The car pulls up to the curb, and you feel the sudden rush of energy from the flashing lights and the cheering fans. It’s the premiere of Alien: Romulus, the movie where you and Isabela Merced first met two years ago. Now you were officially dating. The door opens, and the noise hits you—a mixture of excited shouts, camera clicks, and your name being called from every direction. You take a deep breath, flashing your best smile, and step out of the car.

She follows right behind you. Her hand finds yours naturally, the warmth of her touch grounding you amidst the chaos. You’ve walked countless red carpets together since you started dating, but it never gets easier. The red carpet is always a frenzy—so much happening at once, and yet, right now, all you can focus on is her.

As you begin to walk down the carpet, the cameras flash even brighter. Paparazzi shout your names, asking you to look their way, calling out compliments and trying to get reactions. She squeezes your hand. You glance at her, catching the glint of mischief in her eyes. You both know how this works—the façade, the glitz and glamour that everyone expects. A photographer calls out your name, asking you both to stop for a photo together. You oblige, turning towards the crowd of cameras. You angle your body toward your partner, instinctively falling into a pose that looks effortless but has been perfected after countless red carpets. Isabela wraps an arm around your waist, pulling you in just a little closer than necessary, and you can feel them glance at you from the corner of her eye.

“Think they’ll capture our good side?” she murmurs under her breath, just loud enough for you to hear but still maintaining that perfect smile for the camera.