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The cool breeze of summer air filled Luca with warmth and familiarity, the sounds of waves hitting the beach were therapeutic. He had just come back to Portorosso for the summer the week before. He had spent that week with his family underwater. Now he was allowed to come back to the shore to be with friends. He sat alone on a rock facing the water, knees pressed to his chest and arms wrapped around himself. Looking over to the rocky sand beside himself he sighed, this was where he and Alberto first really fought, after said boy crashed into the ocean. The sun was casting warm colors over the horizon, orange and pink painting the sky like the pictures Giulia’s mother colored.
Luca picked at a loose piece of thread attached to his shorts. More feelings have been overwhelming him lately. “It’s part of growing up. You’re a teenager Luca.” His mother told him with a smile on her face. He sighed again, he’s been sighing a lot lately. This was the third summer he's spent in Portorosso, now 15, Luca believed he should’ve figured out his feelings by now. Most of which are towards his best friend, Alberto, who is now 16.
It felt good, but.. Weird. The foreign concept of relationships confused him. Did he like Alberto as a friend, or did he want more? Luca had seen plenty of relationships in his life, including that of his parents and even the two fellow sea monsters who lived a few streets away. “Their lesbians” Giulia explained, “Women who love other women. It’s completely normal but some people don’t like it.” She had said with a frown. Shaking her head she smiled again, “Honestly it doesn’t matter to me if they're happy.”
Love
Luca didn’t care who liked who, if it was a male or female, neither or both. It was their life, who was he to say anything. If they enjoyed someone's company or not it wasn’t his business. He even ran away because his mother tried to stop him from doing what he enjoyed.
But thinking about loving his best friend made him feel something. His chest tightened, but not in a bad way? Could he love Alberto?
“Luca?”
He bit back a yelp as his body jolted up in surprise. Alberto stood there, eyebrows raised and hands behind his back. Luca couldn’t help but stare at him. He was a bit broader than he was when they were 13, his hair trimmed a little more evenly.
“Are you okay?”
The absence of “bro” or “man” felt a little comforting. It was slightly more intimate. Alberto climbed up on a rock beside the one Luca was sitting on.
“A penny for your thoughts?”
Luca frowned in confusion. Something in Alberto’s eye shined and he laughed.
“Something Massimo taught me, I'm kind of an expert.” He bit his bottom lip awkwardly like he did three years ago. Luca couldn’t help but laugh at his antics. “You’re still a dork Alberto.”
Alberto smiled widely, “I’m your dork though.” Immediately Luca could feel his face grow hot, but Alberto either didn’t notice or didnt back down because right after he stood and held out a hand to Luca. Grabbing it he was pulled to his feet. Luca stared at him in confusion, the stupidly cute smile still on Alberto’s face. They didn’t separate hands for a minute. Luca tried to memorize the expression on Alberto’s face to keep in his mind, like the ‘cameras’ Giulia told him about.
The taller didn’t let go, instead he switched hands, now holding Luca’s left hand he slid down the rock and waited for the other to do the same. Crimson painted Luca’s cheeks as he looked at their hands. Alberto paid no mind as he began to speak.
“Come to the island with me?”
Luca looked up at him, before nodding. Alberto smiled again and led Luca to the water. His colored scales appeared before Luca’s eyes after so long. Gently tugging on Luca’s arm Alberto pulled him all the way underwater. Opening his eyes to finally see Alberto fully in his fish form Luca felt a little better. Whether or not he knew what to do with his feelings, seeing such comforting familiarity brought a smile to his face.
Alberto giggled, “I missed seeing your fish face Luca.” A warmth pooled in Luca’s chest and he smiled and swam ahead and yelled “Race you!” Completely moving topics.
He distantly heard Alberto huff and began to chase after him.
Zooming through the water and weaving around obstacles Luca stayed ahead of Alberto the whole time, hurrying to the tower to claim his victory. A few seconds later a panting Alberto appeared behind him. “That’s not fair! You had a head start-” Luca began laughing as Alberto put his hands on his knees, clearly unprepared for the race. ‘This is nice’ Luca thought. The mix between intimacy and fun was enough for Luca to keep afloat for a while, even if Alberto might not think the same.
Catching his breath Alberto stood up straight and began to climb the rebuilt ladder to the top, Luca following closely after. Luca was surprised to see what awaited at the top. It had been a while since he had been here and it was typically a mess or scattered remains of things since Alberto lived with Massimo now. But now everything was clean and neat, most of the objects and garbage was thrown away, leaving the more useful and flattering nick knacks on shelves and makeshift tables. The torn Vespa poster was put back up, the stones leading to the top looked more put together and a corner was now decorated with pillows and thin blankets. A few lanterns were placed strategically over the space, lighting up the darkening room.
“Woah”
Alberto’s eyes sparkled with pride, “Do you like it? I did it myself while you were at school this year.”
Luca stood frozen still, to be honest he missed this place dearly.“I love it Alberto! You did amazing, it looks so good!” The other boy’s cheeks darkened at the compliment and placed his hands on his hips in false bravado.
“Thank you I was sure yo- I mean- I know.”
Luca laughed, “Is this what you wanted to show me?” Alberto scratched the back of his neck and smiled, “Yea, I worked on this for a while. It was a pain to clean. But there's one more thing I have to show you!”
Luca tilted his head in curiosity as Alberto made his way to the old singing lady machine and placed a new disc on it. He watched as Alberto fumbled with the pointed black thing and wound up the handle like Luca had done the first time they got it to work.
“I learned it’s a ‘Gramophone record player’ “ Alberto said with a smile.
The taller beckoned him over as he pushed down the pointed piece. A staticy song began to play. It sounded beautiful, even on the water damaged player.
“May I have this dance?”
Luca turned to look at Alberto, whose hand was now extended in hopes Luca would accept and take it. And he did just that, Alberto pulled him closer, guiding Luca’s hand to his shoulder and placing his own on Luca’s waist.
“I don’t know how to dance.” Luca whispered.
“I can guide you, is that okay?” The younger nodded.
“Le strade piene, la folla intorno a me
mi parla e ride e nulla sa di te”
Alberto slowly took a step, and Luca followed, then another.
“io vedo intorno a me chi passa e va
ma so che la città
vuota mi sembrerà se non torni tu”
The woman's voice encouraged Luca. Following Alberto’s simple yet graceful movements he tried to pick up on the pattern.
“C'è chi ogni sera mi vuole accanto a sé
ma non m'importa se i suoi baci mi darà”
Alberto rubbed the hand he was holding with his thumb in silent encouragement and sang along with the next words.
“io penso sempre a te, soltanto a te
e so che la città”
Luca didn’t know what they meant but Alberto’s voice was beautiful, heck, everything about him was beautiful. The lanterns and the stars now their only source of light, the orange hues lighting up Alberto’s face. Now picking up on the steps Luca was able to look up and admire Alberto.
“vuota mi sembrerà se non torni tu”
Their steps got slightly faster with the music, Alberto tightened his grip on Luca’s hand slightly.
“Come puoi tu vivere ancor solo senza me”
Alberto lightly pushed Luca’s chest with the hand that was previously resting on his waist to make space and spun him around.
“non senti tu che non finì il nostro amor?”
When they came face to face again Alberto pressed their chests closer, his hand moving more towards Luca’s lower back as they swayed to the music.
“Le strade vuote, deserte sempre più,
leggo il tuo nome ovunque intorno a me.”
Luca laughed softly as he stared up at Alberto, his chest felt heavy with something. Admiration? Passion? Love? All of those things?
“Torna da me, amor, e non sarà più vuota la città
ed io vivrò con te tutti i miei giorni,
tutti i miei giorni, tutti i miei giorni.”
As the short song came to an end Alberto moved the hand that was holding Luca’s to his face. Luca could feel the warmth from Alberto’s palm on his cheek as he leaned in. When their lips met it felt like everything was falling into place. He understood now. He wanted this.
He loved Alberto.
When they pulled away he could see Alberto’s cheeks were painted red. Alberto allowed his hand to fall from Luca’s face and instead intertwined their fingers.
“What did that mean? The line you said?”
“I always think about you, only about you”
Luca smiled and pulled the other into another kiss.
That night they moved the blankets and pillows to the top of the tower and stared at the stars, huddled together. They almost didn't need the blankets, the warm air and each other's body heat kept them warm as they cuddled. Alberto pressed soft kisses to the crown of Luca’s head as they held each other. Sleepy voices whispered sweet nothings.
“I think I love you Alberto. Is that okay?”
“Mm, I think I love you too, Luca.”