“Maybe just don’t have coffee in the evening?” Jacob asked.
“Look, I don’t tell you how to live your life-” Serena began.
“False.”
“So I don’t need your comments on mine.”
“Also false.”
“Look, what are you expecting here? I’m a straight woman. You’re a gay man. We have nothing in common.”
“That is the most false so far. By a lot.” he frowned at her. “I can confirm this. We share a Netflix.”
“The point is that I’m tired, and cranky, and while I appreciate the help, maybe I don’t need you helping me out with my love life.” Serena responded. “I’m happy right now. Really.”
“I mean fine, but I can help.” Jacob responded.
“I appreciate that- but right now all I really want is some rest.” She responded.
Then Jacob got an idea.
“Let me make you a drink. Something to help you get somerest?”
“How about tea?” She quipped. Jacob frowned to himself. Would it work with tea?
“Okay. Let me try.” Jacob formulated some ideas in his head. “Yeah. I think I can try it out.”
“Try what?” Serena asked.
“Oh nothing. Just going to work my magic.”
As he stood in front of the wall of tea he couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing. He had felt so confident less than ten minutes ago- and now?
“Will it even work with tea?” He whispered.
“I don’t know. Again- new territory. I know that some witches read tea leaves so I imagine it’ll be fine. What are you wanting to do?”
“I guess I want to give her something to help. Give her energy during the day, but then actually sleep and rest during the night.” He poured over the teas, getting a sense of them and what each of them offered.
To his surprise tea was more potent. He could get vague sensations pique at the back of his brain as he read some of the ingredients. Oh yeahthese should work nicely.
“What are you feeling?” Teddy asked.
“I don’t know. It’s like I can sense what they all should do. It’s like they’re all little Lego pieces and I’m just about to start snapping them together to make something…different. It’s like they all have a tangible quality to make something new.”
“So feel it out.” Teddy said.
Jacob nodded. He reached out his hand and felt it drawn to the ginger. He then grabbed some turmeric, and some pepper and added them to one tea bag. Then a little piece of licorice and an ice cube. He poured the water in and as he did, he felt something activate.
He had never felt this sensation before today, but now it seemedto feel as familiar as his own skin. He could sense how the blend would combine and feel what it would do. He somehow could understand the blend coming together. Whether it was him putting his own energy into it or something else, this was something new entirely- and he liked it.
When it was full, he blew on top of it as if that would magically do something. It didn’t- but it felt important.
“It’s ready I think.” Jacob displayed the cup proudly to Teddy who nodded his approval.
“Alright. So give it to her. And hopefully she doesn’t die.”
The last hours of the shift were always his favorite. Garret was headed home so it was when he and Serena could actually spend time together and goof off. There was enough work to keep busy, but not so much traffic that they couldn’t be social. This was the time they were able to laugh and discuss things like cute men, clothes and other stereotypical things that they knew were problematic and cliche, but also deliciously stupid.
