Once upon a time, there was a girl named Claire. She had always been considered a loner in elementary school. When she went to middle school, she was determined to make as many friends as possible. Claire went shopping with her mom and bought new clothes, shoes, and makeup. She needed to create a new version of herself to impress all of her classmates.

"Come on mom!! This is important."

"Slow down, sweetheart. I can't keep up."

The next morning, Claire sprung out of bed before her alarm. She was so excited for the first day of school. Claire met her dad in the kitchen who was shocked by her new appearance.

 "Claire, what's the big occasion?" asked her father.

 "I need to make friends this year duh", Claire replied. 

"Claire, don't change yourself for anyone", her father reminded. 

Instead of listening to her father's advice, Claire shrugged and raced out the door.

"Claire, Wait! Come back."

When Claire got to school, Her best friend, Lacey, greeted her with a smile at her locker. 

"You look different", Lacey remarked.

 "Of course I do", responded Claire, "I'm trying to be the most popular girl in school".

From the corner of her eye, Claire noticed the popular girls approaching her. She couldn't believe it. Laura and Penelope held the whole school at their fingertips.

"Oh boy!"Lacey exclaimed.

"Oh boy!"

Laura, the leader of the posse, approached Claire first. 

"Wow Claire you clean up nice!" she announced.

 Claire could not help but blush in excitement. She couldn't believe that the popular girls were speaking to her let alone complimenting her.

 Penelope spoke up, "Claire do you want to eat lunch with us today?" she asked. 

Without hesitation, Claire accepted their offer. Lacey stood speechless

"Do you want to eat lunch with us?"

"Of course!"

Lacey sprinted to the bathroom and began to cry. She and Claire had been attached at the hip since first grade and ate lunch together every day. Claire couldn't be bothered to check on Lacey and went along with Laura and Penelope to gym class.

"I can't believe this."

By the time lunch rolled around, Claire had become the talk of the school. 

"Look at Claire", "Did you see Claire?" her classmates whispered. 

Claire bought her lunch and brought it to Laura and Penelope's table. The room went silent. No one could believe that Claire was sitting with the most popular girls in school. Claire couldn't help but smile, she had never felt so happy.

"Oh my gosh, do you see Claire?"

"Look over there!"

Claire glanced over at Lacey, who was sitting alone, and their eyes met. Claire quickly looked away. She began to feel guilty for abandoning her best friend.

 "So which boy should I date this year?" Penelope interjected.

 Laura and Penelope gossiped for the rest of the lunch hour, and Claire couldn't help but feel left out. 

"I feel so bad that Lacey is sitting alone."