Okay, here it goes, the first chapter. I'll keep this intro short and sweet so you can read it right away. Reviews are appreciated:)

She walked casually along the graveyard, not appearing as if she had any desire at all to follow her brother, Charlie, up to these strangers. Okay, she knew Jerry, one of her mother's adopted sons. He was black and the second oldest of four boys she had taken in from the foster care system. The girl didn't necessarily like Jerry and she was pretty sure he wasn't fond of her either. Especially after their first meeting.

Flashback

"Elizabeth!" Charlie hissed from the family room. "What?" She replied coming to the doorway of the kitchen, not really interested. "Someone's at the door and trying to get in!" Charlie was in a panic. "Chill, it's probably Evelyn." Elizabeth replied coolly. They had only been there for a week, and Elizabeth had no intentions yet of calling this lady her 'mother'. "No! She's upstairs. Came home hours ago. Don't you pay attention?" Charlie said a little louder than a whisper. "You're starting to sound like my teachers." Elizabeth joked. But her mood changed as the door actually began to open. She placed herself between her brother and the attacker, grabbing the lamp off the coffee table. As the intruder came into the house Elizabeth chucked the vase as hard as she could, hitting the man in the shoulder. "What the hell!" The man screamed. "Mom!" Charlie cried out. "What are you punks doing here?" The man asked angrily. "Get out before I call the police." "Go ahead, I'd love to see that!" Elizabeth shouted, prepared to fight this male who was MUCH bigger than she was. Just then Evelyn had come down the stairs, quickly breaking up the impending fight or police calls, and explaining that this was her son Jerimiah, and tan explaining to Jerimiah that she had taken in two foster kids. She sent Charlie and Elizabeth to bed so she could talk with Jerry, but Elizabeth, never one to listen, hung around near the stairs. Even though Evelyn and Jerry were in the kitchen, Elizabeth was used to listening in on people who were talking about her, and she understood every word.

Jerry thought Evelyn was too old to deal with more delinquents and that she needed to relax, let someone else have the kids. "Typical" thought Elizabeth. Already someone wants to get rid of me. She was used to it, and she had lasted a week, so considered it a pretty good run. "Liz?" Came her brother's voice. She looked at the brown haired, brown eyed face that appeared around the doorway of his room. "I like this place." He said simply. "Can we at least try to be good this time?" Liz sighed…it was always her fault they got kicked out. Always getting into fights, talking back, or setting a household object on fire. She had already gotten suspended from school, an act she was sure would make the old lady get rid of them, but it didn't work. "Okay, but no promises." Liz agreed, knowing that trouble would find her even if she wasn't looking…

End Flashback

Somehow, through all the trouble that had located her, Evelyn was always on her side and always accepting of her. Elizabeth had come to love the old, white haired angel she soon called her mother. The thought of her mother, whose funeral she was now attending, brought tears to her eyes. But she couldn't cry. She wouldn't give those bastards who shot her mom the privilege and she had to be strong for her brother, like always. "Jerry!" Her brother called out happily. He turned around and smiled at the fifteen year old. "What's up little man?" He asked giving him a hug. Then Jerry looked up to see the straggling Liz. Finally she looked up through her dark brown hair, with a few blond streaks, and her chocolate brown eyes met Jerry's. "How you holding up?" He asked, trying to be civil with her for at least today. Liz just shrugged, staring at the other two guys before her. She had never met them, but felt like she knew them too well. Evelyn loved to tell stories about them and had pictures everywhere. The shorter white one was Bobby, apparently a trouble-maker and bad ass. "I could take him." Liz thought to herself. Then her eyes met the younger, yet tallest of the brothers. Jack. He was white, with the messiest hair Liz thought she'd ever seen, but she wasn't about to say anything. She could see the pain behind his eyes. He was 21, only four years older than her, but somehow, seemed to hold the innocence her brother had. Bobby protected him, Liz thought. Even if Evelyn hadn't told her, she would've known. It was the same with her and Charlie.

Suddenly, Liz felt all eyes on her. She looked up to meet Bobby and Jack's stares and she stared right back. A lot of people she knew looked away when they caught someone looking at them…not her, she challenged their gaze right back. "Who're they?" Bobby questioned Jerimiah. "Ma adopted them, just awhile ago, though she's only had them for three months." Charlie greeted the two men happily giving them quick guy hugs, but Liz hung back, making sure she was out of reach.

"Mercer!" someone yelled from behind the stationary group. All five of them turned around. "Liz Mercer." The man said with a small laugh. "Great my social worker." Muttered Liz. "How many times do I have to tell you, don't run away from me!" he said tired. "I didn't run away." Liz responded lifelessly. "No your right, it was a dead sprint!" said a cold voice, her other social worker.

"Hey Jerry." Luke, the black and nicer of the two social workers said. "Yeah high." Mark added, the white and meaner of the two, always putting Liz down. Luke then asked jerry a favour, "Could you watch these guys for me while I fill out some paperwork?" "Sure." Jerry replied. "We don't need a baby sitter." Liz began to protest. "You're all going in the same direction, and only for an hour if it makes you feel any better Liz." Luke replied tired. Liz was about to protest but caught the look on her brother's face. This was tough enough on everyone, being at their mother's funeral, she didn't need to make it worse…she could be a jerk later. "Fine." She said reluctantly beginning to follow the men. "Have fun with your brothers." Luke called. Liz stiffened. These were NOT her brothers. She didn't even know them, and in an hour, she would never have to see them again, because now she was back in the system. Right back where she started seven years ago…when she was first left on the doorstep of the foster care system…But she was different now. Back then she had hopes and dreams, that her mom and dad would come back for her, that she could learn to like these new people, but her distance from her new 'mothers' from the hope of her old one returning cause them to dislike her. The pain and loneliness in the foster homes hardened her. The abuse broke her. Her purpose became to protect her brother, so that he could live. And now he could, their grandmother was coming to look after him, he could be free. But for his freedom, she would remain trapped in the system. She didn't care though. Only until April and then she was 18 and on her own…if she decided to live that long.

"Are you coming or what?" Charlie asked, sadness beginning to creep into his eyes. "Or what?" She responded lovingly. She laughed. He was the only person she was soft with, and now she would lose him. She would enjoy their hour they had left.

Let me know what you think!