Dinner was eaten with not a word uttered from Ravenna. Ken watched her with worried eyes, but she simply smiled at him. His mother didn't seem to notice and chattered continuously throughout the duration of their meal. Afterwards, Rave helped with washing dishes while Ken retreated to his room. She followed him soon after.

In his room, he was sitting on the floor with his spare glasses on and looking through some old photos.

"What's that?"

"Some pictures I found in a shoebox. Come see."

She obeyed, smiling at him. He looked almost the same as before, aside from his new muscular frame. In his hands were pictures of them the day before freshman year started. His skinny arms held her legs as she piggybacked him, both grinning like fools. Ken chuckled quietly at the photograph.

"What a difference, huh?"

"Yeah…"

"What's wrong?"

"Hm?"

"You heard me. I know you, Rave, so don't play stupid."

"I'm just shocked by how much you've changed."

"In a good way or a bad way?"he smiled weakly.

"I don't know yet…"

Grimacing, he sighed and slouched at bit. Ravenna leaned against him playfully and he leaned back. After a bit of playful pushing back and forth, they fell over in a fit of laughter.

"Oh, how much I missed our little games."

"Same here," she blushed, "Among other things."

He grinned and removed his glasses momentarily to kiss her again. Rave pushed him away this time.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to give you a kiss."

"Why?"

"Because I love you, Ravenna. More than anything in the entire world."

"I'm so confused…"

"Look, it's late and we're both tired. But can I ask you to think about something?"

"Of course."

"Please consider being my girlfriend. I have wanted you to be mine forever and I only just now have gotten the courage to ask you. You don't have to give me your answer tonight, sleep on it. I've waited this long, I don't mind waiting a bit longer."

"Okay, I will."

"Thank you, that's all I ask. Now, should we sleep together or should I sleep on the floor?"

"Together, I miss that part a lot."

Grinning, he climbed into the bed and held up blanket for her. She followed him cautiously, lying with her back toward him. His strong arms wrapped around her middle as his face nuzzled her hair. Just like when they were younger. Ravenna drifted to sleep quicker because of this. But Ken couldn't sleep with his mind buzzing so much.

That night, he dreamt of one particularly horrible day at military school.

It was his third day there. He had just gotten a letter from Ravenna talking about the Summer Fair. Enclosed was a picture of her peeking cheekily from behind a fox mask. It must have fallen out of his shirt because, when he returned from lunch, his bunk mates were passing it around.

"Hey, where'd you find that?"

"On the floor. Why?"

"Because it's mine."

The three boys gawked at him before laughing loudly. He made an attempt to get it back, but it was held from his reach.

"Who is it? Your girlfriend?"

"Nah, it's probably that girl he always writes to at night."

"Maybe she's his hot sister. I've heard that happens sometimes."

The all completely ignored him, so he tried to get the picture back again. This time, they held his arm.

"So, tell me Kenny, who is that lovely lady in that photograph?"

"Nobody!"

"I don't think she is," Rob twisted his arm slightly.

"Okay, okay! She's my best friend!"

"Best friend? I'm guessing you got friend zoned, right?"

Ken blushed and looked down in humiliation.

"He did! He really did! Dude, if I had a friend that looked anything like that…"

"Yeah, man, it would be more like best friends with benefits."

His rage boiled over at that moment. Thinking about what Ravenna would do, he grabbed the nearest object and whipped it at Rob. It just happened to be the plush bunny she had given him. The boys looked at him in shock as he grabbed a chair and got ready to throw that as well. His glasses had fallen and lay broken beneath his shoe.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"Give her back!"

For a split second he imagined they were holding the real Ravenna hostage. That just added to the amount of anger coursing through him. She looked pleadingly at him.

"Okay, okay, you psycho! You want your girlfriend back? Have her."

Rob tossed the picture on the floor and stepped on it. Ken picked it up with shaking hands and smiled victoriously. Tucking it back into his shirt, he went to his next class.

Ken woke up the next morning with Ravenna's face buried in his chest. Her face was so peaceful that he couldn't bear to move her. He had almost forgotten these simple moments that brought so much joy to his life. Kissing her forehead gently, he moved from her reach and stood. This jolted her awake.

"Huh, Kenny? Come back to bed…"

He smiled softly, sitting back down on the bed.

"Good morning, Rave. How'd you sleep?"

"Pretty good, how about you?"

"Good. Did you consider what I said last night?"

"Uh-huh."

"And what's your answer?"

"Yes."