*Second Chapter! :D Read on...*

The car pulled up in front of a large building, where a woman and a tall boy stood. Ramona slid down the seat, embarrassed. She had got a clean up at the police station, and now all she had to wear was a faded t-shirt, a scruffy pair of jeans, and her battered converse. She prayed they would have some spare clothes. Mike opened the doors, and Liam and Ramona both stepped out. Liam was grinning at the tall boy, and they met each other, doing a mad hand shake.

"Not this time Liam?" asked the tall boy. He seemed like he had trouble speaking. Then again, Ramona had a strong Scottish accent, and sometimes the police had had to ask her to repeat herself.

"Nah Frank. Brought home a new kid though!" Liam gestured towards Ramona. Frank stuck out his hand and Ramona shook it. "I'm Ramona McKenzie."

"Frank. Welcome to the Dumping Ground." He swept a hand behind him to indicate the building. The woman grinned. She flicked a strand of dark hair of her face and put out her hand. "Gina, welcome to Elm Tree." She pretended to hit Frank. "You can share with Sapphire. Come on, Gus'll want to give you a tour, but that can hold off till the morning. Nine pm, most off them should be in bed."

Ramona felt questions bubbling up, but pushed them down again. "Liam!" called Gina. He winced, and turned round, a winning smile on his face.

"Yes Gina?"

"Grounded for a week." The smile vanished.

"Oh, Gina!"

"You ran away. Face the consequences." Liam groaned, and went inside with Frank. Gina led Ramona up flights of stairs, ignoring the various children who came to see her.

"Giiina, Lily took my make-up with her-"

"Giiina, I can't find Mr Hamster-"

"Giiina, I need to give her a tour-"

"Giiina, can you please not ground me-" Liam was the only one she stopped at. "Ground-ed."

"Oh for-"

Gina led Ramona on.

"Sapphire! Sapphire!" A teenager with frizzy brown hair opened the door. "Yeah?"

"This is Ramona. She'll be staying with you from now on."

"Kay. Where's your stuff?" Ramona gestured to the shoe box in her hands. "Clothes?"

"She can borrow off you," said Gina firmly. Sapphire pulled Ramona in, and pointed to a bed and a chest of drawers. "Yours, knock yourself out." She threw herself down onto her own bed and started doodling. "Um, Sapphire?" She looked up. "I don't have any pyjamas."

"Oh yeah, sorry." She rummaged through her closet, and handed her a pair of leggings and a long t-shirt. "Cheers." Ramona headed off to the bathroom, and almost bumped into a little boy that looked just like Alex, clutching a giraffe. "Sorry.." He went red, and kicked the ground. "Where's Sapphire?"

"In her room." She smiled and the little boy ran up the corridor.

She rummaged through the orange wash bag Gina had given her. Toothbrush, toothpaste, pads, soap, deodorant, the basics. Ramona began brushing her teeth, and was startled by a loud knock on the door. She instinctively reached for her shoe to pull out the knife that was confiscated by the police. Ramona checked herself. "It's someone looking for the bathroom, idiot," she mumbled to herself. She opened the door, and was met with the face of Liam, carrying a blue wash bag. "Oh hey, Ramona."

She smiled. "Hey." The two awkwardly stood there, unsure of what to say. "How's Saph with ya?" He broke the silence. "She's fine, bit quiet."

"She'll come round."

The silence began once more.

"Well, goodnight..." said Liam. He gave a little wave, and Ramona rolled her eyes.

She hugged him briefly, almost embarrassed. "What was that for?"

"This place is miles better than the street. You got me here, so... Thanks."

He grinned. "S'alright. So, we're mates?"

"Yeah, mates."

Ramona walked back up the corridor, happy to have a "mate" for the first time in years.

*Hope you liked! Constructive criticism appreciated in reviews or pms!*