Learn To Lie (BOOK TWO)

CHAPTER THREE- Untrusted Drinks (MIC'S PERSPECTIVE)

T/W: EXCESSIVE DRINKING, SLIGHT MENTIONS OF ALCOHOL ABUSE. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK !!

Taco was talking to the receptionist when I walked into the main desk's room.
"Yeah, I'm really trying to help him. I think we're getting better!"
She noticed me and smiled. "Mic! What took you so long?"
I stayed silent. Grabbing her hand, I wordlessly dragged her out of the main room. She waved to the receptionist and followed me.
"Love, are you okay? You're worrying me."
I ignored her and shoved her into our car. "I need to tell you something."
I got in the driver's seat and sped away.
On the way home, I explained my interaction with Pickle. Taco listened intently, her face becoming more and more disturbed. Once I was finished, she nodded. "I-... I don't know what to say, Mic. We can't fix him. I don't want to go back if he really said all that to you."
I nodded wordlessly.
We pulled up into the driveway of Hotel OJ and I got out. I waited for Taco and we walked into the hotel.
I tossed my keys to Paper and led Taco to the elevator.
"Mic, if you need to talk about it.."
I wanted to but I couldn't find the words. "I.."
As much as Taco waited for me to respond, I couldn't. I just stayed silent as we rode the elevator to our hotel room.
The elevator dinged and I waited impatiently for the doors to open.
"Microphone, you-"
The doors opened and I dragged her out.
"Mic! Just- tell me what you want, tell me what's going on!"
I shook my head and responded. "Not here."
I eyed our door gratefully and fumbled with the keys. Eventually, getting overwhelmingly angry, I kicked the door down.
Boom.
"Micro-"
I stumbled into the room, almost tripping over the door that was now on the ground. "I'm tired," I grumbled, yawning.
Taco grabbed my hand, and yelled, "You NEED to talk to me! It's not my fault Pickle said any of that to you, so if you're ignoring me because of him I might as well leave!"
I whipped around, fixing her with the coldest glare I could muster due to my exhaustion. "Who said I was blaming you, who said I was ignoring you?! You think everything's about you, Taco! You think that I have to give you an answer all the time, constantly! You're such a narcissist! Why can't you give me space?!" I screamed at her.
The look on her face is what told me I'd messed up. I pushed past her and walked to the elevator, leaving her behind.
"Mic, wait!-"
I ignored her and pressed the button to go to floor one. The last thing I saw was her face, distraught, as the others on the floor walked out to see what'd happened, their confused expressions morphing into surprise once they saw the door.

~~~~~~~~~

The elevator dinged and I walked out of the door, numb. I couldn't feel much at that point, so I went to the place I always avoided.
The bar.
OJ was managing it, the drowsy look on his face changing when he saw me. "Microphone? You never come here, did something happen?"
I sat on one of the booths and looked up. "No. Just came here to think.. and..."
I saw the alcohol bottles behind him. He glanced back to see what I was looking at and froze.
"Are you looking at the... beer bottles?" he asked nervously. "I thought you didn't like it when Taco drinks, much less drink yourself."
I narrowed my eyes and cast my gaze on the bar. "What's the strongest?" I asked.
He sighed and looked worriedly at me before saying, "Then Moonshine, I guess."
I studied the ground and whispered, "Get me a glass."
He poured some and looked at me again. "If you need to talk.."
I nodded and smiled. "Thanks, OJ."
Shaking, I brought the glass to my lips and took a sip. Ew. It was gross.
I took another sip, just wanting to drown out my thoughts. I took another, then another. I lost count soon enough.
At this point glasses surrounded me. Since I didn't drink much, it didn't take long for me to become blackout drunk.
I was telling story after story to OJ. I could tell he was getting worried, but I didn't care. I was numb.
"L-Like, what did he have the right to say? He was in jail, OJ! I-I'm not taking that kind of assault from s-someone who had been locked in jail for l-life!" I declared, raising my voice.
I couldn't remember what time it was when Taco stepped into the bar. "Hey, OJ, have you-"
She saw me and froze. "...Are you kidding me?"
I jolted and looked back, smiling awkwardly. "M-My love!-"
She ran up to me and smacked a glass of Moonshine out of my hand. "What is your problem?!"
I fell silent, looking at the floor. She continued.
"We're going back to the apartment, now. No more drinking for you, this is like, your 20th glass."
"Why don't you trust me?" I muttered, stumbling to get off the stool. She looked back.
"Because you plus alcohol isn't good for me. It isn't good for you."
I scoffed and waved bye to OJ before walking off with Taco, complaining.
She sighed and glanced back at me. "Microphone, you're acting like a child-"
I scowled and cut her off. "So what? You act like a kid all the time. I just want to be me."
"You just want to be drunk."
"I just want to have freedom!"
Bursting in tears, I ran away from her, towards the exit. She ran after me, calling out my name. I ignored her and ran faster, sprinting into the darkness of the night.
I knew where I was going. The only place I felt welcome. The only place that felt like I was needed.
I was going to the woods where Taco and I met.