IN TIMES LIKE this, Katherine always knew she could count on her older sister for advice, no matter how complicated or small the problem was.

Sure, before this year, she'd only go to her for help as a last resort, but ever since Kat made it a deal to herself to be more open to help, she's been going to her for advice more often.

Kim noticed this and never minded it at all. Her whole life, she always wanted Kat to know that she was there for her. I mean, Kim practically grew up raising her since she was five, and if anything, all she wanted was to be a source of help for Kat, and to help her do what's best for her life.

So when a knock comes through her door, Kim sighs. "You can come in, Katherine."

Walking in, Kat furrows her brows as she goes to Kim's bed while she was sitting on her desk, study cards in her hand. "I didn't even say anything at the door?"

"Well, after living with you and Dad my whole life, I know the difference between yours and his knocks by now," Kim replied casually, swiveling her chair to face Kat. She immediately noticed her sister's slightly anxious state. "But tell me, what's on your mind now?" Her voice held a hint of concern.

"I...need your help with something," Kat began with a heavy sigh.

Kim nodded encouragingly, prompting Kat to continue. "Do you think I'm a princess?"

The question already catches Kim off guard. "Kat, you just said you needed my help, not my opinion."

"I know, I know, but I promise it'll correlate to what I need your help with later just...answer the question, please."

Kim studied her sister intently before sitting up straight in her chair. "As your sister, I'm obligated to say yes initially...but beyond that, I think I've always thought of you as a princess. Not because you were locked inside a castle or need any sort of saving at all, but because princesses are powerful. And even though you might not see that in yourself yet, I've always seen you as someone with the potential to be powerful."

Kat's expression softened at Kim's genuine words. "Even during the bad parts of my life?"

She nodded. "Every tale of a princess has a dark backstory, but that didn't stop them from becoming a princess, now did it?"

Kat pondered this for a moment, exhaling slowly as her shoulders slumped. "You're right." She looked at her sister earnestly and voiced her thoughts. "You know, sometimes I wonder how you do it, Kim."

"How I do what?"

"How you...exist so beautifully and confidently," Kat explained. All her life, she had seen Kim embody these qualities so effortlessly, and it was something she deeply admired. "How do you...get to that point?"

Kim considered her words carefully. "To be honest, I still feel like I'm not even close to my prime yet, Kat." She moved her chair closer to her sister. "But reaching where I am now wasn't easy. It took time and self-confidence. And I believe that one day you'll find your own path to feeling like a princess too, sis."

However, Kat's concern lingered. "But what if I never feel like one?"

Kim shook her head gently. "You won't need to worry about that. Because...you already are becoming one, Kat, and honestly, it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

And to that, Kat's eyes glimmered, a hopeful smile gradually forming on her lips.

Perhaps she wasn't a princess just yet, or to where she was at her sister's level in terms of confidence, but she was getting there.

Slowly, but surely.

⤵︎

     BACK AT SCHOOL, the trio was by their lockers as they shut their doors together.

Maya's current frustration was palpable as she spoke to her girls. "He's squeaky clean. I haven't found one thing to attack this guy on. Nobody at school has a bad thing to say about him."

Kat couldn't help but smirk hearing that. "Good."

"Our only hope is finding something personal."

Just then, Lucas descended the stairs, absorbed in a phone call.

Kat greets him with a smile. "Hey, Lucas."

He briefly shifted his phone to his shoulder. "Excuse me. I'm dealing with something personal," he muttered before disappearing around the corner.

Instantly, Maya's interest was piqued. "Hello..." she muttered, her mind already spinning with possibilities.

As they sit down on the bench nearby, they hear him talk through his phone, "I don't understand why I can't go back this weekend, sir....No, I'm not trying to argue, but this isn't my home. Texas is my home...But, Dad, you told me I'd be able to see my friends on weekends if I wanted and I want to see my friends. Yes, I have friends here. Right now we're all trying to destroy each other. I'm sorry too, sir, but I was the one who didn't want to come to this school in the first place."

As Lucas turned around, he spotted the girls at a distance, watching him intently. His expression falls at the sight of them. He already knew what was gonna happen now.

"I have to go now," Lucas said, ending the call and approaching them with a defeated look. "I suppose you guys will be using that against me."

Kat shook her head adamantly. "No, we won't."

"Quiet, Princess," Maya interjected. "What, that you don't want to be in our class? How could that hurt you, running for president of our class?"

However, Kat tried to reassure Lucas, "But don't worry, Huckleberry. It's only her word against yours."

But, Maya being Maya, had something else up her sleeve. "Unless I have some kind of, like, electronic listening device and..." With a swift motion, she presented her phone from her pocket, "Oh, look at that! Boopity beep boop bop bing!" revealing that she recorded the entire conversation, playing it back for him.

Lucas's face turns grim as he walked away. Kat attempted to apologize, "Lucas, I'm sorry-" But Maya quickly tugged her back.

Kat shoots her a cold look in return. "Maya, you better delete it," she demanded.

"Kat, we got him. You want to be a princess? We got him."

"But I don't want to do this."

"Why not?" Maya insisted to know. "You've spent this entire year hating the boy...are you telling us that you've suddenly had a change of heart now?"

Kat hesitated briefly, collecting her thoughts before speaking. "Yeah, I did have a change of heart, guys," she asserted firmly. "And if you want me to win, you'll go with my plan."

And to that, Maya and Riley exchanged a knowing smirk. "Deal, Princess," they agreed in unison

⤵︎

ELECTION DAY HAD dawned on the students of John Quiny Adams Middle School, and the people of the class had spoken.

At the gym, everyone gathered around as Cory stood on one of the podiums, anticipation thick in the air. "And now the moment you've been waiting for. Dictatorship versus monarchy versus democracy. Which form of government have you chosen? The winner and new leader of the seventh grade of John Quincy Adams Middle School is..."

The gym doors burst open suddenly, and Kat's voice cut through the tension. "Hold on, poodle-hair!" she exclaimed, leading Riley and Maya into the room.

"How many times do I gotta say for you to stop calling me that?" Cory complained.

The trio stepped onto the platform with Cory. "I will, when you do as I say, especially now."

Having a CD in hand, Maya insisted, "Yup, we have one more very important campaign commercial that everybody needs to see."

"Girls, we've already seen the campaign commercials. The votes are in. This isn't gonna change anything," Cory assured.

"Yes, it will," Riley chimed in. "This isn't about the votes. It's about Lucas."

The teacher turned to him, brows raised. "Did you know about this, Mr. Friar? Is this okay with you?"

Lucas nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, I know about it. If this is the kind of friends they want to be...It's okay with me."

With that, Cory stepped off the platform, allowing Kat and the girls to take center stage. "Yeah, Lucas. This is the kind of friend we want to be," Kat declared with a grin.

The video soon began to play, and a boy with brunette hair enters the shot. "Hey, my name's Asher Garcia," he introduced himself, causing Lucas's face to light up with recognition. "I've known Lucas Friar just about all my life. I'm here to endorse him for your seventh-grade president."

Another boy steps into the shot. "I'm Dylan Orlando. How you doing, bud? Looks like you made some new friends. They thought it was important we recorded this for you."

Lucas steals a glance at the girls, flashing them a grateful smile.

"Is there really a... Farkle?" Asher asked, clearly perplexed by the idea.

"And, Lucas, after Kat, Riley, and Maya went out of their way to find us, and we got to know them a little, I think we can endorse them too... Oh, and Kat, you're really pretty by the way," Dylan added shyly at the end.

Kat chuckled at his comment but maintained her smile.

"Yeah, I approve that message," Asher said, pointing to the camera, with Dylan awkwardly doing the same.

After the video finished, Farkle stood up. "I second that," he declared, making his way to sit by Maya. "I don't want to be a dictator anymore. Dictators don't have any friends."

The girls happily wrapped their arms around each other, relieved by the turn of events.

Lucas followed suit, sitting next to Kat. "Thank you for the video. That—wasn't what I expected to see."

Her smile remained bright. "Well, that was just one of the many extents I'd go for, for my friends. I'm just glad you really liked it, cowboy."

"I did," he admitted, returning her smile. "Thanks."

Maya chimed in, "So, no more going home for the weekends?"

Taking a moment to look around at his surroundings, Lucas admitted truthfully, "I am home."

And with that, the group wrapped their arms around each other in harmony.

⤵︎

     AFTER THE ELECTION, it seemed that Cory was wrong after all.

Lucas had won by a huge landslide, and he was now president of the seventh grade council. It was well deserved on his part.

Approaching his teacher, he advised, "Hey, Mr. Matthews, I'd like to name Farkle as my vice president."

Cory chuckled at the suggestion, only to realize Lucas was serious. "You're kidding..."

"You mean if something terrible happened to you, I'd be president?" Farkle spoke, his eyes widening with the realization.

"Mm-hmm," Lucas hummed.

The genius rose from his seat on the podium to extend out a hand to his president. "I accept."

Lucas nodded then turned to the girls. "Maya..." he began but was interrupted by Farkle's imposing presence beside him. "I'd like you to be my secretary of state."

Maya's expression twisted into a scowl. "I'm nobody's secretary, ranger Rick," she spat.

In that same moment, The Rebel stood up from Kat's platform, drawing everyone's attention. "Hey, Hart," he called, catching her off guard.

"What?"

"Secretary of state is the president's ambassador to the world. I mean he thinks highly of you, but it also means he's trying to get you out of the country."

Lucas shook his head, though not exactly denying that. He turned to Riley next. "And Riley... you can be my Chief of Staff."

"What even is that?!" she exclaimed, turning to the Rebel for clarification.

"Chief of Staff keeps everything and everyone organized and manages different things."

"Ooo, organizing, me likey," Riley gleamed.

But before Lucas could go, Kat halted him. "Hey, wait a minute, Mr. President." His gaze wanders back to hers. "What about me, hm?"

"You?" he raised a brow. "What about you?"

Kat's lips parted as she scanned the room. "Well, you've given everyone else a role in your cabinet, but what about me?" She fidgeted with her fingers nervously. "I mean, what am I to you?"

A smile spread across Lucas's face. "What are you to me?" he echoed, watching her nod at him.

Then suddenly, with a whistle and a gesture, Lucas called the horse Maya got from earlier this week over, and gracefully mounted it, guiding it toward her.

Riley and Maya nudged Kat toward the small stool by the edge of the podium, earning them glares before she complied, standing atop it. And as Lucas drew near, he helped her onto the horse, settling her behind him.

He retrieved Topanga's crown from the horse's stash. "To me..." Lucas began, gently placing it on her head. "You're a princess, red."

A shy smile played on her lips. "Really?" she inquired. "And please don't say it's because I need to be saved or I need saving. Because you should know better than to think that."

Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't think of you as a damsel in distress at all, actually. I think of you as a princess because, well..." He trailed off, his smile turning more fond the more he gazed at her. "Because I think of you as a powerful girl—powerful enough to even rule a kingdom someday."

Her smile brightens as it illuminates her cheeks. "You saved yourself a punch there, cowboy," she teased, stealing a glance at Riley and Maya, who were beaming at the scene unfolding before them.

Lucas grinned in response. "I know I did."

Kat chuckles softly before she lets herself gaze at him for a beat. "Well, don't just sit there. Take me somewhere...anywhere you want to go, cowboy" she whispered, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

And with that, the two rode away, with Kat's arms wrapped securely around Lucas's waist, her head nestled against his back. Lucas couldn't help but smile, feeling her presence close to him, her warmth seeping into his soul.

As for the both of them, as they left school, their hearts swelled, each second spent together deepening their bond.

Oh, how young love is so beautiful.

⤵︎

WHEN KATHERINE COMES back from her horse ride with Lucas, she knows everything has just changed more than she thought it would.

As Kat crawled through Riley's bay window, she found Riley and Maya already there, sitting side by side. They made space for her, leaving her usual spot in the middle open.

With a sigh, she settled between them, the weight of her thoughts heavy on her mind.

"So... you and Lucas," Maya began, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

Kat remained composed. "Yeah...Him and I."

"On a horse."

"Mhm."

"Together, I might add," Riley continued.

"Mhm," Kat faltered slightly, still trying to maintain her calm demeanor.

Maya turned her head to Kat, her gaze piercing the side of her face. "Anything to tell us?"

But still, the apple-haired hesitated, her inner truth weighing on her heart. "Nope," she replied, her voice wavering slightly.

Riley and Maya exchanged knowing looks and just hummed.

"Alright," Maya said, her smile all smug.

But as silence enveloped them, Kat felt the pressure of her lies building inside her until finally, she can't take it anymore. "Alright fine! I think I—really like Lucas!" she exploded, her breath coming in short gasps.

Riley grinned at her abrupt outburst. "Like in a friend way?"

Kat shook her head, her frustration evident. "No...like a stupid, stupid romantic novel and movie way."

Maya's smile softens as she reached out to rub Kat's shoulder. "Oh, sweetie...We knew that."

In that moment, Kat's expression shifts, confusion knitting her brows. "What?"

"Kat, it wasn't that hard to see. Behind the snarly remarks, you obviously liked the boy. It was only a matter of time before you—stubbornly realized that," Maya explained.

Varying her gaze at them, her mind reeled with their words. "Is that—really what you guys thought?"

"We've always thought that, Kitty-Kat," Riley reassured. "We've been watching this story for the past year. Ever since you fell onto his lap."

"And now you know," Maya concluded with a faint smile.

Kat gulped as she weighed their words before asking, "Well...now what do I do?"

"Embrace it—instead of hiding from it like I know you have for the past year," Riley advised.

Knowing she was right, Kat pursed her lips, but her expression was still conflicted. She knew she was too far in now to keep denying these feelings she had for him, but still, there was hesitation in her voice. "I suppose I should do that but...I'm so scared."

"Why?" Maya inquired.

"Because...it's him," Kat confessed. "He's my cowboy, Huckleberry, Captain Yeehaw, and so much more..." She trailed off. "Besides, I know he doesn't like me back anyways."

Maya's face turned incredulous. "Did your pretty head get hit by a bus on your way back here?" she joked. "It's clear that he likes you too, beneath his snarly remarks."

Kat's face falters, a hint of uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "You really think so?"

"We both think so," Maya affirmed, gesturing to herself and Riley.

"Well...I'm still not sure of that at all," Kat admitted, gazing ahead. She pondered the situation for a moment before sighing. "I don't know what I'm sure of anymore."

Ever since she met Lucas, her life was spun upside down and it hasn't been the same since. She went from hating him to her core, to thinking about him every second of every day and it was still something Katherine couldn't wrap her head around even now.

But things were changing for her, and she didn't know how it could've ever changed like this, but all she knew was that she couldn't deny her own feelings anymore.

She really did have to embrace it, and whether or not it was going to be the right decision, would be up to time and the universe to show.

Kat sighed at the thought. "Who would've thought that I'd start to like my enemy?"

Maya shrugged and smirked. "Who would've ever thought, Kitty-Kat?"

lani's talking!

keeping this short and sweet bc I really do think about them literally all the time

the brainrot is real

also listen to let it happen by gracie abrams bc it's literally them in kat's perspective AHHH

but as always, thank you all for the love and support you've given this story, it means a lot to me, and I will see you all later!

byeeeee <3