St Jimmy

Chapter 9- Jingle Town

I made the decision 10 minutes later. I felt that for my conscience, I should just keep out of it. So I spent my ‘non thinking’ part of the day with Taylor at Slouch.

“So I take it that everything’s patched up with Jimmy?” she asked, swigging from her beer bottle.

“Pretty much,” I smiled.

“Nice,” she smirked.

“But there’s still something he’s not telling me,” I sighed.

“Like?”

“Stuff to do with Colt, I just don’t understand it all.”

“Get used to that,” she laughed.

“Why?”

“It’s the main ‘loop’ of this town,” she shrugged, “The Colt/Jimmy war.”

“You can’t exactly call it ‘war’ can you?” I raised an eyebrow.

“You can, shit goes down here, accept that too!”

“Like what shit?” I probably didn’t want to hear the answer.

“That fire wasn’t the worst that’s happened. Fair enough, it’s the worst we’ve had in a few months, but we’ve had worse.” She ordered another beer.

“Like!? Give me some examples please!” I was getting impatient.

“Well for starters, pretty much everyone around here has a gun, well I mean it’s a rough area of America, what d’you expect?” she drank slowly.

I just sighed as I sipped away at my beer. “Deaths?” I asked.

“One, four years ago. Well that was kinda suicide, but it was because of Colt and Jimmy,” she laughed.

“How can you laugh? And what d’you mean kinda?”

“The guy was an asshole! Anyway he was one of Colt’s guys. Threw himself off a  building,” she gave a look of disapproval.

“Ouch!”

“Looked like it! Actually we lost one of our guys last year.” Her voice lost its cheerful tone. “Colt shoved him in front of a car. Jimmy’s still well pissed at him for it. I won’t be surprised if ‘revenge planning’ is what he means by ‘Colt stuff’.” She stared at the floor. I didn’t know what to say.

“Who was it?” I asked.

“My ex, Tim Andrews, great guy,” tears came to her eyes and she began to cry.

“I’m so sorry Tay,” I sighed.

“You know what Jett? You’re with such a great guy. Jimmy promised me that he’d get revenge on that bastard for what he did. And I believe him. I believe in him. I know he won’t rest until he has,” she sobbed.

“Me too,” I smiled sympathetically. I comforted her with a hug but we were interrupted by a small gang who barged in the bar door.

“Where is he?!” they demanded. No one said anything, we all knew that they were with Colt but we didn’t really know what to say. “Well?”

“He’s not here, so fuck off!” the barmaid called.

“Oh, little miss confident then are we?” one stepped up to her threateningly.

“Leave it,” said another

“So if he’s not here, then where is he?”

“Not here, and why would we tell you? Just get out,” a young teenager cursed.

“You’ll tell us or we’ll shove this down your throat,” one in a black hoodies drew out a gun and approached the boy. No one was doing anything so I stepped up, stupidly, again.

“Leave him!” I yelled. The man turned around to face me.

“Oh, you’re someone we need. His little princess,” he hissed.

“Just get out of here ok, take your shit elsewhere!”

“What if we don’t?”

“Jett,” Taylor stood up.

“I’m fine,” I signalled by putting my hand behind my back.

“Just get out!” I yelled.

“What if we don’t?” he questioned me again. “You’ll get your little saint to come beat us up will you?”

“Oh, that’s one option, is suppose,” I shrugged, looking tough. “Or we could beat the shit out of you, right here, right now.”

“Oh really, you and your little blonde slut of a friend?” he asked, laughing.

“Fuck you,” I said bluntly. With that, all of the Hounds in the bar (everyone, this was odd coz Jimmy said that Colt’s people came here too) stood up, and most drew guns, they stood backing me up, backing up our leader. If he was there he would have enjoyed this. The Rippers hesitated and walked back slowly. They also raised their guns. The front man gave a final smirk before shooting the bar 3 times almost hitting the barmaid.

“Hey fuck you, you fat bastard!” She screamed.

“We’ll be back and as for you…” he pointed at me but I cut him short.

“Life’s a bitch and so am I, deal with it, now get out!” I was proud of my come back.

“You’re gonna be in for it with Colt, and I mean it,” he glared.

“Ooh, I’m so scared, now fuck off!” I yelled finally and with that they left. The whole bar cheered and clapped me, I was embarrassed. I was proud of myself, but I wish Jimmy was there.

“Guys, guys stop!” I laughed.