Bad Rep (Bad Rep, #1)(106)

I looked around at the group of my sisters.  I noticed that the new pledges seemed uncomfortable by all of this and I felt a fresh wave of guilt.  They were new to this, trying to establish their own friendships and loyalties within the sisterhood.  And they now had a front row seat at how much of a farce it all was.  Sisterhood didn't mean shit.

Maryanne, a junior, got to her feet then.  I didn't know Maryanne that well and I knew instantly by the look on her face that she wasn't going to speak in my favor.   I always got the impression that she was a giant butt kisser and the way she looked at Olivia with sympathy sealed that.  “But this has become a Chi Delta issue.  Everyone is upset.  Everyone is on edge.  Our relations with Pi Sig have been jeopardized and they are the best fraternity on campus,” she protested.  There was a universal agreement at her statement.

Great.  Glad to know their priorities were in order.

Maryanne cast a quick glance at me before looking away.  “I think Maysie is the problem here and I agree with suspending her,” she sat down and several of the girls around her patted her on the back.  I pulled my hand from Gracie's and gripped them tightly in my lap.  I needed to, otherwise I'd start swinging.  And that wouldn't help prove my case at all.

The next twenty minutes passed with each of the sisters getting to their feet and giving their opinions on my betrayal.  Most were advocating for my removal.  I was however, pleasantly surprised that a few actually stood up for me.  I had thought that my only two supporters were on either side of me.

Then it was Vivian's turn.  Vivian got to her feet and I couldn't help but watch her in a bit of awe.  It was crazy to think that just a few weeks ago she had been annoying the crap out of me with her high maintenance, stressed out bullshit over rush.  I had never been close with her before this.  She was always firmly entrenched in Olivia's circle.  I knew they had been tight.  I still didn't understand what had possessed her to forsake that relationship in favor of championing me.

Well, I was about to find out.

Vivian leaned on the table, her dark red hair falling around her shoulders.  She looked fiery and determined.  “This is bullshit, Liv and you know it.”  Milla got to her feet.

“Don't start with your crap, Viv.  This is not the time or place,” she threatened and the two girls stared each other down.  Vivian pulled back her lips in a snarl.

“Oh, I think this is the time and place.  You are sitting there on your f*cking high horse, painting Maysie like the worst kind of person.  When you and I know that she hasn't done anything that the two of you haven't done,” she hissed.

The room became eerily quiet.  I looked over at Gracie who lifted her shoulders and widened her eyes.  Olivia tensed and I could feel the ice wafting off of her.  “Don't you dare,” she said quietly, her meaning very clear.  Vivian had better shut up or else.

Unfortunately for Olivia, Vivian wasn't done.  “Oh, I shouldn't dare tell our beloved sisterhood how their perfect president slept with my boyfriend our sophomore year.  While she was dating Jordan,” Vivian spat out.

“Shut up, Vivian!  You don't know what the hell you're talking about!” Milla yelled, pointing at her.  Vivian laughed.

“Oh, I don't?  So it wasn't you who slept with this same ex-boyfriend of mine two days after Liv?”  Eww!

I knew my mouth was hanging open in shock.  The room burst out in an angry buzz.  “Did you know anything about that?” I whispered to Gracie.

“Uh, no,” she whispered back.  These girls were seriously twisted.

Olivia hit her gavel on the table and everyone stopped talking.  “Vivian.  We've talked about this a million times.  Nothing happened with Ryan and me.  You are completely delusional,” she said flippantly.  But I could see the quiet panic in her eyes.  She was lying.  She had totally slept with Vivian's boyfriend.

Vivian banged her hands down on the table.  “You liar!  I saw you together!  I walked in and saw you f*cking my boyfriend!” she screamed.  I saw Olivia swallow and her mouth pinch.

“You were drunk, Vivie.  And that was years ago.  Your memory is a little skewed,” she said in a placating tone.  Vivian crossed her arms over her chest.

“Not too drunk to know two people screwing like rabbits in my boyfriend's bed,” she bit out angrily.

“This is playing out like a bad episode of the Young and the Restless!” Gracie said quietly.

“Or Jerry Springer,” I added.  Olivia stood up then.

“Enough Vivian.  I'm not talking about something that you think happened two years ago.  We are here to discuss the rift happening right now.”  Olivia effectively shut Vivian down.  I could almost be impressed with her ability to make Vivian's claims seem irrelevant and immaterial.

Vivian looked like she was about to blow her top.  “But that has everything...” she started.

“Enough!” Olivia yelled, her eyes flashing at her former friend.  “You are not remembering things the way they are.  But you and I can address that at another time,” she said quietly.  Vivian pushed back from her chair, sending it toppling to the floor.