Chapter 1At the reunion, my best friend Kinsley stood up and goes:
"Guys, this one's on me!"
Everyone lost it. But when the server brought the check, her face went white.
Sixty-three thousand dollars.
She smoothed her face real quick and leaned in.
"Sutton, outside. Now."
Fifth time she's pulled this.
Every reunion—same thing. Acts generous, makes me pay, takes all the credit.
Whenever I ask for my money back?
"We're best friends! You don't trust me?"
Best friends, best friends, best friends.
Yeah, I'm done.
I didn't move. Just looked at her.
"What's so secret you can't say it in front of everyone?"
...
After we graduated, everyone went their separate ways. Job hunting was hell.
Everyone except my best friend Kinsley Hartwell.
She spent all day in our class group chat, showing off her new bags, her nails, her vacations.
And she organized hangouts every few days.
Most importantly—she refused to split bills. Always said she'd treat.
Everyone called her gorgeous and a saint.
Another reunion came up.
Early that morning, Kinsley called me:
"Sutton, I'm like the main character today. Can't be late. Let me borrow your Mercedes?"
I hesitated.
Kinsley pushed. "You're not gonna be weird about it, right? I'm your best friend."
"Don't worry, I'll fill the tank and wash it for you."
This was the sixth time she'd borrowed my car.
Every time she had some excuse.
But when she gave it back? Tank was always empty.
One time she ran it down to nothing and didn't want to pay for gas, so she called and said she was "busy." Told me to come get it myself.
I took an Uber dozens of miles in the pouring rain, late at night, to get to the spot.
I drove maybe ten minutes before it died.
Middle of nowhere. I didn't even know where a gas station was.
I sat in that car all night. Didn't get a tow until the next morning.
I let out this tired sigh. "Kinsley, I actually need the car today."
"Okay so what am I supposed to do then?"
I blinked. "What do you mean?"
Kinsley said it like it was obvious. "I need it more than you do. So what are we gonna do?"
But it's MY CAR!
Before I could say anything, she jumped in:
"Just Uber. Let me borrow it first."
"Tonight's the reunion and I'm the one who set it up. You know that."
"Sutton, we've known each other for like fifteen years. You're my best friend."
Yeah.
We'd known each other since we were kids.
She was a few months younger. I'd always looked out for her like a big sister.
She loved acting cute and throwing little tantrums.
I put up with all of it.
Real friends shouldn't keep score. Right?
So I'd been putting up with it for fifteen years.
During the time, I'd gone through tons of friends, but I was her one and only "best friend."
So, I sighed really deep and gave in.
Chapter 2
That night I Ubered to the reunion at this hotel in West Hollywood.
Everyone was already there.
They stood outside chatting, catching up, asking about jobs, swapping leads.
When I showed up, maybe two people said hi.
Everyone else kept talking like I wasn't even there.
These reunions were supposed to be for "classmates," but really everyone had their own little groups.
Sometimes I wondered what the point even was.
Just then my Mercedes pulled up in front of the hotel.
Kinsley stepped out and casually tossed the keys to the valet.
Suddenly all the little groups swarmed toward her:
"Oh my God, Kinsley, you're finally here! We've been waiting forever."
"Seriously, you're the one treating us—we didn't want to go in without you."
"Kinsley you're such a boss. That Mercedes costs like what, eighty grand?"
Kinsley was eating it up. She glanced at me real quick, then goes:
"It's just a Mercedes. Honestly? This is the cheapest car we have."
I stood there watching her.
I knew she wanted the attention.
But I didn't call her out.
The party started.
Two tables in a private room.
The whole night people kept toasting Kinsley and laying it on thick:
"Kinsley, even back in high school you were the prettiest and most talented. Now after all these years, you're still the best out of all of us."
"Exactly. Talented people shine everywhere. You're irreplaceable, Kinsley."
"Kinsley, cheers to you."
The ass-kissing was bad enough.
But then out of nowhere this girl named Tessa Vaughn—I barely even knew her—decided to drag me into it:
"Hey Sutton, why aren't you toasting Kinsley?"
"Every time we hang out, Kinsley takes care of you. Sits you next to her, drives you home."
"Yeah, Kinsley treats you like a real sister, but you act like you're owed everything."
Other people nodded:
"Right? Remember senior year?"
"That summer trip, you didn't have any money. Kinsley paid for everything and you didn't even say thank you."
Some people shot me these jealous looks.
Others just shook their heads at me.
Like I was ungrateful.
Like I had no clue.
But that summer, the reason I didn't have money was because Kinsley had borrowed all of it.
And she still hasn't paid me back.
And every time she "drove me home"?
That was MY CAR.
I was about to defend myself when Kinsley stood up and raised her glass toward me:
"Guys, come on. Sutton and I are tight. Why are we keeping score?"
"Come on, Sutton. Let me toast you."
I looked around at all the annoyed faces, then at Kinsley.
I had no choice. I picked up my glass.
After we drank, some girl across the table muttered loud enough for everyone to hear:
"So tacky. No class at all."
"Kinsley's so nice to her, even stands up to toast her, and she doesn't even stand. You can't just take your best friend for granted like that."
Everyone's eyes were full of disgust.
Like they'd all decided I was some ungrateful bitch.
After a few rounds of drinks, everyone had eaten their fill.
Tessa spoke up again:
"Kinsley always pays for everything. Why don't we split it this time?"
Everyone immediately agreed.
But their eyes kept flickering toward Kinsley with this hopeful look.
Kinsley immediately patted her chest:
"Split what? I said I'm covering it. Just enjoy."
"If you feel bad, just make sure if I ever need help, you've got my back. Don't act like you don't know me."
Tessa waved her hands:
"Of course not! I can't speak for everyone, but Kinsley, if you ever need anything, I'll be the first one there."
Others jumped in:
"Don't worry, Kinsley. If you ask and it's something I can do, I'm there. No question."
Everyone stood up with their glasses and started making promises to Kinsley.
Only I stayed seated
Be the odd one out.
I didn't want to be the odd one out. Didn't want to look difficult.
But they were all just talking.
Of course it was easy for them.
Kinsley actually DID ask me for help. Over and over again!
Just then the server brought over the bill.
Kinsley glanced at it.
Two tables, eighty-eight hundred total.
She frowned a little, then smiled at everyone:
"You guys sit tight. I'll go pay."
"Sutton, stop scrolling. Come with me for a sec. I need to talk to you."
Chapter 3
I followed her out.
Before she could say anything, I asked:
"Kinsley, don't tell me your card's maxed out again and you need me to cover it."
Kinsley laughed but it sounded fake. "What? No way."
"I just had this emergency earlier and spent everything. Just front it for me. I'll pay you back tomorrow. You know I wouldn't screw you over, right?"
I let out this deep sigh. "Fine. I'll trust you one more time."
When the party ended, this guy from class, Silas Archer, walked up to me:
"Sutton, what does Kinsley always pull you aside for when it's time to pay?"
"She's not making you pay every time, is she?"
I said quietly, "She says she'll pay me back tomorrow."
Silas looked like something just clicked. He stared at me for a second.
"Make sure you actually ask her for it tomorrow."
"Oh, and you've been drinking. Want me to give you a ride?"
I thought about it. Didn't say no.
The next day I waited until 8 p.m.
Still nothing from Kinsley. Same as always.
I called her:
"You said you'd pay me back today."
She sounded groggy like she'd just woken up:
"Why are you so pressed about a little money? It's not like I'm not gonna pay you. You sound like some debt collector. Seriously? You don't trust me?"
I kept going:
"What about my car? You're giving that back, right?"
Her tone turned nasty:
"Sutton, this is ridiculous. It's just a car. You're acting like I stole it or something."
"It's parked downstairs at my place. Come get it yourself. I'm trying to sleep. Stop bothering me."
She straight up snapped at me, then hung up.
I stared at my phone.
This chill spread through my chest.
My so-called best friend—someone I used to tell everything—was now being cruel over money and a car.
Like I was the one being unreasonable.
When I got to Kinsley's building, I was about to knock when I saw my car keys just tossed on the ground outside her door.
Like a piece of trash.
I swallowed the hurt, picked up the keys, and made up my mind right there.
I was done with this so-called best friend.
I didn't knock. Just turned around and left.
Got in the car. Of course—gas tank on empty.
Just as I was about to drive off, I got a text:
[Your vehicle, license plate XXX, ran a red light on Sunset Boulevard at 5 p.m. Please address the violation.]
WHAT?!
I lent her my car. Lent her money. And now I had to clean up her mess!
I was pissed. I called her again:
"Kinsley, I need money. Pay me back. Now."
She shouted back:
"Sutton, what is your problem? It's eighty-eight hundred bucks. Are you really that desperate?"
I kept my voice steady:
"You promised you'd pay me back today."
"And it's not just eighty-eight hundred. With all the other times, you owe me thirty-six thousand, two hundred and forty-three dollars."
"Oh my God!" I heard something crash on her end.
"Sutton, seriously. Are you for real right now?!"
Suddenly, she hung up.
That string in my heart labeled "friendship" finally snapped.
Fifteen years.
I'd had enough.
But if I just cut her off, I'd never see that money again.
I thought it over.
Finally I saw my chance—
A month later, Kinsley organized another event in the group chat.
