New to Ketterdam

Chapter 4

Warnings: Violence and mild language.
Word count: 2638
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     Julia made her way through the streets of Ketterdam with the confident Zemeni boy hopping next to her, on the weekend as she promised.  She smirked at him, tilting her head in his direction, "Are you excited or something?"

     He copied her head movement and smirked, "No, not at all."

     "Not feeling lucky then, hopper?" Fake surprise evident in her face.

     Jesper started hopping more and said, "Not at all."

     Julia snorted and then turned her head, looking at the little stores around her.  They were walking out of the Financial District and in towards East Stave, back towards the Crow Club.  Basically, they were going to Jesper's new favorite place.  He was only fifteen but couldn't stop going to the gambling hall at least twice a day.  Now, he was to the point where he decided to join the Dregs in order to receive credit and, "get some honest work," according to the man himself.  Julia didn't like the idea at all.  What good would joining a gang be?  You'd be stuck and obligated to help with every little dirty thing the boss required you to do.  Maybe Julia was confused about what a gang really was, but she knew it wasn't a tea party where you talk about your feelings and make friends all day.  Even though Julia didn't like it, she could tell Jesper was pretty excited about it, so she didn't say anything against it to him.  Besides, she hadn't been able to hang out with Jesper there the entire week since Monday.  They had only seen each other at school and Jesper was always too excited to really talk or worry about homework.  Julia still enjoyed his company though, so she wanted to try and see what he saw when it came to the Crow Club.  

     The little shops around her distracted her thoughts once again.  Each one reminded her of her family.  A kitchen supplies store—maybe if mom got a new pot her food would taste better?  A child's clothing store—I know Agnes and Fraser wanted some new pajamas.   Isn't their birthday coming up? A book store—what if Brennan wanted a medical journal? That could be nice since he is just starting as a full medik.  Should I get one for my first day on Monday interning?

     "Can you feel it, Julia?"  Jesper closed his eyes and took a deep breath, breathing in the salty Ketterdam smell.  He was still hopping.  He opened his eyes as he breathed out, looking at her, "Luck is in the air."

     Julia repeated his actions, minus the jumping.  "Yes, actually, I can feel it."  She grinned at him, "Sheer, dumb luck."

     Jesper rolled his eyes at her.  "Really, I think this Dregs thing will be good for me.  I'm not made for homework and long study sessions.  I need to be out in the streets--"

     "These streets?" Julia questioned Jesper, her arms sweeping out to gesture the dust-covered road they were standing on.  "In this dusty, salty city?"

     "Yes, even these streets."  He continued to look at her.  "I think I need this sort of thing.  And besides, everyone in the Dregs are great.  Super nice, surprisingly.  Even for a gang.  I wasn't really expecting it." He looked away, towards the upcoming Crow Club.  His eyes warmed at the sight; he had the same look in his eyes that Julia saw the first day she met him at the Cafeteria.  The grey eyes belonged to a boy who wanted to seek out purpose and adventure.  "And these suckers," looking down at the pearl-handled pistols slung on his hips and taking them out, twirling them around his hands in a way that made Julia nervous to stand next to him, "are looking for some action, love."

     Julia giggled slightly and looked up at the Crow Club ahead of them.  "So, what's the plan, Stan?  Just gambling or do you have some 'official Dreg business'?"  Her voice held a mocking tone, really just deflecting from the fact she didn't want to be at that establishment.  She couldn't say why exactly, but she felt jealous already that this new gang was going to be taking Jesper away from her even more.  She gained and practically lost a friend in the course of a week.  Yet, she was determined not to hold Jesper back, only help him on the right track—and you know, have him hang out with her a little bit too.  She liked Jesper and Jesper seemed to like having her around, even if it was just so he could so off his pistol-swinging skills.