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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#104: Introverts and Extroverts

As the height of summer approaches and social distancing restrictions continue to lift, many of our social calendars are filling up fast. For the extroverts among us, this is unequivocal good news — coffee dates, happy hours, and weekend adventures with family and friends are back! But for introverts like me, it can be… a little overwhelming. And though things may soon get “back to normal” (knock on wood), it’s only natural for our muscles to feel a little stiff as we flex them for the first time in a long time!

In any case, whether you’re a staunch introvert or the biggest social butterfly in the world, you should relate to at least one of our prompts this week — and hey, if you end up writing an interesting story, that’s great conversation fodder for your next party.

Before you get to writing, one more thing: you’ll have to forgive me for asking you to enter your stories 24 hours earlier than usual. The deadline for submitting a story to this week’s contest is 11:59PM EDT on Thursday, July 29th. We’ll be going offline for a few hours to make some changes to Prompts — so watch this space!

This week's prompts

Start your story with a character saying, “Are you coming tonight?”

Middle School – 238 stories

Write about someone who everyone thinks is an extrovert, but is actually an introvert.

Character – 75 stories

Write about someone who wants to stay home alone, only for their plans to be disrupted.

Valentine's Day – 145 stories

Write about an introvert and an extrovert who are best friends.

Teens – 105 stories

End your story with the line, “I’m never going out with you again.”

Angst – 103 stories

Stories

“Self Care” by A.Dot Ram

Submitted to Contest #104

CW: Alcoholism“He fell in love with Drunk Maisey. That was the problem. When he met me, I was up on stage singing karaoke--some sloppy rendition of Just a Girl, too angry and not peppy enough to capture the layer of irony.”I look at the woman on my sofa. Maisey Brown. She’s in her late twenties with a petite frame and nondescript light brown hair. She could almost fade into the soft taupe sofa upholstery, but there’s something about her that draws me in. Her features are delicate and angular, and her face is smooth, save for a single worry l...

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“Mi casa is not su casa” by Moon Lion

Submitted to Contest #104

"And you're sure you're going to be okay?" Christine asked for the fifth time, looking anxious as she fiddled with the clasp on her bracelet. I sighed deeply and walked over, snapping the clasp shut. "Yes, I'm sure, please go and enjoy your night." Mason placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. "Just looking out for you, Champ. It's been a tough couple of weeks, and we want to be there for you." I forced a smile for their sake. "Guys, seriously, I appreciate all this, but I really just need a night of video games and trash movies ...

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“Night Out” by Ruth Nowotny

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #104

Her throat was dry. She could hear the tap dripping intermittently into the aluminum sink behind her. The way the quiet pitter patter was unrhythmic and unpredictable sent a shiver down her spine. She buried her face into the couch. Dad said he was going to fix the pipes last weekend, but something came up. Maybe mom is sick, she thought. It didn’t matter anyway, really. Dad’s mind worked more like a river than a pond. Nothing stayed in view for long. Instead, everything moved along with the current. In one ear, leaking out the other. ...

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“Till Forever Falls Apart...” by Arthur Alexander

Submitted to Contest #104

‘‘Woohoo! That party was amazing!’’ Angela said as they walked out of the house after the party that never seemed to end. ‘Oh yeah, it was fun!’ Hayley said trying to put on a fake smile. ‘I’m going to head home now, see you tomorrow in class!’ Angela said walking in the opposite direction.Hayley strolled around the streets… feeling empty. She was the sunshine, the mood maker, the one who always lit up everyone’s day. Little did they know, that it was an act she played all too well. She didn’t like hiding her emotions, she didn’t like bein...

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“Familiar Things Like Hospital Beds and Bruises” by Jubilee Lubov

Submitted to Contest #104

9:42 P.M. My nose is bleeding. It’s bleeding, and it won’t stop, and the disgustingly metallic taste of blood fills my mouth as the blood keeps gushing. It keeps going even as I hold tissues to it, it keeps going even as I shove ice against the bridge of my nose. It keeps going long after you were supposed to be home at ten P.M. sharp and doesn’t stop.The apartment remains deathly silent. My nose keeps bleeding as I wait, watching the clock. I make tea to wash away the sheen of blood that’s in my mouth. It’s tasteless a...

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“Vile Adventures” by Navitha Paranavithana

Submitted to Contest #104

Sitting on the couch with a coffee in hand, I dreamt of the beauties of luxurious adventures. I dreamt of well lit fires with crackling noises, beautiful villas with comfy beds and swimming pools. Well, that’s a taste of my dreamy world. According to me, the “adventure equation” is that adventure equals luxury. Later in the day, my very peculiar and quite annoying cousin called me right in the morning. To be honest with you, he is ready to go anywhere, anytime whilst any condition.“Good morning!” my cousin Jim screams out loud, “I thought of...

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“You Never Know” by Kylie Wallis

Submitted to Contest #104

"Are you coming tonight?" Justine sighed. "Of course. I even have a costume that I wont feel ridiculous wearing." Faith laughed at the resigned tone in her friend's voice. "Cool, just making sure. Pick me up in about half an hour? Wouldn't do to show up at Lesley's place too early." "Fine."Justine pressed end call on her phone and glanced in the hallway mirror. The pale makeup made her blue eyes stand out. She buttoned up the peacock blue waistcoat and tucked in her crisp white shirt. Then she put on the matching jacket. Her blonde wig only ...

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“Luck and a Summer Wallflower” by Kathleen `Woods

Submitted to Contest #104

“Are you coming tonight?” were the half expectant words of a now trusted confidant. In all the previous years she’d known Glika she would’ve found any such presumption dissatisfying, but having become close with her, Murcia found her hard to dismiss. Parties were easier than ever with a real friend to bother. Murcia stripped down from the already thin cover of her bathing suit, before stepping into the shower adjoining their bedroom. She wanted to be clean and she’d best do so quickly before Raphael came home. She wasn’t much interested ...

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“All is 'not' well” by Keya J.

Submitted to Contest #104

The sunlight would keep stinging your eyes unless you, yourself would stand up to draw the curtains. With legs cocked up on the table, Hemal slowly massaged her temples, convincing the disturbed soul of hers. Random thoughts came swirling inside her skull no matter how hard she tried to suppress, reforming in a hurricane of unsettlement. It’s funny how the world has changed nowadays. Her eyes kept shuffling towards her phone, getting pulled by a wireless rod. With a fraction of seconds, she snatched her phone and pressed some buttons until t...

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“Dream Date” by Donna Mork Reed

Submitted to Contest #104

“Are you coming tonight?” Sue asked. This phrase I’m sure most people are delighted to hear. Yes, you’ve been included in something, hopefully fun, a party or dinner out, maybe even a movie. They are seeking out your presence at the event. They want you there. “Tonight…” I stammered. Yet in me, it instills dread, a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, a racing heart. I kept myself from running away by shear force of will. I’m sure this was not a normal response of the average human being and wondered what’s wrong with me. Who doesn’t wa...

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“Logistics” by Scott Skinner

Submitted to Contest #104

Sean texted her, then told Courtney, "I texted her." "What did you say?" "Are you coming tonight?" "Why didn't you do it in the group chat?" "There's more pressure in the group chat, right?" "It's just a text message." "I know, but she's weird like that." "And she hasn't responded?" "Not yet." Sean was talking about his mom, who lived alone. His mom who told people she didn't live alone because she had a cat. His mom, who he hadn't been around since father's day when he woke up and discovered t...

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“In The Present with The Past” by Kathleen `Woods

Submitted to Contest #104

There was something good in being made of before, which is really the only accurate name for the substance Past was derived from. Being a spirit derived from such a heady substance gave Past an eternal nature, at least to those forced to perceive it, as while the Present is fleeting and the Future is at times grim, the Past has already taken all it can and is therefore much less frightening. That doesn’t stop the spirit from being little known, half formed and amorphic in the perspective of most who partook in the luxury of Past’s pres...

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“Blood Brighter Than Wine” by Silver Pen: Temporarily Inactive

Submitted to Contest #104

TW: Graphic murder and recollections of violence. She was staring at the mirror, observing her finely-tuned features, when the phone rang. The quiet vibration caused her head to turn, curious as to who could be texting at this hour. She picked up the phone, cold brown eyes reading the message distantly. Sure enough, it was Leola. Are you coming tonight? The black text read, glowing against the comparably dark room. Another message arrived, the device sending a second vibration through her arm. Cara told me Brandon’s there...

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“Stranded With No WiFi Service Can Suck” by ☠️฿ⱤɆ₵₭ł₦ ₦ØⱤ₮ⱧⱤɄ₱😎

Submitted to Contest #104

“Are you coming tonight?” I questioned to my friend Sean over the phone. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll be there with the pizza soon. I sat down on the cushy couch and turned on the TV. I scrolled all the way down to netflix and clicked on it. I turned on my favorite show that was called icarly. A few minutes later I got a call from Sean. “Hey Parker! I am stranded out in the desert so can you please come help me?! I am so sc-a-rrrrr-eee-d.” He was cutting out and I could not hear him. I got up off the couch immediately, forgetting to turn off the TV...

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“The Unceremonial Crush” by Jenitta Daniel

Submitted to Contest #104

It was a lovely mid-summer evening, strobing my hair, dressing in aurora white, brightening my face as a sunburst tiara, “Might be a great day!” I smiled.Yeah! my first ever date with Jake. Streaming in my mind, “Might be for me, not him", I fastened my seat belt, got cracking right away.“You lucky, lucky girl, if you need to know what love is” recalling the lyrics, my thoughts flew away with me. I cherished the way I prepared myself on my way to Jake's home.‘Few months back’ Dull days in sequence, virtual sessions were in queue, I felt...

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$50

Prize money

666

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 29, 2021 EST

Won by K. Antonio 🏆

Title: 10 Years Of Space

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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