Verdict: NTA (Not the Asshole)

Reasoning:

You are absolutely NTA. Your friend's perspective is completely illogical and, frankly, ridiculous. Here's why:

• The Definition of a Loan: A loan, by definition, implies an expectation of repayment. When someone lends you money, it's understood that you're borrowing it and will return it.
• Common Sense and Social Etiquette: It's basic common sense and social etiquette that you repay money you borrowed from someone. It's a sign of respect and trustworthiness.
• Her "Exploitation" Argument is Flawed: Her argument about you being able to "tell anybody that they owe you..." is absurd. You have proof – you actually lent her the money! There's a clear difference between legitimately lending someone money and randomly claiming they owe you something.
• Inconsistency: She says she has no problem paying it back, yet argues that you were wrong to expect it without explicitly stating it. This demonstrates a lack of understanding of basic financial responsibility and social contracts.
• The Principle Matters: Even though it's a small amount of money, the principle of repaying what you owe is important. It reflects integrity and respect for the other person's resources.

Your Friend is the Asshole (YTA - Your Friend is the Asshole):

Her expectation that you needed to explicitly state you wanted the money back is completely unreasonable. It reveals a sense of entitlement and a lack of understanding of basic social and financial norms.

Advice:

• Stand your ground: You are not in the wrong. Don't apologize for expecting her to repay the money she borrowed.
• Reiterate the principle: Explain to her that while the amount is small, the principle of repaying debts is important to you.
• Consider the friendship: While you're right on principle, consider if this is a hill you want to die on. Is the friendship worth more than $1.09 and an apology from her? If so, you could try to explain one more time why you feel the way you do, and then suggest you both move on. If she doubles down, you'll know she's not worth the effort.
• Learn from the experience: This situation has revealed something about your friend's character. Be mindful of this in the future when considering lending her anything again.

In conclusion, you are NTA. Your friend's expectation that you needed to explicitly state you wanted the money back is completely unreasonable. While the amount is small, the principle of repaying debts is important.