Summer Vacation (Luca Fanfic)

Chapter 1

"Yes Mama, we're all set up for the trip," Giulia said reassuringly, with Luca nodding to Ms. Marcovaldo with an ecstatic smile. It had felt like forever since last summer and Luca wasn't going to lie, he started to feel a little homesick. But now finally, he was going to go back to Portorosso and have another great summer with his family and the Underdogs all together again. Luca and Giulia got on their train and after a hug and a forehead kiss, the two kids were off.

 Luca and Giulia couldn't wait to get to their second home. To talk about school and the funny stories tied to it; talk about all the astronomy they learned about and saw on the t.v; also talk about how they felt just getting to see each other again, after a long year of being away. They chatted away about every single expectation and dream they could think of during the journey. But after a while, they made it to Portorosso. 

Pulling up to the station, they saw Mr. Marcovaldo, Mr. and Mrs. Paguro, and Alberto waiting for them with well-kept excitement on their faces. When they got off the train with their luggage, each family immediately sprinted with joy to one another. Giulia almost knocked down her father in the process, and Lucas' mother almost suffocated Luca with a hug. Finally, when it came down to Alberto and Luca, they hugged each other and did a little handshake to imperfect perfection. "Darn, no matter how much I practice I can't get the pinkie wiggle." Alberto expressed in his usual humor-rich way. They both shared a laugh as they started carrying some luggage to Mr. Marcovaldo's house. When everything got settled, they all had a celebration dinner, filled with fresh seafood and pasta with hearty pesto. Everyone got to eat and talk amongst themselves for a while. 

After dinner, the trio went upstairs to hang out and chat, Luca and Alberto practicing their handshake and Giulia mostly reading, eventually ending with the trio playing around together. Until Lucas' parents came into the room with a smile on their faces.

"Alright Luca, time to go home." Luca looked over at his mom and dad and asked them with big eyes, "Aww, may I please stay the night, please?" 

Lucas' parents knew what he was doing, he did it every single year. But alas, it was still hard to say no. " Ok fine. But we're coming to pick you up at 5:00 pm tomorrow." as they said that, they gave Luca a big hug and a "good night" as they exited. As the door closed, they celebrated and continued to play, before finally agreeing to get some sleep.

"Luca. Luca!" 

A voice rang through his ears. Luca mustered up the energy to look into the direction of the sound. Albertos outline stood near the window of the bedroom. Luca rubbed his eyes to make them adjust to the darkness surrounding him and finally got to see his friend in front of him smiling. 

"Hey, feeling up for a little trip?" said very softly, as not to wake up Giulia. Luca perked up from the sleeping bag to see the window open and Giulia fast asleep. 

" Sure," he whispered back, as he quietly got out of the sleeping bag. They've done this more than once in the past, they knew all the shortcuts and routes to get back just in case anything happened, and they needed to get back. So, as far as they knew, they were fine. They snuck out through the window, down the tree, through the streets of Portorosso, and stopped at the sparkling crystal sea. 

"After you," said Alberto jokingly.  

"No no, after you," Luca replied with a chuckle.

 After sharing a slight snicker, Alberto dived into the sea, his skin and curly hair transitioning into various shades of purple, and gaining his tail and webbed feet. After Alberto resurfaced back, Luca dived in. Coming back up with green scales in place of fair skin, and a tail and webbed feet to match. They swam to their old hangout spot, shaking off all the excess water before climbing up. This time going in, it was less scattered with papers and such; it was more organized and the space had some newly found furniture to make it seem homier. 

Throughout the night, Luca and Alberto talked and joked for a while, enjoying each other's company under the moon lite skies, till they decided to just sit in silence and looked up at the billions of stars above. 

After a while of gazing, Alberto broke the silence, "Hey Luca," Luca turned to face his friend silently, giving his full attention. Alberto took a big deep breath and said with a sort of guilty look on his face, "I'm sorry." Luca raised an eyebrow in confusion. 

Alberto stammers out, " About all the possessiveness and clinging I did, I know you probably don't think it's a big deal anymore. But, I had a lot of time to think and remember back to that day, before the competition; it wasn't fair to you." Lucas raised an eyebrow lowered and his face contorted into a look of empathy and shame.

 "It's ok Alberto. I also owe you an apology. I shouldn't have thrown you under the bus like that. There was no excuse for doing that. Especially considering the things you've done for me." Luca said, fiddling his hands together.

 Albertos face turned from surprise to a warm and genuine smile, "Honestly, if I was in your position, I probably would have done the same." Luca gave the same smile back as he sheepishly said, " Ha, yeah. Me too, in your position that is." They laugh at Lucas's awkward but trying words, as they settle back to their usual plan of stargazing. Later starting to recount more and more warm memories and random plans for the future. Just like old times.