Classes began—and with them came the Freshmen's troubles.
New acquaintances, new scenes, new studies, and new instructors arrived with such rapidity that the girls were dizzy with it all.
Carol and Janet were in the same dormitory building as Valerie and Madge, so their close friendship remained uninterrupted.
Gale and Phyllis visited their friends often. When they were in their room, Ricky Allen and her roommate frequently joined them, and the girls were quickly becoming close friends.
Ulrich Allen—Ricky to her friends—was a breezy, friendly girl from the West. There was not a soul in the class who did not know her.
Her roommate, a quiet and sweet girl from Georgia, was equally well-liked, though far more reserved. Ricky made sure everyone knew her too.
Janet often said Ricky was as clear and unassuming as the country she came from.
Still, Janet and Ricky could often be found together, heads close, planning mischief or laughing over gossip.
Since the afternoon Gale had rescued Dean Travis from the lake, she had seen the Dean only once.
On that occasion, the Dean had walked across campus with her to the library.
Gale told herself firmly that she would not let that happen again.
Word had spread.
Upperclassmen looked with distaste on such familiarity with authority.
They teased Gale mercilessly, though most of it was harmless fun.
But one girl did not treat it as a joke.
Marcia Marlette.
A junior who had arrived late for the semester, Marcia lived in Penthouse Row, directly above Gale and Phyllis.
She had heard the story of Gale and the Dean.
She had also seen for herself that Dean Travis did, in fact, stop and speak with Gale on occasion.
Marcia disliked this greatly.
She had been favored in previous terms under the former Dean, but under the new administration, those privileges were gone.
Now she was treated like everyone else.
And she resented it.
Since she could not take it out on the Dean—
She chose Gale instead.
At first, Gale bore the teasing silently, even with amusement.
She didn't mind the sorority jokes or the harmless dares.
But Marcia Marlette was different.
Her remarks were sharp, deliberate, and personal.
"I tell you, Phyl," Gale said stormily one afternoon, dropping her books onto the desk, "I won't stand for it. I'll—I'll tell Dean Travis."
Phyllis smiled patiently.
"You can't do that, Gale. We've got to take it. Our turn will come."
"I know," Gale said, flinging herself onto the bed and glaring at the ceiling. "But I swear I'll explode if Marcia Marlette doesn't stay away from me."
"What has she done now?" Phyllis asked calmly.
"Met me after Chemistry and walked back with me—making nasty remarks about the Dean the whole time. I'll—I'll slap her face someday," Gale muttered.
"Whoa there," came Ricky Allen's voice from the doorway. "Who's slapping who?"
"Are we missing anything?" Gloria Manson added, appearing beside her.
Gale sat up and laughed despite herself.
"I am boiling over with suppressed wrath."
"Only it isn't suppressed anymore," Phyllis murmured. "Girls, you see before you a volcano about to erupt."
"Go ahead and erupt," Ricky said cheerfully, settling on Phyllis' bed. "What happened?"
Gale sat on the window sill and breathed in the crisp autumn air.
"That awful junior has been pestering me again."
"That awful junior heard you," a voice called sharply from outside.
Gale leaned out the window.
Marcia Marlette was leaning from her own window, smiling with irritating confidence.
"Perhaps you'd like to say that directly to me," she called.
Gale straightened immediately.
"Certainly I will," she replied firmly. "I said you were pestering me. So what?"
Marcia's smile widened.
"Freshmen are expected to be polite to upperclassmen—especially sorority sisters. Rebellion will cost you a month of special privileges."
"That isn't fair!" Gale exclaimed. "I didn't do anything—Marcia, wait—"
But Marcia had already disappeared inside.
Gale turned back to the room, furious.
She headed for the door.
Phyllis blocked her instantly.
"Where are you going?"
"To her room," Gale said hotly. "I'm going to tell her exactly what I think—everything I've been holding back!"
"You are not," Phyllis said firmly. "Sit down and cool off."
Ricky nodded.
"Ignore her. That's what she wants."
Gale hesitated, then slowly gave in.
But her anger did not fade.
It only deepened.
She had disliked Marcia from the moment she first saw her.
Before she even spoke—
Something about her had felt wrong.
And now that feeling had only grown worse.
At dinner, the tension continued.
They all sat at the same table.
Marcia often made cutting remarks, but Gale and Phyllis responded only with silence and faint smiles.
That silence irritated her even more.
The upperclassmen, sensing the situation, softened slightly toward the Freshmen.
But Marcia remained a problem.
"Are you going out for hockey?" Gloria asked casually.
"Of course," Ricky said immediately.
"I am," Phyllis added. "How about you, Gale?"
"Yes," Gale replied. "Class hockey starts tomorrow."
They tried to shift their attention to lighter things.
But the tension lingered beneath everything.
"Dinner's in five minutes," Gloria announced.
Ricky stood lazily.
"Shall we go down?"
Phyllis quickly glanced at Gale.
If they went down now, Marcia might be there.
And that would only make things worse.
"No," Phyllis said quickly. "I want to brush my hair first."
"Better hurry," Gale murmured.
When they finally went downstairs, Marcia was nowhere in sight.
"She has permission to eat at West Campus Dormitory," someone explained at the table.
Phyllis exhaled in relief.
She did not want a confrontation tonight.
But she knew one thing for certain—
Marcia Marlette was not finished with Gale.
Not at all.
And whatever happened next…
It would not be small.