I’m Cecelia — 27, thriving in my career, and always the reliable friend. Whether it’s lending money or helping someone move, I show up. But even loyalty has its limits. In our tight-knit group of eight, two members — Samantha and Arnold — have turned mooching into an art form. At every group dinner, they order the most expensive meals, then conveniently “forget” their wallets or offer a few bucks, expecting the rest of us to cover the difference. I’d had enough.

When Jason invited me to dinner with a few of the group — including Samantha and Arnold — I almost declined. But then I had an idea. Friday came, and I showed up on time. While everyone else ordered meals, I ordered only a $3 iced tea. My friends were confused, but I stayed quiet.

When the bill arrived, Arnold cheerfully suggested we split it six ways. That’s when I stood up and said, “Actually, only three of you ate meals. The rest of us just had drinks—and we already paid at the bar.” You could hear a pin drop. Samantha and Arnold sputtered, but I smiled and added, “Friends don’t take advantage of each other.”