Neil didn't have an answer for that, but he didn't need one. Wymack continued his routine by stepping out into the frigid morning for a walk. Neil watched the front door close behind him, then went back to the couch to wait. The longer he sat there, the more his thoughts started to fuzz at the edges as tiredness crept back in. Finally Neil sank onto his side once more and dozed off. He woke up briefly when Wymack returned but slipped under for a couple more hours' rest.

The next time Neil woke, it was to heavy footsteps on the stairs and Andrew's cheery voice. Neil missed the first half of the conversation, but he gathered from the rest that Andrew was explaining the dire breakfast situation in the house. They hadn't expected to stay in Columbia overnight, so the only groceries they had were the milk and cocoa powder Betsy supplied.

Neil rolled off the couch and went to the doorway. Andrew looked as wired and ready for the day as always. He was dressed in a heavy black turtleneck Neil didn't recognize, presumably a shirt he hadn't packed when he moved to the campus dormitory. The sleeves were too long on him, hanging almost to his knuckles, and easily hid his scarred arms. He couldn't hide the multicolored mess Drake made of his face, though. Drake hadn't won that fight easily.

Neil wasn't the only one who stirred at the noise Andrew was making. The others were drawn like moths to a poisonous flame. The twins' rooms were upstairs on opposite ends of the hall. Nicky's bedroom was downstairs past the stairwell, the room Neil had woken up in his first night in Columbia. That door was open now, and Nicky and Kevin stood in the doorway with Betsy behind them. Betsy didn't look rested, but she at least looked calm. Nicky and Kevin looked like the night had beat them up and left them for dead.

Abby was trying for a brave face as she followed Andrew downstairs, but Neil saw the strain in her smile. Andrew chattered on like he didn't notice. Neil knew he did; Andrew's drugs made him manic, not stupid. Andrew was enjoying making Abby squirm. Andrew lost his train of thought when he spotted Neil in the doorway, though, and he stopped at the base of the stairs to point.

"Oh, Neil is back. We thought perhaps you got lost."

"I'm never lost," Neil said.