World Cup Glory

The Day after

Lara
I sat in the back yard of Manuel's parents house. They had just left to go on holiday and we were going to stay for the next couple of days. Our next destination was St.Tropez for a well deserved holiday. "Lar get up!" Kathy pulled me out of my thoughts. The boys had just arrived back to the house. Kathy and I had organised salads and garlic bread and the boys were just about to throw on the BBQ when I realised something was up.
Manuel had left with a grin on his face and a jump in his step... But he had returned pissed off with a deep frown on his face. "Hey babe" I wrapped my arms around his waist and pecked his lips. "Hi sweetheart" he replied . His reply hammered the last nail into the fact that something was seriously wrong. I hugged him thinking where has this man's happiness and glory disappeared to and why?, his beautiful smile was gone. Don't get me wrong he still looked sexy as hell but it made me realise that whatever it was that bugged him so much made him lose his happiness. I pulled away "Everything ok?" I looked at him worriedly. "Why is everybody asking me that?" He growled back. I had never seen him like this, it scared me.
Kathy and Sarah walked over to me,"You ok?" I nodded silently trying to stop the tears. We continued to set up the table for dinner. Ketchup,Mayonnaise and BBQ sauce were the only things on the table so far. We brought out beer,plates,cutlery and napkins. Although my body was shaking I kept it together. I had never before seen the anger in Manuel's eyes, dark and painful. He'd scared me so much.

Manuel handed me a plate with a steak on in. He sat down next to me and tried to smile. Dinner went past like a blur. I don't remember a thing that was talked about or happened. My brain shut off and I ate silently. "Hey, Lara thanks for having us," Theo chimed as Kathy was hugging me. Sarah held my hand, "Are you sure you are ok?" I nodded silently and said my goodbyes. As the sun set, I noticed that everything was cleared and that the BBQ was still puffing smoke. My head was thumping, maybe from the beer or maybe because of the tension. Manuel sat down next to me, "Hey sweetheart" he leaned in to peck my cheek but I pulled away. This man whom I had met and going out with for the past three and a half months had changed within less that 24 hours. Yesterday we had partied in Berlin with the rest of the team, and now we were at opposite ends. My mind was trailing, "Did I say something to your parents this morning when we met or what?" He looked confused,"No, why?" I frowned at him, "You come home annoyed about something and then flip at me when I ask you what's wrong. You scared me so much.." I trailed off looking up trying dry my eyes...