BAD REP(134)

“Fine,” I huffed, getting up.

“And shave, Mays.  You're growing a forest on your legs,” Riley called after me as I went into the bathroom.  The shower didn't make me feel better.  But, Riley was right, I was bordering on gross.

I wrapped up in my robe and went into the kitchen where Riley handed me a turkey sandwich.  “Eat,” she commanded, leveling me a look that brooked no argument.  I took the plate and held it limply in my hands.  Riley rolled her eyes.  “You lift the food and put it in your mouth.  Like this.” Riley took a bite of her own sandwich and chewed with exaggerated slowness.

Normally I would have snarked back at her.  This time I just did as I was told and ate a few bites of the sandwich.  My stomach rebelled after being empty for so long.  “Jeesh, Maysie.  You're a wreck.”  Riley said after watching me struggle to keep down the food.

“Thanks,” I said sarcastically, putting the plate down on the counter.

Riley slammed her dishes into the sink and turned to give me a hard core glare.  “Why do you do this?”  she asked angrily.

“What?” I asked indifferently.

“You know what.  This.” She waved her hand in my direction.

I shrugged, not bothering to answer.  Riley groaned.  “You're forcing me to use tough love,” she muttered.  She grabbed me by my shoulders and gave me a less than gentle shake.  “Snap out of this. Stop turning into a zombie every time your life gets a little f*cked up.  It's sad and more than a little pathetic.  First with that Chi Delta shit, now with Jordan.  Enough!” she yelled in my face.

I didn't flinch. My face was impassive as I took her frustration and chucked it away.  What did I care that she was angry? Everyone was angry with me.  What else was new?   Then Riley slapped me.  I gasped in shock and lifted my hand to cover my stinging skin.  “What the hell?” I snapped, my blood pressure rising.

“There it is!  There's the Maysie Ardin I know.” She pointed in my face.  Crap, my cheek hurt.

“There is no reason to hit me,” I bit out, feeling the first signs of emotion wash through me.  After a week of being dead to all feeling but grief, it felt kind of good to be pissed.

Riley reached up and took a handful of my hair and gave it a yank.  “Ow!” I yelped, pulling away from my psychotic roommate.

“What are you going to do about it?  Huh?”  Riley pulled my hair again and this time I shoved her.

“Stop it!  Leave my f*cking hair alone!” I yelled.  Oh yeah, I was mad.

Instead of backing away, Riley threw her arms around me and gave me a big hug.  She stepped back, grinning.  “Nice to see you again.  I've missed you,” she said proudly, clearly pleased that she was able to get a response out of me.  I couldn't help but smile at my whacked out friend.

“That was dirty.  Even for you,” I admitted gruffly, rubbing my throbbing scalp.  The girl was a scrappy fighter.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures.  I did the same thing to Jordan yesterday,” she told me, smirking.  My stomach flip flopped at the mention of Jordan but I struggled to smile anyway.

“Oh yeah?” I had to ask.  I longed for news of him.  Just hearing his name was enough to give my heart a lift.

Riley pulled out a sleeve of chocolate chip cookies and crammed one in her mouth.  “He's been moping around almost worse than you.  His tips have been shit because all he does is bark at everyone.  Hell, he almost took Damien's head off the other day for asking what time it was,”  Riley said, clearly irritated with the whole thing.

Well, that made me feel like crap warmed over.  “I'm not sure what to say about that,” I said miserably.  Riley shook me again.

“You don't have to say anything.  Just deal with it.  Grow up and grow a pair.  You and Jordan want to be together.  I'm not sure what happened because you refuse to talk about it.  But whatever it was, it's bull.  Stop letting your stupid pride and whatever else it is, stop you from being with the person you want to be with,”  Riley practically shouted at me.

“It's not that simple,..” I started but Riley cut me off.

“It is that simple.” She went back into my bedroom and came out with my cell phone.  She shoved it in my hands.  “Call him.  Now!” she demanded, pointing at the phone.