BAD REP(52)

“No, the pope talks about you...yes Jordan!”  My throat felt tight.

“What does he say?”  I shouldn't want to know this. I knew better than to ask.  But damned if I didn't want to hear every tiny detail.

“He makes every excuse to mention you in some way.  'Oh, Maysie must have rearranged the salt shakers.'  'I wonder if Maysie knows where the phone book is.'  It's almost pathetic.”  I forced myself to laugh, though I really felt like throwing up.   “Yesterday, he was telling me about how he taught you to play the guitar at his party.  He said you're a natural.” It was my turn to roll my eyes.

“He clearly has a different memory of that than I do. I sucked.”  Riley shrugged.

“Hell, you could probably sound like a dying cat and he'd think you were amazing,” she teased.  I shot her a look.

“What's that supposed to mean?” I asked.  Riley picked up the pillow I had thrown at her and hit me in the face with it.

“Don't fish, Mays.  It doesn't suit you.” I stuck my tongue out at her.  Riley flicked my nose.  “You know exactly what I'm talking about.  That boy has it bad.  You can see it every time someone says your name.”

“But Olivia...” I started and Riley cut me off.

“Fuck Olivia.” I gaped in surprise at Riley's forcefulness.

“Wow, tell me how you really feel,” I said dryly.  Riley got up off of the bed and stood there for a minute.

“Seriously.  Jordan has major feelings for you.  And he's a good guy.  I have never endorsed a guy you dated because so far they've been a bunch of dick weeds.  And I know what I said about dating him before.  But I was wrong because Jordan's different.  And Olivia's a bitch.”  I automatically opened my mouth to defend my sorority sister.

“You know she is, Maysie.  And Jordan sees that too.  He wants you, my love.  I say stop worrying about Olivia.  She'll move onto the next sorry ass frat guy in no time.  But you deserve to be with someone who looks at you the way Jordan does.”  I blinked, shocked by her statement.

“But, whatever. It's your life.  Have fun at your 'mixer'.” There she went using those stupid air quotes again.  I didn't say anything as she left.  I couldn't say anything.  She had given me a hell of a lot to think about.

I proceeded to get ready in a bit of a daze.  Riley had called out a goodbye before she left for work.  I put on my cute little cocktail dress and opted to leave my hair straight.  I applied very little makeup and deemed that I was presentable.

I arrived at the Chi Delta house a quarter after seven.  I found a bunch of my sisters hanging out in the common room.  They all called out a greeting as I came in.  I couldn't help but feel warm at the recognition.  It's not like the girls had ever been anything but nice to me.  Otherwise I would never have pledged to begin with.  But I had always felt a little outside of it all, despite my every effort to the contrary.

“Damn, Mays.  You look hot!” Gracie called out, hopping up from the couch to give me a big hug.  I did a little twirl and then a short little curtsy.

“You know it, babe,” I replied, grinning.  Cira came up and put a cup in my hand. I took a tentative sniff.  “What is this?” I asked cringing.  Cira giggled.

“I think it's every liquor we had in the cabinet and a little bit of 7-Up.  Drink!”  I took a sip and coughed.

“Are you trying to give me instant alcohol poisoning?  I think I'll just have a beer.” I handed the drink back to Cira who only laughed.

“Come on lets get you a beer then.”  Gracie tugged on my hand and I followed her into the kitchen.  We had about an hour before we were all heading over to the mixer.  It was taking place at another off campus Pi Sig house.  It was only a couple of blocks away, so we would be walking.

Olivia was in the kitchen embroiled in an intense looking conversation with Milla when we came in.  “Hey Maysie,” she said, throwing me a distracted smile as she turned back to her discussion.  I lifted my hand in a quick wave before grabbing my beverage.  Olivia looked stunning, as always.  She wore a purple halter dress so tight it looked as though it had been painted on her body.  The bodice apparently had a push up bra built in because her boobs looked like they were about to spill out from the top.  Her legs looked ridiculously long in her black hooker shoes.