Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

With spring finally coming to an end and the summer soon starting, Alberto became restless.

He found each waking moment he had was full of pure excitement to see Luca again. He daydreamed of the moments that they had previous summers since he started going to school three years ago. The days were painfully long and no matter how tired Alberto got from his daily chores for Massimo, he could never sleep. His mind buzzed with thoughts about Luca, each day he excitedly imagined showing Luca his new Vespa and many more things he had worked on that he only knew about over the usual lengthy telephone calls. He loved to hear the interest in his voice when Alberto talked about his job as a lifeguard and his rounds fish delivering for Massimo. Alberto especially loved the way Luca's voice was full of giddy excitement every time he started to talk about his classes. His favorite class was obviously Astrology, he would ramble on and on about it to Alberto and he would listen to him speak for hours. Through it all though, a phone conversation was different from seeing and hearing Luca in person. Once in awhile during the school year he and Massimo would receive a letter from Giulia and Luca containing photos of them. Alberto couldn't help but let his eyes stare at Luca in the images. 

He knew well that he was head over heels in love with Luca. Though he had always tried to repress it, it would always find its way back to the surface once he saw Luca in the summer once again. Each time he saw the dork stumble out of the train station and into his arms his heart would flutter. He cherished each moment Luca touched him, even if it was a brief brush. Every time would send a spark through him, a surge of electric want to keep him close. A want to make sure Luca was nothing but safe and protected in his arms. 

Though how much Alberto loved Luca, he hated the fact he felt this way. He wanted nothing more for the feelings to melt away and only look at Luca as his friend. He was scared of ruining what they had with his feelings. Especially now as each year he noticed his feelings become more and more prevalent. Though Luca made it so, so hard for him to forget about it. The smallest things would drag Alberto back to daydreaming about making out and slow dancing under the ocean waves at night. Simply holding hands would bring him to the thoughts of cuddling in the treehouse together late on summer nights. 

His mind was full of worries of Luca and the feelings he had for him. His body was exhausted but his brain still buzzed with jumbled thoughts he wasn't able to clear out. Everything would bring him back to Luca, and Alberto soon became restless. 

He still lived in the treehouse outside of the Marcovaldo residence. Though Massimo had offered many times places to stay inside the home, he still loved spending his nights out in the treehouse. The treehouse over the years had gained some upgrades for him to live in it comfortably. Gaining walls and a roof to shield him from the ocean winds and occasionally the pelting rain. Two small mattresses laid close together for himself to sleep in and Luca when he was over for the summer. A chest sat near a corner that was full of his clothes that were mixed with clean and dirty ones. The chest overflowed with various items to wear which he was to lazy to bother to fold neatly into the box. Though under it he usually hid his notebook where he would occasionally draw in if he had the motivation to that day.

Though with the simple set up, the place could be overwhelming for him, just let alone to simmer in his worries and feelings that he had towards Luca in the times he wasn't there with him in the treehouse. It was mostly at night when he felt these feelings. He would sometimes be able to drift off from the thoughts of his best friend and finally rest, but there were times where he was wide awake with each emotion he bottled up would spill out all over again. And tonight was one of those nights.

It was the night before Luca and Giulia would be coming back to Portorosso to spend the summer with him and Massimo. He was filled with pure excitement to see Luca and Giulia, but anxiety nagged at him about seeing Luca again and dealing with his feelings of love. It was tiring thinking about it over and over again as he knew it was late in the night and he was due to get up early in the morning to meet the two at the train station. Each minute felt like it dragged on and on as he kept trying to convince himself to sleep and silence his anxiety with small 'Silenzio Bruno's. Though with hours going by and his brain nonstop thinking about the day ahead of him, Alberto decided to get up and leave the treehouse. 

Alberto looked out at the window that lead into Giulia's room, remembering the fond memories of mornings of the girl yelling at them to wake up. Most of the time Luca would be up by then anyway, but on those days when Alberto awoke before Giulia's good morning shout, he would just lay there with Luca on the mattresses. Luca always looked so peaceful when sleeping, content and unbothered by the world as he rested there. Though he dragged his mind back to the present as he carefully made his way down the ladder and onto the concrete. Dim lights lit his path as he made his way to the gate to leave the property and head out into the street. Though he was unsure of where to go he just knew he needed to get away from the treehouse. 

He could hear the ocean waves crash against the nearby shore and the chirps of summer time crickets who hid in the grass that grew in crevasses of the pathway. The moon set a blueish glow to everything as scattered lights offered a warm orange hue, the feeling he felt in these nights were full of nostalgia. He remembers each time he would do the same thing at night over the years to escape his thoughts. He wanted nothing more than to one night spend it with Luca, he could always imagine him and Luca making their way through town at night in silence. Holding hands and letting the peacefulness of it all surround them both. He could imagine sitting on a dock and listening to Luca speak about what he has learned about the stars while he was at school. He loved listening to him speak about something he cared about. The way his face lit up and his voice filled with excitement as he began to explain the wonders of the world beyond Alberto's own understanding. 

With his head distracted with daydreaming thoughts his feet took him where ever. Meandering through the path ways in town as he took in each sound. The distance noises of a party, the chirping of bugs, and quiet whoosh of the ocean winds that went through the streets of Portorosso. Filling his ears and humming a soft tune as his body had subconsciously decided where he would be going. 

Last summer Giulia, Luca, and himself visited a pond up in the woods of Portorosso that had a small stream that lead in and out of it. They spent some time there together but soon left to explore the wilderness a bit more. Though Alberto had memorized the path leading to the pond where he spent most of his sleepless nights at. Something about the water that didn't have waves that moved and tossed you about but instead calm waters where he could lay at the bottom and relax there for as long as he wanted undisturbed, he loved. For most of his life he was slept on the surface but the change in sleeping under some calm water was relaxing. The water wrapped around you and compressed around you like a perfectly fit blanket. Alberto also thoroughly enjoyed the chilliness of the waters compared to the heat of the surface. It was another thing about the pond that helped him become tired enough to fall asleep that surface couldn't do for him. 

Alberto dragged himself forward after letting out an exhausted yawn. His body begged for rest but his brain still told him to stay wide awake as he finally made it to the forest edge. Heading down a trail he knew from memory now heading towards the pond, he started to hear the quiet rushing of water and the croaks of local frogs. 

He took a bit to think about how life would be if he himself was a frog. The only thing on his brain would be to sleep, eat, and procreate. He could never imagine himself ever being with a girl. He could admit they were pretty but he knew for awhile now he was only into men. He was unsure if it was normal as it was something he never heard of. Two men dating was foreign for his younger self and came to Massimo for help about how he was feeling. Massimo explained the world of how sexuality worked and gender worked to him. Though some of it he didn't understand years ago, he finally understood fully now what it all meant. He even spoke to the two old lady sea monsters about it as he had learned they themselves were dating and living together in their humble household. He envied the thought of living his life with someone he loved each day. Being able to spend each waking moment around the love of his life, which he hoped it would be Luca and him one day. 

He also dreamed the travels Luca and him could have once they were old enough. Once Alberto himself got a job and enough wages he would be more than over joyed to take Luca across the world. It was a dream of his ever since he met Luca that fateful day in late August. He never understood why he felt that them meeting was inevitable. Just something about spending time with him on the surface made him just click with Luca.

Luca, Luca, Luca, he was always on his mind with each task he did throughout the day. Each time something out of the ordinary happened, he always was so excited to tell Luca all about it over their phone calls or in letters Massimo helped him write. 

Drifting away from his own thoughts full of Luca, he finally made it to the pond. The moonlight hit the pond's surface that rippled ever so slightly by the dripping of the small stream waterfall that lead into it. Then a smaller stream that lead out of the body of water. Greenery surrounded the edges of the enchanting pond where some rocks didn't cover. The water that had splashed from the waterfall made the rocks and planets around it slick and shiny in the moonlight. 

He smiled as he listened to the distance croaks of frogs and the chirps of crickets as he sunk into the pond slowly. He savored the sudden calmness that washed over him as he looked up at the stars and the moon above. The sky was clear and the moon was full, some tree limbs did cover the clear view into the sky but there was still a good enough canopy clearing to see the night and all it's beauty. Alberto smiled as he finally dipped his head under the water surface. Letting out ripples that ran all across the pond.

His feet slipped a little bit against the slimy rocks under the surface, sand kicked up as he moved his tail to propel himself to the middle of the small pond. He could feel the water's temperature drop the deeper you got into the water. Some freshwater plants grazed his back as he laid down face up at the bottom of the pool. He watched the sky above as his mind again wandered off to thoughts of Luca.

He imagines the feeling of cuddling up to Luca in his own little pond safe haven together. He yearned for a romantic night out here with Luca, being able to make out in the moonlight with one another. To explore and experiment with each other with nobody around to disturb them for as long as they wanted. More importantly of it all he wanted to curl up with Luca in his arms. Whisper to him 'I love you's between kisses. Alberto would give up so much to look at his sweet flustered face under the moonlit pond. 

Though thinking about what tomorrow would bring, his heart ached with love and guilt. He felt terrible for looking at his best friend in such a way. To imagine such things not knowing if Luca reciprocated the feelings. Does Luca lay in bed every night thinking about him this way? Does each day of his always cluttered with thoughts of Alberto? Does Luca wish for him to?

He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh listening to his own thoughts ramble. His mind had finally became drained enough for him to drift off to sleep, so he did just that under the water's surface and the moonlight's stare.

Chapter Text

Finally, it was the day he had been waiting for for months. 

Each second went by slowly, wishing so badly for it to be night already so he could have Luca wrapped up in his arms. He wanted to see Luca, feel Luca, oh-so badly as he finally took a seat on the train platform. He just couldn't seem to relax, his body would tense up with every noise, waiting for the distance chug to indicate that the train would arrive soon. He just couldn't seem to wait much longer, he desperately wanted to see his friends in person than in photos he would rarely receive. Though he loved the images his friends gave him nothing was like seeing them in person. Being there to hug Luca and Giulia, talk to them face to face and not over a phone. His emotions each time Luca left came to him in a swarm, heart wrenching yearning, the jealousy for Giulia, and the mind numbing loneliness. He was lost in those months alone like that, hearing the adventures Luca and Giulia have, hurt. He wanted so badly to experience with them, with Luca, but he didn't want to change his life now. He was happy working for Massimo instead of going to a school and learning about whatever. Massimo and Machiavelli were good company but nothing beat the moments with them with the ones he has had with Luca. He wouldn't be here without him, he would be still sitting there out on that island with the tower. He doesn't know if he would ever be able to achieve his dreams without the push he got from Luca. Alberto also knew well Luca wouldn't be here without him, going to school and doing things sea monsters haven't done before. 

Oh he was so in love with Luca it hurt. Each waking moment was full of Luca and even in his dreams he would occasionally see Luca. Luca, Luca, Luca. It was all what his brain could process anymore. Thinking about the times they hugged, cuddled, or held his hand made time go by so much quicker. Disassociating himself from everything with thoughts filled with romantic ideals with Luca.

Luca doesn't even know the control he has over Alberto. Each of his words made Alberto feel fuzzy, each moment he spent by him went by in a bliss. Every time they touched his body was shocked with a burning lust for more than just this friendship. He wanted to end it but he was so scared it would never work and he would lose someone he cared to much about. He never wants to make Luca feel like he has to date or return the feelings. He just wants Luca to love him, so desperately he wants him to. 

Though whatever their friendship would become he just wanted to see Luca happy. Every summer when he watched Luca run out from his train cart and into Alberto's arms, he saw nothing but joy on his face. A brightness he relished in seeing each time Luca would arrive and wish he could keep on Luca each passing day. Though his happiness was still there in the times they spent together but it was nothing like the childish joy Luca had in Alberto's arms on that special day. 

It was still so painful to watch Luca leave in the summer, both exchanging sweet sad goodbyes with some tears before departing again for another nine months. In that time all he had to look forward to was Luca's calls and letters. Every so often on his break days Luca would sit in a call late into the night with Alberto. They sometimes spoke words none of them would normally say not tired. Soft talks of personal things, murmurs of warmth for each other would slip from their lips over the call. Alberto would even sometimes let a flirty comment out, getting a giggle over the phone by the warm eyed boy. Though ever so rarely Luca would comment something back, which would intern make think days upon days about what he said. Each word he would write down in his own small journal besides some wish filled art of Luca and him. He would die if anyone ever looked into something so personal to him, he didn't want to let out the intimate conversations he would have with Luca. It was something private, just Alberto and Luca stuff. 

He remembers the time he let himself call Luca cute in a sleepy state. How Luca would laugh and ask if he really thought that, and Alberto let it pour out he really thought that. He really thought Luca was cute, he didn't spill out how much he found him adorable. How much he found him handsome and loved all the stupid little things he would do. It hurt bottling up all these feelings from someone who he could trust but he didn't want to let them know. To know what the feelings he had so desperately for him, feelings that were so deep rooted and consumed each waking thought of his. 

He could feel himself choking up on the platform and Luca wasn't even here yet, he just felt all the sudden overwhelmed with his emotions again. He felt guilty after calling him cute, though Luca called Alberto cute back, he didn't know if he pressured him into it. He overthinks each word Luca and him would share, it always made him crazy. Luca is so timid and Alberto doesn't know if he did tell him how he felt or if Luca would feel pressured into it. That's the last thing he would want is an unreciprocated love between them both. 

Though with the distant chug of a train down a tunnel, his heart leapt with excitement. He felt like he could barely breathe as the silhouette of a train appeared down the tunnel. He could feel the excitement from Massimo and the Paguro family near by. Everyone was excited for the arrival of the two school kids coming to visit for the summer.

He felt dizzy as his brain whirled with joy hearing the familiar screech of metal against metal and the bright red train going by slowly. Finally stopping and sitting still, Alberto was hit with a sudden rush of Deja vu. Even if the train was very late from its normal morning stop to a now afternoon stop, he still couldn't help recalling each time he was here, waiting for Luca and Giulia in the morning with Massimo. His nerves were always on end just like they were now, waiting to see a familiar short brunette exit a cart after a red head busting at the seams with energy.  Luca kept a hairstyle he hasn't changed much even after a few years, but each year Luca became more of an adult. He would watch his friend say things or explain things Alberto didn't quite get or understand. He would listen to every word though, watching his face light up as he explains things beyond Alberto's own imagination. Each time Luca's face would light up as he began to ramble about things he was passionate about made Alberto happy.

His mind dragged away when finally the cart doors swung open, busting at the seams with excitement and there were tears already threatening to fall, and finally saw the two exiting a cart. Luca almost immediately noticed him as well, locking eyes for barely a second before Luca's bag was on the platform and Luca running into his arms.

"Alberto!" Cried Luca in joy as he crashed into Alberto, his arms tightly wrapping around him. Happy tears from Luca already staining his tank top.

"Luca!" Alberto laughed in pure bliss, immediately hugging Luca back, twirling him around as Luca was tightly pressed against him. Alberto barely had anytime to process things as his brain fuzzed with a sudden relief of his constant yearning to have Luca here.

With tears from both of them that stained their cheeks and eyes with indigo and aqua respectively. Alberto has wanted this again for so long, the experience was something else than what he could ever explain. He felt like he was dreaming.

Coming to a stop with the spinning, both hugged each other for a bit of time on that platform. Alberto's face buried into the crook of Luca's neck and Luca's face buried into Alberto's shoulder. Both relishing in the presence of each other as Alberto couldn't help but melt into the brunette. With arms still around each other, he felt like he was in heaven, that it was all to good to be true even though he has experienced this before. He was so happy he could barely explain it, his body felt like it was on fire with each touch of Luca, even as they swayed in each other's arms.

With a muffled huff from Luca he finally murmured something so soft toned that fogged his thoughts again. "I missed you so much, Alberto." Luca hugged Alberto tightly again before lightening up on the grasp.

"I missed you so much, Luca." He muttered in return as they remained in their arms together. Ignoring the bustling of Giulia, Massimo and Luca's own family members. 

It was just them right now, the others could wait.

With a gentle squeeze from Luca, Alberto knew their long hug was finally over. Sniffling from the joy filled tears, he let Luca go. Luca's arms retreating from Alberto, leaving Alberto with a sense of loss without his arms around Luca. Alberto knew he couldn't sit in that same position like that forever, there would be a time when his family finally would also want to hug him. Though after leaving each other's warmth, Luca locked eyes with him. The world around him seemed to blur as Luca smiled and Alberto couldn't help but making a lovesick grin back. 

With their moment suddenly being cut off from a red head suddenly jumping up and swinging arms around both Alberto's and Luca's shoulders, Giulia laughed. "That was adorable, but Alberto! You finally gained some decent facial hair." She moved her arm free from Luca to pull at the chin hairs on Alberto's face. 

"Ow, stop that!" Alberto grunted with a smile still smeared all over his face, smacking her grabby hands away. He was to full of giddy joy to get annoyed with Giulia.

Luca laughed at the two with a big grin all over his face as well, the reunion was filled with nothing but joy. Even when Luca's mom came up to Luca and smothered him with mom hugs and kisses, Luca never protested. Even when his parents both pestered him about how his journey was and if he was being careful, Luca was still as giddy as he was in Alberto's arms moments ago. Alberto could live in this moment forever, replaying their hug in his memory, so fresh and filled with joy. The memory was so sweet, like a fresh lemonade in the blistering heat of the summer.

Though their meeting eventually lead them back to Massimo's for dinner. Alberto was starved as he hadn't eaten lunch, being to busy pacing on the train platform to bother thinking about food. He also desperately couldn't wait for when Luca and him would both crawl into their treehouse together. Then he could show Luca the Vespa he had mentioned in phone calls. He could imagine Luca hugging Alberto close as they took the Vespa out for a ride late into the night. He could not wait for when he could, if Luca would want to. He hated ifs, he wanted for sure Luca would do these things but it was also his imagination that created these situations. He would imagine scenarios of Luca and him which normally never played out the way he wanted it to. Having disruptions from his plans, most were because of his short comings or Giulia. 

His short comings were usually himself chickening out last second or Giulia deciding to join them on their own personal adventures, which he could have considered as dates if he wasn't so scared to make things awkward between him and Luca. To ruin it all, their friendship and everything they had built. Something that Alberto had to keep reminding himself every time he got into one of his daydream sessions of him and Luca making out or going on dates, that they were just friends. It hurt to keep telling himself it, his heart ached and wrenched at the idea of only being friends. Even with all the rush of emotion from earlier, he was finally drained, he reined his feelings back into order, slowly. 

===

Alberto scrambled up the treehouse latter once that dinner was finally over. Luca's family members had just freshly left and Luca helped Massimo remove the folding table from the back yard. The dinner was full of Luca's grandma and his father, Lorenzo, asking questions about his school life and information that they had not heard yet. Daniela was a different story, asking follow up questions from the first making sure Luca and Giulia were doing everything safely. They occasionally threw questions to Alberto, which were mostly about his job as a lifeguard and how he finally gained some decent facial hair. Each word he listened to or said drained him ever so slowly of energy, the lack of sleep he got the night before finally catching up to him after finishing his plate of pasta. 

He crawled onto a mattress to lay down for the moment. Even though he terribly wanted to take Luca on a ride with his Vespa, he was to exhausted tonight. He wished he would have gone to sleep earlier yesterday, not having to deal with his own sleepiness today when Luca was finally here. Though his mind was soothed by the thought of Luca being here but with the butterflies building up in him, it was still hard to sleep. In his tired state, he didn't even want to bother changing out of his clothes he has worn all day, he just wanted to rest and spend some time with Luca.

He loved their alone time together, being able to talk to him on a more personal level than usual.  Just them and their thoughts, he loved it that way.

Pulling his head out of the clouds, he listened to the soft sound of someone making their way up the nailed in latter that lead up into the treehouse. His butterflies buzzed within him as he looked over, watching the door frame for the person, he hoped was Luca, to make an appearance.

As soon as he saw the brown hair poke up just beyond the platform followed by the rest of the boy, his heart skipped a beat, excited. 

"Hello, Alberto." Luca said with a smile, coming over to sit on the mattresses next to him. Alberto's heart started to beat faster, making Alberto uncomfortably warm.

"Hey Luca." He let out sleepily with a yawn, turning over from his side to lay facing straight up to be able to look at Luca. He couldn't help but take in every feature about him, his clean shaven face, his puppy dog eyes tinted brown, and the freckles that sprinkled along his nose and cheeks. He loved Luca's freckles, he couldn't help it. It made him look adorable, overwhelmingly adorable. Especially with the glasses he had gotten two years back, round and with a golden rim, it fit his personality so perfectly.

"You seem tired." Luca said with a giggle. "Were you to excited to see me you didn't sleep?" Luca was to smart for his own good. He always sooner or later figured out the root of Alberto's actions. He hated and yet loved that about Luca, some things he didn't want to explain and Luca would just figure Alberto out on his own. He was so attentive to Alberto and he doesn't know if it's a blessing or a curse.

Alberto scoffed before letting out a low chuckle and flipping away from Luca. "Of course I was, why wouldn't I be? I'm always excited to see you."

"I get excited to see you as well." He could hear the smile in the boys voice, very soft and soothing to Alberto's aching heart. Though Alberto refused to turn around even as it burnt into his back what he said. He wonders if Giulia shares the same excitement as Luca to see Alberto.

"That's sweet." Alberto could only tease in return, letting a smile spread onto his sleep deprived face. 

"Yeah, yeah." Luca said, letting out a huff as he adjusted himself to lay onto the mattress besides him. Alberto was facing the wall and didn't dare turn around now. "You should really come visit us sometime during the school year. It sucks not having you around."

"Mean that?" Alberto asked, letting his mind slip into wonder about the other guy, did his heart also ache at the thought of Alberto not being there by his side? As much as he hurt at the feeling of Luca not being there to?

"Yeah! Of course." Luca could hear the eye roll in his tone. "I hate leaving, as you know."

"I do know. Very much." Alberto said with a chuckle, remember the calls Luca had with him late at night. Luca always ranted about how much he despised leaving, wishing school and everyone in Portorosso was all in one place.

"I know." Luca responded, shifting on the bed to be on his side facing Alberto. "I remember you talking about your Vespa, or a brief mention of it, could you take me on a ride tomorrow? I'm to tired to go ride tonight."

"I am as well but of course we can Luca." Alberto told him, finally gaining the courage to face the brunette again. "I didn't get that Vespa just to brag about it."

Alberto smiled at Luca, Luca's eyes softened at the sight of Alberto's smile. Luca grinned at him back, making Alberto's heart go crazy. A electric shock of want to hug him ran through him. Though with as much strength as he could, he pushed it down. He wished for the feeling to wash away as he did not want to feel like that, to yearn so hard so randomly. He didn't want to feel like this so he couldn't hurt himself or his friendship with Luca. Even if his eyes flickered down to look at Luca's lips, he tried shoving it all away.

"Well I just want to ask to be nice you know." Luca's eyes locked with Alberto's for a fraction of a second before avoiding his gaze by looking down and out the doorframe of the treehouse. 

"I know that." Alberto mouthed between a yawn, letting his eyes wander to the outside just like Luca did. "I'm also surprised Giulia isn't bothering us like other years."

"She didn't get much sleep either. Which is strange for her. Normally as soon as her head hits the pillow she's out." Luca told him. "Maybe she was excited to come over for the summer this year."

"I guess everyone is calling it quits early, huh?" Alberto said, watching Luca's gaze shift up again, looking at Alberto's hand between them both. Alberto, of course looked at his own hand, confused on why he was looking at it.

"You've gotten so much more muscular over the summer." Luca's eyes trailed up Alberto's arm, locking his gaze on the anchor tattoo he had gotten last year on his bicep. 

"What can I say? Fishing takes a lot of work." Alberto told him, watching them go back to looking at his hand. Luca seemed to be lost in thoughts as much as Alberto gets into thinking about Luca. He felt as though Luca was just ever so slightly checking him out.

Luca didn't respond before reaching out for Alberto's hand. Taking it and comparing it to his own hand.

His chest burned with love at just the slightest touch like that from Luca. It made his heart pound wildly in his chest as he looked at both their hands touching, especially being able to feel Luca's skin against him.

"You're hands are much larger than mine." Luca observed, pulling his hand away, taking away the fire that was ignited in Alberto.

"Mhm." He could only mumble as his face was on fire, his hand feeling empty all of the sudden with Luca's not in them.

Luca observed him for a second. "Alberto?" The brunette asked in a soft tone.

"Yes?" Alberto asked, a bit nervous with the tone Luca used. When Luca talked so quiet and gentle to Alberto, it would melt him every single time. Just becoming a goo for Luca to play with if he knew.

"I really meant it about coming to visit during the school year." Luca back tracked onto an earlier conversation. "I know it's just the beginning of summer but I've been thinking about it a lot this year."

"I wouldn't be against it." Alberto responded, his nerves relaxing. "Any excuse to come see you." Alberto joked, his eyes looked outside again to avoid looking at the other boy.

Luca just laughed a little before responding. "Ok, but- I have also collected the money so I can pay for the ticket there and the ticket back."

Alberto took a moment. "Seriously?" He looked back to him, locking eyes with him briefly.

"Really! I don't want you to waste your money on this." Luca insisted, his expression filled with genuineness.

"It would never be a waste." Alberto scoffed. "How could it?"

"I don't know." Luca giggled. "I just thought it was a good enough word to use for it."

"Whatever, but yes. I'd love to come visit you during your school year. I'll finally get to meet Giulia's mom and see those paintings you've described to me." Alberto muttered sleepily. No amount of butterflies could keep him awake anymore, especially with the sudden back ground noise of the nightly crickets.

"Yes! Just so many reasons you just have to visit some time." Luca told Alberto happily.

Alberto just nodded, smiling at the thought of taking a break from the yearning during the time Luca was gone. It would be a temporary solution to his heart ache, not having to deal with it for how ever long he stayed at Genoa. 

"I think we should figure that out later," Alberto added, "As in during the school year let's figure that out later."

"Alright." Luca responded. "Goodnight, Alberto."

"Goodnight Luca, now silenzio." Alberto said with a chuckle.

He got a chuckle back from Luca before finally Alberto let his mind drift off, even with himself half asleep, eventually he felt someone's hand grab his. To tired to care and dare to disturb the physical affection, he was out quickly.