Missy gazed around the shop in amazement and horror. First of all she couldn’t believe that this shop did any business, it was small and dark, with barely enough light to see the contents on the shelf. Secondly, who would want to buy those hideous and tacky dolls that would scare any child?  Hell, it was even scaring Missy. Missy’s basket was filled to the brim with lots of necessary food such as chocolate, drinks and crisps {chips to you strange Americans}. All the healthy, necessary food a girl should live on. She made her way slowly up to the counter looking at other food that might come in handy. Hell, if she wanted more food she could always come back.  It was only like 300 yards away from the house she was staying in.

She placed the basket down on the counter, emptying all the goods. The lady at the till mumbled something in Spanish.  Missy just ignored her and assumed she had just cursed her for being a tourist. Finally, after what seemed like hours to Missy, the lady had swiped all the food through.  Everything was packed. The lady then said the price in Spanish. Missy just stood there blinking her eyes fast and furiously.

"Eh Que?" Missy said.

Her vocab of Spanish included ‘Hola’, ‘Gracias’ and ‘Que.’ The lady repeated the price again. Missy still didn’t understand.

"Ok honey I don’t speak Spanish so no matter how many times you say it I’m still not going to understand." Missy said a little bit too loud.

The lady then said the price again.

"No hablo Espanola. Write it downo???" Missy made international hand signals for the lady to jot down the price. The lady shrugged her shoulders and continued twittering in Spanish. Missy was getting tired of this communication barrier and tried to peer round to see the price on the till. The lady went berserk.

"Ok…ok calm down. I’m not trying to rob you; I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I just want to know the goddamn price of my food and I’ll be on my merry way. I can almost promise you, you will never ever see me again. Hell if I knew shopping would be this difficult I would have let Olivia do it." Missy mumbled.

Someone stepped up beside her. "Maybe I can be of some help." The person said beside Missy.

Missy looked up at the towering giant beside her. Man he was tall, she thought to herself. Or maybe I’m just incredibly small.

"Yes please. I want to know how much I have to pay for my food. She won’t tell me because she knows I’m a foreigner." Missy said.

The tall man laughed and asked the lady in Spanish what Missy presumed was the price.

"She says 20 Euro and 13 cent." She rooted through her bag until she found her wallet. She handed over the exact amount and grabbed her shopping bags.

"Gracias." Missy said sweetly to the Lady, who just shot her a filthy look.

"Thank you." She called out to the man as she left the shop. Glancing one last time at the horrible little shop that had caused her so much pain. She almost dropped her bags in amazement as she gazed back into the shop. For the man who had helped her was none other then Marat Safin!

+:+:+

Meanwhile downtown Olivia was lost. The map she held had been of no help to her. She couldn’t remember where she had parked the car and now she couldn’t find where she was. She looked around desperately trying to find a sign post or something that would tell her where she was. She looked around trying to see if she remembered where she had come from. The Museum had been somewhere up there…no over there…no wait it was defiantly up there. Olivia made her way slowly back up the road again. No that can’t be it, that’s the sea Olivia said to herself. The Museum had been no where near the sea. If only she hadn’t stopped to look in that little place that had all the cute frogs, she had wanted to buy one for Missy whom she knew would love it. And now she was lost in the middle of Valencia. Its time to get desperate now.

She tried to stop the people walking by and ask for directions but none of them stopped. She finally managed to stop a crazy looking guy. "Excuse me can you help me. I don’t know where I am." She asked him. He gave a hearty laugh.

"You’re in Valencia." And walked away. Olivia stuck her tongue out at him.

"I know I’m in frickin Valencia." She murmured.

Olivia must have wandered around the streets looking like a lost cause, trying to find out where she was. The trouble was the map didn’t have all these little alley ways with cool little cafes and nifty little shops. Olivia soon forgot about being lost and marveled at this almost hidden part of Valencia. She glanced at her watch gasping at the time. Shit it was almost 6pm.  She had to get home before Missy killed her. All she had to do was find the friggin’ car park.  The actual hard part would be trying to find the way back to the house.

Finally she somehow made it somehow back to the main street and looked for the name of the street she was on. Santa Maria seemed to be it, so she looked on the map... and it wasn’t there. Olivia was about to scream in frustration, she started asking people to help her. Some did but only spoke Spanish, Olivia was close to tears. "Excuse me." Olivia said asking for the millionth time that day.

"Yes." He replied. Olivia could have hugged him…he spoke English!

"Oh thank you so mu…oh shit…oh holy fucking Jesus Christ. Jesus you’re Marat Safin." Olivia exclaimed, she was so very tempted to rub her eyes in disbelief. Marat gave a nervous laugh taking a side step away from Olivia.

"Oh please don’t be scared.  It’s just I really admire you’re work…no that’s not right. I think you’re a great tennis player...yes that’s it. Ok I’ll stop now. You see I’m lost and I can’t find my car which is parked here…in Peligro." Olivia exclaimed still not getting over the shock that standing right in front of her was Marat Safin.

Marat suddenly burst out laughing giving Olivia a bloody heart attack.

"What’s so funny about me not being able to find my car?" Olivia demanded.

Marat was shaking his head in disbelief and amusement. "Its just you cant be parked in Peligro because it means Danger. You took down the wrong name." Olivia failed to see the funny side instead she felt a tear trickle down her cheek. She was lost for good now. She didn’t know where the hell she was, her car was in some car park and Marat Safin was laughing at her. Could life get any worse?

"Hey are you crying?" Marat asked feeling bad that he had laughed at her.

"Yes I’m crying so bloody what?  I have no idea where I am, or where my car is. I was supposed to be home hours ago…I hate this stupid country.  Why can’t they just all speak English?" Olivia mumbled brushing away her tears.

Marat looked unsure of what to do.  Was he supposed to comfort this stranger? He kind of poked her shoulder, in a good way.

"It’s ok. Honestly it’s not half as bad as you think it is." He tried to make her feel better.

"Oh but is." Olivia wailed. "I’ve been walking around these streets for hours now and I still can’t find it."

Marat bit his lip wishing he hadn’t stopped to help this girl after all. She seemed to be emotionally unstable.

"Well look, my car is down the road.  How bout we drive around to all the parking lots and see if you’re car is there?" he offered kindly.

Olivia sniffled and then suddenly hoped nothing had dribbled out of her nose over the past five minutes.

"Oh that would be super! Seriously thank you." They started walking down the street until Olivia stopped dead in her tracks.

"What?" Marat asked her.

"I don’t fucking believe it." She hissed. There in front of her was the ‘Peligro’ car park. Her red fiat punto was just sitting there by itself. She glanced up the road.  The fucking frog shop was just a couple of yards away. How on earth had she missed the parking lot?

"Oh wow this is embarrassing. That’s my car." Olivia pointed to her little car. Marat looked at the car then at Olivia and then at the road behind them and gave her the most puzzling of puzzled looks.

"That’s you’re car?" he asked, sounding mighty confused.

"Yup." Olivia said in a small voice.

"And you were up the road asking for directions?"

"Yup" Olivia replied her face now burning bright red.

Marat just shook his head. "Uh glad I could be of some help." He said mocking her.

Olivia wished the ground beneath her would just open up and swallow her. Marat must have thought she was a major freak.

"Thank you." She called out weakly as she watched him walk away. She leaned against the car door and mentally kicked herself in the ass. "What a loser." she said rather too loudly. Marat turned around

"Did you say something?" He asked her.

"Uh yeah…I said glockenspiel…it’s Icelandic for goodbye." Olivia made up. He gave a small smile and wandered over to his car. Olivia rooted through her bag looking for the stupid car keys which decided to hide themselves. Olivia, after losing a screaming match with her bag, found the keys in her pocket.

"Glockenspiel? Of all the things to come out with…Glockenspiel? Why me?" Olivia moaned as she settled down into the car. She unfolded the map and still without knowing where she was drove off into the distance.

+:+:+

Missy glanced at her watch again, 7.30 and there was still no sign of Olivia anywhere. The house was eerily quiet and Missy shivered although it was still warm enough to be sunbathing out there. After she had arrived home from the spooky shop and had gotten over her brief encounter with Marat she had spent the afternoon topping up on her tan. The house was just in a league of its own.  It had been loaned to Missy for three weeks rent free. The people that owned the house were friends of Missy’s parents and did it as a huge favor. The house was on the beach.  It was also at the very end of the beach so that it was very secluded and quiet, since the neighbors on the right hadn’t arrived. The beach was all theirs and they loved it to bits.  They had only been there for three days but it seemed to be flying.

If you didn’t want to sunbath there were two dinghies to sail, which Missy promised Ollie she would teach this summer. The house was also stunning, set in a quiet area of Valencia that hardly any people ventured to go to. It was stunning area and there were hardly any tourists, hence the huge language barrier. Missy took her Malibu and coke onto the deck and savored the sight. The sun was beginning to set and the sea was as calm as Ollie on tranquilizers. Missy was dressed up in a knee length white linen Versace skirt and matching linen off the shoulder top. Her brunette hair straightened, looking positively gorgeous.

A movement in the neighbor’s house caught Missy's attention. She tried to peer over and see if there was anything interesting.  By the looks of it they seemed pretty normal. All of a sudden the doors to the deck were opened and Missy stumbled back into her place before pretending to be gazing out at the sea.

"Hey you’re the girl from the shop." A voice called out. Missy turned around slowly and with one heck of a lot of will power managed to keep her drink in her mouth without so much spitting it out for there was her neighbor, Marat Safin.

"Hi again." She murmured sexily moving closer to the edge of the deck.

"I’m Marat…" Missy cut him off before he could finish. "Safin yes I know. I’m a huge fan. I’m Missy." They were too far apart to reach over and shake hands.

"I know I’ve never seen you here before, what brings you?" Marat asked.

Yikes was Marat digging for information? Hell I am one lucky chica if I say so myself Missy thought happily to herself.

"I’m on holiday with my friend Olivia. How come you’re not playing some tournament?" Missy asked.

"Well, I just played one and I'm taking a break before I head to the US for the US Open in a couple weeks time." Marat explained, Missy nodded her head. This was way too good to be true.  Marat Safin was their neighbor!  Olivia was just going to die!

"Do you want to come over here and have a drink?" Missy asked him, hoping he would say yes.

Marat paused briefly, then smiled, "Yeah I’d love a drink. Just let me tell my friend where I’m going and I’ll be over in a tic." He told her before going back into his house. Missy giggled in delight at the thought of Marat coming over to have a drink. Oh this was just so good. Just hope Marat’s friend is a guy and not a girl…or hang on, I just hope Marat’s straight. Missy wandered back into the house and grabbed the decanter with the Malibu and Coke and poured some more of into her empty glass. Better not get drunk, Missy warned herself, as any other drunk person she often did stupid things that she regretted, if she could remember them.

Marat came over a few minutes later. Missy asked what drink he would like.  She was surprised to find he just wanted a straight Vodka, stating the reason was that he was Russian and would he be expected to drink anything else? They were soon chatting away, discussing everything from tennis to Spanish.

"Hey Marat!  You going to introduce me to this gorgeous lady?" Someone called out behind Missy. She turned around in shock and amazement to find Andy Roddick on the other balcony. Missy looked from Marat to Andy and then back again.  Jesus she had really managed to get the perfect neighbors ever…two fine chunks of men.

"I didn’t know you two were friends." Missy asked amazed at her good fortune. Andy and Marat just simply nodded their heads. "Do you want to come over for a drink?" Missy asked Andy.

"Sure" Andy replied. "But next time I have to buy the drinks ok?"

''Ooh what a charmer'' Missy thought.

Andy made his way over and all three of them were chatting about tennis.  Missy getting braver, with a little help from the alcohol, told the boys what she thought of their tennis and what their weaknesses were. Missy kept checking her watch. 8:15 and Olivia still wasn't home.  She was getting slightly worried.

"You waiting for someone?" Andy asked noticing that it was the third ^{time in the past ten minutes that she had looked at her watch.}

Missy nodded her head. "The friend I’m with was supposed to be here 2 hours ago, it’s not like her to be this late." She bit her lower lip thinking of all the possibilities that Olivia might have gotten herself involved with. She shuddered thinking that maybe someone had kidnapped her or that she had been killed or she had been mugged.

"I’m sure she’ll be home soon." Andy said sensing her distress.

"You said you had boats, how bout you show them to me?" Marat asked Missy hoping it would take her mind off Olivia. It seemed to cheer up Missy as a smile beamed across her face. "Andy will wait her just incase she phones or anything." Andy nodded his head sensing that Marat wanted some alone time with just Missy.

Andy watched as Marat made their way down the stairs and over to the boat house. Man Missy was hot, Andy thought to himself. Wonder what this Olivia is like, hoping she arrived home soon.

+:+:+

Olivia pulled up to the house at 8.25pm. She had finally, somehow, managed to make her way home. She had followed a couple of sign posts, some of them had lead her astray but soon she found the right road that she should have been on. Then the crappy piece of junk that called itself a car, broke down on the motorway. She had earned herself a lovely flat tire.  Then the hassle of changing had been an ultimate nightmare. Her jeans were now black from the ground, her hands were muddy and oily and smelling of something really unpleasant. She was sure she looked like a madwoman. She grabbed her bag and made her way into the house. Never in her life had she loved coming home more then right now. "Missy." she called out. No answer she made her way towards the deck were the most perfect sunset was occurring. She settled down in a chair and took it all in. "Wow." Was all she managed to say.

"I’d have to agree with you on that." Andy said looking over at Olivia.

Olivia uttered a scream.  She hadn’t even noticed that there was someone else out there. "What the hell are you doing there just skulking? Don’t you know that’s rude?" Olivia cried out. "Hang on you’re Andy Roddick aren’t you?" Olivia said. Andy just nodded at her, still looking at her. "So mmm if you don’t mind me asking why are you here and my friend isn’t?" Olivia asked him. Frankly it was getting annoying the way he was staring at her.

"Missy’s down in the boat shed and I’m here because she asked me over for a drink. Answer your question? Now if you don’t mind me asking what the hell happened to you?" Olivia blushed and looked down at herself. "Exactly what I was thinking to myself too. Now I shall be off. Hang on who’s with Missy?" Olivia was looking down at the beach where Missy was walking back up to the house with some man.

Missy saw Olivia up on the deck and ran towards her. "What the hell happened to you?" Missy cried out. When Missy saw the state Olivia was in she stopped short of giving her a hug. "Oh yucky, you smell!" Missy held a finger to her nose and scrunched up her face in disgust. But Olivia wasn’t paying attention to Missy.  She was more interested in the man she had been with. Then Marat saw Olivia and Olivia saw Marat.

"You!" they both exclaimed at the exact same time.

If Olivia thought her meeting with Marat earlier on had been bad, this was ten times worse. She was looking like a dog’s dinner and he was looking all handsome in a pair of jeans and a light jumper. (**Editor's note:  After doing my research, I learned that a 'jumper' in Europe is the equivalent of a 'sweater' in America)  Marat was looking at Olivia as though she had just crawled out of a gutter. "My car got a flat tire." Olivia said needing to explain why she looked worse for wear. "Excuse me I have to leave now and get changed." She added, almost running out of the room. Ugh, she hated them all for making her feel so itty bitty.

Missy followed her upstairs to her room. "Ok you have some explaining to do.  First, I want to know how you know Marat and never told me about it." Missy demanded angrily. Olivia sighed, pulling out some fresh clothes out of her suitcase. "Miss take one of those cool blue pills.  Should calm you right down." Olivia joked but then saw Missy’s face. "Ok…ok humor aside. I only met Marat this afternoon. I asked him for directions, made a complete ass of myself, thinking that my life couldn’t get any worse he magically appears in our house. Now explain how that happens."

Missy sat down on the bed. "Because Marat and Andy are our mysterious neighbors. I mean of all the people in the entire world, it’s a sign Oll isn’t it?" Missy said dreamily. Any other day Olivia would have agreed with the romantic notion but all she could do was snort in disgust.

"Yo dreamer over there, call it fate or whatever, their probably nothing special anyway. Just two egotistical jocks that got lucky, now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to take a shower." Missy was surprised at the harshness of Olivia’s tongue.

"Well graucho I’ll leave you. But just you remember what you’ve said.  Sure it was only the other day you were saying how much you would love to see Marat. Forget about what has happened with Marat, chances like this only happen once Oll and we’ve got to make the best of it." Missy said before leaving the room.

When the door closed Olivia stuck out her tongue, she hated it when Missy was right….which was all the time.  After thinking about it in the shower she realized that Missy was right. She had already missed her chance with Marat this afternoon.  This was a second chance to make everything right. Putting on some clean clothes she made her way down stairs.