Chapter 20
WILDER
“Let’s welcome the Willow Creek High class of two thousand and twenty-four graduates.” Principal Hargrove’s voice booms over the loudspeaker, signaling the start of the ceremony. The sound of clapping and cheering echoes through the stadium as we begin our walk down the red carpet on the football field. It was always assumed that Rome and I would walk together when we graduate, but I gave him the thumbs-up to walk with Elodie and I have no regrets. Except one—I’m stuck with Sam. It’s only a short walk and a few pictures, though, so I’m sucking it up while she’s eating it up.
The stands are filled with proud guests and their excitement for us is obvious in their loud chants. I look around, searching for one attendee in particular. Mayor Jenkins is here to give a small speech so I can only guess Cat is here, too. Yet, I don’t see her with him.
Sam and I take our seats and when the last pair are seated, Brady Newtown is called to the stage as this year’s valedictorian.
“Welcome, community members, friends and family, and most importantly, my fellow graduates. We fricken did it, guys!”
“Yes!” I beam with my hands in the air, along with my classmates.
He continues his speech and there are a few laughs, even a few tears. Then, my teeth grit when Mayor Jenkins is called to the stage.
Everyone claps for him, but I roll my eyes and look down, not willing to give him an ounce of my attention. That scumbag doesn’t even deserve to be alive, let alone the mayor of this town.
“Good evening, my beloved community, and congratulations to our graduates. During my years in office, it’s been an honor to be part of these ceremonies. I remember my high school graduation on this very stage many, many years ago.” Everyone laughs but I just scoff. “It’s my hope that every one of you will follow your dreams, reach your goals, and remember where you came from…”
I shut out everything else he says because it’s all hypocritical nonsense as far as I’m concerned. Reaching beneath my graduation gown, I pull my phone out of my pocket, hiding it beneath the long teal fabric as I type Cat a message on SnapTok.
WildMisfit: Are you here?
As I wait for a response, I flip my phone upside down underneath my gown.
Mayor Jenkins finally wraps up his speech, after reminding everyone to vote for him in the election, of course.
He’s a real class act. I shouldn’t be surprised that he’d use our ceremony to try and get votes.
Next, our names are called one by one.
After Rome is called to the stage to collect his diploma, it’s my turn. Once I’m up there, facing the crowd, I find Cat standing at the end of the bleachers by the fence, alone. I freeze momentarily in front of everyone as our eyes lock. She waves her hand at me, smiling, and I suddenly remember what I’m supposed to be doing.
Shit. I walk across the stage and shake Principal Hargrove’s hand before accepting my diploma from Brady.
More than anything, I want to go to her instead of sitting back down and listening impatiently for everyone else’s names to be called. Fortunately, our class isn’t too large so it goes by quickly.
The past week had been a blur without Cat by my side. I dropped into her classroom during her lunch break on Wednesday, just to see her for a few minutes. We’ve been chatting on the app every day, but it’s not enough. I’ve been missing her like crazy.
The minute we flip our tassels and toss our caps in the air, I haul ass in her direction, leaving my cap on the ground on the field.
I push through the swarm of families greeting their graduates, and my eyes find hers again, never leaving them until I’m in front of her at the fence. “You came,” I say with the little breath I have left in me.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She lifts a smile before it quickly drops. “I can’t stay, though. Troy doesn’t know I’m here and if he…” Her words trail off and I turn my head to follow her gaze and realize why she suddenly looks so pale. “Oh no,” she says timidly.
“It’s okay,” I tell her. “We’re in a public place. You’ll be fine.”
Coming in our direction is Troy. His face is red, his hands clenched while storming toward us with the anger of a pissed-off bull. He wouldn’t dare make a scene here with all these voters watching, though. There’s not a chance in hell. But that doesn’t mean Cat won’t reap the consequences later.
Behind Troy, I notice my parents, Rome, and Elodie coming toward us, nothing but smiles.
This can’t end well.
“Shouldn’t you be home in bed, darling?” Troy says sternly to Cat. “You’re sick, after all.”
Cat rolls her lips together nervously before nodding. “I was feeling better and thought I’d come watch my students graduate.” Her voice cracks and breaks and I fucking hate that he does this to her.
“Congratulations, son,” Dad says as he joins us, his hard gaze landing on Troy. “Everything okay here?”
“No,” Troy responds harshly. “I don’t think everything is okay. Is it, Wilder?”
“Look,” Dad begins. “If this is about Wilder and his friends crashing at your guesthouse, I’ve dealt with it like I said I would.”
I look at Cat and I can see she’s surprised by the lie Troy told. What I don’t understand is why he told the lie in the first place. I can only assume he’s embarrassed that his wife is sneaking around with her student and wouldn’t dare let it get out to the public.
“It doesn’t look like you’re handling it at all,” Troy hisses. “Everywhere my wife goes lately, your son is there.” He steps up to my dad, raising his voice while people begin gathering around us. “If you know what’s good for you, Cromwell, you’ll keep your damn son away from my wife. I’d hate for us to have to file for a protection order.”
“A protection order?” Dad laughs. “Why would she possibly need protection from Wilder? He’s just her student.”
Dad looks at me and I’m certain he can see right through me. Despite my attempt to hide the truth, I feel like it’s written all over my face.
“Is there something you need to tell me, Wilder?” Dad asks skeptically.
“Tell him, Wilder,” Troy cuts in. “Tell him the truth. That you’re obsessed with my wife and now you’re practically stalking her.”
Cat opens her mouth to speak, to defend me, but I speak first because I’d rather Troy’s anger be directed at me. “That’s not true,” I blurt out. “She’s been helping me with your campaign speeches.”
Oh fuck. I can’t believe I just said that.
I try to recant what I said. “I mean, with an assignment in a finance class I’m taking online.”
All the blood drains from my face when I watch Troy move closer to Cat. Fortunately, there is a fence between her and us. But still, this will not end well for her. She can’t be alone with him tonight, or ever.
“No, no.” Troy shakes his head. “You said speeches. Is that true, Catherine?” He looks at her with a clenched jaw. “Have you been helping this boy write his dad’s campaign speeches?”
“Tell me this isn’t true, Wilder,” Dad says, disappointment in his tone. “Mrs. Jenkins is the current mayor's wife.” He’s telling me something I already know, but still, I listen because I’m in deep shit as it is. “Why would you even put her in that position? It’s completely unorthodox. I gave you this job because I trusted you were the right person for it. And all this time…” He shakes his head.
“It’s not true,” I tell him.
Rome steps up, positioning himself between me and Troy. “Don’t listen to a word this flake is saying, Dad. Mayor Jenkins is probably just making shit up to save his own ass.”
“Watch your mouth,” Dad snaps at Rome.
Troy steps up to Rome. “Listen to your father, kid,” he grits out with a curled lip. “Watch your mouth.”
Rome snickers. “I’ll watch my mouth if you wash yours. Your breath smells rancid.” He fans the air in front of him with a shit-eating grin on his face.
The next thing I know, Troy lets out a heady growl and lunges at Rome. Dad grabs him by the shirt and pulls him back just before he makes any physical contact with my brother.
“That’s enough,” Dad shouts as more people gather around us. He points a stern finger at Rome then looks at me. “I raised you better than this.” Then he looks at Troy. “And you’re a grown man who should know better. These are my sons! And I promise you one thing, you will not lay a finger on either of them!”
It’s not often I see my dad this fired up, and I’m sort of digging it. Even if much of his anger is directed at me. Aside from Cat being caught in the crossfire, I’m sort of glad this all happened. Now, all these people watching get a taste of who Troy Jenkins really is. A few even snap pictures, likely ready to hand them over to reporters.
“Watch your backs, boys.” Troy bares his teeth. “I plan to bury all of you.”
“You do what you have to do,” Dad tells him, keeping his composure. “And I’ll do what I have to do.”
Troy walks over to Cat and I listen as he says, “Get in your car and go straight home. Now! We need to have a little talk.”
Cat gulps and I can see the terror in her eyes. “Don’t,” I blurt out, unsure what to follow it up with.
Troy’s gaze snaps to me. “Mind your business and let me handle mine.” With that, he walks down the fence line toward the gate while Cat walks unhurriedly away. She glances back at me and I shake my head, terrified of what’s next for her.
“I have to go,” I tell my dad—as well as Celia and Elodie, who look to be in a state of shock right now.
I go to walk away so I can catch up to Cat, but Dad grabs me by the back of the arm. “You’re not going anywhere except home so we can talk about all of this.”
“It’s not what you think, Dad. Cat…err, Mrs. Jenkins is in trouble.”
“That’s not your business,” he stammers.
“But it is my business. Mayor Jenkins is not a good man. He’s…he’s digging into Rome’s past and how Celia dropped those charges last year. He plans to use it against you by putting his own twist on the truth.”
Dad shrugs, but I can see the fury in his eyes. “Let him. There’s nothing to find. Everything was handled legally. If needed, I’ll just come forward with the true story of those events. You can write the speech, without Mrs. Jenkins's help.” He rolls his eyes, displaying his disapproval of what I did. “I have nothing to hide, Wilder. Can you say the same?”
“He…he hurts her,” I blurt out, ignoring everything else he just said. There, I said it. The truth is out. Cat might be angry at me for it, but it had to be said. I’d rather her live her life hating me than not living it at all because her husband killed her.
Dad’s eyebrows cave. “What do you mean, he hurts her?”
I swallow hard, ready to lay it all out there. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone and open up the video I took last week at their house. I tap play, then hand it to my dad. As he’s watching, I explain, “He hits her, Dad. Hard. She’s practically a prisoner in her home, only allowed to leave for work. She had to sneak here tonight and now she’s been caught and there’s no telling what he might do.”
I turn my head momentarily, catching a glimpse of Cat’s car. Beside it is a very pissed-off Troy and who I think is the love of my life. He grabs her arm and she shrinks into herself. Before I can do anything, he rips open her car door and shoves her in so hard I see her head hit before she has the chance to duck.
I can’t take this. She can’t go home to him. His reddened face turns toward me and we lock eyes. He glances at the phone in my father’s hand and I smile. He pales slightly before walking over to his truck and getting in. I think I actually watch him debate on running his vehicle through the crowd just to hit me.
But all too soon, his tires screech and people watch as he disappears down the road.
I warned him if he touched her again what I would do. Now let's just hope I can save Cat before he has a chance to do anything worse.
Without a word to my dad—leaving my phone with him—I haul ass and jump the fence, running toward them.