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Alberto counted the pastries over and over again, bored out of his mind. There was an hour left on his shift and there were only a couple customers in the shop, quietly sipping their coffee as they read the newspaper or whatever new hardback romance had made its way to the single bookstore in Portorosso. He glanced at the clock and found it had only moved one minute. He groaned before leaning on the counter, head on his arm as he considered maybe taking a nap. At this point in his life, Alberto knew Portorosso like the back of his hand and he knew he had to wait until these customers left the store before he could finally begin to close up. There was nothing that could surprise him anymore.
But then he walked in.
Alberto stood straight from behind the counter and put away the rag he was holding in his hand, the one he used to pretend to look busy if anyone asked. He ran a hand through his curls and cleared his throat. The boy walking towards him was, for lack of better words, beautiful. Wavy brown hair that seemed to flow in different directions, warm brown eyes and freckles on his rosy cheeks. He was wearing a blue t-shirt, and shorts. For the first time in his life, Alberto felt speechless. The usual confidence he held with ease was gone.
“Hello.”
Alberto blinked and told himself to get it together, if anything because he couldn’t lose this job because he was busy staring at the most gorgeous boy he had ever laid his eyes on. He shot him a smile.
“Hey, what can I get for you?” The boy smiled at him and Alberto felt his heart beat faster. How was it that he had never seen him before? He must be a tourist. New to Portorosso. A temporary distraction then.
“Anything you recommend?” Alberto looked over at the menu and then at him.
“Bitter or sweet?”
“I like my coffee sweet.” Alberto nodded. The boy pulled out his wallet and Alberto only waved it away before turning around and beginning to work on the drink.
“It’s on the house.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Alberto watched from the corner of his eyes as the boy stood there, watching the other customers with a kind smile on his face. He caught him looking at him and Alberto quickly snapped his gaze away, focusing on the drink he was making.
“Here you go.” He placed it on the counter and the boy came over, hand barely brushing against his and yet making Alberto blush. Fireworks. Just from a touch. If Giulia were here she would be teasing him non-stop.
“Thank you.” The boy shot him a smile and then began to walk towards the exit.
“I didn’t catch your name.” He turned around and was about to answer when they heard a loud boom of thunder. Both of them glanced out towards the window, where gray clouds were beginning to form.
When Alberto looked back, the boy was gone and soon after it was pouring rain.
As much as Alberto hoped to see him again, he wasn’t scheduled to work in the evening until next week. He worked at the pescheria in the morning and then as a lifeguard in the afternoon. He tried to spot the boy as he made deliveries throughout the week, but no luck. If he was here as a tourist, he was definitely not enjoying the town and its many beautiful sights.
That Friday Alberto showed up so early to the shop to the point that his boss was surprised by his enthusiasm.. If anyone asked, he was definitely not looking up every time the door chimed, hoping it was that boy. Around the 35th chime, Albert’s enthusiasm faded and told himself to stop getting his hopes up. That boy was probably a tourist who by now was probably out of Portorosso and halfway out of Italy.
Except the next time he looked up, it was him.
“It's you again!” The boy exclaimed, a smile on his face. Alberto chuckled, pretending that his heart wasn’t skipping a beat the smile the boy had given him.
“It's me again.”
“Luca.” Alberto raised an eyebrow.
“Luca Paguro. That’s my name. I didn’t get to say it last time.”
Luca. It was a fitting name. Alberto extended his hand and tried not to blush when Luca grabbed it.
“Alberto Marcovaldo.”
“Nice to meet you Alberto.” It would be too dramatic to say that he loved the way his name sounded on his lips, but it was true. He wondered, for a second, if this was what having a crush felt like. If it was, he definitely understood why people did stupid things. With Luca here, it was hard to focus on anything else.
“Right, well what would you like today?”
“Something sweet.” Had it been any other customer, Alberto would have rolled his eyes because there were over 5 drinks that would be considered sweet on the menu. But this was Luca, so he only smiled and nodded, heading towards the coffee machine to begin working on it.
Once he handed him his drink Luca stayed by the counter, taking a sip while Alberto pretended to refill the sugar and cream that were by him.
“What do you think they are arguing about?” Luca whispered in his direction. Alberto looked to where Luca was pointing. There were two men, both of them talking in hushed voices but by the way their eyebrows were furrowed and the way they kept angrily pointing at each other, it was clear they were in disagreement.
“Maybe one of them found out a secret and he’s upset because his friend didn’t tell him about it.” Luca looked at him.
“That’s oddly specific.”
“You asked!” Luca chuckled.
“I think they are fighting because they keep spending money on coffee and the other wants to buy something else.” Alberto leaned across the counter, now interested in making up the story for the two of them.
“Like what?” Luca shrugged.
“That vespa outside. The blue one.” Alberto looked at him and grinned.
“That’s mine.”
Luca turned around, eyes wide.
“You have a vespa?” Alberto nodded.
“I was obsessed with them when I was younger, you know that poster?”
“Vespa e libertà?"
“Yes! That same one. I had that one hung in my room for years.”
Luca laughed.
“No way, I loved vespas growing up too. I was determined to travel the world in one.”
“Well you know, if you ever want to I can show you around on mine.” Luca shot him a smile.
“I would love to.”
Soon after the two men left and Luca followed, thanking Alberto for the coffee and telling him he would definitely take him up on the Vespa ride. That day after Luca left and he closed up the shop, he asked for more shifts.
Alberto was counting the coins on the tip jar when Luca came in.
“Luca!” The boy grinned and made his way to the counter. Alberto put the coins back in the jar and washed his hands before going to the register.
“Hey Alberto!”
“Your usual?” Luca nodded and went over to the other side where he could watch Alberto work without his view being blocked.
“So how come I haven’t seen you around?” Luca chuckled awkwardly.
“I’m new in town?”
“Oh where are you from?”
When Alberto handed him his drink Luca looked nervous, like he wasn’t sure on how to answer that question. He rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’m from an island nearby.” Alberto nodded, “what about you?”
“Oh same here. But I was adopted pretty young so Portorosso has been my home for quite a while.”
“You’re adopted?”
“Yeah, my biological father wasn’t the greatest,” he offered with a smile that he hoped Luca wouldn’t see through.
“Anyway, are you a student or do you-”
“I’m actually studying to be a teacher!” Luca explained with an excited grin. He took a sip out of his coffee, and Alberto was satisfied when Luca let out a content hum at the flavor.
“A teacher?”
“Yeah, I know kids can be a lot but I love learning and I don’t know, I guess I want to be able to pass on that love of learning.”
“That sounds really nice actually. I just work here for the money.” That made Luca burst out laughing, spilling some of the coffee in his hand and letting out a short hiss when the hot drink touched him.
“Besides, I’m not much of a book person.” Luca leaned forward, one of his hands coming up and his head resting on it, looking attentively at Alberto. It made Alberto blush, to have Luca’s sole attention on him.
“Really?”
“Yeah but you know,” Alberto gathered his courage and leaned forward as well, “I wouldn’t mind being taught a lesson or two from you.”
Luca’s cheeks went from his normal pale skin to a bright crimson color, eyes wide and his mouth in a small ‘o’. Alberto patted himself in the back mentally, saving this image of Luca in his head for him to come back and admire later.
The door chimed and both of them turned their heads to see a new customer walking in, cheeks flushing like they had been caught in the middle of something. Alberto stepped away then and went to the counter . He waved at Luca, who shook his head as if snapping out of his thoughts and with a tight grip on his coffee, began making his way to the door.
“Ciao Alberto,” Luca said, a shy smile as he disappeared down the street. Alberto smiled for the rest of the day.
Alberto was disappointed when there were only 30 minutes until the shop closed and there was no sight of Luca. Not that Alberto expected him to come every time he worked but, well, Luca has been doing that and each time he stayed longer and longer so Alberto was used to having the boy around to pass time and subtly stare when he wasn’t looking.
15 minutes passed and still no sight of Luca. With a reluctant frown on his face, Alberto began to clean up the tables and pick up leftover plates. He was wiping down the last table when he heard the door open.
“Sorry we are closed-”
“Alberto!”
He looked up and saw Luca, panting but with a smile on his face.
“You are closed?” Alberto grinned and put down the rag, he went towards Luca and pulled him inside the shop before closing the door behind him and turning the Open sign to Closed.
“Well now we are,” Luca chuckled, “and now that you are here, you can help me eat the leftover pastries.”
“Happy to help.”
And that’s how they ended up on the back of the shop, sitting across from each other on the floor.
“I don’t know, I think the croissant is still my favorite.” Luca scoffed, throwing him a crumpled up napkin.
“The croissant? No way, the genoise is way better.” Alberto laughed as he ate the last piece of the pastry.
“Alright, the other thing we got to try are these,” he took out a bag of chocolate covered cocoa beans and opened it.
“Chocolate?”
“They are kind of melting but I’ve been wanting to try them for a while.” Luca shrugged and put out his hand and Alberto poured a couple on his palm. Luca took a look at them and then placed one in his mouth.
“How are they?” One moment it seemed that Luca was enjoying it and the next Luca had a grimace on his face, sticking out his tongue. Alberto laughed.
“Disgusting. It tastes bitter.”
“That’s because they are cocoa beans.” Luca shook his head, nose still scrunched up from the flavor.
“Here, try one.” Luca threw him one and Alberto opened his mouth, only for it to hit him in his shoulder.
“Try with a better aim next time.” Luca rolled his eyes. He threw another one and this time it hit him on his cheek. Alberto chuckled, grabbing the piece that bounced off and eating it, purposely ignoring the concerned look that Luca shot him.
“Right off the floor?”
“I just cleaned it so how dirty can it be?”
Luca then noticed that Alberto had part of the chocolate on his cheek, right where he hit him.
“You got some chocolate, right here,” he pointed at his own cheek and Alberto tried to wipe it away but Luca shook his head.
“No more to the left,... not that left the other.” After another try, Luca just sighed and leaned closer.
“Here, I got it.”
He grabbed Alberto’s face with one hand and with his thumb he carefully wiped away the melted chocolate on his cheek. After making sure he had gotten it all, he realized how Alberto was staring at him, eyes wide and sparkling. His eyes glanced down at his lips and then back up. Luca swallowed, he was close. Closer than he meant to be and holding Alberto’s face was now something intimate and his lips were right there and the drumming in his chest was getting harder and harder to ignore.
He stood up abruptly, cheeks blushing.
“I have to go.”
Alberto cleared his throat.
“Yeah of course. I’ll see you next time.” Luca turned to look at him, Alberto was avoiding his eyes, instead focused on the shelves of the backroom.
“Ciao.”
Alberto could still feel Luca’s hands on his face even as the boy left the café.
“Beto! 2 coffees, one muffin. Warm.”
Alberto finished collecting the dirty dishes from one of the tables and putting it on the tray he was carrying before turning around and going towards the counter. He grabbed two cups and wrote Giulia’s name on both.
“Giulia, pretty sure dad taught you to say please and thank you.”
“Could you make mine sweet?”
At that Alberto looked towards Giulia, who apparently brought company. There standing beside her was Luca, warm eyes already looking at him.
“Luca.”
“You two know each other?” Alberto shook his head and looked at Giulia, who had her arms crossed.
“Yeah. You could say that.” If almost kissing someone was knowing each other. Giulia darted her eyes at Luca.
“Luca you didn’t tell me you knew my brother.”
“Oh I didn't know you two were related.”
“Fair enough, I am much better looking than Giulia here.” At Luca’s laughter, Giulia scoffed and stuck out her tongue at Alberto.
“Just get us our coffees.”
Alberto laughed and started to work on their drinks. Giulia leaned across the counter, observing Alberto make their drinks.
“Apparently Luca is going to attend the same university in Genova as I am.” At that Alberto looked at Luca from the corner of his eyes.
“Oh really?”
“Yeah. Isn’t that cool?”
“Yeah, that’s amazing.” And it was, except that meant Luca was only here for the summer and when fall came Luca would be gone and probably forget about him and whatever they had going on here. They probably had better coffee shops there anyway.
Giulia and Luca stayed there for a while talking about school while Alberto popped by their conversation when there weren’t any more customers to attend to. Giulia had met Luca earlier that week apparently, when they were both riding their bikes on the hill she liked to train on. After that, both of them clicked. They liked school and they liked bikes. Alberto for a moment feared that Luca would like his sister better than him, but then again, Giulia hadn’t been in the backroom with Luca holding her face. He still had her beat in that area. It was moments like these that took Alberto back to when he was younger and Giulia and him would compete over anything and everything.
Luca left before the sun set and Giulia waited until Alberto was done with his shift so they could both walk back to their house. When they got back home, Massimo asked them about their day as they sat and ate dinner.
“Pretty good. Went to visit Beto at work.”
“Yeah, and she didn’t leave a tip.” Massimo chuckled.
“Because you are stealing my friend.” Giulia stuck out her tongue.
“I saw him first,” he defended himself. Giulia rolled her eyes.
“Whatever. He was staring at you the whole time we were talking so I think he maybe wants to be more than friends.” She shot him a wink and Alberto blushed, embarrassed she mentioned anything in front of their dad.
“Giulia!”
“Kids enough,” Massimo’s voice made both of them stop glaring at each other, “you both can share a friend. Do I need to remind you of when you were 14?”
Giulia and Alberto groaned and just responded with a flat ‘ yes, dad ’.
“Hey Beto!” Alberto turned around and shook his head.
“Only Giulia calls me that.” Luca shrugged, approaching the boy who was currently trying to balance as many plates as he could in his arm.
“I don’t know, I think it's cute.” Alberto shook his head, trying to keep himself from blushing. If Luca thought it was cute, he would let him use any nickname.
“Sorry to have come in during closing time,” Luca explained, grabbing some of the plates from Alberto’s arms. The boy shot him a grateful look.
“I appreciate the help,” Alberto was going to pass him another cup but Luca was turned around and he ended up accidentally spilling it on his arm. The good thing was that it just had water, but Luca’s terrified face would have made Alberto think it was filled with hot coffee.
“I’m sorry, I-”
He looked to where his sleeve was wet and found that where there was supposed to be pale skin with freckles, it was replaced with bright green and blue scales. Luca met his eyes, fear gripping his insides. He put down what he was carrying and was about to rush to the exit when Alberto reacted. He quickly also set down the plates and grabbed his arm, keeping the boy from fleeing.
“Luca wait-”
Luca wouldn’t even look at him, so Alberto did the next best thing that would come to mind. He licked his hand and then put it on his cheek. Luca only watched, fascinated as Alberto revealed his purple scales.
“You are-”
“Yeah.”
Luca laughed then, rubbing his eyes like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He walked further into the shop, taking a seat. Alberto followed him.
“So I guess this explains why you are new in town,” Alberto began. Luca chuckled.
“Yeah, my family lives close by. But besides my grandma, I'm the only one who likes the surface.”
“And you go to school?”
“Yeah, I went to another town for it and as Giulia mentioned, I’m planning on going to Genova.” Alberto nodded, still trying to wrap his mind around Luca being a sea monster like him. It made sense why Luca was always so nervous when he talked about where he came from. How do you explain to someone you are from underwater?
“But Alberto! Where did you-”
“I uh, Massimo found me when I was young so I didn’t really grow up with others like us. I lived on the surface most of the time so. He knows though. Giulia knows too.”
“And they are okay with it?”
“Yeah. In fact, most of Portorosso knows. Massimo made sure that everyone treated me well.” Luca nodded, a huge grin on his face.
“Alberto that’s amazing!” He laughed. Then his eyes sparkled as he came up with an idea.
“We should go for a swim.” Alberto raised an eyebrow. It was getting late and usually he would head home immediately after closing but this was Luca.
“I want to see what you look like, you know?” And that made Alberto blush. He nodded and immediately grabbed the keys to lock up the store. He made a mental note to come early tomorrow to finish cleaning up what they left unfinished. But for now, going to the beach with Luca was everything he could have asked for.
Summer was coming to an end, as he was constantly reminded of as Giulia began packing her things to go to Genova. With that Alberto was dreading saying goodbye to Luca. He was going to miss his visits to the coffee shop and their talks and their late night swims that had now become his favorite part of his day.
From what Giulia had told him, they were leaving today. The train would leave while he was on shift and that would mean he wouldn’t get a chance to say goodbye to Luca. He wasn’t sure what else he could say, if asking him to write him or call him would be too much. That would assume that whatever they had these past months meant as much to Luca as they did to him.
He had already hugged Giulia goodbye before leaving for work, and he was used to missing her during the school year. He considered for a second asking Giulia to keep him updated on Luca. But knowing his sister, that would only earn him endless summers of blackmail.
He was taking out pastries from the oven when he heard someone come in.
“Be right there with you!” He placed the pastries down and turned towards the register. Luca was there, a suitcase in one hand and a piece of paper on the other. He was panting, cheeks flushed as if he had just ran here. By the look of his hair, he probably did.
Luca grinned.
He handed him the piece of paper, which Alberto opened to find Luca’s handwriting.
“Here’s my address. In case you know, you want to write to me.” Alberto grinned.
“I will.”
“Good,” Luca shuffled and then spoke again, “I gotta go. My train is leaving soon. But I’ll see you next summer!”
“You are coming back?” Luca laughed as he opened the door.
“For you? Always!” He stepped out the door and Alberto watched him speed down the street in the direction of the train station, holding his address close to his heart.
Since there was no longer a cute boy that kept visiting him at the café, it only made sense that he decreased his shifts there and went back to working mostly at the beach and the pescheria. It was weird, to go to the coffee shop and not see Luca and take his order. It was weird being at the beach and being able to picture Luca laughing as he changed into his true form. It was weird how much Alberto kept thinking about him. Alberto wasn’t dumb to pass this feeling off as platonic, but this felt bigger than a crush. Way bigger and way scarier. A week passed by, then a month and then it was winter and he still felt a flutter in his chest when he thought of Luca. Only Machiavelli witnessed how head over heels Alberto was for Luca.
Alberto did write to Luca during those months. He didn’t expect Luca to write him back. In fact his first letter was short, and said something about missing him and how there were now a lot of leftover pastries that he had to take home because there was no one to share them with. Impersonal but with enough personal details that would make Luca know he was thinking of him but not too much. A week later Massimo told him he had a letter waiting for him.
Right there on top of the table was an envelope with his name written neatly on top. Caro Alberto. Alberto read that letter more times than he would be willing to admit.
It was spring and the box that he kept under his bed that had initially one letter from Luca could now barely close. There were postcards, letters, drawings and a folder poster of the Vespa poster they had mentioned early on when they met. Alberto hung it in his room until Machievelli tried to scratch it and so it went in the box.
He was putting on his apron at the café when Massimo entered. Alberto raised his eyebrows, Massimo usually never visited him at work, he liked giving the boy his space.
“Dad? Why-”
He motioned him to come around and so Alberto did, going around the counter until he was facing him.
“Do you think you could ask for a day off?”
“I only work two days, I don’t think-”
Massimo handed him a ticket then. Alberto grabbed it and read it, his eyes widening before landing on his dad again.
“These are for Genova.”
“You are missing your friend and Giulia would like some company.” Alberto grinned before wrapping his arms around him, hugging him tightly.
“I’ll ask for the day off.”
Alberto left later that day, taking the last train to Genova. He quickly threw his clothes in a duffel bag and thanked Massimo a hundred times before hopping on the train.
When he got to the train station, Giulia was easy to spot. She was wearing jeans, with a yellow top and a yellow bandana with her red curls poking in every direction. She waved at him before screaming his name. As soon as he stepped off the train, the girl tackled him into a hug.
“Dad said you wanted company.”
“Yeah, school is kicking my ass.”
“Can’t allow that, that’s my job.” Giulia chuckled and grabbed his arm.
“Come on, let’s get you settled in.”
Spending time with Giulia and her mother was always nice. He had only been in Genova a total of 3 times, each time longer than the last one. Still, while Massimo was his dad, he wasn’t sure what exactly his relationship was with Signora Marcovaldo. It was similar to an overprotective but cool aunt who cared about him but knew enough to not mother him.
Giulia definitely seemed stressed out, her room was a mess of papers and pencils all scattered on the floor and dishes that were at least 3 days old laying everywhere but the sink. Alberto helped her clean it up and then they went to catch a movie. At the end of the night, Giulia seemed much less tense and was able to go back to studying with just a cup of tea after Alberto refused to give her more caffeine.
The one mistake about visiting Genova in such short notice though was that even though Luca was here, he didn’t get enough time to tell him he’d be visiting. And technically he knew his address, but it’d be weird to just show up unannounced after months of not seeing each other, right?
The next day he woke up at the same time as Giulia. Both of them stepped out into the hallway, hair ruffled, glaring eye bags and with wrinkled pajamas. They stared at each other for a minute before Giulia yawned.
“Could you get me some coffee?” Alberto groaned, leaning against the wall.
“I just woke up.”
“And I have a paper to work on. The coffee shop is just a couple blocks away.” Alberto rolled his eyes and was about to say no, Giulia you can get your own coffee without using school as an excuse. But reminded himself that he was here to support her, so he only muttered a ‘fine’ and went back to his room to get changed.
“Oh! And wear something nice!” She closed the door behind her room, leaving Alberto wondering why she would ask him to do that when it's just a coffee shop. He did pick a nice striped yellow shirt though, along with some dark pants and fixed his hair. Giulia tended to have the annoying tendency of being right most times. He grabbed his wallet before heading out.
He walked down the streets, appreciating the hustle and bustle of the city. It never failed to amaze Alberto how big the city was, and how one could easily get lost in this sea of strangers. He finally spotted the name of the shop in a bright red banner. It had a couple of outdoor tables with people chatting loudly even though it was morning and it was cold outside. Alberto hoped there wasn’t a line.
As he opened the door, he saw that there were even more people on the inside. It was a small shop and he wondered how exactly they could fit all these tables and all these people. There was an upbeat song playing in the background, one that was always playing on the radio back home. Lucky for him, there were only two people in line.
Once he finally reached the register the person there looked up and-
“Luca?”
Luca broke into a smile and leaned across the counter to hug him. Alberto met him halfway.
“What are you doing here!?”
“I came to visit Giulia. It was short notice so-”
“That’s exciting. You are here!” The boy couldn’t stop grinning.
“So you work at a coffee shop?” Luca shrugged.
“Helps pay rent.”
Alberto stayed quiet for a second.
“But if you know how to make coffee then how come you went to the café all the time?”
“Because of the cute guy working there.”
Alberto widened his eyes.
“Oh.” He felt his face heat up and even though Luca’s cheeks were now pink too he hoped he didn’t look as flustered as he felt.
“Anyway, would you want to hang out? I can show you around.” Alberto nodded.
“Yeah that’d be great.”
He took a napkin and the pen that was on the counter and wrote down the address. He put it in the pocket of Luca’s apron.
“That’s where I'm staying. Pick me up at 6?” Luca nodded and Alberto walked out.
When he got back home Giulia was thrilled that he had a date (though Alberto insisted that it wasn’t. It was just between friends. Close friends.) And she was equally pissed that he had forgotten her coffee in favor of flirting with Luca.
Back in Portorosso, Alberto felt refreshed. It seems that not only Giulia needed his company, but Alberto felt much happier having spent time with her and Luca. It was nice having Luca show him around, Luca took him to eat gelato then to eat sandwiches only for them to end up stargazing in Luca’s favorite park. It certainly felt like a date, but when the night came to an end and Luca walked him back to his house they only made the promise to see each other once Luca came back to Portorosso. No kissing by the porch or romantic confessions under the moonlight. Just a simple ‘keep sending me letters’ and ‘I’ll miss you.’
Summer came and Alberto made sure that he asked for more shifts, just in case Luca still wanted to keep their routine. Though it might be different now that Alberto knew Luca could make his own coffee.
Still, that first week of summer when Giulia arrived at his work with a suitcase in her hand, Luca was right behind her. Both of them dropped their bags and ran to hug him, burying their faces on his neck and making plans to hang out as soon as his shift was over.
Luca came in a few days later, bags under his eyes, carrying a backpack. Alberto let out a whistle at the sight.
“Woah Luca, you look dead.” Luca leaned across the counter, resting his head there.
“I wouldn’t do that, it's very dirty-”
“My mom hates me.” Alberto widened his eyes, and instinctively wiped his hands clean and then ran a hand through Luca’s hair.
“What happened?” Luca sighed.
“The usual. The more I love the surface, the more she wants me back.”
“Why don’t you go sit down and I’ll bring tea?”
“And pastries.” Alberto smiled.
“And pastries.”
He took a seat next to Luca and placed the cup of tea in front of him as well as the plate with his favorite dessert. Luca shot him a grateful smile. Alberto took a seat across from him.
“So your mom?”
“I have a year left before I can become a teacher. And after I don’t know what to do. Should I stay here? In Genova? Or go somewhere else?”
“Oh.”
“And my mother wants me to stay with her. But I just can’t do that.”
Alberto felt horrible because a part of him understood Luca’s mother, he wanted Luca to stay. But he couldn’t ask him to do that. Not when he couldn’t even admit to him how he felt.
“So what are you thinking of doing?”
“I don’t know. What do you think?”
Stay , that was Alberto’s first thought. Instead he swallowed his thoughts and tried to think of what a supportive friend would say, ignoring how his heart ached at the mere thought of not ever seeing Luca again.
“You would be a great teacher. And you love Portorosso but you also love Genova and they have so many opportunities there. Your mother loves you but you know what’s best for you.”
“Yeah.”
After that Luca talked about his classes and how he was now a teacher assistant after one of his professors recommended him for the position. He also talked about how he told Giulia he was a sea monster, only for her to mention how weird it was that the people all closest to her were sea monsters. All throughout, Alberto just sat there listening to him, a lovesick smile on his face.
It’d be too much to tell Luca he likes him. To admit that he wanted to be more than friends. So he just stared and hoped that maybe Luca would find a reason to stay with him.
Alberto blinked and summer was gone. Giulia had packed her bags and he said his goodbyes and he was sure that this couldn’t be it, someone sped through the calendar and skipped over the last weeks.
But the train would be leaving in a few hours and with it Giulia and of course Luca. Luca, who after this school year might not come back because he wanted to be a teacher in a big city. And Alberto knew the boy was going to be good at it, which only made it harder. How could Alberto even think of keeping him from something he loves?
As always, Giulia stopped by the coffee shop and hugged him goodbye and made him promise he would visit her like he did last year. Apparently she had scored the highest mark in her class and she said Alberto was her lucky charm.
Luca came by a bit later. Though his smile didn’t reach his cheeks and his eyes had a downcast look that Alberto couldn't ignore.
“Let me know if you come visit,” Luca said after giving him a brief hug.
“I will.”
“I might not come back for summer, if I get a job.”
“I know.”
“Okay.”
“Ciao Luca.”
Luca hugged him again then, dropping his bags on the floor as he wrapped his arms around his neck and brought him closer to him.
“Cia Alberto.”
There was a beat of silence, like they were both expecting the other to say something. But when it was clear that was it, Luca only picked up his bags and rushed out the door. Albero felt his heart longing for him, and suddenly everything was blurry because there were tears forming in his eyes. He wiped his face and he looked around at the coffee shop, filled with memories of Luca and without a second thought he took off his apron and ran after him.
The train station wasn’t that far out, and Alberto knew exactly what shortcuts to take to get there faster; he and Giulia had discovered them after multiple close calls of missing the train. He only hoped the train hadn’t left yet. He panted once he got there, trying to spot Luca. He found Luca boarding the train and then taking a seat by the window.
“LUCA!” From his seat, Luca looked around, confused. He peaked out the window and spotted Alberto. He opened the window and stuck his head out.
“Alberto?”
Alberto ran until he was right in front of him, aware that people were still boarding and he only had a couple minutes before the train left.
“Stay.”
“What?”
“Stay. Or let me go with you. Either way just, don’t make me wait. I want to be with you, here or in Genova. Wherever it is.”
He took a deep breath.
“I just want to be with you.”
Luca stood up from his seat, and Alberto let out a groan, covering his face. God, of course this was a bad idea. Luca would have to reject him and tell him they are just friends and-
“Alberto?”
Except Luca was off the train, standing in front of him looking as perfect as the first day he walked into the shop. Alberto stuffed his hands in his pockets.
“I’m sorry, I-”
“Did you mean it?”
“Of course.”
With that Luca stepped forward and grabbed Alberto’s face, his hands as soft and warm as that day in the backroom. But unlike that day, this time when Luca glanced down at his lips, he pressed a firm kiss after, making Alberto melt on the spot.
They only separated when they heard the train starting to move. Alberto gasped and grabbed Luca’s hand.
“Oh no, that was your train, I bet we-”
Luca chuckled and tugged at his hand, making Alberto turn around. Luca made no effort to move.
“I don’t care.”
“Your bags though-”
Luca kissed him again then, making Alberto realize that this boy could make him forget everything with just a single touch of his lips. Knowing Luca, the moment he found out he would use it to his advantage.
“I don’t care Alberto. Just tell Giulia to pick them up in the lost and found. I’ll catch the next train.”
Alberto nodded, looking down at their intertwined fingers with a soft smile.
“But we have to get you a ticket first.” Alberto looked up.
“What?”
“I just kissed you and I don’t want to wait till next summer to do it again,” Luca explained with a smirk.
True to his word, Luca did get Alberto a ticket and while they waited for the next train Alberto went to the cafe and asked them for a week off. Then he went to Massimo and told him he was going to Genova because the boy he loved asked him and Alberto would follow him anywhere and that took a bit to explain but after meeting Luca and making Alberto promise to meet with Giulia to make sure he was safe and not crazy Massimo let him go. Duffel bag on his back, he grabbed Luca’s hand and they walked to the train station.
And this was crazy , Alberto knew that. But it felt right. He would follow Luca anywhere, because Luca liked him and Luca wanted to take him everywhere he went.
(He stayed with Luca for a week. Then it was back to Portorosso and writing love letters and waiting for his boyfriend to come back. They would visit each other every other weekend, too in love and too impatient to wait months for another kiss. After the school year went by, Luca returned and told him about his job offer in Genova. And not so subtly mentioned to Alberto how he found an apartment with a bed and a tiny kitchen but a good balcony where they could rent if he wanted to. He also mentioned how the coffee shop he worked at back in Genova had a job opening and Alberto kissed him right there.
“Are you asking me to move in?”
“Yes.”
“Good because I was planning on going anyway.”)