Beyond The Coral (A Luberto Story)

Chapter 10- Class Registration

"Umm... Marco. Hi! I didn't— I didn't see you there," Luca stammered. He could somewhat see the dark figure that stood in front of him, but it was the voice that sold it to him. It was obviously Marco's voice, and despite meeting the boy the day before, Luca didn't truly know him very well. As a result, he had no idea what Marco was about to do and how he would react.

Luca's arm was still visibly green, as Luca was still too shocked to wipe it off. Instincts took in, and Alberto positioned himself slightly in front of Luca, holding out a protective arm that shielded Luca. In his defense, Alberto hadn't met Marco personally. He had only seen him very briefly on the train ride to Genova.

Marco stood dumbfounded, "Luca... I didn't mean to—"

"Who are you?" Alberto asked defensively.

Marco held his hands out in defense, "I don't think we've met. I'm Marco, Luca's neighbor? Or maybe... I'm your neighbor too?"

Luca spoke out, yet he still remained behind Alberto. His arm had finally returned back to normal. "Marco, this is Alberto. Alberto, this is Marco, our new neighbor. You saw him on the train ride... right?"

Alberto grunted something unintelligible, keeping his ground firmly in front of Luca. While Alberto didn't fully trust his 'new neighbor', his protectiveness over Luca wasn't really due to that reason. Alberto found himself trying to guard Luca whenever his sea monster form was accidentally exposed. Both Luca and Alberto had been well versed in quickly hiding their sea monster forms to say the least. But after the whole town of Portorosso had accepted them, they no longer needed to try and hide their identities. Now, here they were, once again standing in front of someone they knew, but not someone who was aware they were sea monsters.

"Look... I didn't mean to make things... awkward," Marco managed to spit out. "If you want, I can just go and pretend this never happened."

"And then what?" Alberto asked immediately after.

Marco stared back, "Well... then nothing. Nothing will happen."

Alberto squinted at the boy in front of him, trying to see him better. He could only make out Marco's silhouette, unable to see his facial features. Marco couldn't even see Alberto, yet even he could feel the distrust in Alberto's eyes.

"I can feel that you guys might not exactly... trust me. I get it," Marco spoke carefully. "I just... I didn't know, Luca. I didn't know."

Luca nodded, but he didn't say anything out of caution. The process was already too familiar for him: say little to nothing until you're sure the other person isn't going to try and chop your head off for being a sea monster. That was how it felt like at times the previous year.

"Look, I don't mind. I really don't!" Marco said, his voice increasing in pitch as he got louder. "I just got a little startled, that's all."

Luca finally spoke again, "That's okay. I understand."

"And... for the record, I'm sorry for getting water all over you," Marco replied, laughing a bit. "I won't tell anyone if you don't—"

"It's fine, Marco. Most of the school knows anyway," Luca said.

Alberto looked at Luca and Marco, and then back at Luca. Luca seemed less tense as his muscles relaxed.

Marco nodded, "Oh— well, okay."

"Okay," Luca repeated.

There was a short period of awkward silence, as both Marco and Luca were looking back at each other with uncertainty in their eyes. Alberto had lowered his arm, but he still stood in front of Luca, keeping a watchful eye on the stranger in front of them.