Barb's alarm sounded a few hours later. She had to double-check to make sure she read it correctly. It couldn't say noon. There was no way. She grumbled and threw off the covers while shooting an angry look at Hailey, who was sound asleep in her bed. Barb had to meet with the pledges to discuss what would happen next. It would be an hour at most, but that was an hour she could have been sleeping. After brushing her teeth, she threw her hair in a loose ponytail. Barb wasn't even sure she centered it on the back of her head. She didn't care. Once she gathered what she needed, she headed to the campus center and found the sleepy-eyed pledges waiting for her at a table in the food court.

"I'll try to keep this as short as possible," Barb said when she sat down. "How are you all feeling?"

"Like a zombie," Hana said after a yawn.

"Same here," Barb said and opened her bag. She pulled out five buttons and handed them to the pledges. They were navy blue with the club's crest on them. "These are your pledge pins. They aren't much to look at. I'll make more elaborate ones for next semester. Wear them at all times while in public. We will check!"

"A pledge pin on your uniform!?" Kennedy chuckled but stopped because she saw everyone's blank stares. "I really have to show you guys Animal House."

"I like them," Tamara said. She pinned it on her shirt and gave it a quick shine.

"Thanks," Barb said before fetching the next item. She handed the girls five packets. "These are your pledge handbooks. They contain all the rules, requirements, and various club information. You'll also find a list of the sisters' phone numbers. Don't abuse these. We don't want you calling us at all hours of the night!"

She let them read through the pages silently and braced herself for the onslaught of questions.

"What are visits?" Chloe asked.

"You have to meet with each sister and get to know them. Ask them questions, and make them unique. Don't just ask the boring stuff," Barb said. "Oh, and keep them one-on-one. Don't try to piggyback on someone else's visit. No group visits. That's cheating."

"Those sound fun," Claudia said.

"Yeah, those are the lighter side of pledging, but you still have club meetings every Wednesday night. That's when we will test you each week. You'll have a series of tasks and challenges to complete."

"Like what?" Claudia asked.

"I can't tell you. You'll find out when the time arrives. Also, remember to greet any sisters when you see them around campus. Use the proper greeting."

"Oh! We didn't greet you properly when you got here!" Hana said with a look of worry.

"Don't point that out, Hana!" Chloe said.

"It's okay. I'm too tired to get upset about it," Barb said, waving them off. "Now, we need to elect pledge officers. You need to pick someone to be the pledge president."

When she said this, Chloe, Claudia, Hana, and Tamara turned and looked at Kennedy without hesitation. This made Kennedy shake her head and chuckle.

"Of course, you picked me because I'm the oldest," Kennedy said.

"And you're the best one for the job. You helped us figure out the Sampson Run," Claudia said. "You're our leader, Mama K."

"Mama K?" Kennedy asked.

"Um, maybe you should choose a different nickname, Claudia," Barb said with a look of concern.

"No, it's okay, Sister Barb. I kind of like it," Kennedy said.

Barb studied Kennedy's face to see if she was sincere. It seemed she meant what she said, so Barb continued. "Next, we need an activities director. You'll work directly with Sister Keisha to help with the haunted house and the fall social."

"Tamara!" Chloe said, pointing at her.

"Hey! Don't I get a say in it?" Tamara asked.

"Let's vote. All in favor of Tamara, raise your hands," Chloe said. Claudia, Kennedy, Hana, and Chloe raised their hands, so Tamara sighed and shrugged.

Barb smirked before moving on to the next one. "If you guys want to do intramural sports, you'll need a director."

"Oh, I've got that one," Claudia said, and everyone else nodded in agreement. "Can we do flag football? I played in high school."

"Sure, but they play seven-on-seven. You'll need two more people. I'll ask some of the sisters if they want to join. You'll work with Shawna. She's coordinating our intramural sports."

"Do we all have to do that?" Hana asked.

"Yes, you're required to do everything as a group."

"Don't worry. I'll teach you how to play, Hana," Claudia said.

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"I'm not gonna be much good. Too clumsy," Tamara said.

"It's more about having fun, so it's fine. I'm not expecting us to win the championship or anything," Claudia replied.

"Now, we need a secretary. You'll coordinate with Sister Felicia and help with her duties," Barb said.

"I'll take that one," Chloe replied. Again, everyone agreed without an argument.

"That works. Chloe, I'll need a list of everybody's phone numbers and email addresses. You're responsible for communicating within the pledge class, including passing on necessary information. Start a group chat or something," Barb said, and Chloe nodded. "That just leaves you, Hana. No official offices are left, but you can work with me. You'll be my right-hand girl."

"Sounds good," Hana said with a smile.

"Okay, go get some sleep. Lord knows we all need it."

***

Barb disappeared so quickly that the pledges thought she had dissolved into thin air, but they stuck around to talk for a few minutes. Everyone except Kennedy stayed in the same dorm. They walked toward the east exit of the campus center. Unfortunately, something stopped them dead in their tracks. Chloe stood at the front of the pack, staring at her sister, who eyed the group with folded arms.

"So, these are your new friends?" Marla asked.

"Yes," Chloe replied.

"Look what we have here. You have an old woman, a dumb girl who turned down being a founding member to pledge, one of our cast-offs, and a theatre geek with a brain the size of a pea! This is what you chose over me?" Marla asked, laughing and shaking her head.

"Shut up, Marla!" Claudia said, moving toward her, but Chloe held her back.

"Control your dog, Chloe," Marla said.

"Oh, that's it! Let's go. Now!" Claudia said. Chloe struggled to keep Claudia still, but she maintained her grip. "Get off me, Chloe!"

"What's going on here!?" a voice yelled from their right. Everyone turned to see Shawna glaring at Marla. Shawna wore her work uniform, so she must have been arriving for her shift when she stumbled upon their argument.

"Nothing, Mistress Shawna," Chloe said.

"Mistress?" Marla cackled. She looked at Shawna before turning to Chloe. "What kind of group did you join?"

"A better one than yours," Shawna replied.

"That's rich," Marla said, walking up to Shawna and standing dangerously close to her. "Keep your hands off my sister. I know your type, and I won't let you corrupt her," Marla whispered.

"My type?"

"I know what you are. You disgust me," Marla continued, leaning in closer. "Oh, and look. You brought your little pet with you," she said, glancing at Felicia, who stood behind Shawna. The pledges turned because they hadn't noticed her. "I don't know what kind of kink club you all started here, but you leave my family out of this. Chloe, quit this nonsense now, or I'll tell Mom and Dad you joined a bunch of lesbians."

"That figures. You would run to Mommy and Daddy to get your way," Shawna said.

"At least I have parents, Shawna," Marla said, grinning at the reaction it caused.

Shawna lurched forward, but Felicia grabbed her arm. The poor girl strained to hold Shawna back. She had to brace herself as her feet slid. Chloe and Hana took the other arm but almost failed to stop Shawna's momentum.

"How did you know about that?" Shawna hissed through clenched teeth. The girls heard them grinding together and worried they might shatter.

"I have my sources," Marla laughed. "Chloe, you have a day to quit, or I'm telling Mom and Dad," Marla added, walking away before anyone could protest.

Tamara had to join the effort to restrain Shawna because she tried to follow Marla. Once Marla left, Shawna stopped trying and threw her arms in the air. The sudden movement imbalanced Tamara, making her stumble until Felicia steadied her.

"Get your hands off me!" Shawna yelled. She turned her head to hide her face. They obeyed her, but everyone watched her silently. "And stop staring at me! Go back to your dorm and sleep!"

The pledges moved toward the door, but they watched Shawna storm into the nearby bathroom. Hana and Chloe had their hands on the exit and opened it halfway before Kennedy turned and entered the bathroom.

"Bad idea!" Claudia said. It proved futile. Kennedy ignored her and followed Shawna into the room.

"Mistress Shawna..." Kennedy began, but Shawna cut her off.

"Get out!" Shawna yelled. Her voice echoed off the walls as she stood over a sink with her head bowed.

"Are you okay?" Kennedy asked despite the order.

Shawna didn't answer or move for a few seconds, so Kennedy turned away. She made it two steps before she heard a soft reply.

"My parents died during my senior year," Shawna said so softly that Kennedy wouldn't have heard her if it weren't for the bathroom walls amplifying it. Kennedy stopped and looked at her. "It was carbon monoxide poisoning. I probably would have died too if I hadn't sneaked out to see my girlfriend that night," Shawna added. She was still staring into the sink.

"I'm so sorry," Kennedy replied. She didn't know what to do. Kennedy motioned like she was about to hug Shawna but hesitated and lowered her arm again. Shawna didn't notice because she still didn't turn toward her.

"Only three people here know about it. Felicia and Keisha didn't tell Marla, so it must have been Bledsoe. He has my file. That bastard had no right!" Shawna yelled and slammed her fist onto the sink. Kennedy worried it might break.

"No, he didn't," Kennedy replied. She once again felt like hugging her, but someone else beat her to it.

Felicia rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Shawna from behind. This was enough to break Shawna's resolve. She turned her body and hugged Felicia tightly. Shawna pulled her close and leaned her head onto Felicia's shoulders, opening the floodgates and crying uncontrollably. Kennedy stepped out of the bathroom and let them have their moment.

***

After all the drama, the pledges couldn't sleep. Instead, they met in Claudia's dorm room. Even Kennedy joined them but didn't mention what she saw or heard in the bathroom. None of them had followed her inside. But this didn't mean they didn't have questions.

"What is Marla's problem?" Claudia asked Chloe.

"She has to be in control," Chloe said.

"Yeah, I get that, but what made her this way?"

"Marla's dad was always a real piece of shit. I don't know for sure, but I think he abused her. Unfortunately, she kept seeing him every other weekend until a few years ago."

"Marla's dad? Isn't that your dad?"

"No, we're half-sisters. Mom had Marla from her first marriage," Chloe said. "My dad was always good to Marla. Mom and Dad tried their best to fix the damage, but Marla never saw it that way. She thought they favored me and has held it against me ever since."

Claudia looked at Chloe silently. Chloe could see Claudia's expression softening, so she almost breathed a sigh of relief. But then Hana spoke. She had sat in quiet contemplation until that moment.

"How did Marla know I turned down being a founding member?" Hana asked.

"I-I told her," Chloe said. "But I didn't call you dumb! I was bragging about you because I respected your decision!"

"Chloe!" Claudia yelled. "You have to watch what you say around Marla! She doesn't need to know everything!"

"I didn't tell her everything and didn't mean this to happen!"

"It's okay. I'm not mad at you," Hana said. "Are you going to quit like Marla wants?"

"No! Of course not!"

"Good. I don't want you to quit," Hana said, smiling at her. "None of us do, right?" Hana added, looking at Claudia.

"Right," Claudia said. "Just make sure you're more careful with what you say to Marla. We don't want to make this worse."

"I promise I will."