"Come in!" Evie yells from her dorm bed. Doug enters and locks the door behind him, at Evie's request. "I didn't lock it after Mal left because I couldn't be bothered to get up. I'm exhausted,"
Doug can't help but smile at the sight before him: Evie already in her hand-made pajamas when it's not even 7pm on a Friday night, sprawled out on her entire bed. But who is he to judge? He's already in sweatpants and a tea shirt, himself. Taking off his shoes, he forces himself to stop admiring her for a second.
"I bet you are. You should really make more time for breaks; I don't want you to stress yourself out too much," He says, eyebrows furrowed in concern as Evie moves to make room for him.
"I know. But it's like teachers don't understand we have lives outside of school! Lonnie's birthday is coming up and I have the cutest dress in the works for her, not to mention helping the girls with the food donations." Evie(along with Mal) has been joining other princesses to help give food to people - especially children - who don't have enough to eat at home, ever since she found out the girls meet twice a week to do it. It's a cause very close to her heart.
"And you still make time for your friends. You're unbelievable. We couldn't be luckier to have you in our lives," Doug kissed her cheek.
"You're more charming than any prince I've met. Besides, where would I be without your support?" Evie kissed him before snuggling into his side and tucking her head under his chin.
A show about recent royalty fashion was on, but neither were really paying attention, both lost in their own thoughts. Until..
"I love you." Doug blurted out, staring at the ceiling. Quickly, Evie pulled away from him.
"What? You're just saying that because.. because.." She was at a loss. Why would he love her - let alone be in love with her? He shook his head and turned to her, love in his eyes.
"It's true! Your compassion for others, the way you can do whatever you set your mind to. You're beautiful, inside and out." Doug's words, along with how he was looking at her brought tears to her eyes.
"Thank you. You have no idea how much it means to hear that, especially from you," She pulled him to her in a tight hug, not caring the slightest bit how her makeup would look when she was through.
"I might not have been able to me there for you before, but I'm going to take care of you from now on. N-not that you need me, of course. You can take care of yourself just fine," Doug began to backtrack, thinking maybe he was speaking too much. Evie has done just fine without him all these years.
"It never hurts to have someone looking after you," She pulled back, looking into his eyes. "I love you, too."
Doug kissed Evie again, an activity he could never tire of, and they settled in to watch a romantic musical.