A Tall Cup Of Joe (Season of the Witch #1)

Proof

Irish Coffee.

As they headed back down to the dancefloor Jacob was stopped by a hand on his arm. As Serena disappeared back into the crowds, he turned to see Tic standing there with a devious smile.

“Oh hello there sailor.” Tic said with a salute.

“Tic! What are you doing here?” Jacob exclaimed as he wrapped Tic up in a hug.

“I’m a hairstylist at the gay bar. I’m here for the drama obviously.” He said with a smirk. “Are you here with your little friend?”

“I am. He’s on the dance floor waiting for me!”

“Well, let me be introduced.” Tic said with a smile. “Come now, don’t leave me out in the cold. I want to know everything.”

“I’ll tell you everything I swear. I just want to-” Jacob began, but was halted by Tic.

“Hold up- There’s something about you.” Tic looked at him sideways for a moment. “You’ve got a glow about you. Why do you have a glow about you?”

“Because- I mean no real reason.” Jacob shrugged. Tic rolled his eyes.

“You’re meddling aren’t you? You’re doing a meddle.” Tic pointed at him.

“I am not!” Jacob thought about it for a moment. “Okay fine. Maybe I’m meddling. Is that so bad?”

“Yes. Meddling is always bad.” Tic leaned in closer. “But tell me- what did you do?”

“At this point- I think I may have gone a little overboard.” Jacob whispered to himself.

“Well don’t do that!” Tic exclaimed. “Each time you use your magic you make yourself a little more obvious to any dark forces around you.”

“Dark forces?”

“Yes!” He exclaimed. “Forces like witch hunters, templars, republicans!”

“Witch hunters actually exist?”

“Of course.” Tic frowned. “My magic isn’t even that strong and I still need to keep it in check. I use it sparingly. Wait- How much have you been using?”

“Oh… just a few Brewcasts… Nothing too much. Just a couple… today.”

“A couple everyday?!” Tic exclaimed. “And your Familiar has let you?”

“Yeah…” Jacob responded. “I’m starting to suspect he’s not a very good teacher.”

“I’d say you’re right about that!” Tic laughed. “Just be careful. Now you know why I try to keep such a low profile!”

“I just figured you weren’t very strong or powerful.” Jacob shrugged. Tic frowned harder.

“How dare you read me so accurately.” Tic brushed his hands through his hair and grabbed his drink. “Come, let’s go meet your man.”

They quickly made their way to the dancefloor where Serena now appeared to be unhinging her jaw to consume Garret’s entire face. She was doing a pretty good job of it too.

Jacob had never considered Garret in this way before. He had to admit there was a handsome grumpy quality to him. In the light of the bar some might even consider him handsome. Serena was certainly having no complaints as they compared oesophaguses.

Jacob slung his hand around Joe who embraced him in a warm hug and planted a kiss on his lips. After a moment they separated and Tic stepped in to be introduced.

“Tic, meet Joe.” Jacob finally said after catching his breath.

“Oh my. Hello Joe.” he said, extending his hand which Joe took and kissed in a very gentlemanly way. Jacob hadn’t seen Joe’s suave side yet, but with this he had no complaints.

“A pleasure.” Joe said. “How do you know Jacob?”

“He’s on my trivia team.” Jacob responded. “He’s very good.”

“Oh please- this is the one with a mind for music. They never bring up fashion questions enough. That’s where I thrive.” Tic responded. “It comes up often enough.” Jacob began.

“I appreciate you trying to defend me but you’re the smart one. I mean for a big stupid man at least. He’s the one who should go on that game show. The one with the lights?” Tic responded.

“I just know a couple things. It’s nothing big.” Jacob felt himself flush.

“No, I think it’s very impressive.” Joe said, giving Jacob a kiss on the forehead.

“Can we talk about something else?” Jacob looked at Joe to see a strange look flash over him. Joe began to sniff the air as if he had just caught a whiff of something foul. Jacob did a quick once over to make sure it wasn’t him.

“Do you smell that?” Joe asked.

“If it’s the straight couple then yes I can!” Tic yelled at the two of them. “That smell is everywhere else in the world, it doesn’t need to be here too!” Serena flipped him off briefly before returning to her important CPR training.

“No, it’s something different.” Joe said, his eyes flickering. He began to look around and turned his attention to Tic. “Something very different. Are you wearing a cologne or something?”

“That’s just me baby.” Tic laughed slightly. “Okay, maybe a little bitsy spray. I just enjoy the scent.”

“Yeah. I recognize it.” Joe said. “But I can’t tell from where.” Jacob could feel an awkwardness settle over the three of them. There was a chill coming off Joe that felt threatening.

“Should we dance?” Jacob finally asked.

“In a moment.” Joe leaned over to Tic and sniffed, before turning his attention to Jacob’s hair and sniffing it. “I just needed to confirm something.”

There was something in the way Joe said it that was very different from the ways he’d spoken until then. It sounded cold and strange- very unlike the lovey attitude he’d had just moments before.

“Do you do his hair?” Joe asked.

“I do indeed. I mean what’s left of it.” Tic chuckled trying to break tension. But Joe was still acting off.

“I thought so.” Joe responded.

“Well, I don’t think we need to dwell on that any longer! Let’s go dance- I’ll see you soon Tic!” Jacob said.

“Yes we will.” Joe said. His eyes never left Tic as they narrowed slightly.

Feeling an awkwardness in the air, Jacob quickly got in the middle of Joe and Tic and after blowing a quick friendly kiss to Tic, he walked back into the crowd with Joe close behind him.

“What was that?” Jacob asked.

“I just-” Joe shook his head. His vision seemed to snap back into focus. He looked at Jacob and his expression began to soften. After a moment, he wiped his eyes and exhaled.

“Are you okay?” Jacob asked.

“Yeah, I just felt something. I don’t know- I could sense something or whatever. There’s a thick energy here. It’s a lot.”

“Would you like to head off?” Jacob asked.

“No. I’m fine. There’s just something about Tic that seems… off.” Joe responded with a smile as a spot of blood dropped from his nose.

“Oh my god!” Jacob exclaimed.

“What is it?” Joe asked as Jacob motioned for him to wipe his nose. “Oh shit.”

“You okay?!” Jacob asked.

“Yeah- nothing that would kill me, just a nosebleed.” Joe shrugged as he pinched his nose. “I have to go to the bar anyway. I’ll grab a napkin and meet you there when you’re done.”

“Okay… Sure… Let me head to the bathroom then and I’ll meet you at the bar.” Jacob responded. “Are you sure you don’t need anything?”

“I already have everything I need right here.” Joe said, poking Jacob in the sternum. “And maybe another drink, but let me grab us some while I’m at the bar.”

“Okay… If you insist.” Jacob responded.

“I do. Just don’t have too much fun in there.” Joe responded. Jacob chuckled as they parted ways and rushed to the washroom.

17

Corretto.

The washroom was dark but shockingly not crowded. Of course there was a small group of partiers in the first stall, and likely a couple in the third stall, but the urinals were deserted. After he was done, he went to wash his hands when he looked up to see a familiar and unexpected face.

“Thomas?” Jacob asked. He was dressed unlike he had ever seen him before. For someone so normally awkward and mismatched he was wearing a form fitting, perfectly coordinated outfit. If Jacob didn’t know better he’d swear he looked… homosexual?

“Hey! I saw that you were in here so I figured I’d come in and join you.”

Thomas smiled. It felt awkward.

“You- how did you know I was here?” Jacob asked.

“It’s on your phone.” Thomas shook his head with a low chuckle.

“What do you think of my outfit?”

“It’s… very tight.” Jacob responded. “What are you doing here Thomas?

This isn’t exactly your kind of scene.”

“Why? Because it’s gay?” He sneered.

“Exactly.”

“Well… I guess I just wanted to fit in.” Thomas responded. “Do you

think I look good?”

“I mean… you look…” Jacob took it all in. It was a very tight outfit. “It’s

a very tight outfit Thomas.”

“I know. Breathing is hard.” He said as he tried to catch his breath.

“Look- Jacob- I’m actually here for you.”

“What do you mean?” Jacob could feel the hairs on his neck stand up. “I mean I’m here for you.” Thomas responded. “I love you Jacob.” “I- What?” Jacob blinked.

“I mean we’ve been friends for so long and now we’re both in the same

place. I’m wearing this and I wanted- no I needed to tell you- I love you.

I want to be with you!” Jacob stumbled back.

“Thomas… you’re straight!” Jacob responded.

“I’m flexible. Apparently.” Thomas responded excitedly. “I don’t know.

I tried your coffee and now - I don’t know. Everything feels like it’s on

fire.”

“There’s ointments for that.” Jacob quipped.

“No Jacob. I need you. I want you. I have to have you.” Thomas grabbed

Jacob by the arms- hard. The grip was so sudden that Jacob was caught off

guard and he was pushed into the wall behind him barely missing the

mirrors and sink. With a brutish force Thomas roughly kissed him by

sticking his tongue down Jacob’s throat. If this was how he kissed, maybe

there was a reason all those women broke up with him. Jacob struggled for

a moment but managed to push Thomas off. He wiped his mouth as he

coughed.

“Stop! What?!” Jacob felt sick. “What do you think you’re doing?!” “I can’t- I need you Jacob. I’d do anything for you.” Thomas’ eyes had

grown wild and desperate. Jacob didn’t like this. He backed towards the

door.

“Well- don’t! I- I need air.” Jacob spat. With a quick turn he tried to

leave when Thomas reached out and grabbed his hand a bit too tightly. “You don’t want to leave me Jacob. You want to be with me. You want

to stay with me.” His eyes were wild.

“Let me go Thomas!” Jacob ordered.

“But Jacob- please.”

“Let me go or I’ll never see you again!” Jacob snapped. Thomas