“He’s not saying that you’re gullible,” Clifford responded to Marielle’s question. "It is only that we don’t see faults in our best friends because they are in our company all the time,” he explained further.

Clifford knew exactly what Francie was talking about, though. Marielle was so used to seeing Kiara every day that she would not notice if her friend was fooling around. She would believe everything that Kiara said without checking the facts.

“I understand, ...