Bad Rep (55 page)

Then his arms were around me and he had yanked me on top of him.  “Jordan!  I have to pack!” I squealed as he started to kiss the skin on the side of my neck.

“You need a Levitt break,” he murmured, tracing his tongue along the curve of my ear and grabbing my ass with his hands.  I shuddered as he pressed me against his hard erection and I couldn't help but wiggle against it, trying to feel the friction between my legs.   My fingers went up into his hair.   His lush dark hair now fell in messy waves around his forehead.  He had changed the barbell in his eyebrow to a hoop and last month and gotten his lip pierced.  That was new and took some getting used to.  I had stressed when he had first gotten it about getting it caught when we kissed.  But I had quickly learned that I loved it.  The combination of lip and tongue ring was particularly delicious when we were engaged in certain activities.

I sank into his body, ready to forget about packing for a while, when his foot kicked my suitcase off the bed, sending my stuff sprawling all over the floor.  “Jordan!” I yelped, pushing myself off of him.  “Now I have to pack the damn thing over again,” I complained, picking up my clothes off of the floor. 

Jordan joined me, going straight for my panties.  “I'll take care of these for you,” he teased, holding up a black thong.  I grabbed my underwear. 

“Just stay out of the way, please,” I said nicely, batting my eyelashes. Jordan laughed and returned to the bed. 

It still sort of blew my mind that things were so great with Jordan and me. Particularly after the way we started, we drifted into this fantastic relationship.  Sure, we still had our bumps.  Each of us were still learning to deal with our jealousy issues.  Jordan had a tendency to be a bit overbearing in that regard, but he was trying.  Just as I was trying to not let any outside bullshit interfere with this great thing we had going.

After Jordan and I got back together, it wasn't immediate sunshine and roses.  I still had to suffer through the nasty looks and whispers.  But the longer we were together, the less and less I noticed it.  I never spoke to any of the Chi Delta girls, particularly since Vivian and Gracie had left.  I occasionally saw Olivia around campus, but she was staying pretty quiet.  I realized quickly that Milla was nowhere around.

Then came the news, via Vivian, who still spoke to some of her former sisters, that Milla had taken a semester off.  Hmm, I guess there was such thing as karma after all. 

Now that I was no longer in Chi Delta, I found that I was able to fill all that extra time very easily.  I started going out with Riley a lot more.  Our relationship bouncing back to our pre-sorority closeness.  Gracie and Vivian were permanent fixtures at our apartment and we started having Wednesday night dinners that quickly morphed into an excuse to chill out and cook lots of food.  Jordan's band mates usually came over as well, particularly since Cole and Vivian were still going strong.  Damien and a few of his friends sometimes joined and it was amazing to see how I had developed this great group of friends that I didn't have to pay for.

Jordan had spent a lot of time with his band mates, figuring out their tour dates.  They were working with Mitch's cousin, Josh, who helped them book thirty shows in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.  They would be playing in bars and small venues.  The guys were excited to try and make a go at living their dream.  And I was stoked for them. 

I would miss Jordan terribly and I still had those moments of insecurity when I thought girls throwing themselves at him.  But I just had to look into my boyfriend's eyes and know that I had nothing to worry about it.  You see, Jordan and I were in it for life. 

“I have to sell back a few books, do you mind heading over to campus with me?  We can grab something to eat at the Canteen,” I suggested, putting the last of my clothes in the suitcase and snapping it shut. 

“Sure, baby, I just have to text Mitch.  We're supposed to have practice at 2:30.  You coming with?” he asked me, putting his arm around my waist and pulling me close.  He kissed the back of my neck and my body hummed. 

“Sure.  I haven't seen Viv this week, so we can hang out and talk girlie stuff while our boyfriends play rock gods.”  I grinned.  Jordan rubbed his nose against mine, an affectionate gesture that never failed to make my toes curl. 

“You'll make a great rock star wife.  I can see it already,” he said.  My heart sputtered to a stop.  Wife?  Was he serious?  Jordan's smile widened and I knew he could read me like a book.  He had always been able to.  He kissed me on the lips this time.  “One day I'll get a ring on your finger.  You just wait and see,” he vowed and my heart soared.   

We got in Jordan's truck and headed toward Rinard College.  Jordan was talking about some new Generation Rejects merchandise that had come in yesterday.  I loved seeing him so excited.   

“Is it weird knowing you won't be here next year?” I asked him after we pulled up to the campus.  I gathered my books off the floor.  Jordan took them from me as we got out of the truck. 

“Yeah.  I mean I'm really excited for the tour.  But I have to admit, I'll miss being here with you every day.”  He tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear.  “I'll miss you, Mays.  So much,” he said softly, his eyes tender as he looked at me.

I cupped his cheek and rubbed my thumb along the rough hair at his jawline.  “Me too.  But we'll make it work,” I promised.  Jordan grabbed my hand and kissed the palm. 

“No more running,” he stated, grinning at me.  I nodded. 

“I'm all run out, baby.  You caught me fair and square,” I replied.  Jordan laced his hand with mine and we walked to the book store. 

I was able to sell my last three books for a whopping $22.  Pocketing the money I pulled Jordan by the hand toward the Canteen.  “Come on, babe.  This wad of money is burning a hole in my pocket.  Let me wine and dine you,” I joked.  Jordan pulled me up against his front and nuzzled into my hair. 

“You sure do know how to treat a guy,” he teased.

We laughed all the way until we got to the Canteen. We were about to go inside when were stopped by a voice.  “Jordan.  Maysie.  Hey.”  I saw Jordan's shoulders tense slightly but his face was relaxed.  I looked toward the door and saw Olivia coming down the steps. 

She looked beautiful as always.  But I no longer felt the burning jealousy I used to when we were around each other.  Because I had seen the less than perfect girl underneath it all and I sort of felt sad for her.  Olivia had flown under the radar the rest of the school year and I had heard through the grapevine that she was moving back home to Washington state, where she was from, now that she had graduated.

“Hey,” I said back politely.  Jordan nodded in her direction but didn't say anything.  Olivia looked up at him. 

“Congrats on the upcoming tour.  You'll be great,” she said sincerely, giving him a tentative smile. 

“Thanks, Liv,” he responded, smiling a bit in return. 

Seeing the way she stared up at him, I truly did feel bad for her.  Because it was painfully obvious that she was still in love with him.  Her eyes became soft and her face held a sad sort of wistfulness.  It was hard to stay bitter toward someone who had lost the one thing she had wanted most.  Lost it and would never get it back.

Olivia looked over at me.  “So, how are you doing, Maysie?” she asked.  She seemed to struggle with what to say and I knew this was extremely awkward for her. 

“Good.  How about you?  When do you leave?” I asked.  Olivia pulled the strap of her purse higher on her shoulder.

“I'm heading out tomorrow.  My older brother is coming in tonight with a U-haul,” she explained. 

“Oh, well that's great,” I said lamely and then we fell into an uncomfortable silence. 

“I uh, guess we should be going,” I said finally as Jordan and I started to walk around her.

“Wait!” Olivia called out before we were able to go inside.  Jordan and I turned back around.  Olivia ran back up the steps until she stood in front of us again. 

“I just wanted to say...that I'm really, really sorry with everything that happened this year.  I had no idea Milla was doing that stuff to you, Maysie.  But it's not like I didn't contribute to it all.  I was a bitch.  A jealous, spiteful bitch.” Her eyes glistened with tears as she looked at Jordan again.

“I'm sorry, Jordan.  For never treating you the way you deserved to be treated.  I'm sincerely glad you've found someone who makes you happy.  I really am.” She was being genuine and I knew this was hard for her to say.  But I appreciated her saying it all the same.

Jordan squeezed her shoulder.  “Thanks, Liv.  I'm sorry too.  I handled things really badly and I hate myself for hurting you.  You're a good person.”  They looked at each other for a long minute.  I stepped back a bit, knowing they needed this closure. 

I was surprised to see that I didn't feel jealous or worried.  I was just glad to see that these two people, who had been such a huge part of each other's lives, were ending things in a positive way. 

Olivia reached out and took Jordan's hand.  “Good luck, Jordan.  With everything.”  Jordan let her hold his hand and I saw him smile down at her. 

“You too, Liv.  I know you'll be conquering the world in no time.”  Olivia laughed.  Not in a flirty, come hither way, but in a way shared by two friends with a long history.

Olivia dropped his hand and stepped back.  “Well, you know, one thing at a time.”  I watched as she discreetly wiped at her eyes and I knew she had teared up at this final goodbye with the boy she had loved for so long.

Looking back over at me, she smiled.  “Take care of him, Mays,” she said.  Jordan had come back to my side and looped his arm around my waist. 

“I plan on it,” I responded, giving her a wave as she walked away. 

Jordan let out a breath and seemed deep in thought.  “How are you feeling?” I asked him as we walked inside. 

“Good actually.  I'm really glad we were finally able to leave things in a way that didn't hurt either of us.”  He kissed the top of my head.  “I'll always care about Olivia.  But it's nice to be able to finally leave that in the past so I can focus on my future.”  His eyes twinkled and I smiled as he leaned down to kiss me. 

I thought I'd be rattled after our conversation with Olivia, but instead I felt only a sense of closure.  As though the horridness of the last year was finally behind us.

“Let me get lunch, you go grab us a table,” Jordan said.  I gave him my order and headed over to a small table by the window.  I couldn't help but watch the way he moved through the crowd toward the counter.  It still blew my mind that this amazingly wonderful guy was mine.  That he loved
me
.  After everything we went through to get to this place, I knew I wouldn't have changed a thing.  Because it all brought me here.  To him.

Ten minutes later, Jordan came over with our food and sat down beside me.  He pulled his chair as close to mine as he could get, putting his arm across the back.  I leaned into him, never able to get enough of his nearness.

Jordan and I ate our lunches while we planned our vacation.  Most of it involved lots of time spent in our room.  Though sand and surf were on the agenda as well.   Jordan pulled out his cell phone and started searching for a scuba school he had read about.  He had it in his head that we were going to learn to scuba dive while we were in Mexico.  I was less confident about it than he was.  You know with the whole sharks could eat you thing.  But Jordan was excited, so I guess I could suck it up.  For him.  I had learned that that wasn't such a bad thing to do. 

He clacked his tongue ring against his teeth as he scrolled through a webpage trying to find the information he wanted me to read.  He held my hand in his, our fingers intertwined as if they would never be anywhere else.

I became suddenly aware of a group of four girls a few tables away.  I looked up and saw them watching us.  One girl leaned over to her friend and whispered something and then looked at Jordan and me again.  I recognized the looks on their faces.  I knew what they thought of me.  I had seen it enough times in the last year.  And while the gossip and rumors that swirled around campus about me had died off considerably, it was still there.