"That Was Then This Is Now"

"Does growing up mean having to grow apart?"
This question was posed on the back of what is now one of my favorite books called "That Was Then This Is Now." I remember in ninth grade we were allowed to choose a book to read for our book report that was outside of the reading list. I talked to one of my older friends who suggested this book. I took the suggestion and ended up loving the thrill of it. When it came time to write my book report, I totally disagreed with the question that was posted above. I wrote how things could stay the same between friends and how nothing could ever break a strong bond such as true friendship. I got my book report back not only with an A, but a note from my teacher saying that sometimes friendships do break. I never believed him until it happened.
Yes, it happened. A friend who I had been friends with since kindergarten started getting into things that I did not want to do. When she started smoking, she asked me if I wanted to; I refused, but she insisted. I never smoked the cigerette that day. Then when she started drinking and doing drugs, I wouldn't support her in it. After all, we were only in tenth grade. When she started drinking with her ex boyfriend alone at night in a parking lot, I lost respect for her. My friends and I talked about how she was behaving and how she couldn't see that she was doing worse in school and how her over all attitude changed. She was also dragging some of my friends into doing things like this. Something had to be done about it. No one did anything; not for several months.
One day she called me up and thinking she was being funny, ended up insulting me. After that I stopped talking to her and likewise she wouldn't talk to me. If she did call, which was rarely, I refused to pick up the phone. Some of my friends still hung out with her and she started gaining a lot of popularity in school because of her social drinking. Finally, the end of the summer was near and I couldn't stand it anymore. Not only was I fed up with her, but so were all of her true friends.
The night I called her up to tell her how I felt was frightening. I didn't want to confront her about it, but neither did anyone else; I was left to do the dirty work. I let her know how everyone lost some respect for her. She started crying and told me she would try to change things; she said she was unaware of how people felt. I thought it was genuine, but she still does somethings that I don't agree with.
We have hung out since then, but things aren't the same. I don't think we'll ever really get back to the way things used to be.
I have grown up a lot since I've read that book. I haven't lost too many friends. Some people come into your life for a while and some people leave. I agree with my old teacher; growing up sometimes means having to grow apart. But I believe that if the bond is strong enough, you'll find a way to make it work even if it takes years.