My Husband's Female Friend Made A Bet AGAINST OUR MARRIAGE Last More Than 2 Years r/Relationships

[00:00:02] Hey Waffle Gang, I do hope you're well. My name is Mark and today we're checking out some more Reddit stories. And if you do love a Reddit story, why not consider that like, subscribe, maybe that notification bell too. And let's crack on with today's first story. Much love guys.

[00:00:18] Now today's first story comes from a throwaway account from the Am I the arsehole here subreddit. It says, Am I the arsehole here who asked my husband to block his female friend who warned him not to marry me.

[00:00:31] I, 26 female, want my husband, 27 male, to immediately block one of his friends Kyla, 27 female. He thinks I'm overreacting and wants opinions from some cool headed people on if I am just crazy or this is something, this would cross the line for you.

[00:00:48] My husband has a group of eight friends he is close with since his college days. Kyla is one of his friends. When my husband and I started dating, he introduced me to all of them and everyone was very friendly.

[00:01:01] I used to hang out with them frequently. I'm an introvert and so is my husband. I would always ask him to spend alone time as being in social settings just saps all my energy away.

[00:01:11] His friends and especially Kyla always made it a point to tell me how he hangs out with them less after he started dating me.

[00:01:19] Kyla also has a weird energy around me. If I was with my husband, she would be the most friendliest with me.

[00:01:26] However, as soon as he walked away, she acted like I did not exist. My husband hates to be touched by others.

[00:01:33] We are both ND. But Kyla would always tease him by trying to hug him, mess his hair, etc.

[00:01:41] I never felt she was flirting with him but just teasing him to make him annoyed.

[00:01:45] Overall, it just feels like a person who has a severe social boundary issue.

[00:01:50] We got married two years ago and things have been great between us.

[00:01:54] Last week, we had our second marriage anniversary and invited a bunch of people.

[00:01:59] His friend stayed back after all the guests left and we were all drinking and chatting.

[00:02:04] One of his friends, Jen, became a bit tipsy and started complimenting me on how beautiful our house is,

[00:02:09] how I care for my husband and how he has changed for the better since marriage.

[00:02:14] Everyone was laughing at my husband at how much of a slobby was when he was single.

[00:02:18] Jen then pointed at Kyla and said,

[00:02:21] You better pay up because you had a bet that their marriage would not even last for two years.

[00:02:26] Everyone became silent and started changing the topic.

[00:02:30] I also did not want to spoil the mood and let it go but stuck in my head.

[00:02:36] After everyone left, I asked my husband what Jen was talking about.

[00:02:40] He also had noticed Jen saying that and was ready with a full explanation.

[00:02:44] He told me the story of what happened when we got engaged.

[00:02:47] When he proposed to me, he had not told his friends that he was going to do that.

[00:02:51] We went on a trip to Puerto Rico and he surprised me there.

[00:02:55] We put our engagement pictures on Instagram while we were on the trip

[00:02:58] and it was a big surprise to everyone as we were only dating for one year.

[00:03:02] When he came back and met all his friends, everyone congratulated him.

[00:03:06] However, Kyla started ranting about how he was a fool to propose so quickly

[00:03:11] and she felt that I was not the right girl for him.

[00:03:13] It seemed like she had said some unkind things about me, implying I was a gold digger.

[00:03:18] My husband's family is wealthy but so is mine.

[00:03:21] She had said that she bet we would break up within two years if we got married.

[00:03:26] That is why Jen was taunting her about how happy my husband was with me.

[00:03:30] I was very furious at this point as I feel this is something he should have told me.

[00:03:36] I asked him to tell me truthfully if he had ever dated Kyla or had a history with her

[00:03:41] as he has always told me that he has never dated anyone from his friend group.

[00:03:45] He said that he has of course not dated or hooked up with Kyla.

[00:03:48] However, Kyla had asked him out a few times when they were in college and he always politely declined.

[00:03:53] I asked why he said no to her and he said he just does not have any romantic feelings for her.

[00:03:59] I can see that because my husband does have a type based on me or the other people he has dated in the past

[00:04:05] and Kyla is the opposite of that.

[00:04:07] I am just mad at her for saying bad things about me,

[00:04:11] especially after knowing that we are already engaged and betting against my marriage.

[00:04:15] I told my husband that he needs to minimize contact with Kyla and she is not invited to parties at our house.

[00:04:20] He feels I am being too harsh for something she said almost three years ago.

[00:04:25] He also pointed out that she has been very supportive to both of us

[00:04:28] and also helped a lot during our wedding arrangements.

[00:04:31] He feels she is just blunt and forthright when she speaks but she does not mean those.

[00:04:37] He told me to take some time and calm down and we would revisit the topic in a week.

[00:04:41] He is worried this will completely change the dynamics within his friend group.

[00:04:46] Am I the arsehole for wanting him to block her and stop inviting her to our house?

[00:04:50] Do you think I am overreacting?

[00:04:52] I think betting against our marriage and bad mouthing me behind my back seems like a huge betrayal.

[00:04:58] I am also mad at my husband that he kept this fact from me

[00:05:01] and also never told me that Kyla arsed him out during college days.

[00:05:05] Am I just being crazy and reactive?

[00:05:08] How would you react in this situation?

[00:05:10] I don't want to distance my husband from his friends

[00:05:12] but I also do not want to see that bitch Kyla's face again.

[00:05:16] Someone asked OP they said info how has Kyla acted since the wedding?

[00:05:20] Has her behaviour changed?

[00:05:22] You describe her bad behaviour in the past tense so

[00:05:24] one might believe she's not doing those things anymore

[00:05:27] but does she still exhibit boundary issues with your husband?

[00:05:31] OP says yes.

[00:05:32] Her behaviour with my husband has not changed at all after marriage.

[00:05:35] However she is the same with all the other friends too.

[00:05:38] With me she is fake nice where she acts like we are best friends in front of my hubby

[00:05:43] and barely talks to me when he is not around.

[00:05:46] The book replies to OP's him

[00:05:47] what did he think when you told him that she's totally different when he leaves?

[00:05:51] OP says he just says

[00:05:53] she does not know you that well

[00:05:55] just ignore her.

[00:05:56] OP continues

[00:05:57] she has never said anything negative to my face

[00:06:00] however as a girl

[00:06:01] you just know when someone does not like you.

[00:06:04] It's hard to explain to him that it's your feeling

[00:06:05] and not based on anything

[00:06:07] she has specifically said or done.

[00:06:10] As per my previous says

[00:06:11] not the arsehole

[00:06:12] being blunt or forthright

[00:06:14] isn't a part to be rude and contemptuous

[00:06:16] to your friend's SO.

[00:06:18] I consider myself forthright

[00:06:20] and yet I can still use manners and tact

[00:06:22] or dump a friend who is so sneakish to my husband and I.

[00:06:25] Yeah in that comment

[00:06:26] it just felt like it's one of those

[00:06:28] oh it's just who they are isn't it?

[00:06:30] Well no.

[00:06:32] Like that last comment said

[00:06:33] you can be polite about things

[00:06:34] you don't have to be bloody rude

[00:06:35] that's not acceptable

[00:06:36] and it just feels like

[00:06:37] one of those situations right now

[00:06:39] that Kyla has something going on for your husband.

[00:06:43] One hour a day says

[00:06:44] not the arsehole

[00:06:45] it's definitely natural for you to dislike Kyla.

[00:06:47] Sounds like she's into your husband.

[00:06:49] It'd probably be hard for him to outright block her

[00:06:51] considering the dynamic of the friend group

[00:06:53] and the last thing you want

[00:06:55] is to turn all his friends against you.

[00:06:57] Personally I don't think blocking her is the solution

[00:06:59] but to instead sit him down

[00:07:01] and seriously voice your concerns.

[00:07:03] That she would say something like

[00:07:04] that she touches him too often.

[00:07:06] That she would bet against your marriage behind your back.

[00:07:09] That stuff needs to be shut down

[00:07:10] and it needs to be on your side.

[00:07:12] Personally I'd get drunk with them

[00:07:14] and make a cocky joke to Kyla

[00:07:16] when you're alone

[00:07:17] that she's jealous

[00:07:17] you ended up with him

[00:07:19] instead of her

[00:07:19] and laugh in her face.

[00:07:21] But I'm petty as fuck.

[00:07:23] Lol.

[00:07:25] And one more comment which says

[00:07:26] if it changes the dynamics of the friend group

[00:07:29] then there is no one to blame but Kyla.

[00:07:31] She's the one who feels the need to cross boundaries

[00:07:33] and make bets against your marriage.

[00:07:36] I wouldn't stop going to events

[00:07:37] that she was invited to

[00:07:38] but I also wouldn't invite her into my home

[00:07:41] nor to events that I've planned or hosted.

[00:07:44] Not the arsehole.

[00:07:46] Petty Mark just jumped into my head

[00:07:48] when I read that comment

[00:07:49] and like maybe if you do go to these events

[00:07:51] where she's there

[00:07:52] be extra affectionate to your husband.

[00:07:54] Don't be petty Mark.

[00:07:56] Don't be petty Mark.

[00:07:57] Holy moly.

[00:07:58] So six months later

[00:08:00] OP comes in to update the post

[00:08:02] and said

[00:08:02] I'd posted almost six months ago

[00:08:04] regarding my husband's friend Kyla

[00:08:06] betting that our marriage would not last

[00:08:08] for more than two years.

[00:08:09] I was upset

[00:08:10] and had asked my husband

[00:08:11] to stop talking to her

[00:08:12] because she disrespected our marriage.

[00:08:15] Since then

[00:08:15] Kyla has pulled some really pathetic shit

[00:08:18] to stir up issues

[00:08:18] between my husband and I.

[00:08:20] After I wrote the post

[00:08:22] my husband was trying to convince me

[00:08:23] that Kyla was just joking

[00:08:25] when she made those comments

[00:08:26] and it happened so long ago.

[00:08:28] Kyla messaged me the next day

[00:08:30] apologizing to me for her comments

[00:08:32] and also not making more efforts

[00:08:33] to connect with me.

[00:08:35] I accepted her apology

[00:08:36] and started warming up to her.

[00:08:38] She started inviting me

[00:08:39] for brunches

[00:08:40] and girls nights out with them

[00:08:41] and I felt included

[00:08:43] in their friend group.

[00:08:45] Oh this ain't gonna go well is it?

[00:08:46] One day during brunch

[00:08:48] I brought up why Kyla

[00:08:49] really thought our marriage

[00:08:50] would not work out.

[00:08:51] Kyla told me

[00:08:52] that my husband broke up

[00:08:53] with his long term ex-girlfriend

[00:08:54] Joanna

[00:08:58] I knew that part

[00:08:58] but Kyla told me

[00:09:00] that my husband

[00:09:00] was really heartbroken

[00:09:02] after the breakup

[00:09:03] and swore to her

[00:09:04] that he would stay away

[00:09:05] from dating anyone.

[00:09:06] When he met me

[00:09:07] my mum set us up

[00:09:08] on a blind date

[00:09:09] she was surprised

[00:09:10] how quickly we hit it off.

[00:09:12] Kyla thought

[00:09:13] that I was his rebound relationship

[00:09:15] but when he proposed

[00:09:16] to me within a year

[00:09:17] she was worried

[00:09:18] that he was making

[00:09:18] a very rash decision.

[00:09:20] My husband's family

[00:09:21] is rich

[00:09:22] and she thought

[00:09:22] that it was unwise

[00:09:23] for him to marry so quickly

[00:09:24] without knowing me well.

[00:09:25] She did not know enough about me

[00:09:27] and that my family

[00:09:28] is also very well off.

[00:09:30] That is why she was concerned

[00:09:31] that I was taking advantage

[00:09:33] of his vulnerable state.

[00:09:35] She apologized to me

[00:09:36] and said that it was wrong

[00:09:37] for her to assume

[00:09:38] that over the years

[00:09:40] she has seen

[00:09:40] how happy we are together.

[00:09:42] I appreciated her honesty

[00:09:44] and Kyla and I

[00:09:45] became good friends

[00:09:46] since then

[00:09:46] and started hanging out

[00:09:47] more frequently.

[00:09:49] Around two months ago

[00:09:50] my husband went

[00:09:51] for a conference

[00:09:51] to Seattle

[00:09:52] for three nights

[00:09:53] after he came back.

[00:09:54] I got a hey girly message

[00:09:56] on Instagram

[00:09:56] from Joanna

[00:09:57] his ex.

[00:09:59] She told me that

[00:09:59] my husband contacted her

[00:10:01] a few months ago

[00:10:01] and that they met

[00:10:02] in Seattle

[00:10:03] during the conference

[00:10:04] and she could give me

[00:10:05] more proof if I wanted.

[00:10:07] I went through

[00:10:07] my husband's Instagram

[00:10:09] but he seemed

[00:10:10] to have blocked her.

[00:10:11] I made a mistake

[00:10:12] of mentioning it

[00:10:13] to Kyla

[00:10:13] as she is the only person

[00:10:15] honest to me

[00:10:15] about Joanna

[00:10:16] and she went in

[00:10:17] detective mode

[00:10:18] to help me.

[00:10:19] She was still friends

[00:10:20] with Joanna

[00:10:20] on Instagram

[00:10:21] as they all went

[00:10:22] to college together

[00:10:23] and opened her profile.

[00:10:25] The message sent to me

[00:10:25] was from a different profile

[00:10:27] with no followers.

[00:10:28] We checked her photos

[00:10:29] and we saw that

[00:10:30] she attended

[00:10:31] the same conference

[00:10:32] as my husband did

[00:10:33] in Seattle.

[00:10:34] Kyla suggested

[00:10:35] I should ask Joanna

[00:10:36] for more proof

[00:10:37] and also ask my husband

[00:10:38] about the same

[00:10:39] before assuming the worst.

[00:10:41] I asked my husband

[00:10:42] if he met Joanna

[00:10:43] and he said yes.

[00:10:45] He told me

[00:10:45] he just met her

[00:10:46] in the expo hall

[00:10:47] and chatted with her

[00:10:48] for a few minutes.

[00:10:49] I asked him

[00:10:50] why he did not

[00:10:50] mention it to me

[00:10:51] and he told me

[00:10:52] it was just

[00:10:52] a quick conversation

[00:10:53] and he did not

[00:10:54] think too much of it.

[00:10:56] He asked me

[00:10:57] how I knew it

[00:10:57] and I told him

[00:10:58] that Kyla mentioned

[00:10:59] that she saw her

[00:11:00] pictures at the conference

[00:11:01] and I thought

[00:11:02] he might have seen her.

[00:11:04] I messaged Joanna

[00:11:05] again to share

[00:11:06] more proof.

[00:11:07] She told me

[00:11:08] that they had been

[00:11:08] chatting for the past

[00:11:09] two months

[00:11:10] and planned to

[00:11:10] attend the conference

[00:11:11] together.

[00:11:12] She shared a log

[00:11:13] of their messages

[00:11:14] where my husband

[00:11:15] was actively flirting

[00:11:16] with her.

[00:11:16] The screenshots

[00:11:17] did look legit

[00:11:18] but I did not

[00:11:19] see any of those

[00:11:20] messages in my

[00:11:21] husband's Instagram

[00:11:21] profile.

[00:11:23] I talked to Kyla

[00:11:24] about it as I did

[00:11:25] not know what to

[00:11:26] believe.

[00:11:27] I messaged Joanna

[00:11:28] to tell us what

[00:11:28] happened between them

[00:11:29] and she told me

[00:11:31] that he invited her

[00:11:32] to the room at night

[00:11:33] and they hooked up

[00:11:34] but she does not

[00:11:35] have any photos

[00:11:36] as he insisted.

[00:11:37] They do not take

[00:11:38] pictures as he

[00:11:39] insisted they do

[00:11:40] not take pictures

[00:11:40] together.

[00:11:41] I immediately

[00:11:42] realized it was fake

[00:11:43] and messaged Joanna

[00:11:44] to fuck off.

[00:11:45] She kept on insisting

[00:11:47] that they were

[00:11:47] telling the truth

[00:11:48] and she spent

[00:11:49] the nights

[00:11:49] with my husband

[00:11:50] in his room

[00:11:50] on all three nights.

[00:11:52] I told her that

[00:11:53] my husband and I

[00:11:54] were playing a video

[00:11:54] game,

[00:11:55] Sea of Thieves,

[00:11:56] for almost two

[00:11:57] to three hours

[00:11:57] each night

[00:11:58] after his dinner

[00:11:59] as that is what

[00:12:00] we do to catch

[00:12:01] up when he is

[00:12:01] away.

[00:12:02] Unless Joanna

[00:12:02] was sitting behind

[00:12:04] him watching us

[00:12:04] play until we

[00:12:05] fell asleep.

[00:12:06] She was full

[00:12:06] of shit.

[00:12:08] I also told my

[00:12:09] husband about

[00:12:09] the whole incident

[00:12:10] and he told me

[00:12:11] I should have

[00:12:17] and he just

[00:12:17] ran into her

[00:12:18] at the conference.

[00:12:19] He told me

[00:12:19] I could check

[00:12:20] his phone

[00:12:20] and everything

[00:12:21] to verify

[00:12:21] that he has

[00:12:22] blocked it

[00:12:22] everywhere.

[00:12:23] I told him

[00:12:24] I do not need

[00:12:25] to and Joanna

[00:12:26] might have run

[00:12:26] into him

[00:12:27] and just decided

[00:12:27] to fuck his

[00:12:28] life by making

[00:12:29] up stuff.

[00:12:30] When all the

[00:12:31] friends met

[00:12:31] that weekend

[00:12:32] my husband

[00:12:33] and I

[00:12:33] told everyone

[00:12:34] how Joanna

[00:12:35] sent messages

[00:12:35] to me

[00:12:36] and faked

[00:12:36] everything.

[00:12:38] Kyler was

[00:12:38] also telling

[00:12:39] what happened

[00:12:39] as she had

[00:12:40] told her about

[00:12:41] it.

[00:12:41] Kyler

[00:12:42] accidentally

[00:12:42] let it slip

[00:12:43] out that

[00:12:43] it's lucky

[00:12:44] we are nerds

[00:12:45] and played

[00:12:45] video games

[00:12:46] at night

[00:12:46] before sleeping

[00:12:47] else props

[00:12:48] go to Joanna

[00:12:49] for making

[00:12:50] up a convincing

[00:12:51] story.

[00:12:52] I never told

[00:12:53] Kyler about

[00:12:53] the video game

[00:12:54] stuff.

[00:12:55] I just told

[00:12:56] her Joanna

[00:12:57] is full of

[00:12:57] shit

[00:12:58] and I blocked

[00:12:59] her.

[00:12:59] It took me

[00:13:00] until I came

[00:13:01] home to

[00:13:01] connect the

[00:13:02] dots.

[00:13:02] I told my

[00:13:03] husband about

[00:13:04] it and he

[00:13:04] confronted

[00:13:05] Kyler.

[00:13:06] She denied

[00:13:06] it and told

[00:13:07] him that I

[00:13:07] told her about

[00:13:08] the video game

[00:13:08] stuff on a

[00:13:09] phone call

[00:13:09] but I don't

[00:13:10] remember doing

[00:13:11] it.

[00:13:11] We have since

[00:13:12] decided to keep

[00:13:13] our distance

[00:13:13] from Kyler.

[00:13:14] Kyler has

[00:13:15] called me

[00:13:15] multiple times

[00:13:16] to meet

[00:13:16] up but I

[00:13:17] just make

[00:13:17] up reasons

[00:13:17] that I'm

[00:13:18] busy.

[00:13:18] I do not

[00:13:19] know why

[00:13:20] she did

[00:13:20] it but at

[00:13:20] this point

[00:13:21] I'm not

[00:13:21] interested in

[00:13:22] it and we

[00:13:23] have decided

[00:13:23] to just see

[00:13:24] her on social

[00:13:25] occasions and

[00:13:26] avoid hanging

[00:13:26] out with her

[00:13:27] as much as

[00:13:27] possible.

[00:13:28] I feel stupid

[00:13:29] that she

[00:13:30] played me

[00:13:30] for a fool.

[00:13:31] I should not

[00:13:32] have gone to

[00:13:32] her when

[00:13:33] Joanna started

[00:13:34] messaging me.

[00:13:35] In hindsight

[00:13:36] it seemed

[00:13:36] suspicious that

[00:13:37] Kyler started

[00:13:38] telling me about

[00:13:38] Joanna and at

[00:13:39] the same time

[00:13:40] Joanna claimed

[00:13:41] to have an

[00:13:41] affair with

[00:13:42] my husband.

[00:13:43] I do not

[00:13:44] know what

[00:13:45] her intentions

[00:13:45] are but I'm

[00:13:46] mad enough that

[00:13:47] I will avoid

[00:13:47] her as much

[00:13:48] as possible.

[00:13:49] I wish I had

[00:13:50] some real proof

[00:13:50] that she was

[00:13:51] the one messaging

[00:13:52] me so that I

[00:13:53] could expose

[00:13:53] her.

[00:13:54] I also feel

[00:13:55] bad for

[00:13:55] suspecting my

[00:13:56] husband but I'm

[00:13:57] glad my husband

[00:13:57] and I are on

[00:13:58] the same page

[00:13:59] now.

[00:14:00] I know this is

[00:14:01] a totally

[00:14:01] random thought

[00:14:03] by myself but

[00:14:04] I always think

[00:14:04] about like

[00:14:05] affair stories

[00:14:06] where people

[00:14:06] have like two

[00:14:07] or three

[00:14:07] partners going

[00:14:08] on and

[00:14:09] stories like

[00:14:10] this where

[00:14:10] someone at

[00:14:11] that age has

[00:14:12] like gone out

[00:14:13] their way to

[00:14:14] make profiles

[00:14:15] of a friend's

[00:14:16] ex to try

[00:14:18] and break them

[00:14:18] up and I

[00:14:19] think fucking

[00:14:19] hell who's

[00:14:20] got time for

[00:14:21] that shit and

[00:14:22] also like

[00:14:23] destroying all

[00:14:24] these relationships

[00:14:25] around you

[00:14:25] connected to

[00:14:26] you for

[00:14:27] someone that's

[00:14:28] not going to

[00:14:28] get with you

[00:14:29] anyway.

[00:14:30] I think at

[00:14:30] this point you

[00:14:31] know what's

[00:14:31] going on.

[00:14:32] We know

[00:14:32] what's going

[00:14:33] on.

[00:14:33] You need to

[00:14:34] tell Kyler to

[00:14:34] fuck off

[00:14:35] basically and

[00:14:36] be done with

[00:14:36] it because you

[00:14:38] know that is

[00:14:39] someone that you

[00:14:39] don't want to

[00:14:39] keep around

[00:14:40] because she's

[00:14:40] going to cause

[00:14:41] some shit for

[00:14:41] you further

[00:14:42] down the line

[00:14:42] but what do

[00:14:43] you guys make

[00:14:44] of this

[00:14:45] situation?

[00:14:46] Let us know

[00:14:47] your thoughts

[00:14:47] down in the

[00:14:48] comments below

[00:14:49] and let's move

[00:14:50] on to another

[00:14:51] story.

[00:14:53] Our next story

[00:14:53] is a bit of

[00:14:54] a different one.

[00:14:55] It's kind of

[00:14:55] like a nightmare

[00:14:56] neighbor slash

[00:14:57] entitled people.

[00:14:58] I've just been

[00:14:58] trying to squeeze

[00:14:59] this story in

[00:15:00] somewhere in one

[00:15:01] of the videos.

[00:15:02] It was one that

[00:15:02] was actually

[00:15:03] emailed to me.

[00:15:04] I want to

[00:15:04] remain anonymous

[00:15:05] and it's on the

[00:15:06] back of a story

[00:15:07] that we read

[00:15:07] recently about a

[00:15:08] bit of swimming

[00:15:09] pool drama

[00:15:10] neighbor stuff.

[00:15:11] You guys know

[00:15:11] what I'm like

[00:15:12] with that kind

[00:15:12] of thing.

[00:15:13] But this one was

[00:15:15] called Fish Soap

[00:15:16] in my neighbor's

[00:15:17] pool.

[00:15:18] I'm a long time

[00:15:19] listener of your

[00:15:19] podcast and your

[00:15:21] recent episode in a

[00:15:22] neighborhood dispute

[00:15:23] with the pool

[00:15:23] inspired me to

[00:15:24] reach out with a

[00:15:25] similar story about

[00:15:26] one of my

[00:15:26] neighbors.

[00:15:27] I have a story

[00:15:28] that happened to

[00:15:28] my neighbors a

[00:15:29] couple of summers

[00:15:29] ago and I enjoy

[00:15:31] telling this one so

[00:15:32] here you go.

[00:15:33] My name is Jane

[00:15:34] and I live in a

[00:15:35] quiet cul-de-sac

[00:15:36] in the US.

[00:15:37] I won't give out

[00:15:38] the actual location

[00:15:39] just in case.

[00:15:40] The story I'm

[00:15:41] about to share is

[00:15:41] about my friends

[00:15:42] who I'll call

[00:15:43] the Smiths who

[00:15:44] live next door to

[00:15:45] me.

[00:15:45] They moved here

[00:15:46] about five years

[00:15:47] ago and have been

[00:15:48] wonderful neighbors.

[00:15:50] Here's what

[00:15:50] happened.

[00:15:51] The Smiths have a

[00:15:52] beautiful in-ground

[00:15:53] pool that quickly

[00:15:54] became the envy

[00:15:55] of our street.

[00:15:56] Their close

[00:15:57] friends were the

[00:15:58] Johnsons who

[00:15:58] live on their

[00:15:59] right side.

[00:16:00] The Johnsons who

[00:16:01] have sweet kids

[00:16:01] Emily 12 and

[00:16:03] Max 9.

[00:16:04] Last summer

[00:16:04] during a brutal

[00:16:05] heat wave the

[00:16:06] Smiths kindly

[00:16:07] offered to let the

[00:16:08] Johnsons use their

[00:16:09] pool when the

[00:16:09] Johnsons air

[00:16:10] conditioning broke

[00:16:11] down.

[00:16:11] It became a

[00:16:12] regular thing.

[00:16:13] The Johnsons would

[00:16:14] come over a few

[00:16:14] times a week for

[00:16:15] barbecues and

[00:16:16] pool time.

[00:16:17] Everything was fine

[00:16:18] until the neighbors

[00:16:19] on the Smiths left

[00:16:21] side, the

[00:16:21] Petersons took

[00:16:22] notice.

[00:16:23] Edit.

[00:16:24] To clarify, I'm

[00:16:25] two doors down.

[00:16:27] The Petersons have

[00:16:28] three teenagers and

[00:16:29] have always been a bit

[00:16:30] difficult to get

[00:16:31] along with.

[00:16:32] One Saturday

[00:16:33] afternoon as Mrs.

[00:16:35] Smith was pruning

[00:16:35] her rose bushes,

[00:16:39] Mrs.

[00:16:40] Petersons approached

[00:16:40] her with a sickly

[00:16:41] sweet smile and

[00:16:42] asked if her kids

[00:16:43] could use the

[00:16:44] pool too.

[00:16:45] Mrs.

[00:16:46] Smith caught off

[00:16:46] guard politely

[00:16:47] declined,

[00:16:47] explaining that the

[00:16:48] Johnsons were close

[00:16:49] family friends.

[00:16:51] That's when things

[00:16:52] started to get

[00:16:52] crazy.

[00:16:53] The Petersons

[00:16:54] began a passive

[00:16:55] aggressive campaign

[00:16:56] against the

[00:16:56] Smiths.

[00:16:57] They'd

[00:16:58] accidentally

[00:16:58] over spray their

[00:17:00] sprinklers onto

[00:17:00] the Smiths driveway

[00:17:01] and pool deck,

[00:17:03] leaving everything

[00:17:03] a muddy mess.

[00:17:05] They'd have loud

[00:17:05] parties during the

[00:17:06] Johnsons pool time,

[00:17:08] blasting music that

[00:17:08] was far from family

[00:17:10] friendly.

[00:17:10] It got so bad that

[00:17:12] one morning the

[00:17:12] Smiths woke up to

[00:17:13] find someone had

[00:17:14] dumped an entire

[00:17:15] bottle of dish soap

[00:17:16] into their pool,

[00:17:18] turning it into a

[00:17:19] bubble bath from

[00:17:20] hell.

[00:17:21] Like literally large

[00:17:22] chunks of bubbles

[00:17:23] flying through the

[00:17:24] sky.

[00:17:25] The situation

[00:17:26] escalated when the

[00:17:27] Smiths went on their

[00:17:28] annual vacation to

[00:17:29] Florida.

[00:17:29] The Johnsons were

[00:17:30] supposed to keep an

[00:17:31] eye on the place,

[00:17:32] but three days into

[00:17:33] the trip,

[00:17:34] Mrs. Johnson

[00:17:34] called the

[00:17:35] Smiths in a panic.

[00:17:36] She caught the

[00:17:37] Petersons kids

[00:17:38] climbing over the

[00:17:39] fence and using the

[00:17:40] pool without

[00:17:40] permission.

[00:17:41] When confronted,

[00:17:42] the kids claimed

[00:17:43] they had permission,

[00:17:44] which was a

[00:17:44] blatant lie.

[00:17:45] Mrs. Johnson

[00:17:46] called the police,

[00:17:47] but by the time

[00:17:48] they arrived,

[00:17:48] the Petersons had

[00:17:49] cleared out and

[00:17:50] were denying

[00:17:50] everything.

[00:17:51] The Smiths cut

[00:17:52] their vacation

[00:17:53] short and rushed

[00:17:54] home to find their

[00:17:55] once pristine

[00:17:56] backyard in disarray.

[00:17:58] Empty soda cans

[00:17:59] and chip bags

[00:18:00] littered the pool deck,

[00:18:01] and someone had even

[00:18:02] cracked one of their

[00:18:03] patio tiles.

[00:18:04] When Mrs.

[00:18:05] Smith tried to

[00:18:06] confront Mr.

[00:18:06] Peterson, he had

[00:18:07] the audacity to act

[00:18:09] offended and suggested

[00:18:10] that if the Smiths

[00:18:11] weren't so exclusive

[00:18:12] with their pool,

[00:18:13] none of this would

[00:18:14] have happened.

[00:18:15] At their wits end,

[00:18:16] the Smiths decided to

[00:18:17] install security

[00:18:18] cameras.

[00:18:19] They set up a

[00:18:19] comprehensive system

[00:18:20] with four cameras

[00:18:21] covering the pool,

[00:18:23] two monitoring the

[00:18:24] fence line,

[00:18:24] and one overlooking

[00:18:25] the driveway.

[00:18:26] For a few days,

[00:18:27] things were quiet.

[00:18:29] Too quiet.

[00:18:31] Oh dear.

[00:18:32] Whenever someone says

[00:18:33] that, I'm always like,

[00:18:34] the too quiet is

[00:18:35] definitely gonna come

[00:18:35] to.

[00:18:36] On the fifth day

[00:18:37] after installation,

[00:18:39] all hell broke

[00:18:40] loose.

[00:18:40] At 2.17am,

[00:18:42] very precise,

[00:18:43] the cameras caught

[00:18:44] Mr. Peterson

[00:18:45] skulking around the

[00:18:46] pool with a bottle

[00:18:47] in his hand.

[00:18:48] Mrs. Smith watched

[00:18:49] in real time as he

[00:18:50] poured something into

[00:18:51] the pool.

[00:18:52] She ran outside

[00:18:53] flipping on the

[00:18:53] floodlights,

[00:18:54] but Mr. Peterson

[00:18:55] had already bolted,

[00:18:57] leaving behind an

[00:18:58] empty bottle of

[00:18:58] vegetable oil

[00:18:59] floating in the

[00:19:00] pool.

[00:19:02] The Smiths called

[00:19:03] the police and

[00:19:04] showed them the

[00:19:04] footage,

[00:19:05] but were told that

[00:19:05] since there was no

[00:19:06] real damage,

[00:19:07] they couldn't do

[00:19:08] much beyond giving

[00:19:09] the Petersons a

[00:19:09] warning.

[00:19:10] Frustrated,

[00:19:11] Mrs. Smith posted

[00:19:12] the video on our

[00:19:13] neighborhood Facebook

[00:19:14] group.

[00:19:14] This caused a huge

[00:19:16] debate with some

[00:19:17] neighbors outraged

[00:19:18] on the Smiths'

[00:19:19] behalf,

[00:19:19] while others accused

[00:19:20] them of violating

[00:19:21] the Petersons'

[00:19:22] privacy.

[00:19:23] The next day,

[00:19:24] the Smiths received

[00:19:25] a note from our

[00:19:25] HOA requesting a

[00:19:27] meeting about their

[00:19:27] unauthorized surveillance

[00:19:29] equipment.

[00:19:30] The Petersons had

[00:19:31] filed a formal

[00:19:31] complaint claiming

[00:19:32] the cameras were

[00:19:33] infringing on their

[00:19:34] right to privacy.

[00:19:35] The HOA,

[00:19:36] oh HOA,

[00:19:37] meeting was a

[00:19:39] disaster.

[00:19:40] The Petersons played

[00:19:41] the victim card,

[00:19:42] claiming they felt

[00:19:43] excluded and

[00:19:44] targeted.

[00:19:45] Despite the

[00:19:45] Smiths trying to

[00:19:46] explain the

[00:19:47] situation,

[00:19:48] the HOA proposed

[00:19:49] a compromise.

[00:19:50] The Smiths could

[00:19:51] keep their cameras

[00:19:51] but had to adjust

[00:19:52] them so they didn't

[00:19:53] capture any part of

[00:19:54] the Petersons'

[00:19:55] property.

[00:19:55] He also suggested

[00:19:56] the Smiths either

[00:19:57] open their pool to

[00:19:58] all immediate

[00:19:59] neighbors or

[00:20:00] close it to

[00:20:01] everyone outside

[00:20:01] their household.

[00:20:03] What?

[00:20:04] They do that?

[00:20:05] Just when it

[00:20:06] seemed like things

[00:20:06] couldn't get any

[00:20:07] worse,

[00:20:08] a breakthrough

[00:20:09] came.

[00:20:09] A week after

[00:20:10] HOA meetings,

[00:20:12] the Millers,

[00:20:12] a quiet couple

[00:20:13] from down the

[00:20:14] street,

[00:20:14] approached the

[00:20:15] Smiths.

[00:20:16] They shared their

[00:20:16] own horror stories

[00:20:17] about the

[00:20:18] Petersons,

[00:20:18] noise complaints,

[00:20:20] property damage,

[00:20:21] even incidents

[00:20:21] of the

[00:20:22] Petersons'

[00:20:22] dog destroying

[00:20:23] their garden.

[00:20:24] This encouraged

[00:20:25] other neighbors

[00:20:26] to speak up

[00:20:26] about their

[00:20:27] experiences with

[00:20:27] the Petersons.

[00:20:29] Armed with this

[00:20:29] new information,

[00:20:31] the Smiths

[00:20:31] approached the

[00:20:32] HOA again.

[00:20:33] This time,

[00:20:34] they couldn't

[00:20:34] ignore the

[00:20:34] pattern of

[00:20:35] behavior.

[00:20:36] In a special

[00:20:36] meeting,

[00:20:37] multiple neighbors

[00:20:38] presented their

[00:20:39] grievances against

[00:20:40] the Petersons.

[00:20:41] The Petersons

[00:20:42] tried to deflect

[00:20:42] and deny but

[00:20:43] the evidence was

[00:20:44] overwhelming.

[00:20:46] In the end,

[00:20:47] the HOA hit

[00:20:47] the Petersons

[00:20:48] with multiple

[00:20:49] fines for various

[00:20:50] infractions over

[00:20:50] the years and

[00:20:51] placed them on

[00:20:52] probation.

[00:20:53] Any further

[00:20:54] complaints could

[00:20:54] result in more

[00:20:55] severe consequences,

[00:20:57] including potential

[00:20:58] legal action.

[00:20:59] The Smiths have

[00:21:00] gone back to

[00:21:01] their original

[00:21:01] arrangement with

[00:21:02] the Johnsons and

[00:21:03] the Petersons haven't

[00:21:04] dared to ask about

[00:21:05] using the pool again.

[00:21:06] The atmosphere in

[00:21:07] our neighborhood has

[00:21:08] changed dramatically.

[00:21:10] There was a huge

[00:21:11] sense of relief,

[00:21:12] although still a

[00:21:13] tad awkwardness.

[00:21:14] Thanks for

[00:21:15] listening.

[00:21:16] Holy moly,

[00:21:17] I love neighbor

[00:21:18] drama.

[00:21:19] Of course,

[00:21:19] I don't love that

[00:21:20] the people are going

[00:21:21] through that kind

[00:21:22] of stuff,

[00:21:22] but I don't know,

[00:21:23] it just always

[00:21:24] brings me back

[00:21:25] to where I grew

[00:21:25] up.

[00:21:26] Obviously,

[00:21:27] we didn't have

[00:21:27] pools in our

[00:21:27] gardens,

[00:21:29] unless you're

[00:21:29] talking about

[00:21:30] a paddling

[00:21:30] pool.

[00:21:31] And the only

[00:21:31] bad thing I can

[00:21:32] think about

[00:21:32] in one of those

[00:21:33] situations was

[00:21:34] where Adam

[00:21:34] left a floater

[00:21:35] in the pool.

[00:21:38] Oh,

[00:21:38] my life was

[00:21:39] fucked.

[00:21:40] But the HOA

[00:21:41] turned around and

[00:21:41] said that you

[00:21:42] have to open

[00:21:43] your pool to

[00:21:43] everyone.

[00:21:44] Yeah,

[00:21:44] the whole

[00:21:44] neighborhood

[00:21:45] come use my

[00:21:46] pool.

[00:21:47] Can they even

[00:21:47] do that?

[00:21:48] That is mad.

[00:21:49] I'm so petty,

[00:21:50] I'd rather fill it

[00:21:51] back in than do

[00:21:51] that.

[00:21:52] Thank you so

[00:21:53] much for sharing

[00:21:53] that story.

[00:21:54] And don't forget,

[00:21:54] if you've got your

[00:21:55] own neighbor-related

[00:21:56] dramas,

[00:21:57] don't forget r slash

[00:21:58] mark narrations,

[00:21:59] don't forget that

[00:21:59] you could email me

[00:22:00] as well,

[00:22:01] the email's on the

[00:22:01] YouTube channel,

[00:22:02] or just send me a

[00:22:03] message on Twitter

[00:22:04] and we can talk

[00:22:05] about it there,

[00:22:05] I'll DM you and

[00:22:06] you can send me the

[00:22:07] story that way.

[00:22:08] Totally up to you

[00:22:08] if you want to.

[00:22:09] But now just a huge

[00:22:10] thank you from the

[00:22:11] bottom of my heart

[00:22:12] for getting involved

[00:22:12] in today's stories,

[00:22:13] your love,

[00:22:14] your support,

[00:22:15] your time,

[00:22:15] always means the

[00:22:16] absolute world to me.

[00:22:17] So thank you so,

[00:22:18] so much for being

[00:22:19] involved truly and

[00:22:20] I will see you in

[00:22:21] the next one.

[00:22:22] Take care and much

[00:22:23] love.

[00:22:24] man,

[00:22:25] I remember being so

[00:22:26] naive when life was

[00:22:27] good,

[00:22:28] weather and palm trees.

[00:22:29] Back in the day,

[00:22:30] you were everything I

[00:22:31] need.

[00:22:31] But then along came a

[00:22:33] time when you crushed

[00:22:34] my dreams.

[00:22:34] Oh yeah,

[00:22:35] you played me like a

[00:22:35] fool when you made me

[00:22:36] believe that the line

[00:22:37] between love was

[00:22:38] ridiculous.

[00:22:39] Oh yeah,

[00:22:40] you see we end up

[00:22:41] spare crime everywhere.

[00:22:42] You're selling false

[00:22:43] hope cause you're just

[00:22:44] good.