UNSCRIPTED LOVE

Morning came slowly, bleeding gold across the rumpled sheets, across tangled limbs and bare skin.

Aubrey woke first.

It took a moment for the world to make sense — the warm weight of Jenna pressed against her chest, the soft snuffle of her breathing, the familiar ache in her muscles from holding her too tightly all night.

She smiled into the pillow, heart so full it hurt.

God, how had she lived without this?

Without her?

She shifted slightly, enough to prop herself on one elbow and drink her in — Jenna in the sunlight, hair a wild halo around her face, one arm thrown across Aubrey’s waist like she owned her.

Maybe she did.

Maybe she always had.

Aubrey reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from Jenna’s cheek, fingers lingering longer than necessary.

Jenna stirred, mumbling something incoherent.

"Morning, menace," Aubrey murmured, voice rough with sleep and something softer.

Jenna cracked one eye open, squinting at her.

"You’re staring," she accused, voice thick and sleepy.

"Maybe I like what I’m looking at," Aubrey said shamelessly.

Jenna groaned, burying her face in Aubrey’s chest.

"You’re so gross in the morning."

"You love it."

A muffled snort. "Unfortunately."

Aubrey laughed, wrapping both arms around her and pulling her in tighter.

They lay there in silence for a long moment, just breathing, the world outside held at bay.

It would find them eventually — the rumors, the consequences — but not yet.

Right now, it was just them.

"Are you okay?" Jenna asked quietly, voice almost shy.

Aubrey kissed the top of her head.

"I am now," she said simply.

Another pause.

"I meant it, you know," Aubrey added, heart hammering in her throat. "Last night. When I said I love you."

Jenna lifted her head, blinking at her with those too-big, too-honest eyes.

"I know," she whispered. "I love you too."

It wrecked her.

It saved her.

Aubrey pulled her in for a kiss — slow and sweet and deep — like sealing a vow.

Like building something permanent.

Jenna melted against her, fingers threading through her hair, sighing into her mouth.

When they broke apart, Jenna was smiling.

"I guess we’re officially a scandal now," she said lightly.

Aubrey groaned, flopping back against the pillow.

"Don’t remind me."

Jenna laughed, straddling her hips with zero warning, pinning her to the bed.

Aubrey’s breath caught — not from fear, but from how good it felt to be wanted this much.

"This scandal," Jenna said, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth, "is worth it."

Another kiss, this one to her jaw.

"Every headline."

Another to her throat.

"Every rumor."

Aubrey’s hands slid up her thighs, her waist, her back, holding her close.

"God help me," she muttered, grinning, "you’re going to be the death of me."

Jenna smirked.

"Probably."

They tumbled back into the sheets together, laughing, kissing, chasing each other’s mouths like they couldn’t get close enough.

For a while, nothing else existed.

---

It was well past noon when reality came knocking — literally.

A sharp knock at the door.

Both of them froze.

Aubrey groaned into her pillow.

"If that’s your manager, I’m jumping out the window."

Jenna giggled but slid off her, pulling on the oversized hoodie she'd stolen last night.

Aubrey reluctantly pulled on some clothes too — grumbling the whole time — and padded to the door.

It was her assistant.

Wide-eyed. Out of breath.

"Aubrey — the photos—"

Aubrey's stomach dropped.

"What photos?"

The assistant shoved her phone into Aubrey’s hand.

There it was, in painful, full-color glory.

Photos taken from across the street.

Jenna, outside Aubrey’s apartment.
Jenna, looking up at the window with a soft, wrecked expression.

Captured.
Exposed.
Undeniable.

"Shit," Aubrey breathed.

Jenna came up behind her, peeking over her shoulder.

Her face went still.

"They’re going to know," Jenna said softly.

"They already know," Aubrey corrected.

For a long moment, neither of them moved.

Then Jenna squared her shoulders.

"So what?"

Aubrey turned to stare at her.

"I don’t care," Jenna said, voice steady. Fierce. Brave. "Let them talk. Let them scream. I’m not hiding how I feel."

Her hand found Aubrey’s — squeezed tight.

"You said you loved me," she whispered. "Was that just for the dark?"

Aubrey swallowed hard, something huge and terrifying and beautiful swelling in her chest.

"No," she said, voice rough. "Not just for the dark."

"Then come into the light with me," Jenna said, tugging her closer, daring her to leap.

Aubrey hesitated only a second longer.

Then she kissed her — right there, in front of the open doorway, in front of the assistant, in front of whoever might see.

She kissed Jenna Ortega like the whole world was watching.

Because it was.

And she didn’t give a damn anymore.

---

Later that day, the headlines exploded:

"Confirmed: Aubrey Plaza and Jenna Ortega — More Than Co-Stars?"
"Plaza and Ortega Spotted Together — New Power Couple?"
"Set Romance Turns Real!"

Their phones buzzed nonstop.

Agents screamed.
Studios panicked.
Fans speculated.

But through it all, Aubrey and Jenna stayed close — fingers tangled, smiles secret.

Untouchable.

Unbreakable.

Real.

Because for once, they weren’t running.

They were all in.

Together.