Learn your lesson. But pursue it in small claims.
They are not true friends anyway.
When it comes to court for these type of issues don’t embellish, don’t get overly dramatic, just state the facts and let the judge question it out of them.
The judge probably knows you would not have agreed to pay ALL the bills, and it was very likely they agreed to split it 3 ways. He will judge their veracity if they deny it. Let him.
So, once again- Learn your lesson. But pursue it in small claims to make sure they learn too.
Even if you don’t collect you still drag them into court.
The best case- they ignore the small claims summons and you win by default. Then you get the Sherriff to garnish their wages.
He *might* get sympathy from a judge but not a judgement.
What if the roommates say they gave him the money and they don’t know what he did with it?
Try Judge Judy. You may get bitched and called stupid but you might get some money.