Bad Rep (Bad Rep, #1)(51)

“Get off of me you skank!” Olivia moved her head to the side and bit into my arm.

“Ow!” I yelped, dropping her wrist.  Olivia slithered out from underneath me and was on me again.  I knew she wanted to do more than maim.  She wanted to freaking kill me!  I had never seen such hatred in someone's eyes before.  It was chilling.

People came filing out of the house and formed a circle around us.

“Chick fight!” The guys yelled and started chanting as though we were in bikinis and wrestling in jello.  None of my sisters came to my aid.  Instead, they stood silently and watched our president assault me.

“Olivia!  Get off of her!”  There was a murmur from around us and suddenly Jordan was pulling Olivia back by her shoulders.  Gracie appeared beside me and put her arms around me, moving me off to the side.  I felt battered and bruised and the tears started again.  I couldn't stop them.  And I hated these people for witnessing my weakness.  I had never been brought so low before.  And they all had a front row seat.

“What the hell are you doing?” Jordan yelled, holding Olivia firmly.  She started smacking at his chest.

“You stupid *!  How could you do this to me?  You've humiliated me!  And with her?”  Jordan lifted his eyes to meet mine.

I looked away, not wanting to see him hold her.  I sort of hated him right then.  If I hadn't wanted him so badly, none of this would have happened.  It was so much easier to place blame anywhere but on myself at the moment.

I heard Olivia start to sob.  “Why?” she wailed.  I couldn't help but look up and saw Olivia bury her face into Jordan's chest, her body shaking as she cried.  “Why?” she screamed again into his shirt.  Jordan looked at a loss.  But I felt my heart being ripped out of my chest as I watched him put his arms around her and slowly lead her back to the house.

“This party is over,” he called over his shoulder.   Olivia wrapped her arms around his waist and Jordan supported her as they disappeared into the house without a backward glance.  He hadn't looked at me again.  And that was all I needed to see to know I had ruined everything for absolutely nothing.  My shoulders sagged in defeat and I wanted to curl into a ball and die.

I was given the evil eye by most everyone as they started to disperse.  “Bitch” and “slut” were on everyone's lips.

“Lets get you home.” Gracie said, keeping her arm around me.  Gracie and I walked the long five blocks back to my apartment and I think I cried the entire way.

By the time I let us inside, I was all cried out and just felt empty.  I was glad Riley hadn't come home yet.  I didn't think I could have dealt with her questions.  Gracie turned the lights on and sat me down on the couch.  She went into the kitchen, opening cabinets and making a lot of noise.  She came back a few minutes later with a glass of water and three ibuprofen as well as some antiseptic and band aids.

“Take these and let me put some stuff on those scratches on your neck.  They look brutal.”  I took the ibuprofen and swallowed them, trying not to wince as she started dabbing my war wounds.

“Well, it doesn't look like you have a bald spot.  With the amount of hair she pulled out of your head, I wasn't sure.”  Gracie tried to crack a smile but I just gazed at her numbly.

“Maysie, I'm so sorry,” she said, putting her hand on top of mine.  We sat like that for a few minutes but then I got achingly to my feet.  There was no doubt I'd be feeling shitty in the morning.  And not just from the bitch fight.

“I want to go to bed,” I rasped, my voice sounding like I had been gargling with glass.  Gracie got to her feet as well.

“Do you want me to stay?  I mean, I could keep you company,” Gracie offered, looking worried about leaving me by myself.

But I just wanted to be alone.  I didn't want to talk. I didn't want the looks of sympathy and concern. I only wanted to sleep and pretend that this was all a bad dream.  At least for a little while.

“No, that's okay.  You head on home.  Riley will be here in a bit I'm sure,” I told her.  Gracie gave me a quick hug.

“Olivia was wasted.  I'm sure she'll feel like shit in the morning for attacking you,” Gracie said.  I shook my head.

“I hooked up with her boyfriend. I'm sure she'll just regret not doing a better job.” I touched the scratches on my neck and grimaced.

Gracie sighed.  “You'll ride this one out.  Give it a few days and everyone will move onto another scandal. It's the nature of the college gossip chain.  You'll see,” Gracie promised.  But I didn't believe her.

Though I tried to smile, for her sake.  “Thanks, Gracie.  You're a good friend.” Gracie hugged me again.

“Okay, well then, I guess I'll talk to you tomorrow.  If you need anything, call me,  okay?”  I nodded, following her to the front door.  “You're one tough cookie.  You'll come out of this swinging.  I know it!” I wished I shared just a fraction of her positivity.  But I was all tapped out.

“Sure thing,” I replied, closing the door behind her.  I went to my room, not bothering to turn on the light.  I took off my dress and threw it on the floor.  I lay down on my bed, too exhausted to turn back the covers.  I stared at my ceiling, my mind going a thousand miles a minute.  My life was over.  I was sure of it.