Neil Robbins stood on the sidelines, watching as his teammates passed the ball around, trying to win this year’s MLS Cup in the final game of the season. He had been playing soccer all his life, but now, at the age of thirty-five, it was finally time for him to retire. When he was younger, he was one of the best strikers in the league, but now it was a miracle if he ever got a hat-trick. His younger teammates were quickly surpassing him and his coach rarely even put him on the field anymore. His biggest fear now was being forgotten, outshone by someone younger, someone better.

He was carefully observing the game, now near its end. His team was up by one. All they had to do was stall for another five minutes and the cup would be theirs. He bit the corner of his thin lips while running his fingers through his light blonde hair, his anxiety growing as his teammates lined up to block a free kick.

“Come on…” Neil mumbled under his breath, praying that the Chicago Fire captain would miss the shot. “Block it…” he urged, getting closer to the field, his heart racing.

Then everything happened in a blur. The rival player stepped back and kicked the ball with all his might. It curled viciously, heading straight for the goal. Time seemed to slow down as players on both sides jumped up, trying to deflect it. Suddenly, there was a loud groan and when Neil finally realized what had happened, a large smile spread across his face. Their goalkeeper had saved it!

The rest of the time ebbed away quickly and, soon enough, LA Galaxy were the new champs. His team rushed into the middle of the field, celebrating their victory—a victory they had attained without Neil’s help.

By the end of the day, he was feeling a little glum, knowing his career was coming to an end. His team no longer seemed to need him. Coming out of the locker room, now changed into casual attire, he ran into his agent.

“Congrats,” he said, patting Neil on the shoulder.

“What for?” replied Neil. “I don’t deserve any praise; I had nothing to do with the win tonight.” He let out a loud sigh and sat down with his hands on his knees, looking exasperated. “Do you think I’m getting old?”

“You want the truth, I guess? Why, are you thinking about retiring or something?” the agent asked, knowing it was a rhetorical question. The man was at the end of his soccer career and there wasn’t anything he could do about it.

“No,” he said, then paused and ran his fingers through his hair. “Not entirely. I just don’t want to be another soccer player who gets forgotten. I want to be remembered.”

“Don’t you think it’d be best if you just took it easy? Maybe find yourself a wife, settle down, enjoy life while you still can?” said his agent as he sat down beside him, trying to make him realize that he couldn’t be a superstar forever.

“No,” said Neil vehemently, shaking his head. “I won’t stand for it.” Ironically, he stood up. “There has to be a way for me to get back on TV! I want to be on television screens everywhere, watched by millions of people worldwide.”

“The only way to do that would be through reality TV,” the agent explained. “That seems to be the only thing that captures people’s attention nowadays. MTV and TLC are growing a huge fan base because people want to see what it’s like to live in someone else’s shoes, be it someone from Jersey Shore or The Little Couple.”

“You want me to be on reality TV?” Neil asked, thinking the idea was crazy. What did his life have to offer to the general public?

“It might be your only option.”

Neil thought it over.

“And you think it’ll get me back in the spotlight?”

“As long as the ratings are good, yes,” said his agent, trying to reassure him. The washed-up soccer player still wasn’t convinced. But what choice did he have? It was either that or nothing at all.

“Alright then, make it happen,” he said. He left the stadium, knowing it would probably be the last time he entered one as a professional sportsman.

***

“Guadalupe, you have to listen to me. He’s no good for you.” With blazing lights flashing down on her beautiful caramel-colored skin, Amber Riveria dramatically whipped her long, black hair over her shoulder. “He’s just going to use you. Why can’t you see that?” she continued, her large, pink lips pursed into a well-measured pout. “No good, no good at all.” She huffed and walked away from the brunette who sobbed into a tissue, tears streaming down her face.

“But I love him!” the girl exclaimed, finally getting up and walking after her. “He’s the man of my dreams! He makes my heart beat like no one else. I don’t care if it’s wrong—I need to be with him.”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake! Are you kidding me? The guy’s a total ass.”

“Cut!” The director barked, shaking his head angrily and waving his arms back and forth to stop the take. “What the hell was that?”

“What? You didn’t like my acting?” Amber asked. She placed a hand on her hip, before raising a well-groomed eyebrow in the man’s direction. “I’m sorry, but I’m just keeping things real here. No one wants to hear about how much she loves this guy. What they really want is for her to catch him cheating on her so they can get into a catfight. That’s what people are looking for in a show nowadays.”

“Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?” The director asked, his face turning red.

Amber just smirked, her pink lips curling ever so slightly. “As a matter of fact, I am,” she said. Now both of her hands were on her hips. She maintained her stance as she challenged the balding man before her.

“I don’t want to hear it. Now go on that stage and say your lines,” he said. The corner of his mouth was frothing with saliva as he worked himself into frenzy. “I don’t want to hear another errant word out of you, Miss Riveria, got that?”

“Got it,” Amber said, her charcoal-colored eyes burning with an acute stubbornness. She walked back on stage, letting her high-heeled pumps click against the ground. She approached the brunette who almost instantly began crying once more, trying to do everything by the book.

“Guadeloupe, you have to listen to me. This guy isn’t worth your time. He’s running around, fucking every Maria in town. It’s just a matter of time before he screws you over. You’d be smart to mark my words, because when he finally does break your heart, I won’t be here to comfort you.” She grinned, turning on her heels and staring at the director, whose face was now a bright shade of red.

“Cut!” he screamed again, his dark beady eyes nearly popping out of his head. “What the hell was that? I told you to say your lines, not to improvise. This is a telenovela-based movie, not some radical feminist project. I’m going to give you one more shot, but if you continue to mess this up, you’ll need to leave.”

“No, I can’t. No one wants to watch some stupid telenovela. They’re predictable and boring. Let’s get some real talk in there, make things interesting,” she said, challenging him, unafraid of losing her role in the movie.

“Get out.” His voice had a deadly chill as he pointed to the exit.

“Fine,” Amber said, holding her head high and jutting out her chest as if it didn’t affect her at all. It was only when she stepped out into the hot, LA atmosphere that it finally hit her. She had once again blown her shot at a perfectly acceptable job because of her big mouth. She clenched her fists by her side, about to go back in there and demand to be reconsidered when her phone chirped with a text message.

It was her landlord. Knowing she hadn’t paid her rent for the last three months, she dreaded reading the message, her throat going dry with the thought of what it might say. She leaned against a wall and took a deep breath before finally looking at her phone.

Amber,

It has come to my attention that you have fallen quite a bit behind on your rent. I have tried to stay lenient with you these last three months, but enough is enough. I’m afraid I have to ask you to move. Consider this your thirty-day eviction notice. I’m sorry it had to come to this.

Jake.

Amber ground her teeth. She knew it had been coming but she still didn’t want to face it now that it had arrived. Distressed, she turned to the only person that could help her in such a situation. She quickly dialed a number and stepped into a nearby alleyway pacing back and forth, while she waited for someone to pick up.

“Pam!” she exclaimed, the moment her agent answered the phone. “Pam, I need your help.” Amber could hear the humility in her own voice.

“What happened this time?” her agent asked, exasperated.

“Well, I just blew the audition for the telenovela movie. These people have no idea about quality entertainment!” said Amber, gritting her teeth. “And I just got evicted from my home so I’m kind of in a financial crisis, if you didn’t already pick up on that.” Amber’s cheeks turned red when she admitted her failure.

“Again?” Pam’s voice was drawn-out and low as if she were getting irritated. “You cannot keep doing this, Amber. You really need to change your ways if you want to make it in this business.”

“Look, I just need another chance. That’s it. I promise I won’t blow it this time,” Amber replied. With the thought of losing her home, she felt herself growing desperate.

“Amber, you have too many hang-ups. This town will never take so much attitude from a nobody,” said Pam, trying to reason with Amber.

“Pam, no hold ups this time. Trust me. I’ll work on anything you bring for me.”

There was a long pause followed by a sigh.

“Fine. Let me see what I can do. But no guarantees.” Pam finally answered.

“Alright, but please try having something for me soon. It’s kind of a desperate situation.” Amber’s fingers tightened around the phone.

“Like I said: no guarantees, but I’ll try to figure something out.”

Her agent hung up, leaving her high and dry. What am I supposed to do now? With that question buzzing around her mind, Amber slumped against the brick wall, anxiety slowly consuming her.

***

The next day, just after noon, Amber’s phone rang. It was Pam.

“Hello?” she answered, feeling apprehensive.

“Amber, I swear this is your last shot. No screwing it up this time, got it?” said Pam. She didn’t even bother with friendly greetings, getting right to the point.

“Yeah, yeah. Just tell me what I’m doing,” Amber answered, trying to contain her excitement.

“Right. So I got you a gig with one of my old buddies. He’s setting up a reality TV show with an ex LA Galaxy soccer star. It’s something to do with a marriage—I’m not really sure. You will be the bride,” Pam explained, her voice collapsing into monotone.

“Right,” Amber answered.

“I’ll text you the details.” said Pam, and hung up.

***

Amber checked the address Pam had given her one more time.

“567 Foothill Road. This has to be it,” Amber mumbled to herself, seeing the brass numbers attached to the side of a large white rock in the front of the property. There were large, looming gates before her and she looked around, taking in the Beverly Hills scenery. Almost every other house was just as big as this one, if not bigger. Whoever was looking to hire her definitely had some money.

Holding her head up high and straightening her posture, she rang the bell. There was a loud buzzing sound and soon enough, the gates opened up. Amber groaned slightly, seeing the long driveway she would need to walk in order to reach the front door. Her thin heels seemed to almost melt into the hot asphalt, making her journey a precarious one.

When she finally knocked on the front door, an older man in a dark grey suit answered, with a stern smile on his face.

“Ah, you must be Amber Riveria. Right this way, please,” he said, before turning into the house, leaving Amber there to gape. The entrance alone was a sight to behold, with its spiral staircase and marble floors. Everything was clean-cut and polished. She could hardly believe it.

Eventually, she managed to get her legs working again and followed the man into the living room. She took in her surroundings, still amazed by the grandeur of everything she was seeing.

“Here we are. If you could please wait here, Mr. Robbins and his associates will be with you shortly.” With that, the stiff-looking man left the room, leaving Amber all by herself.

After some time, she heard footsteps approaching and turned her head to see two men enter the room. Her eyes widened slightly when she noticed just how handsome the younger one was. He had light blond hair, cut short. His body was lean and looked amazing in the tight dress shirt he had on. His pink lips were pressed into a friendly smile. She felt her breathing quicken as he reached out his hand, waiting for her to shake it.

“Neil Robbins, it’s a pleasure,” he said politely. His grasp was firm and confident, leaving Amber in a daze while he sat down on a couch opposite her.

Neil stared at her, mesmerized by her gorgeous looks. Her long, black hair flowed down her body, resting on the edge of her waist. Her large, brown eyes were full of intelligence and passion, and they set Neil’s heart racing in his chest. She had a long, slender neck that only added to her sex appeal. As she sat there, she pursed her large, pink lips. Neil couldn’t help his eyes from wandering down her shapely legs, before he finally managed to look away. If he stared at her any longer, he would never be able to stop.

“…and I’m Ed, Neil’s agent. I’m here to brief you on your new role. Now, Pam and I are good friends,” he said, before pausing to look over Amber’s shoulder and grinning at Pam who had just entered the room, “And when she showed me your profile, I knew you were the right girl for the job. I thought you were absolutely amazing in Girl Code. You were a total bitch and I loved that. Too bad the show never kicked off, but don’t worry, I have no doubt that this one is going to be a smash hit!”

“That’s all well and good, but what’s the show about?” Amber said, pressing him. She could tell that Ed was a typical showbiz agent who liked to cover everything in flashy words and clever displays.

“It’s just a simple reality show. We want to depict the marriage of an ex-soccer player. You see, Neil here has been pampered for most of his life, having personal chefs, maids, and the like. While he might have enough money to keep his home, he won’t be able to afford certain luxuries. The concept revolves around someone like Neil, coming back down to Earth once he marries a middle-class girl like you. We want you to really stick it to him. Show him how to do laundry, cook and clean. And when he doesn’t pick up the slack, you might have to whip him into shape.” Ed winked, glancing over at Neil.

“And how real will this marriage be, in legal terms?” asked Amber.

“Aha, good question,” remarked Ed. “You would be getting married legally, but our contract clearly states that the marriage will automatically dissolve when the show ends.”

Amber took a moment to take it all in. She was not too worried about the technicality of the marriage, but she had other apprehensions.

“You know what I don’t understand?” Amber said, glancing over at Neil. “Why the hell are you even doing this? I mean, everyone knows that reality TV is just a low market, crowd-pleasing venue. You could be doing so much more.” Her eyes were intense, expecting an answer. Behind her, Pam ground her teeth, knowing Amber was pushing her luck once again. Neil held her stare.

“Have you ever worked in reality TV? If you look at all the charts, shows like Love at First Kiss, Lovers in Paradise, and The Real Housewives are all doing exceptionally well for themselves. People watch these shows every single day. It’s not my fault that people like to ignore their lives and watch the lives of others instead. The thing that matters is that at the end of the day, people aren’t gossiping about the news, they’re talking about celebrities, people like Kim Kardashian, who might not even know how to cook,” Neil said quickly, refuting her claim.

“That doesn’t mean you should exploit it for your own gains. We’re practically throwing away quality television. Shows that used to have a decent plotline in exchange for all this crap. I don’t want to turn on the TV and watch housewives bickering at each other. What I do want to watch are series like Vampire Diaries, where I’m constantly kept on the edge of my seat.” Amber’s passion was quickly getting the best of her. Despite her initial infatuation, she was beginning to dislike Neil.

“It doesn’t matter what you, as an individual, like. It’s what the masses want,” said Neil. “And I, personally, think there’s nothing wrong with reality TV. It’s simply another form of entertainment.” He crossed his arms over his chest as if daring her to respond.

“Bickering like a married couple already, excellent!” said Pam, chuckling and trying to cool down the heated argument.

“Should we talk about finances?” said Ed, stepping in and looking at Amber. This was his way of asking for her final decision.

“Sure,” answered Amber, now realizing that she had to do the show whether she liked it or not.

“You will be paid five thousand for every aired episode, plus a five percent profit share.”

“Make it six, please,” Amber said suddenly, getting up and challenging Ed. Pam was instantly beside her, nudging her.

“Don’t press it,” she hissed in her ear. “This is your only chance and he’s doing me a favor.”

Amber glared at her agent, before sighing.

“Fine, where do I sign?” she said, shaking her head, disappointed that she had to be so submissive just to keep her crappy apartment.

“Just here.” Ed pointed to a line on the paper. He watched as she leaned down to sign her name, her arm tense.

“Fantastic. We start filming next week,” he said. “We’ll be sending the script over in the mail, so keep an eye out for that.”

Amber nodded and with that, they parted ways. She took one more look at Neil, her fake husband for the next few months.

***

There was a soft knock on Amber’s door. She had just gotten out of a bath and her skin was still soft and warm. Her slim body was covered in nothing more than a bathrobe as she opened the door. To her surprise, she saw Neil standing there, backed up by an extensive camera crew.

“Oh, I guess we’re starting, huh?” she said, not letting them in. She didn’t give Neil a second glance. After she had learned that the whole thing would end in their failed relationship, she didn’t even want to look at him.

“Yes. Please get into position like we rehearsed,” said Ed, charging into Amber’s living room with a rolled-up script in his hand. “And make sure to stick to the script, please. It’s very important.” He said his words slowly making sure both Neil and Amber hear him clearly. “And please remember that both of you need to pretend that neither one of you knows about the camera. The audience has to think this is a candid camera show.”

“Right,” said Amber huffily.

Neil tilted his head, wondering what was wrong. He had yet to ask her why she had stormed out of his house the other day and felt like he should talk to her, but now, with everyone watching, didn’t seem like the best of times.

She shuffled her way back to her room and got dressed, occasionally looking at the camera, waiting for a flashing red light to come on, but it never did. Finally, when she was dressed, the camera began to roll, capturing her every move. She grabbed her phone, looking at it in anticipation of Neil’s call or message with a dreamy look on her face, exactly as the script had said.

Right on cue, there was a knock at the door and she giddily made her way downstairs. Opening the door, she saw Neil standing there with a few, freshly picked daisies in his hand and an extensive camera crew behind him.

“You look beautiful,” he said, like a true gentleman. “I picked these for you in the park, I hope you like them.” His blue eyes grew wide, looking slightly at the camera before he gazed into Amber’s beautiful dark eyes, with a smile on his face.

“Oh, you shouldn’t have.” She forced a smile and grabbed them, bringing them into the kitchen and putting them in a vase, smiling as if it was the best gift she had ever received.

When she reemerged, Neil held out his arm for her, offering to guide her to his car. “So, where would you like to go for our anniversary, love?” he said, smiling cheerily. “I cannot believe we’ve been dating for five years now. They have been the best years of my life.”

Amber had to do everything in her power to stop herself from groaning. It was quickly becoming worse than the telenovela movie she had been kicked out of. Nevertheless, she reminded herself that everything she owned was riding on it.

“Oh Neil, you make me blush!” she giggled, hitting his arm ever so slightly.

He leaned over and kissed her burning cheek. As he did, a fire ignited inside of her chest, making her stop in her tracks, momentarily. Her eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat. Her skin crawled with excitement and her fingers tightened around his arm. Why was she feeling this way from a simple kiss? She tried to compose herself, racking her mind for the next line. Neil perceived her struggle and improvised on the spot.

“How about we go to the new steakhouse that just opened up?” he said, opening up the car door for her.

“Oh, you know me—I’m not fussy! Let’s do something different today. Let’s eat at the first place we see!” she said, easing herself into the soft leather seats of his convertible.

“This is why I love you so much,” Neil said smoothly, as if it was second nature for him to express his love for her. Without hesitation, he reached over, grabbed her hand and held it as he eased onto the road, the camera crew positioned in the back seat.

“There!” Amber pointed excitedly, as they passed a small taco stand. “Let’s go there.”

“Are you sure?” Neil asked uncertainly, as he pulled into the taco stands driveway.

“Well, I said the first place we saw, didn’t I? I can’t go back on my word. What kind of a girlfriend would I be?” She giggled and got out. Neil slowly came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck. Amber’s breath caught in her throat and she felt a surge of electricity spark through her body at his touch.

“That’ll be $5 a piece,” the taco vendor said with a heavy accent.

“Let’s sit over here,” said Neil, guiding her toward a small stone wall. He hoisted her up so she could sit comfortably and then joined her, smiling warmly. They ate in relative silence, as if they were both too shy to say anything. Either that or they were supposedly so comfortable with one another after five years, that they didn’t need any words to express their feelings.

Despite this illusionary atmosphere, Amber sat there, struggling with the nervous energy swirling inside of her. On one hand, she wanted to continue hating this guy for his pompous attitude, but on the other, she was starting to see a whole different side of him. Was he being real or was it all an act?

“You’re so beautiful…” Neil said suddenly, staring at her like she was the only girl in the world. He laid a hand on her cheek and kissed her, catching her by surprise. This was definitely not a part of the script and she wanted to pull away, but her lips felt like they were on fire and her body melted at his touch. It was like a switch had been flipped inside her. Why was she feeling this way? Her mind screamed at her to pull away and yet Neil’s tender touch tamed her, keeping her pinned to his lips.

“Have I ever told you that I’m the luckiest man in the world, just because I had the honor of meeting you?” Neil’s words sounded sincere as he went off script, looking deep into her eyes. It felt like he was saying this line at her and not her character. Could it be that he was trying to tell her something?

For the rest of the night, Neil kept going off script, surprising her with romantic lines that left her mind buzzing. All that was left now was the proposal.

“Amber… there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while now.”

True to the script, he leaned forward, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. He took a deep breath before going down on one knee.

“Will you marry me?” he asked, right in the middle of the sidewalk. Pedestrians stopped, noticing the display of affection, bright smiles on their faces. Amber, of course, knew they were just extras. She bit the inside of her lip, knowing she would have to put up a convincing act.

“Oh my god, Neil!” she gasped, pulling her hands up to her mouth. She stared at him wide-eyed before smiling ear to ear. “Yes. A thousand, million times, yes!” The extras all cheered. Amber squealed and lunged forward, kissing him hard. Her lips pressed into his, and she let her passion come to the fore.

Amber couldn’t believe how quickly things had changed. When the cameras had first begun to roll, she had been skeptical about the idea of being on a reality TV show. Now, however, she felt completely different about being with Neil. She didn’t know if it was the character he was playing or the man he was, but one thing was certain, she had fallen in love.

***

Amber couldn’t even begin to imagine what the budget for the episode was. With all the makeup and fake eyelashes, and the wedding dress, they had to be spending a small fortune. Still, she couldn’t quite ignore the fact that she was actually excited to be getting ‘married’ to Neil. She knew all of this was temporary, but, at the same time, a tiny part of her felt like it might actually mean something.

Maybe she was still on a high from the last episode, where Neil had laid many passionate kisses on her lips—some scripted and some not—showing her that he was the type of guy she had always dreamed of. A man who was not afraid to stare right into her eyes and make her feel incredibly beautiful. That was how Neil had made her feel and maybe that was why she felt so attached to him.

“Is everyone ready in here?” said a woman holding a clipboard who had shot her head into the dressing room and nearly been swept away by a man carrying a large wedding dress. Amber sighed, her thoughts interrupted by the woman. The episode would start soon.

Amber stood in front of the closed church doors and felt the pre-marriage jitters that she had always heard about. Her feet were cold and her skin felt clammy. Her heart was racing and her fingers seemed as if they were about to fall off because of how tightly she held the bouquet. Why are you feeling this way? she asked herself. It’s not like you are actually marrying him.

Suddenly, she heard the wedding march and the large wooden doors opened up. Inside, countless extras stared at her with excited looks painted on their faces. Out of nowhere, an older gentleman grabbed her arm and guided her down the aisle. As she walked, she looked up to see through her veil and laid eyes on Neil, who looked more handsome than any man she had ever seen. Her heart skipped a beat, before her ‘father’ nudged her toward the altar.

She couldn’t keep her eyes off Neil, standing before her in his black suit and a sky-blue tie that matched his eyes. Looking at him, she realized that he was everything she had ever desired in a husband.

As she approached the altar, the actor handed her off to Neil, who took her hand firmly in his. Goosebumps covered every inch of her body, making her shudder. She couldn’t remember any of her lines, but she didn’t care. Her body was going into autopilot, as if this was her real wedding and she was an actual bride.

With her hand still clasped to Neil’s, she knelt before the priest, who greeted them with a friendly smile. Since this was just a TV show, the ceremony was cut short and, soon enough, Amber found herself face-to-face with her new husband, about to exchange vows.

Ever so gently, Neil lifted her veil for the first time, exposing her beautiful face to the world. He rested his hand on her cheek, caressing it gently with his thumb as he smiled.

“Neil Robbins, do you take Amber Riveria as your lawfully wedded wife?” the priest addressed him, waiting for his answer.

“I do,” Neil said confidently as he took a step forward, gently easing the golden ring onto her finger. This was all for show, but somehow, he felt like it meant something more. As he looked into her dark eyes, he could swear he was looking straight into her soul, like she had just given up a piece of herself to him.

“And do you, Amber Riveria, take Neil Robbins as your lawfully wedded husband?” Amber’s fingers shook at the question. She held onto the ring for dear life, fearful that she would drop it at any moment. With her heart pounding, she looked up at Neil, wondering why she was so nervous all of a sudden. A silence fell over the church as everyone waited for her to say ‘I do’.

But it seemed like her mouth wouldn’t work anymore. Tears formed in her eyes and before she could stop herself, she started weeping. A deep smile spread across her face.

“I do!” she exclaimed. Tears of joy flowed down her cheeks, causing a collective ‘aww’ to run through the crowd as she tried to slip Neil’s ring onto his finger.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride,” said the priest.

Without a moment of hesitation, Neil swept Amber off her feet, kissing her hard and letting all the passion he secretly felt for her come to the fore. His arms were wrapped around her tightly, as if refusing to ever let her go. Moments later, he ushered her out of the church. The camera crew followed close behind as they ran to the limousine. They waved to all the guests before disappearing inside the car.

“That was quite impressive,” said Pam. She was sat in the limo with a champagne glass in her hand, watching the filming on a TV. “Those tears of joy actually looked genuine. I’m sure the viewers will love it.” Pam patted Amber on the knee, congratulating her for a good show.

Amber’s cheeks burned at her comments. She glanced sideways at Neil, wondering how he felt about the whole thing. Did he have feelings for her, like she did for him?

***

They eventually arrived at Neil’s home.

“Would anyone care to come in for a drink?” Neil asked politely, looking at the crew who had worked very hard over the last two episodes to put the show together.

“No, I think we should all get some rest,” said Ed, stretching himself out and then grabbing his car keys from his pocket.

“Speak for yourself,” Amber said saucily, pulling up her wedding dress and making her way up the driveway towards the front door of Neil’s house. When Neil saw no one else was going to join them, he chased after her, sneaking up behind Amber and sweeping her off her feet once again. She giggled with glee, her arms instantly wrapping around his neck.

“Hey! What was that for? We aren’t even shooting anymore.” Amber’s cheeks turned a bright red as she looked up into his gorgeous eyes.

“I know,” he whispered, leaning down and kissing her deeply in the middle of the driveway, before pulling away. “You are still technically my wife though and I want to carry my new wife over the threshold.”

Amber’s heart kick-started at his words. “You’re just saying that,” she said. She couldn’t quite believe that Neil really did like her, but as he bypassed the bar and made his way towards the stairs, she furrowed her brow, wondering what he had in mind.

“I thought we were going to have a drink. I was really looking forward to some coconut rum,” she said, pouting.

“I have a better idea.” He grinned, carrying her up the stairs and down a long hallway. “Besides, what’s a wedding without a honeymoon?”

He winked down at her, sparking her interest. Instantly, a fire ignited between her thighs as she caught his drift, her whole body swarming with hormones. Could he really be suggesting…?

Once inside his bedroom, Neil tossed Amber onto the bed. He smiled at her and walked up to a small minibar, filling two crystal glasses with champagne.

“To our marriage,” he said, clinking his glass with hers. His lips approached her ear and whispered the next words softly. “And to the most beautiful girl in the world.”

“You don’t have to pretend.” She blushed, taking a sip of her drink.

“The cameras aren’t rolling anymore. You really are beautiful, Amber,” he said. He leaned in closer, his lips approaching the hollow of her neck. “I don’t think I can keep my hands off you.” His voice was sensual, sending shivers down her spine.

Gently, he rested his hand on her burning cheek, rubbing his thumb against her soft skin in small circles. “You are absolutely breathtaking.”

Amber felt her heartbeat skyrocket. Did he really feel this way about her?

Neil finally pulled away, and gently pushed her back down onto the bed. Seconds later, his was body hovering over hers. His lust for her grew, seeing her laying beneath him, looking gorgeous in her white dress. Throughout the day, he had been fighting off a very persistent erection, but now, he simply couldn’t control himself any longer. He had tasted her sweet lips and he could no longer resist any other part of her.

Amber’s fingers locked with his and, looking into his light-colored eyes, she tried to figure out if he truly loved her as much as she loved him. She hadn’t been able to fully admit it to herself, but now, as she lay beneath him, their bodies pressed together, she knew she had fallen for this man.

“I love you,” Amber said shamelessly. Her face was flushed, giving her caramel complexion a cute hue. Neil couldn’t hold back as he leaned down and kissed her. His hands roamed all over her body, searching for a way to remove her dress. Finally, his fingers tightened around the zipper and he slowly pulled it down. His hand snuck underneath the heavy fabric and his fingertips ran along her silky skin.

Desperate, she fumbled with the buttons of his dress shirt, pulling it off as quickly as she could. She leaned forward, letting her lips run along his chest and down to his stomach, reaching his blonde happy trail, leading all the way down to his waistband. With shaking fingers, she unbuttoned his pants, just as he peeled off her wedding dress and left her in nothing but underwear. He reached down and pulled her panties upwards until they sank deep into her pussy, and made her cry out.

“You want me, don’t you?” he whispered in her ear. Pulling her closer, his large hand gripped her round ass until she was sitting on his lap.

“So bad,” she moaned, unable to say anything else. “Take me.”

Grabbing hold of his face, she kissed him hard, letting her tongue slip into his mouth as lust got the better of her. In a flurry, Neil ripped off her underwear and threw it across the room. His fingers ran along her wet pussy, pressing into it and teasing her until her nails dug into his back.

“Please…” she whimpered, turning to putty in his arms.

He couldn’t deny her any longer. He pulled his dick out of his pants and pressed it against her entrance, feeling how wet she really was. He pulled her down, guiding his dick inside of her. When his head popped into her quivering pussy, they both groaned, feeling a jolt of pleasure run up their spines. Amber’s nails dug into his back a little harder as she moved her hips, forcing him even deeper inside of her.

Soon enough, with his hands on her hips, she was fully impaled on his dick and feeling his every vein inside her wet walls driving her insane. She bit her lip and tilted her head back, exposing her neck. He leaned forward, nibbling on it gently as he started to bounce her up and down, causing her large chest to jiggle in the process. He continued to suck and nibble on her collarbone, picking up the pace, feeling her velvety insides pleasure him like nothing else before.

“God, you’re so tight,” he moaned, feeling his dick being squeezed on all sides by her magnificent pussy, driving him insane.

Amber could do nothing but scream out Neil’s name, her mind overwhelmed by the pleasure he was giving her. Her whole body shook with desire and her every nerve ending was alive with energy. She knew she was close to the edge, but she did her best to try and hold herself back a little longer.

“Cum for me.”

Neil’s sensual voice suddenly sounded in her ear and she couldn’t control herself anymore. She screamed out, experiencing one of the best orgasms of her life, her whole body rocking with ecstasy and her juices running down Neil’s dick. Seconds later, Neil groaned as he exploded inside of her and then collapsed onto the bed with his wife in his arms. They soon fell asleep, pleasantly exhausted after their first night together as a married couple.

***

Everything seemed to go well from that moment on. They no longer had to worry about remembering their lines as much as just acting naturally. They found themselves kissing on stage more often than they were listed to do and every day they left giggling and holding hands like an actual couple.

However, after their seventh episode they were called in for an emergency meeting. Neil and Amber walked in together and joined Ed and Pam who were already there waiting for them.

“Please sit down,” said Ed, motioning to the couch in front of him. Amber and Neil sat together, his hand resting on her thigh and a bright smile on her face.

“What’s this all about?” Neil asked, looking up at his agent.

“Well, for the past couple of episodes there has been a real chemistry between you and Amber, and we’re very happy with that,” said Ed. Amber and Neil giggled, knowing it wasn’t acting at all. “But it’s quickly growing old. People don’t want to see you kiss all day. They want to see some drama. So we have decided that we need Amber to change her tack a little bit.”

Pam stepped up this time and nodded.

“We need you to stop being this perfect wife and turn into more of a deranged bitch. We can’t really afford to go through a slow, periodic change of character. It needs to be sudden, so we might have to imply that you suffer from a mental illness that makes you go nuts without your medication. Essentially, be as out of control as you can. Scream. Break things. Make threats.”

“Whoa, hold on a second,” said Amber. “I didn’t sign up to be some sort of a lunatic. A bitch, maybe, but I’m not about to pretend to be schizophrenic or whatever. That’s just messed up and quite offensive to people who really do suffer from that sort of thing.”

“How else do you suggest we explain your sudden shift in demeanor?” Ed asked.

“I don’t know. I’m not a writer. Don’t ask me. Just don’t make me play someone crazy. I refuse. It’s just a cheap trick you guys are pulling to try and push the ratings. If you guys were the quality directors you claim you are, then you would’ve come up with a better plot device to get people interested.” Her cheeks were turning red with passion. She knew she was right. She wasn’t about to let them trample all over her just so they could get their precious little ratings.

“Have you ever stopped to consider that maybe the audience wants something more than screaming and fighting?” she continued. “It doesn’t always have to be about the arguments. Maybe they really want to see an adorable tickle fight, you don’t know. Maybe they want a happy ending for once!” Amber got up, walking up to the director; her hands on her hips and a fierce look in her eyes. She turned to look at Neil but he was facing down looking at the ground. She figured whose side he was on.

“If you want to get paid, I’d suggest you keep your mouth shut,” Ed advised her. “You have a contract with us, which requires you to follow the script. Remember that.”

Pam shook her head at Amber from the sidelines, trying to remind her why she was going through this whole thing in the first place. Ignoring the stares, Amber grabbed her purse and got up.

“Once you come up with something worth my time, give me a call.” she said, and with that she left, her heels clicking against the floor. Seconds later, Neil rushed after her. He grabbed hold of her arm, trying to stop her.

“Amber, don’t go. We can talk about this. You make the show what it is,” he said, trying to convince her to stay, but the look in her eyes made him realize she wouldn’t be swayed that easily. “Just play along for the sake of the show, that’s all I’m asking you.”

“You’re just as bad as they are! You’re just in it for the fame and glory, aren’t you?” replied Amber. She was heartbroken after Neil had failed to support her at the meeting. “You want to become some big TV star so everyone can talk about you. Well, I’m going to tell you something, you won’t be doing so by exploiting me. I’m not going to go on TV and make a complete fool of myself, just so you can reap all the benefits.” She pried her arm away, turned on her heels and walked away.

When she made her way back to her apartment, she felt a sense of guilt. She missed Neil and realized that it probably hadn’t been necessary for her to lash out at him like that. She bit her lip and contemplated calling him, but decided against it. She would just apologize to him in person at the shoot the next day. Maybe they could negotiate some other way to try and get the ratings up— one that wouldn’t make her come off as some sort of madwoman.

***

The next day, Amber arrived on set earlier than usual, ready to apologize to Neil the moment she saw him. That day’s episode would be a simple one. She would try to make some fajitas and they would burst into flames so Neil could come to her rescue, throwing a bucket of water in her direction, getting her soaked without even dousing the flame. In the end, she would use the fire extinguisher and get the whole kitchen dirty, so they would have no choice but to order takeout.

Little did she know that Ed had decided to kick her off the show already. He had also planned something that would destroy her completely once and for all—a live feed to capture her shock in real time, showing the world the uncut carnage of reality TV.

Right on cue, Amber walked into the living room. She was surprised to find Neil sitting waiting for her and the cameras rolling. She was about to apologize for her outburst when he stopped her.

“Amber, there’s something I need to tell you. You’d better sit down.” he said. He felt tense, his whole body stiff as a board. He didn’t want to do what he had been told to, but he could almost sense Ed’s harsh glare against his back. If he wanted to maintain his popularity, he would have to go through with it. He had no other choice. Gulping down the bitter taste in his mouth, he slammed the thick divorce papers onto the coffee table. Amber just stared at them, confused.

“What’s this?” she asked, carefully picking them up and noticing the word Divorce, printed in bold, block letters at the top of the page. “What is this?” she repeated once more, her face the epitome of disbelief.

“It’s just not working between us,” he said. “The spark in the bedroom has left us and I’m afraid I’ve found another woman— one that can satisfy me properly.” He paused. His words up until this point had been tense and forced. It was obvious that Neil didn’t want to do it, but he really felt he had no choice. “I want a divorce,” he said seriously, his blue eyes seeming to lose their color and turn gray with his announcement.

“A what?” Amber spat as she stepped forward, her face turning red. “You want to divorce me? What the hell is wrong with you?” She couldn’t control her emotions. It was like she really was being divorced. She felt like someone had thrust a hand into her chest, slowly yanked out her heart and then crushed it underfoot. Her vision blurred with angry tears.

“It’s not my fault you can’t satisfy me like Julia can,” Neil said calmly, remembering his lines word for word, but not putting any emotion into them. The director had the burning desire to yell ‘Cut!’ but restrained himself as he remembered that they were filming live. Whatever happened was going to be broadcast to all America.

“Fuck Julia. And you know what? Fuck you too. I don’t need you,” she spat. “I was such a fool for agreeing to this goddamn show in the first place. It was stupid to think this would work out. You know, I really thought you were a nice guy, but now I know you’re just an asshole like every other douchebag guy in the world.” She screamed, rushing out of the living room in blind fury. She threw the divorce papers to the ground and rushed off the set and out of Neil’s life forever.

***

A few days later, Amber sat in front of her TV with a tub of ice cream in hand. It was two in the afternoon and she still hadn’t changed out of her pajamas. She popped a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth, reflecting on the past couple of months. Had it been worth it? She knew Neil had done what he done unwillingly, but she still felt betrayed by the man she had loved so selflessly.

She barely even reacted when she heard a soft knock on the door. At first, she thought it was the TV, but when she looked up she realized it wasn’t even on. She sighed and got up, knowing she looked like a mess. Her hair was in disarray and she hadn’t worn make up for a few days.

As she walked up to the door, she noticed the pink eviction notice on the coffee table nearby. Soon enough, she would have to deal with that. Her court date was coming up and if she didn’t get her act together, she would find herself living on the streets. She sighed and opened the door to find Neil with an entire camera crew. The cameras were pointed right at Amber.

“Neil, what the hell is going on? What’s all this?” Amber blurted out as she tried to shut the door on him, but Neil did not let her get away so easily.

“I love you,” he said, as he pressed his hand against her apartment door and locked his eyes with hers. Without hesitation, he moved forward, gingerly cupping her face in his hands and pulling her close. He continued to gaze into her beautiful eyes and the words naturally spilled from his lips. “I love you so much and I don’t want our love to be limited to some stupid TV show,” he whispered. “I want us to be together, forever.”

Amber stood there completely shell-shocked and unable to react.

“I’m sorry for everything I put you through,” Neil continued. “I didn’t mean for things to end up the way they did, but I want you to know that through it all, I always had feelings for you and those feelings were real. Even when the cameras were on and I was standing next to you, my heart felt like it would beat out of control. You’re the girl of my dreams, Amber, and I can’t lose you because of some TV show.” He had convinced Ed to shoot the scene, in order to try and prove to the world that their love was real. Without a second thought, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black box, presenting it to her.

“Amber, will you marry me?”

“What do you mean Neil?” she replied.

“I want you to actually be my wife until death does us part,” he said, “not just until the end of the series.”

***

Amber was sitting in the front row of a large theater, looking up at a stage full of children. All around her were excited parents, holding up video cameras.

“Come on Jessie…” she whispered under her breath, seeing the girl she had cast as Wendy hesitating when Peter Pan flew into her room.

“What are you doing in my room?” Jessie cried out. “And what’s up with those horrible clothes? Get out of here this instant or I’ll scream!”

Amber grinned. She had taught her students how to improvise and they had started to become quite good. Their responses were witty and charming, proving to everyone in the audience that someone didn’t need to follow a script word for word in order to be a success.

Parents were a little taken aback at first, but as the play went on, they found the added lines quite humorous. By the end of the show, parents were coming up to her, shaking her hand and congratulating her on a great show. She smiled to herself, feeling proud in her moment of glory. All her life, she had assumed she would be some sort of a movie star. She’d never even imagined herself becoming a teacher, but now, as she saw the bright smiles worn by all the children on the stage, she knew it was her true calling.

Once the show finished, she rounded up all the kids and got them onto the school bus. Together, they went to a local pizza shop. The kids ran wild, enjoying the pizza, games, and bowling at their disposal. Amber smiled, knowing they deserved it after a job well done. As she watched a little red-haired girl bowl a strike, a peck on her cheek surprised her. She turned around and saw Neil standing there with a smug look on his face.

“I was wondering when you would get here,” she said, handing him a can of his favorite cherry soda. “I was getting worried.” Her engagement ring sparkled in the dull light.

“Well, we went into double overtime and then a penalty shoot-out. It was pretty intense,” he said. A group of young boys, all wearing white soccer uniforms, joined Amber’s soon to be actors and actresses. Soon they were getting along like peanut butter and jelly. The couple watched them, seeing the two groups meld together.

“So, who won?”

“We did of course,” Neil answered with a bright smile. He had wondered when she would ask him. He pulled out a large trophy, showing it to her. On the base, the words Junior Soccer Champions were engraved.

“Is that real gold?” she asked, smiling too. He knocked on the trophy with his knuckles and shrugged.

“I don’t know, but I don’t really care, because all the gold and happiness I could ever want is right here.” With that, he kissed her gently. His fingers ran through her hair, pulling her close. In that moment, their lives were perfect.

*****

THE END