Creeping Vale

“Don’t play that sad shit around me,” Jeff said, “I have enough problems already.”

My name is Zach. To the left is my friend Jeff. We’re supposed to be doing a study session today but it quickly turned into a mini concert of sorts. Once we started playing music, the homework deadline that is lingering around us like a mosquito began to slowly disappear.

“Seriously, dude. Play something else.”

Our taste in music couldn’t be any more different. I like listening to depressed musicians rap over a lo-fi beat, Jeff is more into hard rock. Giving in to his whining, I flip the radio to something more contemporary.

“Finally. Sometimes I think there’s something wrong with you, Zach.”

“The only problem I have is your taste in music.” I reply.

“Not all of us like pretending to have issues.”

I cringed a little bit when he said that. In some ways I think he is right, we all like to identify with something. For whatever reason I identify with drug abuse and suicide, despite never considering either.

We live in Oakton, a small uppity town in the midwest. We’re sophomores at the local private school, Creeping Vale. Despite the choice in name, it’s actually one of the best high schools in the country. My parents aren’t rich but I managed to get in through merit and a few loans. Jeff’s parents are both doctors and paid his way through. I give him shit all the time for it but he knows it comes from a place of respect. Most people make a huge amount of effort to kiss his ass, whereas I speak to him as an equal. This is probably why we’ve been able to be friends for all these years.

“I’m going to the bathroom. We should start the project soon.” I said.

“Whatever, you want my permission or something?”

I wave him off and leave my room. The bathroom is only a few doors down.

After finishing up, I look into the mirror. Short brown hair with brown eyes. Maybe that’s why I identify with outcasts. With the way I look, I could never be one. I smile to myself, wash my hands and head back towards my room.

As I enter my room, Jeff notices me.

“Finally! Are we getting started or what?” he says.

“Yeah, we’re starting with history, right?” I reply.

“Sure, whatever.” Jeff waves his hand at me again, dismissively. I don’t think he cares one way or the other which subject we start with. We’re supposed to write a paper on mysterious occurrences and folklore. Things like the Mothman and Bigfoot. Stories that have for whatever reason been passed down as truth. In other words, the modern myths. We continue to work on this project for several hours and the sun begins to set.

“I think we should include some local stories into our project, we’d probably get extra credit,” I say.

“Maybe, you know of any?”

“Nope.”

“This is just great. Leave it to Zach to have a plan without a plan. How about this, tomorrow we start investigating. There’s bound to be rumors, right? It might make this little project of ours interesting” Jeff replies, a growing excitement in his voice.

“Sure, but who do we ask first?” I say.

“Allison Curie. She has the scoop on everybody.” Jeff says.

“You know Allison?” I ask.

“You do too, obviously.” Jeff replies.

“You know what I mean.” I say.

Jeff leans back in his chair, appearing to think for a few moments. Finally, he looks over at me.

“We almost dated a few months back. I backed out because I didn’t want the drama.”

“Drama?” I ask.

“Yeah, she’s the most popular girl in school. I didn’t want to be around all that. So I ...” Jeff pauses for a moment. “...I decided it was best for us to stay in a mutually beneficial relationship.”

“Just sex, then?”

“Yeah,” Jeff replies, trying to hide a smile. “Just don’t tell anyone. If word got out, it’d be the end of me.”

“The end of you? As if your reputation couldn’t get any worse.” I reply, half-jokingly.

“Believe me, it could. Allison is into some weird shit, man. Her and her whole outfit at the club.”

“The club?” I ask.

“The Framers. It’s all hush, but they meet every Friday in an abandoned classroom and talk about who-knows-what. If I wanted to be in a relationship with her, I’d have to associate with them.”

“They can’t be all bad, right?” I ask, innocently. I try to contain my curiosity as best as I can.

“You have no idea, man.” Jeff replies.

Thanks for reading Chapter 1 of Creeping Vale! I’m really excited to finally start publishing this. Expect regular updates.