The Same Mistakes Club

Chapter Twenty-Five

Being at school was unbearable after the article came out. The looks, the stares, the sudden focus on the Club. I was overjoyed when Saturday night finally arrived.

Right before I headed downstairs, I checked my e-mail one last time and there was a message from Kevin with the subject:

PLEASE READ.

I hesitated before I clicked it open.

Alissa,

I really hope you will give me a chance by just ending this, although you probably won't. And you have every reason to be mad at me. I am so sorry that I hurt you. I've been miserable since I came back home. I miss you so much. You mean everything to me and what I did, what I said, all of it was wrong. I'm and idiot. A jerk. A loser.

I'm so sorry, Alissa. If there was something I could do to make what I did go away and erase any hurt I've caused you, I would do it. I would do anything for you. I need you in my life and I'm lost without you.

I miss talking to you. I miss seeing you. I miss YOU.

When my parents told me about Thanksgiving I was so happy at the thought of seeing you. Until I realised that you wouldn't feel the same way. Do you think you can see it in your beautiful, kind heart to at least hear me out at Thanksgiving? There is so much I want you to know, so much I want to tell you. You are everything to me, Alissa. I want you back and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to earn your trust back.

Please talk to me.

Love,

Big Dumb Idiot

The mouse hovered over the DELETE button, but I couldn't get myself to delete it.

The doorbell rang and I jumped up. I had to run away from my computer and push his e-mail from my mind.

"Are you okay?" Margaret asked when she saw me.

I nodded. "I think it is going to be a big meeting. We should start getting things ready."

Maishely and Margaret exchanged worried looks. I pretended not to notice.

A half hour later, the meeting was pure chaos.

I stopped counting the number of people in the basement at forty. This kind of turnout should've made me excited, but I kept wondering who was there because they believed in The Same Mistakes Club and who was there because we were the "It" thing of the moment at Isabelling.

"All right, what're we doing?" Hadassa screamed from the arm of an already-packed couch.

The entire room looked my way.

"I have a feeling my nasty side may come out this evening," Margaret whispered to me.

"Just give her a chance," I begged. I couldn't deal with any more drama, especially after that e-mail from Kevin. Although I had to admit, Hadassa seemed to not entirely grasp what the Club was about.

"Um, okay everybody." I raised my voice to get everybody to quiet down. "We've got a packed house this evening."

Hadassa raised her hand. "I've got a question for you."

I tried not to look annoyed. "Um, yes."

"I thought we weren't supposed to date?"

"Um, well, members of the club" - I made sure she realised that she wasn't an official member yet - "know that this is much more than just not -"