So. I allowed, when I bought my house over a year ago, two close friends from college (now they are married and no longer live with me) to move in. I was doing them a HUGE favor as they couldn't afford an apt with bills by themselves, as one is a starving actor and the other works in retail with shitty pay although good benefits. that's the basic backstory.
Fast forward to 6 months after they move in, they are married, they decide they need their own space. totally understandable, was not offended in the least. newlyweds need to learn how to be married together without the hindrance of a roommate/landlord.
In January, they find a nice place, and they need to gather first, last and security deposit. I am so understanding that I allow them to not pay me their share of heat, electric, water for the previous month of December, and tell them that they can owe me that as well as the month we were in, January. Both agree that it's more than fair, and they seem totally appreciative.
After that, they moved out. it became awkward when i saw them at friendly get-togethers and wild parties (see, i intro-ed them to my high school friend group and they gelled with my friends and now we are all a big group of friends). Finally, i got up the nerve to ask for money. that was in late may/early june. She tells me totally ok, they are getting by, but they will find some way to pay me. No total is discussed.
Finally, August, I see Her. She drops by for a lil hang out time, and I give her a written up detailed list of what they owe. I think this is more than fair as it's more than 6 months since they've moved out.
weeks pass. I dont hear from them. Then i get a random phone call asking for copies of the bills, because, "It's not that we don't trust you it's just... well, we'd like to see the bills."
wtf?? so i am totally insulted. i'm not one to rip off friends, or anyone for that matter. she's known me pretty well since 2002 and so has he and they know that's not my MO. they smoke a fair amount of pot (memory loss), and i know they have probably forgotten about the fact that it's for 2 months.
So i write a nice email to her. I say that i, of course, have the bills, but even though i'm slightly insulted, im not surprised since it's been more than 6 months. i tell her i am going to try to jog her memory. i write out how they told me they'd owe me for 2 months of bills so they could get the first, last, and sec deposit together.
so the real Q is how to proceed? i dont want to lose friends over like 500 bucks, but at the same time, that's 500 bucks! that's not really cool... and the fact that it's been so damn long.. well.. im not pleased on that level either, but i just want to put this behind me and move on, and keep the friendship if possible. thoughts? sry that was so long.
oh and they did pay rent, that wasn't the issue. just bills. heat (gas) was damn expensive in Dec and Jan, so the bills were freakin' high $$!



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