Page 152 of Jackass

“Sam, who is that?” she asked, looking at Jingles.

“That’s Jingles.”

“Jingles?” she queried, never taking her eyes from him.

I couldn’t say I wasn’t disappointed. I thought for sure things had improved between her and Ryder. But Jingles was a very handsome man.

“Yea, he got his club name because he’s so quiet he can slip in and out of places and never be detected. One of the guys said they should put a bell on him so he would jingle when he walked. Handsome, right?” I asked, nudging her with my shoulder.

“Yea,” she said as she continued to stare.

“You should see him in a suit.”

“A suit?” She turned to look at me. “He wears a suit?”

“Well, I’ve only seen him in it once, but I knew he was comfortable in it. Tailored perfectly to his body, and expensive, too,” I whispered.

“Son of a bitch,” she hissed, leaving the table she had been sitting at all day, and stomping over in his direction.

I stood there, stunned, as everything quickly unraveled.

Ellie stomped past Ryder. He must have noticed the look on her face because he handed Tabby to Zero and followed her.

She marched right up to Jingles, brave as can be, and stood before him. She was a tiny little thing, maybe five foot three, or four. While he was at least six foot one or two.

“You goddamn son of a bitch!” she yelled, just before she punched him in the gut. Hard, if theoomphwas any indication.

Jingles’ eyes got huge when he looked down at Ellie.

Every sound in the room ceased.

No one moved until King stomped over.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing? I loan you my men and this is how you repay my kindness?” he bellowed.

Jingles put his arm up, blocking King from getting closer to Ellie.

Ellie ignored King. She was still seething at Jingles.

I stood there, frozen, not believing what had just happened.

Ellie was so sweet, so shy and quiet. Sure, I had only known her a few months, but this seemed completely out of character.

“Is this where you have been? In Nebraska? For thirteen fucking years? You disappeared without a trace, you never said goodbye, you didn’t even leave a fucking note!” she screamed. “I hate you, Sebbie!”

Ellie kicked him in the shin and ran outside, quickly followed by Ryder.

“Jingles, what the fuck just happened, brother?” King asked.

“I think that was my baby sister,” he whispered, staring at the door Ellie just ran through.

That was when I noticed the number of people recording the incident. Ryder’s store was about to become even more well-known. We had no way of knowing then, how the repercussions of those videos would turn our quiet little town upside down.

THE END