The Same Mistakes Club

Chapter Nineteen

I figured they had dances on Saturday nights so the drama could dissipate over Sunday and school could be normal on Monday.

Well, as soon I opened the door to Margaret's car on Monday morning, I knew that wasn't going to be the case.

"Just shut up already!"  she was shouting.

I cautiously pulled the handle, hoping that whatever was going on would stop once I got in.

"You are such a loser,"  Mordecai screamed at Margaret when I got in.

"Oh, YOU'RE such a freak,"  Margaret replied.

Nobody seemed to notice that I was in the car.

"Um, guys."  I tried to get their attention, but it wasn't working.

"It's not MY fault your little girlfriend was having more fun with us,"  Margaret said as she pulled out into the street.

"Just stay away from me, and stay away from anybody I know.  I'm so embarrassed that you're my sister."

Margaret slammed on the brakes.  "Then get out!"

Mordecai opened the door and started to get out of the car in the middle of the street.

"Mordi, don't..."  I pleaded.

He got out, slammed the door shut, and started jogging on the sidewalk.

"Margaret, what on earth is going on?  Go get him - he can't walk."

Margaret was gripping the wheel tightly.  "No."

"He'll be late for school."

"Fine with me."

"All right, stop it.  What on earth is going on?"

Margaret pulled back out into the street and stared forward while we passed Mordecai.  "He freaked out at me yesterday simply because his stupid girlfriend spent most of Homecoming with us instead of him."

"Really?  Which one was she?"  I tried to go through all the girls who'd been dancing with us, but couldn't keep track.

"The petite brunette with that cute poofy lavender skirt."

"Oh!  She's Mordecai's girlfriend?"

Margaret nodded as she pulled into the parking lot.

"Well, I don't see why you and Mordi have to get into a huge fight over that."

"He was the one who started it.  I knew he'd find a way to ruin what was an awesome evening."  A smile spread across Margaret's face.  "Seriously, we completely rocked that dance!  Everybody kept saying their dates were such duds.  Did you see one guy out there on the dance floor who was having a good time?  No, they all just sat in a big group and talked about sports...."  She shifted into her best imitation of Mordecai.  "Whatever, dude!"

When we got to school, I kept telling myself that this was just another normal week, nothing to be nervous about.  But my stomach kept doing somersaults every time I thought about seeing Gabriel at the dance in the clutches of that freshmonster.  I decided to walk a lot slower than usual.  Maybe he wouldn't be there.  Maybe I could just pretend that I wasn't mad.  Maybe...

As I turned the corner to my locker, I saw him taking off his jacket.  I was very, very relieved to see there was no sign of She Who Would Not Be Named.

I started to fiddle with my combination and saw him turning around.  We caught each other's eyes.  He smiled, and started to say something -

"Um, Alissa?"  I was startled and nearly dropped my messenger bag.  I turned around to see Jacky Gonzales and Aileen Cather, both freshmen, hovering behind me.