One Direction Liam Payne, Girlfriend Sophia Smith: Tour 2014 Approaching As Couple Spends Shopping Day Together; How Do Zayn Malik, Perrie Edwards Deal With Distance?

Liam Payne and his girlfriend Sophia Smith were spotted shopping together in London just weeks before he jets off for the One Direction tour 2014. How does fellow One Direction singer Zayn Malik and girlfriend Perrie Edwards deal with the distance, and can Liam Payne take their advice with girlfriend Sophia Smith?

According to Unreality TV, Liam Payne was pictured in London's Westfield shopping centre with his girlfriend Sophia Smith. The couple is probably trying to spend as much time together as possible between intense rehearsals for the One Direction "Where We Are" tour 2014, which kicks off in just a few weeks. Their first stop is on April 25, in Bogota, Colombia.

Though the distance might be tough, Liam has waited a long time for Sophia to come into his life - hopefully they'll hold onto each other! Liam Payne, 20, and his 24-year-old girlfriend go way back: the One Direction singer and the gorgeous brunette have known each other since their school days at St. Peter's Collegiate School in England, Hollywood Life reports. In fact, Sophia Smith was Liam Payne's childhood crush, and he reportedly was turned down 22 times before he finally started dating his bombshell girlfriend!

Meanwhile, fellow One Direction singer Zayn Malik and his fiancee Perrie Edwards have learned how to deal with the distance during their world tours. Hopefully Zayn can pass on his advice to Liam!

"It's gonna be tough but we always make it work," Perrie told Us Weekly about Zayn travelling for much of this year on the One Direction tour. "Lots of texting and talking. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I guess."