Mundane [a Gerard Piqué fanfiction]

Six.

Despite her hour long run, Ariel barely slept at all that night. And even when she did sleep, her dreams were plagued with the bald stranger and the mysterious conversation he had had with her father. She tossed and turned for most of the night, until the sun poured in through the thin curtains and forced her to get up.

Ariel tied her long copper hair into a knot on the top of her head and got into a cold shower; something she loved to do during the scorching month of August in the Catalan capital.

The cool water refreshed her instantly, quickly washing away the perspiration that had come both from the heat of the room and her troubled sleep. And it was there, under that icy stream of water that she decided to confront her father about what had happened two nights ago.

She had spoken to him the previous evening, and he did sound much better, a little tired but certainly better. Ariel felt less guilty about pressing him on the subject knowing that he was feeling better.

Drying herself quickly, she picked up her phone and dialled the only number she had on speed dial. Arnau answered after the first ring.

"You don't need to check on me every couple of hours, you know."

"Yes, I know." She accepted. "But I wanted to make sure that you're still doing okay."

"I actually think that I'm feeling up to coming to see the game today." He said, and Ariel could practically hear his smile through the phone. "I can't wait to see you in action as the Mataró manager."

"Are you sure?" Ariel asked in reply, choosing to ignore his last comment. "How are you going to get here?

"I'll take the train like millions of other people do every day." Arnau said sassily. "You know I did live for more than twenty years before you were born, I think I can manage a thirty minute train journey."

"Lo sé." She replied. "Pero me preocupo por ti."

"And that I know." He chuckled.

"Speaking of worrying about you..."

"Yes?"

"Pare," Ariel took a deep breath to prepare herself for what she was going to ask. "I saw you talking to that man the other night, about money and danger and increasing rates. What was that all about?"

The other end of the line was silent for a good thirty seconds, only the absence of the dialling tone made her sure that he hadn't hung up.

"It was just business, mija." He paused. "Its nothing for you to worry about."

"How can I not be worried?" She asked, her voice raising a little with concern. "He said ten thousand..."

"I told you not to worry about it!"Arnau snapped angrily and Ariel was shocked; he never yelled.

"But..."

"Leave it alone, Ariel!" He half-yelled again and she felt tears prick behind her eyes. "I mean it, I don't want you to talk to me about this again."

"Fine." She hung up.

Ariel angrily wiped a sole tear from her check and looked over at the alarm clock by the bed; she was going to be late for the team breakfast!