Chapter Text
Jamie Tartt met Ivy at the young age of 14, the first time he’d been in Amsterdam.
He was excited to go, reading up on interesting facts about Amsterdam to talk about with his dad.
He wanted all the museums, all the tours, football matches, everything. Instead his father took him to the red-light district.
Afterwards, his father brought him back to the hotel for the night, where Jamie snuck out after his father fell asleep.
He explored the streets around the hotel, looking at everything with amazement, when he stumbled across a girl, his age, sitting on a bench.
“You know” she says still looking at the canal. “It’s rude to stare.”
Jamie looks around, trying to see if anyone else is looking at her. “Me?” He asks
She turns, the first thing he notices is her bright green eyes, and smiles. “Yes you, who else would I be talking to?”
“I-i didn’t mean to stare. Just wondering why you’re sitting out here all alone” he responds
“I could wonder the same about you.” She points out. “Obviously you aren’t from around here. I’m guessing England based on your accent.”
He nods. “Yeah, on a vacation with my dad”
She nods. “Been there. Has it been fun for you at least?” She asks
He shrugs. “Fine I guess. We went to a football match.”
She hums. “Football. I never understood it. My parents signed me up for it when I was little, but I was more interested in the flowers growing in the grass than actually playing.” She looks him over. “Do you play?”
He puffs his chest out.” Course I do. And I’m fucking amazing”
The brunette girl giggles. “Never said you weren’t.” She turns back around looking at the view
Jamie slowly sits next to her, staring at the same view as her. “I’m Jamie Tartt” he says
“Ivy Willows” she responds, smiling.
The two are silent for a few moments, both just looking out.
“My dad took me to the red light district.” Jamie says fiddling with his fingers. “After the match.”
Ivy nods, turning to look at him, but not saying a thing.
“He had me… you know…. With one of those ladies in the window.” Jamie continues. “Said it would make me more of a man.”
“Do you feel like a man?” She asks
He furrows his brows. “Don’t think so. I still feel the same as before.” He looks down at himself, assessing for any changes. “Only reason he brought me here was ‘father-son bonding time’ to get in my mum’s good graces”
“Sounds like your father is the one who isn’t a man” she remarks.
Jamie doesn’t reply.
“My father took me on a trip to England once.” Ivy says. “He had a business trip and I had break from school, so he took me.” She looks down at her fingers, fiddling with them. “Second day there, he said he was going to a meeting and would be back to the hotel around lunchtime. I waited, spending my time watching tv and eating the snacks we brought.”
“He never came back did he?” Jamie asks
Ivy shakes her head. “I started to get worried once it got later int he day, past lunch. So I went to the lobby, asked to use the phone to call him. He didn’t answer. The lady at the desk sat with me as I waited. I told her we weren’t from England. She let me use the phone to call my mum, who got there as fast as she could.”
“How old were you?” He asks her
Ivy looks up at him “10 I think, I remember it almost being my birthday.”
The two go silent again.
“We’re just a pair of fucked up kids aren’t we?” Jamie says
Ivy bursts into giggles, Jamie following right after. The two teens laugh for a few minutes.
“I like talking with you Jamie Tartt” she says, her laughter fading, but a smile still on her face.
“And I like talking with you Ivy Willows” he responds, a smile on his face.
She sighs, turning away. “Too bad you go back to England soon”
His smile falters. “We can still talk.” She looks back at him. “Cell phones exist don’t they” he says
Ivy’s smile gets wider and brighter, something that makes Jamie’s heart flutter.