I'm Emily,Sophie Turner's best friend, and scapegoat.
When she had hickeys on her neck,she told her mom I playfully kissed her.
When she was out messing around with her boyfriend,she said she was out for my birthday.

When she scored 30 on a monthly exam,she claimed I only got 20.
When she got pregnant,she cried to her mom that I tricked her into going to a bar and drugged her.
Her mom,with a mob,beat me to death.
Reborn,her mom came knocking on my door again.
I smiled."Yes,ma'am,I gave her the hickeys,and the kid's mine too!I scored 20,so the kid's probably a loser—get rid of it!"
...

Sophie and her boyfriend were going at it,but she told her mom she was at my place for my birthday.
My phone buzzed non-stop—it was Sophie's mom,Linda Harris.
Coldness crept into my heart.When I answered,Linda's accusing voice blared."Emily,you're only a student in high school—why're you stirring up trouble?Sophie has school tomorrow,and you're keeping her at your place?"
"You're students—focus on your studies.Even if you don't care,don't drag Sophie down.She's aiming for Stanford."

"Even if she's with you,why'd you turn her phone off?Parents worry,Emily.How can you be so thoughtless?"
Her relentless insults and mockery fueled my anger.
A lifetime ago,as Sophie's scapegoat,I became the person her mom warned her to stay away from.
I remember delivering homework to Sophie's house.Linda saw the hickeys on Sophie's neck and asked,"Mosquito bites?"
Sophie pointed at me."Emily did it,we were just messing around."
Linda's look turned odd.She sent Sophie to the kitchen to"help with dinner,"but really lectured her for half an hour.
I sat in the living room,overhearing their talk.
Her words,veiled and direct,were meant for me for hear.Humiliated,I fled,face burning.
Linda suspected my sexual orientation,she was convinced that I’m a bad influence,and told Sophie to steer clear.
I distanced myself,but Sophie kept using me as her excuse.
Her lies brought me ruin.
Now her mom was calling,and I didn't need to guess—Sophie was out with her punk of a boyfriend again,pinning it on me.
"Emily,are you listening?Put Sophie on the phone."
Snapping back,I pretended to,"Soph—"
I dropped the phone.Linda's voice grew frantic."Emily?Emily?Speak!"
I turned off my phone.
Humming,I grabbed a bathrobe and headed to the bathroom.
Fresh from drying my hair,I heard someone knocking on the door hard, almst slamming it.
Cracking it open,Linda barged in with Sophie's dad,Greg Turner,close behind.
"Sophie?Sophie?Get out here,you brat!"
Facing this brash woman,I clenched my fists,took a deep breath,and turned to her with a smile."Ma'am,what's up?"
"Emily,what's wrong with you?Why did you turn off your phone?Where's Sophie?Where're you hiding her?Tell her to get out!"
My eyes burned red,and I sneered.Hide her?As if I could.
The truth always outs.A lifetime ago,Sophie messed up—got pregnant.
She sobbed to her mom that I lured her to a bar,got her drunk,drugged her.
Before the police could investigate,Linda had me beaten to death.
Hatred filled my eyes.I could still feel the pain of those blows.
I had already received my offer from my dream university;I had a bright future ahead of me.Yet Sophie's family ended it.How could I not hate them?