Setting: Alderbridge University, Houston, Texas, United States of America.

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Alderbridge University was the kind of place where reputations formed fast and stuck even faster. Legacy students, social clubs, whispered lineages that stretched back decades, everyone had a role here, whether they wanted one or not.

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Stefani was once the heart of the classroom, known for her quick wit and endless jokes that kept everyone laughing. The class clown, she had a way of turning even the dullest lessons into moments filled with laughter. But slowly, Stefani stopped joking. Her bright energy dimmed; she became quiet and distant, no longer the carefree girl who thrived on humor to connect with others. Concerned classmates whispered among themselves as they noticed her staring out windows during breaks, lips pressed tightly in silence. Stefani wanted to be loved, but no one took her advances seriously, assuming there would be a joke, practical joke or punchline. There wasn't any jokes, not anymore. Then you joined the class.

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Stefani:

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