The Same Mistakes Club

Chapter Seventeen

Our first official club outing was the following Saturday, to go Homecoming dress shopping together.  I was extra excited because Ariana was home from FGCU and was going to be the excursion's honorary member.

But first we had to survive dinner with my parents on Friday night.

"Oh, it's so good to have my babies home,"  Mum kept saying.

I tried to ignore her, surveying the menu at our family's favorite restaurant,  The Wilderness.  (I never understood what was so wild about a family restaurant attached to a shopping center.)

The waiter came over to take our order, and I looked down so Ariana could be the first one to order.  She was always a lot braver with our parents than I was.

"Yes, I'll have the filet mignon with the garlic mashed potatoes," she said, looking directly at Mum, daring her.

"Ariana..."  Mum said with deep disapproval.

Ariana took her napkin off her plate and put it on her lap.  "Mother, young girls need their protein.  Alissa, what are you having?"

The waiter looked over at me, obviously confused.  I just smiled as I ordered a cheeseburger - medium rare.

Mum started in, her big brown eyes, exactly like mine, narrowed as she locked in on Ariana.  "Ariana Taylyn... Alissa Elizabeth..."  Oh, great, I was in trouble, too.  "You know how we respect your decision to eat what you like, but I would really like for you to just try to understand where your father and I are coming from."

"See, Mum, I know where you're coming from."  Ariana made a grand gesture as she held out her hands.  "I know what Mariah would do in a situation like this, but I am not Mariah Carey.  I'm Ariana Madison, and I choose meat.  Lots of meat."

While most people become vegetarian for health or ethical reasons, Mum and Dad had done it simply because Mariah Carey led them there.

Sensing the tension at the table, Dad turned to me.  "So, Alissa, what plans do you have with your big sister this weekend?"

I was about ready to tell him about the shopping trip when Ariana interrupted with "I'm so excited because I get to meet Alissa's club."

Uh-oh.

"You've joined a club, honey!  That's great,"  Mum said as she took a sip of her water.

"Yes, what kind of club, kiddo?"  Dad leaned in, interested.

"Well, um, it's not really an official club."  I threw daggers at Ariana with my eyes.  This was so humiliating.  What was I supposed to say?  See, Mum and Dad, I'm sick of boys because your best friend's son was an ass, so I decided to have my friends join together and forget about boys entirely.

"Alissa started it.  It's called The Same Mistakes Club,"  Ariana chimed in.

"Oh, oh, Alissa Elizabeth, that's so, so wonderful!"  Mum put her hand up to her chest, thrilled that I named something after One Direction (yeah, they were fans of them, too.  I just don't like to mention it.), although she had no idea what the Club stood for.  I could've started a club called the Yellow Submariners that went out in the ocean and clubbed baby seals and they still would've been proud.

"Kiddo, it's so great you're taking an interest in your heritage.  Goo Goo g'joob!"  Dad beamed.

My heritage?  My great-grandfather on my father's side was from England, true, but nowhere near where One Direction were raised.  And Mum's ancestors were from Ireland.

"Do you even want to know what the club is about?"  I said.  "Some friends and I have decided to stop dating guys... at least until we're out of Isabelling."