They were sitting in the front garden as Mike watched on from his office. He was angry, yes, but not because of all the fighting. These past few months had fared pretty well for both of the kids. Ryan, in particular, had started to change his ways. He'd stopped being the culprit for most of the problems in the DG and he'd been getting on well with Mina.

Mike didn't fully understand their friendship but he was glad to see Ryan becoming more open and perhaps more caring than he had been. Mina, on the other hand, still remained a mystery. She was nice enough, often helping out with chores and settling disputes between the other kids. Yet her background still remained a mystery.

Mike and May-Li had done their research on her, yet nothing arose. No care homes and no previous legal guardians. This was often the case for babies who'd been left at their doorstep, but Mina was clearly a troubled teenager herself. At some point, she would have to inform Mike and May-Li of her past.

He gathered she'd been on the streets, but there were certain things that contrasted that theory. Her participation in the chess tournament, for example, and the designer clothes...

He scratched his head pensively. There was a look about the girl, something which struck a chord inside his heart. A look of vulnerability and violation. She hid it well, but Mike had cared for many children in his time to know that something wasn't quite right...

Mina glanced at Ryan, before sighing in defeat. She needed to regain his trust; the one person who seemed to know enough about her to help.

"I lied about the ring..." she began as Ryan watched her confused. She wasn't, was she?

"Are you engaged to Kush?" he asked bewildered.

"Yeah right! No, it actually belonged to my mum.." Mina replied before correcting herself, "Well... adoptive mum..."

Ryan frowned, "What happened?"

"She died," Mina admitted easily, "Car crash..."

Ryan looked away for a moment, not quite believing what he was hearing. First, she was a gang outcast and now he was learning she had adoptive parents who'd died. He didn't understand where it all fit together. And he certainly wasn't sure if he could still trust Mina. If she'd lied about the ring then what else had she lied about?

A hand enclosed around his as he was startled from his thoughts. Mina held a sincere gaze as she spoke to him.

"Listen, I know this is all hard to believe but it's the truth. And that's only the tip of the iceberg; there's a lot more about me that you don't know.." she replied, swallowing nervously. Ryan watched a look of torment flicker over her face and then disappear almost immediately. He exhaled suddenly.

All this time, he'd seen her as a strong, rebellious girl who knew how to play the game just like he did. But this was no game. It never was. It was just a cover to keep herself from going insane. And in that instant, he realised a very sad truth about himself. All the lies and manipulation - he always knew that he was messed up but he continued to lie to himself, even so. He'd blamed it on his mother and what she'd made him believe all those years but he never addressed his insecurities. Just bottled it all in.

Manipulate others and push everyone off the edge, just so he could keep himself safe. Safe from hurt and anger and violation.

Mina was hiding too. Not because she didn't know how hurt she was, but both of them felt the fear of being hurt all over again. Reliving the torment. For them it felt like it was too late to start changing, because they'd lived a certain life for so long.

Mina held back her surprise as Ryan turned back to her and spoke genuinely, "Look... you tell us when you're ready. But it has to be soon. If you really want to have a normal life; you let the past go. And however much you act like it, you haven't. Even if we sort out the Kush business, what about the other stuff? You can't keep a secret in this dump, believe me..."

He was right. She'd been kidding herself but she needed to share the burden at some point. Trust, had always been a quality she lacked but Mike had asked no questions and let her settle in. It was an unusual situation and Mina knew that most homes wouldn't be as lenient as Mike was.

She made up her mind. She couldn't risk putting the home in danger, but once she was sure the gang was gone then she'd tell Mike. It was only fair. And so was this.

"I'll tell Mike after the gang's gone. But... I don't want to put you in danger. You don't have to help me take them down; you have Chloe to think about..."

"I know. That's why I'm in..." Ryan replied assuredly, "Plus I want to see that dickhead Kush get locked up..."

Mina couldn't help but smile. Ryan had been so supportive and helpful, despite their little quarrel but she had been lying about the ring! And he'd even given her some pretty good advice about what to do next. Advice she never knew she needed.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked amused.

"Uh..." Ryan stammered, before recovering, "Tyler said I should try being nicer. Make friends..."

"Make friends?" Mina laughed aloud, "What are you on about? We're already friends! I know we had a fight but... all friends do..!"

Ryan watched Mina chuckle as his heart warmed and a heartfelt smile lifted his face. All this time he thought he'd simply been a distraction from all her gang drama, a useful sidekick and nothing else. Sure, they'd had a few flirty conversations but hadn't that all been for entertainment. She clearly didn't see him like that.

"You have a point though. We haven't really acted like normal mates..." Mina noticed when she'd finally stopped laughing, "How about we go see this film together?"

"What?"

"You know.. hang out. Eat popcorn and enjoy ourselves!" Mina exclaimed, "I know Mike said we need to start acting like adults... but me and you have been acting like adults for so long now. Let's just be kids for a day. Just let lose and have fun. What do you say?"

Ryan considered this. If he agreed, he'd be finally saying goodbye to his decade long isolation... his safeguard against hurt and pain. But Mina knew how that felt yet she was willing to take off the mask.

Was it worth the risk?

"Yeah..."

One, two, three, four, one, two, three, four...

Kaneez counted as she fled from the safehouse. Shana and Diya were fast asleep. She had food in her bag and clothes to keep her warm. And she had courage. To seek her own freedom.

As she ran further towards Manchester, she never looked back once. Her heart ached for Fatima but she couldn't return and put herself in more danger. She had to think like an adult now. Nowhere was safe.

Kaneez knew she was a kid. But everyone else around her had grown up. Fatima had become older in just a couple of seconds. Shana and Diya were experienced rescuers. And Kaneez..?

She understood it now. The real world. If she wanted to survive she had to play the game. Fake.

First things first, she needed a phone. One that couldn't be traced. No one would give one to a child. But an adult?

A plan formed in her head. As she observed the morning influx of travellers to work, she noted the clothes on the smaller women toddling by in heels. Minutes later, she was standing in front of a shop mirror checking out the fit of the clothes on her slim figure. It was dress up, but she could make it work. Stuffing cotton into her bra, caking on the make-up as skilfully as she could.

She'd picked up a few tips during wedding preparations. She'd figured out how they'd made her look older.

As she walked out of the shop, in her new clothes, she tried not to feel guilty about the shoplifting. It was a necessary crime. Very soon she had a phone in her hand.

"Excuse me, madam, can I speak to you about donating generously to orphans..." a charity worker called after her, as Kaneez waved a sophisticated hand in rejection.

Orphan, she smiled. How ironic.

"Ryan.. you were meant to be helping me with the dishes!" May-Li complained as Mina and Ryan returned from their day out.

Mike came out to greet them, "Oh it's my bad, I let them go out. I'm sure Ryan wouldn't mind helping you outside..."

"Go out where?" Chloe asked. She'd tried to find Ryan all day, but he'd disappeared.

"Cinema. We watched Matchsticks.." Ryan replied grinning. The film had been amazing and they'd bought way too much popcorn, which Mina kept 'accidentally' spilling onto the girls in front of them much to their annoyance.

"Is that the one with Patrick Hunt?" May-Li asked suddenly interested, "You know he does all his own stunts..."

"Yeah, he did this really cool scene with a skateboard. Apparently it only took a day to learn it...!" Ryan continued the conversation as he left to help May-Li. Everyone had gathered in the hall now, intrigued by Ryan's sudden joviality.

"Okay.. is someone going to explain what that was all about? Ryan? Happy?" Candi asked voicing everyone's thoughts. They all rounded on Mina and gathered her into the living room.

"What, you've never seen Ryan happy before?" Mina asked amused by the graveness in everyone's faces.

"Only when he's busy scheming.." Sasha answered, "Besides, he thinks all the films we watch are lame!"

"That's cause you watch crappy animation ones..." Mina muttered under her breath, but no one heard.

Finn piped up from the corner, "There's only one explanation. You've replaced Ryan with a clone..."

Everyone 'oohed' and Mina couldn't help but laugh, "Look I know Ryan's been horrible in the past and... well he still can be.. but aren't we all? At some point?"

The DG kids looked around at themselves. Mina spoke the truth. Sure, Ryan had been awful but he seemed like a different person now. They'd been holding individual grudges against him but maybe it was time to let the past go.

"Has he really changed?" Chloe asked, "Honestly?"

Mina understood her insecurity, "I don't know. But I... I think he's alright. We had a lot of fun today.."

A mischievous grin appeared on Candi's face, "What sort of fun?"

"Oh, well during the interval these girls in front kept taking selfies and he kept chucking popcorn at their heads, I started cracking up! Oh and also when the film ended..." Mina rambled, recollecting the events of the day.

"You don't like him do you?" Candi asked.

"Well yeah, he's a mate..." Mina shrugged.

"No I meant.."

"Shut up Candi..." Jody hushed, "Stop trying to play Cupid with everyone.."

"What's everyone doing?" Ryan asked silencing the conversations. He patted Mina on the head amicably before moving to sit next to Chloe. Everyone watched him as their eyes popped out of their heads with bewilderment and surprise. Ryan wasn't oblivious.

"What are you all looking at?" he eventually snapped, as everyone sighed.

"And there's the Ryan we know.." Sasha sighed, as everyone went back to whatever they were doing. Mina lifted an eyebrow at their antics. If they only knew Ryan like she did.

And she wasn't deaf. She knew what Candi was insinuating but she didn't want to worry herself with anything more than friendship.

"Mina.. can I borrow you for a moment? It's just about your monthly allowance..." Mike called from the office. Ryan and Mina exchanged a look. Sure, they'd dished some cash today but she didn't think she'd already blown her allowance.

The door closed behind her as she sat down on the sofa expectantly.

"It's okay, I'll do more chores..." she began as Mike interrupted her.

"What? No your allowance is fine..." he replied.

"Then why did you..?"

"We need to discuss your placement here," May-Li admitted, "Now.. you've had a few months to settle in and focus on your education. Your social worker says you're doing great, but at some point we need to talk about before..."

Mina sighed, "I will..."

Mike looked at her concerned, "Mina, we really care about you here. You've been a welcome addition and even Ryan has started to change around because of you here..."

The two care workers exchanged a look as Mina frowned.

"..we were wondering if you would be interested in a potential foster placement for when you leave here.." Mike eventually sighed, "Now.. normally kids your age have started to think about living independently but I get the impression you've already been doing that for years. Unless you know anyone you do want to see, we can discuss about getting back in touch. Or it could be a fresh start..."

The decision had been reached at a recent meeting. Mina was an unusual case. No one knew anything about her except her. Often children with uncertain backgrounds, had successful foster placements since there was no estranged family member to worry about. However, for the placement to be successful the social workers needed to know the truth.

Getting that truth would be hard but Mike was trusting that Mina would eventually tell him.

Mina was a little overwhelmed by all the information. She'd just settled in and now they were talking about kicking her out? She talked some sense into herself. Of course, they weren't. They were just doing their job which was trying to do the best by her. Family was the one thing she'd yearned for since she was little.

But living alone? It was tempting but... did she really want to return to that isolation? Maybe that's what she wanted once upon a time, but she couldn't give up the company she'd found here.

"Of course, we'll give you time to think about it. And of course, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. You can stay here as long as you like but perhaps it's something to think about for when you leave here. But the earlier you start seeing potential couples, the easier it'll be to move in with them eventually..." May-Li added.

Mina nodded, "I'll think about it. Thank you..."

"What's a pretty girl like you doing on the streets?"

Kaneez turned her head and lifted an eyebrow in confusion. A kid around her age smirked as he pulled out the chair at the coffee table to sit with her. She'd spent a month and a half, moving around from place to place.

Booking herself into hostels with stolen money. Or just sneaking into unbooked rooms when they weren't watching. She hadn't been caught once. But it was getting exhausting. She needed to find a place to stay.

Her bag was full of stolen clothes and makeup. She'd grown remarkably thin from the lack of food and she could no longer keep up the pretence of the older woman.

So this boy had sussed her. Great.

"What?" she asked annoyed.

"I've been watching you. You go into shops and dress yourself up. Pick pockets for money. Buy food. Then disappear somewhere to sleep..." he smirked knowingly.

"So you've been stalking me?" Kaneez whispered, "Ain't you anything better to do?"

"Who do you think's been helping you get away with it all? God?" he chuckled. Kaneez frowned in realisation. The first few times she'd had many close calls. And now?

She'd slipped up so many times, but there was something suspicious about how the guards were always distracted away. Like fate. Or... someone helping her.

"You've been helping me. What do you want?" Kaneez replied.

The boy smiled and held out his grubby hand, "I'm Kush..."

Kaneez looked at it distastefully while her mind whirred. Maybe she needed to give up the act now. She was exhausted and if this boy had been helping her all this time, then maybe he was one of the good ones. She certainly hoped he was.

"Priya…" she replied quickly. Everyone was searching for a Kaneez. Dadee and her men, Shana and Diya and Fatima...

She had to leave it all behind her now.

"I know a place where you can stay for a while. Wanna come see?"