The Lost Child

Chapter 5

"Lake, these are excellent!" Ryan praises after he's looked through every single page in the sketchbook, and it's filled from front to back, and he's handed the sketchbook over to Reid for him and the other three to look through together.

Blushing to the tips of my ears at his praise as I shift uncomfortably in my spot on the couch, murmuring; "Thank you, sir, I appreciate your praise."

"I have a friend, Parker, who owns and operates an art gallery," Ryan says with a widening grin. "If you'd like, I can set up a meeting with him to discuss possibly exhibiting some of your drawings in a future showing for Young Artists."

"Really?" I excitedly answer, before collecting myself. "Thank you, but it's not necessary because my stuff isn't good enough to exhibit anywhere."

Ryan's smile falters for a moment before coming back to what it was, but before he can reply, Reid speaks instead; "Lake, it's okay if you want this. You're allowed to want something for yourself that makes you happy. You don't have to suppress what makes you happy for someone else's happiness, or for their approval. Uncle Parker is awesome, and he'll be one-hundred percent honest with you about your drawings, okay?"

Staring at Reid intently, trying to gauge how honest he's being with me, and slowly nod after several seconds because I'm deciding to trust what he's telling me.

"Um, thank you for your honesty, Reid, I appreciate that," I murmur with a tiny smile before turning my attention back to Ryan. "Um, I'd like to speak with him, please, if he's willing to speak with me, and see my drawings."

Ryan grins with a nod; "I'll call him tomorrow, and see when we can set up this meeting for."

"Thank you, and please tell him I said thank you, too," I shyly reply, and Ryan nods in agreement.

"Okay, so what movie are we watching?" Vincent inquires with a grin as he waves the television remote around in his right hand.

They decided on 'The Burning Sea' on Hulu, and I honestly don't care because I wasn't allowed to watch many movies or television shows unless it was something mom and Greg wanted to watch. Reid sits next to me when he came back from the kitchen with bags of chips, and several cans of sodas.

Giving him a weary smile after he's settled down next to me with two cans of soda in his hands. He hands me the grape soda can when he noticed me staring at it briefly when he sat down, and I take it with a shy smile, and a murmured 'thanks'.About halfway through the movie, I feel my eyelids becoming heavier and heavier, and I'm having a difficult time staying awake. My head jerks forward several times before I snap my head back upright, and I rapidly blink to try and wake up.

Reid startles me when he whispers into my ear; "It's okay if you fall asleep, Lake. Nothing bad will happen to you when any of us are with you, I promise. You can lay your head on my shoulder, if you'd like. I'll wake you when it's time for all of us to head for bed."

Leaning forward slightly to place my empty can onto the coffee table, I curl my legs off to the side, snuggling into Reid's side, and place my head on his shoulder. Reid wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me tighter into his side as he throws the blanket from the back of the couch over us. Tilting my head back slightly to smile at him in appreciation, and he returns the smile before I move my head back to its original position.

Once I was comfortable and warm from Reid's body heat and the blanket, my eyes slam shut, and I'm fast asleep quicker than I expected. I guess, I'm starting to believe that they may really want me here, and aren't angry about my being here in their home after all. Starting awake when someone gently shakes my knee, I blearily blink a smiling Reid into focus. Yawning as I slide my legs out in front of me with my arms above my head, trying to wake enough to focus.

"Come on, bud, it's time to head to bed, okay?" Reid gently tells me, holding his hands out toward me with his palms facing upwards.

Placing my hands, palms down on top of his, and we close our hands around each other, and he helps me stand onto my feet. The blanket that was covering us, has been folded, and placed on the back of the couch again. Yawning behind my left palm once Reid and I dropped hands, and I realize that William is still here, and I'm now wondering if he's staying the night, not that it's any of my business.

"Um, is it alright if I go to bed now, or is there anything I need to do before going to sleep?" I nervously ask Ryan.

Ryan assures me that nothing needs to be done before bed, so I bid everyone goodnight, and make my way to my bedroom. Softly closing the door behind me, I grab a pair of boxers, socks, and jammies before heading into the bathroom to quickly shower, dress, and then brush my teeth for the night. Fifteen minutes later, I'm out of the bathroom, and climbing under the covers with a sigh. Lying on my left side, facing the window with the covers pulled up to my chest, and stare out into the dark night.

I'm thankful to be here with my family, but I miss mom and Greg, but yet at the same time, I'm angry at them, along with being sad, slightly depressed, extremely confused, and just over-all feeling overwhelmed about everything. Even though I'm tired, I can't fall asleep as tears begin falling down my cheeks, and onto the pillow.

Stuffing my left fist into my mouth, trying to muffle my crying, and I jump when there's a gentle knock on the bedroom door a second before it opens. The hall light illuminates part of the room, and I can make out Reid entering the room, and shutting the door behind himself. He doesn't say a word as he makes his way over to the bed, climbing in behind me, and settling over the covers and he rubs my arm.