Imposter Syndrome: Chapter 3, Part 2
Vampires and Whatnot.
Imposter Syndrome is a spooky young adult mystery set in the weird town of Shady Springs, where nothing’s ever quite what it seems. Paid subscribers can read full segments of the story as they’re released (and help support my fiction writing in the process). Annual subscribers will also get a free physical copy of the novel when it’s published in full.
Previously…
Tiffany lifted her sunglasses and narrowed her eyes. “Where’ve you two been?”
Theo watched as the invisible string on Alex’s back tugged again. Her face broke into a broad, easy grin. “Town.”
“Obviously. Where else could you possibly go?”
It’d taken them almost half an hour to cycle back to the Oakwood house. The return journey was mostly uphill and Theo was sweating right through his t-shirt by the time they pulled into the drive.
Tiffany had been there, lounging in a deck chair with her feet propped up on the porch handrail. She had earbuds in and didn’t hear them mount the steps. Alex poked her in the shoulder and she almost jumped out of her skin, and now she was in a bad mood.
“Seriously, where were you?” she muttered, reaching for a tumbler of iced tea by her chair. “Mom said you’d be back by twelve.”
“What time is it now?” said Theo. He didn’t wear a watch and his phone was still in the den. When was the last time he’d gone somewhere without it?
“Nearly one,” said Tiffany. “Mom’ll be mad.”
“It’s not our fault,” Alex replied, her easy grin fading. “We got held up.”
“Oh yeah? Why?”
“Well, we were going to Mr Morgenstein’s house, and - ”
“ - and we stopped by the comic book store,” Theo cut in quickly. Alex frowned, but he continued: “Fintan told us to say hi from him.”
Tiffany made a face. “Ugh, Fintan. I don’t want to hear any more.”
She waved her hand dismissively. Theo pushed Alex towards the door, eager to get inside before she revealed too much.
“Nice bike, by the way,” Tiffany called.
Theo shut the door behind them and sighed, relieved to be out of the sun. The hall was cool and dark.
“Why’d you interrupt me?” said Alex, prying off her left sneaker with the toe of her right one.
Theo started to do the same without thinking. “You were going to tell her,” he said.
“Was not.”
“You totally were. And then she’d have told your parents, and they’d have told the police or something.”
Alex worked her right sneaker off. “We’ll have to tell an adult eventually.”
“Tiffany probably doesn’t count as an adult,” said Theo, “but she’d still get us in trouble.”
“Alex! Theo!”
Speaking of trouble…