Sofia stood frozen behind the counter, her eyes lingering on the door as it swung shut. The record shop seemed suddenly smaller, the warmth and coziness of the place shifting into something strange and unsettling. There was something off about the man who had just bolted—his nervous energy, the way he kept looking over his shoulder like someone was after him.
She glanced at the two men who remained in the shop, her gut twisting uncomfortably. The one with the camera seemed agitated, whispering urgently to his companion, but neither of them appeared to be in any rush to leave. Sofia's instincts kicked in—this wasn't the kind of crowd she usually catered to. Tourists came for the records, not to snap photos of other customers.
"Can I help you guys?" she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.
The man with the camera looked up, a thin smile stretching across his face. "Maybe you can. Did you know who that guy was? The one who just left?"
Sofia shook her head, playing dumb. "No. Just a regular customer, I guess."
His companion stepped forward, his face pale and serious. "That wasn't just any customer. You might've had a rock star in your shop."
The words hung in the air like a jarring note in a song. Sofia's heart skipped a beat, and she involuntarily glanced at the stack of records where the mysterious man had been standing. That British band… Blackhill Midnight. Could it be?
She remembered the look in his eyes—the weight he carried, the silence that spoke louder than words. But Liam Hawthorne? No, it couldn't be. What would one of the most famous musicians in the world be doing in her shop, in this quiet corner of Barcelona?
"Rock star?" Sofia asked, keeping her voice steady. "I don't know. He didn't seem like anyone special."
The man with the camera laughed, low and incredulous. "Not anyone special? That guy is one of the biggest names in the world. He's been on the run for months. Haven't you seen the papers? Liam Hawthorne—he disappeared, went off the grid after the tour fell apart. No one's seen him since. Until now."
Sofia blinked, her mind racing. Liam Hawthorne. The name echoed in her head, and the reality of the situation started to sink in. She had heard the rumors—everyone had. The tabloids had been all over the story: the collapse of Blackhill Midnight, the burnout, the scandals. Then, Liam had vanished. Just disappeared from the public eye, leaving behind nothing but speculation.
And now, he was here. In her shop. Hiding.
She forced a smile. "Look, guys, I don't know who he is. People come and go all the time, but I don't keep tabs on them."
The man with the camera shrugged, still unconvinced. "If you say so. But you might want to keep an eye out. If he comes back… let's just say there's a lot of people looking for him. Including us."
Sofia's fingers drummed on the counter as she watched them turn and head for the door. The soft chime of the bell echoed in her ears, and the weight in her chest grew heavier. She didn't know why, but part of her already regretted letting those two into the shop.
As the door shut, the shop fell into an eerie silence. Sofia stood there, replaying everything in her mind. Was it really possible? Could the man who had slipped into her quiet world actually be one of the most famous rock stars on the planet? If the paparazzi had sniffed him out, it was only a matter of time before more people showed up—fans, reporters, maybe even worse.
Sofia glanced at the Blackhill Midnight record still sitting on the counter. Her fingers grazed the cover. It felt like a piece of history, like she was holding a secret.
But what now?
She knew what came next. If the paparazzi had their sights set on her shop, it wouldn't take long before they started camping outside. The last thing she needed was this kind of attention. Business was already struggling. The shop had been holding on by a thread for months, with fewer and fewer customers every week. The digital world was eating up her livelihood, one download at a time.
She couldn't afford to let this get out of hand.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, startling her out of her thoughts. She fumbled for it, recognizing the name on the screen: Carmen.
"Hey," Sofia said, trying to sound normal, but her voice came out tight.
"Everything okay?" Carmen asked. "You sound off."
Sofia hesitated. She wasn't even sure how to explain what had just happened. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... weird day."
Carmen chuckled on the other end. "Weird? It's a Tuesday in Barcelona. That's pretty much normal."
Sofia managed a smile, despite the knot forming in her stomach. Carmen was her closest friend, the one who had stuck by her even when the record shop seemed doomed. But right now, she wasn't ready to spill everything. Not yet.
"Anyway, I was calling to check on you," Carmen said. "I'm swinging by the shop tomorrow. Thought I'd bring some coffee, keep you company. Things still slow?"
"Yeah," Sofia replied, her voice softer. "Still slow."
"Don't worry. Things will pick up. They always do."
Sofia wanted to believe her. Carmen had always been the optimist, the one who encouraged her to keep going even when she wanted to throw in the towel. But this time felt different. The weight of keeping the shop afloat was starting to feel unbearable, and now there was the added chaos of potentially harboring a runaway rock star.
"Thanks, Carmen," Sofia said, trying to sound upbeat. "I'll see you tomorrow."
She hung up and let out a long breath. The walls of the shop felt like they were closing in on her, the weight of everything threatening to crush her. Sofia glanced at the clock on the wall—closing time was approaching, but she didn't feel like locking up just yet. There was something about the solitude of the shop at night that brought her a strange sense of calm.
But that calm was shattered when the door flew open.
Liam stormed back into the shop, his cap still pulled low, but his eyes burning with urgency. He moved quickly, crossing the floor in a few long strides before reaching the counter. His presence was magnetic, even in his disheveled state, and Sofia couldn't help but feel the pull.
"They saw me," Liam muttered, glancing over his shoulder toward the street outside. "I don't have much time."
Sofia's heart raced. "Who? The guys with the camera?"
Liam nodded, his jaw clenched. "They're just the start. More will come. They always do."
"What are you doing here?" Sofia asked, keeping her voice low. "You can't stay."
"I know." Liam's voice was strained, like he was barely holding it together. "But I need a favor."
Sofia blinked, caught off guard. "A favor?"
Liam leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I need you to help me disappear."