Evie sat down on the bed defeated. She couldn't find her stupid sketchbook. She looked around the old hangout from so many years ago. Evie glanced across the giant room one more time before getting up and heading out.
She had idea where the book she wanted was. She assumed drug fueled Evie had taken it somewhere but sober Evie couldn't figure it out. Her levels of frustration were rising. Between fighting with Mal and not being able to find what she needed, Evie just felt defeated.
Evie had made it to the bottom of the staircase when a shorter woman with hot pink hair approached her.
"Evie!" The woman exclaimed.
"Um, hi?" Evie replied. She had no idea who this woman was but she looked slightly familiar.
"You have no idea who I am, do you?" The mystery woman asked, getting far to close for Evie's liking.
"I'm sorry, no," Evie said, taking a couple steps backward.
"My name is Hadley and you should ask your precious little girlfriend about me," Hadley raised one eyebrow, a smug look creeping across her face.
Evie rolled her eyes and started walking away before turning back around "let me guess, another girl Mal used to sleep with?"
"Mal really hasn't told you about me?" Hadley asked again.
"No, and I'm bored with this conversation now so either tell me who you are or leave." Evie was seriously irritated with this woman.
"I think I'm going to continue to let you think I'm one of the many, many women that Mal has slept with. It's more entertaining for me." Hadley replied, smirking.
'Many women?' Evie thought. 'How many had there been?' "Well I'm not going to stick around to entertain you so bye." Evie turned to walk away.
"Have a good day, Evie," Hadley grinned.
Evie didn't have the time or patience for this woman. Of course Mal had slept with her. That was obvious. Evie just wished she had known.
—-
By the time Evie got back home, she had decided to let the situation go. There was no need to fight even more with Mal. Unfortunately the second she walked through the door, the words spilled out. "How many girls have you slept with?"
Mal whipped her head around, "excuse me?"
"You heard me. How many?" Evie demanded. She was so tired of Mal's silent treatment since the hospital.
"A few." Mal said, shrugging before walking off into the bedroom.
"Don't walk away from me, Mal." Evie warned, following after her.
"Or what, Evie? You'll slice and dice yourself again?" Mal whipped around? "I don't have the energy for this right now, okay?"
Evie felt like she had been slapped. "Excuse me?"
Mal closed her eyes for a moment and took a breath. "I'm sorry, E. I didn't mean that. I just...I have a lot on my mind. I'm sorry. I'm frustrated and upset and tired and I'm sorry."
Evie chewed the inside of her mouth, hurt by Mal's words. "Why are you upset and frustrated?"
"I know you cut the other night because we had sex. It's the only logical reason. It's the only thing that happened that could've triggered you to hurt yourself. And that upsets me. I feel guilty." Mal pushed past Evie and walked into her daughter's room. She started going through the drawers, pulling out the clothes that were too small. Evie walked into the room and Mal could feel her presence but she didn't turn to face her.
"Mal..." Evie said quietly. "You are not the reason I hurt myself. You are the reason I am alive. You're the reason I'm sober. You are not the reason my brain is fucked up. I went from a very bad, very destructive life to a safe one literally overnight. Some things take time to rewire."
Mal turned around and looked into those deep caramel eyes that were brimming with tears. "I'm sorry, E." Mal pulled her girlfriend into a hug and held her close. "I love you."
"I love you too, Mal." Evie told her, melting into her arms.
They broke apart after a few moments. Mal spoke first "so who was this girl who claimed I slept with her anyway?" Mal asked, turning back around to the pile of clothes she collected.
Evie started making Macie's bed. "Hadley, I think." She shrugged.
Mal dropped the clothes she had. "Excuse me?"
"Hadley?" Evie repeated. "Bright pink hair, a little taller than you, a little shorter than me. Bright blue eyes."
"Yeah I know who she is. Are you positive it was Hadley you spoke to?" Mal asked again.
"Yeah. Why? Did you sleep with her?"
Mal shook her head violently. "Definitely not. Never."
Evie laughed, "why not? I mean she is clearly beautiful."
"She's Hades daughter," Mal said dryly.
"She can't be Hades daughter. Your Hades daughter. That would make her your sist-." Evie stopped at the realization.
Mal nodded.
Evie exploded. "You have a sister and you never told me!?"
"Whoa! Calm down, E." Mal raised her hands up, "I don't like Hadley and I don't spend time with her. I try to pretend she doesn't exist, honestly."
"Where has she been our whole lives? How could I possible have not known about her? Who is her mom?" Evie's head was swirling with questions.
"She is older than us. She has gotten is a lot of trouble in her life. So much so that even the Isle authority has told her to leave before. As far as I know she was on some of the outer lying islands for a while. Honestly, I don't keep up with her. Hades doesn't either. I only leaned she was back a few days ago from Uma."
Mal sat down on the toddler bed next to Evie, "as far as her mom goes, I'm honestly not sure. I've asked Hades a few times over the years and he has given me different answers every time. He told me Cruella once which entertained me a little that she could be Carlos' sister. Ursula, Medusa, Queen of Hearts, Gothel, Yzma...the list goes on and on. Hell he even once said the mom could be...well...your mom." Mal laughed a little.
Evie glared at her. "We could be sisters? You and I?"
Mal laughed even harder, "Baby, you and I aren't sisters. Even if we are both related to Hadley."
"This isn't funny, Mal!" Evie was not amused by this. She was freaking out.
"Look, no one knows who Hadley's mom is. She was dropped off at Hades when she was born with a note saying that she was his. That's all that is known. It's not like there is DNA testing on the Isle. As far as I know, Hadley didn't want to know anyway. She started causing seriously trouble when she was a preteen. About the time you and I were 5 or 6. Which is why you don't know her and why I barely know her. When she is around, she enjoys making my life hell. Which naturally entertains Uma to no end."
Evie rolled her eyes. She hated when she was reminded of the past relationship of Uma and Mal.
"Look, I will deal with Hadley. I don't know how but I will. Uma said she is causing problems on the Isle again."
"Do you talk to Uma a lot?" Evie ask quietly?
"I really, really don't." Mal promised her.
Evie nodded.
"I have to get to work. Are you okay with getting Macie from school?" Mal asked.
"Of course," Evie told her. "Have a good shift." Evie leaned over and kissed Mal. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
