Bad Rep (Bad Rep, #1)(107)

“Screw this, I'm out of here,” she fumed.  She looked down at me and her face softened.  “Sorry, Mays.  But you'll get nowhere with this lot.  They're a bunch of *s.” And with that, she stormed out of the chapter room, leaving everyone staring after her with their mouths open.

Eyes swung back to Olivia who had turned an interesting shade of purple.  Milla looked livid as well and the two girls glanced at each other, a silent message being passed between them.  I knew then that Vivian would be next.  Once they had dealt with me, they'd be going full barrel after Vivian.  What nasty, hateful people.

“Girls,” Olivia said to the noisy room.  Everyone quieted.  “Don't let Vivian's bitterness taint your feelings.  She clearly has unresolved issues she needs to address.  Issues that have nothing to do with me, I assure you.  But lets get back to the matter at hand.”  And like that, Vivian's claims had been dismissed.

Olivia put a hand to her chest and closed her eyes.  When she opened them again, tears dripped down her cheeks.  Crap, she was good.  “Maysie.  You've broken my heart.  You've broken our friendship.  And today you attacked me, physically, within the walls of this house.  That can't be allowed or tolerated.  I'm sorry if I've done something to make you turn on me this way.  I have only ever wanted you to feel welcome and included in Chi Delta.  I thought you were a perfect addition to our sisterhood.  It pains me at how wrong I was.”  Her voice broke and Milla handed her a tissue.  She dabbed her eyes.  I bit my tongue to stop myself from calling her out.

“I love Jordan.  He was everything to me.  We had a future.  And that's been taken away.  Aside from losing the love of my life.  I've lost a sister.  And that is ten times more painful,” she breathed out, her voice barely above a whisper.  Damn, she was good.

Then the looks started again.  Forty-five sets of eyes turned to me with disgust and betrayal.  Okay, I couldn't keep silent anymore.  I got to my feet and looked right at Olivia.  “I'm sorry, Olivia,” I began.  I choked on my words and struggled to continue.  But the truth was I was sorry.  I hated hurting anyone.  Even the biggest lying bitch on the planet.

“I never meant to hurt you.  What happened with Jordan and me was in no way planned.  We both tried to ignore it.  Once I found out you were his girlfriend, I did everything to avoid him.” I told her truthfully.

“But that didn't stop you from shoving your tongue down his throat behind her back,” Milla called out with a sneer.  I turned my eyes to look at her.  This girl who had come to hate me with a passion that I didn't entirely understand.

“Yes, we hooked up.  I don't know why I did that.  All I can say is I love him too.  This isn't some random fling.”  Olivia's eyes flared and I could see the hurt there.

“I'm sorry for that.  We didn't mean for it to go down the way it did.  I would take it back in an instant if I could.  But what you've been doing is way worse.”  Olivia frowned.

“What are you talking about?” she asked.  I glanced at Gracie who gave me an encouraging nod.

I took a deep breath and continued.  “The rumors, the posters calling me a slut.  All of it.  I understand you're hurting, but that's no reason to rake my name through the dirt like that.  I wanted to handle this privately.  Between you and me.  But you've made that impossible.”  Olivia opened her mouth, frowning.

Milla jumped in.  “Don't blame Olivia for the fact that everyone on campus knows you're a whore.  That's all on you, babe.”

“Shut up, Milla!” Gracie yelled, jumping up beside me.  The noise level in the room became deafening.  And I couldn't help but notice Olivia sitting there quietly, her face a mix of emotions I didn't understand.

Olivia banged the gavel again.  “It's time for us to vote.  Tania is passing out slips of paper.  As a group we have to decide whether Maysie will leave the sisterhood.  You are voted coming in, and you are voted going out,” Olivia said with an absolution that her face didn't mirror.  She looked bothered.  By what, I had no idea.

Ten minutes later, Randa, the treasurer, was adding up the votes.  She got to her feet.  “Thirty-five have voted for Maysie's suspension.  Majority rules.”  Randa didn't meet my eyes.  And like that, my days as  a Chi Delta sister were at an end.

“Thank you, Randa.” Olivia looked at me then and I saw something that looked like regret flash across her face, which confused me.  “Maysie.  The sisterhood has spoken.”  I nodded and got to my feet.  I felt like I had faced a damn firing squad.  I was ready to get out of there.  Gracie was crying and I squeezed her hand.

“It's okay, hun,” I assured her.  Though I felt anything but okay.

I held my head high and walked out of the room.  Gracie ran after me.  “No, Maysie!  This isn't right!  You need to appeal this to the head council! You need to do something!” she implored as I opened the front door.  I shook my head, too tired to hold it up.