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The same popular crowd that had once followed her around like puppies turned on her almost overnight. And when she lost their approval, she came for mine.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmily stole money from my purse,\u201d she told Mom one night while I was finishing an essay in the dining room.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t!\u201d I shouted, heart pounding.<\/p>\n
Mom stormed in. \u201cJulia would never lie about this. Return the money and apologize.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t take anything!\u201d I pleaded.<\/p>\n
Dad joined in. \u201cWhy must you always argue? Why can\u2019t you be more like your sister?\u201d<\/p>\n
And behind their backs, Julia smiled.<\/p>\n
Worse than the accusations was how easily they spread \u2014 at home, at school. Julia told people I cheated on tests, gossiped about teachers, and stole from lockers. None of it was true, but truth didn\u2019t matter. Her lies painted me as trouble. My friendships crumbled one by one as my parents forbade me from seeing anyone Julia disliked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t need to hang out with Claire anymore,\u201d Mom declared one afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJulia says she\u2019s a bad influence.\u201d<\/p>\n