Twenty seven

"What's going on here?" a voice called out in the distance. It was Bethany. She walked forward with purposeful and confident strides, her expression grave enough to tell me she must have listened in. I was so relieved upon sighting her.

"She was caught shoplifting," one of them quickly supplied.

"Oh, really? Did you witness her stuffing the dress in her bag, Natalie?" Bethany was bold and confident. I wished I could be a little like her; maybe my life wouldn't be so miserable.

It was also done. I realized that the girl's name was Natalie, and Bethany seemed to know her well.

"No, but she was going to eventually. Where do you think she'll get enough money to pay for a dress like this?" Natalie argued.

"So, you accused an innocent person of shoplifting based on your unfounded assumptions?" Bethany was seconds away from tearing her into a million pieces.

"It’s not an assumption. I mean, she was acting all suspicious, and I could tell she didn't have this money. She must have stolen that f