I held my breath as the door opened, and it revealed an old lady. She was like every elderly lady that movies show: kind, smiling, and even holding a teacup. "May I help you, sweetie?" She asked me.

     I looked at her, and then saw a man in the doorway standing slightly above the woman. The man looked familiar, but I couldn't be sure if he was my dad or not because mom never showed me a picture of him. 

     "I'm looking for my dad, Travis Pleas?" I spoke. "Do you know him?" 

     "Travis, do you know this little girl?" Asked the grandma. I cringed a little at her calling me a 'Little girl',  but I didn't mind it to to much.

     "Do I know you?" The man (Travis as his mom called him) asked. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my pictures until I found a picture of me and my dad. My dad bore a striking resemblance to the man in the photo, but I couldn't be sure if he was or not.

     "This is the man I am looking for." I said, showing the man and his mom the picture. The man disappeared into the house and pulled out the same exact picture!

     "Mari?" The man said after a moment. 

     "Dad!" I said too. Then, I suddenly felt myself hugging him. This WAS my dad. I had found him after all! I had hoped that he was my dad. And then I found myself hugging the old woman who introduced herself as Carmella. 

     I was led inside the home, and shown to my room. It was covered in photos of me, and it looked almost like a replica of my room at mom's. I guess that dad had been keeping up with me after all. 

     I read all of the text messages that mom had sent me. 'Where are u?' and 'R u ok?' But her last few texts were pretty disturbing. 'I will find you, no matter what' and she even sent me a picture of a missing poster. Of me.

                                                                  Have you seen this girl?

     Age: 13                                                     Marizza Dowlingo

     Gender: Female

     Eyes: Blue                                                         

    Hair Tone: Dirty Blonde/ Light Brown

     Call 314-159-2653 if you have any information

     I hated that she used her madden name and not dad's last name. She made it like he didn't even exist, and that he isn't even my dad! She really bugged me at times. But this was a stretch, even for her. I knew that she might do something evil, but not this! 

     I showed Grandma Camilla all of the text messages (and the missing poster) who simply said "I have a house in this small town called Residential Drive. We can move there!" I looked at Camilla like she was crazy, but I thought about her plan.

     But, Travis (dad) also had a plan. "If your mother text's you one more time about this" he said to me and Camilla "We are packing up and leaving faster than you can say 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'. Is that understood?" I nodded and so did Camilla.

     "We'll keep you safe and away from your mom, Mari." He said. "I promise."

     I knew that they would, but I felt that mom would find a way. But, then my phone pinged. With her name appearing on the screen. "Dad, you can say Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious now." I showed him the text, and he went into the coat closet and grabbed 6 suitcases. 

     "Go pack. Were moving to Residential Drive." He said, starting to go to his room to pack. Grandma Camilla went to her room to pack too, leaving me all alone in the living room. I decided to follow the crowd and pack too. 

     Less then an hour later, we had all of our necessities packed up, and some things that were 'sentimental'. We drove for a little bit until we reached a town of small houses and mobile homes. 

      Even though this wasn't New York City, it did seem very welcoming. But, there was one downside. There seemed to be no kids. Sure, there was a school, but it looked like it combined elementary, middle, and high schools into one building!

      But, as we made our way down one of the only 2 streets here, I noticed a few family homes. One of the owners had a girl around my age with her. Maybe I would make some friends in this place. 

     The one true friend I have ever had was in the 4th grade. it was with a girl named Salah, but she moved away soon after winter break. Every time I moved, I had hoped I would see her. But I knew I never would. 

     We finally reached a small one story home with a beach view. We went inside without bothering to bring stuff in, and I noticed it was really small. There were only 2 rooms, 1 bathroom, a kitchen and a combined living and eating area. But the view of the beach was nice. And we got direct accesses to it! 

     "Do you think the neighbors will recognize her?" I heard dad ask Grandma Camilla in the kitchen. Grandma Camilla was pulling food out of the fridge to look at the expiration date on everything, but didn't seem to faced by what Dad had asked. 

     "There is a nice couple next door, Travis. They have 2 young baby girls." Was her reply. It was very vague though. And one thing I learned from dad is that he did not like vague answers.

     "Would they know who Mari is?" He said. I shrugged. I didn't know who all of my fans were, just the ones who tried to get autographs from me. I had basically tuned myself out until Grandma Camilla said something that shocked me.

     "What if we put her in a wig? A disguise, sort of." She proposed. I looked at Grandma Camilla, and then at dad, then back at Grandma Camilla. "And maybe some fake glasses, different color eye contacts, a new wardrobe. What do you think?" 

     I wanted to shout no, but it did seem like a great idea. I could make up my own new name, and I could be someone else. Someone who isn't just my friend because of my fame. But someone who likes me for me. 

     "I'll do it!" I said. The words just popped out of my mouth. Travis-dad- looked at me. Grandma Camilla walked away smiling. Then she returned. With a wig, fake glasses, and eye contacts. I sighed. 

     The red curly wig, white square glasses, and finally, green contacts made me look Irish. All I needed was the accent. But, being an actress, I'm sure I could've pulled something close to the accent off. 

     I came out with the whole ensemble. "How do I look?" I asked them, showing of my new glasses, hair, and eye color. Now all we needed to do is buy some new clothes. I was thinking of going for a nerdy look. 

      "You look great, Mari. If I didn't know it was you, I would've mistaken you for whoever your trying to be! Have you figured out an outfit selection, or a new name for yourself?" Dad said.

     "I want to get a nerdy look, dad. I want friends who love me for I am. Plus I want to have to push myself! And I was thinking of the name Erna. It's a pretty name. It might fit me." Grandma Camilla smiled, and dad seemed to approve. 

      But I knew that this needed to be convincing. If someone knew of my identity, I would be discovered. Mom would take dad to court. She would most likely win. I would have to endure the wrath of her. She would steal the rest of my money for herself and it would be a mess. 

     But, who would suspect someone with the name Erna to really be a girl named Marizza Pleas? I don't think I would.  But I could have die hard fans, and those die hard fans could recognize me. But I knew deep down that they couldn't. Why would I choose to leave my 'perfect' life for this small town they might think. But they didn't know the truth. I wouldn't let them.

     So, for the rest of the day, Grandma Camilla, Dad and I talked about my backstory. My mom and dad died when I was young, and I got adopted by my dad, Travis. But, Travis' mom (Grandma Camilla) was sick and he has to help care of her. We just moved here because it was close to Grandma Camilla's treatment facility. 

     I figured it was a pretty believable story, especially since the red wig looked nothing like dad's blonde hair. I was ready for school the next day, with my new sob story and look. I just hoped I would find friends, and maybe a club or a sport I would like doing. But at the end of the day, I hoped no one would ever find out my true identity. 

     But, as the first day of school for me came closer, I couldn't help wondering 'What if no one likes me for me?' I hoped this plan would work too. All I could do was hope.