Excitement for the weekend getaway quickly turned into frustration when Sarah’s so-called friends started dodging their share of the $2,000 cabin rental. But what they didn’t know was that Sarah had already crafted a plan to make sure they didn’t walk all over her.
Every year, the group of eight women planned a girls’ trip, and they rotated who organized it. This year, it was Sarah’s turn. She had worked tirelessly, scrolling through endless listings until she found the perfect place—a dreamy cabin right on a sparkling lake, straight out of a magazine.
It had a cozy fireplace, stunning views, a hot tub bubbling in the backyard, and even a private deck overlooking the water. When Sarah sent the pictures, the group chat exploded with excitement.
“Oh my gosh, this is gorgeous!” Brittany texted with heart emojis.
“Sarah, you nailed it!” Mary replied.
Everyone was thrilled. The cost was $2,000 for three nights, which came to just $250 each—more than fair for such luxury.
Since Sarah had to book it upfront, she covered the full cost. At their planning dinner, she spoke up.
“Since I went ahead and booked the cabin, I covered the upfront cost,” she explained. “But I’d really appreciate it if you could all pay me back before the trip. Does that work for everyone?”
“Sounds perfect, Sarah!” Mary chimed in first. “Thanks for handling all the details.”
“Absolutely, no problem at all,” Ella added.
“Great, that works for me too!” Brittany said with a grin.
The rest of the girls followed one by one:
“Yep, sounds good.”
“No worries, I can do that.”
“Of course, I’ll send it tomorrow.”
Sarah felt relieved. Everyone agreed. Everyone promised. Easy, right?
Wrong.
As the trip drew closer, excuses started rolling in like clockwork.
First, it was Mary. “Hey, Sarah,” she chirped one afternoon. “My car needs new brakes, so I might be a little late on my payment. I’ll get it to you next week.”
Then, Brittany. “Ugh, student loans are killing me this month. Can I hold off until next payday?”
Melissa’s turn came next. “I just need to wait until my paycheck clears. Don’t worry, you’ll have it soon.”
And the rest? Silence. Ella stopped responding. Dana and Lisa ghosted her completely. Even dependable Lisa, who was usually quick with money, disappeared from the conversation.
By the week of the trip, Sarah was still out $2,000. She stared at her phone, her anger simmering. The people she trusted, the ones she called her “best friends,” had turned into a pack of freeloaders.
“Why are they doing this to me?” she muttered, pacing around her apartment. “Do they think I’m stupid? Or do they think I’ll just let it slide?”
She clenched her fists. Enough was enough. If they thought she was a doormat, they were about to learn otherwise.
The night before the trip, Sarah put her plan in motion. She sent a cheerful group text, hiding her anger.
“Can’t wait to see you all at the cabin tomorrow! Gonna be the perfect weekend getaway!”
On the morning of the trip, Sarah woke early, buzzing with adrenaline. She stopped at the grocery store, filling her cart with snacks, fresh fruit, gourmet cheese, marshmallows for s’mores, and several bottles of wine. She wanted everything perfect.
When she arrived at the cabin, the beauty of it stunned her—the morning sun shimmered off the lake like glittering diamonds. She stocked the fridge, set out blankets by the firepit, and even prepped skewers for roasting marshmallows. The place looked magical.
But here was the twist: Sarah pocketed the only set of keys and the garage opener before leaving. She locked the cabin tight, got in her car, and drove off with a satisfied smirk.
Before leaving, she texted the group: “Running a quick errand but I’ll be there by the time you arrive. Everything’s ready!”
Then she parked herself at a nearby café, sipping on an iced latte while watching the drama unfold.
By noon, her phone buzzed nonstop.
“Hey, Sarah, we’re here at the cabin, but the doors are locked!” Ella called.
Mary’s text followed: “Did you forget the keys or something?”
Sarah replied sweetly: “Oh no! So sorry, guys. Must’ve left the keys at home. Don’t worry, I’m on my way back now!”
Was she on her way? Not even close. She sat back, relaxed, and chuckled as she scrolled through their increasingly frantic messages.
Lisa snapped: “How could you be this forgetful, Sarah?”
Dana fumed: “Seriously? We’re stuck outside in the cold! I thought this was supposed to be fun!”
Finally, when their patience thinned and their tempers rose, Sarah sent the message that made jaws drop.
“Look, I’ll happily come back and let you in—but only once everyone has sent me their share of the rental cost.”
For a moment: dead silence.
Then her phone blew up again, this time with apologies, excuses, and desperate attempts to backtrack.
“Okay, okay, I’ll send it now,” Melissa typed quickly.
“Fine, here’s my share,” Brittany wrote, attaching a Venmo screenshot.
One by one, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle notifications flooded in. Within an hour, the full $2,000 had been repaid.
Sarah smirked. “Guess it wasn’t so hard after all.”
Finally, she drove back to the cabin. As soon as her car pulled up, the girls rushed toward her.
“Sarah! Finally!” Mary exclaimed, relief written all over her face.
But Sarah didn’t let it slide. She stepped out of the car slowly, keys dangling in her hand. “Oh, now I’m finally here? Interesting. Because earlier, when I needed you, none of you showed up for me.”
The group fell silent, shame plastered across their faces.
Brittany tried to speak first. “Look, I’m sorry. But you have to understand—”
Sarah cut her off, her voice sharp. “No, Brittany. I don’t have to understand. I trusted you all, and you took advantage of me. That’s not what friends do.”
Lisa stepped forward cautiously. “Sarah, we messed up. You’re right. But can’t we just put this behind us and enjoy the weekend?”
Sarah’s laugh was cold. “Enjoy the weekend? After you all ignored me for weeks and left me hanging with a $2,000 bill?” She shook her head. “Friendship is about respect. And you all showed me none.”
For a long moment, no one spoke. Then Ella’s voice broke the silence, quiet and regretful. “We didn’t mean to hurt you. We just didn’t think… we didn’t realize how serious this was.”
Sarah raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t realize? Or didn’t care?”
Finally, Mary stepped forward and hugged her. “You’re right, Sarah. I’m sorry. We all are. You had every right to do what you did.”
The others mumbled apologies, some genuine, some half-hearted.
Sarah sighed, unlocking the door at last. “Fine. Let’s enjoy the weekend. But remember this—trust isn’t free. You broke it once. Don’t make me remind you again.”
The girls nodded, humbled. The weekend went on, filled with laughter, hot tub nights, and lakeside fun. But under the surface, the memory of Sarah’s little revenge lingered.
One thing was certain: none of them would ever try to dodge their share again.
Because Sarah had proved she wasn’t just the planner of the trip—she was the one person they couldn’t afford to underestimate.