The Same Mistakes Club

Chapter Ten

When I left my dinner with Maishely, I felt truly happy and hopeful for the first time in weeks. Having a partner in crime, especially one who was also going through a breakup, was exactly what I needed.

I reached for my phone and saw that I had three texts.

The first two were from Margarert:

Has she started crying yet?

If she does start sobbing, take a picture for me!

And the third was from Kevin:

I'm going to keep txting you until you reply.

I ignored Kevin and called Margaret.

"Spill it," she answered.

I tried to fill her in, but she wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise. She kept making fun of Maishely, which started to frustrate me.

"Margaret, stop it." My voice started to rise. "You know, this had been hard on her. Imagine what she's going through. She feels lost -"

"Oh, please," Margaret interrupted. "Do you hear yourself? Next thing you know, you're going to be inviting her to eat lunch with us."

Dead silence.

Margaret sighed. "Are you kidding me? Please tell me this is a joke."

"Margaret." I spoke slowly, choosing my words carefully. "Everybody is being really mean to her. Consider it an act of charity."

"I already gave at the office," Margaret deadpanned.

"Please. For me?" I didn't even try to hide the desperation in my voice.

"Fine. But you owe me."

I got off the phone with her before she had a chance to change her mind.

"You do realize that I am going to kill you for thia?" Margaret reminded me for the fourteenth time as we headed to lunch the next day.

"Just please give her a chance," I begged.

"Highly unlikely. I don't know - call me crazy, Alissa, but I'm just not very excited about watching my best friend get used."

"I know what I'm doing." I headed toward a small table in the corner in case there was any hair-pulling or biting. I told Melany and Pride it was better for them to eat elsewhere today; I didn't want to make them an accesory to any violence that ensued (even though I think Pride would've been on the floor laughing her butt off).

"Yeah, I think you said the same thing at the start of summer."

I froze in place.

Margaret grabbed my hand. "I'm so sorry, Alissa - that was an awful thing to say."

I tried to shake the thought from my mind. This was going to be hard enough without having to think about... him.

"Just please, Margaret. For me. Be nice."

Margaret sat down and didn't say a word.

"Hey, guys." Maishely sat down at our table. "Thanks so much for having me!"

Margaret forced out a smile.

"Oh!" Maishely set a small cardboard box on the table. "And as a thank-you... cupcakes!" Maishely placed two fancy cupcakes on the table.

"Thanks." I grabbed the bigger one and started licking the blue frosting. I glared at Margaret.

"Yeah, thanks."