Who I Thought You Were

Chapter 1: TheStranger

Sophia’s POV

*on the phone with Marla*

“Hey, don’t hang up okay, he’s still following me.” I said shakily.

“Why do you always try to be so independent Sophia? If you had gone to the races with one of the guards, this wouldn’t be happening” Marla said.

“Oh my God Marla he’s approaching me! And he’s pulling something out of his bag!”

*call line goes flat*

*24 hours earlier*

I heard the Aspen races were happening tomorrow and it’s the sort of thing I went to with my parents. But, they’re out of town on royal retreat this week and I was told I couldn’t go alone.

“Marla. Do you think it’ll be a good idea to go alone tomorrow?” I say with puppy dog eyes.

Marla stops wiping down a palace statue and stares at me like I’ve gone insane.

“Are you crazy?”

“What?”

“There’s no reason you should be going alone. You know the guards have to protect you, right?”

“But it’ll draw too much attention. Common, I don’t need guards constantly to survive.” I explain.

“Fine then. But be very careful.”

She doesn’t sound convinced.

At all.

The morning of the event and I’m so excited.

I’ve always taken an interest in horses so my parents would take me every year.

I hated the idea of going this year without my parents but with guards hovering over me.

The races were going great.

I got up to go get food when I saw this man.

He was very tall, just like me. But taller.

Dressed in a suit that fit his handsome physique perfectly.

I couldn’t see his eyes tho.

His polo assn hat covered them.

As soon as I stood up to leave, he followed.

Feeling uneasy, I call Marla.

“Marla stay on this call. Someone’s following me. I’m scared”

I whispered over the phone.

“Sophia what the heck? Should I call the guards to come fetch you? What do I do?”

Marla seemed scared too.

“Listen, don’t do any of that. Just stay on the line”

“Of course.”

“Hey, don’t hang up okay, he’s still following me out” I said shakily

“Why do you always try to be so independent Sophia? If you had gone to the races with one of the guards, this wouldn’t be happening” Marla said

“Oh my God Marla he’s approaching me! And he’s pulling something out of his bag!”

*call line goes flat*

Now he’s approaching me.

“Sophia you i***t. You shouldn’t have gone alonel” I say to myself,

The man is now standing right in front of me.

I can see his eyes now, forest green.

They didn’t look evil, just… captivating.

Once I found my way out of the grasp of his eyes, I see he’s holding something out to me.

I instinctively took a step back.

It’s paper.

Not a weapon or anything like that.

I hesitate to reach out

“Take it”

His voice is deep and warm.

He sounds British too.

He smiles and extends his arm.

“What is that?”

He didn’t answer.

I take it and unfold it.

My breath caught.

It was me

A drawing of me.

“No way”

It was detailed and excellent.

“You drew this?”

He nodded.

“What? When?”

“As of right now, thirty minutes ago”

He smiles and giggles.

“Why? Don’t get me wrong tho. It’s incredible”

“Well, I thought you looked heavenly across the stands. I couldn’t even focus on the race.”

I blush so hard I turn red.

“Oh really?”

I say casually trying to distract him from my tomato red face.

“So you were watching me huh?”

“I was drawing you. So yes…?”

He says mid laugh.

“Whatever”

I should have walked away at that exact moment.

I mean, this man is a stranger.

A cute stranger.

“What’s your name?”

“Tyler”

“Tyler what?”

“Tyler Roe”

“Okay, my name is-“

“Sophia” he says.

“Woah dude. How do you know me?”

“You’re literally the princess”

He says while rolling his eyes.

“Oh yeah”

“Listen, I gotta go. Give me your number.”

Why is he asking for my number??

“Excuse me?” I say concerned.

“Do you want a digital copy of the drawing or not?”

“Oh- why not I guess. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I could be a bad guy”

He shrugs.

“Well you just said so and I don’t think a real bad guy would.”

I laughed.

He extends his phone and as I reach to grab it, my fingers touch his.

At this point, I’m redder than a tomato.

I put my number in his phone and we part ways.

I couldn’t stop looking at the drawing on my way back to the palace.

He’s talented.

And for the first time im my 22 years, I felt different.

Was i catching feelings?

As soon as i got back to the palace, I told Marla what had happened .

“I thought you were in danger oh my gosh. I would’ve sent the guards to get you but you specifically said not to do that.”

Marla seemed angry. She had every right to be. Although she’s my maid, she’s also my best friend.

“I’m sorry. I really am. It’s just that, he was too hot to ignore”

“Hold up. Did Sophia Sinot just call a man hot? He must be really damn fine then. Tell me more!”

“Well… he’s really tall. Brown hair. I’m also assuming he’s British.”

“What else?”

“How could I forget the best part. His eyes are the prettiest shade of green. I almost got lost in them” I say.

“Well sheesh. He seems incredible. Plus he drew this too”

Marla says while looking at the drawing.

“Do you like him?” She asks with a smirk.

“What? I just met the dude. And I probably won’t ever see him again you know.” I say trying to sound convincing.

“You haven’t answered my question…”

“Maybe. In fact, no. Okay just a little. Like a tiny bit”

“I actually can’t believe this. Who would have thought you’d go to the races and end up meeting the man of your dreams.”