It’s young love at its best… like a smarter version of Britney and Justin. Even though their denials are getting a little old, at the same time, they’re also refusing to engage, and that kind of deliberate protection could serve them well in the future.

Will Rihanna and Chris Brown last?

Well, at 20 and 19 respectively, probably not. But they have been inseparable all year, and they look like they’re having such a good time, riding a very high wave together, and handling it beautifully, especially considering they’re barely out of infancy.

But there are other reasons too. The Sun-Times published an article this week on why Rihanna and Chris work. Click here to read it. What’s best is that they are equals. One is no more successful than the other, more famous than the other, they are rising at the same time, they are learning at the same time. And…

You can’t give them a moniker. It’s Rihanna and Chris Brown. Period. There is no Branging of their names.

Here they are in Paris today, pulling up at the Louis Vuitton on the Champs Elysees for some shopping in advance of her appearance on Star Academy. Fun, see?

Photos from Splashnewsonline and Bauergriffinonline.com