Liam frowned up at the large brick building. He didn't like this. He didn't like this at all. But with the agent's car still in the driveway, waiting to make sure they went in, there was no out and no escape. They could only move forward. 

Ellison pressed into the taller boy's side, leaning into him. She hated the idea of another orphanage. The last one she was in... well, they were to blame for several of the scars she kept hidden under her oversized sweater. But she knew they had to come here, they hadn't had a choice.

Liam squeezed Ellison's hand and looked down on her. His gaze said, [i]Trust me, if we could we would be gone[/i]. But Social Services had caught them, and as long as they were here there would be no returning to being on the run for them. His one reassurance was that they were teenagers, and no one ever wanted to adopt teenagers, so he and Ellison wouldn't be separated. And once he turned eighteen, he'd get out of there and apply for legal guardianship of Ellison so he could take her with him, and keep her until she was eighteen and he could abolish the guardianship and they could live together as friends and equals. He managed a cocky, reassuring smile thinking these thoughts, and got the tiniest of smiles from Ellison in return.

Still holding her hand, Liam led Ellison to the door and knocked sharply.