So this was happening. I was going to officially ask Giulia on a date. Nothing could go wrong, nothing would go wrong.
Oh boy, I was a little naive in hindsight.
Me and Alberto arrived at Mr. Marcovaldo's house as he placed the plates of pasta on his small table and we all gathered around, taking our seats.
As I plopped myself down on my spot, I glanced over shyly to Giulia, and then back at Alberto, who winked at me, probably telling in secret body language that we'd initiate the plan.
"Papa, school this year was great!" Giulia said as she wound the pasty spaghetti around her fork and stuck it in her mouth, "Luca was voted president of the astronomy class."
"Yep!" I said in delight and saw Alberto nod to me. I nodded quickly back and scooped my pasta into Giulia's plate.
"What are you doing?" She asked confused and I pinched my two fingers together, holding my hand up in the air like I was a chef, and responded.
"You need it, you have no fat on your bones!"
"Er-?"
"Yeah!" Alberto chimed in, "All your fat is going to your coconuts!"
"Aye ya!" Giulia whined and rolled her eyes up to the sky, shaking her head barely and just continuing to eat.
"Can I have some more pasta, Mr. Marcovaldo?"
The big burly man cocked an eyebrow up confused and me and Alberto smiled awkwardly back.
He slowly nodded his head and plopped some more pasta onto my plate with seconds.
I could feel my stomach growl but quickly looked over to Giulia, seeing she was nearly finished again.
I held a fork of pasta up to my mouth, about to shove it in, but I saw Giulia was about to get up. I quickly placed the fork back on my plate and when she had gone to the bathroom, I scooped my pasta back onto her plate.
Her father stared at me mystified, and when Giulia had come back, she froze when she saw her plate full again.
"But I-?"
"C'mon and finish your meal, Giulia!" Alberto called to her, "We want to do more tonight than just watch you eat."
"But I-?!"
I think Giulia's dad then understood what I was trying to do. He smiled at his daughter and said softly.
"You don't like my pasta..?"
"Papa?!" Giulia yelled at him, hurt, and slammed her bum back to the seat, forcing the food down.
I looked at her dad and he looked at me, winking and given a small smile.
"Urgh..." Giulia finally relinquished to her bloated belly and she held it there, rubbing it in sore pain.
"Giulia, can I ask you something?" I finally said, getting to my perfect plan from the strategy I used.
"Luca, you can ask me anything as long as it doesn't involve eating more pasta."
"Go out with me?" I rushed in as soon as she finished her sentence and she closed her eyes slowly, seeming to be trying to meditate and escape her full stomach pain.
"Sure, sure..." She said, not half-listening. Me and Alberto looked at one another, big smiles on our mouths and we both broke into cheers and clapping.
"What is with you two?" Giulia just asked, puzzled, and then suddenly realized what she had agreed to, "GO OUT WITH YOU?!"
The two of us froze and only looked at her, tensing up like we didn't know how to solve our sudden dilemma.
"Yes, Me," I said back nervously, my teeth gritting in a hard smile and for some reason, I didn't know how to play my cards. I did the first thing that came to my mind and swung my arm around Alberto's shoulders, squeaking, "Me and Alberto. Yep, YEP."
"Oh! Mama Mia, I thought you were asking me out on a date!"
"He is-"
"HA HA HA HA!" I laughed so fake I don't think anyone would believe it to be true, "No, silly Alberto. The three of us! Right... Giulia?"
She seemed to be frozen herself as she gaped at me, a blush deepening in her cheeks and she finally nodded her head fast, adding.
"Si! Si!" She got off her chair and came between us, swinging her own arms over both our shoulders, "The three amigos!"
"Haha." Alberto replied sarcastically and cold, "Yeah... fun."
"So tomorrow, we'll meet at the pier and-" I began.
"Go swimming!" Giulia said quickly in glee
"Yep, then we'll climb to the top of the city!"
"-and count the birds on the cliffs."
"And after that, maybe ice cream and-?"
"Coca Cola?" Giulia guessed.
"YES!" I cooed in delight and the two of us broke into giddy laughter.
"Wow," Alberto said sourly and added with so much sarcasm he could fill a lake, "You two have already got everything planned out – I might just duck up of this-"
"NO!" The two of us screeched and Alberto rolled his eyes up to heaven, sighing heavily as he added.
"Whatev."
"C'mon kids," Mr. Marcovaldo called from outside his house upon his balcony and the three of us slipped off our seats and followed him out, "Tonight is a full moon."
"Wow," Giulia gasped as she gazed up into the universe of stars, "Never ceases to amaze me."
"Si," I said, stepping beside her and our hands touched gently. It took us a full thirty seconds to realize this and the two of us both stepped apart shyly, giggling awkwardly and Alberto rolled his eyes again, slumping on one side of his body, not impressed or interested.
"Luca." He finally said and I took my eyes quickly off the pretty Giulia, "We have to get heading back to your parent's cave soon."
"Oh... oh," I said back, feeling defeated and sad that I would leave the most incredible girl in the world, "Si...si,"
"See you tomorrow, Luca." Giulia said to me, also sad at my departure, "-oh, you too, Alberto. Shall we start the date- DAY, I meant DAY... at two?"
"SI!" I said in delight and she chuckled, swaying her body slightly to the side and I saw the most wonderful twinkle in her eyes.
"Yeah, fine, whatever," Alberto replied and grabbed my forearm pulling me along and out of the house.
"What's the matter, Alberto?" I asked him, my courage coming back and I just felt annoyed and angry, "Why are we leaving so soon?"
"It's nine O clock." He answered simply and soon we reached the edge of the town, seawater just below us, "And you're forcing me to go on a date with you and Giulia."
"No one's forcing you."
"Okay, then." He said with a smirk, "I'm out."
"PLEASE ALBERTO!" I begged suddenly, dropping to my knees and clutching his legs like a toddler would a parent, "Please don't bail on me!"
"Urgh..." He groaned exasperated and dropped his head down, looking at me as if in pity, "Fine. Fine. But you're paying for everything."
"Si, si!" I said quickly and climbed back hopelessly onto my feet, "Alberto, you're the best friend in the world!"
"Don't tell me stuff I know." He said and winked. He suddenly rammed me forward and I slammed like a pancake on the waves. I slowly began to float deep under the water and I quickly swam to the side as Alberto did a bomb jump into the sea as well. Our skin turned delightfully green and blue once more and we began swimming with speed through the depths of the sea.
As we were heading to my parents, Alberto seemed to realize something and he said quickly.
"I need to go to the island quickly."
"I'll come with," I said, feeling like I owed him some of my solo time as I'd be gone again in two and a half months.
"Kay," He said back, not really worried or concerned about anything. When we reached the run-down stone tower Alberto and I shook the wet off us like we were dogs and we quickly entered into the old-time castle tower.
It was dark, but the light of the stars shone down brightly and Alberto picked up some small things that he needed for some reason.
"Okay, we can head." He said swinging a fabric bag over his back and I nodded in agreement, about to follow him back to the waves – but it was at that instance, everything changed.
As we neared the lapping water, Alberto and I suddenly leaped back. There was something huge, climbing out of the sea.
I hid behind my friend, as Alberto peered nearly half-blind from lack of light to the shimmering creature that dragged itself out of the sea onto the land.
Alberto squinted his eyes, and the tall creature stood on its two legs, shaking itself off and returning to human form.
"...Dad...?" Alberto asked in a worried voice and the man stepped towards him, stumbling nearly on his feet.
"Alberto," He said, his voice deep and smooth like he had many tales to tell, "I'm back."