She spun around and around, her hair whipping around. The mahogany tresses were odd to see in her face, as they were not her original hair colour. She had dyed her long blond hair to get this job. She needed this job, and she was grateful for it. The music went faster, as did she and then she jumped up onto the pole. Men threw money at her, and she was glad. She had a child to feed after all.

"Tracy, here's your pay for the night," said the owner, handing her some crumpled bills.

She smiled sweetly and walked out in her micro mini, sequined tube top and super high heels. She was whistled at as she walked down the street. It happened all the time but she never seemed to get used to it. She would always turn, expecting to see him. It was crazy for her to still, she hadn't seen him in almost two years. She lived far away now, and if he happened to run into her on the streets, he probably wouldn't recognize her.

"Tracy, Arianna just fell asleep," said Brenda, who lived up the hall and would watch Arianna while 'Tracy' was working.

'Tracy' took her sleeping daughter and handed the babysitter a few bills. "thanks Brenda, I'm working again tomorrow night."

Then, she went to her apartment. It was small, one room. She laid her little blond baby girl in her crib and grabbed a granola bar off the counter. She took a bite and put it back down and sighed. She laid down on the beaten up couch and fell asleep.

xXx oOo xXx

Arianna screamed in her crib.

'Tracy' covered her own head with a pillow, trying to block out the noise. It didn't work.

"Just once, can I sleep in late?" She scooped her daughter up and carried her to the kitchen. Rocking Arianna in one arm, she filled a pot with water and put it on the stove. When Arianna calmed down to a soft whine, she put her into the antique high chair Brenda had given to her. She mixed a bottle of formula and put it into the boiling water, and put a handful of Cheerios onto the tray of the high chair. Arianna ate a few Cheerios and began to cry for her bottle as she took another bite of last night's granola bar. "Baby hush! Don't you know it takes a few minutes to heat up."

Arianna stared up at her with big brown hazel eyes and the little girl's bottom lip trembled. Her stomach dropped and she threw the granola bar onto the counter. Those eyes haunted her.

She fed Arianna her bottle then waited for her to finish her Cheerios, then she got her dressed and set her on the ground as she took a quick shower and threw on a little dress.

"Arianna, we've got groceries to buy today. Maybe Mommy can get herself a job at the store." Arianna let out a little giggle noise. She pouted and the laughed softly. "My baby doesn't even believe me."

She picked up Arianna and grabbed a few crumbled bills out of the sofa cushion.

"My baby's going to be one next week," she bounced Arianna gently. "What does she want for her birthday?"

"Mommy!" Arianna replied, playing with her mother's hair.

'Tracy' saw her reflection in the microwave. "Mommy's roots are getting bad, aren't they?"

Arianna continued pulling at her mom's hair.

She smiled weakly. "We need food more though, maybe I'll fix it next week."

She walked out the door and locked it behind her, balancing Arianna on her hip.

The same kinds of guys that had whistled at her last night now looked away when she walked by.

Grocery shopping was simple, as she couldn't afford much, and even if she could buy more she could only get as much as she could carry.

On the way back home, she couldn't help but stare into the windows of the stores that she had no hope of shopping at any time soon.

She was staring at one pair of wedges with so much longing that she didn't even notice who was inside the shop. A young girl behind her filled her in.

"Hannah Montana!"

Her eyes widened. She looked away from the window quickly, but not quick enough. She turned and hurried past the store, but Hannah followed.

"Lilly!"

Tracy yelped in surprise. She hadn't heard that name in so long. She wanted to run away but a hand was already on her shoulder.

Arianna squirmed excitedly. "Mommy, look! Look, Mommy! Hannah Montana!"

She blushed and turned slowly.

Her best friend shared at her shocked, she couldn't believe she was right.

A swarm of people had surrounded them by now, and before Lilly realized what was going on, she was sitting in a limo with Arianna on her lap and Miley and Robbie Ray staring at her.

Arianna was the only one who could find a voice. "Hannah Montana! Hannah Montana, Mommy! From TV, Mommy! See?"

Lilly nodded at her daughter then looked at Miley.

Miley was the first to find words. "Lilly, you have a daughter? Is that why you ran away?"

Lilly nodded weakly.

"Mommy! You knows Hannah? Mommy?" Arianna was squirming uncontrollably.

"Arianna sit nicely please," Lilly managed to say.

"Arianna? Pretty name," Miley offered.

Lilly took a deep breath. "Look, Miley. Sure you found me, but I can't go back. Please let me stay here."

Robbie opened his mouth to talk, but Miley did before he could get a chance.

"Lilly, tell me one thing. Is she Oliver's?"

Lilly's eyes filled with tears. She hesitated, but then nodded ever so slightly.

Miley smiled excitedly. "Lilly, you have to come back. Oliver will be so excited. He thought he scared you off when he, well, you know. He's been so miserable without you. He was finally about to give up searching for you..."

"Miley!" Lilly yelled to interrupt her. "I can't go back! Not now. He'll hate me. No! I have a life here!"

Miley's eyes widened. "You've found another guy?"

Lilly shifted uncomfortably. "Well, no. But still..."

It was Robbie Ray who interrupted now. "Lilly, you're coming back. Not because of Oliver, but because you are still legally considered a minor. Your parents have been worried sick."

Lilly began to cry. "I'm eighteen next month. Leave me alone! This is my life!"

Arianna began to cry and scream when she saw her mother's tears.

"Awww, baby!" Miley baby-talked, "It's okay. I'm your auntie. I'll bring you to meet your daddy."

"Miley!" Lilly snapped. "NO!" She hugged her daughter close. "Let me out here! You guys are getting out of walking distance from my house and I've got work tonight."

"Lils," Robbie Ray's voice was calm. "I'm taking you back to Malibu. Where do you live? We will pick up your stuff."

"No!!" Lilly screamed.