Bad Rep (Bad Rep, #1)(103)

Gracie made a noise of discomfort.  “I'm not sure about the * ripping thing, but I definitely think we should find the rest of those posters,” she agreed.  She shared a look with Riley who was in full on militant mode.

“Come on, Maysie!” Riley said, getting to her feet and pulling on my hand.

I yanked my hand away.  “Just stop it!” I yelled.  Riley and Gracie stared at me and I could tell Riley wanted to shake me.  I held up my hand.  “I appreciate it, I really do.  But we tear the posters down and then what?”  I looked at Gracie.  “We know exactly who is responsible for this.”  Gracie's fisted her hands at her side.

“Those bitches,” she breathed out.

I shook my head.  “So yeah, let's go tear them down and they'll just find some other way to humiliate me.  Gracie, I really think I need to withdraw from Chi Delta,” I said firmly.  Riley was nodding as Gracie was shaking her head emphatically.

“This is freaking ridiculous!  You need to confront them!  They can't black ball you like this!  I think  you should file a complaint with the Panhellenic Council.  They can't get away with this!” Gracie fumed.  I felt the small flare of my self-righteous rage starting to simmer in my belly.  Gracie was right.  Fuck this shit.  I couldn't sit here crying in the grass while Olivia and Milla systematically ruined my life.  Enough was enough.

I got to my feet.  “Let's go find the rest of those posters.” I said with an edge to my voice that surprised even me.  Gracie pumped her fist into the air while Riley gave out a loud whoop.

“Let's go!”  Riley called out, dashing across the quad.  And I raced off behind her, determined to take my life in my own hands.

Chapter Twenty-Five



My new found sense of empowerment lasted a whole thirty minutes.  We were only able to find three other posters.  They had been strategically placed in areas that got the highest amount of traffic.  It made me want to punch something every time we found one.  People were milling about, laughing at that stupid picture and then their laughter would become louder and more pointed when I quickly tore the poster down.

It was draining, having a target on your back.  It was hard to keep your chin up when you had so many people tearing you down.  Riley, Gracie and I gave up trying to find the other posters after an hour of searching.  Riley wanted to keep going but I protested.  What was the point anyway?  My anger had gone from a simmer to a full blown forest fire level blaze.

And that's how I found  myself storming my way toward the Greek quad.  One of the posters crunched up in my hand and I'm sure steam was coming from my ears.  Gracie trailed after me, practically running so she could keep up.  Riley had continued the search after I declared I needed to settle things immediately.

“As much fun as seeing Olivia and Milla get their asses handed to them, I made a vow to never step foot into a Greek house.  And even potential blood shed won't make me.  So call me when you're done.” Riley had said simply before heading off to scour the rest of campus.

I threw open the door to the Chi Delta house and the sisters looked up at me in surprise.  “Where are Milla and Olivia?” I asked in lieu of a greeting.  Vivian was in the kitchen and came out to find me, red faced and breathing heavily.  She looked from me to Gracie, who looked a mixture of pissed and worried.

“What's going on?” Vivian asked.  Not meeting her eyes, I held the poster out for her to take.  I was still looking around the downstairs.  “Crap,” Vivian whispered, folding the picture back up.  I started for the stairs.

Vivian caught my arm.  “Girl, you need to settle for a moment.”  I glared at her and she lifted her hand from my sleeve in a placating gesture.

“I'm all for you giving the bitch sisters a piece of your mind.  But you need to do it when you're calm and rational.  Not when you're ready to take their heads off.  They're more likely to trip you up.  Don't give them a reason to throw you out of here.  Come on,” Vivian reasoned.  But I didn't care anymore.  I was sick of playing victim to their cruel games.  I was confronting this now, before I lost my nerve.

So, I ignored Vivian and marched up the steps.  Olivia's room was the largest in the house and situated at the end of the hallway.  The door was open and I could see her, Milla, and two other senior sisters, Jadyn and Cici, inside.

Olivia looked up when I flew through her door.  She seemed shocked at first but then her face smoothed out to a smirk.  She looked gorgeous as always.  Her long black hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she wore a pair of skinny jeans that fit her like a damn glove.  Her too-perky-to- be-real chest was accentuated by a tight green sweater.

I hated how pretty she was.  I hated that she was popular and self-assured.  I hated the crazy long history she had with the love of my life.  And I hated that she had a song written for her.  A beautiful song.

I don't know what came over me, but I lunged for her.  Next thing I knew I had a fist full of her luscious, dark hair and I was pulling with all of my might.  I hooked my leg behind her ankles and swept her down to the floor.  I was on top of her, ripping at her hair and clawing at her face.  “Get the f*ck off of me, psycho!” she shrieked, pushing at me and flailing about.