Summer was coming to an end. It was time for Giulia to leave for school in Genova. "Do you have your lunch for the train?" Massimo asked. "Sí." Giulia replied. "Sweater in case you get cold?" He asked. "For the millionth time, sí." Giulia laughed, hugging her father. "I love you too, Papá. Santa Mozzarella, we did it." "Well, Giulia, can't wait to race again next summer." Alberto said. "Or we could just have fun." I suggested as my cousin hugged us. "Ciao, Giulia." Luca added. "Ciao, ragazzi, apresto." Giulia said, boarding the train, winking at me and Alberto. "Ciao, cousin." I said. "Well, let's go fix up our Vespa." Luca sighed. "Yeah, about that." I started. "It's a crazy thing, me and Chiara might have sold it after we went out for gelato last night." Alberto explains and I pulled out a train ticket. "Luca?" Daniela, his mother asked. "Mom?" Luca asked. "What are you all doing here?" "If you promise to write to us every single day and be as safe as possible, and I mean safer than safe, you can go to school." "I can?!" Luca exclaimed. "It's all arranged, actually." Lorenzo, his dad said, handing him a suitcase. "You'd stay with Giulia and her mom." "Your friends talked them into it, it wasn't easy." Grandma Paguro added. "Luca, do you promise?" Daniela asked. "Yes, I promise!" Luca exclaimed. "Just remember we're always here for you." Daniela whimpered. "Hey, look me in the eye." Luca said. "You know I love you, right?" He kisses his mother and started to board the train. "Ciao, Luca." I said, hugging him. "Ciao, Chiara." Luca replied. "C'mon, Alberto, the train's gonna leave, where's your stuff?" "Yeah, well, you see..." Alberto explains. "You are coming, right?" Luca asked. "Um, I would, but, Massimo asked if I wanted to stick around, and I just thought, I think he needs me." Alberto explains, turning to me. "Besides, I know there's someone else who needs me here." "I can't do it without you." Luca's voice broke. "But, you're never without me." He replied, handing him the picture of them. "The next time you jump off a cliff, or tell Bruno to quit bothering you, that's me." "But, how am I gonna know that you're okay?" Luca asked. "I'll make sure that Alberto here stays out of any trouble." I replied. "You got me off the island, Luca." Alberto cried as him and Luca hugged each other before he boarded the train. "I'm okay. Piacere, giralomo trombetta." "Seriously, what does that mean?" Luca asked. "No idea, go find out for me, will ya?" Alberto asked as the train began to leave and both of us ran after it until we couldn't. Alberto and I stepped out into the rain, showing our sea monster forms. "Go Luca!" We shouted and I pulled Alberto in my arms to kiss him. "Yeah!"

Chiara's adventures in Portorosso are far from over. It's only the beginning. I am working on a fanfic based on the events after that summer. Thanks for reading this book! -Mal.