“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 onthe 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.”
