Con Quest!

Cat might have been right about this one. From Alex’s vantage point, there was a lot to draw. Forget landscapes—this was a million times cooler. There were cosplayers; people in the coolest T-shirts Alex had ever seen; huge signs for new shows; posters for exclusive toys; and, all around, the most interested and eclectic group of fans ever assembled in one place.

Instead of drawing any of the cosplayers or stars, though, Alex looked at the lime-clad girl holding the LINE CAPPED sign next to him. Her job was really important—she told people this was the end of the line. And she probably got a lot of flak for it. Alex began sketching out a little comic with the green-shirted girl as its star, holding back masses of undead with just her sign as a shield, a flower between her teeth.

Ten minutes later and well into his drawing, the volunteer looked down at him. “Heyyyyy,” she said slowly. “Is that … is that me?”

Alex froze. He loved to draw, but he didn’t like showing people his work. Especially if he was drawing them.

“Yeah, I can stop,” he muttered by way of apology. He was weirding people out. He was always doing this—at school, at the park, in the grocery store, now here. Bleh.

“Are you kidding?” The volunteer laughed, reaching around the couple in line behind the twins to try and snatch the pad out of Alex’s hands. “This is amazing. You just drew this now?”

Alex turned splotchy and red. He really, really hated when people touched him or his stuff without asking first. “That’s mine.” He yanked it back quickly and brought it to his chest.

“Um, he just means he likes holding his own sketchbook…,” Cat said. She gently tipped the book away from his chest so she could see his drawing. “But he’s a great artist, right? Can I see it, Alex?”

The girl kept smiling, which made Alex feel less anxious. “Sorry.” She held her hands up in front of her. “I didn’t mean to grab it. This is just, like, the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me,” she said, still staring at the comic. “Hey, Jackson! Get over here!” she called down the line.

Another green-shirted volunteer came bounding over, a couple of friends in tow. “You rang?” He bowed jokingly.

“Check out what this kid did in line,” the girl said. There was no way out of it now. Alex had to do it. He had to show a bunch of people his art. He took a deep breath and carefully ripped the little comic out. Alex handed it to the girl, who held it up to show it to her friend. Cat snapped a picture of the volunteer with her comic

portrait.

“Holy wow.” The second volunteer, Jackson, laughed. “Can you do me, too?”

Cat nudged Alex’s shoulder, and when he looked at his sister, he was certain she had her scheming face on. Say yeah, she mouthed.

Easy for her to say! thought Alex.

“Yeah, sure.” Alex shrugged mildly, trying to appear calmer than he felt. Sketching in front of other people was okay. Right? At least he wouldn’t have to talk.

Alex got down to it. Over the next half hour, as the line inched forward almost impossibly slowly, a crowd of volunteers formed around the siblings. Alex drew sketch after sketch of volunteers doing a variety of heroic things on the con floor. When a lead staffer showed up to ask what all the fuss was about and Alex drew her as a winged centaur, she laughed until she cried.

“That’s it, kid, we’re taking you up,” she said, wiping her eyes.

“Taking me up where?” Alex asked, confused, clutching his sketch pad.

“We’re taking you up,” she repeated, checking in quickly on her radio. “To the front of the line. Let’s go, kid. You’ve earned this one.”

Only when Alex felt Cat’s hands hovering near his back was he able to start moving forward. “Uh…”

“Right,” Cat said loudly, taking over. “That’s so awesome of you. Thank you,” she said to the girl. Then Cat leaned in close to Alex. “You’re a total genius,” she squealed through a massive grin.

“What’s happening?” Alex asked loudly. What was he supposed to do? They were going to the front … for what? Were they—?

As they moved toward the front, a vision emerged. It was the author and illustrator of his most favorite comic ever. Steven J. Rhys and Adrianna Tack. Adrianna Tack! Right there. Right in front of him.

Right.

Now?!

The lead volunteer slid Alex and Cat into place in front of the writer and artist with a quick explanation, showing them a few of his sketches. Alex was sure he had never been so red in his life. He figured he had probably ascended to another plane, that’s how nervous and embarrassed he was in that moment. He probably was not even on Earth anymore. He was probably …

“You’re really talented!” Adrianna Tack herself brought Alex out of his starry-eyed stupor. “What’s your name?”

Alex just stood there, stunned.

“Alex,” Cat offered, from just beside him. “He’s a big fan. The biggest.”