𝐘/𝐍'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

"Are you sure about this?"

Scarlett side-eyes me from the passenger seat, eyebrow arched. "Y/n, it's Dylan and Anna. I've known them for years."

"Yeah, but this is different." I tighten my grip on the steering wheel. "They're going to be worse now." Scarlett smirks, leaning back into her seat. "Worse how?"

"You know how," I mutter. Before Scarlett can respond, I pull into the driveway. The second I put the car in park, the front door bursts open, and Dylan and Anna stride out onto the porch like they were waiting to ambush us.

"Oh, here we go," Scarlett mutters, chuckling.

Dylan crosses his arms, looking at Scarlett up and down. "Ah, the return of The Johansson. And this time, she's here as The Girlfriend."

Anna tilts her head, feigning deep thought. "Hmm. Unclear if we approve. We'll need more data."

Scarlett grins, completely unfazed. "Well, don't let me hold up your research."

Dylan lets out an exaggerated sigh. "Alright, fine. Y/n, bring her in. Let's see if she survives."

Scarlett and I exchange glances.

"See?" I mutter under my breath. "Told you."

Scarlett just smirks. "I got this."

𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

I step into Dylan's house like I'm entering enemy territory. Not that Dylan and Anna actually hate me—but their protectiveness over Y/n is no joke, and I knew from the moment we pulled into the driveway that this was not going to be a normal hangout.

Y/n barely has time to close the door before Dylan claps his hands together.

"Alright. Let's get into it."

Y/n groans. "Dylan—"

Dylan ignores her, turning to me with a pointed look. "Scarlett. You, my dear, have done what few have ever managed—you have earned yourself a second chance with Y/n Evans."

Anna nods, arms crossed like a judge overseeing a trial. "Which means we need to address the elephant in the room—why should we let you back in?"

I blink. "Are you guys... actually putting me on trial right now?"

Anna gestures broadly. "We have questions."

Y/n throws her head back. "Oh my God—"

Dylan grins. "Oh, no, no. This is good for you, Y/n. Consider it a test of loyalty. If Scarlett can survive us, she can survive anything."

Scarlett smirks, tilting her head. "So this is just initiation?"

Dylan snaps his fingers. "Exactly!"

I glance at Y/n, who looks like she's debating whether to physically remove me from the house before this can get worse. I chuckle and turn back to them. "Alright, shoot."

Anna leans forward. "How did she convince you to give her another chance?"

I glance at Y/n, who suddenly looks very interested in the floor. "Oh, I just wore her down with my undeniable charm."

Dylan gasps dramatically. "Brainwashing. Interesting tactic."

Anna strokes her chin. "Or perhaps a spell."

Scarlett raises an eyebrow. "Or maybe—just maybe—I meant it when I said I wasn't going to mess this up again."

For the first time, Dylan and Anna actually pause.

Y/n glances at me, a little surprised.

I meet their gazes, keeping my expression sincere. "Look, I get it. You guys love her. I messed up before, and I don't expect you to just forget that. But I've never been more sure about anything in my life. I want this. I want her."

The room falls quiet.

Dylan and Anna exchange glances. Then, Anna turns to Y/n. "Ugh. You picked someone mature. Gross."

Y/n throws her hands up. "I know, right? It's terrifying."

Dylan leans back with a sigh. "Alright. You passed Round One."

I raise an eyebrow. "There are multiple rounds?"

Anna grins. "Oh, yeah. But for now, you've earned pizza privileges. Come on."

𝐘/𝐍'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

We end up in the living room, sprawled across the couches, Dylan and Anna still analyzing Scarlett like she's a rare artifact.

At one point, Dylan leans in. "Alright, Johansson. Tell me—what's Y/n's most annoying habit?"

Scarlett smirks. "How much time do you have?"

Dylan and Anna burst out laughing, while I glare at Scarlett.

"You're supposed to be on my side!" I exclaim.

Scarlett shrugs. "I'm just being honest."

Anna grins. "Oh, we like her."

Dylan smirks, leaning back with a sigh. "Fine. You get my reluctant approval."

Anna nods. "Same. But you hurt her again, Johansson, and we will make your life a nightmare."

Scarlett smiles, entirely unbothered. "Noted."

I shake my head, exasperated. "I hate all of you."

Dylan throws an arm around me. "Nah, you love us."

Scarlett winks. "And me more than them, obviously."

Anna groans, throwing a pillow at us. "Ew."

Dylan stands. "Alright. Who's up for a drinking game?"

And just like that, the chaos resumes.

. . .

It had been a pretty perfect day so far—Scarlett survived Dylan and Anna, we had dinner together, and now we were winding down at her place.

I was stretched out on her couch, head resting against the armrest, while Scarlett sat beside me, legs tucked under her. A movie played on the screen—something neither of us was really watching—but the mood was comfortable.

Or, at least, it had been comfortable.

Now, Scarlett was quiet. Too quiet.

She was picking at the hem of her sweater, her brows slightly furrowed, her lips pressed together like she was thinking way too hard.

I nudged her foot with mine. "Alright, Johansson. What's going on in that overthinking brain of yours?"

Scarlett huffed a soft laugh but didn't immediately answer.

Instead, she shifted, tucking her knees closer to her chest. "...Can I ask you something?"

"Of course." I sat up a little. "What's up?"

She hesitated, eyes flickering to mine, then back to the TV. "Are you... really okay with all of this?" I blinked. "With what?"

"This," she gestured vaguely. "Us. Being... public. The cameras, the rumors. People watching."

I tilted my head. "Are you okay with it?"

She exhaled slowly, her shoulders dropping a little. "I don't know."

I frowned slightly. "Talk to me, Scar."

She shifted again, clearly struggling to find the right words so I placed my hand on her knee. "I just... It's not that I don't want to be with you. Because I do. So much."

I reached for her hand, squeezing lightly. "I know that."

Her thumb brushed absentmindedly over mine.

"It's just—this life? It's intense. And it's not fair to you. You're already in the public eye, but being with me? That puts you under a whole different level of scrutiny, we saw the comments people left on your post from comic con, accusing you of cheating."

I thought back to the paparazzi moment outside the car. The flashing lights, the invasive questions. The assumptions.

I sighed. "Yeah. That part sucks."

Scarlett let out a humorless chuckle. "Exactly."

I studied her, the small crease between her brows, the way she was chewing on the inside of her cheek. She was worried.

"Scarlett," I said softly.

She looked at me.

"I don't care about any of that," I told her honestly. "Yeah, it's annoying. Yeah, people talk. But I knew what I was getting into, it's nothing I can't handle."

Her expression faltered slightly. "Did you?"

I hesitated, then shrugged. "Maybe not entirely. But I do know one thing."

She raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"

I shifted closer, running my thumb along the back of her hand. "I know that I want you. And that matters more than anything else."

She let out a slow breath, her shoulders relaxing just a bit. "You're really not scared?"

I smirked. "Scarlett, I've fought the internet before. I'll do it again, I literally use social media to make most of my income, I deal with it everyday."

She huffed a small laugh. "That's not the same thing."

I squeezed her hand. "I know. But honestly? The only thing that would scare me is losing you again."

Her gaze softened.

I meant it. The media could say whatever the hell they wanted. People could speculate. But as long as we had this—these quiet moments, these conversations, this connection—then the rest didn't matter.

Scarlett exhaled slowly. "I don't want to lose you either."

I grinned. "Then I guess you're stuck with me, huh?" Her lips curved. "Guess so."

I shifted again, looping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer. She let out a small laugh but didn't resist, resting her head against my shoulder.

We sat like that for a while, the tension slowly melting away. Eventually, she murmured, "You know, I am gonna have to post about you eventually." I grinned. "What, you mean you haven't already soft-launched me?"

She let out a laugh. "No, Evans, I haven't." I pretended to be offended. "Wow. I thought we were something special."

She playfully smacked my chest. "Shut up."

I laughed, but then smirked down at her. "I mean, I did already post about you."

Her eyes narrowed. "Oh God. What did you do?"

I grabbed my phone, pulling up Instagram before turning the screen toward her.

I posted earlier today while we were spending time with Dylan and Anna. It was a carousel of some pictures of Scarlett and then both of us.

The Post.

♡ 2.65M likes | 126k comments
Tagged: scarlettjohansson, dylanobrien, annashumatee
ynevans: might've lost the game but I think I won anyway ♡

chrisevans: Why wasn't I invited?
—> ynevans: I have a life that doesn't revolve around you?
—> carlyevans: He's going to start crying, way to go Y/n/n 🤣

dylanobrien: I made it 🤭 I feel like I'm the one getting hard launched right now bro
—> annashumatee: You were fighting for Y/n's attention all night, kind of embarrassing
—> scarlettjohansson: We can all share her love 🥹

scarlettjohansson: We both won, my love 😚
—> user1: OH MY GOSH
—> user2: THEY CONFIRMED?!
—> user3: I'm obsessed with them already!

florencepugh: It's about damn time! Get married 🤭
—> elizabetholsen: I want to officiate
—> robertdowneyjr: Uhm no, I'm officiating
—> anthonymackie: ....

user4: I shipped you more with Madelyn

user5: This ain't it

user6: I'm just happy you're happy 🥲

user7: what the hell does Y/n say to these actresses 😭 I want one

Scarlett blinked and read the caption.

Then, she groaned, hiding her face in my hoodie. "You are so lucky you're cute."

I grinned, wrapping my arms around her. "That's what I keep hearing."

She sighed, shaking her head but smiling against my chest.

Maybe this whole public relationship thing wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Well you can't take it back now, guess I'm officially all yours," Scarlett smirked before looking over and kissing me.