"Go on then," I said, stepping out of the way. He ran into the bathroom and closed the door behind him whilst I waited on the bed for him to leave and let me retrieve my clothes. I lay back and wondered how this had ever happened to me, I had felt that I'd be lucky to get a glimpse of Rafa but so suddenly I'd become his friend, I's shared a bed with him and now I was sitting with only a thin dressing gown on in his apartment. I shook my head at my unbelievable good luck. It was about time that I had some. I heard the loo flushing and soon after my new friend came out of the bathroom.
"Aren't you going to get dressed?" He enquired "You can't watch me play in just your dressing gown. The officials wouldn't allow it, nobody would be watching the match because they'd be looking at you."
He blushed at his flirtatious remark which gave me butterflies in the stomach. I knew that what he'd said was just in fun and there was nothing serious about it but it still made me grin like mad.
"Well we couldn't have that, could we?" I said and went to get my clothes from the bathroom. Quickly I pulled them on, just a simple white tank top and jeans. I went back into the bedroom and switched on the TV.
"I'm just going to have a shower Sophie." Rafa told me. I nodded in reply, trying to find the international news channel. I finally found it and the current bit of news was about global trade although it seemed to be coming to an end. I lay on the bed resting my head against the pillows. A new story came on in French.
"Une fuite de gaz à Manchester en Angleterre a détruit un ensemble de trois maisons accolées. Recherche a déjà commencé, mais pas de survivants ont été retrouvés dans les décombres. Les victimes sont considérées comme Mme Rosemary Newton, 63 ans, M. Jonathon Downs, 40 ans, M. Jeremy Richardson, 50 ans, Mme Emily Richardson, 50 ans, et Miss Evie Richardson, 12."
I translated it as it went along.
A gas leak in Manchester in England has destroyed a set of three adjoined houses. Searching has already begun but no survivors have been found in the rubble. The victims are thought to be Mrs Rosemary Newton, 63, Mr Jonathon Downs, 40, Mr Jeremy Richardson, 50, Mrs Emily Richardson, 50, and Miss Evie Richardson, 12.
I was on the alert as soon as I heard the names of my next door neighbours as victims of the leak and my worst fears were quickly confirmed when the names of my father, mother and twelve year old sister were also spoken. Tears were already spilling from my eyes.
One thing was for sure and that was that I needed to get home quickly. There was no time to take all of my bags so I just stuffed my handbag full of my essentials. Knowing that I would need money to buy plane tickets, a taxi to the airport and a taxi to my home I took Rafa's wallet from the bedside table and filched 150 euros. He'd understand, surely. I ran from the room wishing that I could leave a note.
Rafa stepped out of the bathroom, refreshed and dressed in his pink top and white shorts. The first thing that he noticed was that the TV was on.
"Sophie," He called.
Then he noticed that her cases were open and he went to have a look. All of the valuables that had been in there were gone and so was the handbag which had previously sat there.
"Sophie?" He called more urgently this time.
Then Rafa noticed that his wallet was open on the bed and had many notes missing and he saw that the door was open. His quick mind deduced that either Sophie had run away, stealing his money, or that a robber had come in, stole the money, kidnapped Sophie and taken her valuables from her bag. However he decided that it was more likely that Sophie had run of her own accord because this was a secure hotel, the door had been locked from the inside, and a robber would have just taken the whole wallet. Feeling betrayed and angry Rafa set off after her at a good pace. The lift was not at his floor so he ran down the stairs as fast as his legs would allow him. By the time he had reached the bottom floor his legs were tired and he cursed Sophie for doing this to him before the final. He ran up to the reception.
"Have you seen a girl run down here with a purple handbag? Quite small?" He asked the man standing there.
"Do you mean that one out there?" The man pointed to where Sophie was standing outside the hotel trying to summon a taxi.
"Thank you thank you!" Rafa said before running after her once more.
"Sophie!" He shouted. She turned, hearing her name called. Seeing Rafa's angry face she yelped. A taxi stopped at the right moment and she clambered in, telling the driver to take her to the airport as soon as possible. Rafa stopped, he knew that she had gotten away. His suspicions were confirmed as he had seen the fear on her face. It was hard to hold his emotions in check, the girl who had become one of his best friends and who had the potential to become even more had betrayed him. She had stolen his money and run off back home after he had helped her clean her hands earlier, given her a place to stay for the night and offered to buy her tickets home.
Rafael Nadal took out his phone and blocked a certain number. After what she had done to him they would never speak again.