text: "Just a joke" often means somebody covering themselves. In this case it doesn't sound like a joke.  \n\nBut covering themselves doesn't necessarily mean she stole it.  She may have felt that she had your permission to borrow things, as you implied.  So if somebody confronted her about something she borrowed, her automatic response may well have been to become defensive and conver herself.  \n\nI'm a little confused about her not returning, though.  You share a bedroom.  Do you share dressers and closets?  If she has her own set of clothes and stores it there, why not just take it back?  Surely she hasn't been WEARING it for the past two weeks.  \n\nTalk to her about it, but don't accuse her.  If she felt she was allowed to borrow your stuff freely, it's not fair to accuse her of stealing simply because you hadn't worn the skirt yet, especially if she didn't know it was brand new or special.\n\nGood luck.