Friendships can be amazing—until they’re not. Whether it’s being left out of pub trivia, stuck paying a $160 bill, or realizing your so-called bestie is more “fake” than “friend,” we’ve all had those moments that make us rethink who’s really in our corner. These stories of toxic friendships, wild betrayals, and unexpected lessons will have you laughing, cringing, and maybe even re-evaluating your own circle. Grab some popcorn—it’s about to get real!
1. The Xbox betrayal: when friends leave you out of the fun
I’ve been friends with these two girls Lily (18 y.o.) and Mia (19 y.o.) for years. One day, we went to our favorite spot, and they invited a guy (18 y.o.).
When the waiter asked if we wanted to split the bill or combine it, we usually split, but they decided to put the $160 bill on the poor guy. I assumed they were treating us, until one of them turned to Jake and said, “You’re paying for us, right? Just being a gentleman.”
Jake looked completely thrown off. “What?” he asked, his face a mix of confusion and discomfort. Mia and Lily just giggled, grabbed their stuff, and just left. I was not okay, so I stayed.
Jake and I sat there, awkward and silent, staring at a bill for $160. I could only afford my $30, and he hesitated before saying he had $50, but that was all he could spare—it was his grocery money.
I called my brother and explained the situation, and he sent me enough to cover the remaining balance. I paid the bill, apologized to Jake, and even offered to pay him back later for what he spent. He shook his head and said, “It’s not your fault. Thank you for staying. That was... wild.”
The next day, I got angry texts from them saying, that I “ruined the vibe” and saying I was “acting better than them.” They even accused me of liking Jake, which was absurd.
When Lily wrote, “He should want to treat us, it’s how guys impress girls,” that was the final straw.
I left the group chat, blocked them both, and decided I was done.
4. Pub trivia betrayal: how to heal from hurtful friendships
When I returned to work after being off for three months due to an injury, I practically begged my coworkers to grab a beer and do pub trivia. All three of them said they had plans, so I let it go. Later, I found out through social media that their ’plans’ were to grab a beer and do pub trivia—without me. I deleted my social media shortly afterward.
I matched with a guy on a dating app. He seemed vaguely familiar, but I brushed it off. We started flirting. Before our date, I checked his socials. My heart sank when I realized he was my best friend’s husband. I decided to come clean and showed her our conversation. What she did next felt like a slap in the face. She took my hand and smiled calm but cold. “Thank you for telling me,” she said softly. Then her tone shifted, sharp and cutting. “But let’s not pretend this was an accident.”
I froze. “What?” I barely managed to say.
Her grip tightened. “You’ve always wanted what I have. Always. But this? This is too far.”
I felt the air leave my lungs. “I didn’t know! I told you as soon as I realized!”
She pulled her hand away and stood, glaring down at me. “Save it. I’ve seen the way you look at him—at everything that’s mine. Maybe it’s time we take a break. I don’t need this in my life.”
And just like that, she walked away. I sat there, stunned, my heart shattered. I thought honesty would save our friendship, but instead, it destroyed it.
It didn’t end there. She blocked me on everything—social media, phone, everywhere. She told our friends a twisted version of what happened, one where I was the villain trying to steal her husband.
I wanted to fight back, to tell my side, but what would be the point? She was hurt and lashed out, but in doing so, she erased years of friendship, years of memories, as if they meant nothing. I thought we were unbreakable. I was wrong.
6. Truckless and friendless: the harsh reality of outgrowing friendships
Apparently, I didn’t realize I was on a different tier of friendship with my so-called friend. She was getting married, and I didn’t get an invite, which I understood since it was a destination wedding in another country.
Later, I attended a sleepover party she hosted with about nine other girls. They spent the evening talking about the amazing bachelorette party and showing photos of the wild time they had. That’s when I realized I was the only one who hadn’t been invited.
I flew out to support a friend who was going through a messy divorce. While I was there, she left me alone in her apartment to meet up with her boyfriend—someone I didn’t even know existed. It turned out he had just been released from prison for a serious offense that made my hair stand on end. When she told me this, I explained that I wasn’t comfortable spending time with him, especially given the circumstances of my visit.
The next night, I woke up in the middle of the night to find him in the living room. When I confronted her, she said she didn’t think it would matter since I was asleep. The following day, she invited her soon-to-be ex-husband over without telling me and then asked me to mediate their conversation once he arrived. That discussion escalated quickly and turned ugly. She stormed out, leaving me alone with him. He broke down and asked if I thought their relationship was salvageable. I told him the truth: she had already moved on.
On my 21st birthday—all my ’friends’ made up excuses for why they couldn’t come. The three friends who did show up ended up meeting some guys, and we awkwardly sat around at their house for the rest of the night.
It happened again on my 25th birthday. By then, I had moved across the country and made new friends, but they all bailed at the last minute. I ended up calling my roommate, who came out after he got off work. He even brought some of his friends along, and it turned out to be the best night ever.