Because Rafa was coming all the way here to see me tomorrow I felt obliged to buy a nice hotel room. That was why I spent a ridiculous amount of money on buying a four star room instead of the usual dumps where I would stay to save money. I had withdrawn 150 pounds from my account and had spent a large chunk of that on the room. Originally I had planned to use the rest of the money to go out and buy some food but I decided to try and sleep instead. Maybe in my dreams this disaster would never have happened. I had to sleep in the jeans and tank top that I had worn all day as I remembered that I had left all of my other clothes in France. What Rafa would think of me when he saw me wearing these stinking clothes tomorrow I didn't know.

The celebrations took place in Cafe la Paix, an expensive but lovely cafe. Ana Maria, Rafa's mother, had organised the party to celebrate the monumental achievement of not only winning the French Open, but also at last going ahead of Bjorn Borg with seven titles. Everybody was there who could be there, his mother, father, uncles, cousins, team, friends. It was an absolutely lovely party where finally Rafa could relax around friends and celebrate his victory. First he went around and saw everybody, thanking them for coming, embracing them and kissing them. He felt a responsibility as reason for the party to make sure that everybody was having a good time, even if he wasn't still a little troubled by what he had been told earlier. In fact, if it wasn't his party where everybody had travelled to celebrate with him he probably would have flown to the UK tonight. So he made the most of the evening, he ate the special cake which the cafe had presented to him, he drank champagne and he masked his inner in-comfort.

My phone ringing woke me up and drowsily I reached to the bedside table to answer it.

"Hello?" I yawned.

"Hola, is that Sophie?" I heard the familiar tongue of Rafa.

"Yeah. What do you want?"

"I need to know where your hotel is, I'm at Manchester Airport."

"Bit early isn't it?" I asked.

"Eleven thirty is early for you?" He asked incredulously.

"Eleven thirty? Shit, I thought that it was like nine. Either way, I'm at the Hilton in Manchester. Ask any taxi driver to take you there and they'll know where it is."

"Okay, see you soon."

I made a quick map in my head. Manchester airport was only about nine miles away so Rafa could be here in about fifteen minutes. I jumped out of bed with more energy than I had thought I was capable of and jumped into the shower. There was no way that I was going to let my hair be greasy and smelly. The cold water refreshed me mightily and I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. I used a berry shampoo and a vanilla dn raspberry body gel all over my almost felt normal, it didn't feel like I was staying in a four star hotel after my house and my family had been blown up and I was about to meet one of the most well known sportsmen in the world to have a chat. It felt like a normal day.

Rafael walked into the Hilton impressed with what he was seeing for it looked like it was entirely made of glass. He was also concerned because he had thought that Sophie had said that she was poor and he felt a little awkward in this alien land. He walked up to the desk.

"Is there a Sophie Richardson here?" He asked the receptionist.

"Yes, room seven." The receptionist replied

"Thank you."

A knock came on the door of room seven and I sighed knowing that I'd have to cut my shower short. I wrapped a large towel around my body and went to the door, dripping wet. I let Rafa in, who upon seeing me automatically blushed.

"I will wait outside if you want." He offered.

"No, no make yourself comfortable. I'm just going to get dressed." I said walking back into the bathroom. Once the door was shut I rebuked myself. Why had I gone to the door in a towel when I knew that it was Rafa? I was acting without thinking so much at the moment.

"Stupid stupid!" I said aloud knocking myself on the head with a hairbrush a little. Quickly I put my clothes on over my still fairly wet body and went out as to not keep him waiting. There he was standing awkwardly next to the bed in a black suit and a white shirt. As usual he was looking fabulous.

"Why were you shouting at yourself calling yourself stupid?" He asked.

"I didn't realise that I was that loud." I laughed. He didn't laugh with me.

"Is not funny Sophie." He said "The Sophie who I knew would never do that. Nor would she open the door in just a towel or dress in wet clothes. This is very unlike you."

"What gives you the right to just march in here and tell me what I can and cannot do Mr Nadal?" I snapped.

"I could leave if it would make you feel better?" He offered making for the door.

"No, no please stay." Suddenly I felt weak as if I could feel him slipping away "I need you."

"Good, now let's talk about what happened. Take me through what you did yesterday." He said.

"You went into the shower and I turned on the news. I saw a story saying that my house had been destroyed by a gas leak and that there were no survivors. I took my valuables and 150 of your euros and left so that I could get home. At home I found that indeed my house was destroyed, my family were dead. A solicitor gave me my parents' last will and testament. Now I have 10,000 pounds but no house. The solicitor gave me a deal whereby I could choose any house of the same or under the value of my destroyed home and they would get the destroyed home, rebuild it or use the land for something and then sell it. Now I need to choose where to buy a house and until then I am staying in this hotel." I told the story sadly.

"I understand." Rafa said putting his arm around me "Have you chosen where to buy a house?"

"Not yet." I replied "I have absolutely no idea."

"Have you got any relatives who you could live near? I think that you should find a place nearby a good friend or a relative."

"I don't really have very many friends. I have Amy, a couple of university friends although I don't know where they are now and I have you."

"And you can choose a house anywhere?" Rafa checked "Even abroad?"

"I think so." I answered having a sneaky suspicion as to where this conversation was going.

"Why don't you buy a flat in Mallorca?" He suggested, a grin now plastering his face "I could see you, you could see me, I could show you Mallorca. It's really hot there, I just no that you'd love it."

I was already shaking my head.

"I can't live abroad Rafa, I don't know anything about the cultures of your people. I wouldn't know anyone on the island and I'd stick out as a foreigner." I argued.

"I could teach you about our culture and you speak the language perfectly. Plus you don't know nobody there, you'd know me!" Rafa still seemed to believe that it was a great idea.

"But what about when you're on tour?" I asked "You are away much more than you are at home."

"I could introduce you to my family, they're at home sometimes and you could get to know them." Rafa seemed determined that I could live on his island with him.

"Look, Rafa. I didn't want to say but realistically it will be difficult to get a flat in Mallorca. Housing must be expensive there and my house is worth very little. Plus I am thirty thousand pounds in debt. I simply don't have the money. Please stop trying to argue. My mind is made up."

"I don't know what else I can suggest. I do not know this country, I do not know how much anything costs here. I am only presenting to you what I know." Rafa told me "I don't know why you're so against Mallorca anyway. Most people would leap on such an opportunity."

"Will you shut the fuck up about Mallorca?" I shouted "If that is all you know about then why are you even here?"

"I am here to help but if you do not want me then I shall leave. I should be practising anyway, I will be playing in Halle in a couple of days. I will come and see you again in three hours before I leave and if your mind is not changed then I shall leave."