"Luca, who are you writing to?" asked Marco D'Angelo, Luca's roommate in high school.
"My crush," Luca immediately blurted out without thinking.
When Marco looked Luca in the eye, Luca almost instantly covered his mouth. He wasn't getting out of this one.
"You hang out with that Giulia girl a lot. Why would you write to her?" Marco said.
"I'm gay, you idiot!" Luca blurted out, instantly covering his mouth again. "I'm so sorry, Marco. You're a very smart friend of mine. I didn't mean to call you an idiot. I-I was just—I wasn't thinking straight!"
"Of course you're not thinking straight, Luca," Marco said. "You just said it yourself: you aren't straight. 'Sono gay, idiota'!"
"Are you making fun of me?" Luca asked.
"No. I'm very accepting of everyone," Marco said. "Why else did you think I persuaded the headmaster to start an LGBTQ+ club." He patted Luca on the back. "Congrats, Luca."
Luca smiled smugly. "Thanks."
"What's with that smile, Luca? You OK?" Marco said.
"Yeah," Luca said. "I just never knew that about you. I guess you never knew I'm a sea monster."
"Whoa! That's cool, man!" Marco exclaimed. "How come you didn't tell me before?"
"I thought you'd treat me like an outcast because the people of Portorosso just became accepting of sea monsters a few years ago," Luca said.
"No way! You're my best man at Portorosso High!" Marco said, patting Luca on the back so hard he leaned forward. "Sorry. A little too hard?"
"Yeah," Luca said. "Say, wanna help me write this to Alberto?"
"Is he that Alberto Scorfano you're always talking about?" Marco asked.
Luca blushed. "He sure is."
"Then, I'll help you," Marco said. "They don't call me a romantic expert for nothing!"
"Seriously, dude?" Luca said. "They actually call you that?"
"I don't make fun of you for being gay, do I?"
Luca shook his head.
"Then shut the hell up and let me lead," Marco said.
