Falling stars don't crash through your window. If you want it, go get it's meant to be chased.

"I want to be famous too when I grow up" she told them once and her parents—Rashmi and Haroom stared down at her, exchanging brief looks of mixed surprise and bafflement for they both knew that if Toothiana wanted something, there was no turning back. Of course that time she was still young and they thought she was only babbling.

Toothiana, or Tooth for short was only a mere child, six years of age to be exact. She was born to a fairly wealthy family in Thailand and is the only child of Rashmi and Haroom, often referred to as their little treasure. Of course she was spoiled to no end. Her parents loved her so much, they provided her with anything she asked for and gave her their endless attention.

Despite this, Tooth never let go of her kind and friendly nature. She was verbose and out-spoken; at times even a hyper-active wild child who felt like there were no rules to hold her down. She often chatters and her words were always spoken so fast, they become incoherent. Sometimes she herself had no idea of what she was saying either.

The girl had big dreams and held high hopes for someone her age. Her round eyes always held a look of determination, depicting her relentless personality. It was the exact look she was giving them at the moment.

Rashmi laughed, not a scornful laugh of disdain but a gentle amused giggle. She crouched down to Toothiana's eye level and held her small shoulders as she smiled. "Oh my little treasure, whatever do you mean by this?" the girl squirmed under her mother's grasp, uncomfortable of the set of heavy gazes that were now locked on her. She pursed her lips hesitantly, not sure of how to expound her thoughts. "Well, you know" she started childishly, giving them the wide eyed look of pure innocence they were all too familiar with. "Like those people in movies, I wanna be just like them some day, do you think I can?"

Faint disapproval flashed across Haroom's expression, disappearing as quick as it came. He too crouched down to look at her, placing a hand on her head and ruffling her hair fondly. "Of course you can some day, but you must understand. If you want to become someone like that…" he hesitated, deeming to choose the right words carefully. "You have to be persistent, and you have to be strong." He could feel Rashmi tense beside him. They both knew one day Tooth would eventually pursue her dreams and one day she would get hurt.

"But I'm strong," the girl insistent, puffing out her chest. "I can handle anything."

"Of course you can!" Rashmi reached out to run her fingers through the child's hair comfortingly. "But just remember we will always be there to help you."

"I don't have to remember it, I already know so." Tooth beamed at them brightly as she toyed with a strand of her hair. Though the idea of Toothiana leaving her home to go to Hollywood was a terrifying thought for her parents, they had no other choice but to encourage her as she grew, after all, they desired to keep her happy. They would support her whenever she was ready, but neither of them expected it would happen this soon.

As soon as Toothiana graduated from collage in a course of Performing Arts, she presented the idea of moving to Hollywood for some auditions to see if she could land a role in any movies. All Haroom could offer was a reluctant smile, but Rashmi was incredulous.

"This…you are practically throwing your life away!" She snapped, no matter how much she tried to keep her voice leveled, her anger was boiling up inside of her.

Tooth was taken aback by her statement. Her eyes were wide and brimming as the tears began to glaze over but she angrily blinked them away, not wanting to seem weak. Shhe wanted to show them she could make her own decisions. "How is this throwing my life away?" she asked tightly, keeping her voice from quivering. "I am moving there to try some auditions and who knows, I might even land a role in a movie, even the smallest role would be alright for me, after all life is like a ladder right? You'll just keep climbing up until you reach the top."

"Toothiana you do not understand," Rashmi tried again. "You are too naïve, you do not just simply go to Hollywood for auditions. You must need agents; you need managers and someone who is willing to represent you."

"I can find those," the girl insisted. "I'll just live there for a while, go attend a few auditions and maybe I'll meet someone who is willing to represent me."

"It does not happen like that Tooth," her mother sighed in exasperation, running a hand through her hair. "Have you learned nothing from all those reality shows you watched? How those celebrities used to work in fast food chains just to earn money? Its not that easy to work there Tooth. You'll have a better chance here?"

"How do you know that?" Tooth accosted, giving her a pointed look. "You've never even been there! You are the one who kept repeating the saying to me right? You'll never know until you try."

"Toothiana you must listen to me." Her mother was pleading already. "You do not have enough experience with real life. Things just do not work the way you think they do, miracles will not happen immediately, especially if you are in California. You need to stay here for a couple more years, you'll have the chance to get a better job here and maybe while you are working, you can attend more acting classes."

Toothiana flopped onto her chair and buried her face in her hands. "Mother, I've been to so many summer workshops and acting classes during high school. I've joined so much plays, don't you think that's enough experience already?"

"Toothiana…" Rashmi shook her head. "No, that is not enough" as much as she hated to say those words, it is true. "High school is entirely different from working. You have to remember you have already graduated and your life won't always have instruction to tell you what to do."

"That's that point," the girl answered icily. "I am graduated and I can make my own decisions. I don't need your instructions to tell me where to go because I believe I'm making the right choice."

Rashmi couldn't understand. Toothiana was an excellent student, she excelled in her academics and had straight A's every year. She expected her to have more logic than this. "My dear" she sighed, taking a seat beside her, folding her hands calmly on her lap. "Dreams take long to fulfill, but right now you are moving so fast."

"I'm not moving too fast" Tooth turned away from her mother, directing her icy cold stare out the window. "This is just the starting point. I know there is still a long way to go, I know that mother. I don't need anymore acting classes. I've waited all my life for this. I believe I'm ready!"

"But what if you are not?" Rashmi inquired, her eyes burning with range albeit her tone was still kept neutral. "It is another country on the other side of the world. Things are entirely different there. You will be around total strangers and you will be truly alone. Is that what you want?"

"No" Tooth returned her gaze to meet her mother's eyes. "No I don't want that, but I can bare with it for a little while." Her voice had an edge but her tone eventually softened. "I believe I can do it mother, you have to believe I can too. Just let me try"

Rashmi began to say something, but she couldn't find the right words. Closing her eyes, she stood up slowly and strode over to the balcony. "It is dangerous there" she said in a hushed whisper, barely audible but the silence was so deep Tooth was able to hear her. The girl suddenly felt like she was a part of those fables where the mother bears tell her cubs how dangerous it is out in the wild. It didn't make sense to her. L.A wasn't dangerous, al she had to do was stay away from dark alleys in the night and she would be fine. She was just about to object when Rashmi's whisper sounded again. "As beautiful as it might sound, the city of dreams is filled with heartbreak and sorrow."

Toothiana stood up as well and paced towards her mother, reaching out a shaking hand to cup her shoulder somewhat comfortingly. "I know that mother….just let me try….let me stay there for maybe a year and when nothing happens, I'll come home…"

"There will be heartbreak…." Rashmi turned to her daughter, taking her smaller hands in hers. "There will be a lot of heartbreak."

Tooth nodded. "I know that already, I'm ready." She bowed her head and looked down at her own feet before raising her head again. "Remember what you told me when I was small. You and father told me to be strong. Now I am strong and I know I'm ready because I know you will be there for me."

The woman gave her a weak smile; remembering her own statement she said years ago. Somehow it still felt like yesterday and she could still see the little Toothiana standing at her feet telling her about her dreams. "Your father and I….we only want to protect you from that heartbreak…you must understand."

"I do" She gave her hands a comforting squeeze. "Just let me try"

"Order is ready!" the voice made Tooth snap out of her trance, she tore her eyes away from her palms and looked behind her to find the chef peering from the counter with steaming plates of food ready to serve. "Better not doze of again lass, if you don't want to get fired," he added.

"I'm sorry," she bowed her head slightly in apology and rushed to gather the orders into a tray. She hurried over to the tables to serve the food. "Just let me try," she muttered along the way. "See mother, I am trying to make this work."

It has only been her third month living on her own and she was already having a hard time. On her first few weeks in California, it was like living her dream. The stars she used to love so much were outshined by the brilliant city lights and the air felt so much colder than what she had grown accustomed to. The sound were a little deafening, loud music blaring from the speakers, car horns sounding and even the loud chatters of the strangers that walked by her. It felt like a whole different universe, but nonetheless she actually loved it there.

She managed to rent a small apartment for her to stay in while she went to a few auditions for small budget movies, TV movies and even cheap commercials, although the directors she tried for called her back only to inform her she didn't get the part, some never even called back at all.

After a few more weeks, she began to struggle. She figured couldn't land any roles any time soon so she decided to take a job in the Café not far from where her building was. It wasn't that bad, the pay was enough, and her boss was nice. The customers were okay too, most of them were up for a chat, some were grumpy and occasionally there are some who were downright rude, but she didn't mind. That's how life is after all. She recalled how grumpy she was the first time she didn't get even a part in the four auditions she went to.

Her parents called her once in a while to ask how she was doing but she would only lie and tell them she was casted in a short film which would be out soon. She knew they would only send her back when she told them the truth and she didn't want that. No matter how much she missed the warm comforts of her home, she wasn't ready to leave yet, even if the year she promised to stay has passed, she wouldn't leave yet. She would keep trying; keep climbing up until she reached the top.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket, startling her a little. After she had served the orders, she set the tray aside and hauled herself up to sit on the counter top. She fumbled inside her apron and fished out her phone. An unknown number flashed on the screen along. A tinge of hope swelled in her heart as she pressed the answer button and held the phone to her ear, hoping it was a call back from an audition. "Hello? Yes this is her—oh, baby-sit this weekend? Okay, just text me the address and I'll be there at…um—oh 5pm? Alright, thank you ma'am."

Tooth sighed and shoved the phone back into her pocket when the woman hung up. The pay in the café was good enough, although it only served sufficient for her bills. She charged $10 dollars an hour for baby-sitting, though it might not sound much, it was enough to prevent her from getting kicked out of her apartment.

Looks like she was going to have another restless weekend and she was only getting a little whiff of how hard life could be…

Song: Forever Unstoppable by Hot Chelle Rae