Short story assignment; Vicious Celebrity

George gulped as Victoria drew steadily nearer, clutching his weak arms and closing in on him gently. Just as if she actually cared for him. Though he had to admit, she was a brilliant actor. He desperately tried to stop shaking from fear, and concentrated as the photographer gestured to the right. He moved shyly and gingerly, all too aware Victoria hanging off his shoulder, like a volcano that could blow any second. Her smell hung in the air, invading his nose and piercing his senses. Suddenly, he heard her whisper creeping around his ear like poison. “You’re so bad at acting.”1

George hastily pulled his lips into a painful smile. He clenched his teeth and replied coldly as the photographer gave the thumbs up sign. “This better?” he murmured rather desperately. Her grip was tightening.2

“Smile wider,” she hissed acidly, making sure the photographer couldn’t hear her. “You don’t look happy enough. We want to make the front page, don’t we?3

He weighed up his options. On the one hand, he could simply run away and face the consequences of Victoria’s rage and public hatred. On the other, he could stay here and keep pretending, safe until some other big event happened and he and his wife became fresh celebrities again. He decided on the latter.4

“Alright you two lovebirds, big smiles now!” sang the photographer, clicking away merrily as the couple before him stretched their mouths. After many long minutes, he was finally satisfied with his super exclusive pictures, and retreated once more, with many uttered thanks along the way. The “happy couple” moved down the corridor from the kitchen to see him out at the door. The second he had left the act was dropped. “Urgh, I can hardly stand to look at you for one minute more, let alone touch you,” spat Victoria at George, turning away abruptly and pacing down the carpeted hall.5

“Well, we don’t really have to pretend to be married just for the fame, you know,” replied George tentatively. He didn’t want to provoke his wife’s anger. But almost instantly, he knew he had said something wrong. She twisted back sharply, stared him squarely in the eye, and menacingly snarled “Never, EVER doubt my decisions!”6