The girl smirked. "Oi, 'e blushes like a girl. 'E's funny. I like 'im."
"Aye, but she don't care if you like 'er or not, though," the boy said with a toothy grin. "I'm Crooks."
I winced as he stuck out his hand, bracing myself. But...no blow came. I peeked back at him after a moment. His hand was just...out there. I lifted an eyebrow. "What're you...doing?"
"Well go on! Shake," the girl said.
I stared blankly. "Shake what?"
Crooks held his hand out further, almost like he was reaching. But he stopped just short of me. " 'Aven't you ever done an 'andshake b'fore?" His grin was crooked and funny, the type that made it hard not to smile back. I didn't feel like smiling, though. This was a difficult thing to not do. After a moment of hesitation I took his hand and shook it once before drawing back.
"Well that was pitiful." The girl crossed her arms. "See, you can tell a lot about a guy with a good, firm 'andshake...that, that you don' 'ave, mate. We'll 'ave t' work on that."
Work on it? I took another step back. "Pardon?"
The girl chuckled. "Well you're with us now, aren't you? You ought t' be. What's your name?"
"I, ah..." When was this decision made? I didn't want to be...who were these people, anyhow? "What's yours?"
"Nonya. You got t' be in th' gang first, mate," she answered simply. "So're you in?"
"Ah...I--ah..." I edged back more.
"Aaaand int' th' water th' freak kid goes."
"Agh!" I crashed backwards into the icy canal and tumbled in the current. Murky water distorted my vision, flooding my ears. Finally, I regained my balance and glided to the surface, coughing for air as I pulled myself back up to land. Well, there was me...Burned, scarred and now drizzling.
One of them whistled. "Lookit that, 'e's a natural-born swimmer! Well you'll need more'n that t' get around 'ere!"
I stood and whipped my sopping hair out of my face, eyes darting around. Where was here, anyway? This wasn't good. I had to get out of there, find Uncle...Oi my my. Cheeks flaming again, I bolted down the alley, refusing to look back.
" 'Ey, 'ey! Where you going?" Crooks called after me. "Don't run too far kid, you won't last a day! People 'ere don't take kindly t' Outlanders such as yourself! Just a friendly warning, from yours truly!"