" Get up." Someone said as they pulled Dawn's blanket off. Dawn turned.

Zoey.

" Zoey, I don't care what you say but nothing ANYONE does is gonna convince me to move." Dawn snapped, grabbing the blanket and pulling it on herself again.

" Even me?* Another voice asked.

Dawn didn't even bother to look.

The person sighed. " Oh Dawn...."

Dawn didn't even care.

Then she felt the mattress sink a little.

Then the bed moved.

Then the edge of the blanket was lifted, and someone scooted in.

Then two warm arms wrapped around Dawn and hugged her tight.

There, lying down next to her, was her Auburn haired prince.

Her one and only .

Dawn blinked, startled, as the warm arms encircled her. She turned her head slightly, already knowing who it was without needing to look.

“Kenny…” she muttered, her voice muffled by the blanket she’d buried herself in.

Kenny, her ever-persistent Auburn-haired prince, gave her a gentle squeeze. “Morning, Dee Dee.” His tone was light, but she could hear the concern beneath it.

“What are you doing here?” Dawn asked, her voice groggy and a little annoyed, though she didn’t try to push him away.

“Zoey told me you weren’t getting up. Figured I’d come to see what’s up,” Kenny replied casually, as if climbing into her bed was a completely normal thing to do.

Dawn huffed, tugging the blanket tighter around her. “I just want to sleep. Is that a crime?”

Kenny leaned his head against hers, his voice softening. “No, but hiding from the world like this isn’t going to help anything, Dee Dee.”

She didn’t respond, instead curling into herself more. Kenny didn’t let go, his arms remaining steady and warm around her.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” he said after a moment, his voice quieter now. “But you don’t have to face it alone. I’m here, okay?”

Dawn’s throat tightened, but she refused to cry. “Why are you always like this?”

“Like what?” Kenny asked, his tone teasing but kind.

“So… so stubbornly nice,” she muttered, her voice trembling slightly.

Kenny chuckled softly. “Guess it’s just my charm.”

For a moment, the room was quiet, save for the sound of their breathing. Slowly, Dawn began to relax, leaning into Kenny’s warmth despite herself.

“You don’t have to tell me what’s wrong,” Kenny said softly, breaking the silence. “But I’m not leaving until you’re ready to get up. Deal?”

Dawn sighed, the smallest of smiles tugging at her lips. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re stubborn,” Kenny shot back lightly. “Guess we balance each other out.”

Dawn rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, her heart feeling a little lighter as she rested against him. Maybe, just maybe, the world didn’t feel quite as overwhelming with Kenny by her side.