A bad influence
Skylar’s personality changed a lot over the years. Those around her suspected that the problem lay with her best friend, Shelia. According to other friends, she would have a negative influence on Skylar. When someone confronted Skylar about this, she just waved it off. She was just developing, she would say. She was busy finding herself.
Spending less time with Shelia was not an option, she said. Rachel started to change as well. Her other friends had their doubts about Shelia and therefore asked Rachel to spend less time with her. These discussions backfired: both Rachel and Skylar felt that their friends were acting up, which in fact made them more attached to Shelia and less social with the rest.