the fourth drink instinct [lily]

[milo martin]

Milo was quickly slipping into some sort of hell.

Ever since he and Ronnie had had that knock-down drag-out fight a week ago, he had steered clear of all things Sighted South. He didn't set foot near their caravan or merch tables; if they were performing, he was as far away as he could get. As if he didn't have enough issues with that particular band...

Ronnie wouldn't let Katherine out of his sight, that's for sure. Milo could never get a chance to even get close to her to offer a sincere apology. Not that Milo would ever cross Ronnie's path ever again, that is.

And he was sorry. The fight had not only left him with a busted lip, a black eye and a blossoming bruise on his right cheekbone, but he also suffered from a broken heart. He wanted to take everything back and put it all behind them and gather Kat in his arms and kiss her and make everything better.

But he couldn't do that. So he went out drinking instead. At every stop, instead of finding the closest Starbuck's so he could get his mocha latte fix, he was scouting out the nearest bar to drown his sorrows.

He sat in the dim light of a bar in Cleaveland, smoking a rare clove cigarette and staring into the cloudy cranberry liquid in the squat tumbler that sat before him on the bar.

"Bartender?" Milo said in a small voice. "A little more vodka in my Slammer, please..."

"Coming right up."

[lily mitchells]

Lily was bored...in between between cities sure she'd sit inside the Sighted South bus drawing to keep her sanity but she had to get out. She wasn't in the mood for random flirting with guys from the other bands. Yeah, that was always fun but it would get slightly boring. She decided maybe she'd go for a walk. Maybe even for a drink?

Lily walked into the bar hoping for some sort of entertainment? As she approached the bar she spotted a familiar form. Milo.

She had seen Milo around and even though he distanced himself after their last heated encounter some months ago, that she initiated...not to mention the ever constant rivalry between her band and Scheduled Nurse, she still had some desire for him. How could she not? Just just look at the boy. He was fucking hot!

She sidled up to the bar and sat at a bar stool, one stool separating them. The bartender gave her a smile and a nod.

"Long Island," she said.

"Sure thing."

She glanced to her left side and gave a smirk. "Milo," she said simply.

[milo martin]

The bartender splashed a little more vodka into Milo's tumbler. Milo murmured a thanks and then brought the glass to his mouth, the alcohol burning his busted lip, which was crusted over with dried blood. It was the toughest place to heal, because whenever he yawned or talked, the cut split open again and again. He was constantly dabbing at it with his sleeve.

He flickered his tongue over the cut, tasting the tangy cranberry juice, the sharp vodka and the coppery blood all at once. He dove in for another sip, closing his eyes and relishing it. He heard someone enter the bar and order a Long Island iced tea. He glanced out of the corner of his eye. fuck. Fuuuuuuuuuck.

Lily Mitchells of Sighted South.

He prayed that she wouldn't see him, but damned if she had to plop down right on the stool about two feet away from him. She spoke his name.

fuck!

"...Lily," he replied dryly. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" He took another pull of his Alabama Slammer.

[lily mitchells]

The bartender prepared Lily's Long Island iced tea adding plenty of ice to keep it chilled, setting it down in front of her.

"Thanks," she said with a flirtatious smile. The bartender gave her a grin showing off some gritty-looking teeth causing her to cringe. Lily nodded with a smirk. She took a sip from her drink, licking her lips after she did looking at Milo as she did. She couldn't resist.

"Just decided to get a drink. Nothing to do back at my caravan," she answered with a flirtatious smile. Should I? Hmmm... "And fancy seeing you here." She took another sip from her drink enjoying the sweet and cold liquid going down her throat smoothly.

[milo martin]

Milo rolled his eyes. She was going to try to start with him, but he wasn't going to let her win. He hoped the lighting of the bar was dark enough that she wouldn't notice that he looked like he'd been thrown under a bus.

"Well, you know what they say," he replied, keeping sarcasting tone. "The bird never flies far from the nest. Or some shit like that."

He put his glass down and took a drag off of his clove cigarette. He didn't really smoke - only every so often, and only cloves. But the stress he had been feeling lately, between the tour and his tumultuous relationship with Katherine, definitely called for a drink and a cigarette.

He watched Lily flirt with the bartender slightly. The girl just didn't quit.

"Nothing to do in your caravan? What, no couches needed humping? Couldn't find a broomstick to occupy your time for an hour or two?" Milo narrowed his eyes slightly. Oh yeah, he was feeling malicious.

[lily mitchells]

Lily gave him an incredulous look and rolled her eyes taking another sip from her drink. "Ouch..." she winced. "That hurts Milo. None of those are satisfying enough anyway...I prefer something more..." she trailed looking up. "...along the lines of the real deal. A certain guy perhaps." She gave him a smirk.

She wasn't going to let his foul attitude or mood get the best of her. She always got what she wanted. She was in the mood for a little game. She was going to try even if he resisted, she would persist.

The bartender kept eying her but even she...was not that desperate. She just gave him a slight nod.

[milo martin]

Milo's stomach lurched. The thought of sleeping with Lily ... again ... was wholly undesireable, especially when he was still in love with Kat.

"Come off it," Milo said sharply. "Just because I fucked you once - months ago, I might add - does not mean I'm going to do it again. At all. Okay?" He felt a trickle coming from his mouth and dabbed at it with his sleeve. Good thing the thermal he was wearing was black. The blood wouldn't show. The sting of the vodka seeped into the wound on his mouth, making his eyes water just in the slightest. He took another sip of his drink, gritting his teeth against the pain. He swallowed without even tasting it.

"Why don't you go find another drunk asshole who's down on his luck and make him happy for fifteen minutes? It's a better use of your time, anyway."

He was planning on getting completely wasted, which was something he hadn't done in months. He knew Alex would be disappointed, and Amy too - but right now, he could have cared less. All he wanted was Katherine back. And since that didn't look like that was going to happen anytime soon, he might as well get piss drunk.

[lily mitchells]

Lily bit her bottom lip and sighed. "Oh no no...I rather use my time on this drunken asshole. He's much more sexy and far more appealing," she said inching herself closer to Milo.

Lily was always determined and when she needed her wants and desires to be met and satisfied, she always won. She was not going to give up that easily. Not surrendering that quickly. She was going to keep her eye on the prize. And this prize was surely delicious.

"I can really make it worth your while," she said as she scooted herself onto the other bar stool. She took long sip from her drink. "Mmmm...yummy," she purred.

[milo martin]

"Lily, seriously - keep your distance, okay? I'm really not in the mood," Milo didn't even look at her. He finished his Alabama Slammer, swallowing quickly. He could hold his liquor pretty well, but if she didn't move away from him soon, he was going to lose it all over the bar. "I'm really not in the mood," he repeated. He swiped at his bleeding lip with his sleeve yet again and sighed into his glass tumbler. He picked a piece of ice from the glass and began to chew on it, trying to suck every last bit of alcohol from it.

"Why am I so fucking appealing to you?" Milo shot at her as she seductively licked her lips in an attempt to entice him. "Seriously. Go find a horny fanboy or something. I've had enough dealings with your fucking band. I don't need anymore Sighted South drama."

[lily mitchells]

Lily sipped the last of her drink and looked at Milo. "You just are," she said looking at him seductively. "And I don't want any drama either." She inched closer to his ear. "Just you," she purred. She signaled the bartender over for another Long Island to which he came right over taking her glass and prepared her drink again.

The bartender placed her drink down in front of Lily and she took a sip. "I come in peace," she said to Milo stroking his arm with her finger. Did like Lily a challenge? Oh yeah, she did.

[milo martin]

Milo quickly jerked his arm away from Lily and backed away from her, sliding off his barstool. "You know what, I think we're done here." He reached into his back pocket for his money clip, peeled off a twenty and dropped it on the bar. "I came here for some peace and quiet and vodka, and I only got one out of the three here." He tucked the money clip back into his pocket.

"The last thing I need is the Sighted South slut coming onto me while I'm having an emotional breakdown. Here," Milo reached into his other pocket and pulled out a quarter. He flicked it in Lily's direction. "Call someone who gives a shit about you. I'm out."

[lily mitchells]

Lily got up from the bar stool flabbergasted at Milo's reaction and outburst. She looked down at the quarter that he had flicked in her direction and now landed on the floor spinning first and settling. "Well, fuck you then!" Lily exclaimed. "I don't need some fucking drunk!" she glared. She was defeated and it stung hard. She took out a ten and a five from her messenger bag placing it on the bar. She gulped down her drink quickly, the alcohol stinging a bit down her throat. She set the glass down hard on the bar surprised it did not shatter from her force.

She stormed over to Milo and looked at him contemplating whether or not to kiss him. She was pissed but still wanted him. In the light she then noticed his bruises, swollen lip, and dried blood that was now dampened by his drink.

[milo martin]

"Good, fine, great," Milo snapped at her, barely noticing that the bartender was eyeing them warily, wondering whether or not to call the cops. "I don't need this from you."

He watched her angrily down her drink - not a smart choice in his opinion, she'd be feeling the effects of that later - and gather up her belongings. Then she stopped dead in her tracks, staring at him.

"What?" Milo shot. "I'm not an animal in the zoo, quit staring at me, alright?" He turned on his heels and stalked out of the bar, into the warming air of early springtime. It was seven o'clock at night, but the sky was only just now changing colors. Milo only wore a thermal and some jeans, no jacket.

[lily mitchells]

As Milo walked out of the bar, Lily stood there like a deer caught in headlights. She sighed to herself. Great...just fucking great...I think I am just going to give up. I'm a Sighted South girl and wants to do with me or my friends. Maybe I should start looking for something real and not a random hook or the quick fuck?

She looked at the bartender and shrugged biting her bottom lip. "I'm sorry about," she said in a small voice.

The bartender shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Happens all the time."

"See ya," she said as she walked out the door. There was a slight chill in the air and all she was wearing was a thin black hoodie zipped halfway that exposed her light pink sheer tank top underneath and jeans. Milo was walking ahead and she sighed. She continued walking straight her head downcast.

I'm not going to even bother. The guy hates me. What the fuck happened to his face though?

[milo martin]

Stupid Lily. Stupid fucking whore. Who the fuck does she think she is?

With his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans, Milo headed back to the festival grounds. He was just going to hole himself up in the caravan until the next show, and completely shut everyone else out, even Amy and Alex. With every step, Milo could hear the blood beating in his ears. He could hear the sound of his Converse sneakers hitting the sidewalk. He could hear...someone following him?

He glanced over his shoulder and glared. WHAT THE fuck?! Why was she following him?! This wasn't fucking fair. It was a fucking shell game now.

"You're wasting your time," he called to her without looking at her. "You're not gonna get me to fuck you, Lily, so stop fucking following me."