The next morning, Luca awoke before Marco, making sure to double check that his penis was still in tact. In fact it was. Luca woke up relieved with this in mind, continuing to wake up to life as usual.

He could not help thinking about Alberto and how damn long it felt until he would finally graduate Portorosso High. But he was getting there and he knew it.

Dammit! I forgot I have a swim meet this morning at 8:00 A.M., Luca thought.

Although it was a Saturday morning, Luca was never shy of waking up early and he knew it. He had an hour, but didn't want to waste it. In fact, there was nothing to pack. So Luca ran as fast as he could to the swimming pool.

Saturday, September 18, 7:45 A.M.

"We're definitely gonna win with a sea monster on our team!" said a girl.

Luca Paguro blushed. "Aww, guys! You're too much!" He then smiled determinedly, facing the water. "Bellissimo Heights doesn't stand a chance against us, Alessandra."

The girl looked at him and smiled. "They sure don't with the best swimmer on the team. You saw all those years before how we whipped their asses because you're such a good ass swimmer."

"I guess it's a perk of being a sea monster in a human world that has so much to offer," Luca said. "You're friends with Giulia, right? Do you know when she'll be here? She promised she'd..."

"Patience, Luca. She's always running a little late," Alessandra said. She checked her watch. "It's 7:50 now."

Giulia walked into the doors to the swimming pool and found herself a seat in the bleachers.

"Well, speak of the devil. Here she is now," Alessandra said.

Luca ran up to his best friend, careful as not to slip and fall. The rich, badass students of Bellissimo Heights would be here soon and he did not want to make a wrong first impression.

"Hey, Giulia," he said. "Glad you could make it."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Giulia exclaimed. "So, have you told Alberto that you like him yet?"

Luca instantly blushed, going into a gay panic. "Alberto? Me and him? Together?" He chuckled nervously. "No, no. Not at all. But I did tell him the about the incident that happened after school in my dorm room."

"What happened? Were you hurt?"

"No, everything was fine," Luca lied.

"Dannazione!" Giulia cursed. "I know that look in your eyes, Luca! You can't fool me like you fool others and yourself!" she said. "What happened?"

Luca sighed. "I'll tell you, but this isn't the right time or place," he said.

"If something's bothering you that much, it can't wait until after the competition," said Giulia.

"I promise I'll tell you after," Luca said. "It's about Marco."

"That no good piece of merda!" Giulia shouted. She took a deep breath. "So, what did Alberto say?"

"He said 'I'm sorry that happened to you. But at least you stood up for yourself and showed him who's boss. Great job! I knew you had it in you, Luca.'"

"Anything else?" Giulia asked.

Luca blushed, grasping his sweaty hands to his chest. "I think he likes me. He... he..."

"You OK, Luca? You're spacing out," Giulia said.

"Oh yeah, totally," Luca stammered. "I-I mean, he said 'I fuckin' miss you, babe'."

A feel of relief crossed Luca's beating chest, but a burning sensation of anxiety was still there. He was still looking more like a tomato than his human form. In his mind, he couldn't get past the idea that Alberto had called him "babe".

Luca caressed himself, imagining Alberto in his arms. Alberto's warm touch and wet kiss on his lips was as real as he could imagine—as if he was holding Luca right at that very moment. The kiss felt like heaven, if that was even a thing.

"Wake up, daydreamer," said a girl from Bellissimo Heights.

She had beautiful pale skin with bright brown eyes and hair.

"Oh, sorry," Luca said. "Uh, I don't think we've met. I'm Luca. What's your name?"

The girl laughed. "You don't know my name? Wow!" she said. "How long have you been living under a rock?"

"Never," Luca said. "Only several boring years many depths below the surface."

She laughed, looking Luca in the eyes. "Enriqua Santarossa," she said. "Prepare to get your ass whipped, sea monster."

Luca gulped. They were even worse than he remembered. But Luca knew not to let anything or anyone get in his way.

"Silenzio Bruno. Silenzio Bruno. Silenzio Bruno," Luca whispered to himself.

"Let the swim competition between Portorosso High and Bellissimo Heights commence!"

Silenzio Bruno. Silenzio Bruno. Silenzio Bruno, Luca thought as he swam. His confidence rose as he began, starting to swim faster and faster until he forgot all about what Enriqua said. Fanculo, Bruno! Luca thought in his head, but didn't dare to say it aloud.

Several hours later, the swim meet ended.

"And the winners are Portorosso High!"

Enriqua was pissed, kicking her foot at Luca. "You damn sea monster. You're the only reason your pathetic school always wins!"

"Enriqua, I see your pain and frustration, but there's no need to take it out on me," Luca said, holding out his hand. "Good game."

She reluctantly reached out to grab Luca's wet, scaly green hand, but pulled it back.

"You don't need to be afraid, Enriqua. I won't hurt you," Luca said.

"How do I know?" Enriqua said with tears in her eyes.

"All sea monsters are nice, trust me," Luca said. "All those things you used to hear are bullshit. Complete and utter bullshit. Did we really ever make humans fear us? Diavolo no!" He reached his hand closer. "So whaddya say? Amici?"

"Amici," Enriqua said, shaking Luca's hand as to indicate that the two were now friends. "Good game, sea monster."

"Luca Paguro."

"Ah," Enriqua said. "Good game, Luca."

"Same to you," Luca said. "Say, maybe I could teach you to swim sometime!"

"Is that a date, Portorosso boy?" Enriqua challenged.

"No. I have a crush on someone else," Luca said, dreamy-eyed and flustered. "And his name is..." Luca checked the time on the wall clock by the entrance to the swimming pool. "Well, would you look at the time! I gotta run!"

"You OK there, Luca?" Enriqua asked.

"S-sure I'm gay!" he stammered. "Dammit! I mean, I'm fine. Ciao!"

"What a gay panic you had back there, Luca," Giulia said. "So you gonna tell Alberto soon or what?"

"Not today, not tomorrow. I'm just not ready yet, Giulia," he replied. "What if Alberto rejects me? What if he loves someone else? What if... he's just a friend who I happen to have feelings for?"

"The more you keep it inside, the more it'll build up," Giulia said. "I'm calling my dad right now."

"No! Don't do that!" Luca cried. "If you do, please don't mention Alberto! Just say that I killed it today at the swim meet."

"Gotcha," Giulia said, sending a text instead.

"Thanks, Giulia," Luca said.

"No problem. What are friends for?" Giulia said. You've gotta let him know one time or another. I can tell by your bond that you are just meant to be, she thought.