Page 35 of Flipping the Script
16
GOLDEN HORIZON
The vintage emerald earrings catch the light streaming through the limousine's tinted windows as Quinn's fingers work to secure the second clasp behind Solen's ear. Her hands remain steady despite the weight of everything this evening represents—their final performance, or perhaps their first authentic moment as whatever they're becoming.
"There." Quinn's voice carries none of the nervous energy that's been building all day. "They match your dress perfectly."
Solen turns to face her in the leather seat, the emerald silk of her gown pooling elegantly around her legs. "You realize I'm terrified, right?"
The admission surprises Quinn with its directness. After weeks of Solen's confident ease at every public appearance, this vulnerability feels like a gift.
"Of winning?" Quinn adjusts the thin strap of her own midnight blue dress, chosen specifically because Iris insisted it made her eyes look "devastatingly intelligent."
"Of this ending." Solen's hand finds Quinn's on the seat between them. "Whatever happens tonight, tomorrow everything changes."
Through the window, the Golden Horizon Theater rises before them like an art deco monument, its vertical marquee blazing against the darkening sky. Photographers line the red carpet in dense clusters, their cameras creating a constellation of flashing lights.
Quinn studies Solen's profile as she watches the approaching chaos. "What if we stopped acting like it has to end?"
The question hangs between them as their driver navigates the final turn toward the theater's entrance. Quinn hadn't planned to voice the thought that's been circling her mind for days, but sitting here in this artificial moment of calm before the storm, everything feels possible.
"You mean continue the fake relationship?" Solen's fingers tighten around Quinn's.
"I mean stop calling it fake."
Their limousine glides to a stop precisely at the red carpet's beginning. Quinn can see Diego Santos Rivera positioning himself near the interview area, his press credentials catching the light. Carmen stands behind him with her camera raised, both of them offering supportive nods through the window.
"Ready?" Solen asks, but she's not looking at the cameras or the crowd. She's looking at Quinn with an expression that suggests she's asking about more than just the next few hours.
Quinn nods, surprising herself with how much she means it. "Let's go tell our story."
The moment their driver opens the door, the world explodes into sound and light. Camera flashes create a strobe effect against the theater's golden facade while entertainment reporters call their names from behind velvet ropes. Quinn steps out first, offering her hand to help Solen emerge with the graceful flourish their audiences have come to expect.
But when Solen's hand settles against the small of Quinn's back, the touch carries none of the calculated precision of theirearlier appearances. Instead, Quinn feels herself leaning into the warmth, letting her smile bloom naturally as they begin their slow progress down the crimson carpet.
"Quinn! Solen! Over here!" Photographers angle for the perfect shot while Quinn finds herself genuinely enjoying the spectacle rather than enduring it. The weight of Solen's touch grounds her, making the chaos feel manageable rather than overwhelming.
They pose at several designated spots, Quinn's hand resting comfortably at Solen's waist while conversations flow around them in multiple languages. Entertainment reporters conduct rapid-fire interviews with other arrivals while stylists dart between celebrities making last-minute adjustments.
"This feels different," Solen murmurs during a brief lull between photo opportunities.
Quinn turns to study her face. "Different how?"
"Like we're actually enjoying ourselves instead of just surviving it."
The observation strikes Quinn as remarkably accurate. The nervous energy that characterized their early appearances has transformed into something warmer and more sustainable. They've stopped performing their relationship and started inhabiting it.
Diego approaches them with his familiar professional smile, but Quinn notices genuine warmth in his eyes rather than the calculated interest of their first encounters.
"Ladies, you look absolutely radiant tonight." He gestures toward Carmen, who positions herself for the best lighting. "Mind if we grab a quick interview for the livestream?"
"Of course." Solen's response carries none of the wariness that used to accompany media requests.
Diego activates his recording equipment while Carmen adjusts her camera angle. "So tonight marks not just the GoldenHorizon Awards, but also the culmination of what's been an incredibly successful campaign for your film. How does it feel to see your creative collaboration resonate so strongly with audiences?"
Quinn appreciates how he frames the question around their work rather than their relationship. "It's been remarkable watching people connect with the story we were trying to tell. I think audiences are hungry for authentic narratives about partnership and growth."
"And Solen, you've been very public about how working with Quinn challenged you as a performer. Can you elaborate on that experience?"
