Romance Short Stories

The Diamond Ring

Sam slumped in the dugout, the Texas sun scorching his back, yet unable to warm the chill running through him. The sounds of laughter and shouts from the baseball diamond…[...]

The Dress

The Dress I grew up in a modest apartment in Astoria in Queens. Our block was made up of mostly 6 story apartment buildings, although there were three single family homes. One…[...]

Pick of DestinyBy Nicole Ney **Warning: this story contains harsh language and subject matter that may not be suitable for everybody. Please read at your own risk**Those curves. That neck.That mahogany…[...]

A Walk in the Hereafter

“A Walk in the Hereafter” It’s taking a lot longer than I thought it would. Of course, there’s no guidebook for dead people, at least as far as I know.…[...]

The Unwanted Unicorn

“The Unwanted Unicorn” By Edward J. McCoul It all started on a perfectly ordinary Tuesday. Twelve-year-old Max was home alone, nose-deep in a video game when he heard a loud,…[...]

Liam the Lovable, But Fearful, Leprechaun

“Liam the Lovable, But Fearful, Leprechaun” By Edward J. McCoul There are two things Liam O’Shaughnessy loved more than anything in the world: gold and friendship. And there were two…[...]

Adolescent lessons in dating and popularity

Adolescent lessons in dating and popularity You can say that I was a misfit growing up since I didn’t fit in with others my age. My worldview evolved from a…[...]

The Girl with the Ocean eyes

I was a loser. I was a too-tall, overweight, closeted girl with no social skills. I had spent two years trapped inside the house with my family hiding from an…[...]

Shattered Certainties

The universe had always been a place of cold, hard truths. Being an engineer and a committed agnostic, I had always rejected the idea of a higher power, considering it…[...]

The Wicked Redhead

She wasn’t really wicked, though. She just needed some understanding and a lighter touch. She was sensitive. And smart. When the wranglers came to her stall to turn her out…[...]

The price of popularity:

By Cohdee Dimarco, 14 My breath shuddered as the icy wind lashed against my skin, its cruel touch biting into my thick curls now glazed with ice. I stood uncomfortably…[...]

The Apology I Didn’t Owe

The courtroom was quiet except for the occasional shuffle of papers and the distant murmur of voices in the hallway. Mia sat nervously on one of the hard wooden chairs,…[...]

The Dinner Lady

Trigger warning: paedophilia How can people not have faces? Of course, every single person has their own recognisable set of features that define their individuality, but Harry could never bring…[...]

Friendship Lives Long

It was a sunny afternoon when I first heard the whispers. I was the most popular girl in school, mostly because I was the richest. I had a lot of…[...]

Believe

“I don’t know if I can do this, Mom. Not without him. And the kids—” “Shh. I know it will be hard, honey. The kids will get through it, and…[...]

Dougal McCoogan vs. Santa Clause

Dougal McCoogan had made it. Finally, after walking for weeks, through blizzards and blinding cold, he had done it. The dishevelled, skinny boy looked down on the scene below him…[...]

Starting Over

Starting Over By: Elan Leem “All right, we’re here,” Dad said as he opened the car door. I was jittery all over. I stepped out of our rustic blue Honda and…[...]

Thursday Night

Rain pattered on the roof of Grandma’s house as Christine settled in after Thanksgiving dinner. She sat on the plush carpet and started playing solitaire on the coffee table. Mom…[...]

Too Late Smart

My chin rested on the windowsill, eyes fixed on the entrance of the cul-de-sac, waiting anxiously for Michele’s mom’s royal blue Saturn to round the bend. The late afternoon sun,…[...]

Just an Old Computer

Once you pressed that button, I felt the light. I found the energy to start powering up and I was ready to meet you. It was Christmas morning of 1996,…[...]

The Unicorn Gang

“I told you, I don’t care!” The slam of my bedroom door sent a jolt through the cheap wood, leaving a satisfying smirk on my face. Maybe I’d given Dad…[...]

Tickled Over the Dentist

April 12, 2012 “I can’t believe your mom made you invite Del Poirier!” Jen squealed from her perch on Becky’s bed as she and their friend Maddy watched Becky adorn…[...]

In Remembrance of Teachers Past

The gravedigger wiped the sweat from his brow and planted his shovel in the heap of fresh soil by his side. The pale sun hung over the yew trees at…[...]

Between the Lines

Charlotte did another full turn in the space between the Romantasy table and the YA fiction, allowing her vision to blur. It was easy since her eyes were full of…[...]

The Snowstorm

Staring out the window, I inspect the pristine blanket of pure, glistening snow covering my yard. The white of the snow matches my soft, fluffy underbelly. The rest of my body…[...]

Greatness in A Cold, Dark Room

“Mr. Gibson,” Thelma said, stepping closer. The principal didn’t stir from his slumber. “Mr. Gibson!” Thelma yelled. Then she nervously put the microphone in his lap and walked off the…[...]

The World Without

White sunlight dappled the fields, and the pale-grey grass bowed to the wind. Elaine sat on the warm bitumen road, watching the monochromatic shadows pass over the ruins that were…[...]

Malya’s Cloak

“Where is your cloak? Malya, where is your cloak!” Nona rushed down the hard dirt path to meet the slight girl walking up the hill, grasping Malya’s frail shoulders and…[...]

Brown And Blue For You

Josie was coloring in art class with her girlfriend, Archie next to her. Though the latter notices that Josie didn't color the eyes brown. It's clearly Josie herself, but the…[...]

“Colour In Lines”

Regina wanted to get into the gallery show, but she didn’t think her charcoal sketch should be in the gallery show. Had she become the best artistic version of herself,…[...]

The Couple in the Portrait

The paint felt sticky on Mili’s hands, bits of it drying and flaking and getting stuck to her fingernails, and other splotches of cerulean smearing between the lines of her…[...]

Dragon’s Bread, Thistles and Just Holding On

Dear Erin, I told your the story again today. It's not your story, even though it is a story of you. I can't start thinking like that. Maybe you saw…[...]

The Brother’s short stories

How It All Started Surrounded by the mess of Abe's room, breathless from outrunning the men in the black cars, the three sat around the gold box Abe found in…[...]

Attending My Own Funeral

Attending my own funeral was not the weirdest thing I’ve done. No, seriously, why is your right eye twitching? In fact, this is the least weird thing that has happened…[...]

Fifty Reasons Not to Talk

Fifty Reasons Not to Talk Marvin LarsonGrade 7November 19th 1. I will not talk when Miss McCloskey is talking like I did todayand that’s why I have to stay after…[...]

An Unrequited Moment

Today was the day. She had stayed up late making that decision and planning it out. When the bell rang to signal the end of 4th period, she ran out…[...]

Public Pet Bus Escape

“Mrs. Webb, what about the homework you assigned over break?” That’s all I needed to say to have five VERY bad kids in my algebra class after my throat. So,…[...]

The Collector and the Caretaker

My name is Theo Finch. I am twelve years old, and I keep dead things in glass jars on my windowsill. The jars line up like soldiers. My prized finds…[...]

Green Behind the Ears

Walking to eat her lunch, Tanya saw Armand, the new kid, sitting under the tree. Her tree.‘Why is he there? That’s my place. Just what I need….’Next to the schoolyard…[...]

Dinosaur Sneakers

The alarm rings – piercing through the dull thrumming of sleep with its shrill blaring. Steadily, and somewhat begrudgingly, the world comes into focus. A long smear of grey blurs…[...]

The Peanut Butter Alibi

3, 2, 1… ATTACK! I slam my thumbs down on the controller and stick my tongue out in concentration. They’re closing in on my squad, and I’ve got to do…[...]

Super Badass Cat Girl

Walking home from school with my friends was usually the best part of the day. We laughed, talked about teachers we liked (and didn’t), and tried to plan our weekend…[...]

Epic Eruptions: When Gaming Meets Baking

Epic EruptionsWhen Gaming Meets BakingIn a whirlwind of culinary chaos, socially awkward gamer Max teams up with his adventurous neighbor Lila to create an epic dino-volcano for a school bake…[...]

Liv and Emma

Liv laid her head on the pillow and stared at the plastic glow in the dark stars on her ceiling and awaited the verdict as she tossed her phone to…[...]

Thumbs Up

I spent most of sixth grade staring at Alan Bilsing. Everything from his blond mushroom cut to his extra baggy JNCO jeans made him the coolest and cutest sixth grader…[...]

The Class From Hell

THE CLASS FROM HELLBy Joan Kydd Let it be known: I would rather set my hair on fire than have to sew anything ever. Back in the pre-tech Stone Age…[...]

Dear Diary, Reminder: Delete Mum

Chapter 1 Tuesday, 14th MarchSchool was… meh. Maths test. I think I failed. But then Riya said she guessed every answer and got 80%, so there’s hope for me. Mum…[...]

The Family Recipe

“I need you to take this to Grandma.” With that instruction, Mom handed me a yellowed piece of paper, folded up in fourths. I unfolded it. There were stains on…[...]

The Family Recipe

“I need you to take this to Grandma.” With that instruction, Mom handed me a yellowed piece of paper, folded up in fourths. I unfolded it. There were stains on…[...]

Write Your Heart Out

Maggie clutched her purple single subject loose leef paper notebook to her chest, covered in stickers representing her favorite cartoons along with animated cats with pouty faces and speech bubbles…[...]

Un-Quitting Through the Tears

“You know what? I quit.”I couldn’t do this. This was too hard. Throwing down my pencil, I watched as it clattered down onto my desk and rolled slowly off, and…[...]

Lies

Lies. I've told a lot of them. Some I've gotten away with, some I've gotten in trouble for. One lie cost me my whole life, and now I had to…[...]

Willow Creek Park

"Dennis, what are we doing? Let's go home. Now," Charlie hissed in my ear. He trembled beside me, fearful as we walked through the woods. The clear night wind was…[...]

Maybe Love

Charlie went down the schoolyard stairs. Juniors and Seniors from each of the four prep schools in the area were hanging around. Every year, the schools host a gathering with…[...]

Barefoot

BarefootMiss Dowles tapped aimlessly on her desk, watching the clock on the opposite wall. 4:25. Nearly an hour after the final bell, and 45 minutes after Mrs. Young was supposed…[...]

The Boy with the Bubblegum Hair

“Are you there, God? It’s me, Kai. I know we haven’t talked in a while. I just wanted to let you know I’m scared about school tomorrow. I don’t have…[...]

Sitting up a Gum Tree.

It was the hottest day of the year, and Cayden the super wimp was in trouble again. He had woken up that morning in a really naughty mood. He started…[...]

First Love

It was the hottest day of the year. I was walking home from school after another day of being bullied. Anxious, depressed, in 100° weather. What more could I ask…[...]

Sweet Sixteen

“Let’s go, Blaine…” Dad calls. I’m sprawled on my bed. I sit up, then run over to my closet.As I go out the front door, I grab my crocheted sash…[...]

Stay Awake, Jake

If you sleep, you die. That’s what Jake’s brother had told him before leaving for Grandma’s. He’d said it with that stupid half-grin, like he was in on a joke…[...]

Anonymous Letter

“These aren’t people, they’re sloths,” said Ed, nicknamed Jabba. “Sheep. Lemmings. Real people are rare.”Obese, unkempt, wedged into a reeking tracksuit stretched over his belly, he sat at a desk…[...]

A Tuesday

TW: References to abuse and mental health That was the day when I found out the limits of my own rage.I had exhausted my tears. It was a little shameful,…[...]

Remember Why You Started

CW: Mentions of suicidal ideation Walking into the school, my hands on the straps of my backpack with a spring in my step, I was excited for my first day.…[...]

Tangie and Lucy’s Extravaganza!

“Alarm, Alarm,” said Colonel Frisbee as the alarm sounded. All around him, people were running like crazy. Tripping over one another. Some retched in terror as they contemplated the evil…[...]

Amelia

Patented brown leather shoes squeaked down the hallway in a grating tone overshadowing the swish, swish of vestments. The offensive shoes drew Christine’s attention- ugly and dinged up. They were…[...]

Bump

BumpBy Christine Heriat 1. “Oleeever, you can’t hide from me,” it said, with a voice sharp as a squeaky door. The bed’s legs bumped against the wooden floor. Oliver groped…[...]

The Tree

Kit stomped his way through the woods. Twigs snapped beneath his feet as branches brushed his pant legs. Rain pelted the leaves overhead in a steady drip, drip, drop, plop,…[...]

The Truth Project

He woke up, panting heavily, the elusive wisps of breath slowly returning the color back to his cheeks. He sprang up bolt upright on his bed, clutching his head in…[...]

Paints

For the last two years, I’ve felt myself slipping slowly. Smiles light up electric white, and laughter rings as clear as glass shards. People watch my beautiful, painted mask slip…[...]

Coffee Djinni

Coffee Djinni Frowning, Allen stepped from the elevator. At the door to his apartment, he found a package wrapped in plain brown paper. Above the mailing label, Happy Birthday! was…[...]

Silly Old Cat

The cat crept cautiously along the branch, planting each paw carefully, as if using the knots and whorls of the bark to keep it anchored to the tree. Her mouth…[...]

Summer Homework

A children’s fantasy tale about a young, not-so-skilled witch called Athena. ‘Shoo!’ Athena cried at a scrawny grey kitten that had suddenly mewed from the yard. She’d only just begun…[...]

My English Teacher Is a Mad Scientist

“It was a dark and stormy night.”The class groaned in one, long voice – a chorus of complainers who had painstakingly practiced for years.“I haven’t even gotten to the story…[...]

I saw It On The News (aka: Dinner Date at Dairy Queen) by Holden Wennekers

CW: Physical violence, gore or abuse, Sexual violence I saw it on the news. Mortified me to my core. I think the last time I saw her was just three…[...]

A Solstice Festival: Changing of the Seasons

“I hope I don’t get too hot in this leather vest,” Leominor fretted as he ran his fingers through his beard and long curly hair. “Are you sure about that…[...]

Spells, loneliness and bad weather

CW: Coercion and grooming behavior involving a minor Crimson ink shot across the previously blank parchment. A young witch wined, adding the spoiled paper to an ever-growing pile. “Fuck this”,…[...]

Huckleberry’s Secret

Once upon a time in a quaint little town called Dorris lived a young boy named Selv. Selv was not like the other children, he was named after his great-great…[...]

The Tale of Peaks and horns

Once upon a time, there was a village tucked away in the jagged folds of a range known as The Mountain. Its people were carved from the same gray stone…[...]

My Chameleon Day

A chameleon’s tongue launches at ridiculous speeds, capturing bugs before they even know they’ve been targeted. Chameleons can also blend in with their environment to such an extent that people…[...]

Gina Esperanza

Saturday! And we’re going, shopping in the MGG-Multistore! Me, Olivia, Sophia, and Lily - our culture-vulture. No school today, no homework, no pain and confusion, just FUN! It’s going to…[...]

SamSara (and) The Bully

SamSara (and) the Bully I can’t understand why my parents sent me to this stupid school. It was fine when I was a little kid, but now that we’re in…[...]

Lonely

I was staring at a pair of shoes. Again.Scuffed toes, frayed laces, and green canvas. Skinny ankles sprouted upwards into the smallest person who lived in the house. She barely…[...]

Yes, I Remember

Middle school can be described as a place where the excitement of friends and one’s growing freedom collide recklessly with heightened social fears and anxiety. In 1978 that collision arrived…[...]

Hey miles

Hey miles does this look good?Arianna,Your the prettiest girl Ive ever seenYour eyes are the prettiest shade of greenYour smile is like a gift to meWill you go to the…[...]

The Locked Cupboard

CW: Crude language, gore The Locked Cupboard byLije Clay Isabella never could keep her mouth shut. Her mom really should’ve known better. Sooner or later she was bound to tell…[...]

Seven Ate Nine

The river moved slowly that evening, the way old rivers do when they’ve seen too much to hurry anymore. It slid past the wide gravel bank with a low whispering…[...]

Plaid, Panic, and Poor Decisions

Earth, a great man once said, is the insane asylum of the universe. Standing in a room full of boys dancing on top of desks, I can confirm this. The…[...]

The Tunnel in the Mirror

I saw my reflection in the mirror —it changed my perspective— I molded a version of myself based on a shiny, metal covered glass. At first, it was revolutionary, I…[...]

The picture of the cat

Brown fur. Which one would work? Lea’s fingers stroked gently over the neatly arranged coloured pencils in the box. Seeing the colours, she waited for the right feeling. A light…[...]

Go right

Let’s try the corn maze they said. It will be easy, they said. Nope, it wasn’t. Peer pressure, no matter what the age, is tough. The desire for acceptance and…[...]

I came, I spelled, I lost

“A spelling bee?” Owen blinked at me as if I'd just suggested we should drive our bikes to the moon and back. “Oz, buddy… You can’t be serious. Those kids…[...]

Life Cycle of a Crush

I am sitting, sandwiched in between my best friend, Alexa “Lexi” Tran and the 5th grade class gossip; Joselyn Wu. Lexi is trying to trick Mack Mcleod Spence into giving…[...]

Full heart

“That’s not what I meant,” Jane replied after the class burst into laughter. It was a simple comment on a very warm spring day. All she had said was, “You…[...]

When Fear Becomes Form

Submitted by: LA Smith4/24/26 When Fear Becomes Form Her office smelled like something I couldn’t name. Sweet, but not candy. It floated around my nose, sometimes stronger, always nice. I…[...]

After Glow

What should have been a normal Thursday dinner turned into a complaint session. The air was thick with spaghetti and teenage entitlement. Between bites, my three boys were griping about…[...]

Bell’s Crossing

The first time Mara heard the voice beneath the soil, she thought she was losing her mind.It happened in late October, when the forests surrounding the tiny town of Bell’s…[...]

THE SEA SPIDER AND THE BLUE HAIRED BOY

When the giant sea spider swallowed the entire town of Cobble, it was decided that something should be done about it. Flee, the next town over and slightly higher up,…[...]

The Student’s Struggle

Harvey Deenwaller really shit the bed when he tried out for the basketball team, because he forgot what we all knew: junior high school was bullshit. Trying leads to judging,…[...]

An Aye for a Legg and a Legg for an Aye

If Lucky Chances wasn't the worst singles bar in South Florida, it's only because the Board of Health had closed down the others. There were just so many hepatitis cases…[...]

The Forgetting Road

I wake up to the sun shining bright in my eyes, disoriented and confused. I don’t know where I am. There’s an endless road stretching before me, and I’m sitting…[...]