AITBA for my friends messing up my car
I (26F) helped my friend Lydia (26F) plan our best friend Sarah’s (27F) birthday party. Lydia spent around $250 on decorations. I couldn’t contribute as much financially because of bills and gas, but I bought the food and did most of the driving. I spent around $160 on gas.
Early in the party, I and two other girls put some cake on Sarah’s face. She normally laughs things like that off, but this time she got upset and went upstairs crying. I gave her space and apologized later. She eventually said things were fine.
Later, Sarah and Lydia asked me to pick up two guys who lived pretty far away. I eventually agreed. When we returned, I found out that Sarah, Lydia, and the two guys had been smoking in my car. I have always had one rule for my car: no drugs or alcohol. I told them they needed to stop, and they got out and I locked my car. Later, they went back into the car (somehow getting ahold of my keys) and did it again despite knowing my rule. I got upset and told them they couldn’t continue doing that.
The situation became an argument, and Sarah blamed me for the two guys eventually leaving because I had confronted them. There was an altercation between Sarah and my boyfriend Noah (27M), and we had to separate them. At that point, I decided it was best to take everyone home.
During the drive, Sarah continued arguing with Noah and insulting him. I asked everyone to stop because I was driving and didn’t want the situation to escalate again. Eventually, I pulled over because I no longer felt comfortable driving while everyone was arguing. Sarah told me to either drop her off or “deal with it.” She also said she would get the police involved if I stopped driving her, even though I had previously been giving her rides to work almost every day.
I ultimately dropped her off somewhere with other people around. Her phone was charged, and everyone knew where she was. Later, I told her and Lydia that I needed some time to process everything.
Instead, they contacted me saying I owed Lydia $200 for decorations because they claimed the decorations were “ruined.” I told them I never agreed to reimburse her for the decorations, especially since she chose to spend the money herself. I also pointed out that I had spent money on food and gas and had allowed everyone to use my car and my house for the party (some damages as well) despite having a clear rule about it.
They then insulted me and called me names. I stopped responding and said I would not be paying the $200.
So, AITBA for enforcing my car rule, refusing to pay for decorations I never agreed to reimburse, and ending the ride when I no longer felt comfortable driving during an escalating argument?