15. The Locket

Naima waited for the crowd to dwindle before she approached Mr Chevrolet, who had just finished signing on Lin's sneakers.

Silly girl, Naima thought of Lin as she approached him, nervous all of a sudden.

'Hi there,' he said and flashed a smile.

'Hi.' She let out a deep breath she didn't know she was holding. 'I was wondering if you could sign in my autograph book,' she said at the same time unzipping her backpack for the big book.

'Sure thing, you've got a book for autographs?' He sounded surprised.

'Yes.' She blinked. 'Is it not okay?'

'No, no, sounds . . . sensible, actually.'

'Thanks.' She handed him the book and he signed on the front page and then a blank page.

'Do you want anywhere else?'

'Yes! On my sketchbook . . .' She broke off, knowing she'd said something she shouldn't have. 'Oh, never mind,' she muttered.

'I heard alright, Ms Allendale,' Channing said. 'Bring it out.'

'It's not here,' she said softly, he almost didn't catch it.

'You could get your dad to stop by anytime