"Gerard? Gerard are you okay?!"I asked frantically when he didnt reply.
"I- yeah I think so..."Gerard's voice sounded... different. I started feeling my way around the wall of the room until I found a lightswitch. I smiled and flicked it on triumphantly. The first thing I noticed was Lily's chair on its side with her still tied to it. My eyes darted around the room, sliding past a toolbox on a shelf in a corner, a camera with a red flashing light on it, a broom leaning in another corner and then I found Gerard. He was over the top of Dean. Who had a bullet through his head, blood leaking out from underneath him.

There was a clatter as Gerard dropped the gun next to him and fell onto his side. Oh no. He had been shot as well.
"I- I fucking killed him I didnt mean to fuck-"Gerard turned to look at me, the horror of what he had done shone in his eyes. At that moment Claire came running down the steps into the basement.

"Claire?"Lily asked. She was standing up again. This wasn't supposed to happen. We had to untie Lily...
"Claire no!"Gerard screamed as suddenly Dean was up again somehow, grabbing at her. He grinned maliciously at us all as he picked her up and flung her over his shoulder. Claire was laughing. Then Gerard and Lily joined in. I screamed at how mad everyone had gone. What was happening?

I awoke with a start, covered in sweat with the blankets twisted around my feet.
"Frank you okay?"Lily asked from her bed. The curtains were half open and she was reading a book.
"Uh..."I took in a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. It was a dream. Just a stupid fucking twisted nightmare.
"Frank whatever it was its gone... Just a dream. It cant get you here."Lily whispered to me. I looked around the room for a source of the time.
"It's close to 11."Lily read my mind. I nodded and slowly swung my legs out of bed.

I wanted to go see Mikey about something today but I couldnt remember what..."Jesus what the hell happened last night? Was that all a dream too?"I rubbed at my face as flashes of Lily tied up entered my mind.
"You mean with Cole kidnapping me and whatnot? No that was real."
"Fuck Mikey!"I yelled as it hit me. I had to warn him.

"Whats going on?"Lily put her book down and looked at me curiously.
"I uh I need to warn Mikey shit!"I started running around the room, throwing whatever clothes I could find on.
"You cant go out for at least another half hour."Lily picked up her book again and relaxed into her bed. How was it possible for her to relax?
"What? Why?"
"Everyone has been snowed in. Taylor is shovelling us out now."

"Oh..."I slowed down but didnt stop completely.
"Yeah... You may as well just stay here for a little bit."
"But Mikey-"
"Has been snowed in as well as Cole. And, Lewis said that Cole likes to plan these things. So its fine. Just relax."
"Lily you are the weirdest thing ever."I sighed,"I dont know how you can relax after last night."

"Hey. Its christmas eve. Can you blame me?"Lily grinned slightly. Fuck was it really christmas eve?
"Shit. That was fast."I mumbled and fell down onto my bed.
"I know. Now shush. Lily's reading time."

I lay in silence as Lily turned a page almost every minute. She was a really fast reader. I stared up at the ceiling when a thought hit me.
"Lily... What if Cole already had the plan? He said it himself that he was about to kidnap Mikey but then I turned up. Fuck. Nothing would be more horrible than them killing Mikey on christmas eve and then bringing Gerard a little christmas present. For fucks sake!"I shouted at myself for not realising this sooner,"I'll see you later Lily."I called as I skidded out of the room and down to the bottom floor.

Taylor was there, digging us out. The snow reached just around my belly. Fucking hell.
"Hey Frank. You can get out if I give you a lift."Taylor grinned and put his shovel down.
"Yes please."I smiled and moved forward, stepping onto his palm. I pushed down the fear of him dropping me onto the corner of the stairs and climbed out onto the snow. It was so thick I barely sunk to my thighs.

"Fuck."I puffed out as I battled with the snow. It was soaking into my jeans and making me shiver. As soon as I got to the actual footpath it was clear again. Cars were buried here and there but the road was clear. This would have been a perfect time for a snowball fight with Lily. I smiled as I recalled a certain christmas day with her and Claire. We didnt have any gloves or scarves but we still went out and made snow angels, had fights and made snowmen. It had been the best christmas ever. I giggled as I remembered Mrs Macy yelling at us for ruining our clothes and for catching colds. It had all been worth it though.

I rounded a corner and arrived at Petes house. I walked up to the door and knocked hard.
"Hello? May I help you?"A woman almost the same height as me opened the door and looked down at me angrily. I probably shouldnt have been here on christmas eve. For all I knew they were having a family day. Mikey might not even be here.

"Young man I asked you a question."She glared as I realised that I had stayed silent for too long.
"Uh sorry m'am. Is Mikey in?"I asked hopefully.
"Pete?! Mikey?! One of your boyfriends is here!"She yelled over her shoulder,"They'll be right out."She smiled down at me, suddenly friendly knowing that I was a friend of Mikey's and Petes.

"Frank?"Mikey came wandering out into the hall wearing boxers and a loose plain t-shirt. Pete followed close behind wearing a pair of long pyjama bottoms and nothing else.
"Hey uh- I hope i'm not intrerrupting anything."I said as I eyed the half boner in Pete's pants.
"Well actually you we-"
"No no its fine come on."Mikey opened the door wider as he cut over Pete.

As soon as we were inside Pete's room, Pete standing in a corner looking grumpy and Mikey sitting on the bed with his legs crossed, I started spilling my guts. About fucking everything.
"Oh Frank."Mikey gushed as he came over to me to hug me tightly. I held him back, closing my eyes in an attempt to keep the tears in. It didnt work. They streaked down my cheeks silently.

"Frank you shouldnt have excluded yourself like that. We needed you."Mikey siad quietly as we sat down on the bed together. Pete came and sat on my other side.
"And as for Cole... He isnt allowed out on christmas eve, christmas day and boxing day. His family rule. They have some weird tradition thing. So Mikey's good til then. And it doesnt matter because he isnt going to get to Mikey. Not if I can fucking help it."Pete growled to himself.

I had no fucking idea what I had been scared of. Actually talking to Mikey had been great.
"Frank you dont have to worry. I may be extremely skinny but I can still kick ass."Mikey chuckled as Pete rolled his eyes.
"Thanks guys... I'm sorry."I looked down at my hands. I was such a fucking doofus,"I'm such a fucking doofus."I laughed.
"That you are."Pete giggled. I looked at him and caught him staring at my scorpian tattoo.

"Okay well... I guess I'll go back to the house. Hey... Can we all get together tomorrow? Me, you two, Bob, Ray and Lily? We could all go see Gerard. So I can give him his present."
"That sounds good."Pete smiled,"In the afternoon though or my mum will kill me."
"Yeah that does sound good. I'll text the guys."Mikey smiled.
"Okay cool just uh... I'm going to see Gerard at like half 3? Is that okay?"
"Perfect."Pete nodded as I stood up.

"Okay uh... Bye guys. "I smiled and awkwardly waved at them as I walked out their door. I closed it quietly behind me and was about to walk down the hall towards the front door but stumbled over nothing. I turned around slowly and stared at Gerard's closed door. I wasnt sure if I should go in... If I could go in... Next thing I knew I was creeping down the hall and was slowly opening it.

I fell to my knees as a wave of fucking Gerard hit me. Fuck it hurt. I needed him back. I took a deep breath and got back up to survery the room. His guitar was in its stand in a corner. Books were falling out of a small bookcase. His bed was still unmade and caused a trip down memory lane. I closed my eyes at the memory of that day. The feel of his skin. His hair flying everywhere. The desire in his eyes. Fucking everything...

I opened my eyes and found that I was crying on his bed. Fuck I was a baby.
"Frank?"Someone said quietly. My head snapped up to see Mikey in the doorway.
"Uh hey I was just-"
"Shh its okay. I know."Mikey whispered and came to sit next to me. He put his arm around me so I rested my head on his shoulder, letting the tears fall freely. It was a little while before they stopped.

When Mikey and I seperated I saw that he had been crying as well.
"That is the first time I've cried on christmas eve since the first christmas eve after mum was- afer she died."Mikey sniffed and dried his face. I did the same and stood up."Take something. A piece of his clothing or something. I have one of his hoodies that I wear to bed."Mikey stood up as well as I scanned the room. I knew exactly what I wanted but I had no idea where it would be.

"Where is his uh Green Day hoodie?"I asked Mikey as I went over to Gerard's closet.
"In there probably. I doubt its clean though..."Mikey laughed slightly.
"Probably not."I giggled as I noted the state of his room. Clothes littered the floor along with a couple of cigarette butts and empty coke cans and something else. Something I had been itching to see ever since Cole had mentioned it last night.

I leant down and picked up the small sketchbook.
"Frank dont-"Mikey started to say but it was too late. I was already staring at the first drawing. It was a drawing of his mum. I didnt know what was so wrong with it. It was just his mother hanging from a rope in the tree. But then I saw it. Saw him. This drawing cant have been old. Because Dean was in the background grinning as he stared up at Gerard's mum.

I turned the page and found another one of his mother. Only instead of her drowning herself like one I had seen in school, she was being held under the water. By Dean.
"Frank that is the one sketchbook Gerard doesnt let anyone see. Not Mr Stump, not me and I dont think he would even show you. Its where he pours out the emotions he hides. Frank please dont look anymore."Mikey said. He looked like he was resisting the urge to get up and look himself.

I took one last look at the horrible yet beautiful drawing and snapped it shut.
"How many drawings are in there? Do you know?"I asked Mikey shakily. I didnt want to search through the drawings of his mother to find mine. Not one little bit.
"Its full. Completely full. He was going to buy another one before he- yeah."Mikey found it difficult to say certain things it seemed.
"Oh..."I sighed and went to open the closet. His Green Day hoodie was the first thing I saw. I smiled and grabbed it. I brought it to my nose and breathed in deeply. The smell of Gerard was so strong I was almost overwhelmed.

I slid off my jacket and pulled his hoodie on. It was a little too big on me but when I wrapped my arms around myself and closed my eyes it almost felt like Gerard was hugging me. It was perfect.
"Okay I'm ready to go now."I smiled at Mikey. He stood up and nodded at me.

-time lapse-

"Lily stop it. I'm not gonna look."I grumbled at her for what felt like the 50th time. She kept telling me to just look through the drawings. Only cause she wanted to see them herself.
"He wont know though. Its not gonna make a difference Frank."Lily pleaded. I shook my head at her and buried my head in my book.

"You are no fun Frank. You suck."Lily sighed. I hid my smile as she continued reading her book. I had been back for almost an hour and as soon as I had told her about the sketchbook she hadnt stopped trying to get me to look through it. Steven was out rounding up everyone's friends in a minivan we hadnt even known existed. Apparently a lot of people here had friends still stuck at other orphanages. The best was that Steven was picking up Claire. She was going to be here for christmas day.

I closed my book and sighed. Something was niggling me in the back of my mind. But I couldnt figure out what it was. It was something to do with my nightmare.
"Lily... Do remember... I dont actually know what... Nevermind."I sighed and picked up my book again. I tried to read but I couldnt. I started pacing around the room trying to figure out what the fuck was wrong but stopped when Lily yelled at me.

"Frank you are making me nervous for no reason. Go pace around downstairs."
"Fine."I muttered and made my way downstairs. It was quiet downstairs. People were out with friends or in their rooms. I sat down and turned the tv on. All that was on was a Friends episode, infomercials and some prayer shit thing. I settled for an episode of Friends but soon got bored of it. I switched off the telly and got up to start pacing when Steven walked in the door followed by about 10 other kids of all ages.

"Claire!"I yelled happily as I spotted her holding hands with Steven at the front.
"Frankie!"She screeched and ran over to me. I grabbed her under the arms and swung her around.
"Hey kiddo."I smiled as she immediately started playing with my nose ring.
"Hi Frankie."She giggled.

"Wanna go annoy Lily?"I raised an eyebrow at her joyful face. She nodded eagerly so I rushed past the slow walking kids straight to the top floor. I stopped outside our door and put Claire down,"What I want you to do is burst into the room screaming. It will scare the shit out of her."
"Kay."Claire giggled again. I nodded to her and she went racing in, slamming the door on the wall as she went.

I started laughing as I heard Lily scream as well.
"Claire! Dont you ever do that again!"Lily shouted as I walked in,"You put her up to this didnt you?"She glared up at me. I was still laughing hard so I just nodded. But then my eyes spotted something on the floor next to her.

Lily spotted what I was looking at and quickly shoved it under her bed. And it came sliding out the other side to hit my feet.
"Shit... Frank I-"
"Lily I cant believe you looked at it!"I shouted as I grabbed Gerard's sketchbook from the floor.
"Frank I'm sorry okay I just- curiosity killed the cat... I'm more curious than you are Frank."Lily looked down at her hands as Claire moved behind her and started messing around with her hair.

"Fuck Lily. That is no excuse! You have no right to go looking through this!"I screeched. I glared at her before storming out of the room, making sure to grab Gerard's bag along the way.
"Frank wait!"Lily called behind me but I ignored her. I charged down to the next floor and faltered. I could hear music. Filtering quietly from underneath one of the doors. I listened harder and I could hear soft singing over the top of that.

I started walking along the landing, my ears perked for whoever was playing the music. I stopped at the last door and realised it was coming from inside. Of course it would be the one at the end of the fucking hall. I knocked quietly on the door and waited. There was no answer. I knew I recognised the voice that was singing and wanted to find out why. I knocked again, harder this time, and succeeded. The music and singing stopped. There was a few seconds before the door opened and the guy smiled at me.

"Brendon!"I gasped. I dont know why though. I wasnt exactly shocked to see him. But I still acted like I was.
"Haha hey Frank. What are you doing here?"Brendon asked me happily, opening the door wider to invite me in.
"Hey uh... I just um. I was going downstairs and I heard the music and thought I would see who it was. I knew I recognised the voice."I smiled as I walked in and sat down on the bed, placing Gerard's sketchbook and bag on the floor. Ryan was sitting on a chair by the window with a guitar in his hands.

"Hey Ryan."I smiled.
"Hey Frank. Whats up?"He saluted me and went back to picking something out quietly. I spotted Brendon's acoustic guitar lying discarded on the ground next to his bed.
"What were you guys playing?"I asked as Brendon came and sat next to me and resumed his playing. It wasnt anything I recognised at all.

Brendons room had two beds in it but one of them didn't look slept in at all. The window was across from the door with the beds forming obstacles to get to it in the middle. A wardrobe stood at the wall to the left of the door and it was wide open, clothes spilling out everywhere.

"Uh... Just something Ryan wrote for me a week ago."Brendon smiled more to himself than to anyone else. I special and personal smile. I looked over at Ryan and saw that even though he was focused on whatever he was playing, there was a small smile on his face.
"Can I hear it?"
"Sure. It's not finished yet so sorry for any fuck ups."Ryan was up and moving to sit next to Brendon.

Brendon started strumming out a soft melody that immediately made me feel relaxed and happy.
"If all our life was but a dream. Fantastic posing greed and we should feed our jewelry to the sea... For diamonds do appear to be... Just like broken glass to me."
"This is where I want piano."Ryan whisped before Brendon started singing again.
"And then she said she cant believe. Genius only comes along in storms of fabled foriegn tongue. Tripping eyes and flooded lungs... The northern downpour sends its love."

"Thats the title, Northern Downpour."Ryan smiled as he started playing something to accompany Brendon making the whole song sound complete. I could almost hear the piano that Ryan wanted.
Brendon winked at Ryan and then started singing again,"Hey moon, please forget to fall down... Hey moon, dont you go down."

"Drums- sugar cane in, the easy morning, one of is my... One and lonely."Ryan started singing as well. It was literally the best thing I had ever heard. I sat back against Brendon's pillow and fell into the flow of the music.
"The ink is running towards the page... Oh fuck..."Brendon stopped playing and blushed insanely.
"What? What happened?"Ryan looked up at him. There was a glitter in his eyes with the way he looked at Brendon. The same way I had seen Pete look at Mikey. The same way I had seen Gerard look at me. That boys got it bad for Brendon.

"I uh... I forgot the lyrics I'm sorry."Brendon blushed an even darker shade of red. Darker than I had ever fucking been.
"Dude it's okay. Just- we just need to practice. Thats what this is for."Ryan smiled, the glitter in his eyes seeming to grow.
"Kay... So what did you think Frank? Did you like it?"Brendon tore his eyes away from Ryan and cleared his throat.

"Um... I dont really like it..."I looked at them awkwardly. Ryan's face fell until I grinned and said,"I fucking love it."
"Dude dont fucking do that!"Brendon sighed, relief flooding his face.
"Seriously guys, you need to find the rest of your band."I grinned.
"Yeah we're working on it."Ryan smiled and flicked hair out of his face which, in a totally non-stalker-starer-crushing-cheating kind of way, was really hot.

"You guys ever been to The Magic Bean?"I asked them, trying to get that thought out of my head.
"Never been. Heard of it though. Pete told me to go one night."Brendon ran his hands through his hair and put his guitar aside.
"I know this band. Not sure what their name is but they have a drummer and a guitarist/singer. They're missing half a band."I grinned as Ryan's face lit up.
"What are their names?"Brendon asked quietly, not looking at anyone.
"Uh Jon and Spencer? I think. Could be wrong."I informed him. Brendon clenched his eyes shut and shook his head.

"Sorry. Spencer and I used to be friends but we had a fight."Brendon looked out the window. Half of it was obscured by snow so from where I was sitting I could only see the sky.
"Brendon... This could be the one chance we get. We might not find anyone else."Ryan moved closer to Brendon and took his hands in his own. Brendon looked into Ryan's eyes and sighed. Ryan closed his eyes and Brendons breath fluttered his hair.

"Please Bren?"Ryan whispered. He sounded so cut up about it all. I felt so awkward and almost felt rude by just sitting here while they had their moment.
"Fine."Brendon smiled slightly as Ryan grinned and jumped up.
"Awesome! Frank, do you have any way to contact them? Or do you just know them from the beany place?"Ryan was suddenly the most energetic I had ever seen him. Holy fuck.

"I uh just know them from The Bean. The place is closed today, tomorrow and boxing day though so you cant do anything about it til a few days away."I laughed at his happiness. Brendon was smiling as well.
"Oh okay cool. We can wait."Ryan bounced about the room. It looked like he might explode if he had to wait any longer though.
"I'm going to go um... I'll just go."I said as I got up,"Keep practising okay? I wanna hear the whole thing properly."I smiled as they waved to me.

I closed the door behind me and stared down the hallway to the top of the stairs.
"Fuck."I mumbled as I realised I had left Gerard's stuff inside. I turned around and knocked on the door. I heard one of them sigh angrily and get up noisily from one of the beds. The door opened and Brendon altered his pissed off face to a tight smile.
"I forgot my uh... Stuff."I mumbled. My eyes darted down to Brendons lips. He must have seen me do that because he licked them and opened the door wider.

Ryan was spread out on the bed looking... Flushed. And his hair was ruffled majorly. I blushed as I grabbed Gerard's things without a word.
"Thanks guys. Sorry."I muttered as Brendon slammed the door behind me. Jesus.

"Frank what were you doing?"Sarah suddenly appeared in front of me. I hadnt spoken to her in a while and felt bad for that. But she had just accepted it, thinking it was to do with Gerard. Which I guess it was. Since Gerard was taken away I had barely spoken to anyobdy.
"Uh hey Sarah I was just talking to Brendon and Ryan."I smiled.
"Ryans in there? I need to talk to him."Sarah looked down at her watch and spotted the things in my hands.

"Isn't that Gerard's bag?"She said as she eyed it.
"Yeah. I got it from his car so I can give him his sketchbook and pencils. To stop him from going insane."I smiled. She nodded and glanced at her watch again.
"Where are you going then? Wanna grab some lunch with me?"
"Fuck is it lunchtime already?"
"Dude its half 1. Where have you been?"Sarah laughed and started walking towards the stairs.
"I have no fucking idea."I mumbled as we made our way downstairs.

"Yo! Tay-Tay!"Sarah yelled as we walked into the kitchen. Sometimes I felt like Taylor just spent every moment of his life in this kitchen. I barely saw him anywhere else.
"Yo! Sar-Sar!"Taylor boomed and grabbed her in a hug. Weird.
"Wassup Frank?"Taylor smiled at me as he put Sarah down.
"Hey... Any chance of some lunch?"I asked hopefully as I realised just how fucking hungry I was. It was about time I had a proper meal.

"Sure thang chicken wang."Taylor moved over to the large fridge and opened it. He started rummaging around,"You guys go sit I'll bring it in for you."Taylor called over his shoulder. Sarah and I went and sat down at the dining table. We were chatting about nothing in particular when I realised where I was sitting. Where Gerard usually sat. I looked down and realised my fingers were tracing the carving Gerard had made. I couldnt put together what it was until I managed to make out the long flowing hair and the look of pain on her face.

"Holy shit."I mumbled and stopped touching it immediately.
"What?"Sarah leaned over the table and tilted her head to look at it,"What is it of? I dont see it."Sarah sat back down with a huff,
"Its just a- a woman."I muttered and looked to the door.
"Frank can I please talk to you?Lily asked quietly. Claire was tracing patterns on her leg but when she saw me she came running to me.

"Frankie can I play with you?"She asked sweetly. Any other kid would have meant to play with toys or whatever. I was certain that Claire was possibly the only child in existence to mean air guitar.
"Of course you can sweetie. but first we have to eat lunch."I smiled and picked her up. I sat her down next to me and looked back to Lily.
"Frank please."Lily sighed.

I nodded and turned to Sarah,"Can you just- watch her? Make sure she doesn't leave this room?"
"Yeah yeah of course. Go."Sarah smiled.
"I wont be a minute Claire."I squeezed her shoulder lightly before following Lily out of the room and into the entryway.
"Frank I know I had no right to and that it was a terrible thing to do but- I really think there is something you should see in there."Lily said quietly. The look in her eyes scared me.

"Lily I dont want-"
"I know you dont want to but I think you need to."Lily said seriously. I looked back at Claire and Sarah. Sarah was smiling at a frowning Claire.
"Whatever it is you want me to see... Thats all I want to see. Nothing else okay?"I asked as I walked to grab the sketchbook from the seat next to where I had been sitting.
"Absolutely. I'll find it for you."Lily trailed me like a dog to its master.

We went back out into the entryway and I waited as Lily flicked through the book, barely glancing at some until she reached close to the back and slowed down. Then she stopped. I took the book from her and stared down at the drawing and tried to take in what I was seeing. It was set out like a comic.

First panel:

A boy with dirty long black hair lay on a bunk in a prison cell. Above him was another boy of about the same age. The boy above's speech bubble said,"Come on, it's christmas day. Go see him."
The boy below's speech bubble said,"No. It will just make things worse."

Second panel:

The boy above sighs as an intercom on the wall beeps and says,"John, your mother is here for a visit."

Third panel:

The boy named John gets down from his bunk and leaves the boy with long hair alone.

Fourth panel:

The boy with long hair sighs as the intercom beeps again and says,"Gerard, your boyfriend is here with some friends of yours to see you."

Fifth panel:

The boy named Gerard gets up but instead of leaving grabs something from underneath the thin mattress.

Sixth panel:

Gerard holds up a long piece of bedding, ripped from something, and stares at it.

Seventh panel:

Gerard sits down and starts making something with the rope.

Eighth panel:

Gerard holds up a noose and ties it to the bed above him.

Ninth panel:

Gerard sighs and whispers,"I love you Frank."

Tenth panel:

Gerard's legs fall out from beneath him and he hangs himself.

I let everything sink in before Lily suddenly took it away from me and closed it.
"Frank-"
"Oh fuck. Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck."I started shaking and breathing hard and pacing.
"Frank its going to be okay."Lily grabbed me by the shoulders to stop me moving.
"Lily! How the fuck can you say its going to be okay?! When I spoke to him last week he told me not to visit him at all this week. He is in a terrible state Lily I can tell. I'll bet if Mikey saw him he would say the same!"

"Frank please just calm down I-"Lily stopped talking as Claire started crying loudly in the next room.
"Claire?! Whats wrong?"I rushed in to see Sarah looking shocked and scared and Claire sobbing her eyes out.
"Frank I- I dont know what I did she just burst into tears!"Sarah was so confused it was hilarious.

"Claire whats wrong?"I asked and sat down next to her, trying to stop her from crying.
"I dont want to Frankie she was gonna paint my nails I dont want her to!"Claire sobbed. Oh my fucking god.
"Oh Claire you silly girl. If you dont want her to paint your nails she wont."I smiled and pulled her into a hug,"Dont worry Sarah she's just- more of a... rocker almost like a guy but not quite... type of girl."I laughed at my description of her.

"Oh thank god! I thought something bad had happened."Sarah laughed as Lily came and sat on the other side of Claire, sitting Gerard's sketchbook on the table. As soon as I looked at it I remembered the comic and the fear returned.
"Claire I have to go. You stay here with Lily and Sarah though okay?"I said as I kissed her on the cheek before snatching the sketchbook away from Lily. She sent me a pleading look as I waved to them and left.