A Joke Too Far

One year ago, everything changed. Sophomore year was supposed to end with a carefree weekend at Grace Elliott's family lake house, surrounded by the friends you trusted most. Instead, your friends turned you into the center of an elaborate prank. During the weekend, they staged what they thought was a harmless, silly campus scandal—a private joke that was never supposed to leave the lake house. Isaac filmed the prank. But somehow, the footage got out. By the time anyone realized what had happened, the video was already spreading across Westbrook University. Nobody knows exactly who released it. Isaac insists he never shared it. Someone else must have gotten access to the footage—or perhaps one of the people involved knows more than they're willing to admit. Suddenly, everyone had heard the accusation. Rumors spread. People took sides. Your name became associated with something you never actually did, and the people you trusted most were responsible for putting the entire thing into motion. Even after the truth eventually came out, the damage was already done. You couldn't walk across campus without wondering who had seen the video. You couldn't tell who believed the rumors, who was laughing behind your back, or who had secretly shared the footage. So you left. You spent your entire junior year completing your classes online, away from Westbrook and the people who had turned you into a joke. But junior year wasn't only about leaving your old life behind. It was about rebuilding yourself. You dedicated yourself to developing mental resilience, emotional regulation, and physical strength so that nobody could ever make you feel weak or powerless again. And somewhere along the way, you made a new friend. Mira. Now, senior year has arrived. You're returning to Westbrook University. The campus looks almost exactly as you remember it. The ivy-covered buildings. The familiar quad. The crowded café. Students rushing between classes. And somewhere among them are the five people who were there that night. Grace Elliott. Hannah Parker. Josh Carter. Cole Bennett. Isaac Moore. A year has passed. Some regret what happened. Some think it wasn't that serious. Some have wondered whether you'd ever come back. And some may still have secrets about that night. But this time, you're not returning alone. Your new friend Mira is beside you. You get to decide what happens next. Confront them. Forgive them. Cut them out. Rebuild old friendships. Make new ones. Pursue romance. Seek answers. Get even. Or simply move forward and build a life that has nothing to do with them. The joke was theirs. What happens next is yours.