Luca had made it to his house on time before curfew. As he was reaching the porch, he saw Giulia come out of her house taking out the trash. She saw him approaching his home.

"Hey, Luca. Where've you been? It's not like you to be coming home just before your curfew." she said, putting the bag of trash in a large can on the curb.

"I've been at the beach. Luna called me and said she wanted to meet me there."

Giulia froze at that. "...She called you?"

Luca thought the way she said that was a bit peculiar but he thought nothing of it a second later. "Yeah, she said it was important."

"'Important' how?" she pressed, arms crossed.

Luca's eyes widened. He had to think of something to say that wasn't too detailed. He couldn't very well tell Giulia that Luna was a sea creature. She had made it pretty clear that she didn't want Giulia knowing anything about it even though he didn't agree with it.

Unfortunately, he couldn't think of anything clever enough and instead said, "Umm, It really doesn't matter. You wouldn't be interested, anywayIshouldgetinside. Bye!"

Luca then immediately rushed into his house before Giulia could get in a word.

Giulia was left there in shock in the dark of the night, the only source of light being the moon and the light from the inside of her house showing through the windows.

"Why didn't she call me too...?" Giulia asked herself aloud quietly.

When she had gotten Luna's number that day she was really excited. Luna was so cool and fun to be around. Giulia wanted to call Luna but decided not to out of fear of seeming clingy or ' too much ', she got that a lot from people. She was planning on calling her tomorrow but, now that she knew Luna had called Luca first, Giulia could see that she wasn't the first person Luna wanted to hang out with. She didn't even get invited to the beach with them. She thought they were a trio or at least that's what it had felt like these past few weeks. Did she jump to conclusions?

Giulia personally thought that she and Luna had connected more than Luna and Luca but she must've misinterpreted their friendship...or. Just then, a thought, that rubbed Giulia that wrong way for some reason, came to mind. Luna didn't have some kind of crush on Luca, did she? She had never suspected Luna to be interested in him. She was usually good at reading people. But then why would Luna ask Luca specifically to hang out, just the two of them? If Luna did have a crush on Luca it could explain why Luna wasn't looking at her while asking for their numbers. She seemed more intent on getting Luca's number than her's at the time. Luna was probably just trying to be polite when she asked Giulia for her number just so she wouldn't feel left out. That made Giulia feel like a charity case and she hated that. It made her feel like her company was inadequate.

With a small huff, Giulia practically stomped back inside her house, slamming the door shut. She hated feeling this way and had no idea why she felt mad at Luca. None of this was his fault. Giulia knew how to share her friends with her other friends. Luna was allowed to choose who she hung out with. All of this could be a huge misunderstanding. And even if it wasn't, who Luna had a crush on wasn't any of her business.

' Santa Stracchino, what is the matter with me? ' Giulia thought. She had to get rid of this mood by tomorrow or no one was going to be happy.

The Next Day: During Break

"Wait, what ?" Guido loudly questioned Signora Marsigliese.

"Alberto is failing and he needs a tutor to keep up in class. I'm asking if you'd be up for the task."

Guido couldn't believe this. He rushed through his after-gym-shower for this? Being asked to tutor one of the lowlifes that pushed their homework in his face the year prior? He wasn't about to let it happen again. He just knew that if he agreed Alberto would just slack off or worse, make him just do his homework for him again.

"With all due respect, Signora Marsigliese, I don't think I can." he had to think up an excuse. "I...uh...I have an after-school activity going on, the school soccer team." That wasn't untrue. Soccer practice wasn't every day but it had to be a good enough excuse. "I really don't think I can handle another thing on my plate."

" I'd give you extra credit if you did ." Signora Marsigliese said.

It sounded tempting but not even that was going to be enough for him to agree to it. To some degree, it did make him cringe at the thought of saying no to extra credit, but, he didn't like Alberto and what he stood for more.

"That's a very tempting offer but still, I'm going to have to decline. You're going to have to find someone else to do it. I am flattered you considered me though."

Signora Marsigliese sighed. "Alright, if you insist. Go take your seat. Class will start soon."

Guido nodded and sat at his desk. Man, did he dodge a bullet. Though declining extra credit was hard it was worth it. His excuse on why he couldn't was a bit weak but what Signora Marsigliese didn't know wouldn't hurt her. Guido did have soccer practice today. He was glad that that was his after-school activity, not just because he enjoyed it but also he'd get more time to hang out with Giulia.

Though he'd never admit it, Ciccio was right, he was sweet on her, just a bit though. He did like her a lot. He found her cute. Her energetic personality was endearing, she was fun, funny and he also admired her athletic abilities. He just hated how awkward he got around her and he wouldn't be surprised if she noticed this during their interactions. Though, being on the soccer team helped, it wasn't like he had her full attention during practice since she talked to Luna a lot too, if not more. Luna had become more prominent in their friend group with him, Giulia, Ciccio and Luca, and even sat with them at lunch now too, except today for whatever reason. But Giulia and Luna had gotten very close, which didn't bother him at all. It's just that the thing was it meant that Giulia's focus and interactions were on Luna most of the time. ' Girls just connect more easily with each other ' he assumed.

Guido wanted more time to get to know Giulia better and try to make their interactions less weird and more often. After practice, he was going to do it. He had to stop being such a pansy and ask Giulia if she wanted to do something with him after school. He just wanted some time alone with her. The worst-case scenario was her turning him down. He just hoped that wasn't going to happen.

After third-period art class

Throughout art class, it had been excruciating for Luca and Alberto not to talk about their recent discovery about each other since they couldn't very well talk about it while around others.

That class, they were still working on still life but instead of drawing fruit, they were to draw bottles of different shapes and sizes. Once again, Luca had found himself captivated by Alberto's drawing. It almost looked exactly as it did in real life. Except, this time, Luca noticed he had embellished what was actually there. Alberto had noticed Luca staring at his drawing but didn't tease him about it this time. He wanted to concentrate on his creation, seeing as Luca was looking at it so intently. He wanted to really show off by taking creative liberties with it, making the glass bottles look shinier than they really were in the light the bottles were in.

Once class was over, Luca and Alberto didn't even get to speak to each other long enough since Giulia had shown up for Luca so they could walk to class together as usual. When Luca went to follow her to their next class, Luca turned his head to look back at Alberto. He had a bummed look on his face. Luca felt bad, but then again, 'What could they even say to each other that hadn't already been said about the sea creature situation?', he thought to himself. They had nothing in common and even if they did, who they surrounded themselves with would probably judge if they ever became friends with each other.

After history class: After classes

When Luca and Giulia's history class came to an end, Luca was told by his teacher that someone called for him in another classroom by a teacher named Signora Marsigliese. Luca didn't know why but regardless, he was told where to go and headed off, telling Giulia he'd see her at the soccer field after whatever this was about.

When Luca had found the classroom, he entered to find a woman at her desk grading work he assumed was from her students. He knocked on the open door politely.

"Uh, Signora Marsigliese? You wanted to see me?" Luca asked.

"Are you Luca Paguro?" she asked, turning to him on her chair. Luca nodded. "Good. Yes, I did. Take a seat." she gestured to one of the desks across from her. He sat in one and looked at her expectantly. She continued. "So, I've been told you get good very good grades by your math teacher, Signore Mazzanti. He speaks very highly of you."

Luca brightened up at the praise. "Uh, wow, that's good to hear."

"Hmm, he neglected to tell me you were modest as well. He's told me the kind of grades you get that are very impressive for the average ninth-grader. A perfect score on every test so far. You can figure out math problems beyond your grade even."

"How do you know that?"

She smirked. "Well, you and your fellow classmates aren't told this, but, your teacher told me that he sometimes puts problems on your tests that are beyond your grade for an extra challenge just to see if you kids can actually solve them. Those who get it wrong aren't really graded on those particular questions but when answered correctly, you get noticed and get the extra grade. But don't tell any of your classmates that."

"Uh, okay, I won't." Luca was shocked at this new information.

"Luca, you have not once gotten one of those problems wrong so far."

"Wow! Really?"

"Sì. That is precisely why I've asked you here today. One of my students is struggling with keeping up in class. I have already asked one of my own top students if he'd do it but he turned it down. It's a real shame too. I even offered him extra credit for it."

Luca gave a questioning look. Why would anyone turn down extra credit? He continued to listen.

"So, since your grades are top-notch, I was hoping you'd agree to tutor him. You'd get the extra credit. Signore Mazzanti would see to it." she assured him.

"Really?" This excited Luca. He knew his parents would be excited for him as well and them knowing how well he was doing, they'd be so proud. "Sure, I'll do it."

Signora Marsigliese smiled. "Fantasica! Thank you. I'm sure Alberto will be relieved to hear the good news."

Luca's eyes widened at that.

He better appreciates your help. He's going to need it. Now, depending on how well you keep yourself with your school schedule this should be a breeze for y-"

"Hang on a second!" Luca interrupted. "What's his last name?" Surely 'Alberto' was a common first name.

"Scorfano."

'Oh grande! Out of all people.' Luca thought, nervously gripping the edges of the desk he was occupying.

Signora Marsigliese could sense the tension in Luca's tone. "Is that a problem?"

"Well, I uh…"

She sighed. "Luca, you shouldn't feel pressured into doing this, but, while I agree that Alberto can be a lot to deal with, he needs to pass this class and 10th grade. I don't believe he can achieve that without the help he needs. I can see right through that boy and I see a boy who never asks for help because he's too stubborn. I could tell he was not thrilled with getting a tutor but he needs this push. Whether or not that tutor is going to be you, he needs someone of your intelligence right now."

Luca felt guilty. Though he was unsure about Alberto as a person, he didn't know Alberto, maybe he could surprise him and he seemed to want to connect with him in some way since finding out they were both sea creatures and maybe, on some level, he did too. He also didn't want to be the cause of someone failing an entire grade just because he was unsure about that someone.

"...Okay. I'll give it a try."

"Thank you, Luca," she said with a smile.

Soccer Practice

Once Luca left, saying he'd meet her at the soccer field, Giulia was left alone with her thoughts. She was feeling anxious while walking to the field. She hadn't seen Luna all day. She didn't show up at lunch, which Giulia thought was odd but after hearing that Luna met up with Luca without her company the day before, she wasn't sure if she was relieved or not about Luna not showing up. Giulia hadn't been angry towards Luca like she was afraid she'd be but she hadn't been very talkative with him all day. But he didn't seem to notice. But when Luna didn't meet up with her in the hall to walk to their classes she started to get worried. Was Luna avoiding her?

Before she knew it, Giulia had entered the field. Once she got settled she spotted Luna who was also getting settled not too far away. She didn't know if she should confront her about today. Maybe Luna just wanted some space for whatever reason and that's why she was being distant. Whatever that reason was, she just hoped she wasn't the cause for it.

Giulia looked back down at her backpack, taking out her water bottle when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see Guido.

"Ciao, Giulia." he greeted.

"Ciao." she greeted back with a smile. She was glad she at least had Guido to be there to talk to so she didn't feel alone in this situation. "Where did you go so early after gym? You seemed in a rush."

"Oh, it was just my math teacher. She wanted me to tutor Scorfano. Surprisingly, he isn't doing too hot with his grades." he said, sarcasm in his voice.

"He's failing?"

"I really don't care. I did have to turn down extra credit but, I never want to deal with him or his homework ever again. His failing grades are his problem, not mine."

"Well, look at you, standing your ground. Nice one." Giulia complemented. Guido blushed at that. "He'd probably just make you do his work for him again anyway."

"Yeah, that's what I thought," he said with a chuckle.

After practice

Guido and Giulia sat down on the bench next to each other, both beat from the exercise.

"Phew, is it just me or was practice more brutal this time?" She let out a light giggle.

"Nope. Very brutal" he laughed along with her.

Giulia got up, took out a towel from her backpack and wiped the sweat from her forehead with it.

Well, it was now or never. This was the time for Guido to ask Giulia to hang out. He had been stalling, waiting this long.

"Hey, Giulia?" he started.

"Mhm?" Giulia turned her head to face him.

He was in the hot seat now. No turning back. "There's this place in town that sells really good gelatos, don't know if you already know the place but, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out with me there later today and try some?"

"Yeah sure, why not?" she said with a smile. She'd never hung out with Guido outside of school before and she loved gelatos.

"Really?" Guido said a bit too excitedly.

"Yeah, sure. Sounds like fun. I just need to shower at home first and I'll meet you there. Let's say, at 5:00? Give me the directions to the place." She said handing him her notebook.

"5:00 sounds good." he wrote down the directions and the name of the place.

Neither of them had noticed Luna looking over at the two, who had overheard their exchange with melancholy in her expression.

(A/N) I hope you found it interesting that I dove into Guido's thoughts and feelings.