Chapter Eight

"What would you like to be when you grow up Sophia," he asked.

"I dunno. I love writing, maybe I would become a writer or a stone artist," I said, my eyes growing bigger with delight as I added a pebble to form a atone art in which a man and a woman were kissing.

"Harrumph. What's cool in playing with stones, anyways, I would like to be a name giver!" He said, triumphantly, raising his fist to the air.

"What's that?" I asked

"What?"

"That"

"What's What?"

"Name giver"

"Oh, that."

"Yeah."

"You should know from the name. It is simply someone who gives names."

"So you want to be a what is it now? Namegiver?"

"Yeah."

"Alright, how does it works," I asked.

"Have you ever wondered why some things are given some names? Why Orange is named Orange and not something like 'bicycle or horse.'

"No, I've never wondered that."

"Awen," he said, pressing his hand to his chest. "Cute little Sophia, you only know how to eat and inflate those fat cheeks of yours."

"Justin!"

"What? Is it wrong to say that you are cute? No one has ever told you that?"

"No," I said shyly.

"Then, they need glasses," he replied, in a note of finality. "Maybe, I can lend them my Momma's own you know,"

"Okay," I said, quietly.

"Alright, I, Justin Randolph Ramirez say that you, Sophia Xena Carson are the cutest girl I know," he said, solemnly and I giggled shyly.

"Mama, Justin said that Soph is the cutest girl he knows," Martin shouted, probably annoyed that we didn't involve him in our play.

"Bad Martin, nosey Martin. Let Justin and Soph be." She shouted from the balcony upstairs. "If she's to become a Ramirez someday, she should as well spend ample time with Justin." She continued, making my cheeks turn Crimson red.

***

Parker had taken it upon himself to be the one to pick me up, "prevention is better than cure" were his words.

Now, the doorbell was ringing, the time was 6:00, I had just finished taking my bath. Throwing on a bathrobe, I opened the door.

"Parker!" I feigned surprise. "What a delight to see you?" He looked at me weirdly.

"Can I come in Soph, it's so chilly out here."

"Umm..." Suddenly, I felt insecure about my house.

"Sophia?"

"Yeah...sorry, you can come in, Parker." I let him in while avoiding his quizzical gaze. "Er, Welcome to my humble abode. Hehe."

"Wow."

"Wow?"

"Yeah, wow. Your house is nice Soph, I love the way it is compact and neat, it also smells nice."

"Huh?" I shook my head, "drop it, Parker, Cam told you how my living situation was right?"

"What? No"

"Alright then."

"You have a nice house Soph, I mean it."

"Alright then, thank you."

"Can you give me thirty minutes," I asked

"Sophia!"

"I just need to comb my hair and get dressed."

"Alright, I'm giving you an hour, the interview would be by 9:00, as you know."

"Why the extra time?" I said, suspiciously.

"Because...well, because I'm dealing with Sophia Carson and –"

"Alright Parker, alright. I get you."

I entered my room, leaving him in the small sitting room. I need to stop coming late, but how?

I brought out a black gown that I had bought earlier. Even though it had threatened to wipe out my bank account, it was worth it, as it hugged my body, showcasing all my curves. I looked into the mirror, my hair had started growing back, giving me a badass combination of Pink with black streaks, a style that I could get used to. I put on my silver heels and put on silver earrings on the piercings I had on each ear. I wore a watch, andakinaand taking a drag I was ready to go.

"I'm ready Parker," I said, wondering what his reaction would be if he saw that I had spent only forty - five minutes. Still Late, I know, but it is something isn't it?

"Parker?" I asked, looking at the man sprawled on my chair. "Wake up, I'm done." I shook him hard as I can.

"Huh? What... What's going on here!"

"It's me, I'm done. We should get going now."

"Oh...okay. How long had I slept?" He asked.

"I dunno."

"Okay."

During the drive, Parker kept giving me worried glances that made me Suspicious and uneasy.

"Is there any problem?" I asked.

"No, not at all," he replied. You say there's no problem and you're looking at me like that? How convincing Parker!

He halted at a spot. Okay, this was getting creepy as hell.

"Sophia, you are like a younger sister to me...a stubborn annoying younger sister." Smiling, he continued "but, you are my younger sister, so you see, I have no choice but to love you, and now that I love you, I care for you and as such, won't let anything bad happen to you."

Okay. Where was this leading to?

"So Soph, ahem ahem." He clears his throat. "Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, the company could find another way to get its lost glory back, that doesn't concern me not you. Let Alex deal with his issues for once."

Where's this coming from?

"Parker," I said. "Did you hit your head somewhere, let's say... By mistake? Cause I don't understand what you are saying? Where it is coming from and where it would be leading too."

He chuckled. "What I'm saying is are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yeah," I replied, confidently. The series of pep talks and how to face your ex, not your ex videos I had watched on Youtube would not go to waste.

"Alright then." He said, zooming off.

***

Today is likely the busiest day in QuickServ history, everybody appeared to be rushing from one place to another, or from another place to another. Alexander sat down on a Sofa, barking orders. Sighting us, he stood up and smiled.

"Parker, you're late."

"I made him late," I said quickly, in Parker's defense.

"Shut up Star Girl, anything wrong that you do today would be blamed on someone else. Hehe"

"Wow...oh...okay...he- he-he"

Note to self; Do not do anything wrong.

Dragging my hand, he led me to Ajax Williams, a renowned Makeup Artist. Where the fucking hell are we going to get the money to pay him?!

"Okay Soph, that's not your business, totally none of your business." My subconscious said.

Fine!

"Make her perfect," Alex ordered, dropping my head and whirling his way out of the room.

"OMG, you look so gorgeous." Ajax said, making his 'gorgeous' sound like 'Gorr-geouss'. "And the man is saying that I should make you perfect. Can you kill a dead man?"

"Er...no?"

"Exactly! How can I make you perfect when you already are?"

"I dunno," I mumbled. Just do what you are supposed to do and leave me alone!

"I guess we can give you some touches here and some touches there. You are doing to look so great babes!" Huh? Who are your babes?

"Alright, then."

"Places, he shouted, clapping his hands. Soon enough, I felt multiple hands on my face and hair, some dragging, some squeezing, rubbing, and oiling. Is this what hell feels like? Looks like I would have too to the Confession sooner than I had scheduled.

After the makeup, looking like Kylie, Parker gave me the questions that I needed to ask Slade, based on the viewer's choice.