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00:00Hi friends, I'm Jaina from Pennsylvania. Please like and subscribe.
00:04I grew up happy. My dad worked in marketing and my mom was a teacher.
00:08We had a beautiful big home, white picket fence, even a dog named Biscuit.
00:13Every birthday I got a huge party and every summer we stayed at a house by the lake.
00:18My friends and I spent every moment together. Everything was wonderful.
00:23Then my dad lost his job. Suddenly, everything in my life became horrible.
00:28We had to sell our beautiful house and I said goodbye to all my childhood friends since we moved to a completely different state.
00:35Our new place was a tiny little apartment. On the first day there, I saw rats.
00:42They didn't allow animals either, so we had to give Biscuit to a friend.
00:46Dad had to take on two jobs and my parents began to fight all the time.
00:50I went from being happy in every part of my life to just wanting to be someone else.
00:55Without my friends or parents around, I turned to basically just watching TV.
01:01Everyone there seemed to have the perfect life.
01:03Beautiful apartments, sparkly dresses, fun parties and friends.
01:08They also had something else in common.
01:10They all moved to New York to start a new life of glitz and glamour.
01:15Maybe if I went to New York, I could be someone totally new too.
01:18As soon as I turned 15, I started working at the local ice cream shop.
01:22I saved every single penny, smiling even as the rudest people came into the store.
01:28This strawberry ice cream is too pink.
01:31My kid dropped his ice cream. We want a new one.
01:34This is melting. I want my money back.
01:37It didn't matter what they said to me.
01:39All I cared about was saving for my new life.
01:42Slowly, my savings started to add up.
01:45By the time I turned 16, I had enough for a weekend in New York.
01:49I knew I couldn't have a whole new life yet.
01:51But for now, a weekend would be enough.
01:54I finally told my parents on the morning of my birthday,
01:57I'm going to New York for the weekend.
02:00New York? That's so expensive. We can't pay for that, honey.
02:03I saved up from the ice cream shop.
02:05Okay, but call us every day, okay?
02:08Yeah, yeah, sure, whatever.
02:10They dropped me off at the train station and I was off.
02:14I was so excited to finally be on my own
02:16and knew that at least for the weekend, I could be whoever I wanted.
02:21New York was so exciting.
02:22I could go wherever and do whatever.
02:25I tried on dresses at a fancy department store.
02:27I bought a hot dog from someone off the street,
02:30then got sick an hour later.
02:31But it was okay. I was living my dream.
02:35Finally, I went to the hotel I booked.
02:36I dreamed of gold chandeliers and well-dressed doormen
02:41and expensive steak dinners the whole train ride here.
02:45Instead, I got this.
02:47The hotel was tiny, dirty.
02:50Flies buzzed in the lobby.
02:52It didn't even have my own room.
02:54It was filled with other people and I just had a single bed.
02:58I think there's been a mistake.
03:00Nope, this is what you booked.
03:02Welcome to New York.
03:03This was not what I imagined my New York trip would be like.
03:07But it was all I could afford.
03:09Even in my dream city, I was still the same person
03:12and my life hadn't changed at all.
03:14Suddenly, New York didn't seem that great.
03:18It was smelly and dirty and there were way too many people.
03:21Hey, watch where you're going.
03:23Who are you looking at?
03:25Nothing. I just...
03:26Hey!
03:27Someone bumped right into me and I nearly fell over.
03:30As I stood up, I realized he had stolen my wallet.
03:34I ran after the thief, but after a few minutes, he was gone.
03:37Now I didn't have anything.
03:39It was all too much.
03:41People were so mean.
03:43I started to cry in the middle of the street
03:45and people began staring and pointing.
03:48It was so incredibly embarrassing.
03:51Finally, I decided to just go into the nearest building
03:54to get away from everything.
03:56Wow.
03:57This was the hotel of my dreams.
04:00Big, beautiful chandeliers.
04:02Dormant in fancy suits.
04:04Rich women drinking champagne and dressed in sparkling gowns.
04:08This is who I wanted to be.
04:10I was so enchanted by everything
04:12that I ran headfirst into someone.
04:14Ow!
04:15Elena.
04:16Huh?
04:16That wasn't my name.
04:18This man must have confused me with someone.
04:20Where have you been?
04:22You can't just run off without telling someone.
04:24Who even are you?
04:26I'm Stefan.
04:27Your parents sent me to make sure you stayed safe.
04:30You have to tell me when you leave the hotel.
04:33Come, let's go back to your room.
04:35My room?
04:36The one with the bed surrounded by other strangers and mice?
04:40It was the last place I wanted to be other than home.
04:43I almost ran.
04:44Then I noticed that Stefan wasn't taking me out of the building at all.
04:48Instead, he was taking me further into the hotel.
04:51I was shocked as I stepped into an elevator completely made of gold.
04:57It whisked us away so high and so fast, I almost got sick.
05:02It felt like we were flying.
05:04The elevator doors opened directly to a hotel room.
05:07No, not a hotel room.
05:09A penthouse.
05:11This is my room?
05:13I know it's not big enough, but you have to deal with it for now.
05:17And again, if you want to leave, you just have to ask.
05:21Your dad just wants to make sure you're okay.
05:24Not big enough?
05:26This place was a palace.
05:28Stefan left and I had the whole room to myself.
05:32The bathroom was all marble with a built-in hot tub.
05:36The TV was huge, bigger than I was.
05:39And there were so many chandeliers, I lost count.
05:42Even the bed was luxurious.
05:44So tall and soft, I could barely even climb on.
05:47Who the heck had such a nice hotel room?
05:50I knew I should have told him he had the wrong person.
05:53That I wasn't Elena and I didn't belong here.
05:56But then again, this was exactly what I had dreamed of.
06:00My stomach started growling and I decided I would have to figure all that out later.
06:04After some free food.
06:06I raided the mini fridge in the room.
06:08Snacking on soda and chips.
06:10I even ordered room service.
06:11By the time I was done, I was almost gonna fall over.
06:15Life had never been this good.
06:18My phone rang and I saw it was my parents.
06:20All I could think about was the fighting and the rats and losing our sweet biscuit.
06:25I hung up on them and decided I couldn't go back there.
06:28Ever.
06:28I would stay in New York and start my life now.
06:31Even if I had to take over this Elena girl's life to do it.
06:35I looked around and found her diary and laptop.
06:37I opened the laptop and...
06:39Is that me?
06:41Suddenly, I realized who she was.
06:44Elena!
06:45A famous actress!
06:46My friends used to joke that she was my alter ego.
06:49Jaina and Elena sounded similar after all.
06:52Except while Elena was living a perfect life, I was stuck with nothing at all.
06:58Elena would probably be back soon.
07:00If they caught me in the room, I would get in huge trouble.
07:03I had to get out of here before I was arrested or kicked out.
07:07But maybe I could go with a little something extra since my wallet was stolen after all.
07:12After changing into Elena's clothes, I told Stefan I was going shopping.
07:17He insisted on coming with me.
07:19When we got to the store, I said, I forgot my card.
07:22He just sighed and handed me the money, no questions asked.
07:26It was more cash than I had ever seen in my life.
07:29With this kind of money, I didn't have to go back to Pennsylvania at all.
07:33I grabbed a bunch of clothes and told him I was going to try them on.
07:36But as soon as I was out of view, I made a run for it.
07:39Maybe New York hadn't been that great at first, but things were going to be different now.
07:44Or so I thought.
07:45I hadn't even walked more than a few blocks when I realized I had forgotten my phone.
07:50But that was the least of my problems because suddenly,
07:53someone grabbed me from behind and everything turned dark.
07:56I woke up a few hours later, feeling dizzy and confused.
08:01Where, where am I?
08:03You!
08:03Hey, you!
08:05I looked around and saw a girl staring at me from across the room,
08:08but she was in total dark so I couldn't see her.
08:11What are you doing here?
08:12I don't even know where here is.
08:14I don't even know who you are.
08:16Well, I've been kidnapped.
08:18It happens a lot, you know, to people like me.
08:21What I don't understand is why you're here.
08:23I've never been kidnapped with other people before.
08:25Oh my god, does that mean I'm not special?
08:28She stepped into the light and I realized.
08:31Elena?
08:32That's me.
08:33Now, who in the world are you?
08:35I'm Jaina.
08:36Jaina.
08:37You seem familiar, but I don't remember meeting you at a party or a ball.
08:41We look a bit alike.
08:43As if I could never have such ratty doll hair.
08:47Or put together an outfit that horrible.
08:50Horrible?
08:51It's your jacket!
08:52Oh my god, it is!
08:54You're stealing from me?
08:56What?
08:56No.
08:56I mean, well, kind of.
08:59Are you working with the kidnappers?
09:01No.
09:01Stefan thought it was you.
09:03Ugh.
09:04I can't believe he mistook you from me.
09:06That's so gross.
09:07I was starting to get mad.
09:09This girl was so rude.
09:11We have bigger problems here.
09:13Maybe you get kidnapped a lot.
09:15But I definitely don't.
09:16I'm gonna get out of here, with or without you.
09:19Now, are you gonna help me or not?
09:21Elena stared at me for a long moment.
09:23Fine.
09:24But only so I can yell at Stefan.
09:26The two of us sat down and hatched a plan.
09:29The kidnappers come to check on us every few hours.
09:31They have to unlock the door, which means we can escape.
09:34How about I pretend to be hurt, so they have to come all the way in?
09:38Then you can knock them out.
09:40Uh-uh.
09:40I'm the actress.
09:42You knock them out.
09:43Fine.
09:44Okay.
09:44Then what?
09:45We have to tell someone where we are.
09:47How the heck are we gonna do that?
09:49We gotta steal a phone.
09:51Suddenly, our planning was interrupted by something outside the basement.
09:55We eavesdropped through the door.
09:56What are they saying?
09:58They don't know which one of us is actually famous.
10:01That's why they kidnapped us both.
10:03We only have a little time then.
10:05Once they figure out which one of us is the real Elena, who knows what they'll do.
10:09Probably wonder how they could possibly have been so dumb to think someone like you could
10:14be someone like me.
10:16That kinda hurts, you know.
10:18Oh.
10:19Sorry.
10:20I'm not very good with people.
10:22They usually just want my money or a picture with me.
10:26No one really talks to me except bodyguards.
10:28That sounds terrible.
10:29I'm sorry.
10:31I gave Elena a big hug and she began to tear up.
10:34You know, I actually liked things better when we didn't have money.
10:38Really?
10:39Yeah.
10:40My dad doesn't care about me anymore.
10:42That's why I keep letting myself get kidnapped.
10:45All my dad does is work and fight with my mom.
10:49I don't think it's the same.
10:50They care about you, right?
10:52Right.
10:53My dad doesn't even remember my birthday.
10:56Elena looked very sad.
10:57I felt guilty about not answering my parents' call earlier that day.
11:02I knew Elena would do anything to have her dad call her.
11:05Suddenly, we heard footsteps in the hallway.
11:07Quick, the plan!
11:09I hid behind the door while Elena retreated to a far corner.
11:12She started crying and pretending that she was hurt.
11:15It felt like it was straight out of a movie.
11:17One kidnapper entered the room and looked concerned.
11:20As he walked towards Elena, I used the chair and hit him.
11:24He was knocked right out.
11:25I rummaged through his jacket until I found his phone.
11:28Got it!
11:29We dialed 911.
11:31Then quietly, Elena and I tiptoed up the stairs and out of the basement.
11:35We took off our shoes to be extra quiet and snuck past one of the kidnappers snoring on
11:39the couch.
11:40We were almost out the door when someone suddenly shouted,
11:44Hey!
11:44They're getting away!
11:45One of them ran and blocked off our exit and reached out to grab us.
11:50Elena and I ran in opposite directions.
11:52We ran into the dining room.
11:53I started throwing everything I could find.
11:55A fork, a napkin, a frying pan.
11:58Throw your shoes!
11:59These are designer!
12:01You matter more than your shoes!
12:03I grabbed a plate from the dining table and chucked it at the kidnapper.
12:06It shattered against his head and took him down.
12:09Go!
12:09Go!
12:09Go!
12:10Elena sprinted to the door.
12:12To freedom!
12:13Yes!
12:14Not so fast, girly.
12:16The last kidnapper grabbed me by the arm, yanking me away before I could make it out.
12:21That hurts!
12:21Hurts!
12:22You're coming with me.
12:24I'll get that ransom if it's the last thing I do.
12:27Jana!
12:28Elena was standing in the doorway, frozen in fear.
12:31Why hadn't she left yet?
12:33Go!
12:34I won't leave you!
12:35Suddenly, the front door came down entirely.
12:38Give us our daughter back.
12:40Dad!
12:41Mom!
12:41I was so relieved to see them.
12:44I almost started crying.
12:46Behind them, I could hear the sirens.
12:48The police were on their way.
12:50The kidnapper's grip on my arm tightened.
12:52Where's our money?
12:54Your money?
12:55How about our daughter?
12:56You're not getting her back without it.
12:58Ow!
12:59Elena grabbed me and dragged me away from the kidnapper.
13:02Come on, Jaina.
13:03Let's go!
13:05You threw the shoes!
13:06Of course I did!
13:07You matter way more than shoes!
13:10Police!
13:11Hands up!
13:12And just like that, the police came and arrested all of the kidnappers.
13:16They told us that they would be going away for a very, very long time.
13:20My parents wouldn't let me go, constantly hugging me and making sure I was okay.
13:26How did you know I was kidnapped?
13:28You left your phone at the hotel.
13:30Stefan called us when the kidnappers demanded they pay up for both girls,
13:34and we realized that they had you too.
13:36We should have never let you go into the city alone.
13:40I didn't think you cared.
13:42We love you so much, Jaina.
13:44Maybe we're not the best at showing it, but at the end of the day, you're our daughter.
13:49We might not have a lot of money, but we would give anything for you.
13:54I love you too.
13:55Let's go home.
13:57I smiled at my parents, but I noticed that Elena started to look really sad.
14:01Her parents hadn't come at all.
14:03It was only Stefan.
14:04Are you going to be okay?
14:07I'll be fine.
14:08I just wished my family cared as much as yours did.
14:11You know, friends can be family too.
14:14We smiled at each other, and I reached out and squeezed Elena's hand.
14:18Come visit me in Pennsylvania.
14:20Pennsylvania?
14:20I would love that.