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Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of friendship short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

8250+ Friendship Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Some would say that tales of friendship are some of the most moving of all. From childhood friends to brand new buds, you'll find a story to warm your heart here.

Friendship Short Stories – Page 157 of 551

Career Decisions

Shortlisted for Contest #203 ⭐️

“God, that one exam,” Jennifer said. “She kept me on the phone for hours. It was something about court procedures…?”Samantha laughed. “Evidence. She called me about that too.”  “Yes!  She was certain she was going to fail that one. And of course, if she failed that one, she was going to fail out of school entirely, have to move back home—” “Yep.” “And I told her—I told her, ‘Amy, you’ve never failed an exam in your life. You’ve never even gotten below a B plus in your life—’” “‘But law school is d...

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The Butterfly Effect

Submitted to Contest #203

I think some people move through life with an intense purpose, you know? They’re the type of people when you meet them they just have it together- Just everything. I think my life was formed by a young God, learning how to knit strings of fate together haphazardly for the first time. I think if life was a river, then I’m a fish on the side of the riverbank, trying to walk. People get all sensitive when you talk about not wanting to be here, alive I mean, not like you’d ever do anything because then that would require you to you know- do...

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Fight

Submitted to Contest #203

Kayla was two exits from home when she got the text, delivered via her car speakers. “Fist fight in the weight zone. Please come back.” It was the calm, neutral, automated voice of her Honda, but in it, Kayla could practically hear the panicked shriek of her new assistant manager, Davis. That kid needed a lot more training. The afternoon shift shouldn’t be so challenging. Kayla pulled off the highway and made a U-y at the traffic light. She ignored the honks and hand gestures of her fellow motorists and gunned it back to Future Fitness...

8 likes 3 comments 3
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The Duel

Submitted to Contest #203

Donovan was sitting when Larry came into the gym, his feet crossed, reading a newspaper of some kind in his hand. He barely looked up to greet his friend, choosing instead to finish whatever headline had caught his attention. “So,” Larry began. Donny folded the broadsheet in front of him meticulously and finally straightened, like a cat being roused from its nap. “So?” he intoned in response. Lawrence Jones began to rapidly lose patience, looking around the dusty gymnasium with something bordering on contempt. The center of the space...

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Ripples

Submitted to Contest #203

*** WARNING: physical violence, bad language and drugs ***Paul's teeth wobbled, mouth flooding with salty wetness, eye throbbing hot, knuckles gashed, and stinging. The urge to stop, to run, to cry, was almost overpowering, but it seemed every student of Saint Patrick's school had come to watch the brawl. What could he really do but continue, he had cast the first stone so to say. Spitting his fears into the gravel sports track, he squinted against the evening sun and raised his shaking battered fists."Come on then!" he shouted, forcing brav...

27 likes 19 comments 19
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SpyPal

Submitted to Contest #203

The black velvet painting of a bullfighter that had hung unmolested since before the millennium, tore and fell from its wall mount, as a whiskey glass shattered upon impact with it. Closely following the glass, a wicker chair violently crumbled against the bare stucco wall where the painting had just vacated, while raised, angry voices grunted and yelled foul obscenities, as their despatchers of vulgarity wrestled and rolled around the sawdust floor of the small Mexican cantina. The scene resembled an old western movie bar fight where head l...

28 likes 20 comments 20
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She's the Man

Submitted to Contest #203

“My friend from Canada is coming down for a week and staying with us, is that cool?” Janie asked Anna.              “Sure.” Anna shrugged; she already knew Janie was talking about John.               “Yeah, his movie premier is next weekend.” Janie relished in her ability to turn her fandom into a friendship with a D-list celebrity. Janie was a homely looking white girl, and this made her a prime target to be...

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Run Through the Tape

Submitted to Contest #203

Run Through the Tape“You should laugh every day.”   - Jim ValvanoIt’s hard to make a hospital room look homey. Too much white- walls, ceilings, sheets, even the attire of the doctors and nurses. And a little heavy on metal- the frames of the bed and chairs, cabinets, dinner tray, door, the TV bracket, the light fixture above, and the steel pole holding the bags that occasionally pumped life-sustaining and pain-killing fluids into Carl. Nothing soft and colorful, a scarcity of anything that would remind one of wood. A square bo...

19 likes 20 comments 20
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Wanderlust Fading

Submitted to Contest #203

The first drop of rain hit the windshield unassumingly, and without any acknowledgment from Alex or Ross. Within minutes, the wipers were going full blast as they sped through the downpour that seemed to come out of nowhere. It was that heavy kind of rain that acted as if it was on the attack, hitting the car so loudly they could barely hear the radio warning them about flash flooding in the area. The roaring noise was a welcome excuse not to have to talk. Until then, the two had spent the day relying on the radio to fill the gaps between at...

6 likes 1 comment 1
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The Surprise Party

Submitted to Contest #203

Kerry checked and double checked the oven. She straightened her flower apron, took a breath, and opened the oven door. Almost ready now. Five more minutes, tops. Everything was going to be perfect. Perfect!  She floated to the island in the center of her freshly cleaned kitchen, and grabbed the knife. Sharp. So very sharp. Of course she always sharpened her knives, to get the most precise cuts. And the act of it was relaxing to her. The even rhythm of sliding a knife back and forth, this way that way this way that way, was satisfying ...

6 likes 4 comments 4
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Fourteen Weeks

Submitted to Contest #203

This story addresses the thoughts and emotions associated with the risks of a preterm delivery and extended hospital stay. On the day of her induction, Erin was wide-awake at five am. She stared up at the dark hospital ceiling for what felt like an eternity, a thousand thoughts racing through her brain. What if we’re making a mistake? Are we sure the steroids had enough time to work? Will the NICU take her away? What if I have a c-section? She rolled over in bed and stared at the lump of blankets on the reclining chair across from her. He...

7 likes 3 comments 3
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Necklace

L J

Submitted to Contest #203

One year later-"Order in the court. Please rise! the Honorable Judge Marcus Walker presiding."Judge Walker banged his gavel, "you may be seated. Mr. District Attorney, you may present your first witness."Mr. Llewellyn stood. "Thank you, your honor, the state calls to the stand Ms. Katie Hoffman."A visibly distraught Katie took the witness stand, placed her right hand on the Bible and said, "I do". and slowly took her seat.Mr. Llewellyn placed his elbow on the witness stand and said "Ms. Hoffman, can you tell the jury what happened on the nig...

11 likes 11 comments 11
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Blood and Water

Submitted to Contest #203

Sandra reached for her phone. It was an automatic movement, something she did hundreds of times a day in the hope of seeing something that would make her brain go, 'Ah, yes". Today, dozens of notifications glared back at her, and her stomach twisted. Instead of sweet distraction, all she saw were reminders of the inescapable. Barely comprehending the digital onslaught, Sandra scrolled down the list. Cousin Amy, who lived her life via Facebook, tagging every family member she could think of in her public announcement of grief.: #sadd...

22 likes 22 comments 22
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Knuckles Up

Submitted to Contest #203

Everybody knew about it. Well almost everybody. As the months passed  and icy patches became lush and green there was a stillness in the air.  However, only the 'inner circle' were privy to what was happening.   Men spoke in hushed tones clasping hands tightly as wads of cash passed from one to the other. "That'll do now, Paddy. I'll look after ye." "Not a word to herself mind." - - - - - - The village was a small bustling community. It consisted of a large halting site where families stayed for a time before moving...

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Commander Twain and Commander Tesla Get Downsized

Submitted to Contest #203

The two Immortals, Commander Twain and Commander Tesla, sat in the hardened control room deep within the mountain. Tesla made a small twist of a glowing silver knob, watching a massive screen that broke the world into a grid pattern. “Ok, I turned up the empathy/hilarity counters on the video of Jimmy Kimmel ice-skating with Cardi B. The subliminal messaging to impel viewers to eat huge amounts of kale-frosted Doritos over the next week will be irresistible,” said Tesla. Twain nodded, the smoke from his corncob pipe curling around his wh...

10 likes 4 comments 4
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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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