Authors: A. Meredith Walters
Gracie held my hand as we walked down the hallway and entered the chapter room. It was already full of our sisters. Everyone looked up when I came in. The quiet murmur of voices quieted instantly and silence descended like a blanket.
Gracie and Vivian pulled me toward three seats at the end of the long table that took up most of the room. At 7:32, Olivia hit the gavel and brought the meeting to order. I watched her, refusing to look away. No weakness. I wouldn't show an inch.
“I originally called this meeting to talk about some issues around the fall Ball Blast. But I think we need to table that discussion for another night. Instead, we, as a sisterhood need to address some serious issues that have recently arisen.” Olivia said tightly as her eyes met mine. I tried not to flinch at the outright hatred I saw there.
Olivia coughed and clasped her hands together in front of her on the table. “Everyone is very aware of the...problems...that have come up between Maysie and myself. I know this is creating a very decisive division between us. This has gone on long enough. A decision needs to be made in how we can handle this and move forward.” My jaw clenched and I hated that our lives were playing out in front of everyone like this. But like Olivia said, it was affecting everyone in this room. So they had a say in how it went down. As much as I hated that.
Gracie hadn't dropped her hand from mine and I felt her fingers tighten around mine. Olivia took a deep breath and continued. “I had hoped Maysie and I could resolve our differences. That things could be handled with maturity and respect.” I wanted to laugh. Was she serious? But I could see how this would play out. My role as villain was firmly planted in these girls' heads and that wouldn't change. But damned if I would go down without a fight.
“This is sort of ugliness is unprecedented within the house. I wasn't entirely sure how this should be dealt with, so I made a call to the national headquarters this afternoon and they advised that we needed to have this meeting and that everyone had a right to voice their concerns and grievances. We need to deal with this like sisters.” Olivia's malicious stare drilled through me and it took everything I had not to cower under it.
Milla stood up. “As the vice-president, I'd like to start by saying I'm appalled at how everything has happened. Sisterhood is supposed to matter to us. I'm greatly troubled by the way certain individuals were so willing to disregard everything we stand for. Trust has been broken. And just like in any relationship, once that is destroyed it's hard to come back from that.” I clenched my teeth. Milla was playing her part well. Even if could practically smell her hypocrisy. Olivia nodded in agreement and I heard the other girls give their acquiescence.
Milla took a breath and looked at me. Her face was somber but I could see the triumphant glee in her eyes. This is what she wanted. She was handing me my walking papers and she couldn't be happier to be doing it. “I feel that the source of this division, Maysie Ardin, needs to have her sisterhood stripped. The bonds have been broken. We cannot continue in this way anymore. Maysie has turned her back on her sisters and Chi Delta. There is no choice here,” she said with conviction.
I heard Vivian mumble under her breath something that sounded like “fucking bitch.” I didn't dare look at her. My eyes were focused on my persecutors. The witch hunt was reaching its culmination, might as well see it through.
Milla sat down and crossed her legs, reaching over to squeeze Olivia's shoulder in a show of support. What a joke. Gracie suddenly got to her feet. “Look, I know what Maysie did wasn't cool,” she began and I cringed. Where was she going with this?
“But Maysie has been a loyal sister and friend since pledging with Chi Delta. She is the one person in the sisterhood I always know I can count on. What happened with Jordan sucked.” She leveled her steely gaze at Olivia who looked blandly back. “I know you're hurt Olivia. Maysie feels horrible about that. She always has. But what went down is between you and her and no one else. I just don't understand how this has become a 'Chi Delta' issue,” she stated, using her fingers as quotes to drive her point home.
I looked around at the group of my sisters. I noticed that the new pledges seemed uncomfortable by all of this and I felt a fresh wave of guilt. They were new to this, trying to establish their own friendships and loyalties within the sisterhood. And they now had a front row seat at how much of a farce it all was. Sisterhood didn't mean shit.
Maryanne, a junior, got to her feet then. I didn't know Maryanne that well and I knew instantly by the look on her face that she wasn't going to speak in my favor. I always got the impression that she was a giant butt kisser and the way she looked at Olivia with sympathy sealed that. “But this
has
become a Chi Delta issue. Everyone is upset. Everyone is on edge. Our relations with Pi Sig have been jeopardized and they are the best fraternity on campus,” she protested. There was a universal agreement at her statement.
Great. Glad to know their priorities were in order.
Maryanne cast a quick glance at me before looking away. “I think Maysie is the problem here and I agree with suspending her,” she sat down and several of the girls around her patted her on the back. I pulled my hand from Gracie's and gripped them tightly in my lap. I needed to, otherwise I'd start swinging. And that wouldn't help prove my case at all.
The next twenty minutes passed with each of the sisters getting to their feet and giving their opinions on my betrayal. Most were advocating for my removal. I was however, pleasantly surprised that a few actually stood up for me. I had thought that my only two supporters were on either side of me.
Then it was Vivian's turn. Vivian got to her feet and I couldn't help but watch her in a bit of awe. It was crazy to think that just a few weeks ago she had been annoying the crap out of me with her high maintenance, stressed out bullshit over rush. I had never been close with her before this. She was always firmly entrenched in Olivia's circle. I knew they had been tight. I still didn't understand what had possessed her to forsake that relationship in favor of championing me.
Well, I was about to find out.
Vivian leaned on the table, her dark red hair falling around her shoulders. She looked fiery and determined. “This is bullshit, Liv and you know it.” Milla got to her feet.
“Don't start with your crap, Viv. This is not the time or place,” she threatened and the two girls stared each other down. Vivian pulled back her lips in a snarl.
“Oh, I think this is the time and place. You are sitting there on your fucking high horse, painting Maysie like the worst kind of person. When you and I know that she hasn't done anything that the two of you haven't done,” she hissed.
The room became eerily quiet. I looked over at Gracie who lifted her shoulders and widened her eyes. Olivia tensed and I could feel the ice wafting off of her. “Don't you dare,” she said quietly, her meaning very clear. Vivian had better shut up or else.
Unfortunately for Olivia, Vivian wasn't done. “Oh, I shouldn't dare tell our beloved sisterhood how their perfect president slept with my boyfriend our sophomore year. While she was dating Jordan,” Vivian spat out.
“Shut up, Vivian! You don't know what the hell you're talking about!” Milla yelled, pointing at her. Vivian laughed.
“Oh, I don't? So it wasn't you who slept with this same ex-boyfriend of mine two days after Liv?” Eww!
I knew my mouth was hanging open in shock. The room burst out in an angry buzz. “Did you know anything about that?” I whispered to Gracie.
“Uh, no,” she whispered back. These girls were seriously twisted.
Olivia hit her gavel on the table and everyone stopped talking. “Vivian. We've talked about this a million times. Nothing happened with Ryan and me. You are completely delusional,” she said flippantly. But I could see the quiet panic in her eyes. She was lying. She had totally slept with Vivian's boyfriend.
Vivian banged her hands down on the table. “You liar! I saw you together! I walked in and saw you fucking my boyfriend!” she screamed. I saw Olivia swallow and her mouth pinch.
“You were drunk, Vivie. And that was years ago. Your memory is a little skewed,” she said in a placating tone. Vivian crossed her arms over her chest.
“Not too drunk to know two people screwing like rabbits in my boyfriend's bed,” she bit out angrily.
“This is playing out like a bad episode of the Young and the Restless!” Gracie said quietly.
“Or Jerry Springer,” I added. Olivia stood up then.
“Enough Vivian. I'm not talking about something that you think happened two years ago. We are here to discuss the rift happening right now.” Olivia effectively shut Vivian down. I could almost be impressed with her ability to make Vivian's claims seem irrelevant and immaterial.
Vivian looked like she was about to blow her top. “But that has everything...” she started.
“Enough!” Olivia yelled, her eyes flashing at her former friend. “You are not remembering things the way they are. But you and I can address that at another time,” she said quietly. Vivian pushed back from her chair, sending it toppling to the floor.
“Screw this, I'm out of here,” she fumed. She looked down at me and her face softened. “Sorry, Mays. But you'll get nowhere with this lot. They're a bunch of assholes.” And with that, she stormed out of the chapter room, leaving everyone staring after her with their mouths open.
Eyes swung back to Olivia who had turned an interesting shade of purple. Milla looked livid as well and the two girls glanced at each other, a silent message being passed between them. I knew then that Vivian would be next. Once they had dealt with me, they'd be going full barrel after Vivian. What nasty, hateful people.
“Girls,” Olivia said to the noisy room. Everyone quieted. “Don't let Vivian's bitterness taint your feelings. She clearly has unresolved issues she needs to address. Issues that have nothing to do with me, I assure you. But lets get back to the matter at hand.” And like that, Vivian's claims had been dismissed.
Olivia put a hand to her chest and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, tears dripped down her cheeks. Crap, she was good. “Maysie. You've broken my heart. You've broken our friendship. And today you attacked me, physically, within the walls of this house. That can't be allowed or tolerated. I'm sorry if I've done something to make you turn on me this way. I have only ever wanted you to feel welcome and included in Chi Delta. I thought you were a perfect addition to our sisterhood. It pains me at how wrong I was.” Her voice broke and Milla handed her a tissue. She dabbed her eyes. I bit my tongue to stop myself from calling her out.
“I love Jordan. He was everything to me. We had a future. And that's been taken away. Aside from losing the love of my life. I've lost a sister. And that is ten times more painful,” she breathed out, her voice barely above a whisper. Damn, she was good.
Then the looks started again. Forty-five sets of eyes turned to me with disgust and betrayal. Okay, I couldn't keep silent anymore. I got to my feet and looked right at Olivia. “I'm sorry, Olivia,” I began. I choked on my words and struggled to continue. But the truth was I
was
sorry. I hated hurting anyone. Even the biggest lying bitch on the planet.
“I never meant to hurt you. What happened with Jordan and me was in no way planned. We both tried to ignore it. Once I found out you were his girlfriend, I did everything to avoid him.” I told her truthfully.
“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.