BAD REP(128)

“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.

“I'm not going to fight this.  Those girls don't want me.  I'm done.  I'm out,” I said.  Gracie grabbed me in a hug.

“This doesn't change our friendship, Mays,” she said emphatically.  I didn't respond.  I had nothing to say.  “Let me grab my keys, I'll drive you home,” Gracie said, turning around.  I reached out to stop her.

“No, I'll walk.  It's not far.  And I need to clear my head.” I told her.  Gracie looked prepared to argue.  “But it's dark,” she reasoned.

“I'll be fine.  You go do what you have to do.  I'll talk to you later.” I just needed to get out of there.  The vibe of that place was killing me.

“Okay.  Be safe, Mays. I'll call you,” she promised, her eyes still wet with tears.  God, this was depressing.

“Later,” I called over my shoulder, letting myself out.  Closing the door behind me, I sagged in defeat.  I felt battered and bruised.  I wish I felt relief or something other than the aching grief at how that just went down.  Girls were brutal.

Chapter Twenty-Six



Walking the six blocks home did little to clear my jumbled head.  I door opened with a slam kicking off my shoes.  Riley came into the living room from the kitchen.  She took one look at my face and came to grab my arm.  “You look like shit,” she told me matter- of- factly.

“Yeah, well I feel like shit, Riley,” I said blandly.

“What happened?” she asked as I sat down heavily on the couch.  I laid my head back against the cushions.