Proof #6
“Things will be fine Jacob. Just give it time. I’m sure it will all work out in time.
Come on- let’s go for a walk. Clear your head.
I know a great place we can go.” Joe responded as he gave Jacob a long hug.
This hug was comforting and Joe held him for a good minute before he finally wriggled away.
When he did, he brushed a single tear out of Jacob’s eye and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Jacob was so nervous, he was shaking.
“I think I need my bird.”
25
Espresso.
“It’s a beautiful day isn’t it?” Teddy asked.
“It’s fine.” Jacob said as Joe was waiting in line for some coffees. Jacob
didn’t really need to drink another one, but it gave him the chance to talk
to Teddy without looking too suspicious.
“Look, I’m worried that Joe had something to do with Tic.” Teddy looked at him with a strange fire burning in his bird eyes. Jacob
hadn’t explicitly stated this before but the feeling had been nagging at
him. Joe’s aversion to finding Tic, and the strange way he’d acted at the
bar was concerning and Jacob couldn’t shake that something felt off. “Like an affair?!” Teddy exclaimed.
“What? No! Like, I’m worried he Templared him or something. Is that
a thing? Do you think he could have done something bad to Tic?” Jacob
whispered.
Teddy waited a long time before answering.
“No.”
“Really?” Jacob asked.
“No! I don’t know! He’s a man! He’s a human! Humans are weird and
they do stupid things all the time!” Teddy cawed with his wings flared up
to emphasize his point.
“He’s not crazy!” Jacob exclaimed.
“He likes you!”
“We don’t know that!” Jacob snapped feeling the bitterness of the
words in his mouth. “I just… I have a bad feeling. And it’s not going away.” “Try adding more fibre to your diet. I hear that helps.” Teddy shrugged. “It’s not like that.” Jacob sighed.
“Oh really? Because it certainly sounds like you are full of shit!” Teddy
cawed. “How long can this last? Really? How long do you expect this whole
debacle to continue?”
“I don’t know!” Jacob exclaimed. “Just a bit longer? I guess?” “But let’s not forget about the other one.” Teddy sighed. “Have you
seen or heard from Thomas at all?”
“I haven’t. Not since the bar at least. Maybe it’s for the best.” Jacob
frowned. He walked to a bench and collapsed. He placed his head on his
hands and exhaled a long deep breath. “I don’t know what I’m doing
Teddy.”
“I am aware. I am very, very aware.” Teddy whispered as he nuzzled
into Jacob’s arm. “You stupid human.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be my guide into all this or something?” “I don’t know!” Teddy exclaimed. “I’m a bird! I’m a fucking bird!
You’re a boy witch with a power I only heard rumours about! Do you really
expect me to know what I’m doing? I’m as confused by all this as you are!” “You are?” Jacob tensed. “How are you confused?”
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Teddy responded. “Tell me something- exactly how many witches have you helped before
me?” Jacob frowned.
“Many. Lots.” Teddy shrugged. “A couple.”
“How many, Teddy?”
“Tons! Like… three.” Teddy finally mumbled.
“Three?!” Jacob said.
“Well two and a half.” Teddy shrugged.
“How… how do you get a half?”
“Well they started out as one but when you’re cut in two-” Teddy
trailed off. “Oh come now, don’t look at me like that! I said I was new at
this!”
“How new is new?”
“Well, fairly new. The others died.”
“They did?” Jacob frowned at Teddy.
“Of course. Where do you think the companions come from?” “I don’t know Teddy! I’m kind of new to all this in case you hadn’t
noticed.” He clenched his teeth. “How long have you been doing this for?
Really?”
“Like… a few months?” Teddy shrugged. “It’s not a big deal.” “You lost three witches in a couple months?”
“Look, it’s not my fault. They just did stupid things and a couple deaths
but-” Teddy stopped talking. “Huh. I guess I’m not very good at this.” “I don’t know what to say.” Jacob sighed.
“You’re not going to be next you know.” Teddy responded. “I don’t know Teddy. I’m flirting with disaster here.” Jacob sighed.
“I’ve been flinging magic around like it’s nothing and now-” “Hey, it’ll be okay. Promise.” Teddy smiled as best he could with his
beak. “I mean, I hope it’ll be okay. My track record isn’t great but you’re
the first witch I’ve actually cared about. You’re nothing like Horseface and
Whatstheirname. You’re special.”
“I think I should be flattered.”
“Look dummy, we’re a team. I got you. We’ll get through this.” “I appreciate that Teddy.” Jacob and Teddy almost had a moment of
friendship when he felt a hand on his shoulder. There he saw Joe holding
up their iced coffees and smiled.
“Hey sailor.” Joe responded.
“Hey- sorry- I just-”
“I get it.” Joe pointed to the empty space beside Jacob on the bench.
“This spot taken?”
“Only by my very, very silly bird.” Jacob couldn’t be sure, but he swore
Teddy flipped him off.
“Well make some space between you and your bird. I’m coming in.” Joe
shuffled in, although Teddy didn’t appear too happy at having to move. “Silly primates.” Teddy squawked. “When you need me, I’ll be over
here dying on the inside.” With a huff, he let out a yawn and nestled into
himself for a nap.
For a moment, it was just them on the bench. Joe slung his arm around
the back as they had a sip of their coffees. They marvelled at how blue it
was. In many ways this was a perfect day. The air smelled like summer
with hints of flowers and concrete on the breeze. If his insides weren’t a
ball of anxiety he probably would have enjoyed it.
With a yawn, he rested his head back feeling Joe’s arm around him.
With a quick scooch, he sidled a bit closer to Joe and relaxed into him. He
could feel his heat and right now, it made his entire stomach heavy and
tired. What was he doing? What was happening here- really? Did he
actually trust Joe or was this whole thing a giant mistake?
“Joe- if I did something terrible? Would you forgive me?” Jacob asked.
As he asked, Joe gently sat up, removed his arm and instead grabbed
Jacob’s hand.
“Where’s this coming from?” Joe looked at him concerned. “Just a question.”
“What did you do? Kill someone?” Joe chuckled.
“No. Nothing that bad.”
“Oh come now. I’ve killed people before. It can’t be as bad as that
right?” Joe replied.
“You what?” Jacob asked.
“I’m joking.” Joe said with a laugh. Jacob could feel his hands shaking,
which Joe noticed. He squeezed hold of Jacob and once again tried to wrap
himself around him. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you upset.” “I’m not upset I just-” Jacob began but quickly lost his words. “Okay,
I’m upset but I don’t know what to do about things.”
“Is this about your friend?” Joe asked.
“Of sorts.” Jacob responded. It wasn’t not about Tic at least. “You shouldn’t worry about that. I’m sure he’s okay.” Joe said. He
sounded so sure that Jacob couldn’t help but think he knew something. “You don’t know that.” Jacob said. He gripped Joe’s hand tighter,
fearing the worst. What if he did know more about that? How much did he
actually know? How much did Joe know? And if he did, what was he
holding back on?
Why hadn’t Joe told him about the Templarness? Why hadn’t he come
clean? What did he know about Tic and what was going on?
More questions bubbled in his brain. What was he thinking? He could
break the spell and be fine… But why didn’t he want to? He couldn’t handle
the thought that all of this would have been for nothing. That his dream
man could just be an illusion he created himself to make his own life easier. “Do you even exist?” Jacob asked finally.
“Last I checked the answer was yes.” Joe laughed before trying to cheer
Jacob up with a squeeze. “What’s going on? What awful thing could you
have done that I’d never forgive you for?”
“I don’t want to say. I don’t even want to think about it. I don’t want
to think about losing you.”
“You’re not going to lose me.” Joe said, giving him a gentle kiss on his
forehead.
“You don’t know that. What I say might be pretty awful.” “Most things you say are pretty awful.” Joe took Jacob’s hand and
pressed it to his lips. “But whatever it is I’m sure I’ll be here to support
you.”
“I really want to believe that.” Jacob responded. “I really do.” “When you’re ready to tell me the awful thing you did, I’ll be here ready
to listen.”
“Thanks.” Jacob said.
“Now come on. Let’s get out of the sun. You’re starting to burn.” Joe
pointed to Jacob’s forehead as proof.
“I’m a Canadian. I burn in a fridge.”
“Well, let’s get you somewhere safe then.”
“Anywhere in mind?” Jacob asked.
“I think I’ll let you choose.” Joe smiled.
“You sure?”
“Of course. I chose last time. Let’s follow your heart this time.” “Okay… I mean there is someplace I’d like to go.” Jacob said. “If it’s
not too nerdy of course.”
“I’ll follow you.”
26
Romano.
Some might consider it an unconventional choice, but to Jacob, this felt like nostalgia.
The fish store in the mall felt like something out of the nineties.
The bright blue walls that lined the dozens of aquariums that all smelled uniquely fishy.
The lights shone just a bit too bright to be comfortable.
The hundreds of fish that lined the aisles that were squished way too close together. To him, it was perfect.
Currently Jacob was looking into a tank that had a variety of hermit crabs. If he squinted, he was convinced one of them was waving at him. Joe was currently marveling at something Jacob couldn’t see.
“What do you think this one is? It’s swimming all funny.” Joe asked, and Jacob peeked his head over to take a look.
“Dead.” Jacob responded.
“Oh. That makes sense.” Joe said. “Are you wanting to buy some new fish? Or… maybe just a snack for Teddy?”