Write a story from the POV of a plus-one.

Posted in Character on Aug 16, 2024

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✍️ 50 stories

“A Lovely Pair” by Beth Jackson

Submitted to Contest #264

“Well, you can go with Martin then.” Aunt Viv stares at me, and with the subtle lifting of her chin, the snare snaps shut.I fumble for an answer, glancing around the table, hoping for an ally, but everyone here is well versed in the art of dodging Aunt Viv’s ire.I’m on my own.“Pray tell,” she says, her gaze blasting through her mean little spectacles, “Is there a reason you can’t possibly accompany Martin to the wedding?”The clink of cutlery ceases, the gauntlet has been thrown, and in the silence, it roars. It’s a miracle her chin hairs are...

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“The Plus One” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #264

Someone at the next table over is commenting on how only poor people get married during the week. I pretend to be fascinated by my stuffed chicken, but I envision my ears growing sharpened tips like a bat’s in order to catch every word. As far as I can tell, the argument for poor people getting married on a weekday (such as today, a Wednesday) is that it’s cheaper. If you’re rich, you spring for the weekend wedding. This argument is coming from a woman in a dress that looks like a tablecloth made out of the same fabric they use to make Costc...

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“Jumbo shrimp and Premium vodka” by Karen Hope

Submitted to Contest #264

It was the first day of college when Brian and I made a silent agreement to always be there for each other. That was the day we met, and 10 years later we are still keeping that promise.I was terrified as I said goodbye to my parents and began my life at Boston University. I held back tears as I unpacked my stacks of clothing and books and wrapped my head around the reality that I was no longer living at home. I would now be immersed in a new world, one with a 24-hour a day social life. When would I close the door and find some privacy and r...

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“Cherry Bomb” by Keba Ghardt

Submitted to Contest #264

On that day, the sunshine slicing through the open-walled tent, polished cutlery in gleaming formation, glassware throwing fractal prisms on the Colgate tablecloths, the best man advanced into position at the height of the reception set. The wedding planner, with the coordination of a master strategist and all the tact of a hostage negotiator, cued the DJ to drop the ambient music, and deliver to the entrenched head table a live mic. The best man, battle-hardened after a fraternity’s worth of matrimonial campaigns, raised the acceptably pre-...

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“The Gamophobe Blues” by Rebecca Hurst

Submitted to Contest #264

There are three very specific things I hate: Cologne Cathedral, bananas and weddings. Unlike pollen, it is possible to avoid these things, but weddings are the hardest. No one would be too offended if you said you hated a German cathedral or a yellow fruit, but you try telling someone who has invited you to their wedding that you would rather eat a toenail sandwich, and you get a different reaction. I’ve been lucky. The year of my birth must have coincided with a rogue spore in the native soil which left most of my p...

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“Plus-One Perspective ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #264

Plus-One Perspective I am here to offer you my plus one perspective. Even though I was five years old at this plus one event, I was unaccompanied. Let’s face it, plus one means very little to a five-year-old even if he’s running loose at his father’s wedding. Early in November 1961, my father George, Sr. married Carole Bent. It was my dad’s second marriage and Carole’s first. In a romantic getaway honeymoon, dad would take his new bride to South Bend, Indiana to see the Syracuse University Orangemen take ...

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“An Order of Reflections” by Penelope Stansfield

Submitted to Contest #264

The silver Porsche tore along sun-soaked country lanes, passing farmhouses and fields, Eva couldn’t believe this turn of events. She shot a glance across at her companion as he guided the car, his profile set against the countryside as it flashed by, his dark blue suit, immaculate shirt and cuff-links, she felt as though she were in a film. Eva smoothed out her skirt and took a deep breath. That morning, She’d been at the local market shopping for supplies for the meal she was cooking for Jordan that evening. In her late tw...

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“Riding Shotgun” by Rudy Greene

Submitted to Contest #264

I’ve spent my life riding shotgun for my more popular friends. I was their plus one and sometimes their court jester or fool. They’d take me along for support or comic relief. At times I felt like a buffer in potentially tense situations. Friends invited me to their family dinners when there was potentially combustible situations. You would think that I’d grow up to be a diplomat, politician or hostage negotiator. Instead, I became a character actor, a co-star, a Hollywood plus one. My marriage followed the same trend. I found it strange tha...

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“Phil Donahue Was My Dad” by Tommy Goround

Submitted to Contest #264

Phil Donahue was my dad.And we didn’t have Public Children’s Service Agencies (PCSAs) back in the old days.The government wasn’t on your phoneYou actually had to call the Production Assistant in Chicago(Her name was Margo)Get really close to that round microphone for the phoneStretch out the twirly cord like it's a murder weapon…“Hello, Margo?”You had to use a deep voice because Margo knew some regulations about Child Entrapment.“Margo… you gotta help. I’m telling you.”She is paid to listen. Margo is PAID to listen and grab moving stor...

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“Finest Gwine” by Melissa Taylor

Submitted to Contest #264

I am already sweaty from fighting my way into this form fitting satin dress. The arm straps on this thing are absolutely unforgiving. No stretch to the fabric whatsoever. The dress code for tonight is silver and gold. I went with silver because no one will ever top Kate Hudson in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days with her gorgeous, long golden gown. She was glowing! Even I had a crush on her in that movie. I don’t want to even think about trying to compete. My dress does have a plunging waterfall back just like the one from the mov...

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“The Date” by Larry Parks

Submitted to Contest #264

Why did I let her talk me into attending this event? I don’t know these people. Sheila—beautiful, charismatic Sheila—was the girl I’d had a massive crush on for ages but never had the nerve to ask out. So when she invited me to this wedding, I jumped at the chance. But now, as I sat alone, surrounded by strangers, I regretted it. It felt like dating someone who spoke a different language, lost in conversations that flowed around me while I just sipped my drink, out of place and unseen.I was the ultimate plus-one, the guy she brought along so...

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“Plus-One, Minus-One” by A.Y. Nook

Submitted to Contest #264

It’s not often that I get to be someone’s plus-one at a wedding, or am invited to weddings at all, for that matter. I’ve crashed a few of them, but I always feel a bit guilty about it afterward. This was nice. I’d spent extra time on my appearance, glad for the excuse to spiff myself up, even though no one paid me the slightest attention when I arrived. That’s okay. I don’t like being made a spectacle of, and much prefer being low-key. You may not believe that, given some of my more ostentatious performances, but in my defense I have very li...

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“Vengeance Is Mine” by DJ Grohs

Submitted to Contest #264

Contains rape reference Ten fucking attendants. Who needs that many attendants for their wedding? But there they stand to the left of the bride-to-be, all dressed to the nines for the rehearsal, complete with fake eyelashes and sequins. It’s clear now why Josh’s presence was needed; if the bride has ten, so must the groom. A month earlier, Josh had come in from work, mail in hand. “You’ll be my plus one, won’t you babe?” He blithely passed me an opened envelope as he dumped his keys into the catch-all bowl by the refrigerator and heade...

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“The Weekend at the Wheels Inn” by Lily Finch

Submitted to Contest #264

It was the third time we had gone away together, but the difference was that his entire extended family would be there with us this time. I hesitated when I heard that since we weren't exactly at that stage in our relationship yet, in my estimation. Michael picked me up on Thursday night. We both took Friday off since all of his aunts and uncles told him they were doing that. When we arrived at the Inn, I immediately noticed our rooms were all in a row on the same floor. That should've been my first red flag. The room doors were all open, an...

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“The Scarlett Letter” by Hannah U.

Submitted to Contest #264

“Jenny, are you almost ready?!” John yelled from the bottom of the stairs. How is he able to speak out of turn after I hexed him last night? There must have been a mistake. I roll my eyes, annoyed with his happy-go-lucky attitude that snaked its way through my efforts. Today is his cousin’s wedding. The thought of his stupid little cousin brings the fiercest energy to my balled-up fists. I force myself to subdue my petulant attitude clawing its way up my throat and heating my cheeks. I urge myself to respond with a lilt, “Oh, sorry sweety! I...

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Write a story from the POV of a plus-one.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 50 stories

“A Lovely Pair” by Beth Jackson

“The Plus One” by Story Time

“Jumbo shrimp and Premium vodka” by Karen Hope

“Cherry Bomb” by Keba Ghardt

“The Gamophobe Blues” by Rebecca Hurst

“Plus-One Perspective ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

“An Order of Reflections” by Penelope Stansfield

“Riding Shotgun” by Rudy Greene

“Phil Donahue Was My Dad” by Tommy Goround

“Finest Gwine” by Melissa Taylor

“The Date” by Larry Parks

“Plus-One, Minus-One” by A.Y. Nook

“Vengeance Is Mine” by DJ Grohs

“The Weekend at the Wheels Inn” by Lily Finch

“The Scarlett Letter” by Hannah U.

🌟 Similar prompts

Center your story around two people who meet at a wedding.

Write a story in the form of a speech (or multiple speeches).

Start your story with people arriving at a special ceremony.

End your story with someone saying “I do.”

Contest #264

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

293

Contest entries

107

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: