𝑺𝒆𝒂 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 // 𝑨𝒍𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒇𝒂𝒏𝒐 𝒙 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓

Ch.8

These last few days have been tough on all of us. Training was wearing us down for sure. We only had two more days until the Portorosso Cup and I was feeling absolutely pumped! My parents also allowed me to stay longer, which I was eternally grateful for.

Massimo let myself, Alberto, Luca and Giulia borrow his boat so we could practise our swimming. Well, more specifically, so me and Giulia could practise. Apparently Luca and Alberto can't swim, so they're in charge of the oars to direct the boat. I reckon they're extremely good at swimming and just don't want to humiliate everyone else, but that's just my thoughts.

"Stop here, guys. Here is good!" Giulia ordered, causing the boys to remove their oars from the ocean and placing them back into the boat. "(Y/N), catch!" My best friend throws a pair of goggles at me, which I fail to catch and they end up smacking me in the nose. "Ouch! Giulia!" I hiss at her and she giggles mischievously. Rolling my eyes with a chuckle, I hold them in my hands, fidgeting in my swimwear.

Alberto wrinkles his nose up at Giulia, narrowing his eyes angrily. "You could've at least given a warning." Scolded the boy, baring his teeth at her as his lips formed a snarl. "Alberto.." Luca says softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down, big guy. It was just a joke." Giulia pulls a confused expression at Alberto who still grits his teeth at her.

"Don't worry, Albs. I can defend myself from a pair of goggles." I lean foward and give his cheek a little pat with my hand. "Addio!" Standing to my feet, I stand on the wooden rim of the boat, causing it to tilt to one side. "Geronimo!" I holler, leaping off of the boat into the ocean with a loud splash.

Luca had almost fallen off the boat when I jumped, but Alberto had quickly caught him. Giulia laughed at my antics, sliding out of the boat to swim up to me. "(Y/N)! We're supposed to be training, not having fun!" She protested playfully, flicking salty water at me.

I smack my lips at the intense taste of salt in my mouth. "This water is disgusting. Bleh." I gasp as Giulia swims her way over to me.

The red head draped her arms over my shoulders and wrapping her legs around my waist tightly. "Onwards, my noble steed!" She giggles excitedly. Rolling my eyes, I holler a loud 'neigh!' to play along with her, swimming away from the boat as her legs grip tighter.

"I thought you were supposed to be training, Giulua." I retort, moving my arms in a breast stroke. "Yeahh, but I'm..uh.. training you! You're racing on your own, so this is extra effort for you! To prepare you for whatever Marsigliese is gonna throw at you!" She retorts, removing her arms from my shoulders and plaything them on my back so she can sit upright.

I stop swimming for a moment. "Okay, okay. I believe you! I'll swim only a little bit if you're gonna be stuck to me like a koala is to a tree."

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Alberto was plopped down on the boat, his arms rested over his knees. He desired to swim more than ever, but couldn't risk showing his true identity. "What is Giulia doing now?" He grumbled, looking up from staring down at his bare feet. His eyes flared once he saw what was happening. Giulia was just sitting on (Y/N)'s back, weighing the young girl down, almost to the point of drowning. "She..she's doing that on purpose! Hey!" He snarled. Of course, Alberto thought that Giulia was doing it on purpose just to make him jealous.

"What? Alberto, Giulia is just trying to have some fun. Please stop getting to sensitive about it. You they're best friends, come on." Luca grabbed Alberto's forearm, tugging him down so he could sit. With much detest, the tanned boy sat down and his frustrated expression faded a little to that of sadness. A deep sigh passed his lips. He just wanted to get rid of this pang in his chest. But he still remained jealous.

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After drying off from our little swim, Giulia insisted that myself and Luca practise our bike riding. But as I biked around, Luca decided to take a shortcut up a steep alleyway. Of course, a little confused, I follow after him up the steep path until we get to the tip

"You just dragged me into the ocean, now you're dragging us to the top of a hill. Thank you, Giulia." I hop off my bike and pull it the rest of the way to drop in the hill. Once I stopped, I let it rest on my side so I can pinch Giula's cheek softly.

"Alberto, you can watch me beat Luca down the hill." I grin bashfully at the tanned boy, who chortles in return. "No way, Luca, will totally beat you." He points accusingly at me. Both Giula and Alberto slide off Luca's bike. "Oh hey, Luca! That was your fastest yet!" Giulia reveals the stopwatch she had in her hand, showing it to the pale boy who beamed.

"Guys, look! That's the train to Genova!" Guila points to the steam train which was bumbling across its tracks before heading underneath a tunnel inside a mountain. "That goes to your school?" Luca questions. "Yeah!" Giulia responds simply.

Alberto scoffed a little, crossing his arms and squeezing his bicep in quiet frustration.

Luca grabbed the handles of his bike, slowly moving them side to side nervously. "We were wondering..is your school open to..everyone?"

Giulia shrugged her shoulders half heartedly. "It costs a little money, but I guess! You wouldn't see (Y/N), though. She goes to a different school." The female pouted a little at the fact I went to a different school to her.

"Thank you, Giulia for showing us the boring thing that takes us to the terrible place. Now, can we focus on what matters? If we lose, we're not going anywhere." Alberto interrupts, putting his hand on his hips. Luca hesitantly pushes his bike fowards. "Santa gorgonzola, the downhill." He looks towards me in fear. "I'm with you, Luca. It looks.." I shudder, gripping the handles of my bike. Alberto goes to comfort the both of us, but Giulia beats him too it.

She places a hand each on mine and Luca's. "I know it looks scary, b-" She was abruptly cut off when Alberto finally snaps. "Will you stop bossing them around?" He hisses. "What is your problem?" Giulia retorts.

"I'm their friend. I know what they need." Alberto shook Luca's shoulder while he placed a gentle hand on my back.

"Oh yeah, well what do they need?" Giulia seethed back.

Alberto hops on Luca's bike, sitting in front of him. "Me. I'll show (Y/N) how it's done. Me and Luca will ride like we did on the island. Together." Then, he pedalled off at an alarmingly fast pace.

I open my mouth to shout at them. "Alberto! That's a terrible idea!" As I holler, they're already gone, crashing through the narrow streets of Portorosso. Their peril was followed by a loud splash. "Merda.." I mutter. "Come on, Giulia." The girl hops on my bike, securing her arms around me as I pedal down the hill in search of our daredevil friends.