"It's okay, Diana, I'm sure it didn't mean anything." Josie sighed, handing Diana another tissue.

Diana accepted it graciously, blotting at her watering eyes. "That's what I'm worried about!"

You were sleeping over at Diana's house tonight, and the four of you had just returned from the winter formal at city hall. Everything was fine until, at the end of the evening, Charlie Sloane ditched Diana for his original date, Prissy Andrews, even though she'd hardly spoken a word to him all night. He didn't even say goodnight. You clenched your jaw, balling your fists and standing up from the loveseat abruptly to plop down next to Diana on her bed. "I can't believe he's doing this to you. What a cruel little slime! I swear to you Diana, we're going to make him really sorry. Isn't that right, girls?"

Josie and Ruby nodded eagerly in agreement. Though you were usually soft-spoken in nature, you were a fiercely loyal friend and couldn't stand to see someone as kind and loving as Diana in such emotional turmoil.

"I know it's sort of a sudden thing, but.." She trailed, sniffling. "I felt like maybe he liked me. God, I'm so stupid!" she flopped over, putting her head on your lap and sobbing into your nightdress.

"Shhh," you stroked her head maternally, looking at the other two urgently for moral support. "You're not stupid. Charlie's the stupid one, okay? To pass up someone as beautiful and smart and as kind as you are for a girl like Prissy Andrews? Why she must have chatted up every gentleman in the ballroom, including Mr. Philips!"

Josie gasped. "You really think?"

You nodded gravely. Diana sat up now, meeting your gaze as she tried to stifle her crying. "My point is, Diana, you don't need someone like that. You deserve so much better." You gently brushed a tear from her cheek with your thumb.

"I love you so much." She hugged you tightly. "All of you. Thank you." The dark-haired girl flopped back onto her pink satin duvet and giggled softly as she wiped the last of the wet streaks from her face. "You know, (Y/N), I almost wish you were still a boy. Then maybe you could talk to Charlie for me."

You snorted at the thought, flopping down next to her. Ruby and Josie joined you, and soon you were all staring up at Diana's ceiling.

"You know, I could probably ask Billy to talk him for you if you want, Di," Ruby offered, looking over at her friend.

You seconded Ruby's notion. "Yeah, and I'm sure Gilbert would too if I asked him."

"Thank you, girls. That means a lot." Diana grinned, reaching her arms over in an attempt to hug all three of you at once.

"How is Gilbert, by the way? The two of you looked pretty smitten tonight," Josie teased, poking your arm.

You chuckled. "He's good. We're good."

"The two of you really do make a handsome couple," Diana attested, and the other two nodded.

"Well, I don't know if I'd call us a couple, really," You shrugged, sitting up.

"Oh, I definitely would."

Ruby nodded, wide-eyed. "For sure."

"Oh, yeah, and what about you, huh? Ruby, or should I say, Mrs. Billy Andrews?" You mused teasingly, raising an eyebrow.

"Shh!" she hissed, pelting you with a small decorative pillow. In response, you snatched another larger pillow from the bed and hurled it back at her.

You giggled as her face turned a bright shade of pink. "You loooove him."

"Oh god, (Y/N), you just started war." Josie laughed, picking up a pillow as well to defend herself.

Ruby came after you first, attacking you mercilessly with a pillow that was about the same size she was. You squeaked, almost falling off the bed in an attempt to get away. For a little thing, she was surprisingly strong.

"Guys, no, you're gonna wake up my paren- hey!" Before Diana could finish her sentence, she was clocked in the face by a stray pillow. "That's it!" she joined in, and the four of you were in a full-fledged pillow fight.

That night, Diana's room was filled with squealing, floating feathers, and lots of boisterous giggling until eventually the four of you wore yourselves out, passing out in a pile on the bed. It was good to finally have people you could call your best friends.