Annie was on her way to the school's court, which was actually a huge basketball court. Fortunately, she was doing this only with her classmates. Their teacher, Mr. Cleo, was still dressed in his leprechaun outfit from earlier festivities.

"Sir Cleo... I think you're not in your proper attire," Cloud pointed out, glancing at Cleo.

Cleo laughed to himself, realizing he had forgotten to change due to his busy week. "I completely forgot about that! I just had a few drinks during my break..." he said in a gentle, tipsy Irish voice.

Cleo spun around dramatically, transforming into a more handsome version of himself, his muscles showing. He was quite attractive (though not in Annie's thoughts 💭).

"Alright, everyone! Today we will play some games!" Cleo announced as he set up the gym with a whiteboard and marker, placing it far from the students.

"You each will have one blackboard. You all will write a short story in 30 minutes, with a word limit of 300-800 words. However, each marker can only write up to 20 words. So, you'll need to run all the way to the back to get a new one each time you run out of ink. You will be graded on the quality of your story while being tired!"

The class looked shocked at the challenging game. It was simple, yet exhausting. As the game started, the students were all excited, quickly running back and forth. A few smart and strategic classmates took their time, not rushing.

Ten minutes in, the students who had been rushing were already exhausted, panting, and taking long breaks. But five students—Grace, Annie, Prinze, Sophie, and Glenn, who were close friends—were still going strong, getting faster by the second. At the twenty-minute mark, everyone was back on track, but the five students were almost done. They wrote furiously until the time ran out.

Cleo whistled loudly with his hands. All the students dropped to the floor, tired, exhausted, and sweating profusely. Cleo eliminated the students who rushed and didn't finish. He then judged the short stories of Prinze, Grace, Glenn, Sophie, and Annie. However, he eliminated Prinze due to his sloppy writing.

Cleo and the eliminated students read the remaining four short stories, evaluating their grammar, tone, emotion, and dialogue.

(Gails story)

Gail, a bright-eyed girl with a string of A+s, always strived for perfection. But life, like a playful puppy, sometimes throws curveballs.

image [https://img.wattpad.com/21062d28c3198e1e3223184712493204ba27dfb9/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f664b304a467841595f76483359413d3d2d313436343134363535352e313765346533613962633864663464633430383333393030373430302e706e67]

When Gail received her first A-minus, her world tilted. Her parents, consumed by their own ambitions, reacted harshly, leaving Gail standing on the precipice of uncertainty. Tears streamed down her face as she wandered into the whispering woods, seeking solace in the rustling leaves and dappled sunlight.

As dusk settled, a storm roared to life, mimicking the turmoil in Gail's heart. Shivering and lost, she stumbled upon a hidden cave. Curled up in the darkness, despair threatened to engulf her. But then, a tiny flicker of light caught her eye. It was a single seedling, struggling to survive in a crack of the cave wall.

Seeing its resilience, a spark ignited within Gail. If this fragile thing could defy the odds, couldn't she too? Hope, like a hesitant bud, began to bloom in her chest. The next morning, with newfound determination, Gail ventured into the world. She gathered berries and mushrooms, selling them in the bustling market. Each coin earned was a testament to her grit. She found shelter in the forgotten cave, nurturing the seedling as a symbol of her own strength.

Days turned into weeks, then months. Gail, calloused but determined, saved enough to build a small, cozy home in the cave. The seedling, nurtured by her care and the sun filtering through the cave mouth, blossomed into a magnificent tree. Its branches, strong and resilient, mirrored Gail's growth.

One day, a stroke of luck struck. As Gail dug a well near her home, she unearthed a hidden cache of gold and silver coins. Tears welled in her eyes, but this time, they were tears of joy and gratitude. The reward wasn't just material wealth, but a testament to the power of hope and determination.

image [https://img.wattpad.com/3591c63257ea85ba17f5e07c5030ac0092a07c50/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f7534707767682d617a36784865673d3d2d313436343134363535352e313765346533636464633138616265363633363936373633323130322e706e67]

Gail's story isn't just about riches; it's about the strength that blooms within us when faced with adversity. It's a reminder that even the smallest flicker of hope can guide us through the darkest storms. So, hold on to your dreams, nurture your resilience, and remember, sometimes the most beautiful things grow in the most unexpected places.

(sophies story)

Once upon a sandy shore, with a wiggle and a plop, A tiny turtle named Shelly hatched, his shell a tiny hop. He blinked and saw the endless blue, the waves that rolled and crashed, With flippers strong, he took a dive, a brand new world to splash!

image [https://img.wattpad.com/a9772e209e563ca62c5ee0539e4329d7e02a64bc/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f37643079573348776530704a31413d3d2d313436343134363535352e313765346533666265643263303030613930343032303538323531362e706e67]

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

But oh dear Shelly, dangers lurk beneath the ocean's gleam, A flash of teeth, a toothy grin, a piranha's hungry dream! He darted quick, a blur of green, a shark with eyes so wide, Shelly hid in coral's embrace, where shadows safely hide.

But wait! A grumpy grouper shooed, "This reef's no place to stay!" Shelly swam, his heart quite full, with tears that rolled away. He saw a family, happy shells, basking in the sun, "May I join your games?" he asked, but his welcome wasn't won.

"No room for strangers here," they said, their shells turned oh so cold, Shelly felt so very lost, a story yet untold. He swam to jellyfish who bobbed, to dolphins sleek and grand, But all he heard was, "Swim on by," a message in the sand.

Even spiky sea urchins scoffed, "This spot is all our own!" Shelly sank beneath the waves, feeling utterly alone. He searched for cozy caves to hide, in sand he tried to burrow, But nothing felt quite right for him, a constant state of worry.

Then, bubbles broke the ocean's hush, a sight that made him stare, A giant with a mask and fins, with hair that looked like air! Shelly froze, a tiny speck, his heart began to pound, This creature looked quite different, a sight that made no sound.

The giant saw him, smiled so wide, and reached a gentle hand, Shelly panicked, swam for cover, a scared speck in the sand. But then the giant spoke so soft, "Don't worry, little one, I just want to be your friend, beneath the setting sun."

image [https://img.wattpad.com/65471eb9cc36f345b07da6af0bed66f1911ec481/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f73455a7956524e38754a736d49773d3d2d313436343134363535352e313765346534336463333639323037333739343337313536383030342e706e67]

Shelly peeked from coral's nook, the giant's voice so kind, He placed him in a cozy tank, a world he'd come to find. With food and warmth and gentle touch, a love that filled the space, Shelly knew he'd found a home, a happy, friendly place.

He learned that families come in shapes, in sizes big and small, And love can bloom in different ways, that's the greatest gift of all. So Shelly, happy in his tank, with wiggles and a smile, Knew sometimes families are found, after swimming for a while.

(Glenns story)

THE TALE OF SUNNY AND FLOWER

One day, the radiant Sun gave birth to a baby girl named Sunny, while Mother Earth and Plant had a son named Flower. Sunny was a sweet and beautiful girl, her light bringing warmth and joy to all.

image [https://img.wattpad.com/ca35fe5513fffd1db4fa9e7630b5c33918ad5dab/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f614a544f61774e5a7042707073773d3d2d313436343134363535352e313765346534373365313763613365353631363736383330373438312e706e67]

Flower, on the other hand, was a two-faced individual—perfectly charming on the outside, but bitter and dark within.

image [https://img.wattpad.com/dbdf0b2b80a617271abff81f0fab9d677c581b93/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f305a643944774e564d576d6d62513d3d2d313436343134363535352e313765346534393839333832346365363538373532363238353934392e706e67]

One day, Sunny was playing with her sibling, Eclipse, when they saw Flower bullying a human. Determined to defend the innocent, Sunny and Eclipse used their magic to intervene.

"You should stop playing with humans!" Sunny warned.

"Shut up! They’re not fit for us demigods!" Flower retorted with disdain.

From that day forward, Sunny and Flower were at odds. Their conflict grew so intense that Sunny destroyed Flower's beautiful creations in a fit of rage.

"Your creations are beautiful... unlike your personality!" she taunted.

In response, Flower sought revenge by partnering with Moon, and their battles raged on for a thousand decades. Yet, in the midst of their turmoil, something unexpected happened—Flower and Sunny found themselves drawn to each other. They spent a night together, and Sunny became pregnant.

Determined to protect her unborn child, Sunny hid away with her friends and father, Soil, Water, and Sun. They cared for her as Flower remained unaware of her condition. Their war ceased, but Flower couldn’t shake the feeling of missing Sunny.

After four long months, with the help of her friends and father, Sunny gave birth to a beautiful daughter. The birth was excruciating, and sadly, Sunny did not survive. Flower, upon discovering the truth, rushed to see Sunny and their child. Overcome with grief, he named their daughter Sunflower in honor of her mother.

Millions of years later, Sunflower grew into a magnificent adult and gave birth to hundreds of little sunflowers. These sunflowers, upon their death, transformed into Flower’s creations—tall, sweet blooms with a unique bitter flavor that always faced the sun as it rose.

image [https://img.wattpad.com/b443ec0a65a28a20218f940cee0f335a95a3398f/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f43553361574d4968336f4a3144413d3d2d313436343134363535352e313765346534623264636161646138323337353839373839393332382e706e67]

The moral of the story is that love and beauty can arise even amidst conflict and bitterness. Despite differences and initial animosity, connections can form that bring about positive change and legacy. The tale also highlights the enduring impact of love, the importance of protecting the innocent, and the idea that true beauty often comes from unexpected places. Additionally, it underscores the significance of forgiveness and the transformative power of family and unity.

(Annies story)

Mika, a talented young sculptor, stood frozen before her latest creation – a formless lump of clay.

image [https://img.wattpad.com/2477691291ccf8697565da300d439a4fe3b294a6/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f3375776647436d584c65545578773d3d2d313436343134363535352e313765346534636638346130613939313531373038333039313935352e706e67]

Inspiration had deserted her, replaced by a paralyzing fear of failure. "What if I'm not good enough?" the voice in her head taunted. Just then, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves outside her window, revealing an old, gnarled oak tree. Its branches, twisted and uneven, stretched defiantly towards the sky.

Suddenly, Mika remembered her grandfather's words, "The most beautiful trees are often those weathered by storms." Shamefaced, she realized she'd been focusing on the imperfections, not the potential within the clay. With newfound determination, she picked up her tools. Each scrape and mold was a battle against self-doubt, but with every detail that emerged, a sense of accomplishment bloomed.

Finally, a magnificent griffin, powerful and majestic, rose from the shapeless clay. Mika, tears welling in her eyes, understood the moral. True beauty lies not in flawlessness, but in perseverance. It's the weathering of doubt and the shaping of potential that creates something truly remarkable. From that day on, Mika embraced the challenges, knowing that even the roughest beginnings could birth breathtaking creations.

Places.

1ST Gail and Sophie

2nd Glenn

3rd Annie.

Annie wasnt upset and smiled as she accepted deafet. After that Annie had spelling class and went home. That activity was fun...