cheerleaders in a loud cheer.
    Deena was cheering along when she saw a flash of orange off to one side.
    â€œHey—!” She leaned forward and peered down the sideline toward the end of the bleachers.
    There he was again. The strange man in the orange hunting cap.
    He stood on the Shadyside side of the court now. He appeared to be watching the floor, not the game.
    Why does he seem so familiar? Deena asked herself.
    â€œDeena!” Jade grabbed her arm. “Deena, what’s your problem? The time-out’s over!”
    Deena focused on the game. The Blue Sharks had a two-point lead. Shadyside had the ball out of bounds with fifteen seconds left.
    â€œSlam it, Teddy!” Jade screamed. “In their face!”
    Gary Brandt, the Tigers’ captain, dribbled to the basket. He shot. Missed.
    It bounced into the hands of a Mattewan guard. The players all began scrambling back toward the Mattewan end of the court.
    â€œGet the ball!” Jade screamed.
    Four seconds left.
    Deena realized she had been holding her breath, her heart in her throat. “Go, Tigers! Get the ball!” she screamed.
    She saw Teddy reach in and steal the ball from the Mattewan guard. He spun back to the basket.
    Two seconds. One.
    â€œShoot!” Jade and Deena screamed in unison. “Shoot!”
    Teddy raised the ball and heaved it from center court.
    The buzzer rang out.
    The ball dropped cleanly through the hoop.
    Three points!
    Shadyside won!
    The bleachers shook as the crowd erupted.
    â€œWe won! We won!” Jade hugged Deena.
    Deena hugged her back. Over Jade’s shoulder, she spotted the man in the orange hunting cap. He was slipping out the door.
    Deena still hadn’t seen his face. But she had the uncomfortable feeling that she knew him. That she had seen him before.
    Why couldn’t she remember?
    Was he someone she didn’t want to remember?
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    They didn’t get to Jade’s house till late. After the game, Deena and Jade and a bunch of other Shadyside kids piled into Teddy’s van and drove to Pete’s Pizza to celebrate.
    The celebration got more than a little wild. Deena was afraid they’d all be thrown out or arrested for disturbing the peace!
    Now she, Jade, and Teddy stood under the pale yellow light over Jade’s porch. “Good night, Teddy,” Jade said. “Thanks for the ride.”
    â€œNo problem, Jade,” Teddy murmured. He gazed at her as if she were a precious ruby.
    Deena turned away and