We are sharing the next story in our series, Featured Short Stories, written by students in the Creative Writing Club.
Every week, the students in the club work on writing short stories, sometimes from their own ideas, and sometimes from story prompts. This week’s prompt was – write a story about the final game in a basketball or football competition between two rival teams.
This week’s story was written by Lolade, aged 11. Enjoy!
The Court of Friendship
In the bustling town of Rivertown, basketball was more than just a sport; it was a way of life. There were two major basketball teams, and all the residents in the town either supported one or the other. Among the many young players, two girls, Maya and Lily, stood out. They were best friends and neighbours, inseparable since childhood, sharing dreams, secrets, and a love for basketball. When they turned 14, they both joined their school’s basketball team and quickly became key to their success.
Maya was the star player of the Rivertown High team, known for her agility and sharp shooting skills. Lily, on the other hand, was the strategist, always coming up with plays that left their opponents in awe. Together, they were unstoppable.
Their friendship faced a test when they were in senior year. Jake, a charming new student, joined their school. He was tall, with dark brown curly hair, and a face that looked like he could model for a teen magazine. Lily had a crush on Jake from the moment she saw him and tried to get him to sit next to her in some of their classes.
However, Jake didn’t seem to notice her; it was Maya who caught his eye. It was Maya that he reached out to for support with settling into the school. It was Maya that he asked to help him with some of his assignments. Unbeknownst to Maya, Jake’s attention towards her was starting to stir up feelings of jealousy in Lily.
One day, when they were in the tutoring room and supposed to be studying, Lily overheard Jake confessing his feelings to Maya. Her ears grew hot and her heart sank.
“So all along, Maya was entertaining Jake, knowing I liked him”, she thought. Lily felt betrayed and heartbroken. In that moment of anger and hurt, she stormed out of the tutoring room.
Lily did not wait to see how Maya responded to Jake’s declaration.
Maya gently turned him down, explaining she valued their friendship too much to complicate things. But by that time, the damage was done. When she left the tutoring room, she was looking for Lily, but she couldn’t find her anywhere. She tried to call her, she even went to her house to knock on the door, but there was no answer.
The next day, Lily ignored Maya all day in school. She ignored her during basketball practice, which meant that they both played badly, and the coach yelled at Lily. Which made Lily even more angry, and she decided to join the rival team, the River Hawks.
The news of Lily’s defection spread like wildfire. The once inseparable friends were now on opposing sides, and the upcoming championship match between Rivertown High and the River Hawks became the talk of the town.
On the day of the match, the atmosphere was electric. The stands were packed with spectators eager to witness the showdown. Maya and Lily avoided each other’s gaze during the warm-up, the tension between them palpable.
As the game began, both teams played fiercely. Maya’s team relied on her scoring prowess, while the River Hawks benefited from Lily’s strategic plays. The score was neck and neck, with neither team willing to back down.
In the final quarter, with only seconds left on the clock, the score was tied. Maya had the ball, and as she dribbled towards the basket, she found herself face-to-face with Lily. Time seemed to stand still as the two friends locked eyes.
In that moment, memories of their friendship flooded back. The late-night practice sessions, the laughter, the shared dreams. Maya hesitated, and Lily saw the conflict in her eyes. Instead of trying to block her, Lily stepped aside, allowing Maya to make the winning shot.
The buzzer sounded, and Rivertown High erupted in cheers. Maya’s teammates lifted her in celebration, but her eyes were on Lily. She walked over to her former best friend, extending a hand.
“I’m sorry,” Maya said, her voice filled with emotion. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
Lily took her hand, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m sorry too. I let my jealousy get the best of me.”
The two friends hugged, the crowd around them fading into the background. They knew that their friendship was stronger than any rivalry, and that together, they could overcome anything.
The End.
If you have a child who loves writing stories and you want to encourage them to explore their creativity and their imagination, then we would love to have them join our writing club! Just click on the link to register, and we will be in touch. Creative Writing Club – Registration Form.
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