BAD REP(84)

“You want me to come with?” Riley asked from her perch on Damien's lap.

“No, I'm cool.  I'll be right back.” I made my way, very slowly, through the heaving crowd.  I was knocked sideways a few times and almost lost my footing.  I was finally able to push my way into the bathroom.  I pulled out the tiny bottle of iodized salt and poured it on the back of my hand. Then I turned on the water and started scrubbing.  These underage stamps used serious ink and this was a little party trick I had learned very early on in my college years.

I stood there at the sink, rubbing my skin raw in an attempt to get rid of the annoying x when I heard a very familiar voice.  “I think this is the bathroom.”  Olivia's voice filtered in through the door and I hurriedly turned off the tap and bee lined to one of the stalls.  Yuck.  The stall was foul and I had to hold my nose so I wouldn't breathe in the stench.

I heard the bathroom door open, the commotion of the bar wafting in.  The stalls on either side of me opened and shut and I waited.  What the hell was she doing here?  I heard Olivia and at least two other girls leave the stalls and turn on the faucets.  “Are you going to go back and see him before the show?” I recognized Milla's voice.  Great.  The bitches were all here.

Then I realized what Milla had asked.  There was no question as to who she was referring to.  “No, I'll see him afterwards at Garrett's party.  He said he'd be there.”  I know I made a noise and I clamped down on my lips to stop myself.   Oh god, Jordan had invited Olivia to Garrett's party?  What the hell was going on?

The girls got quiet and then the water turned off.  “Do you think they'll play your song tonight?” I recognized the voice as Talia's, one of the new pledges.

“Which one?” Olivia giggled.  I thought I would gag.

“You know, the song.  The one Jordan wrote after you guys...you know...” Milla said suggestively.  I could feel the acid in the back of my throat and I really thought I would lose my dinner.  I could just picture Olivia's dainty little blush at Milla's comment.

“They always play that song, Milla.  It's Jordan's favorite.”  Olivia's voice became husky, as though she were turned on or something.  What f*cking song were they talking about?  Now I had to know, even though I knew when I heard it, I would wish I hadn't.

My reaction was ridiculous, because I knew Olivia and Jordan's history was as deep as it was long.  But the thought of him writing songs about her was too much for my delicate self-esteem.  Without a thought to the massive amount of germs living on the toilet seat, I sat down heavily and waited for them to leave.

They spent a few more minutes talking about how Jordan apparently wanted to meet up with Olivia at Garrett's party.   Milla was certain he had finally come to his senses and would be throwing that skank (aka, me) to the curb where I belonged.   Olivia gave a non-committal response to that but even I could hear the undisguised hope in her voice.   They spent a few more minutes talking smack about me.  Everything from the clothes I wore to the way I styled my hair.  Apparently I had nothing going for me and the fact that Jordan looked at me at all was a testament to his temporary insanity.  As I sat on that disgusting toilet, I became more and more enraged.  I was sick and tired of being their target.  My blood began to boil and my fists started to clench in my lap.

But it was when they were devising a plan of attack on how to get Olivia and Jordan alone together that I officially had enough.  I sucked in my anger and blanked my face into a picture of calm collection.  Then I left the safe confines of the hepatitis infested stall and walked brazenly to the sink.  The looks passed between Milla and Olivia made it clear that they had been very aware of my presence the whole time.  So I was positive that their conversation had been for my benefit alone.

“Howdy, girls,” I said flippantly, scrubbing at the back of my hand again.  Milla made a noise of revulsion and Olivia looked away.  Talia was the only one who wanted to play the two faced game.  She gave me a smile and I struggled with the urge to smack her.  Particularly after what I had just heard the three of them say.

“Hey, Maysie!  I didn't know you'd be here tonight.”  I pulled my lip gloss from my purse and started to reapply, making eye contact with Olivia in the mirror.

“Yeah, I'm dating one of the guys in the band.” I said pointedly.  Okay, maybe I was being an insensitive bitch, but their cattiness had finally opened the gate to my inner Rocky.  No way was I backing down without a fight.  Talia cocked an eyebrow.