Suffocate Me

The band piled into the buse’s “living room” along with Jon and the bus driver, Erin. Our general tour manager, Jon, was counting heads when a tall man strolled onto the bus. Citrus wafted off him naturally and his brown hair was tied back in a man bun. His hazel eyes were slanted and thin as he scanned the crowded living room. “Regards” was written in delicate cursive along his neck and a few other tattoos peaked out from his plaid button up.

“Okay, so let’s get this over with,” Jon said,”I have to go home for about a week.”

Ashley, C.C. and I all exchanged glances since this was odd. Since the old days of war paint and warp tour, Jon had always been with us during tour. Sometimes he was our manager and sometimes he was just hired hand, but regardless he was always with the band.

“Something happen?” Jinx asked, voicing everyone’s question

“Kind of, I have some family stuff to do,” Jon said, nodding absently. “While I’m gone, Job will be filling in for me. It won’t be too bad, he’s handsome enough for the role of manager and he’s got the right kind of name!”

The citrus man laughed and bumped at Jon’s shoulder.

“But not as handsome as this devil.” he joked in a very raspy voice, his index finger stretched out towards Jon.

Jon returned the shoulder bump and beamed a bit at his friend. As they were sharing a bro moment, Olivia leaned over into me and whispered something. I couldn’t hear, so I tapped at my ear for her to whisper again.

“Job’s a bit odd.” she said, her eyes not leaving the man.

I couldn’t help agreeing with her and nodded to confirm I thought the same thing.

For lack of a better word, Job had something following him. I couldn’t tell if it was his atmosphere, karma or energy, but it put me off. Although I trusted my instincts I also trusted people in general, especially good friends of good friends. Jon looked like he trusted Job and I trusted Jon, so for now, Job was good in my book.

That didn’t mean I wasn’t going to keep an eye on him. I had my mate to protect now and I wasn’t going to let any funny business slip past my nose.

“So,” Job suddenly said, clapping his hands and facing us,”my only request is ya’ll don’t injure yourselves while I’m in charge, so to speak.”

A big old grin was on his face and he generally looked like he wanted to have fun. Job’s eyes were the only thing that kept me aware because they didn’t show any real emotion. They were blank.

The way he said ‘I’m in charge’ was also kind of off-putting, I thought.

Despite my feelings, the evening passed quickly after that.

John left for his home and before he left, he told me and C.C. that his mother had suffered a serious heart attack. She was fine, but his whole family was shaken up so he decided to drop by for a bit. We understood and sent him on his way.

Job, not to be confused with Jon, had gone on back to the staff bus, but not before mingling for a bit. I noticed that he avoided eye contact with Olivia, but I just took it as him being shy. Olivia was beautiful, there was no reason not to be shy around her.

Before getting back on the bus for the night, I called Olivia outside. We still had some unfinished business and while my chest hurt from forcing Juliet away so suddenly, I was eager to claim Olivia. Job being shy around her had only furthered my wants.

I took up a smoke as I waited outside, listening to the murmur of the night time venue. Every here and there I could hear giddy voices and the clinking of booze, but most was quiet. Frogs croaked from the nearby drains that lined the lot where all the buses were parked. Now and then I could pick up the quick squeaks of a bat. All was at peace.

“Andy?”

Notes

Meet Job, not to be confused with Jon, the temporary manager!