It was one of those days for Adriano. The ones where things just didn't seem to go right, and even the 'silver lining' was made out of aluminium and not actually silver. It started of with a letter from his mother, telling him that for the upcoming holidays, he would have to stay at the University, because she had something on and would not be at home. There was also something beneath it about a boyfriend and her hoping he would understand.
As if that wasn't enough, he had gone and misplaced his journal (and yes, Adriano did in fact keep one, though nobody ever knew) and despite turning his room upside down, he hadn't found it. Overwhelmed by it all, he had taken a jacket and just left the campus to get away from it all. There was one thing the man never did and that was cry - not even when he was alone did he let tears come. So instead, he went for walks. Long, long walks.
Today was no different, and he found himself arriving at Avalon Village before long. Where do I go now? he wondered. Not back, that's for sure. Where would be a nice quiet place? And that was how he came to decide on the beach. Already he had discovered that hardly anyone ventured onto the Pier, and he made his way down there, taking a seat right at the edge.
The ocean was beautiful and calming and the sea air did wonders for his brain. What is there to understand, mom? Dad's gone, and now you've found someone new, he thought bitterly. Dangling his legs off the edge of the wooden jetty, he let out a sigh. How long he sat there just thinking he didn't know, but then suddenly there was a voice, and he jumped. Turning his head around, he noticed a witch standing there. Just my luck. Ignoring his own thoughts, he nodded slowly. "Y-yes, it is," he replied softly.
Be polite. Introduce yourself! came the internal voice, and he caved in, knowing it was right. "I'm Adriano," he added. "Do.. do you go to Merlin's, too?" Small talk. It was something he was good at once upon a time, and every so often, when it was needed, he could still force himself to do so.
