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Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of teens & young adult short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

5330+ Teens & young adult Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Looking for the best short stories for teens? Our collection of funny, suspenseful, and relatable young adult short stories will meet your needs.

Teens & young adult Short Stories – Page 343 of 356

What could have been? An autumn of memories and remorse

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. I stepped out of the coffee shop with my usual half white chocolate mocha / half pumpkin spice latte. I took a brief moment to savor the blended flavors of my favorite fall drink and the scent of the fiery red and golden yellow leaves that filled the fall air. Although I am running errands downtown today, the streets are dead on this early Sunday morning. There was a feeling that the city is just waking up. This is my favorite time of the week to run errands and let my thoughts wander. ...

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Maple

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. But the tingle of smoke in my throat and lungs had nothing to do with the autumn orange and yellow spattered across the neighborhood. The simple leafy fires of October nature couldn’t compete with the vivid flames of my memory painted into the scars trailing up my arms and across my body. The twist of my mouth and ugliness of my face I knew everyone was too nice to point out, had been born from true fire. Damaging fire. I stood on my porch with the hood of my jacket far over my face...

17 likes 2 comments 2
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Leaves on Fire

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. We had been in the middle of summer and now suddenly the leaves were red and orange, with a hint of yellow and brown in them. Arkansas weather had to be the most bipolar state in the world if the temperature had dropped from 90 to 70 degrees.  “This is scientifically impossible,” Kyler grumbled next to me as he wrapped his arms around himself for warmth.  “Arkansas IS scientifically impossible,” I replied with a wince. The wind began tearing the leaves off the trees making...

11 likes 3 comments 3
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Autumn Dreams

Submitted to Contest #63

Someone was sitting in her chair. Sigh. She looked around trying not to get overwhelmed at now having to pick a different place to sit. She always sat there. It was this beaten up and torn vintage brown leather chair in the corner of the café with a window facing her favorite tree and near the bookshelf. Also it was perfect for people watching and she didn’t have to worry about anyone really disturbing her. Normally she came in the early mornings and would work on her writing or sketching and then read for a little bit while enjoying a coupl...

11 likes 0 comments 0
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Young Love

Submitted to Contest #63

We became friends when we were 3 years old, we lived right by each other so we saw each other every day. As the years went by we became really close and we started a relationship. It was really nice to have each other. We grew up together and we became inseparable.  One day he had to go to America to solve some family issues and he told me that he was coming back to me and get married. At that moment I didn’t know how to feel. I realized that I should support him on his decision to go and help his family but on the other, I didn’t know ...

9 likes 0 comments 0
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The Navy NASA Hoodie

Submitted to Contest #63

The Navy NASA Hoodie “Nathan! Your spiced cider is ready!” I yelled as I set the cup on the counter.  A man in a business suit walked up, grabbing the cup and briskly walking away, muttering a slight “Thanks.” A young girl, probably about 15, with short brown hair walked up to the wooden counter. She wore a navy blue, NASA hoodie. She had her arms crossed tightly over her chest, quietly looking at the menu.  “Good morning! Welcome to Craters of the Moon Coffee, what can I get started for you?” I asked, trying to be cheerful and s...

21 likes 3 comments 3
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Just A Wee Bit Witchy

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised, after all it was probably not the brightest idea of mine to lean out the second floor window of my mother's home, holding a lit match in my outstretched hands to see if the wind would make the flames dance. Well, my point was sort of proven to be correct, since the flames were most definitely dancing now, if not in the way I hoped. It was an early afternoon in the beginning of autumn when my little brother, Toby, and I were helping ...

12 likes 2 comments 2
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Finding Apples

Submitted to Contest #63

Alex had never felt more awkward in his whole life.  The red of the apples hanging on the trees around him could not compare to the red coloring Alex’s usual pale skin. From his forehead to his nose to his ears, it was all tinged red at the sight of his former best friend. Dean, the cause of Alex’s awkwardness, was smiling at ease as he talked to the little girl next to him, who Alex presumed to be his daughter, and was later proven correct when after the little girl ran off to pick the apples waiting for her, a woman went up to Dea...

8 likes 1 comment 1
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IS OUR FUTURE IN OUR HANDS?

Submitted to Contest #62

IS OUR FUTURE IN OUR HANDS? My mom used to say that the drama in real life is many times more complicated and sadder than the soap operas we watch on TV. I always thought, “is she right?”. I was in middle school in history class learning about the Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia whose father, of course, was Tsar Alexander III; her mother was Empress Marie;  her grandfather was King Christian IX of Denmark; and her aunt Alexandra was the Princess of Wales. When Olga was born a 101-gun salute welcomed her to this ...

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Coffee Shop

Submitted to Contest #63

It was chilly outside as Abigail walked down the street to where the local coffee shop was located. The leaves were bright orange and red color as they caught the breeze and floated to the ground.  "Abby!" A female's voice called from down the street. Waverly jogged to where I stood. "Where are you going?"  "The coffee shop, I heard they had new drinks out," I reply cheerfully.  "Can I join you?" Waverly asks breathlessly. The few moments she jogged must have exerted her. A nod and we walk inside where the warm atmospher...

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Digging in the Darkness of the Night

Submitted to Contest #62

I sat down on the cool, prickly grass, letting the harsh wind of the night blow my long black hair into my face. All I had to see was the soft glow of the moon, which dimly illuminated the small hole I had just dug in the back corner of my fathers backyard. Laying down my rusty shovel, I breathed in the cool midnight air, letting the freezing air fill my lungs and make me shiver. This feels right, I thought, untying the sweatshirt knotted around my waist and putting it on to cover my goosebump covered arms. With careful hands, I grabbed the ...

9 likes 2 comments 2
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'Charted' Territory

Submitted to Contest #62

Trigger warning: SuicidePink sunlight flooded the room, caressing every surface with its light, rosy fingertips.Zaneerah stared out of the open window, hands fidgeting with the dull sand-colored quilt on her bed.Behind her sat her mom, who held a wooden comb and a piece of Zaneerah’s hair.The brush connected with Zaneerah’s hair in soft strokes, brushing each piece with such delicacy-.Zaneerah cried out as the hairbrush discovered a tangle in her silky smooth hair.“Sorry, Zan,” her mother said, her eyebrows furrowed and her full, red lips pu...

39 likes 26 comments 26
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Our Memories Shall Live on Forever

Submitted to Contest #62

We had completed our final year of secondary school and we were determined to make the memories we had created over the years live on forever, that's why we were here.  As we sat down on the grass and formed a circle, all the memories came flooding back. The playful squeals and innocent giggles of young children running around the park reminded me of our earlier years when we would come down to this exact same park every day after school and play and laugh exactly like they did, oh how I wish the clocks could turn back so we could rel...

11 likes 7 comments 7
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Moria

Submitted to Contest #62

Thursday, November 21, 2019 - Fortune-teller It was lunchtime at school. 11th graders, including Moria and Simon, were eating probably the most terrible pizza. Moria mentioned to Simon how she wished they had a warm pumpkin soup instead of a cheap interpretation of Italian cuisine. Naturally, Simon went off about the flaws in school buffets. It was a long monologue. Moria was usually a good listener, but today she drifted away while Simon was talking. When he finally noticed that Moria had something else on her mind, he stopped. He followed ...

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I Owe You

Submitted to Contest #62

The rain grows heavier on the Starbucks window, beating a wild rhythm against the glass. Oh, great, I think. Now I’m going to have to walk to the car in that. Maybe it was a mistake to try to finish the last few minutes of my English assignment once it started raining. It doesn’t matter. I’m done now.My fingertip drags my laptop cursor across the screen, toward its bottom corner, and almost to the power button. But before the little arrow can click, an email notification pings on the side of the screen. My heart stops when I see the pop-up.J...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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