I just started reading this (I just finished Chapter 3) and it seems pretty interesting so far. It seems fairly obvious that the Sayyah's are her actual family (or maybe that's just me thinking ahead). And I imagine that the author's note at the end of Chapter 3 is redundant now, but for what it's worth, I don't think you should write out Alex's character. It gives her story more realism that she had friends at the orphanage. Well, good luck with the writing. =) And if you would check out my story Bump in the Night, that'd be cool. =)