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Chapter Text

May 27th 1968, 3:18 PM

"Ok. Now are you sure you have everything, Giulietta?"

Giulia groaned, milking every ounce of it so that it would match the engine of the soon coming train that would take them to Portorosso. "Yes, Mamma. Everything I need is in my suitcase. Clothes. Books. Toiletries. The dead bodies of my mortal enemies who contribute to the injustice of the world. Same old stuff."

Mrs. Marcovaldo sighed, using her finger to gingerly smooth a stand of Giulia's hair across her forehead. "Dead bodies, hmm? You know, I don't think they allow those on the train. You might have to ask the conductor about their rules and regulations regarding that department."

Gasping with great theatricality, Giulia facepalmed herself. "Gah. You're absolutely right. Wait, wait. Maybe they'll decompose before they can ask questions. Of course there's also the smell factor. Definitely a problem." She snapped her fingers as if the idea for this totally make believe scenario was in arm's reach. "Ooh, you're perfume! We'll cloak the odor with your lavender mist perfume as they decompose."

"Lovely. Truly lovely, Giulia." Laughing softly, a laugh that made someone feel like they were riding along Cirrus clouds, Mrs. Marcovaldo tightened her sky blue headscarf. "But tell me, dear daughter, how long does it take for a body-well in your case multiple bodies-to decompose?"

"Easy, that's...huh. I don't know actually. But I think I know someone who does." When Giulia tapped the shoulder of the seventeen year old boy sitting on her right, he barely registered her. His face was buried deep in a novel. Of course it would be. When he pulled his face out of its pages, it wouldn't be a surprise if the letters would imprint themselves on his cheeks. "Luca?"

Luca gasped, looking up and around as if he awoke from a nightmare which was crazy considering that all around him sunlight cast rays all along the platform of Geneva's train station.  He blinked once, two times before finally registering where he was. "Huh? What was that, Giulia?"

"Whoah. You must've been deep inside your head today. I just asked you the most fundamental question and here you are, reading yet again as if...as if I don't matter. But don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Not like I'm one of your best friends or anything." 

If there was one thing Luca loved, and in a small way was annoyed by, it was Giulia's dramatization of every day life. At times, she reminded him of a thespian actor in a renaissance play. Not only would she dramatically fall over a velvet rolled armed sofa, but she'd fall off of it to as if that's what queens did. "Ok. I'm sorry. What was your question?"

"How long does it take for bodies to decompose?"

"Wha-that's your question? Why would you want to know that?"

"Why would I want to know that?" Giulia planted a fist on her hip. She looked over Luca's head to her mother. "Mom, isn't he adorable?"

"Luca, feel free to take some of those tablets for headaches." Mrs. Marcovaldo winked at him.

"Hey!"

Luca laughed and decided to oblige. Any distraction would do. Over the last few weeks of school, he's been a bundle of nerves. School was, and will probably always will be, a guiding force for him, but who knew exams were so hard. Especially for the older kids. As much as he loved his literature classes (it was way more enticing than Precalculus and Physics), all that writing and all nighters pulled with expresso made him feel groggy and a little heavy headed. 

"Ok. Let me think." Luca used the bookmark Mrs. Marcovaldo made for him to mark his place, a strip of leather with wilted bluebells, and closed the book he was reading, City Of Night by John Recky. He made sure to put a false slip cover over the real one, making it look like he was reading A Wrinkle In Time. "Well, there are factors you have to take into account. The environment, the person's weight." He plucked the pen he kept behind his ear and started chewing on the tip, a habit he developed when he really began to think. "The time it would take a dead body to typically decompose would be around...um...twenty four? Yeah, twenty four to seventy two hours."

"A genius!" Giulia explodes. Her outburst catches the attention of other people. Some shake their heads, but their stares remain oblivious to Giulia. "An Einstein if there ever was one. Well, I mean there was one, but you know."

"There's more actually."

"More? Fascinating. Mamma, let's listen."

"Oh Caro," Mrs. Marcovaldo said, resting her head in here palm. "You kids are something else."

Blushing, Luca continued. "The body starts to bloat after three to five days. Well, that's after the internal organs decompose."

Giulia nodded her head as if she's listening to a professor telling the secrets of the universe. "Fascinating."

"Yeah. And after eight to ten days the body...wow, this is really gross to talk about. After eight to ten days, the body turns from green to red. And that's after it bloats."

"Amazing." Giulia roughly slung her arm around his shoulder, wrecking his collar. Her cheek was firmly pressed against his, red like fresh apples in Mrs. Marcovaldo's backyard "Where would we be without you, Luca?"

"Um...not talking about dead bodies?"

"Exactly."

"Your friendship will always be a mystery to me."

Luca nodded in agreement at Giulia's mother's statement. "Four years later and I'm still figuring that one out." They both laughed at Giulia's expense.

"Hey, you two. The best mysteries in life are unsolvable. The best ones drive you crazy in the best way."

"The best way?" Luca thoughtfully tapped his chin. "I don't think so. It's a way, but far, far, far from the best."

The train would be there in about ten minutes or so. Luca longed to hear the wheels grinding against the tracks, and the toot toot of the horn piercing the air. He thought that after four years, he'd get used to the big machine that would carry him and Giulia to their summer home. But how could he not marvel at a fast moving land vehicle on wheels that made him feel like he was rocking in a boat? He fidgeted on the bench, tapping his sandal clad foot on the brick foundation of the platform, excitement and a weird unease that coursed through him whenever he returned home.

He couldn't wait to see him mother and father, both of whom allowed him to go to school in the first place.

He couldn't wait to see his grandmother who protected where he was going those first few days he ventured the surface.

He couldn't wait to see Massimo and Machiavelli; it was weird because while they weren't his real family, they were stitched into his heart as if they've always been there, even if they didn't know it.

Oh. Yeah. And of course he couldn't wait to see him. Yeah, whenever Luca thought about him his hands got sweaty and his heart beat unsteadily until it righted itself. Which was a very, very, very weird thing to do whenever you see your best friend. But it seemed like "best friend" wasn't even the right word for Alberto Scorfano. Only two words to describe the boy who literally plucked him out of the water and onto dry land for the first time? Only two words for the boy who showed him air, sunlight, and the fascinating, yet painful effects of gravity?

Best friend. Luca scoffed inwardly at the word because he felt like Alberto should be called something....more.

Whatever that was.

"Man, I'm so glad to be out of those uniforms," Giulia said, sighing in relief. "Skirts and blazers are nice and all, but nothing beats the comfort of jeans." She patted her thighs.

"I mean, I kind of like the school uniform."

"Oh yes, your style definitely mirrors their means of conformity. Luca, you look like you're about to work in a library."

It took Luca a few minutes extra to pick out what to wear for the trip home. When Giulia ever so kindly reminded Luca that he needed to get his Fish and Chips butt dressed before they missed their train, he made the absolute decision to wear an ironed white collared short sleeved shirt with a blue vest over it. Of course he threw on some sandals. He didn't want to look to formal for his family. "Hey, I like the style. I still don't see why everyone doesn't wear what I'm wearing."

Giulia laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder that was in the style of a large thick braid. "Maybe because it's summer time and people don't want to risk getting a heat stroke."

"Well, I think you look very mature. Amabile." Mrs. Marcovaldo gingerly used her fingers to comb Luca's hair. He could see moss green and sun orange paint underneath her fingernails. "I wouldn't ever have asked you to pose for my portraits if you weren't so inspiring. Are you sure you don't want to keep any portraits of yourself?"

"No thank you, Mrs. Marcovaldo. Wait, that sounded like I don't like them. I'll explain. You're a wonderful painter, but seeing myself like that? I don't think I could hold onto them."

"Ah. I understand. Well, if you change your mind let me know, sweetie. I'll send them over. Of course, I'd have to wrap them in some kind of waterproof casing if you want to take them under the ocean."

"Hey, I just had a thought," Giulia announced.

Luca snorted. "Uh oh. Should I be scared?"

Ignoring her best friend, Giulia sat with her legs crossed. A square was stitched over the knee, little golden hearts stitched into the fabric. "Funny. But you know who would really appreciate of portrait of you, Luca? You know who would really just die for a chance to see you as a painting?"

Considerate. Direct. Tom boyish. A little sweatier than average even after four years. Those were the things that described Giulia perfectly, right down to her halo yellow headscarf tied across the top of her head. But nonchalant? Nonchalant was a word that Luca learned which didn't apply to her.

Not.

At.

All.

So when she fixed him with fluttering eyelids, he knew exactly who she was referring to. "Um...no, I-I don't think I know who?"

Affectionately, Giulia laid her head on his shoulder, tucking herself just under his chin. "Why, darling, Alberto of course. Just think if he had a full size portrait of you. Especially one, say, where he could lay next to when he slept." The red head lifted her head and Luca saw the smirk that spread across her lips. "Heck, it would almost makes it seem like you were sleeping together."

"Look! Look! The train's coming!" Luca exclaimed a little too loudly. The shrill in his voice made Giulia laugh and her mother raise an eyebrow questioningly. The heat as palpable as a bunsen burner scourged his cheeks and thank Poseidon the train actually was coming.

The train came to a slow stop, the hiss like an Iron's. The wheels grinded against the tracks, making the whole station vibrate under Luca's feet. The shivers that rippled across his spine shook some of the anxiety quelling at the base of his spine. The piercing whistle, the smell of smoke from the train's chimney. It might as well have been a rocket ship to take him to outer space. 

"Alright, Ragazzi,' Mrs. Marcovaldo said warmly. She opened her arms as wide as she could. "You two have a safe trip. And don't forget to call or write, yes?"

Luca practically towered over her now, but when he crammed alongside Giulia into her mother's arms, it was like he was being hugged by a human canvas painting. He inhaled her smell of acrylic paint and scones, of canvas wood ands something spicy like wood burning over a bonfire. If The Golden Hour was a person, it would be Mrs. Marcovaldo. Already he would miss their trips to Geneva's Biblioteca, their walks along the river admiring the night lights of the city that could've been distant sea shells. "We promise we will," he said, his voice muffled in the older woman's overalls. "Every day."

"That goes double for me," Giulia said, pulling away. "Well, maybe not every day."

"That's what I thought."

Passengers spilled out of the train, oblivious to the trio. Some read newspapers as they walked, others spoke in friendly Italian, hand gestures going wild sometimes before rough, but loving laughter filled the air. But some passengers stared, particularly at Luca, before shaking their heads. He ignored them as best as he could. It came with the territory of being the only talking sea creature in Geneva.

"Hey, Mamma, I was wondering." Shy was also a word Giulia was not, but now she looked like a child asking her parents for a sleepover. "Maybe you could take a roundtrip to Portorosso one day. See Papa for a change? She shrugged her shoulders. "Just a thought. You know?"

Mrs. Marcovaldo eyes crinkled and the smile she had on before lost some, only some, of its cheer. "Maybe...we'll see."

"Yeah. Yeah, sure." Giulia shook her head and grabbed her suitcase. Her fingers, which where adorned with rings that were in the designs of rose petals and Garret stones, tightened around the handle strap. Her focus was only on the suitcase, as if she didn't want to look at her mother's apologetic stare.

Wanting to right the shift in atmosphere, Luca offered to help Giulia with her bag. "Hey, can I carry..."

"Nope!" Giulia replied a little too brightly. It was forced, like if her voice didn't feign cheerfulness, it would break under the gravity of the issue lying underneath. "I'm all good. I need the workout. C'mon, let's grab our seats. Unless you want all the window seats to be taken."

Luca allowed himself to be led by Giulia. Once they were on the train, they found their seats. Giulia extended her arm, indicating that Luca take the window seat. They had a clear view of the train station, including a faint smiling Mrs. Marcovaldo who was waving at them halfheartedly.

Fortunately, and sometimes unfortunately, Luca had a big bleeding heart that seemed to ensnare anyone who showed him kindness. It was a dangerous thing to do because it might be as fickle as those sea weed pants he wore all those years ago. But he couldn't let this be the sendoff. Giulia's mother deserved way more than that. Like, way, way, waaay more more all she's done for him.

He unlocked the window and pushed it open. "Mrs. Marcovaldo!" He shouted over the train's whistle. "I may take one of those portraits after all! There's no other artist like you!"

At this, Luca gave himself a high five and a tail bump because Mrs. Marcovaldo laughed merrily and smiled a smile as bright as newborn pearls. "Grazie Luca! You are truly a beautiful work of art!"

"I know, right!" Giulia yelled beside him. "I've been telling him that for the last few years!"

Now Luca blushed crimson red at the praise. Was he so embarrassed that he could even feel his scales shuddering beyond his human form? Yes. But they're smiles were worth it.

When the train slowly began chugging away, Luca grabbed Giulia's hand and they rushed through the narrow isle. They passed through car after car until they burst through a door where one could lean against the railing and watch everything behind them recede into the distance.

"Mamma!" Giulia shouted, her voice the loudest it could get. "We're going to the rule the world one day!"

"I believe you, lovely! But just remember!" The train was picking up a little speed, and Luca could faintly hear the words. And maybe it was the curve in which the train took as it made its trek, maybe it was the amount of love Giulia had for her mother and for him, or maybe it was the way the sun felt on his skin, probably setting his heart on fire...but he swear he thought Mrs. Marcovaldo was looking right at him when she yelled these last few words "Make sure you bring your hearts along with you! There's no fun in ruling a loveless world!"

***

4:02 PM

The swaying of the car was something of its own lullaby. It was hard to describe the sensation of being rocked gently back and forth as the train veered toward its destination. Everything has a purpose, a meaning that gives it more value when you think it doesn't, but all the words that usually buzzed around in Luca's head like a live hive were at a stand still, barely clashing. So he shimmied his shoulders and gazed out the expanse of sky. It seemed to be turning overcast lightly for the sun was no longer visible, but the effect made the meshed clouds above him flare bright like the underbellies of angel fish.

He was going home. Home. Another school year passed, another summer that'll be spent with his family. And another summer spent with his two best friends in the whole world. There had to be better words in the dictionary to describe Alberto and Giulia. Particularly Alberto. Alberto was his best friend, don't get him wrong, but the word still felt insubstantial, barely holding any weight.

Whatever that word was, it made Luca's heart flutter as if it had fins and was trying to escape a whirlpool that would threaten to drown it.

"Dio mio. Luca, that's why you're wearing glasses now. Staring at the sun again?"

The curly haired seventeen year old blinked before sitting up straight. "No, I...just thinking."

"Nothing more dangerous than a thinking man. The demons of the Thames will tremble before you." Giulia had taken the window seat opposite of Luca. She had taken to lay on her back, using the seat next to her to stretch out her legs. Her feet were sticking in the aisle, her ankles crossed. "Seriously though, are you ok? It looks like you didn't sleep last night. And since you just yawned right when I said that I'm going to say that that's true."

And true it was. Last night, like every night after Giulia had fallen asleep, he snuck down the stairs, through the kitchen, and into the moonlit backyard. Once tucked safely behind the tree that grew fresh peaches, he read the last letter Alberto had sent to him. And the one before that. And the one before that and so on. Sometimes he would work his way through ten letters before he noticed that day was breaking the night sky.

It was a habit he developed over the years, a few months after he left with Giulia for school. Luca would trace the words Alberto had written, marveling at how his best friend's penmanship had improved over the years. From backward letters and incorrect spelling to beautifully curved letters. Ok, there would be still some grammatical errors, but Luca didn't mind that. It reminded him that Alberto had not completely changed, that the hand that guided the pen to write the letters still held imperfections and blockades that prevented him from becoming fully human.

Of course Luca wouldn't tell Giulia that guilty pleasure.

"Yeah," he began, answering Giulia's earlier question. "I, uh...think I signed up for too many classes this semester. I think I swallowed more than I could stomach."

Giulia chuckled. She sat up, groaning as she did so, using her arm to hoist herself up. Her orange and white sleeveless t shirt revealed her toned arms. They flexed, thin veins threatening to break through her biceps. "Hmm. Human idioms still slip by you, I see."

"Wait, isn't that the expression?"

"Close. I think what you mean to say is You bit off more than you could chew."

"You know, I still don't fully understand that. I didn't physically bite into anything."

"That's why it's called an expression Mr. Linguist. But you're not the only one. I think I may have overdone with the extracurriculars." To demonstrate, she yawned, making as much noise as humanly possible.

Luca rolled his eyes, but he still had a smile on his face. "Well of course you're exhausted. You're only  the president of The Astrology Club."

"Uh bup bup. And The Girls Unite club."

"Not to mention co-captain of the swim steam."

Huffing out a breath of frustration, Giulia crossed her arms. "You know, I could've easily made main captain. She beat me by ten seconds. C'mon."

Luca leaned over and patted her on the knee. "I know, I know. But you're getting better.' He shrugged his shoulders, because better wasn't quite the word. More like she got better to the point where she wasn't moving exactly at a turtle's pace. "Of course you haven't reached my level yet, but you're getting there. Slowly. Very, very very slowly.'

"Hey!" Giulia shoved his shoulder playfully. "Idiota."

Luca made his voice slower as if speaking in slow motion. He pumped his arms as if he was running in place, tossing his head to either side. Any chance to make fun of Giulia, which he rarely did, was a sweet spot. "Yooooouuuuu......aaaaarrrrre......geeeettttiiiiiing......beeeeeterrrrrr.....wiiiiiiith.......tiiiiiiime."

"Luca!"

They both laughed until the conductor told them that they had to quiet down.

Luca untied his sandals and stretched his feet over so that they were resting in Giulia's lap. Shoes-or what Alberto once referred to in his letters as "Foot Cages"-were still a mystery to Luca. They were comfortable, but how could someone feel the Earth beneath their feet? Here humans were, hurtling through space in a vast universe and they wore shoes. The first time Giulia introduced him to dress shoes, it took him a full five minutes to properly slide his feet into them. It was almost suffocating, wearing shoes and socks for eight hours a day before he had the freedom to take them off when he returned home. 

"So. Excited to go back home?" Giulia asked, playing with Luca's toes.

"Always. Huh. It's weird how the place I felt I needed to escape is the same place that I miss. It's like home is a stranger I want to know again before I part ways with it." Luca waited for Giulia to respond, but he was only met with a quirk of her eyebrow and an amused smile on her face. She propped her chin up using her fist. "Wh-What?" Luca asked.

"You are definitely showing your inner Sylvia Plath. But I hear you. I've missed Papa." A fond smile stretched across Giulia's face. "Letters are fine and good, but nothing beats a physical reunion, you know? Bet your parents are probably tripping over their tail fins waiting for you."

Luca leaned his head against the window, feeling the warm glass on the right side of his head. "And by that you mean my mom?"

"Bingo."

Already Luca could envision her, probably pacing the train station creating a ten foot groove in the aging stonework. One thing about Daniela Paguro? She was a ten time heavyweight champion when it came to worrying. She was the queen of worry. If there was a city called Worryton, she'd be the police, the sheriff, and the mayor all rolled into one. "Yeah. I can't wait to see her again. My dad too."

"Of course, of course." Giulia examined her nails, painted red with swirls of gold. And the way she was doing it was definitely not nonchalant. "So, Luca. Dear Luca. Loving Luca."

"Um...yes?"

"Just out of curiosity and just to, you know, see how truly big your heart is, is there anyone in particular who you're most excited to see again? Any, you know, anyone special to you perhaps that you can't wait to run into this summer?"

Even as a seventeen year old human, Luca was still learning about the human body. (That was an out of this world awkward conversation with Giulia that he never, ever, EVER hoped to talk about again). But the one thing he noticed in people, and himself, was the way cheeks would turn scarlet red when people were out of breath, angry, or embarrassed. And out of the three, the last one caused Luca's cheeks to redden almost instantly. "Uh," he said, looking anywhere but at Giulia. "Well...there's, um, there's Massimo."

"Mmm hmm. Who else comes to that beautiful mind of yours?"

Gripping his bare knees, Luca drummed his fingers. Suddenly, he had the urge to fling open the window and dive into the glittering ocean. If he was lucky, maybe Moby Dick would swallow him whole. "There's...Machiavelli."

"Yeah, he doesn't like you just yet. But keep going."

Growing more flustered, Luca ran a hand through his hair. "Ciccio and Guido?"

"And?"

"Old man Bernardi?"

"All truly wonderful examples Luca. It's nice to know you have so many people stitched to your heart like a patchwork quilt." Giulia's smiled widened, and Luca was a little disturbed because he reminded him of Cheshire, the purple cat in Alice in Wonderland that always smiled. "But, see I was thinking of a certain someone we both know."

Oh no.

"Someone, say, who's been living with my dad for the past four years."

Luca gripped his knees tighter.

"Someone who's been writing to you religiously."

Aaaand there goes his heart, doing that weird fluttering thing.

"Someone with tan skin, green eyes, and from the photos he sent us might as well be the son of a Greek God."

At this, Luca coughed ands pulled at his collar. "Is it getting hot in here? It's hot in here." He flipped open the window, letting the outside breeze and the smell of the ocean calm his nerves. Still, he stared resolutely out the window, gazing at the sun lit ocean and the thin line that signaled the edge ofd the world.

Giulia sighed, as if her efforts to get him to spill who she was talking about were becoming fruitless. "You know who I'm talking about it."

Luca felt his nerves become less brittle as the sun and sea calmed the storm inside of him. He had to keep in mind one of the most fundamental truths that became a part of his life, a truth made of gold that sew itself into the tapestry of his life when he braved the surface: Giulia Marcovaldo was one of his best friends. She wasn't an angler fish waiting in the dark to attack him. She wasn't the dark side of the moon, where Luca learned was the coldest side of the planet. No, none of those things were her, would never be her.

Sometimes he wondered if the sun was only working at half capacity because the missing piece was right here, a seventeen year old girl with fiery red hair and compassion in her eyes that made him feel as if he belonged on the surface even before they met.

"Alberto," Luca whispered softly. Even saying his name made his tongue weak. "Yeah, I can't wait to see him."

Giulia smiled and leaned across to take hold of Luca's hand. "Me too. And, hey, when you ever want to talk about that? I'll be here."

"Under the dogs?"

Giulia chuckled. "Under the dogs."

The trolley cart was being brought down and Giulia splurged on all the good stuff. Luca took a bite of a chocolate èclair, only to have the cream squirt across the aisle and onto an older man face who had been reading a newspaper. Giulia stifled a laugh while Luca apologized over and over again. The man stared at Luca with a vehemence Luca felt too familiar. Over the years, he encountered bullies who chastised him because he was different. Things never got physical, thank goodness. Giulia made one hundred percent sure of that. It still didn't stop the reminder that he indeed was different and he couldn't do anything about that. Giulia took a bite of a gummy chewy sugar coated orange slice. She stuck them on her teeth to give off the impression that she was a vampire. I want to suck-a your blood! Luca practically howled in his seat.

Even though they weren't technically adults yet, it was nice to still act like kids sometimes. 

"Hey," Giulia said, setting down her orange slices. She pointed out the window, tapping on the glass. "Look at that.'

Luca turned to see what had caught his friend's attention. The first thing he noticed were water droplets on the window, landing on the glass with a light touch. The sun was still shining behind the clouds and the effect made Luca think it was raining diamonds. His skin tingled the way it did whenever he was near bodies of water, the skin, the scales he was born  in clawing its way to break free. and he stood up before he knew what he was doing. "I'll be back."

"Ok Tarzan. Go. Leave me in my time of need." Giulia faux fainted, the back of her hand against her forehead as if she was a debutante. Her eyes were closed. "Your lack of presence will cause a stir in the chambers of my heart. My breath goes shallow as you recede from my sight.  The world that I have known now crumbles beneath my feet as you, Luca Paguro, promise to be right back. Will you be back? Yes. But even so, I weep." She opened her eyes and gave Luca a cheesy grin. "How'd I do? Ten out of ten or what?"

"Oh boy." Luca passed through the cars, passing giggling babies and small children who waved at him. He waved back, giving a little girl a high five when she reached her hand out. Another thing he loved about the surface were the smaller children. They didn't look at him with narrowed eyes that speared his heart with a harpoon tip. They looked at him in wonder, lovingly as if he was a special sand dollar cast on a forbidden shore. Maybe when he was older he'd have kids of his own.

But from what he's witnessed under the sea and above the surface? He couldn't have kids of his own with the boys up here.

But that was something he wouldn't tell anyone. Not yet.

He reached until he felt an open breeze in one of the cars. This one was scarce of people, only a sleeping elderly couple in the corner. It was awesome, and kind of dangerous, that the train had no doors. Anyone could accidentally trip and fall through the open space onto the ground that seemed to move as fast as the train surged. But the smell of saltwater begged Luca forward.

Using the outer railing, he gripped it tightly so that he wouldn't fall. Rain fell from the sky, barely creating a dent in the endless ocean. With his free hand, he held out and watched as his skin slowly transitioned from pale to moss green, scales sprouting from his fingertips down to his wrist. The webs in in his fingers were more pronounced, and where his fingernails were trimmed and cut short were now replaced by claws. 

It wasn't enough.

Daring, Luca leaned farther out of the train, hanging at a forty five degree angle as he leaned his body farther toward the sea. The light rain sprinkled over his face. Small droplets careened down his neck and into his shirt. His bare knees and legs were also becoming wet, but not as much as the upper half of his body for the train's roof provided protection for his feet. His face, neck, and legs tingled, tiny kisses planting themselves over his being. He felt his scales surfacing, darker green than when he was thirteen. He inhaled, extending his free arm as if he could scoop up every ounce of sun and take it with him.

He loved this feeling: the wind coursing through his blue appendages that was his hair; his caudal fins on his arms and legs fluttering like streamers; the rocky terrain below and around him housing grass that was kissed by the ocean's mist. It reminded him how big the world truly was and if he could, if he was brave enough, he'd travel everywhere and experience everything and do everything that was possible in his lifetime.

And he'd take a certain boy with him. Even if they didn't have a vespa, Luca decided they could walk barefoot from place to place. The world seemed small when you moved fast like the speed of light. They would move as slow as the sound underwater, taking in everything as if it would last forever.

The daydream caused Luca to loosen his grip on the bar, which made him yelp at how close he was to the narrow space of ground that separated the tracks from the sea. He managed to tighten his grip before hurling himself up back through the door, landing on his butt. "Ok," he said, laughing nervously. "Note to self. Don't daydream about going on adventures with your best friend while hanging out of a train door. Yep. Writing that with permanent marker."

He stood up, brushed his knees and turned. But his heart did another ten foot jump when a man twice his age stood before him. Under his gray newsboy hat, his icy blue eyes were slits. His thin white cotton sweater revealed tattoos that did nothing to quell Luca's growing unease. On his forearms were sea creatures being slain by men in shirtsleeves, vicious laughter seeming to coming from their smiles. 

"Um," Luca said, swallowing. "Hi, sir. Sorry about earlier. It was an accident. I hope that, I...uh...didn't even inconvenience you in any way." The man still stood before him, unmoving. "We won't disturb you for the rest of the trip if that's what you're worried about. I'll let my friend know too."

The man scratched his stubble. Nails on a chalkboard was still an expression that Luca couldn't comprehend fully-why would you hammer nails into a chalkboard where you write on? But the sound of the man's fingers scratching his face might as well have been that. "You're the fish boy, right? From Portorosso's waters?"

Fish boy. Luca shuddered inwardly at the malice interwoven in the man's words. As if it was something to be stepped on with the heel of someone's boot and kicked to the curb and into a sewer. "Ye-Yes, that's me." Trying to fight the unease of the situation, he extended his hand. "Luca Paguro."

The man stared at his hand. "Disgusto. I'm not touching you."

Luca retracted his hand and held it in his other one. The realization that he was still in his sea creature form nearly made his heart stop. At least he didn't sprout his tail when he was hanging from the doorway. "I'll just head back to my seat. You have a good day, sir."

When Luca tried to sidestep around him, the man blocked his way. He put up his hand and lightly shoved Luca. It wasn't anything to make him topple over, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins made his Fight or Flight mechanism lean more toward the Run The Hell Away side. "Back to your seat?" The man snickered, but it was void of humor. "Why? So you can invite more of whatever you are to the surface?"

"No. No, I just want to go back to my se-"

"First, it'll be the trains. Sitting next to us, breathing our air, taking up our space. Then it'll be busses, airplanes, more of your kind invading our world. I don't know what made you want to come up here in the first place, but you're just lucky I don't have my kids with me. They'd probably scream and cry their eyes out at the sight of you."

Not wanting to take his eyes off the man for fear of him attacking, but faltering under his steely gaze, Luca turned his head briefly to the elderly couple, wishing for assistance. They were still sleeping, oblivious to his fear quarreling its way throughout his spine, making his legs and arms immobile. "Sir," he said, turning back to the man, "please, I would like to go back to my seat. I don't want any trouble."

"Trouble? There's going to be more trouble if more of your kind show up." In a flash, the man seized Luca's wrist in a vice like grip. The teenager's heart hammered in his chest, beating twice, thrice as fast. "You need to stay in the water where you belong. We don't need the likes of your kind pushing our children out of the classrooms. We don't need your kind strolling down the sidewalks, taking over jobs, polluting our cities."

"Let me go."

"Creature sporche." The man spat at Luca's feet.

"Please, just let me go. Please?"

"Or what? What do you plan to do if I don't?" The man leaned into Luca's face. Luca could smell cigarette smoke and what smelled like wine. "No. On second thought. Do something. Because then it'll give me a reason to throw you off this train."

The breeze on Luca's backside made his fear solidify into a metallic ball at the pit of his stomach. He was still only inches away from the open door of the car. The man could easily push Luca through, send him tumbling over the cliff into the ocean. 

So many heroes Luca looked up to where indeed fiction and historical. David from the Bible where he took on Goliath. Odysseus who faced monsters and traveled the ocean to return home. Theseus who killed the Minotaur of Crete and became king of Athens. All of them and many more stood up to their oppressors, the people who threatened to keep them down. And Luca wished that he had the willpower, the strength to...well...to fight. 

A shove, an elbow to the ribs, a punch-anything to escape the man's grasp. But Luca remained still, panting at the man's tightening grip, his scream lodged in his throat, weighed down by anchors of fear.

"You know," the man said, his voice a whisper filled with tips of knives. "You'd look really nice mounted on my wall."

Luca's eyes burned and tears threatened to pour down his face. He shut them tightly to keep them at bay. "You're...you...let..." 

"Let him go, presagio di ingiustiza."

When Luca opened his eyes, his vision was blurry, but he knew who's voice that belonged to. He turned to see Giulia staying the aisle. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her brown eyes that were usually welcoming and full of joy were now smoldering, boiling like dutch chocolate. 

"Excuse me, who are you?" The man said, not loosening his grip on Luca. 

"Giulia Marcovoldo. The girl who's going to stuff her fist down your throat and yank out your heart if you don't let my friend go."

Luca wished again that he could speak up, but his voice was growing smaller and smaller.

"Your friend? This creature? Girl, you're delusional if you think you can be friends with someone who looks like this." The man let out a braying laugh, looking over Luca as if he was a joke.

"Yeah. My friend. Can you not follow simple diction? Have you been educated in English or did you drop out in third grade? Maybe I should speak more slowly." Giulia stepped forward, her long braid swishing side to side. It might as well have been a whip made of fire. "Let. Him. Go."

"Girlie..."

"Oooh. Misogyny. That's always attractive."

"I'm a grown man, little girl. You really think you can take me on."

Giulia tilted her head back and laughed curtly before setting her eyes on him again. "Fight you? Honestly, it wouldn't be fair. I mean, a thirty something loser who dresses like they just rolled out of bed versus a girl who's intelligent and the daughter of Massimo Marcovaldo. Honestly, if I were you, I wouldn't want to fight me either. Hey, what's wrong? Look a little pale there, buddy."

Pale was an understatement. Luca saw the man's face turned ashen. His grip slackened, but not enough for Luca to break free.

"Oh? You didn't know that? Yeah, I'm Massimo's daughter. You know, the guy who's about six foot, big as a mountain. Former sea creature hunter. Great guy." Giulia's smile turned devilish. It wasn't often that she used her dad to protect herself. At school, when a few choice kids would pick on him Giulia could shut them down with her insults alone. Luca learned that she really only brought out the big guns (i.e.-her father)  when he was involved, especially if he was being attacked by strangers. "Now, wouldn't it be an absolute, dreadful shame if say...I don't know...he found out that a man was attacking his daughter's best friend as well as subjugating said daughter back to the stone ages with words like Girlie and Little girl?"

The man lower lip trembled, his shoulders slackening and his breathing turning more rapid. "You're Massimo's...I, I, I, I, didn't know. You wouldn't tell him about, uh...."

"Then unless you're semantic memory is out of order, you'll refer back to what I said at the beginning of this little exchange. Let. Him. Go."

The pressure on Luca's wrist was gone completely. The man had let go. Luca practically ran behind Giulia, who stood with her hands on her hips and a triumphant smile smile on her face. "That's better," she said. "Here's what's going to happen. There's a stop coming up. You're going to get off at that stop. If Portorosso was your original destination, you're doing the town a favor by not polluting it with the likes of you."

"Ok. Ok, ok, ok, I apologize." The train came to a stop and the man backed up, bumping into a seat before righting himself. He fled, tripping over himself in the process.

"Luca? Hey, are you ok?"

Luca nodded, finally breathing a little more steadily. He blinked away the tears, but it didn't stop a few droplets from sliding down his cheeks. "Ye-yeah. Yeah, I'm ok."

"You're sure?"

He squared his shoulders, inhaling deeply. "I'm sure. Thanks."

"No thank you's are necessary. However, I do believe a monument in my honor is in order. I want diamonds embedded in my hair."

It felt good to smile again. "Sure. I'll get right on it."

"The finest diamonds please. From Amsterdam. And I would like them polished three times over. Nothing but the best for moi. Oh, and make sure there's one between my gap."

"Your gap is fine. It's the best thing about your smile. Your defining feature."

Giulia waved her hand dismissively. Weird how she could deflect complements even though she gives plenty. "No, Luca, that would be my hair. Maybe I should've used my ponytail as a weapon." She whipped her head, smacking him in the face with the end of her braid.

Luca rubbed at his cheek. "Ooh. Yeah, I take that back. Your hair is the weapon of all weapons."

She went solemn, reaching and taking hold of Luca's hand. "Seriously though, you're ok right? He didn't hurt you?"

"No, yeah, no...I'm ok. Wrist is a little sore, but I'm fine." He thought for a moment, not wanting to relive this altercation in the future when his next few months were supposed to be filled with fun and sun. "Hey, would you mind if we kept this to ourselves? I don't want my parents or Massimo to worry.”

Or Alberto.

It wasn't easy to convince Giulia to do something, especially if it was something she really couldn't do. She bit the inside of her cheek, looking over Luca. "You know, more sensible people would let people they love know what happened."

Luca shrugged his shoulders, stuffing his hands in his shorts. "Maybe I'm still learning on becoming a human."

Smiling warmly, Giulia massaged his inner wrist. "No. No, you're plenty human."

"Well, sometimes I don't feel like it." He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, unknotting the tension that had been accumulating there. "I wonder if I was ever supposed to come above surface. That man. I mean, what if he was right? What if I'm meant to spend my life only in the ocean? And I don't mean it as an attack on our friendship. I wouldn't ever, ever trade it for anything. But...I don't know. I'm rambling. Again."

As if it had a conscience of its own, the sun sent rays of light through the window. A light show that sent elongated shadows of the two teens and highlighted their front sides. On the left side of her face, Giulia's face was caught in one of the raging ball of fire's rays. Her freckles, her warm brown eyes that looked at him as if he was an unexpected rainbow in a storm, her hair that could easily be seen as a solar flare-they all made her look...pretty. "I wish the world was filled with bunches of you. Every library, every cafe, every planetarium. You are glitter, Luca. You make everything you touch shine. Including me."

She hugged him then and Luca hugged her back. "Um, Giulia?"

"Hmm?"

"I don't want to ruin the moment, but you're really sweaty."

Scoffing, a snort following shortly after, Giulia placed her hands on her hips. "Wow."

"It's just an observation," Luca said, filling his voice with innocence.

"Some observation there, Paguro. I will have you know I used three sticks of deodorant."

"I'm sorry, did you say three? See, the fact that you need use three whole sticks of them..." He shook his head, trying to find words. "You're pretty much hopeless at this point."

"Veramente? You're talking to me about being hopeless?" Giulia smiled the way she did back at the train station in Genova when she mentioned Alberto. "See, that's kind of funny given how you're a hopeless romantic, especially since you have feelings for..."

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Luca covered her mouth with his hands, but she kept talking, her speech muffled. "Ok, I'm sorry. You're not sweaty. You're dry. Man, you're ruthless."

Giulia hissed and raises her hands like a cat ready to strike. "Mess with the kitty you get the claws. C'mon, lets get back to our seats. We'll be there in about ten minutes."

She led the way and Luca followed her. 

"Excuse me, young man?"

Luca stopped in his tracks. Giulia obviously didn't hear the voice since she was already in the other car, surging forward. Scanning the car, his eyes landed on the elderly couple who were asleep when he first arrived. They were wide awake now. The woman, who had wavy gray hair with a blue shawl wrapped around her head, smiled at him. The man did the same.

"Miss?" Luca asked, suddenly worried about another attack.

"You have lovely colors, dearie." She patted the man's hand. "And very handsome. Isn't he, Ernest?"

"Sure is, Viola." The older man man tipped his cap to him. "Anyone would be lucky to spend the rest of your life with you."

That was...unexpected. "Oh. I...thank you both."

"You're ever so welcome. You have a wonderful summer young man. Don't let us old folk keep you."

Ernest laughed gruffly and planted a kiss on his wife's ear. "Hey, We're not old. We're experienced."

Luca left the elderly couple, crossing into the other car. Fatigue overcoming him rapidly (it usually did after bouts of confrontation and anxiety), he rubbed his eyes. It was then that the realization hit him like a ten pound bag of bricks. He was still in his sea monster form. Which meant that the couple praised him not for being presented as human, but as a sea creature from the ocean.

Old age. Fading memories. Time slipping through their respective hourglasses before they passed over to the unknown realm after death. Luca attributed all those things to justify their kindness. But...had it been real? Was he truly handsome? Would someone want to spend the rest of their life with him? The questions swirled around in his head, unanswerable-the worst kind.

For a moment, he allowed himself to be seen as beautiful. You're glitter, Luca. You make everything you touch shine. Those were Giulia's words. Maybe there was hope for him in the world yet. Then he looked down at his wrist, where a vague bruise was now forming, a souvenir from the belligerent man beforehand.

And just like that, the feeling of being made of glitter vanished as quickly as it entered.

***

4:58 PM

"Ok. Five bucks. Your mom's going to be the first one to hug you." Giulia grabbed her bag from the overhead compartment, stretching on her tippy toes to get it. "Actually, you know what? Make it twenty bucks. I'm feeling lucky today."

Luca grabbed his own suitcase, grunting as he hefted it from under his seat. "Ok. First of all, that's not fair because you know as well as I know that my mom will hug me first because she always is the first one to hug me. And second of all, I don't have any money to give."

"Oh yeah. The life of a broke teenager. Must be so stressful." She bumped her hip against Luca, motioning for him to go first. "Plan on bumming around this summer reading and thinking like all writers?"

"For your information, I don't always read and write."

"No? So you don't wake up at five in the morning scribbling in that blue notebook of yours when you think I'm asleep?"

Wow. Um. Ok. So much for stealth. He should've known not to try to keep secrets around Giulia Marcovaldo. Luca started to wonder if she knew about his other habit. The one where he took Alberto's letters to the backyard to read. "Guess the bag didn't manage to catch the cat," he said, shrugging.

She shook her head like a summer school teacher. "You mean the cat's out of the bag."

"I don't get it. What's the cat doing out of the bag in the first place? Did it do something bad? Or wait, is the cat meant to be a symbol for something else?"

Giulia hung her head, her facial expressions unknowable. "Just...get moving Paguro."

The passengers exited the train through their respective doors. After following a line of children clinging to their parents, and letting the elderly couple that complimented him go first, Luca set foot off the train. His foot hovered above the familiar stony vase of the train station before gently lowering his foot.

He was officially, unequivocally, without a doubt in his mind back home.

A channel in his memory unlocked, sweeping the seventeen year old off his feet and transporting him back in time, four years ago, when he found out he would be attending school with Giulia.

____

He was thirteen again, having mixed feelings at the announcement of finally being able to to to school with Giulia. Of course, he only felt mixed after the fact that Alberto Scorfano, his best friend, wouldn't be joining him. "You are coming, right?"

It always felt that the fish-or the stars-in the sky were out of whack when Alberto got nervous. He fidgeted, ran a hand through his hair, explaining that Massimo asked him if he wanted to stick around and move in. "I think he needs me, you know?"

One good trait about being an observer for most of his life, Luca could detect the hidden current that traveled and underneath someone's words. He wanted to say Or do you need him? But then he realized that he would be separated from the tanned skin boy who looked exceedingly adorable in a brown cap.

So, also not wanting to damage Alberto's pride, Luca said the next truest thing. "I can't do this without you."

Luca couldn't comprehend the kind of void that would be created without him. What happened after he said those words rushed by as if time was moving faster than it should, the hands of the universal clock spinning faster and faster above their heads 

Alberto giving him a drawing of them riding a vespa.

Luca asking how will he know if he's ok.

Alberto's green eyes tearing up, causing Luca's own eyes to burn. 

And then Alberto pulling Luca into a tight embrace. That was another thing Luca cherished. Hugging. When he hugged his parents, he certainly felt loved, even though his mom nearly breaks his spine doing so in the process. Giulia's hugs were encouraging, made him feel like he could learn about everything and everyone in the whole world. But with Alberto? It was something...different. Standing under the train station's roof, rain lightly pummeling his hair and hugging like there was no yesterday, Luca could feel Alberto's heartbeat through his shirt. He relished the feeling of his arms around him, like chains of a locket that would hold this moment in time through wind and rain.

Luca hopped the train.

The great machine chugged along the tracks. 

Alberto's still held Luca's hand, as if wanting to go with him. And Luca held on to him, wanting to pull him onto the train, but knowing that to do so would be selfish...and a little dangerous since the train was picking up speed.

Luca wouldn't say that his world was ending. There was a whole new one around the bend, beyond the ocean. But he one hundred percent knew he felt half of his heart leave behind as their hands slowly lost their grip on one another.

"Go, Luca! Go! Yeeeeeeaaaaaah! Woohoo!"

____

The daydream was soon broken when Luca felt his lungs tighten, air barely coming in. Was he having a heart attack? Was the memory so prominent that he was rendered immobile? All he could feel were a pair of limbs wrapping around his backside, pushing the air out of him as if he was one of Nerone's chew toys. Even as his brain as slowly loosing oxygen, it wasn't hard to guess who was crushing the life out of him.

"There you are! I was so worried! I mean, I know the train's on time and I know delays happen, but it was raining earlier. And of course I know this train runs along tracks, but then I imagined it slipping and crashing into the sea."

Luca struggled to talk. He tried to wretch the woman's arms away, but they had the strength of steel girders. "Mom...can't..."

"Did you have a safe trip? Did you eat already? Wait. Honey, you're looking a little clammy. What's wrong? Has the air up here finally gotten to you. Did you catch one of these human illnesses I've heard about? Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Daniela, honey, our son isn't saying anything because he can't breathe. You're suffocating him."

When her arms finally let go, Luca took in gulps of air. He doubled over, hands on his knees. "That's...that's better." Placing his hands on his lower back, he stretched himself straighter, hearing his vertebrae pop. "Thanks Dad. You're a life saver." With enough oxygen flowing again his vision came into focus, letting the reality of this arrival set in. 

He was home. And, like always, his parents were standing before him with concerned and loving smiles.

"Mom. Dad." Luca opened his arms as both of his parents hugged him. "It's good to see you too."

"You too sweetheart." His mother stood back, her hands on his shoulders. She then began to run her fingers through her son's hair. "You look wonderful. But maybe you should consider a haircut? Feels like my hand's caught in a jar full of jellyfish."

Chuckling, Luca shrugged. "I'm letting it grow out. Now that we're out of school, there's no need to keep up proper appearances." He allowed his mom to keep massaging his scalp. Her touch was familiar, warm and careful. "And you look pretty."

She scoffed, rolling her eyes as if it was the most absurd thing to hear. "Please. I know it's been years, but I don't think I'll ever get used to this human form. You'd think I was a dead body from Davey Jones's Locker."

No way was she talking about herself like that. Because to be honest, she was pretty, even now. She was wearing a white dress with rose petals stitched into the fabric. Her wavy brown hair traveled down her shoulders, curling at the ends. She smelled sweet, like sliced oranges and lilac.

"I'm serious," Luca insisted. "You do."

"Son, I've been trying to tell your mother for years that she looks just as beautiful in human form. Heck, maybe even more."

"Dad."

"You know, it was about time there was a change in her appearance, I mean."

"Dad."

"What?"

Luca pointed to his mom, who at the moment was giving her husband what Luca called her Analytical Scrutinizing Eyes. "Oh," she said, hands drumming her hips. "So you're saying I was ugly in my sea monster form?"

If only this were a play. Luca could enjoy popcorn and licorice while watch his dad stumbling and stuttering. "No," his father said, waving his hands in front of him. "That's not what I....I mean....see, when you say it like that it sounds...son, it's good to see you."

"You too."

"Hey, what about me? Where's my love?" Giulia stepped from behind Luca, opening her arms. "What's a girl gotta do to get some validation?"

"Like you need it," Mrs. Paguro joked. She hugged Giulia, twisting to the left and the right. "It's good to see you sweetheart."

"You too. And you look stunning, but that's proverbial knowledge at this point." Giulia winked at her. "Kind of makes me wonder how you ended up with Luca's dad."

Luca snorted. When his father shot him a look, he tried to cover it with a cough.

"You know," Mr. Paguro said, "I'm right here, you know. I know I'm not the best looking guy, but I have feelings you know." He quivered his lip and Luca knew that this was deliberate. "Me. It's always me."

Giulia rolled her eyes before giving Mr. Paguro a hug. It was strange to Luca, seeing his parents hug her as if she was a part of the family. Not wrong, just strange. For most of his life, his parents sheltered him from anyone who would hurt him. Their defences were usually ten miles high wrapped in anemone stingers. Maybe even higher for his mother. But Giulia Marcovaldo had no problem in helping lowering them. If his own mother could instantly like a fiery haired girl from the surface who sometimes spoke to fast and over dramatized everything, their trust in her, maybe in humans in general, was becoming more concrete.

Well...maybe in the very beginning of becoming concrete, but it's getting there.

Giulia pulled away from the hug. "Hey, not that I don't adore you two, but where's....Papa!"

Luca spun around just in time to see her run into the mountain of a man standing at the corner of the train station. "Gulietta! Mi sei mancata."

"I missed you too Papa. Like crazy."

Luca walked over and stuck out his hand for a handshake. So far, they haven't graduated to hugs yet. It seemed like the only people Massimo Marcovaldo would hug were his daughter and Alberto, at least from the pictured he would send. Luca tried not to take it personally. After all, his two friends spend the most time with the man. "It's good to see you again, sir."

Massimo laughed, a low rumbling sound that would probably rock the foundations of multiple mountains. "Luca. Good to see you." When he shook Luca's hand, the younger man tried not to wince. Great sharks of the ocean, did the man have strength. "Keeping my daughter out of trouble?"

"I try to." He pulled his hand away, shaking it behind his back before planting both in his pockets. "Though you know her. She only listens when she wants to and she pretty much follows her own advice."

"That's right. And I very seldom follow it," Giulia said, draping herself along Luca's arm. Alice in Wonderland has been a running gag between them. Luca fell in love with "In A World Of My Own."

"Will you ever learn to do the things you should?"

"Never!"

Massimo only shook his head, but still had a smile on his face. At least Luca thought from the way his mustache curled upward. "You two make a strange pair."

"Thank you," they said in unison. They laughed at their synchronicity.

"Did you two have a safe trip over?" Massimo opened his left eye until it was visible, a thing he did when a matter was of the utmost importance. "No problems?"

"Yeah, your father and I were wondering the same thing." Mrs. Paguro stood on one side of Massimo, Lorenzo on the other.

"Smooth sailing?" Mr. Paguro asked, his hands behinds his back. "No maniacs? No breakfast killers?"

"Serial killers, Renzo."

"Yeah, that too."

All three adults had their eyes on them, but Luca knew that they were mostly looking at him. He held his wrist and recalled the episode on the train with the man who grabbed his wrist, who called him a creature. Funny thing about having people you love stare at you with concern. You feel loved, but trapped at the same time.

Luckily, Giulia swooped in and answered breezily. "No troubles. My mom saw us off, made sure we were well taken care of. No breakfast killers in the vicinity."

"Right," Luca added, not anting to stay quiet for fear of causing suspicion. "Right, everything went fine." He hoped he wasn't talking too fast. "Just...fine."

"Exactly." Slinging an arm around his shoulders, Giulia's expression turned deadly serious. Only it took a lot for Giulia to become serious, so Luca already knew that a joke was in the midst. And it seemed to be a good one. "Unless you count the train almost crashing into the ocean."

"What?" The three adults exclaimed.

"She's lying," Luca deadpanned.

"So there we were," she began in a tone of a movie commentator, "sitting side by side, not a care in the world, when all of a sudden..."

And with that note, Luca tuned out. He stood away from the group, watching them as they were enraptured with Giulia's fictional tale. Well, more so his parents. Massimo knew when his daughter was spewing horse manure, but he said nothing. Mr. Paguro clutched his wife's arm, the latter covering her mouth and her eyes popping wide open as Giulia gesticulated wildly about the "people screaming in sheer terror as the train nearly hydroplaned off the tracks.

The whole image of his loved one made Luca smile. They weren't a perfect picture. It had its jagged edges, its rips and cracks, but it still painted a beautiful picture. He thought about a church in Geneva Giulia took him too. Not necessarily to attend a service, but to admire the stained glass windows that cast hues of purple and red and yellow all around the ancient place. The same could be said about the people before him: they cast different shades of colors on his heart that made up the full spectrum of the rainbow.

"They're something aren't they?" someone said next to him.

"Yeah," Luca said, his smile growing wider. He didn't take his eyes off his family to see who was next to him. "I'm lucky."

"Me too."

"Oh? Are you here with your family?"

"You could say that. But, alas, I think one of my loved ones is a little...slow."

Luca watched Giulia use her arm to mimic the train nosediving into the ocean, his parents gasping and Massimo shaking his head. He couldn't shoot whoever was next to him a dirty look for calling someone slow. The nerve of this guy. "You know, that's not very nice. How are they slow?"

"Well, for one he can't see that his best friend is standing right next to him."

The words settled into Luca's brain before they caused a spark. He turned and the supposed stranger was barefoot, about six feet tall, wearing a dark blue thin sweater and dark khakis. Luca began to focus on his facial features; freckles that painted his cheeks, green eyes the color of Uranus, and a grin that shined like a million watts.

"Alberto," Luca said, breathlessly.

"That's my name. Last time I checked at least."

Any unease, any anxiety that usually quarreled in Luca's brain began to evaporate, leaving behind serenity that matched a still ocean. He was seeing his best friend. Alberto Scorfano. In the flesh. Like...in the flesh. 

"You know," Alberto laughed, tilting his head. "Usually this is the part where we hug. Unless, you know, you want to stand there with your mouth open. But hey, whatever works for you."

"Shut up." In a fraction of a second, the former bubble boy arms were thrown around the taller boy's neck. In return, Alberto arms found their way around Luca's midsection. Luca breathed as his friend's warmth cocooned him, making him feel like he was rocking in a hammock. He could feel Alberto's fingertips grazing his sides and it took all of his strength to not pass out from his touch. An aroma of sea, ivory soap, and sweat flooded his senses and Luca could do nothing but smile as he closed his eyes.

"Ahem!"

Luca pulled back enough to see Giulia with her arms crossed, looking between the two. "Um, hate to break up an oh so wonderful moment, but I believe it's my turn for a hug. Don't you think, Luca?"

The teen realized that he still held onto Alberto's arms which, he noticed, were bulging even under his sleeves. Was that all muscle? "Oh," he said, blinking and stepping away as if he was doing something inappropriate. "Right. Sorry."

"Hey, fish breath." Giulia slugged her adoptive brother in the arm-not too gently for the boy winced-and wrapped him in a hug.

"Hey, sweaty pits," Alberto said into her hair. "So. Question one. How many sticks of deodorant did you use today?"

"She used three," Luca said for her.

Giulia shot him a barbed wire look that only sent him into a giggle fit. "I can answer for myself, thank you much. Yes, I used three. Got a problem with that Scorfano?"

Alberto crossed his arms over his broad chest. His voice always was unlatched, as if everything he said was either bordering a joke.  "Actually, I do. If you could kindly keep your arms lowered the rest of the summer, my nose and everyone else's would appreciate it. Like, literally, just keep your arms anchored down so no one catches wind of Smelly McSmells Alot and..."

Matching the speed of a bullet train, Giulia practically jumped to put Alberto in a headlock. And given that Giulia was five foot four, the effect was more comedic. Like watching a munchkin wrestle a bear. "You want some more?" Giulia shouted as Alberto spun in a circle.

"Luca, help!" Alberto shouted with a smile on his face. He reached out a trembling arm and Luca wanted nothing more than to grab onto his hand. but he feared that if he did, he would never let go. And people would stare.

"Nope. Sorry. Can't help you. I like my being freed of bruises and other bodily injuries."

"Traitor."

After some coaxing from Luca, Giulia hopped off Alberto. The three looked at one another as if they each fell from a different part of the sky, separated by miles without food or water. Somewhere beyond what they could her, the violins swayed, the strings reverberating as the three misfits took each other in. Luca smiled broadly, every part of his inside prickling, invisible strings connecting him to Alberto and Giulia.

The underdogs were back together.

"Together again," Luca said.

"Together again," Giulia mimicked.

"Together again," Alberto added.

The three went in for a group hug, huddling around each other. An impenetrable entity that nothing, or nobody, could hurt.

"You two. I think it's time you unpack and rest, eh?" The trio saw Massimo walking toward them, his gait slow, but strong. He was carrying both Luca's and Giulia's luggage as if they weighed nothing but a pebble. Daniela and Lorenzo trailed behind him. "Don't want you two tired for tonight's gathering."

"I'm excited," Mr. Paguro said. He wrapped an arm around his wife who looked both amused and annoyed. "I'll have you know, hun, that my dancing has improved quite a bit. Gonna slice a carpet tonight."

Mrs. Paguro shook her head, her curls bouncing. "That's cut a rug. And the last time we danced you stepped on my foot, what, a total of ten times?"

"What? No, maybe five at most."

"I can count, darling, and it was definitely ten."

Luca's parents walked ahead through the arch that made up the train station's entrance. Massimo followed them, but not before being stopped by Alberto. "I'll carry those, Dad." He was referring to the suitcases.

"Are you sure?" The older man asked. He wasn't even breaking a sweat. And the fact that he was wearing his jacket over his sweater was something of a marvel. "You've been preparing the house all morning."

"It's ok. I can handle it."

After some hesitation, Massimo said down both suitcases. "Very well then." He gave him a firm nod and a grunt before making his way slowly under the arch.

"You know," Luca said, "I think Massimo could've carried these himself no problem, Berto."

Alberto shrugged. "Hey, why let him do all the work? And, I got these bad boys."

"Santa Mozzarella." Giulia rubbed her forehead. "Here we go."

The tan skinned eighteen year old rolled up the sleeves of his sweater, revealing two toned arms that Luca looked at. Though, looked isn't even the right word. More like ogled. When he sleeves were over his shoulders. Alberto raised his arms and flexed, one arm and then the other. Going back and forth as if it was a game of tennis. "Jealous, Giulia?"

"Jealous? No. Undeniably embarrassed? A thousand times yes. Ok, ew, don't kiss them. Seriously, we're in public."

Making exaggerating kissing sounds, Alberto kissed his bicep. "So beautiful. Wait, I think this one needs some love too." He proceeded to kiss his other arm.

Weird. It was all for fun and silliness, but Luca wished that...it was stupid, but he wished that he could trade places with those arms. Is that a thing humans think about on a regular basis? Wishing to trade places with body parts that the lips could meet? 

"And with this display of vanity, I'm leaving. And I'll carry my own suitcase." She grabbed the strap and walked away, one foot in front of the other. One of the wheels got caught on a disheveled brick.

"Go ahead Ms. Independent and Proud." Alberto stood next to Luca, like super close, and rested his elbow on his shoulder. "Show us boys how it's done."

She rolled her eyes, grunting and panting as she tried to set the suitcase free. Some people stopped and stared. Smaller kids giggled before being shushed by their parents who also tried to hide their laughter.

While Alberto laughed, Luca fought the urge to help her. He knew she would only snap on him. Plus, he was wondering if her mom not wanting to come was still buzzing around inside her like an angry bee. He got stung by jelly fish before when he was under the ocean, but he wasn't prepared for Giulia's sting.

Eventually, she lodged the suitcase free. She gave a satisfied Ha! before strolling along.

"I think her pride's gonna kill her one day," Alberto said.

"Right. Because you're the one to talk." Luca playfully bumped his shoulder with his. How could a shoulder be rock solid? "Aren't you the same guy who didn't ask for help when you were figuring out how to do laundry?"

"Hey. The toaster is just as effective as stringing clothes on a line."

"Yeah, well, tell that to the fire brigade."

"I actually did. I kept telling them if it's not for clothes, then why was there enough space to put socks in? Answer me that, Science."

Oh yeah. It was good to be home.

"C'mon, let's catch up. Don't wanna keep them waiting." Luca bent lower for his suitcase, his fingers curling around the handle."

"No, no, no, I got that." Alberto made a move to grab it. "You had a long trip."

"No, it's fine. I've got it."

Alberto wrapped his fingers around the handle, both his and Luca's fingers touching.

Leave it to Alberto to play knight in shining armor, giving chivalry a new, and annoying, definition. But though annoying, Luca didn't mind. Plus, there was a strange feeling of excitement and adrenaline in his lower gut as his pale fingers brushed his friend's. It's like his blood flow was concentrated on his fingers, sparking every ounce of electricity at Alberto's touch.

Focusing on their fingers seemed scandalous because then Luca imagined all the things Alberto could do with them. Feeling suddenly flushed, he looked up and saw Alberto staring at him, a kind smile on his face and open green eyes that sparkled like sea moss. Was he feeling the same way? He had to, right? But then again, it's hard to tell what's really going on with Alberto Scorfano.

"You're sure?" Luca asked. He wished he didn't sound so nervous. You don't get nervous around your best friend.

"I'm sure." Alberto's voice was soft as falling sand. Gently, he tugged at the suitcase. It felt like someone was cutting one of Luca's heartstrings when their fingers separated.

"You know," Alberto said, grunting and hauling his suitcase over his shoulder, "I think your kindness is gonna kill you one day. After you."

Might as well oblige. Otherwise they'd be encouraging the other to go first for hours. Luca began walking. "The same could be said for your chivalry," he called over his shoulder.

”Thank you.”

”Sure it’s not too heavy?”

“Luca.”

”Ok, ok…just checking.”

Even though he couldn't see him, Luca felt suddenly vulnerable and electrified in knowing that his best friend was walking behind him, watching him. He recalled how Lot's wife in the bible turned into a pillar of salt. And there was no telling what look was on Alberto's face. Whatever look he had, Luca didn't want to stop dead in his tracks at the sight of it.

It would be pleasure and pain to die from looking at someone who would look at you as if you were something extraordinary and impossible. 

Luca walked faster, putting as much distance between him and his best friend.