Refusing to Pick Up Friends Girlfriend After Tennis Class: AITA?

AITA for not picking up my friend's girlfriend after tennis class? OP refuses due to personal rule, causing drama. Top comments weigh in on the situation.

Damjan

Published in Interesting
24 Dec 2025

Refusing to Pick Up Friends Girlfriend After Tennis Class: AITA?

In today's world, where friendship often comes with an unspoken expectation of support, a recent Reddit thread has sparked intense debate over the boundaries of helping friends in need. The original poster (OP) found themselves in a tricky situation when their friend called, pleading for help to pick up his girlfriend after her tennis class.

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What seems like a straightforward favor quickly unraveled into a discussion about personal boundaries, obligations, and the definition of emergencies. OP has a strict rule about their evenings: once they change into comfortable clothes after a long day of work, they don’t venture out again until the next morning.

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When asked to step out of their comfort zone to help a friend, OP firmly declined, arguing that waiting for a couple of hours in mild weather didn’t constitute an emergency. Their friend’s girlfriend waited for two hours, leading to a heated argument between the couple, while OP stood by their decision, questioning why the girlfriend didn’t call a ride-share service or find another way home.

As the thread unfolds, users weigh in with a mix of supportive and critical perspectives, challenging OP’s rigid stance while also acknowledging that the girlfriend could have taken more initiative. With emotions running high, this thread not only examines the essence of friendship but also raises questions about personal responsibility and the sometimes blurry lines we navigate in our relationships.

What do you think - was OP justified in their decision, or should they have made the effort to help a friend in need?

Original Post

I have a strict rule in my life: after I put my work clothes in the laundry basket, take a shower and put on my sweat clothes, its day over for me. it means I won't leave the house again until the next day when I put my work clothes again in the morning.

I generally dine at around 6pm and take a shower by 7pm. So 7pm is usually when my day ends.

All of my friends know it. However, sometimes in cases of emergency I will put my work clothes again and leave my home, or even leave my home in my sweat clothes if there isn't enough time.

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I absolutely hate going outside in sweat clothes, but I still do it when absolutely necessary. Last Thursday, shortly after 7pm, my friend phoned me.

he asked me to pick up his girlfriend at 8pm from her tennis class and drive her home. i asked him why he couldn't do it himself, he said he promised her he would drive her home the day before but the boss decided to force him to stay longer at work (probably because got caught slacking off on duty again).

I told him I was already in my sweat clothes, but he still insisted. I refused, since that didn't seem like an emergency to me.

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At almost 11pm he knocked on my door to tell me his girlfriend had to wait for 2 hours, until he managed to leave work and pick her up. I asked him why she didnt call an uber, he said she doesnt have the uber app, but to me that seems like her problem, not mine.

Him and his girlfriend had a big argument but they didn't break up. Maybe if she had broken a leg or something I would consider it an emergency.

But waiting for 2 hours in a rainless mild summer evening is nothing (I live in the southern hemisphere so it's summer here). The weather last Thursday evening was mild, like 16C, I remember it very well.

When I was a kid I would often wait up to 2 hours after school for my father to pick me up. Sometimes the temperature was under 0C.

Sometimes I had to stand under cold rain, snow, and wind.