23) c l a i m e d

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The brunette, who rushed to squeeze Miles into an embrace, had to be Daisy, since she had the only unfamiliar face in the group of four waiting for them at the entrance of the bar.

"Hi, I'm Daisy." She greeted Ash next and instead of a handshake, she hugged him like an old friend. Ash was conflicted by the bang of jealousy in his chest, which he knew to be unjustified, and an instant liking for her kindness. She, just like Miles, was a picture of complaisance.

"Ash." Ash gave her a small nod after they had parted from the hug. He was uncertain of how to behave around her, knowing more about her than he gave out, just like Daisy probably knew more about him than she let on. 

Ash turned his focus to his other friends, realizing Miles had already gone and introduced himself to Javier Muños, his girlfriend Mia and Mia's friend Nevaeh. 

"We should get in. You must be freezing." Daisy suggested, her gaze lingering on Mia and Nevaeh.

Despite the chilly weather, Mia was wearing a crop top, which revealed her tattooed tummy, under a leather jacket. Nevaeh wasn't doing much better in her mini skirt and a jacket made of sheer material. At least Javier Muños had his signature beanie and a thick flannel shirt under his jacket.

"I don't care how drunk you get me, I'm not going to sing." He blurted out in a blunt manner, when they entered the bar, and stomped to the bar counter. Miles and Daisy looked at Ash with raised brows. Ash shrugged, trying to signal that it was just Javier Muños being Javier Muños.

Ash wondered if he should have warned Miles about him, or that Mia was his complete opposite in every possible way. Mia was one to drink even all the guys under the table and she could party all night if it came to that. But then again, Miles knew his way around people and he could hold his liquor better than most.

"I'll get us something to drink." Miles informed Ash and rushed after Javier Muños before Ash could object. 

They were still working on the who-buys-who-and-what dilemma, but there were times when Ash rather let Miles have his way. After all, Miles wasn't paying for Ash to show off, but to make sure Ash wouldn't miss out because he couldn't afford something.

Ash reassured himself he was doing his part by paying for the meals they prepared together. Maybe those didn’t cost as much, but they fed them all the same. Besides, it was good for Miles to have something other than pizza or Chinese for change.

Mia, Nevaeh and Daisy led Ash to a vacant table with a direct vision to the stage, where some older man in a leather vest was already hollering into the microphone. The song was Hurt by Johnny Cash, and although Ash liked the original piece, he wasn't all so sure about this version of it.

Javier Muños slammed two drinks on the table, managing to spill some of the dark liquid. While Miles took the seat next to Ash and handed him a beer, Mia poured generously from her flask in her and her boyfriend's glass and then tucked it back in her inner pocket. Both Miles and Daisy seemed fascinated by this, like they had never seen anyone sneaking their own alcohol to a bar.

The ambience of the bar was cozy and relaxed. It wasn't all bright lights and shouting at each other in order to be heard over the music, like in FAB. It was black leather couches you could sink in, dim lights and a mixture of various colognes, perfumes and alcohol in the air.

Nevaeh had a deep, mellifluous voice, which she wasn't afraid of using, and she disappeared to the stage frequently. Mia rapped one song, then sinking back on her seat exhausted and swearing she was never going to sing again. Javier Muños, just like he had promised, didn't sing. Whereas Miles and Daisy hadn't so much as mentioned getting on the stage, even though Daisy had asked them there and Miles had sworn to love singing. 

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