* 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 .

" What do you want?" Dawn muttered into his chest.

" To make sure that you get out of your depression."

Zoey nodded slightly to the boy, and he nodded.

" I'll see you outside, Dawn. Good luck, Kenny. You'll need it."

Kenny grinned. " Don't worry. I'm her boyfriend. I think I would know how to snap my Dee Dee out of a funk."

Zoey shrugged. " Your call."

Kenny waited until Zoey had left, the door clicking softly behind her. Then he turned his full attention to the girl curled up against him. He held her a little tighter, his chin resting lightly on the top of her head.

“Alright, Dee Dee,” he said quietly, his voice soft but firm. “What’s going on? And don’t even try to tell me it’s nothing, because I know you better than that.”

Dawn buried her face deeper into his chest, avoiding his gaze. “It’s nothing, Kenny. Just leave it alone.”

Kenny’s arms didn’t loosen; instead, they pulled her even closer. She could hear his heart beating steadily, a calm rhythm that grounded her even when she didn’t want to admit it.

“Dawn,” he said again, his tone gentle but unyielding. “You’re not fooling me. You never have, and you never will. So why don’t you save us both some time and just tell me what’s got you like this?”

Dawn hesitated, clutching at his shirt. She hated how well he knew her. No matter how much she tried to hide, Kenny always found a way to see right through her.

“It’s… stupid,” she whispered finally, her voice muffled.

Kenny tilted his head, brushing a strand of blue hair out of her face so he could look at her. “If it’s bothering you this much, it’s not stupid.”

She stayed quiet for a moment, but the steady sound of his heartbeat, the warmth of his embrace, and the sheer persistence in his tone finally wore her down.

“I just… feel like I’m not good enough,” she admitted, her voice barely audible.

Kenny blinked, startled. “Not good enough? For what?”

“For anything,” Dawn muttered, her voice cracking slightly. “For contests, for my Pokémon, for you… I keep trying so hard, but I keep messing up. Everyone else seems to have it together, but I just… I don’t.”

Kenny didn’t say anything at first, but his arms tightened around her protectively. When he finally spoke, his voice was steady and sure.

“Dee Dee, do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds? You’re amazing. You’re the most passionate, determined, and kind-hearted person I know. And yeah, maybe you mess up sometimes, but that’s just part of being human. It doesn’t make you any less incredible.”

Dawn sniffled, her fingers clutching at his shirt. “You’re just saying that…”

“Hey,” Kenny said, pulling back just enough to look her in the eyes. “Do I look like I’m just saying that?”

His gaze was so sincere, so unwavering, that Dawn couldn’t help but believe him. She hated how easily he could break through her walls, but at the same time, she was grateful for it.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she admitted softly, her voice barely a whisper.

Kenny smiled, brushing a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “Good thing you’ll never have to find out. You’re stuck with me, Dee Dee.”

Dawn let out a shaky laugh, finally leaning fully into his embrace. The steady beat of his heart against her ear, the warmth of his arms, and the unwavering confidence in his voice made her feel just a little bit stronger.

“Thanks, Kenny,” she murmured, her voice laced with a mix of gratitude and exhaustion.

“Always,” he replied simply, holding her close as if to shield her from all her doubts and fears. And in that moment, Dawn knew that no matter how many times she fell, Kenny would always be there to catch her.