Page 9 of The Catalyst

He didn’t look like any gang member I’ve ever seen.

“How do you know this?”

“It’s common knowledge around here. Everyone knows.”

CHAPTER 5

BETH

Ihid inside our new house all weekend. I was afraid I’d run into that guy if I went anywhere and had no excuse for my behavior. I wasn’t drunk when I came onto him. Yet, I made the stupid decision to have sex with a gang leader. Granted, I didn’t know that about him at the time. All I knew was that he was a hot guy.

Nope. Not going there again. I’ve heard enough about gangs to know they think they own you once they’ve had you in their bed and I am not going to be a whore for those guys. If that’s what Judy wants for herself, more power to her, but that’s not me.

I’m not going to be in this town for long anyway. Once this year is over, I’m off to Washington State to attend school with Teigan. It’s been a dream since her parents announced they were moving there. I hate Texas anyway. Everything is always the same. The winters come with snow once every decade, and that’s not enough for my liking. I want to live where the seasons change every few months and where I can actually build a snowman every winter, drinking hot chocolate by the fire.

Grove Hill is not my destination, only a pit stop, and I’m not going to let some Bastard force me to stay.

I’m a Mercer, goddamn it, and I will not yield to anything I don’t want.

When I set out to become the new and improved Bethany Mercer, this whole thing with the Bastards was not what I had in mind.

“Time to go!” my mom calls as she slips her blazer on over her turquoise blouse, looking more like a showstopper than a bible thumper.

“I’m going to stay home.” I open my English textbook on the island as I shovel cereal into my mouth. “I need to make sure I’m caught up before I start school tomorrow,” I insist, and the look she gives me is deadly.

“Your worship is more important than your studies.” If it was any other woman saying that, I’d assumed she’d lost her mind, but my mom lost hers a while ago.

Being the daughter of a preacher is exhausting.

“My worship won’t get me into a good college.” She would probably perform an exorcism on me if she knew I identify as an atheist and yet go to these things to appease her. I see the bible as a metaphorical storybook. It’s entertaining and full of great life lessons, but beyond that, it’s a paperweight. She’ll probably disown me the day I tell her.

“I’ll go to the Wednesday service instead and pray over my textbook.”

She concedes with that and presses a kiss to my cheek before dashing out the door. I bet she still thinks I’m a virgin, too.

She’s so fucking delusional. How can she preach to a room full of people about abstaining from all temptations when she drinks herself into a stupor every night? She’s the true hypocrite of this town.

* * *

Judy drivesus to school in her bright green Beetle with yellow flower decals all over the outside. The upholstery is torn and aged, but it's cozy. It's a comfy, ugly car and I love it.

“Are you nervous?” Judy asks as we pull up to the school.

“Um, no.” I almost laugh at the ridiculousness.

“Well, you’ve been weird since we left the party. I figured you might be nervous to see?—“

“To see who? Him?” I should’ve known he goes to school here because why wouldn’t he? The universe just wants to fuck me over in any way she can. “I’m not nervous. I made a stupid mistake, and I am perfectly fine.” My voice raises an octave and it gives away my mild distress.

“Mistake? Even Casey could tell you guys had crazy chemistry. Why do you think her claws came out so hardcore?”

I shrug. “Because she’s a jealous, possessive bitch.”

Judy gives me an incredulous glare as she pulls into the school parking lot and parks the car. “Are you that naive or just trying to convince yourself?” she asks, but doesn’t look angry. “Look, I was out of it that night. I had too much to drink and I don’t get my words across right when I do that. Did I say something that freaked you out about him?”

My eyes widened. Wow. Why did she automatically assume it was her? “Um, you said they’re a gang, Judy.” Even if she didn’t, I had no intention of continuing that night with him. It was just sex. It just means I’m going to keep my distance even moreso now than I originally intended.

“Yeah. They’re the Bastards of Grove Hill. They are a gang…of vigilantes.”

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