Shot Through the Heart

by Matt Cain

  ‘If you just move to your left, Billy, and turn around slightly so that you’re facing Mia.’

  Billy happily followed her instructions.

  ‘That’s it. Sensational.’

  The shoot was taking place in a huge house in the Doheny Hills that belonged to a bestselling writer of bonkbusting novels, all of which claimed to thrillingly reveal the real truth about life in LA. The photographs were being taken in an enormous library at the back of the house, which was crammed from floor to ceiling with thousands and thousands of books. Billy and Mia were reclining on an old desk in front of a particularly stuffed row of bookcases, bursting with hardbacks, paperbacks and thick manuals that looked like dictionaries and encyclopedias. Initially Billy had thought the concept for the shoot a bit too obvious for a movie about the love affair between a poet and a novelist. But he’d checked a few of Astrid’s shots on her laptop and he had to admit, they really did look sensational.

  As he listened to her directions and struck poses on demand, he continued questioning Mia about her latest date. Leo was coming to visit the shoot in the next hour and before he arrived Billy wanted to hear all the news. ‘So what happened after he slugged the jock?’ he asked.

  ‘Oh it was so romantic, Billy. He came over to see if I was OK and all he did was touch me but I’ve honestly never experienced anything like it. And that’s when it happened – I just knew.’

  ‘Well I’ve got to say, it does sound like a fairytale – your fans would knock themselves out if they knew.’

  ‘And Mia, if you could just turn now to look at the camera,’ piped Astrid. ‘You too, Billy.’

  ‘Oh I know it sounds corny,’ Mia went on.

  ‘Did I say that?’ mouthed Billy.

  ‘No but I bet you’re thinking it. But, you know, in a weird way now that it’s happening to me it doesn’t seem corny at all.’

  ‘Well I think it’s brilliant, sugar. I really do.’ Billy hoped that she didn’t notice he was gritting his teeth.

  ‘Can I have a more relaxed smile please, Billy?’ drawled Astrid. ‘A little more natural this time. That’s it!’

  Billy did his best to look more at ease and breezed on. ‘So I’m assuming you spent the rest of the evening making out . . .’

  Mia fluttered her eyelids coyly. ‘I guess you could say that.’

  And by “making out” do I understand that Leo stayed the night?’

  ‘He might have done . . .’

  ‘Mia Sinclair, you low-down dirty ho!’

  Billy began tickling her in a spot that he knew always made her laugh and she squealed out loud.

  ‘Ooh, hold that pose!’ blurted Astrid. ‘That’s sensational!’

  Mia struggled to catch her breath through her giggles. ‘Oh I know we’ve only been on a few dates,’ she managed, ‘but it just felt right. You know, after everything that happened with the fight and all. I mean, I can hardly go on worrying about trusting him now.’

  Billy nodded his head. He knew that since Leo had proved he was trustworthy, if he continued to advise Mia to dump him, it would only sound like he was jealous. And he was jealous, however much he hated himself for it. He reminded himself that Mia had been unlucky in love for so long and more than anyone he knew she deserved to be happy. He should stop thinking about himself and concentrate on what was best for her. But why was it so difficult?

  ‘Well in that case I’m sure you did the right thing spending the night with him,’ he chirped. ‘And I can honestly say I’m really happy for you.’

  Mia saw right through him in an instant. ‘Oh Billy, I know you don’t really mean that.’

  He opened his mouth to feign protest but knew there was no point.

  ‘But if you’re worried about where all this leaves me and you,’ she went on, ‘then I promise that whatever I feel for Leo, it doesn’t mean I love you any less.’

  Billy felt himself blushing.

  ‘Can we turn up the air conditioning?’ shouted Astrid to no one in particular. ‘It looks like it’s getting hot in here.’

  Everyone turned to look at Billy and he could feel himself blushing even more.

  ‘Oh I’m sorry, Billy,’ whispered Mia. ‘I didn’t mean to embarrass you.’

  ‘It’s OK,’ he stammered, wiping his brow. ‘And thanks, sugar.’

  ‘Thanks for what?’

  ‘Oh just for understanding me, that’s all. And for loving me all the same.’

  ‘To hell with the air conditioning,’ interrupted a voice from the back of the room. ‘I’ve got a better idea.’ Stepping forward from the crowd of stylists, designers, electricians, magazine journalists and assistants was the unmistakable figure of Violet Vaughn. One of the most powerful women in Hollywood, Violet not only looked after Billy and Mia’s personal publicity but she’d also been hired to manage press for the film. A complete ball-breaker, Violet always reminded Billy of Cruella de Vil and she even had the same hairstyle as his childhood bogey woman – jet-black with a streak of bright white at the front. Violet had been a major player in Hollywood for as many years as anyone could remember and from the look of her cold, expressionless face, she’d had almost as many facelifts. Whenever she looked at Billy, he had to make a real effort not to tremble.

  ‘OK,’ he mumbled. ‘What’s your idea?’

  ‘Well why don’t you take your shirt off?’

  There was silence while everyone stared at Billy, waiting for him to respond. For years, Billy had been known for taking his clothes off at every available opportunity, in practically every photo shoot and film that he did. At first he’d enjoyed it, telling himself he had to spend so long working out in the gym that he might as well show off the results. But recently he’d realized his looks were getting in the way of being taken seriously as an actor and with this new movie he was really hoping things would finally change. He’d already had to get his body out when shooting the movie but now that filming was over he didn’t really want to draw any more attention to it.

  ‘What’s the problem?’ Violet brayed, picking up on his hesitation. ‘It’d be great for the Box Office.’

  ‘But I . . . I . . .’

  ‘But nothing,’ she bellowed, approaching her clients so that nobody else could hear. ‘Fuck that, Billy. Remember the reaction to those pap shots of you and Mia on set, looking like you were about to make out? And how about the pictures of you two arriving at Cooper Kelly’s party, smiling at the cameras like the happy couple? Don’t forget that those photos ended up in every magazine in the world. Which proves that there are millions of people out there who want you two to get it on. All I’m saying is, let’s tease them a little – have a little fun.’

  Billy gulped. ‘OK,’ he mouthed. ‘I understand.’

  ‘So what do you say?’ she asked, stepping back so that everyone could hear her. ‘Shall we have some fun or what?’

  He began to unbutton his shirt. ‘I’ll do it, yeah. But only if it’s cool with Mia.’

  *

  Mia could feel Violet’s eyes boring into her. She felt like a chicken being eyed up by a crocodile.

  She was terrified of Violet. So terrified, in fact, that she’d never had the guts to stand up to her. And that wasn’t about to change now.

  ‘So?’ Violet thundered. ‘What do you say, Mia?’

  The last thing Mia wanted was to end up in the middle of a raunchy photo shoot with Billy when Leo was due to arrive within the hour. But Violet could be very persuasive and there was no sense in arguing with her – she was in league with most of the major producers in Hollywood and had bigger balls than all of them put together. Everyone in town listened to her opinion. Violet Vaughn could make or break a career with just one phone call and stories abounded of how she’d done just that on many occasions.

  ‘Erm, OK, yeah, great,’ Mia stumbled. ‘I’m cool with that.’

  Billy finished unbuttoning his shirt and took it off to reveal an almost unfeasibly toned body. Mia knew how he felt about showing it off these days
and shot him a sympathetic look. She wondered which of them felt more awkward.

  ‘Come on,’ she hissed under her breath. ‘Let’s get this over with.’

  They moved from one pose to another with one common theme running through them – sex. The looks they were directed to give each other left little to the imagination and Mia was instructed to wrap herself around Billy’s chest in more ways than she’d ever thought possible. She began to wonder what the point was of being in a library at all.

  ‘Sensational!’ cried Astrid, clearly much happier than she and Billy were.

  ‘Hmmm,’ nodded Violet. ‘Looks like I was right again.’

  As they ran out of poses to strike on the desk, Mia and Billy retired to their shared dressing room to choose new outfits while the crew changed the rig for the next set-up.

  ‘What’s going on, Billy?’ Mia sighed as soon as she was through the door. ‘How did we get ourselves into this position?’

  ‘We didn’t get ourselves into it, Mia – Violet did. Look, if you’re really unhappy I can just tell her we’re not doing any more sexy stuff.’

  Are you serious? And risk pissing her off? No way, Billy. We’ve worked too hard for our careers – both of us. And what if she’s speaking for the producers?’

  Billy bit his lip. ‘OK, well we’ll just have to ride it out then.’

  Mia shrugged her shoulders. She might be able to justify what was going on to herself but she had no idea what she’d say to Leo when he arrived. It was one thing acting out a love scene when she was in character and following a script but this was completely different. Or was it?

  She told herself that there was nothing she could do about it now and turned to the rack of clothes to decide what to wear. She looked through and saw that some of the outfits were very revealing, as if the shoot had always been intended to be raunchy. She couldn’t help wondering if this had been Violet’s plan all along.

  As she perused rack after rack of skimpy underwear and little bra tops, she suddenly remembered that she hadn’t been to the gym in days and had given up on her strict diet once filming had finished. Oh it doesn’t matter, she reassured herself. It’s only a stills shoot so they can fix anything with the airbrush. Unfortunately the airbrush wouldn’t fix things with Leo.

  She was just about to call for a stylist when there was a knock at the door.

  ‘Coo-ee,’ trilled Violet as she stepped inside the dressing room. ‘It’s only me.’

  ‘Hi Violet,’ the two of them said, standing to attention. They were half-naked but it didn’t seem to matter.

  ‘Listen, you guys,’ she began. ‘I’ve just this minute had another idea. And trust me, it’s a damned good one.’

  ‘OK,’ said Billy, clearly apprehensive. ‘Shoot.’

  ‘I don’t know how you’ll feel about this but . . .’

  ‘Go on, Violet.’

  ‘Well, I was just chatting to the editor of the magazine and she was saying how the whole world’s talking about whether or not you two are a couple.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘Well it suddenly hit me . . .’

  ‘What did?’

  ‘Why don’t we pretend that you are?’

  There was a long silence.

  ‘Erm, what do you mean exactly?’

  Violet’s coyness gave way to a new energy. ‘Well, why don’t we set up a good old-fashioned Hollywood show-mance? All you have to do is go on a few dates and I tip off the paps so that everyone gets to find out about it.’

  ‘But isn’t that, like, lying?’ frowned Mia.

  ‘Oh don’t worry about that,’ she breezed. ‘Scams like this are as old as Hollywood. This town was built on fairytales like these!’

  ‘But that doesn’t make it right,’ ventured Billy. ‘And I’d feel really uncomfortable lying.’

  Violet tightened her mouth into a curt smile. ‘You do surprise me, Billy. I thought you were perfectly happy lying about your personal life.’

  ‘That’s not fair!’ burst out Mia.

  ‘“Fair”? Who ever said anything about “fair”? There’s nothing fair about this business, Mia – surely you know that by now. And anyway, everyone in Hollywood lies about who they really are. Don’t tell me there’s nothing you haven’t covered up from the public before.’

  ‘Well . . .’

  ‘Exactly. Fantasy is the name of the game. Sure, you act on camera, but you act off camera too. The public practically expects it of you.’

  ‘Hmm,’ said Billy, ‘I’m not so sure.’

  ‘Well I am. Sure as hell. And just think,’ she went on with a twinkle in her eye, ‘you’d be giving the public what they want . . .’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Hell yeah. Everyone loves a good romance – especially your fans, Mia. Think of the Box Office.’

  Mia and Billy looked at each other nervously. Mia couldn’t stop her eyes focusing in on Violet’s thin lips painted a deep, blood red. She thought about Leo and something told her that she was being drawn into something that would end up being a big mistake.

  ‘Actually, Violet,’ she said, ‘I’m not really cool with this. I’m sorry but I don’t want to do it – it just doesn’t feel right.’

  Violet mimed brushing away her objections with her hand. ‘Look, what’s the fucking problem? It’s not as if either of you has a boyfriend.’

  ‘Well, erm, yeah,’ muttered Mia, ‘but what happens if, you know, we do meet someone?’

  ‘Jesus, will you stop freakin’ out about this? You’re building it up into something much bigger than it is. You only have to play along with it till the film opens. And then maybe a month later, just to make it seem real. Oh, actually, make that two or three and then we can hit the DVD release.’

  There was a long pause and Mia began chewing her lip. ‘Oh I don’t know . . .’

  Billy stared at the floor blankly.

  ‘Hmpf!’ huffed Violet. ‘I just don’t understand what you guys are worried about. Billy, a good show-mance will be good for you. People buy the whole single-man-concentrating-on-his-career thing at the moment but pretty soon they’re going to start asking questions. And Mia, it’s about time you had a romance to flaunt to the press, otherwise people are going to start thinking you have serious issues and can’t hold down a man.’

  Mia felt like she’d been slapped across the face. This was exactly the kind of thing she’d started to worry people might think about her – before she’d met Leo. She could feel a heavy lump in her throat. The last thing she wanted to do now was cause problems with him.

  ‘“I want to be on a team of two,” that’s what you told me,’ Violet carried on. ‘Well that’s exactly what I’m proposing. In fact, it’s practically your ideal relationship – just without the sex. So what do you say?’

  Billy shuffled on the spot and was clearly trying to stop his whole body from squirming. He looked at Mia and scrunched up his face.

  Mia wasn’t sure what to say. She desperately wanted to ask Serena for advice but knew that Violet wasn’t going to wait for an answer.

  ‘Erm, yeah, erm, OK,’ said Mia. ‘I guess I’ll do it. But only if Billy’s cool with it.’

  ‘Billy?’ barked Violet.

  He took a deep breath and let out a loud sigh. ‘Yeah, count me in. I guess you’re right, Violet – I always have been good at lying. And now that I’ve started, I might as well go the whole hog.’

  *

  What am I getting myself into? thought Billy.

  He and Mia were writhing around in designer underwear on a bed covered in pages torn out of books. As he followed Astrid’s directions and pinned Mia down as if they were about to have sex, he couldn’t help thinking that he was in the middle of making a huge mistake. He remembered what his parents had always taught him about lying; that once you told a lie, you had to tell another to cover it up. And then another, then another – until your whole life was built around lies.

  That’s what my life is now, thought Billy, one big bunch of li
es.

  ‘Now if you could just move into each other a touch more,’ bellowed Astrid. Billy could see that Violet was whispering in her ear. ‘You know, so you’re a little closer together.’

  ‘My crotch is in between her legs,’ croaked Billy. ‘How much closer do you want us to be?’

  ‘I want to see it in your faces,’ barked Violet, butting in. ‘Billy, look like you’re about to fuck the shit out of her.’

  Billy tried not to flinch. However far he’d come in the world and however much he’d grown as a person, at times like this he still felt like a well-mannered Southern boy who’d been brought up to treat women with respect. And in situations like this he felt really uncomfortable.

  ‘I’m sorry, Mia,’ he whispered in her ear.

  ‘Me too,’ she gulped.

  The camera snapped away and the two of them did as they were told. Billy couldn’t help thinking about a famous quote he’d read once that said something like ‘every time a person has their photo taken they lose a little of their soul’. He wondered if that was happening right now.

  It certainly didn’t look like Mia was happy. He could feel her whole body tense beneath him. ‘Oh Billy,’ she bleated, ‘what am I going to do when Leo arrives?’

  ‘Shit,’ he said, ‘I hadn’t thought about that.’

  ‘Yeah well neither had I until Violet took control of things. If I’d known the shoot was going to be so raunchy I wouldn’t have invited him along.’

  ‘Well can you put him off at all?’

  ‘I doubt it – he’s due any second. And what’s he going to say when he sees us like this?’

  ‘Well if it’s any help I promise I’ll be on my best behaviour. I know I’ve been down on him till now but if you’re sure you can trust him then I’ll make a real effort to smooth things over between us. Who knows? We might even wind up being buddies.’

  Mia laughed feebly. ‘Thanks, Billy. But something tells me that right now that’s not going to work.’