Sophia was getting ready to go shopping; she had a nice dress flowing down to her mid thigh and she paired it with an elegant pair of heels. She carefully put on her make up, covering her freckles and all flaws on her face that the people could start making a fuss about her.

If it was her way, she'd simply put a sweatpants and a random shirt on, then pair it with her running shoes and she'd be out in the mall shopping her as* off. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. And even though she'd only be out for shopping, she had to dress like she had to walk the runway.

She had just smacked her lips after putting a nude lipstick on when her phone rang. With one last look on her perfectly caked face, she sighed before she stood and picked her purse up, ignoring the phonecall.

**

True to his father's words, there were two bodyguards hot on her tail everywhere she went. This was the least number of bodyguard she had when she was out but it was still bad. She felt like a kid who needed a nanny.

Nontheless, she walked with poise, just like how everyone expected her to do, and put on a little smile on her face. Couple of people greeted her and she greeted them back though she had no idea who they were. Everywhere she went, she felt eyes burning holes on her but she ignored them. She walked in and out of shops and supposedly, she was going to buy clothes she liked, but even her picks on clothes were being watched and she felt like whenever she as much as looked at clothes she wasn't expected to wear, people were judging her, so she ended up not buying some of the clothes she truly wanted. Every move she made was being watched and this little show she needed to put up was all tiring her.

A familiar ring flooded through her ears and she immediately fished her phone out of her purse. She gave the paper bags she was holding to one of the guards before answering the call, glad to find a distraction.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Soph!" a sugary sweet voice came from the other line.

"Oh, hi Eleanor," Sophia greeted back, earning a giggle from Eleanor. Eleanor was the closest to a bestfriend and the only friend she had. She said closest because bestfriends do things together like sleepovers, roadtrips, and vacations just the them two and sadly, they'd done none of that yet.

They could only hang out inside Sophia's house. When they were out, they had atleast five bodyguards with them restricting their every move - and even their time was limited. Sophia is grareful Eleanor stuck with and tolerated her. If the positions were switched, Sophia probably had long cut her off from her friends list.

"I've called you hundred times, were you busy?" Eleanor asked.

She, however, was a different story. She knew how difficult was to be in Sophia's shoes so Eleanor always reached out to her. Infact, if you asked Eleanor, she'd immediately answer that yes, Sophia is her bestfriend.

Sophia briefly looked at her phone and true enough she saw the missed call symbol on top of the screen with a number 18 beside it.

"I'm sorry, I'm in the mall, shopping."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, should I call later?" Eleanor politely asked.

"No, no, no. It's fine. Did you want to tell me something?" Sophia asked.

"You know my birthday's near, right?" Eleanor asked enthusiastically.

Sophia sighed. Yes, she knew her friend's birthday was nearing and it was another problem she was thinking about. Eleanor is a party person. She celebrates her birthday in pubs and clubs, partying the night away till they're too wasted to even walk. She knew her friend would ask her to come and really she wanted to go but that meant she had to take bogyguards with her and where's the fun in that? She was certain those bodyguards would kill the vibe just like the other times where she had to go home early. And pissed.

"Yes," she answered, "But are you sure you want me there? I'm probably going to ruin it just like the other times-"

"Ofcourse, I want you there! You're my bestfriend!" Eleanor exclaimed, "And you don't ruin my birthday, it's the damn bodyguards."

"I'm sorry for that, El."

"Oh shush, my parties are still wild as f*ck, even with those bodyguards around," she assured Sophia, "Besides I have a plan to have a blast without those partypoopers."

Sophia's brows creased before she looked around, making sure no one was eavesdropping, especially her 'party pooper' bodyguards.

"What?" she asked in a whispering.

"We sneak out."

Her eyes widened before she looked around once again, just to make sure no one heard what Eleanor has said. Then she cleared her throat before approaching one of the bodyguards and telling him she'd be using the restroom.

The guard nodded and the two of them followed her before she stopped them just on the end of the hallway towards the restrooms. When both guards were assured she could easily be seen if she walked out, they both nodded their heads and she went her way.

She walked quickly towards one of the restroom without bothering to look at the sign on the door. She closed the door and locked it before putting her phone right back on her ear.

"--Soph? Hello? You still there?"

"Did I hear you wrong?" she asked, "Did I just hear you say sneak out?" she whispered loudly.

"Yes."

"Where are we going to go? With whom?" Sophia anxiously asked.

"Perrie has always wanted to meet you so that's one. About the place, I still don't know. Wherever our feet may take us. I don't want plan it and jinx it."

"How are we going to sneak out?" she asked.

"We'll figure something out," Eleanor stated confidently, "I won't be having a private party on the club so there will be other people there. That will help."

"Are you sure?" Sophia asked.

"I hope for the best," Eleanor responded.

Sophia pondered about it for a while. They might get caught and her father would probably never let her out if that happened. But on the other hand, they might not. It could be fun and liberating.

And it could be her escape.

"Okay," she said.

"Okay?" Eleanor asked.

"Okay. I'm in." Sophia clarified.

"Yay!" she heard a clapping sound from the other line making her laugh at her friend, "Oh and while you're there, might as well buy me a pretty gift, okay? Bye Soph! Love you!" then the call ended.

Sophia sighed before she decided she was in there for too long and her bodyguards might get suspicious so she unlocked the door and walked out.

But then suddenly her body bumped into something hard. Something hard which turned out to be someone.

"I'm so sorry!" She apologized.

The guy turned to her after composing himself. He had a kind smile on his face, "It's fine. But er, what are you doing in the men's restroom?" he asked.

She looked at the sign on the door which confirmed his words. It was the mens restroom. She blushed furiously.

"I-- I hadn't notice. This is embarrassing, oh gosh," she stammered before looking around to see if anyone else saw her walking out of the mens restroom.

He laughed making her blush even more, "Hey, it's okay. It happens."

She nodded not meeting his eyes, "I- I should get going before this gets any more embarrassing."

She walked away before he could even speak. Her embarrassment hindering her from thinking about why he looked so familiar.