"Do you remember this place at all?" My social worker, Tanya, asked. I shrugged, looking up at Elmtree House.

"They all look the same."

It looked familiar but I couldn't place it. Don't get me wrong, it looked nice but I hated starting anew, though I probably should be used to it by now.

I should probably get a few things straight, my name is Arielle Cleary, I'm 15 and I'm from Kent. I got put into care 4 years ago when my mother died of cancer. I had never known my father and my older sister was travelling the world with that douche-bag of a boyfriend. He had cheated on her countless times but she took him back every time. For the first year of care after my Mum died, I had gone through about 6 care homes. I usually got into fights with the other kids or I broke the rules. I'm not a mean, violent girl but those kids were asking for it. After that, I finally settled down in a care home, which was really nice and I made alot of friends. Especially, Liam and Frank. I was there for about two years until I got fostered last year. The family seemed nice and very rich. They had an annoying, bratty kid called Henry who was 8. They spoiled him rotten and he was such a little brat. With me, they just bought me a ton of stuff to buy the love they never showed me.

Last week, I may of 'accidently' pushed Henry into a duck pond which barely came up to his waist but of course, he made a big deal out of it and they rang social services and well...here I am.

I have straight, auburn hair that goes down to my ribcage and bright green eyes.

"You could've worn some different clothes," Tanya said, giving me a disapproving look. I rolled my eyes and scowled at her whilst she rang the doorbell. I was wearing a black tank top, red leopard print skinny jeans and black converse. I was wearing red heart earrings with a matching necklace and my hair was tied in a side plait.

"What's wrong with this?" I said defensively, gesturing to my clothes.

"Alot," She muttered very quietly but I still heard her.

At that moment, the door opened to reveal a young woman with straight black hair and was wearing a black jumper with a purple t-shirt underneath.

"Hi, how can I help you?" She said with a warm smile.

"Hello, I've got your new girl here, Arielle Cleary." Tanya said.

"Of course, come in." The woman said, opening the door wider. We stepped inside and I instantly remembered this place, this was where I had lived before I was fostered. That meant all my friends were here!

The girl with dark hair led us through the hall and into an office.

"Mike, Gina, Arielle's here." She said to a man and woman who I instantly remembered.

Mike and Gina both smiled at me before Mike spoke, "Welcome back Ari,"

I grinned as I remembered who lived her. Liam, Frank, Carmen, Tee, Lily, Poppy, Rosie, Johnny, Gus, Toby, Sapphire and little Harry.

"Good to be back Mike," I laughed, "So, have I still got my old room?"

"Yep, but not everyone you remember will be here." Mike said, biting his lip.

I frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Well, Poppy and Rosie have been fostered, so has Toby and Lily is now living with Cam, and Sapphire moved out, and we've got another new girl." Gina said. Saph was gone? She had been one of my best friends when I was here before.

"Who's Cam?" I asked.

"My foster Mum, I was in care when I was younger and now I'm a care worker here. Cam fostered Lily." The woman with dark hair said. I had almost forgotten that she was there.

"And you are?" I said, not rudely.

"Tracy Beaker." She said, putting her hand out. I shook it before turning back to Mike and Gina.

"So, who's this new girl?" I said, raising an eyebrow.

"Her name is Elecktra; she came here a month or two after you left." Gina said.

"Hmm, I would ask what she's like but I'll find out for myself later," I said, "I'll be unpacking in my room."

I grabbed my suitcase and rucksack from the hall and trudged upstairs. I went left, down the hall and went to my old room. It was just how I had left it. I threw my stuff on my bed and started to unpack when I heard voices.

"Who is she?"

"What's she like?"

"Where is she?"

I could hear all the voices shouting at Mike downstairs. I heard him chuckle before he replied.

"She's in Arielle's old room; you can all go up there now."

I heard a load of feet running up the stairs but I still heard someone.

"Wait, Ari's old room? Why is she in there? What if Ari comes back? She can't be in there!" I heard a familiar voice, angrily exclaim.

"Liam, just go up there. You'll like her, I promise." Mike sighed,

"I won't if she's in Ari's room, but come on Frank." He said, still angry as I heard him trudge up the stairs with Frank behind him.

There was a knock at my door and I smirked as I knew who it was. I opened it and saw a sea of faces looking at me.

"Ari?" Tee squealed. I nodded with a grin before she launched herself at me.

"Ari!" Carmen and Harry chorused happily before hugging me. I put Tee down to pick up Harry and I laughed when I saw he still had Jeff.

"I can't believe you're back!" Johnny exclaimed, he wasn't a hugger so I did my special handshake we made up before I left.

"You are still Arielle Cleary, correct?" Gus asked, notebook open and in his hand as his pen hovered above the paper.

"Correct, Gus Carmichael." I said as I put my free arm around Carmen and Tee who were clinging to my waist.

"Are you back to stay?" He said, just as serious as ever.

"That I am."

It was then that I saw a girl about my age standing against the wall with brown hair and electric blue streaks. She didn't look excited, just curious and I couldn't blame her.

"You must be Elecktra, Hi, I'm Arielle." I said, sticking my hand out for her to shake. She studied my hand for a moment as if she thought there was an electric buzzer on it before she shook it.

After we released hands, she quickly walked back down the hall. I heard Liam complain as she bumped into him and I stuck my head out and looked down at him and Frank.

"Hey Liam, Hey Frank." I grinned. Both of the boy's jaws dropped to the floor when they saw me and I gave a little wave. I went back into my room and sat down on the bed, Harry on my lap and Tee and Carmen on my left. Johnny and Gus stood opposite me, leaning against the wall.

"How are you and Jeff, Harry?" I asked the blue eyed boy who made my heart melt. He was just so adorable.

"We missed you, didn't we Jeff?" He said, turning to Jeff and making the giraffe nod. Just then, Liam and Frank entered, still looking gobsmacked.

I got up and put Harry on my bed. I walked over to the boys who still were speechless.

"What, no hug?" I smirked, holding my arms out. Frank pulled me into a hug and smiled. As I pulled away, I looked at Liam. He suddenly pulled me into a bone crushing hug which pretty much cut off my airways. I hugged him back tightly and I heard Carmen and Tee go 'oooooh'.

"Shut up you two," Liam said as I rested my head on his shoulder. It felt nice; I had missed his hugs. Neither of us let go for a few moments until I decided I should probably pull away or else the other kids will start assuming stuff. "Good to have you back Ari, we all missed you." He smiled. I smiled back before going back to my bed.

"So, why are you back?" Tee asked.

I sighed as I starting putting my stuff away from my suitcase.

"I may have 'accidently' pushed that brat, Henry, into a duckpond." I smirked. "It barely went up to his waist but he claimed he was drowning." I snorted.

They erupted into laughs and cheers as I finished unpacking my suitcase.

"Still the same Ari," Liam laughed.

I smirked. "So, they rang my social worker and, ta-da, here I am."

I shoved the empty suitcase under my bag and started on my rucksack.

"So, has anyone stayed in here since I left?"

"Elecktra was originally supposed to have this room but Liam threw a fit and Mike changed his mind." Tee said.

I turned my gaze on Liam and he shrugged; a smirk on his face.

"I knew you'd be back."

I rolled my eyes with a grin and put the last of my things away.

"As great as it is to see you all, I really need to shower."

They all got up and left but not before telling me how happy they were that I was back. Except from Liam. He didn't leave; he just sat on the end of my bed, so I sat down next to him.

"I missed you," He said suddenly.

"I missed you too," I said, as he slung his arm around my shoulder.

"So, what have you been doing since I've been gone?"

He shrugged. "Not much, this and that."

I raised an eyebrow at him and stood up. I got a towel, my washbag and some clothes out of the wardrobe and turned back to Liam.

"You planning on leaving any time soon?"

"You always were one to beat around the bush." He laughed.

"Just be gone by the time I get back from the bathroom." I smirked as I walked out of my room.

"No promises," Liam yelled to me. I smirked as I went into the girl's bathroom. I locked the door and took my toothbrush out of my washbag and then put it with the others. I then put my washbag on the shelf and starting running the water for my shower.

When it was warm enough, I stripped down and jumped in the shower.

When I was done, I got dressed again and walked back to my room where luckily, Liam had left. I grabbed my phone and iPod and went into the hall. I went past Carmen's room but stopped when I heard my name being mentioned.

"So, what's the deal between Liam and Arielle?" I heard a voice say.

"They've been best friends for ages, and they flirt without realising it. Before she left, everyone thought they would get together, even Gina and Mike thought they were having a secret relationship." I heard Carmen say. "Everyone knows that they both like each other except them."

I frowned and started walking downstairs. What was that supposed to mean? I went into the lounge and saw Frank and Liam playing pool whilst Tee was sitting on the floor by the sofa, drawing. I went over behind her and leaned over her shoulder.

"That's really good Tee." I smiled, looking at the picture she had drawn of the house.

"Thanks," She grinned, looking up at me. I ruffled her hair and left her to finish her drawing. I walked over to the boys and perched on the window ledge, watching as Liam took his shot. He potted one and did a victory dance which made me burst out laughing.

"You wanna go, Ari?" Frank asked.

"Sure," I said. Frank passed me his cue and I aimed up. Just as I was about to take my shot, Liam squeezed my hips hard and I squealed, jumping out of my skin.

"Liam!" I complained, hitting him lightly with my cue. He and Frank erupted into laughs and I glared at them both. For that, I picked up the cue ball and put it in my pocket and walked out. They hadn't even noticed I had taken the ball. I walked into the kitchen and saw Tracy doing some lunch.

"Hey, what was all the laughing about?" She asked.

"Liam was being an idiot," I shrugged, getting a drink.

"Why am I not surprised?" Tracy laughed.

I smirked. "Do you need any help?"

"Thanks, you can butter the bread whilst I'm doing the soup." She said with a smile. I started doing the bread when Tracy spoke again.

"So...what's going on between you and Liam?" I almost choked on my drink.

"Excuse me?"

"It's just that you two are very close and sometimes you both act as if you're a couple..."

I laughed. "There is nothing going on between me and Liam, really."

"ARI! WHERE IS THE CUE BALL?" I heard Liam's voice yell from the lounge.

"Speak of the devil..." I laughed

...

A/N: So, that was the first chapter, what did you think? What do you think of Ari and Liam? Oooooooh! ;)

So, if you guys like it and review, I'll continue, if not, I won't. And any suggestions will be appreciated!

Lauren

x

PS: I own nothing apart from Arielle.