Bad Rep (Bad Rep, #1)(50)

Gracie squeezed my shoulders.  “I know that, Mays,” she said quietly.  I shook my head again.

“I found out that he was Olivia's boyfriend when you, Vivian and Milla came into the bar that first night.  And I told him to back the hell off.  That nothing was going to happen between us,” I said.  Gracie nodded.

“That sounds like you.”  I appreciated her believing me.  I had a feeling that that was going to be in short supply over the next few days.

“I tried to keep my distance!  I really did!  But there's something between us.  I can't explain it.  It's like this crazy connection that is impossible to resist.  It was harmless flirting for a while.  But then tonight...” My words trailed off.  No need to explain what had gone down this evening.  She already knew.

“So you like him.  I get that.  But, Mays.  He's Olivia's boyfriend.  They've been together forever.  The other girls aren't going to take this well.  You could get blackballed for this,” she told me matter-of-factly.

Blackballed?  Christ! I hadn't even thought about that.  I could get kicked out of Chi Delta.  But after seeing the way the other girls were treating me already, I wasn't sure I even wanted to be a part of the sorority anymore.

“He said he wanted to break up with Olivia,” I whispered.  Gracie gasped.

“Are you serious?” she squeaked.  I put my head in my hands.

“Jordan told me he wants us to be together.  But I can't do that.  Not now.” It all seemed so hopeless.  How had I made such a mess of things in such a short amount of time?  Gracie tugged on a piece of my hair and I looked up at her.

“Maysie, I think you need to get out of here.  They're probably lying in wait to attack in there.  You need to give everyone time to cool off.  And stay the hell away from Jordan.  Don't even entertain the idea.  No guy is worth losing your friends over,” she said with such surety.

But at that moment, I wasn't so sure I would be losing anything.  But I agreed that I had to leave.  I needed to get out of the fire.  And I sure as hell needed to keep a healthy distance from Jordan f*cking Levitt.  He made everything way more complicated than I could handle.  And I wasn't sure that was something I could deal with now, or maybe ever.

I got to my feet and Gracie followed suit.  We looked at each other for a minute before she pulled me into a hug.  I tried to choke back the tears that threatened to resurface.  Gracie rubbed my back comfortingly.

“It'll be okay.  It will all blow over.”  She sounded as though she didn't believe her words anymore than I did.

We pulled apart.  “I can't go back in there,” I whispered, strangling on the reality of the screwed up situation.  I had to hide from my friends.  I had to hide from everyone.  Gracie pushed me toward the garden gate.

“Go through there.  Do you have your cell phone?  Can you call Riley to come and get you?” she asked me.  I shook my head.

“I didn't bring my purse.  But I'll just walk. It's only five blocks to the apartment.” I just hoped I wouldn't get jumped on my way home.

Gracie gave me a little shove. “Well, get out of here. I'll try and do some damage control. I'll call you tomorrow,” she assured me, though her smile was a little hollow.  I reached out and squeezed her hand in silent thanks and then slunk through the gate like a goddamn criminal.

Who gives a damn about their reputation?  Oh, that would be me.  Especially since mine had gone straight to hell in the span of thirty minutes.  I walked toward the sidewalk, shooting a panicked look back toward the house, hoping no one could see me.

“Maysie!” Someone screamed.  It was official, I was having the worst night ever.  I thought about not stopping.  I should have just run for it.  But my sense of guilt and even greater sense of pride brought me to a halt.  Olivia came hurrying down the path from the front door of the Pi Sig house, Milla hot on her heels.

“You f*cking bitch!” she shrieked.  And then she slapped me.  I mean, she put every ounce of strength behind that slap.  My head swung to the side and I put my hand up to my burning cheek.  My eyes watered and my teeth crunched together painfully.  That would bruise.  Just fabulous.

“How could you do this to me?  We're sisters!  Sisters don't screw each other's boyfriends behind their backs!” she yelled in my face.  Screw their boyfriends?  What the hell had Milla told her that she had seen?  What Jordan and I had done was bad enough, but I sure as hell didn't sleep with him!

“Wait a second, Olivia.  I didn't...” I didn't get a chance to finish because Olivia launched at me like a damn monkey.  She jumped on me, taking us both to the ground.  I tried to fend her off, but she grabbed a hunk of my hair and pulled as hard as she could.

“Stop it, Olivia!” I screamed as I felt my hair being yanked from head.  My scalp was on fire.  Her fingernails scratched down the side of my neck and she pushed her knee into my gut.

“You stupid, f*cking WHORE!” she screeched into my ear.  I rolled us both over until I was on top of her, holding her arms off to the side.  My breath was coming in pants as Olivia thrashed beneath me, her heels digging into the back of my calves.