As she hit send, Cali felt a sense of relief wash over her. She was happy to stick to her close-knit group of friends and enjoy college life without getting entangled in the gossip and hookups that seemed to dominate some of her peers' experiences.
"You know, the ones about hookups and relationships on campus. Apparently, the dean is cracking down on 'excessive partying' and 'undisclosed intimate relationships' between students and faculty," Emily explained.
Cali hesitated, weighing her options. In the end, she decided that she wasn't ready to join the group. She texted back, "Nah, I'm good. I'm trying to focus on my studies...and stay out of drama."
Cali had heard whispers about the group but had never joined. She wasn't sure if she was ready to deal with the drama and potential backlash that came with being part of such a clique. However, her curiosity got the better of her, and she began to wonder what kind of stories were being shared behind closed doors.
"Which ones?" Cali replied, taking a sip of her latte.
As she pondered this, her friend, Emily, slid into the coffee shop, looking frazzled. "Hey, girl! Have you heard about the new college rules?" Emily asked, dropping into the chair across from Cali.