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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#157: The Green-Eyed Monster

Reality TV is a big guilty pleasure of mine, and the guiltiest of all those pleasures is probably Love Island. I've spent the last few weeks glued to my screen each night, chatting about it to anybody who's willing to listen — and a good few people who aren't.

One recurring theme of the show is jealousy; contestants break up and make up endlessly, and jealousy often has a hand in the drama that plays out between them. Of course, jealousy isn't always of the romantic variety, and envy over what we don't have can infiltrate our lives in strange and unexpected ways.

This week's prompts tackle the green-eyed monster, and how it can lead us astray — plus a tiny nod to Love Island. I couldn't resist.

This week's prompts

Write about a relationship, either romantic or platonic, that is being affected by jealousy.

Romance – 71 stories

Write about someone deliberately trying to make somebody else envious.

Dark – 25 stories

Write about a character who discovers the grass isn't actually greener on the other side.

Middle School – 44 stories

Write about two characters who both want what the other has, without knowing the feeling is mutual.

Adults – 27 stories

Write about somebody looking for love on a reality TV show.

Romance – 18 stories

Stories

“Burnt Toast” by Ian Matonti

Submitted to Contest #157

Henry Feir finished his steak and mopped up the last of the runny eggs with a bit of burnt toast. He liked burnt toast and had to ask for it specifically every morning. Clyde, the well-intentioned cook insisted on feeding his boss only the best he had to offer. Yet, Henry insisted that his toast be blackened and crisp. “Just like my mother used to make it,” Henry would say with a smile and Clyde would shake his head and walk back into the kitchen. Henry peered back into the past with relish. Back when we lived by the river in...

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“Mirror, Mirror” by Lorilyn Roberts

Submitted to Contest #157

DR. WILLIAM CHRISTENSEN pulled up to the beach house with his wife and two daughters. “We’re here,” he exclaimed. He turned off the engine and pointed. “And the house is right on the ocean,” His teenage daughters squealed. “Go check it out. Your mom and I will join you later.” The girls leaped out of the car. William winked at his wife. “That didn’t take too much convincing.” She surveyed the sandy shoreline and clipping waves in the distance. “It’s a dream come true. One week away from everything.” William nodded. “With my brother and his f...

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“Core Memory ” by Abigail Rae

Submitted to Contest #157

It shouldn't have bothered him. Cole grabbed a blade of grass and absent-mindedly pulled it apart. He was sitting on the lawn in front of his house. The sun was burning at its highest peak and the stillness of summer kept his mouth parched. He held a flask in his hands- twirling the contents before deciding to quench his thirst. He glanced at his watch again, annoyed that his last days of freedom had no urgency in his friend's mind. Twenty minutes late, he thought to himself as he heard the heavy breathing and light footsteps head...

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“On The House” by Kasey Kirchner

Submitted to Contest #157

A pale orange square-handled coffee mug sat on the counter in front of Nina as she sketched, completely oblivious to the din of the diner. “One slice of cherry pie, fresh out of the oven,” said Jess, the pregnant 32-year-old server. She placed a speckled blue plate with a slice of sweet, steaming pie on the counter. “I didn’t order that,” said Nina, not bothering to look up from her sketchbook. Despite being almost forty, she spoke with the tone of a teenager. “Eat it. It’s on the house,” said Jess, a hint of motherly irritati...

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“Two Peas in a Messed Up Pod” by Ashlyn Oboyle

Submitted to Contest #157

Every superhero story that you have seen or read about has two distinct roles: the Hero and the Villain. The Hero is viewed as hope, security, loyalty, and love, and stands as a symbol of protection against those that wish to bring harm. The Villain is regarded as evil, tricky, rude, irresponsible, and violent, and creates an environment meant to be hostile for everyone. Yet, the one detail nobody ever considers, is what if there are Heroes and Villains with the opposite qualities? Are they still considered “good” or “evil”, or does it becom...

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“THE CRYSTAL DAISY an THE MINI HORSES IN THE PRAIERIE” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #157

THE CRYSTAL DAISY and THE MINI HORSES in THE PRAIRIE From some months in the house in front of Clara’s, which had remained uninhabited for years, after a terrible crime that had been committed there ____a child of three years had been killed by his mother, who smashed the child head with a pan _____Julie, an elegant and good-looking forty year woman had come to live with her daughter Angie, a little girl of nine years. Angie was very pretty, and she was also lame. She and Peter, Clara ‘s son, ...

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“Perspectives” by Whitney Devor

Submitted to Contest #157

I walk into the kitchen to find a Post-It note on my coffee cup that says I love you. I used to think it was romantic, now I just see it as a cop out—Frank’s way of sweeping anything unresolved between us under the rug. But the rug can only cover so much. For weeks I’ve been trying to conjure up those feelings of excitement and passion that I know I used to feel for Frank. There was a day early on in our marriage, after an unusually harsh winter, that felt like spring and we were itching to get out of the house. I made bologna sandwich...

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“Tough Love” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #157

This week, on The Lucky Seven! The lovely Veronica goes on seven blind dates with seven different suitors. These lucky bachelors have four hours to wow Veronica with a combination of flare, character, and creativity. We’ve already seen what six of them had to offer and now we are down to our final contestant. Will this be the one? Or has someone else already stolen Veronica’s heart? Let’s find out on this final episode of, The Lucky Seven. “Connor Evans?” I nodded. “That’s me.” The assistant ushered me out of the studio lo...

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“The Most Perfect Man on Earth” by Alexandra Mertes

Submitted to Contest #157

LOG ENTRY # 295 PLANET - EARTH MISSION - DETERMINE IF HUMANS ARE SUITABLE FOR REPOPULATION OR EXTERMINATION. I’ve almost reached my deadline, and the conclusion is becoming painfully obvious. Yet, I must extend this contract to its utmost capacity. After almost a year of searching, I have not found a single woman suitable for the reproduction of a hybrid species. Although, to be fair, my previous efforts trying to find a man proved even worse. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I have made myself look like the most statistically appealing...

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“Three Strangers, One Family” by Ira Mutta

Submitted to Contest #157

“Come on you have to come Jennie! I even saved money from my monthly salary for this. You have to come!”, said Lily forcing me. “But why do I have to come? I am not interested at all and I also have to work at my part-time job tomorrow. I know that you want to meet that TV host you love. What was her name again?”, I frowned. “Sarah. Come on! She is so cool. She asks people their deepest secrets or anything they want to share with her and exposes them. It’s so fun and this time she is hosting the show at the nearby amusement park. We can’t mi...

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“Spanish Inquisition” by Sharon Williams

Submitted to Contest #157

*Contains bad language* Here we go again - another Spanish Inquisition. Baz knew it would be followed by accusations, then tears. Why couldn’t she understand that he loved her, there was no one else. Their love had blossomed three and a half years ago at work, amidst the clattering of pots and pans and the tantalising smells of sauté potatoes and steak au poivre. Baz was the head chef at a local French restaurant. He was quiet and reserved, tall and well-built. She was one of ...

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“Klaatu Barada Nikto” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #157

To the casual observer, Veronica Rennie and I were opposites – she was the beauty, and I was the beast. But Veronica was one of the few women I dated in the 1980s (or any other time) who was a friend, not just a girlfriend. She said one reason she loved me was because I was the only person who could make her forget she suffered from manic depression. Veronica was a distant relative of actor Michael Rennie, who’d starred as Klaatu in the classic science fiction movie, “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” Whenever a situation went sideways, Veron...

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“The J Variable Isn’t Genius” by Craig Blaxall

Submitted to Contest #157

"I can hand write faster than someone typing on a typewriter,” said Ryan, with all the sincerity of a deluded person. He twirled his pen with one hand over his thumb and caught it in the ready-to-write position. Dermot rolled his eyes and rested his cheek on his fingers but said nothing. A couple of classmates nearby chuckled and went back to their work. Dermot thought he should keep a diary of Ryan’s pronouncements. So, when Dermot arrived home, that is exactly what he did.Dermot and Ryan first met at the start of the intermediate school ye...

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“Keith and Lilly” by The Jazz King

Submitted to Contest #157

Keith Smith silently watches his partner Lilly Wilson get herself ready to meet her friends. Every movement made by her is scrutinised intently by him. Even though she faces the other direction from him. She is fully aware of his presence.“I don’t understand why you are going out with them. You see them at work every day.” He says abruptly.“When we see each other at the hospital we are really busy with patients. And don’t have time to talk to each other.” She says applying her mascara.“But during lunch hours or when you are on your break. Yo...

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“Green-Eyed Master” by James A Fueglein

Submitted to Contest #157

Green-Eyed Master Master said good night to his two dogs, the girl Lhasa apso Chloe and the bulldog Donald. Donald grumbled and rolled away from Chloe. For the past several weeks he’d not been himself, distant and petty about trifles. She didn’t know what was troubling him. She’d learned a bit of his cloudy past, that he’d come from the sea lands, abandoned by cruel men on the shore, ensnared in nets and locked in a pound whence Master rescued him. Perhaps he was still trapped in those days. She asked, “How’ve you been feeling lately, Don...

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$250

Prize money

185

Contest entries

88

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 05, 2022 EST

Won by Zack Powell 🏆

Title: Wish You Were Here

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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