Disclaimer: I own nothing.

WARNING: Mild swearing, reference to sexual harassment

"Finding Home"

Chapter 2

Silver Hills University was like any other university really besides the fact it was being funded by powerhouse upper-class men. In the group of men was Elizabeth's father. It really wasn't that big of a surprise it was easy for Elizabeth to get into a university that would have passed over a mediocre student like her. They were looking for the bright minds and the ones that were less than mediocre that would do well working in the big companies. Youth like Elizabeth threatened this big companies, they were the ones going out and starting compaction. But Michael Donovan was not the man people wanted to piss off.

Elizabeth could have gotten anything she wanted, but she asked for nothing. However, despite her mother's wishes for her to commute she decided to live in the dorms. She wanted away from all that drama going on at home. She had enough on her mind dealing with her own issues. She didn't even ask for any money or any other support forms.

Pressing the key into the dorm door Elizabeth took a deep breath. She wasn't really scared just realizing how real this was all going to be. She knew once she opened this door there was no going back. She knew she would never move back home. She pressed the door open. She flipped on the light as she walked in. It was an average sized dorm room. It had a closet, two beds, a dresser and desk. She tossed her suitcase onto the bed on the left. She went back down to her jeep to get three boxes of other items. The jeep had been a gift from her grandfather a few weeks ago, a late graduation gift.

She first opened the box with the bedding in it. She put her pocket knife on the dresser while she put the bedding on. She didn't really know where she got it, but she had found it while she was packing up last night. She had boxed up her supplies to make travel easier. She emptied the box out and made a semi-organized pile under her bed. The last box had only one thing, a large zebra printed cardboard box, which she put on the shelfing in the closet.

A young woman with long brown hair and pink tank-top walked into the room holding her nose. Elizabeth just rolled her eyes as she continued to empty out her suitcase. She had a small basket with soap, shampoo, conditioner, her hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste and a nail clipper.

"How much room do you need for clothes?" asked Elizabeth before the girl walked out to get more stuff.

"Oh, do you mind if I use the closet?" asked her roommate.

"No, oh yeah I do have box up on the shelfing," said Elizabeth.

"That's fine. I'm Kimberly Hart by the way," said Kimberly.

"Elizabeth," said Elizabeth leaving out her last name in case the girl knew the family.

Kimberly opened the door and gasped. Elizabeth had her back turned as she put her clothes into the dresser. She barely took up two of three shelves. In the last shelf she pulled the books out from under her bed and put them inside of it.

"Jason, you didn't have to bring those up for me," said Kimberly.

"My dorm is on the next floor it wasn't out of the way," said Jason "and you may want to lock your car."

Elizabeth took her pocket knife and put it in the top drawer. She didn't say anything about the young man in the dorm. She didn't really care. But she had to admit he was quite attractive. She had three older brothers and all their athletic friends around so the muscle isn't what she found attractive. It was that he held himself with confidence, but yet not arrogant either. He reminded her of James.

"Oh Elizabeth, this is my friend Jason," said Kimberly "Jason this is my roommate Elizabeth."

"Hello," said Elizabeth.

"Nice to meet you," said Jason.

The silence was deadly. Elizabeth kept seeing James in Jason. They even started with the same letter. It was hard for her to keep herself together. This is not James. This is not James. No matter how much she repeated it in her head it was sticking. She shifted back and forth on her feet looking down.

"Are those Unionbay's?" asked Kimberly referring Elizabeth's jeans.

"To be honest I don't even remember getting them," said Elizabeth, the still had tags on them as of this morning.

"Go shopping a lot?" asked Kimberly having forgotten things she had bought when she had been on a spree.

"Not really," said Elizabeth searching around for her messenger bag.

"Oh," said Kimberly giving Jason a look.

"Have either of you seen a denim bag?" asked Elizabeth.

"Do you mean the one right here?" asked Kimberly pointing to the dresser.

Elizabeth laughed realizing it had been right in front of her nose. She grabbed it and put her key on keyring. She suddenly stopped looking at the chain on the ring, it was a four leaf clover. Maureen had given it to her from her trip to Ireland. Tears threatened to fall.

"There is an activities fair at the Quad Courtyard, hope to see both there," said Elizabeth quickly fighting back the tears. She wasted no time leaving.

The fair was bustling with people. Elizabeth was taking it all in, she hadn't been around this many people for quite some time but she it didn't really both her. She had gone to charity parties with more people then this and had given speeches at such parties.

"Hey you!" called a guy from a rather empty booth.

Elizabeth jumped slightly not expecting to be called over. However, she went over to the booth with an irritated looked. This guy didn't seem to know how to talk to girls very well.

"You seem to have a build of a fighter. We have a boxing team if you're interested," said the guy lowering his voice.

"Sorry I don't box for fighting purposes only self-defense," said Elizabeth getting ready to turn away.

"Ha, like I'd let a pretty little thing like you compete," laughed the guy.

Elizabeth tried to simply walk away. She kept clenching and unclenching her fist. She really wanted to deck this jerk. Self-entitled upper class boys like him really irked her. She had enough of that with her eldest brother. She couldn't very well punch him in the jaw like she would like to. Everything would have been fine if the guy hadn't come after her.

"Awe, you offend little girl," said the guy getting to touchy-feely for Elizabeth's taste.

"Back off," warned Elizabeth.

"Oooh, I'm so scared," teased the guy not listening.

When he grab her wrist he found himself on the ground with the wind took out him. She quickly let go not wanting to hurt him. She hadn't even thought about it only reacted. Some people turned their attention to them. She shook her hands off trying to get rid of her nervous energy. She had only been learning Wing Chun Kung Fu for a few weeks, but she been taught military style fighting since she was twelve. She only stayed to make sure she didn't hurt him. She was completely shocked when he took a swing at her. She ducked protecting her head with her arms. When he kicked towards her head she had been expecting a blow to come, but she still was knocked back. She struggled to recover from being knocked down being how out of shape she was from the accident. She let out a deep sigh of relief when someone was able to get the guy off of her. She struggled to even try to sit up. She found herself being pushed gently back down by a young woman dressed in yellow. The woman had long brown haired and looked to be possibly of Chinese descent.

"Anyone here a medical student?" called out young woman.

"Oh my god, Elizabeth are you okay?" asked Kimberly rushing over.

Elizabeth rose her hand to tell Kimberly to wait a moment. It was most just the wind knock out of her. It also hurt like hell too. She hated taken a beating like that in quite some time. It didn't help she had taken blown to a part of her body still recovering from the accident.

"You know her?" asked the young woman.

"Yeah, she's my roommate. Nice to see you again Trini," said Kimberly.

"I'm fine. Just threw me for a loop," said Elizabeth "he had bad aim."

"Elizabeth! Are you alright? Do I need call paramedics?" asked Michael, whom had been attending the event "your mother is going to kill me."

"Dad, please stop. I don't need to go to the hospital," said Elizabeth calmly pushing herself to sit up.

"I want him kicked out for misconduct," said Michael turning to another of the benefactors.

"Absolutely not dad. I don't need you jumping in a running someone's life," said Elizabeth "restraining order possibly. Think with your head not your gut."

"Thank you young man. Where is the campus police? Can I at least get him restrained?" asked Michael.

"Happy first day," grumbled Elizabeth trying to shake it all off.

"I didn't know you were part of the Donovan family," said Kimberly.

"Not something I brag about," said Elizabeth.

"What do you mean?" said Jason, whom Elizabeth hadn't even noticed was there.

"You guys aren't from around here, are you?" said Elizabeth.

"We all came from the Angel Grove area," said Trini.

"Then go ahead and think the Donovan family is some sort of great empire helping better the world. It's better if you don't know all the rumors that spread around these hills like wildfire," said Elizabeth.

"Adam, I didn't know you were coming here? I thought Tanya and you were going to the Reefside University," said Jason.

"I found out I got a scholarship here and Tanya plans on transferring for the spring term," said Adam.

"Why it is everyone I met knows each other?" asked Elizabeth "But thanks."

"Good point there. Not even a day in and you happen to meet all my friends attend here," said Kimberly.

The rest of the even Elizabeth had Kimberly and friends fallowing her around. Not that she didn't mind the company, but it wasn't like she was going to pass out any moment. She hadn't taken any blows to the head, thankfully. She was certainly sore now and it was going to feel worse tomorrow, but that was a different story.

"Hey, that booth looks pretty empty," said Adam pointing to a booth with an surely Italian man sitting behind it.

"If you are more punk kids, move along," said the man sitting at the booth.

The man was middle aged guy with graying black hair and harsh brown eyes. He was in good shape and clearly was still with the current generations. He wore jeans and a shirt the youth center logo. He had a pair of sunglasses on the top of his head.

"You know we came over here by choice not be talked to like children," said Elizabeth crossing her arms.

Kimberly just simply rolled her eyes. She had enough macho men stuff to last a lifetime. She knew one when she saw one. Jason was too busy watching Trini to pay attention. Trini remained much calmer then Elizabeth was with the situation. Adam opened his mouth to say something, but then stopped.

"I didn't ask for some punk ass girl to talk to me like I'm some as-jerk," said the man.

"Elizabeth Donovan," said Elizabeth hold out her hand.

"Leonzio Fabrizio, put call me Leon," said the guy.

"Something tells me we'd get along just fine," said Elizabeth.

"I like the confidence. Are you part THE Donovan family?" asked Leon.

"How many times am I going to hear that one? But yes I am," said Elizabeth.

"We you part of that drama with Christian?" asked Leon.

Elizabeth sighed loudly. The reason she wasn't taking to Christian wasn't because of the same reason as her family. She had been giving him money for rent out of her paycheck only to find out instead of paying his rent he was buying drugs with HER money. That was why they weren't talking. If he ever got himself clean Elizabeth would help him out again.

"Not that drama. But my issues with my brother is a whole different problem. It seems even here people seem to know about all of that stuff. I should have known going to university where my father is a benefactor I'd still be dealing with this crap," said Elizabeth.

"It was all over the papers and how the cops were called when the Mrs. threw a frying pan at him and chased him to his car," said Leon.

Elizabeth rubbed her eyebrow. She didn't remember that happening. She hadn't even known about the money thing until Sabrina had explained to her what happened. Sabrina had been doing the same thing until she found out about the drugs too. It was hard to accept her brother would take money from his younger sisters and use it on drugs. She knew how easily it could have been her that was the family addict just as easily as it was Christian. She wished she could help him, but unless he wanted to get clean she knew it was pointless.

"So you kids have a skill sets that we could use at the Youth Center. We really need some more staff" said Leon.

"Adam, Trini and I are all trained in martial arts," said Jason.

"I do gymnastics," said Kimberly.

"Don't look at me, you don't really want me teaching kids the way I learned to fight. I just have three older brothers with huge egos," said Elizabeth

"Hey, you did just fine back there. He was just a dirty fighter," said Adam.

"Thanks, but I'm being honest. My grandfather taught me to fight military style, I don't think that's appropriate to teach kids. And formal martial arts is a work in progress for me," admitted Elizabeth.

"I think your brother said you and one of your other brothers had a band back at Mariner Bay. I could sure use someone that could help me try to reach out to a whole different group of kids with that," said Leon.

"I guess I can help him that. We really weren't a band, we just sat around seeing if we could get the neighbors angry with loud music mostly," said Elizabeth rubbing the wrist that whatever his name was grabbed

"We all start somewhere," laugh Leon.

Elizabeth smiled, she could see why Leon was in the business he was. He had a lot of charisma, she could give him that. He had a no-BS attitude round him, it was something that kept the young boys in-line. At least that worked for Elizabeth's brothers when they were younger.

"Why don't you guys come down to the youth center after your classes? We can sort out scheduling around your classes and such," said Leon.

"Okay?" said Jason.

"The youth center is right across from the cinema and coffee shop," said Leon.

"I saw it on my way here" said Elizabeth "I can give directions if needed. It's hard to miss anyways."

It turned out this wasn't a total bust despite the interested start. She had learned from the best to hold her ground and never take any crap from anyone. She had always been raised that a real man treats all woman right and never settle for any less. It was her dad's way of keeping her away from the jerk sons of his collogues. After losing a niece and daughter to the perverted men of the world he was even more for Elizabeth to be more independent and lively. In his mind that made Elizabeth less of a target and a strong person. Elizabeth wasn't complaining about it either. It had been like two sides had been fighting each other the past few years, but after the accident it was much easier to have a rebel attitude. She certainly wasn't going around breaking car windows are spray paintings things, but she wasn't taking a lot of crap from her oldest brother either anymore. She doesn't hate him since it wasn't his fault their mother taught him to act like he was superior then woman and anyone else in the world really, but it didn't make it right.

It was tough night. Elizabeth hurt too much to even move around much. She knew tomorrow was going to be horrible. She ended up laying uncomfortably on her back. She had to get back in shape. She hated how weak she felt. A few weeks ago she likely could have held her own. But she hadn't really worked on her abdomen since the accident.

BANG! Elizabeth shot up in bed from a dead sleep. She turned on the night lamp to see Kimberly on the floor. Elizabeth shook her head and looked at the alarm clock Kimberly had brought with. It took a moment for the time to register.

"Kimberly get up! It's eight o'clock," said Elizabeth getting up.

"Huh?" said Kimberly.

"I don't know when you have class but its eight o'clock, but if you want food I'd recommend getting up," said Elizabeth.

Elizabeth had no trouble changing despite the fact Kimberly was right there. She didn't really care that Kimberly was there. They were both adults and female. There was no big deal really. It was smoldering hot and it was only morning jeans weren't an option. She found a ruffled light blue shirt and jean skirt that reached her mid-thigh. She quickly brushed her hair.

"Kimberly, come on get up," said Elizabeth.

Three knock at the doors didn't even get Kimberly off the floor. Elizabeth opened up the door. She was sure she looked like a zombie right now.

"Ohhh-hey Elizabeth," said Jason.

"You can get her up, she isn't responding to me," said Elizabeth yawning.

"Kim, you're going to miss your first class," said Jason.

"Ten more minutes," mumbled Kimberly.

"No get up now," said Jason literally picking up Kimberly from the floor making her stand up.

"What class do you have?" asked Jason setting out into the hallway with Elizabeth as Kimberly grudgingly got dressed.

"Today I have English Composition 101, Calculus and Introduction into Art. You?" asked Elizabeth already feeling like her arm was going to fall out from the weight of the books in her acid washed backpack.

"Biology and English Literature 100," said Jason.

"I thought I was personally going to fail the English section of the SAT, I never really paid much attention to the English teacher. He nagged and nagged for hours," admitted Elizabeth.

"I spent a few years in a leadership conference in Switzerland with two friends of mind. My friend Zack is going somewhere else, but Trini I think might be in your calculus class," said Jason rubbing his neck.

"Oh cool, maybe we'll come across each other in some better circumstances this time around," said Elizabeth with a small smile.

"Would you like to join us for breakfast?" asked Jason.

"Would I still be here if I planned one eating breakfast alone," said Elizabeth smirking.

"I don't know, you tell me," said Jason raising an eyebrow.

"Why should I? You seem like a smart guy, you should know the answer yourself," Elizabeth crossing her arms trying to keep a straight face.

"What are you studying? You seem like the business degree type," said Jason.

"That's what my dad would like met to do, but I don't know. I don't want to spend my life inside a building doing nothing besides crunching numbers and trying to get people to spend money they should be saving," said Elizabeth.

Jason laughed at Elizabeth's indigent tone towards big business. He thought she was joking until he realized how dead serious she was. He was so used to Kimberly and Trini being so well girly, it was hard to understand Elizabeth. Jason really thought she was just like Kimberly and Trini, but something just seemed different.

"Did you ever practice martial arts?" asked Jason.

"Why?" replied Elizabeth.

"You just seem very down-to-earth, and honestly in this town that seems to be a rare thing that's all," said Jason shrugging feeling a bit confused. He felt comfortable around Elizabeth and that made him uncomfortable. He had just met her yesterday, it was like part of her seemed so familiar.

"Not really. I used to do boxing in high school. I guess I've just came to see how short life is and how precious it is. Nothing wrong with having dreams for the future, but you can't spend all our time on Cloud Nine," said Elizabeth.

Jason shrugged. It was weird how wise Elizabeth sounded. They were all only eighteen, but she sounded way older. It was like she lived an entire lifetime. He would find that pretty odd for a girl that looks like Elizabeth to have a lifetime worth of things. She just seemed like the type that had lived a fairly protecting life in the best communities. He just had a gut feeling there was a lot more to Elizabeth.

"You're a very strange person," said Kimberly after picking up on the conversation.

"Everyone is strange in their own ways. Sometimes I just guess some people just have better understanding of life than others," said Elizabeth shrugging.

English was boring as ever to Elizabeth. Just because she was decent at it didn't mean she enjoyed the class. She wasn't into it at all. She just wanted this class over with so she never had to write essays ever again. She hated last year when her high school brought in computers and she had to learn to type all over again. She did just fine on her typewriter. But now she really got the hang of typing on computers. It was still strange to be using them, but at least it didn't get jammed like a typewriter.

In Calculus, Elizabeth recognized Trini from yesterday. She walked up to the table. She was glad to at least have found some really cool people yesterday. That could have been disastrous without their help. She'd be in the hospital likely and that guy would have screwed up his whole life.

"Do you mind if I join you?" asked Elizabeth before actually taking a seat.

"Not at all," said Trini.

Elizabeth grimaced as her bag fell from her shoulder hitting her side. She was so sore. She hadn't even looked to see how bad it looked, she was a little too afraid to do so. She was afraid on how bad it would look.

"How ae you feeling?" asked Trini.

"Sore," said Elizabeth.

"Are you sure you don't want to get it checked out?" asked Trini.

"Nah, I'm just glad it wasn't my head taking those blows," said Elizabeth.

Trini nodded in agreement. She glad to see Elizabeth at least made it to class. Trini wasn't even sure Elizabeth would make it through the night without needed to go a hospital. It looked really bad.

"Hello class, I'm Professor Laurence and yes I'm an actual professor. I'm passing around the syllabus. I'm not wasting my time talking about it. Show up for class. I also don't accept late work unless there is a legitimate excuse and fi you are late on an exam day I won't allow you in," said the professor.

Professor Laurence looked barely out of college himself. He was still quite attractive on the standard of a professor. He had brown hair and blue eyes. He had on khaki pants and stripped t-shirt. He wasn't completely out of the fashion scene, at least by Elizabeth's standard of fashion for men.

The class wasn't horrid but it was no walk in the park either. Elizabeth wouldn't have it any other way. She loved science and math. She was up for the challenge of a calculus course. She almost forgot about the Youth Center among her classes. Leon was more than willing to work around Elizabeth's extensive schedule. He also put her to work right away and put in an order for the Youth Center's logo shirt for her. She spent a lot time chopping up the very dead garden so she could start over next spring. The Youth Center was extremely understaffed. She supposed the students would rather work in stores and intern at the big companies then a Youth Center, which was true but sad.

Author's Note:

Huge thanks to the guest that reviewed if you are reading. Thank you everyone else for taking the time to read to this point. I'm going on vacation come 6/29 to 7/2 so I may not get a chance to update but I will be writing when I get the chance. I also have a poll up so you readers can tell me which idea you would like to see more of.