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“I’m really glad you agreed to come. I’ve been third wheeling these two idiots for years, they aren’t even dating yet,” Giulia joked, leaning back in her chair to watch her dumb fish boys playfully bump shoulders while standing in line for gelatos.
“Thank you for inviting me. It was really nice seeing you again and meeting Luca. But um-” The dark haired girl hitched a disbelieving eyebrow, “They aren’t dating? Luca’s all Alberto talks about at work.”
“Nope,” Giulia cupped a hand over her mouth and dropped her voice conspiratorially, “I’ve got money on one more year before they finally seal the deal.”
Isabelle snorted, “You’re pretty invested in these two- wait- literally- you’re literally monetarily invested in them.”
Giulia shrugged, “They’re my best friends, but their pining is agony. I had to find the fun in it somehow.”
Isabelle laughed, making her dark curls dance around her shoulders. God her smile was pretty. She finally caught her breath, “Giulia, you’re too much.”
Too much. Familiar words, but they’d never been said to her in such sweet tones, like it was a good thing. She could feel her cheeks heating up and hoped they weren’t as red as her hair.
It was the first summer Isabelle wasn’t visiting family in Southern Italy since they were children. She’d been one of the only other kids in Portorosso that treated her like she was worth knowing. Every summer since had been a habitual disappointment, right up until meeting Luca and Alberto. Even still, some part of her always hoped she’d get off the train and find Isabelle waiting for her.
This summer, when she found out Isabelle was in town and working with Alberto as the other lifeguard, Giulia had been over the moon at the chance to catch up with her. Then she saw her. Giulia had suspected she might be into girls for a while, but seeing Isabelle, Giulia liked girls. Beautiful felt like an underwhelming word to use. Between the girl’s flawless dark complexion, her sharp thoughtful eyebrows, her flat well-shaped nose, her perfect white teeth, and her completely normal sweat glands, Giulia couldn’t quite parse how much of her feelings were attraction and how much was jealousy.
She would’ve been entirely too intimidating to talk to but luckily Isabelle was also too stubborn to let Giulia’s awkwardness stand in the way of catching up with her childhood friend.
Out of the corner of her eye, Luca leaned in toward Alberto, he must’ve said something funny from the bark of laughter Alberto emitted. She almost wished she knew what he’d said, maybe she could make Isabelle laugh like that.
She flashed Isabelle a sly grin and put on her best impression of a dry British accent, “And here we have the elusive fish boys in their natural habitat- the local gelateria.”
Isabelle stifled a laugh, Giulia supposed she’d have to try harder than that, “Watch closely, these two appear to be courting- platonically of course, what a rare sight. This beautiful dance begins with a purely friendly shoulder bump- ah yes- perfectly demonstrated-” Isabelle giggled, encouraging Giulia to continue.
She feigned a surprised gasp, “And the bump is reciprocated. Now they begin their subtle attempts to impress each other- it appears the larger male is presenting a gift of- yes- frozen dairy- this surely demonstrates his unwavering commitment to the pair’s lifelong bond of friendship.”
Isabelle’s dark hair bounced around her shoulders again and Giulia couldn’t help laughing too, “You should be glad he isn’t flexing like he does in the mirror at home.”
Alberto caught them watching and scowled from the other side of the shop, “What’re you looking at?” He shouted.
“Nothing fratello,” Giulia snorted between laughs.
He continued to glare from the counter until Luca stole his attention again. Isabelle gasped a little watching Alberto suddenly steady Luca’s chin before gently swiping a thumb over the corner of the boy’s mouth, wiping away a stray swear of gelato.
Giulia could barely maintain the British accent while trying not to laugh and blow their cover, “Ah yes, grooming, an integral part of platonic fish courtship.”
“Dio mio- they are hopeless,” Isabelle watched in mock horror.
Giulia bobbed her head solemnly, “Now you know my pain.”
The table creaked as Isabelle adjusted to face Giulia entirely. The little gesture, having all of Isabelle’s attention, made Giulia's stomach flutter a little.
“You don’t think you could ever end up like them do you?” Isabelle asked.
“Uh- no- of course not, I’d like to think I’m not so oblivious,” God she hoped Isabelle couldn’t see how much she was sweating, “But on the other hand, I’m kinda jealous I guess, they’re dumb but they have each other. I think they’re soul mates.”
“Is that what you think?” Isabelle smirked.
“That is what I think,” Giulia echoed almost absently. Having Isabelle’s dark brown eyes locked on her made it pretty difficult to focus.
“You two ready to go?” Alberto asked, interrupting the moment. Giulia glared at him, she’d make him pay later. She knew where he slept.
Luca rocked on his heels gazing at Alberto happily, before suddenly remembering to pass Giulia and Isabelle their gelatos.
“Yep,” Isabelle beat Giulia to the response.
The courtyard outside glowed with the vermillion rays of sunset that beat down on the back of Giulia’s neck. The cool breeze that blew from the ocean ruffled her hair, a refreshing promise of a pleasant night.
Luca and Alberto took the lead by a couple paces, nearly attached at the hip as they walked, sharing furtive glances between licks of gelato. Giulia felt a bump on her shoulder. Looking to her side, Isabelle’s mane of black hair collected the sunset light taking on the appearance of glittering embers. She wore a casual smile but her steps bounced with restrained mischief. Was this really happening?
Those two might wait another year to figure themselves out, but Giulia knew what she wanted. She bumped Isabelle’s shoulder back in a purely platonic way.
She didn’t know who started it, but she liked the way Isabelle’s hand felt in hers.