Learn To Lie (BOOK TWO)

CHAPTER FOUR- Drunken Sorrows (TACO'S PERSPECTIVE, MIC'S PERSPECTIVE)

I watched Mic run out of the hotel in drunk tears. I called and ran after her, but I lost sight in the dark.
"Mic!-" I called one last time before being cut off by choked sobs. "Mic.."
OJ and Knife ran up to me, asking me what had happened, but I couldn't speak. I tried to, but my throat seemed to be clogged with tears. I just pointed to the darkness, only able to choke out one word: "Mic!-"
OJ stayed with me while Knife gathered a search party. Trying to talk through my tears, I told OJ about our door and he said he'd fix it. Knife returned to us, followed by Paper, Test Tube, and Lightbulb.
"Don't worry, Taco," Lightbulb murmured gently. "We'll find her."
And they left, leaving me and OJ in worried silence.
Eventually, OJ asked, "Why do you care about her so much?"
I looked at him in surprise. He continued.
"You never cared about Pickle as you do her.. why?"
I flinched at the mention of Pickle's name and breathed in, ready to answer. "I... I don't know. I think it's because it was the first time someone had seen me as something other than stupid or toxic. I'm changing, I promise you that. I don't deny what happened before. Or even in season two.." I shuddered and went on. "I can't change the past. I can only change the future. And I intend to make it healthy and good for us."
OJ went quiet and nodded.
We waited in anxious silence. Soon enough, he got up and went to sit on the couch, leaving me to sit there alone.

*MIC'S PERSPECTIVE*

I kept running in drunken sorrow until I tripped over a root and faceplanted into the dirt.
"Ow.." I grumbled as I sat up. I rubbed my face and looked up. I was greeted with where I wanted to go.
The place we met.
The moonlight shone through the trees, gently enticing me to sit down. I rose up and walked forward, feeling like I was in a trance.
"It's beautiful.." I murmured as I stumbled into the clearing.
The stumps we'd sat on as we drank tea were still there, eroded with time. I smiled at the memory of our meeting for the first time. My consciousness started to slip away as I remembered.
I was ranting in my diary when it happened. I know, a diary is stupid, but it was the only way to keep track of my time there— and to keep track of how I was feeling. I'd been struggling with my emotions then.
"Hey, maybe I would complain some more, but why would you care?! You're a book!" I'd yelled, throwing the diary into the bushes behind me and sighing angrily.
Silence followed as I contemplated getting the book until I heard something. Rustling in the bushes.
A voice had spoken. "Dear Mic's Diary, today I lost in the triathlon. I hope no one holds it against me."
I'd jolted and froze, glancing back to make sure I wasn't hearing things. I'd heard a page flip and the voice continued.
"Dear Mic's Diary, I don't always do well in challenges, but they have to understand I sometimes pull through."
I'd started to panic, slowly turning around. Had one of the contestants found my diary?
"Dear Mic's Diary," the voice had continued, cold happiness in its voice. "I may be loud, but I still go under the radar."
The voice, sounding bored, rambled on. "Dear Mic's Diary, Dear Mic's Diary, Dear Mic's Diary.."
I'd begun to cry, silent tears forming in my eyes as I tried to hold them back.
"Annoying. Harmful. Random. Useless. Insignificant. Loser!" the voice had taunted me.
"Stop! What do you want?" I'd cried, unable to hold the tears back.
"All I want.."
"Is to help!"
I shot up to hear voices not far away. I guess I'd fallen asleep because it was dawn.
I groaned softly and put my palm to my head. "What's going on...?" I muttered, struggling to stand.
When I finally got my legs stable, I analyzed last night's events.
The fight with Taco, my drinking session... Did I drink? I couldn't recall. Judging by the headache I had, it was likely. I remembered walking to the bar and nothing after.
"Oh, Mic, what did you do?" I murmured, leaning against a tree. The voices were getting louder, and I was arguing with myself whether they were even real at this point.
Suddenly, Paper burst through the undergrowth. "Stupid vines, I-"
He saw me and froze. "Mic?"
I stayed silent.
"Oh my God, you're okay! Guys, I found her!"
He turned to what looked like a group of people. Knife, Test Tube, and Lightbulb rushed into the clearing and I looked away. "Ruining my time alone."
Knife glared at me. "Taco was worried about you. What happened?"
I looked up and sighed. "I just.. have a lot on my mind, okay?"
Concern briefly flashed in his eyes before turning back to subtle anger. "You had nearly the entire hotel looking for you after you broke down your door last night."
"I did that?"
"Yeah. And you're gonna have to pay for it."
I groaned and got off the tree. "Well, let's go."
I wonder how mad Taco's gonna be..?

WHOOOO TWO CHAPTERS IN ONE NIGHT ??? IM SLAYING WHATTTTTTT (A/N)