Every year, our friend group plans a girls’ weekend getaway. We take turns organizing, and this year, it was mine! I was excited to find the perfect spot: a cozy cabin nestled right on a sparkling lake.

We all squealed with delight when I sent the pictures.

The place looked like it came straight out of a magazine. It had a cozy cabin with a fireplace, stunning views of the lake, and even a hot tub.

The total cost was $2,000 for the three-night stay, which broke down to a very reasonable $250 each for our group of eight.

“Since I went ahead and booked the cabin, I was happy to cover the upfront cost,” I told my friends. “But to make things smooth, I’d love for you all to pay me back before the trip starts. Does that work for everyone?”

“Sounds perfect, Sarah!” Mary chimed in first. “Thanks for taking care of that.”

“Absolutely, no problem at all,” echoed Ella.

“Great, that works for me too!” chimed in Brittany.

One by one, everyone else around the table agreed.

“Yep, sounds good,” “No worries, I can do that,” the confirmations rolled in. It seemed everyone was happy to handle their share, and they promised to pay me before the trip started.

Easy peasy, right?

Wrong.

As the trip approached, the easy peasy turned into oh-so-frustrating.

First, it was Mary. “Hey Sarah,” she chirped, “my car needs new brakes, so I might be a little late on my payment. I’ll get it to you next week.”

A week later, it was Brittany’s turn. “Ugh, student loans are killing me this month. Can I hold off until next payday?”

“I just need to wait until my next paycheck,” Melissa told me.

Weeks went by as I reminded them to pay back, but they came up with more excuses.

Each excuse was new and none of them overlapped. It seemed like they were together in this.

Then came the radio silence. Nada. No texts, no calls, nothing from Ella, Dana, or even reliable old Lisa.

By the week before the trip, I was out $2,000 and feeling completely used.

The same people I called my “friends” had indirectly refused to pay me back. The people I trusted the most had suddenly decided to team up against me.

Why were they doing this?

Had I done something wrong? Or was this an attempt to see how I would react to such a tricky situation? I don’t know what it was, but it was making me super angry.

I knew I had to do something drastic, something that would make them understand I wasn’t a doormat.

As a result, I decided it was time to teach them a lesson they wouldn’t forget. Now, I’m not one for confrontation, but this was ridiculous.

The night before the trip, I took a deep breath and picked up my phone to execute the first step of my plan.

I sent a group text, bubbling over with fake excitement. “Can’t wait to see you all at the cabin tomorrow! Gonna be the perfect weekend getaway!”

Little did they know, I had a devious plan brewing

The next morning, I woke up extra early and hopped out of my bed. Throwing on clothes, I raced out the door, eager to transform the cabin into our own little haven.

At the grocery store, I pushed my cart down the aisles.

A giddy smile appeared on my face as I filled it with fresh fruit, cheese, and enough snacks to satisfy an army.

I even got the best selection of wine and juices. I wanted to ensure my friends were well-fed and taken care of.

After paying for the snacks and drinks, I got back into my car and drove towards the cabin. It was even more beautiful in person, the sunlight glinting off the lake like a million diamonds.

I stocked the fridge with everything that I had bought.

I even prepped a bonfire for that night, complete with cozy blankets and marshmallows.

The place looked perfect. I knew my friends would have the best time of their lives here.

But here’s the catch: I took the keys and the garage door opener with me when I left for an “errand.”

Before locking the cabin, I texted all my friends that I was out for an urgent task and would reach there by the time they arrived. They trusted me, just like I did when I asked them to pay me back.

However, they broke my trust, and so did I.

If they wanted to have a good time in the cabin, they had to follow my rules. They had to earn their weekend getaway.

I wasn’t going to let them have a good time when all they did was ignore my texts and calls.

By lunchtime, my phone started blowing up. Frantic texts and calls poured in from my friends.

“Hey, Sarah, we’re here at the cabin, but the doors are locked!” Ella said.

“Did you forget something?” Mary asked.

I kept my cool, replying with a simple, “Oh no! So sorry, guys. Must have left the keys at home. But hey, the good news is I’m on my way back now!”

Was I on my way back? No!

I was sitting at a nearby cafe, sipping on my favorite iced latte. I enjoyed reading their texts as they reached the cabin one after the other.

After I sent the last message, the frequency of their texts dropped. They felt relieved I was on my way back, but the truth was entirely different.

As their short-lived relief faded, they started calling and texting me again. This time, their messages were way more desperate. Some of my friends were angry, while others were struggling not to lose their temper.

“How can you be so forgetful, Sarah?” Lisa asked.

“I can’t believe you’re making us all wait like this!” Dana said. “I thought this was supposed to be a fun trip.”

Finally, I decided to drop the bomb.

I sent a calm message: “Look, I’m happy to come back and let you all in, but only once everyone has sent over their share of the rental cost.”

Silence.

Then, a flurry of activity.

Apparently, the prospect of a luxurious weekend getaway suddenly trumped car troubles, student loans, and all the other excuses they’d cooked up.

My phone buzzed with Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle notifications as payments started rolling in.

Within an hour, every penny was accounted for.

“You guys could have done this before!” I said to myself before grabbing the keys and heading back to the cabin.

Their eyes lit up as soon as they saw my car in the parking lot. Some of them started walking towards my car, while the others walked towards the door.

“I hope I made it on time!” I chirped as I exited my car with the key in my hands.

A few of them mumbled apologies as I opened the door, while others offered sheepish grins.

Honestly, the awkwardness was a little much at first.

The rest of the weekend wasn’t exactly the carefree escape I’d envisioned. The initial tension lingered, and the usual playful banter felt a little strained.

But here’s the thing: they finally understood. There were consequences for not keeping their word.

A woman kayaking | Source: Pexels

A selfie of a woman with her friends | Source: Midjourney

A lakeside cabin | Source: Pexels