A/N: All of my unfinished stories from creative writing class this year! Enjoy!

(2) New Year, New You. Literally.

I opened my eyes and found myself in a room I didn't recognize. Panicked, I got up and snuck my way downstairs. I smelled someone cooking bacon. I crept closer and saw a woman at the stove with her back turned to me. I tried to get past her, but she turned around and smiled at me.

"Good morning, sweetie!" she greeted me. I just blankly stared at her, as I had never seen this woman in my life. But she seemed to know me.

(24) A Lie

"Um..."

Hesitation set in as I gazed up the height of the ancient tree. Why did I ever say I climbed it? Oh, that's right, to impress Kyle. Now he looked at me with an expectant expression. My throat went dry and I tried to stow my fears of falling to my death. I found a good handle branch and grabbed on. I had made it up to what felt like a good point. Then I made the mistake of looking down.

Kyle and my peers were as ants on the ground to me. I almost let go of my branches in fear, but instead I clutched them until my knuckles were white. I shuddered with only one option left. Going up.

Free Write

"I have a question for all of you," Charlisa began. The other vassals turned to look at her except for Brondielle who was absorbed in her reading. "How did you all end up working for Lady Valdisou?"

"Ha, that's easy," Arkaen laughed. "I want money and she pays me."

"Well, my sister and I owe her our lives. That's why we work for her!" Charlisa said almost triumphantly. Her sister Linda frowned.

"It's more like we have to work for her in order to protect our family and their land," she explained. "That's the case for most humans in this country, but not all of them become elite knights.

"I can confirm, it took me a long time to reach this status." Silvia, the second oldest member of the squadron spoke up. "Just between us, I don't understand why Lady Valdisou hates humans so much. She is part human after all..."

"I'm half human, and humans honestly suck," Arkaen said, ignoring Verree's harsh look for using less than formal language. "But they are hardy, I s'pose, which is good news for them."

App

"Terms and conditions? Sure, I agree," I muttered to myself, not reading the terms or conditions. I smile as I started the game. I'd waited for this for so long, and now it was a reality at last. My character walked on the screen and I made an embarrassing noise of excitement. I made my character talk to the closest NPC.

"Hello, MrBepis69," I laughed a little at my character's name I'd given him. The text continued to move. "Welcome to the game! You must've waited a long time for this! You just need to give us one thing before you can play..."

I frowned. Did this game have micro-transactions? It didn't matter, I'd pay whatever it took to play.

"We require your soul." The character finished. ...Maybe not that. Options for my response showed up, comforting me. I selected the refusal dialogue.

"Huh?! No way!" MrBepis69 said. The NPC shrugged.

"Your loss." The game crashed.

Free Write

Hayley pulled her red-tinted sunglasses over her eyes. The fog around her took on a brilliant new shade. She was getting close.

Old People use Slang

"What's poppin' 🅱️?" Grandma said, giving me the ok hand sign.

"Grandma, it's not the late 2010's anymore, please stop-" I started before being cut off.

"Um, I don't speak broke," Grandma pointed at her AirPods in her elderly ears. "Now be quiet I'm about to spill the tea on Mrs. Blanche next door."

I shook my head. Grandma pulled out her ancient iPhone XR and opened an app called "TikTok" or something. I rolled my eyes. This was never good. Grandma showed me a video clip of a girl around my age or younger dancing. She must've been Mrs. Blanche.

"What a thot!" Grandma exclaimed. "I, on the other hand, was a cute gamer girl who lived in a society!"

"Grandma, I don't understand!"

"Of course you don't! You're just a lv. 1 crook and I'm a lv. 100 Big Chungus! You aren't woke!"

"Clumsy in Love"

Sumia glanced at the calendar Robin put up. The Day of Devotion was coming up soon, and Sumia had no idea what she was going to get for Chrom. She had gifts planned for her friends, but getting something for her crush was going to be a little bit more complicated. Sumia decided to ask Chrom's best friend for ideas. On her way out, Sumia tripped over nothing and fell face first on the ground.

"Are you alright?" Someone helped her back on her feet.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Sumia started to say before realizing who helped her. It was Chrom. Sumia blushed from embarrassment.

(3/22/19) The Mountain has Secrets That Never Leave

The mountain air was fresh and full of life. The climber breathed it in. Byleth was higher up than he'd ever dared to climb before. Suddenly, clouds filled the the sky and Byleth spotted a cave. He entered it and was surprised to find a tunnel leading deeper down into the mountain.

(April 2) Ferretshipping

"Hey, stinky!" Meg nearly fell to her death as she scurried to the second floor to meet her one true love. He had dashing features and beautiful fur. Marcus looked over at her, feeling the usual warmth in his heart.

"What is it, darling?" He asked. Meg grinned.

"I love you!" She chirped enthusiastically. Marcus smiled softly and wondered why she was like this. Of course, he knew what season it was, but Meg seemed genuine.

"I love you too," he said. Meg curled up next to him.

(April 3rd) The Couch

The little boy smiled as he played his video games on his handheld gaming device. His mother watched almost ominously from the kitchen. He was getting way too into the game and was dangerously close to dropping it. Sure enough, he did.

"Mom! Ugh, I can't reach it!" His girlish voice reached the ears of his diligent mother.

"I'm on the way!" His mom called out. It fell between the cushions. When she reached in to get it, she pulled out something else. It fit in her hand and had strange designs on it. The moment she picked it up, the medallion sent a searing pain through her arm. Before she could cry out, it was already over.

"Did you get it?" Her son asked. She pocketed the item and smiled.

"Not yet. I'll keep looking."

(4/4) Puppy!

Sir Birt Barkington was an accomplice of S. Little, one of the most notorious criminals of all time. According to reports, Birt spread propaganda throughout the countryside and scoped out territories for Little to conquer. According to one eyewitness, who wishes to stay anonymous,

"That puppy was just so dang cute. We had no idea that he was working for Stuart... My brother even let Birt stay at his house..."

Evidently, that community had that something that Little needed because he invaded later that week. Our eyewitness again said,

"It was awful. One minute my family is playing with the dog, the next all of our belongings are forfeit."

But don't despair, because after Little's assassination his empire fell apart and those loyal to him will pay, including Birt Barkington.

(4/8) Toxic Friends

"Where were you yesterday afternoon?" Kathy asked, arms crossed in a sassy way. Eliza turned from her locker, holding her school books close to her chest.

"I was at dance," Eliza explained calmly for the hundredth time. "I go to dance everyday except Thursday."

"My mom always asks me why I never invite anyone over and this is why," Kathy snapped. I want burger. She realized what she said and feigned pain. Eliza frowned and walked away, shaking her head.

"Wait, I didn't mean it like that!" Kathy shouted after her. "Eliza!"

But it was too late. Kathy was canceled.

(4/9) Cats

[redacted]'s log, [redacted]

Those "cats" you sent me to investigate were no cats. They appear to be living orbs that resemble felines. You every heard of the [redacted] incident? I theorize that they came from space, just like the [redacted]. Further study of the cats is needed to gather as much as we can about them before [redacted] takes them away to the warehouse [redacted] is kept. I need more time with the cats.

(4/11) Fine Arts Talents

"It's time for a meme rave!" The student shouted, pulling out a speaker system.

"Wait, what-"

"Mine diamonds! Mine diamonds!" The speakers blasted a young boy's voice through the PAC, waking up anyone who was sleeping. The partygoers danced on stage, mostly Fortnite moves. One girl did the Minecraft crouch dance thing. However, people started to cry from the sheer energy the performance had.

Sans sound.

Bottom text.

One of my Character's Deaths that Normally Happens Offscreen

She would've looked like a commoner if it weren't for her rich clothes. Avril kept her head down to avoid looking anyone in the prison in the eyes. She clenched her fist, not wanting to die without doing anything that matters, but knowing that was her fate.

A loud bang rang out. Panic spread among the prisoners. Avril couldn't move. She pulled out her diary but she drew a blank. Last words escaped her and it was too late. A long-haired man broke down the door. Avril's story ended in pain.

(4/12) Picture

I walked through the woods on an April day that was surprisingly nice. Suddenly, the birds stopped singing for a moment. Then it was over. Confused, I kept walking. A light shone from behind a large tree. My curiosity got the best of me and I investigated.

The tree had a door in it's side, with stone steps leading to it. Not one to shy from adventure, I walked up the stairs with cautious steps. I opened the door only to fall inside of a seemingly endless void.

———

"Marc? Hey, Marc! It's time to wake up!"

My eyes snapped open. I didn't know who was standing over me or why she called me Marc, but I wanted answers.

"Who are you?" I asked. The woman looked confused.

"Oh, no! Not again!"

(4/15) Taxes

"Yoshi."

Yoshi's blood cooled as the tax collector put her hand on his shoulder.

"Where are the taxes, Yoshi?" Her eyes seemed red in the lighting. "It's been five years and you haven't paid them."

Yoshi was starting to panic. The only one who knew that was Birdo and she was busy scamming in Koopa Tycoon Town. She would never snitch unless he revealed her secret and he hadn't, so he had no idea how the terrifying tax collector found him.

"I... forgot." Yoshi lied.

"You forgot for five years in a row?" She narrowed her eyes and Yoshi realized that they actually were red.

"Yes?"

"Pay your taxes or I'll grant you to hell..." she threatened.

"Wait, what?"

(4/18) Translator

"I'm not saying that..." Amira trailed off. Leon pouted like a child and crossed his arms.

"Aw, why not?" He asked.

"Because, that word doesn't exist in that language anymore," Amira explained. "It died when Ani died during the war."

"That is rough! Now how are we supposed to find Danei?"

"Danei?" The woman they were questioning's eyes lit up with recognition. "Danei is town. You find."

"Wait, you speak English?" Amira asked.

"Little. Danei teaches town." She started speaking her native tongue, which Leon couldn't understand.

(4/26) Grr I Hate This Guy

I stare down at Stuart's pathetic face and contemplate pulling the plug again. Why are we saving this freak? Everyone knows he's guilty, I say let him die. But that's not my job. I glare at him a bit before I am called out by my colleague, Jolestar.

"Are you ok, O'Hare?" He asks, concern lighting his blue eyes. I nod unconvincingly, but Jolestar buys it.

"That's good. Hey, I was wondering if you'd like to go to the store with me after work and beat up hippies in the park-" He rambled on, not really caring if I heard or not. I was wondering if I should just end Stuart's life. Pull the plug and avenge everyone whose lives were ruined by him. My younger sister among them. The thought of Stuart living any longer drove me over the edge. I walked back to his room. For once, he was awake.

(5/6/19) Eyes

I glance around the room, knowing full well that this isn't my scene. As I'm looking I see someone staring at me, too. Realizing that I saw her, she turns away, but not before I catch all the details of her lovely eyes. I want her eyes for my own, if I'm being honest. Brown and deep, somehow able to catch light. My current eyes are getting old, boring and green. It might be nice to change things up a bit.

I approach her. She has the body of a dancer, but I'm not interested in that. Just her lovely eyes. I introduce myself to her. She has an average name not fitting her eyes at all.

(5/7/19) Uncomfortable Car Ride

The only sound was the engine and the tiny bobble hula girl. I glanced over at Lucas, wondering how well he was doing driving at night in the woods. Suddenly, he stopped the car.

"What is it?" I asked, worried that something was wrong.

"I think I left the lights on at home!" He exclaimed. "Ah, too late now..."

My eyes widened as he resumed driving. I wished I could've carpooled with someone else, but Mo didn't have a car yet and Al's car was full. Lucas's brother from another mother was asleep in the back, stretched out over the other two passengers, also asleep. Lucas and I were the only two awake, in case I needed to take over. But Lucas didn't seem tired yet, just weird, and to be honest, he'd been a little weird since 2003. But we all loved him anyway.

(5/9/19) Completion

They said the pencil sharpener is cursed. I didn't believe that, curses aren't real. Of course, I would soon find out how wrong I was about that.

The sharpener seemed to call out to me and my classmates every day. We all had to sit uncomfortably until class was over and we could leave. One day, a girl in my class couldn't take it anymore.

"I'm gonna do it!" She shouted, shoving her fingers inside and pressing the power button. She screamed as her blood spewed out of the hole. Bits of flesh and bone fragments littered the bottom of the sharpener. Her best friend and the teacher pulled her away, blood dripping from her mutilated fingers.