What Holly Heard Read Online Free PDF Page B

furiously at the Waynesbridge player.
    Miriam froze.
    The Waynesbridge player said something to Jed.
    The crowd gasped as Jed punched him in the face.
    Blood spurted from the boy’s mouth.
    Miriam uttered a low moan.
What was Jed doing?
    The crowd roared.
    Jed leaped on the fallen Gladiator. Grabbed him in a choke hold.
    Other players tried to pull them apart.
    But Jed held on.
    The Gladiator turned an ugly shade of scarlet.
    His eyes bulged.
    Jed was strangling him, Miriam saw to her horror.
    Jed was choking him to death.

chapter 7

    T he excited, startled cries of the crowd drowned out Miriam’s thoughts. She gasped in horror as players from both teams struggled to pull Jed off his red-faced opponent.
    â€œHow could Jed do this?” Miriam cried out loud. When the crowd on the floor finally cleared, Jed stood to one side. Gary and some other teammates held him back. Jed struggled against them, but they were too strong for him.
    Miriam took in a sharp breath. Jed’s lip was bleeding.
    On the floor in front of him lay the fallen player. The boy held his chest, struggling to breathe. His teammates were huddled around him.
    Miriam felt numb. She had never seen Jed so furious, so totally berserk.
    Why? she asked herself over and over. What was wrong with him?
    Finally Jed calmed down enough so that his teammates could let go. Coach Hurly pointed his finger toward the locker room and bellowed, “Hit the showers!”
    Jed stomped off the court to a chorus of boos. Miriam could see his tightly clenched fists. Staring down at the floor, Jed marched through the locker room doors and disappeared.
    Slowly Miriam sat down.
    She felt dazed. And sick to her stomach.
    The game started up again. But she was no longer interested.
    â€œMiriam, what’s his problem?” Holly demanded. “I don’t believe it!”
    Miriam didn’t answer. She kept picturing the look on Jed’s face. His hands around the other player’s throat.
    She thought back to his blowup Friday afternoon by the water fountain.
    Something had to be seriously wrong with him.
    She’d watched every basketball game this season. Sure, Jed made lots of fouls. He was a physical player. But this was totally different. Miriam couldn’t imagine where such fury had come from.
    The rest of the first half was a blur to her. When the buzzer went off, people stood and stretched. Miriam remained sitting, staring down at the empty court.
    â€œAre you okay?” Holly asked gently. “Miriam?”
    Miriam raised her eyes to her friend. “I’ve never seen him like this before.”
    Holly sat down again and put a reassuring hand on Miriam’s arm. “Remember yesterday when I said I’d try to find out what was up with Jed?”
    Miriam glanced up hopefully. “Did you hear something?”
    â€œNot yet,” Holly answered. “But I haven’t hit up my best source. I’ll ask Gary what’s going on. Jed and that guy from Waynesbridge might just have a grudge. That would explain everything that happened tonight.”
    Miriam sighed. “Jed never said anything to me about it.”
    â€œIt will be okay, Miriam. I promise.”
    Miriam shook her head sadly. “This is the
playoffs,
Holly. If the colleges hear about this, they’ll never recruit him! These games are so important to Jed.”
    Holly didn’t reply.
    There’s nothing to say, Miriam thought miserably. It’s hopeless.
    She put her face in her hands and waited for the game to end.
    The Shadyside Tigers managed to pull off a victory—with a buzzer-beating jump shot by Gary. The scoreboard lit up, Tigers: 72, Visitors: 71.
    Hopes of a state championship were still alive at Shadyside High.
    Miriam, however, didn’t feel like celebrating.
    â€œReady to go?” Holly asked.
    Miriam nodded, silently gathering her bag and coat.
    Holly’s hand clamped onto her arm. “Look,” she