The next day, Mia approached Autumn as she was on her way to classroom for Art class.

"Hey, Autumn, join us in the cafeteria after classes, we need to talk to you".

"Really ... uhm, what about?", Autumn frowned, nervous that Mia had a prank in store for her.

"Relax, Autumn. Me, Payton, Mike and the guys want to talk to you about something", Mia replied. "Please? But if you don`t want to, that`s fine".

"Erm ... no, ok, sure", Autumn said, this time trusting Mia and looking more at ease. "But please wait for me 30 minutes after class, my colleague Laura needs my help to finish a project so I will be a little late", she spoke gently.

"Can`t you let her do her project thingy herself?", an impatient Mia asked.

"What? No, she might get a bad grade", Autumn said, worried.

"Fine, we`ll wait, try to finish up quickly", Mia said, as she turned around and left.

Later, Autumn joined our table. "So, what`s up guys? ... ugh, why did you choose the table next to the trash can, it smells so bad?"

"Aren`t you looking? It was the only one available", said Payton. "Anyway, I have a New years partaaay to prepare, so I`m off.", Payton shouted joyously as she left the table. "But I`m all for their idea, listen to them Autumn, it will be soooo great".

Of course, Payton had no clue about the full extent of our plan. We made sure to get rid of her the previous night when the planning got serious, as she was one of the few people who could stand Autumn, so she couldn`t be trusted.

"Listen, Autumn, I know we had our differences, but after getting to know you better, I think you`re really cool. You know that Winter Ball is coming up, right? The one Payton is preparing?", Mia asked.

"Really, you do?", Autumn asked surprised, while a large smile started encompassing her face. "Yea, I heard. We`re working on a sculpture to bring, it will be so beautiful", Autumn pridefully rejoiced.

"Wow, that's so ... lame." Mia whispered. "Listen, Autumn. Well ... we took a vote, and ... what do you think about Autumn Brooks, Winter Queen?". Mia clapped excitedly.

Autumn was shell shocked and could not believe it at first.

"... W-what? M..me? Is this a prank?"

"You have been so nice and kind to all of us, Autumn", a varsity girl from our clique stated. "You deserve it!", she shouted enthusiastically.

"Maybe we weren`t very close so far, but I want to change that.", said Mia.

I backed their statements. "Come on, Autumn, what do you say?"

"I ... I ... I never thought ... well ... of course, I can`t believe it", she cried. "You all thought of me?", she asked joyfully.

"Of course. And you can take Julian as your Winter King", I said, showing no trace of sarcasm.

"Hey, that necklace you have on your neck is already worthy of a queen", Mia said. "Where did you get it? Can I check it out?"

"Whoaa ... Mike, Mia, you are the best" Autumn spouted.

"This necklace is from my mother ... the last thing I have from her", she sobbed, seeming quite proud at the same time. "Here, but please treat it gently, it`s very delicate and I don`t know what I would do if I lost it. I`m very careful not to bring it to school too often, it`s very important to me.", Autumn said as she reluctantly handed the necklace to Mia.

"I can`t believe it! I have to take a picture with you guys, I love you so much", Autumn said with a big smile on her face.

As we lined up up for the photo, Autumn enthusiastically started the countdown "3 ... 2 ... 1 ...". At which point she suddenly stopped.

"Wait, guys ... before I take this photo ... Mike, I have to say this first ..."

She ran towards me, hugging me. "I`m so sorry for what happened between us. You are such a good friend and I care about you deeply", Autumn wept.

She continued, enthusiastically: "This is the happiest moment of my life! I thought I found a home here at this school because people didn`t treat me so bad, but I never thought I could make so many friends and that everybody would like me for me, and would care so much about me. You helped with that, Mike, thank you!".

Tears of joy were coming out of Autumn's eyes, and you could tell she was as happy as she has ever been, feeling valued and respected for maybe the first time in her 16 years of life. She jumped into my arms, legs bending up from behind the knees, forcing my body to lean backwards. And then ...