Mal didn't really want to go to the Isle. Especially not at 3am. She didn't rush to get there and found her self stepping off the bridge much sooner than she had hoped. There was a different feeling to the Isle now that the barrier had been broken. It was still a seedier place but without the constant cloud hanging over, it had lightened a little.
The blonde had no idea where to even start. The only places open at this time would be bars and Tramaine's. She certainly had no desire to see the that particular Lady so she headed off to the strip that housed the bars.
The best thing about the Isle was the size. It was only a few blocks until she reached the street she was looking for. 10 or so bars lined the streets, all in competition with each other to serve the best (and strongest) alcoholic concoctions.
Mal walked along the street, heading to the one bar she frequented as a teen, hoping Hadley had the same taste as she did. On the way she passed The Big Bad Wolf Tavern, Hearts Liquor and Beer, Frollo's Froyo (the only thing on the street that wasn't a bar but did sell alcoholic treats) and Shere Khan's Bar and Grill.
She finally stopped in front of the one place she was looking for. Snake Eyes Cocktails and More. It had been her favorite bar when she was younger. They never asked for ID (not that anyone cared if they did) and they served her all time favorite drink: Oogie Boogie's Goo. She had never asked what was in it but it was delicious. A little sweet, a little tart and completely tasty.
Mal pushed open the door and walked through the hallway that opened up to the main bar. She glanced around, looking for the one person who she needed. Mal didn't see her but walked up and sat down at the bar anyway. She quickly ordered her drink and picked up her phone. No new messages to hint where on the Isle Hadley was. Moments later the drink was placed in front of her. She looked at it for a while, debating her continued spiral into non sobriety and then took her first sip. It was as good as she remembered. Better even since she hadn't drank in a long time. Aside from her shot of tequila the night before, it had been years.
"Well if it isn't little Maley," a voice rang out from behind her. Mal tensed up, recognizing the voice before she even turned around.
"There you are, Hadley. It figures we would have the same taste in dives." Mal smirked.
Hadley smirked right back at her sister, "I never come to this dump. I just heard you were here so I came to find you."
Mal took a deep breath in before letting it out once more, "what exactly is it that you want from me, sis?" She said the last word as if it was dripping with poison.
"Mostly? To fuck with you." Hadley laughed at herself.
Mal finished her drink and ordered another. Dealing with Hadley would require a lot of alcohol.
"So you came all the way to fuck with me? That's your master plan? Literally just mess with your sister?" Mal arches her eyebrow.
Hadley laughed once again, "of course not."
"Any chance you can go home and leave me alone? Mal asked, fully aware of what the answer would be.
"That's really not going to happen." Hadley looked over at the bartender and raised her hand, silently ordering some shots. "How about we do some tequila shots?"
"I can't, I'm sober," Mal's words trailed off as she remembered that she had destroyed all her hard work.
"You're drinking..." Hadley said.
Mal chewed on her lip for a moment, beginning to feel guilty about her trip to alcohol land. She wasn't going to let Hadley know that though. "I mean I'm still sober and not drunk yet and shouldn't get drunk because I have a daughter."
"How about, you take 5 shots and I'll tell you exactly while I'm here," Hadley handed Mal the first shot to down.
"Do you think if I get drunk, I won't remember what you tell me?" Mal asked.
"No, I just hate to do shots alone." Hadley grinned, throwing her first shot back and slamming the glass back down.
Mal rolled her eyes and downed the first shot. The tequila burned like it always did but she enjoyed the feeling it brought to her.
By the fourth shot and the two drinks she had before, Mal was feeling pretty tipsy. "One more," she slurred a little.
Hadley handed her the last shot and watched as she took it.
"Mal!" Both girls turned when they heard the yelling from across the room.
Uma walked up to them and immediately yanked the empty shotglass away. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Trying to figure out what Hadley is up to," Mal replied matter of factly.
"And you threw away your sobriety to do it?" Uma demanded.
"Sobriety?" Hadley asked.
"Yeah, she's been sober for over 3 years. Or at least she was." Uma pulled Mal up until she was standing next to her.
"Shut up, Uma. I was a drug addict not a drunk. It's different." Mal explained as her head spun.
"No, it's not." Uma told her. "What is wrong with you?"
"I didn't know but she was drinking before I found her," Hadley shrugged. "She's an adult and not my responsibility."
"Yeah because asking you to be any kind of big sister is just too much to ask from someone like you," Uma retorted, turning to leave. "Let's go Mal. I gotta get you home to Evie."
"She's supposed to tell me her plan!" Mal protested.
"She can tell you later. Goodbye, Hadley." Uma sneered, finally managing to get Mal to leave the bar.
—
Mal and Uma hadn't even made it to the bridge before Mal started yelling.
"What is wrong with you? Why did you stop her?" The blonde stumbled as the words left her. Everything was spinning. "I need to sit."
"Mal, does your sobriety mean nothing to you? What is going on with you?" Uma fired back as Mal collapsed to the ground.
"I was a drug addict! Not a drunk. I can drink." Mal spit.
"You and I both know they are connected. Over 3 years down the drain. What is Evie going to say? What is your daughter going to say?" Uma asked her, trying to calm the conversation from yelling.
"Don't bring Macie into this, Shrimpy!" Mal all by growled at her other woman.
"You've clearly lost your mind," Uma told her. "I need to get you home."
"I can get home myself. You're not my girlfriend." Mal attempted to push herself back up to the standing position, failing miserably.
"Fine. You want to destroy your life. You go right ahead. Goodbye Mal." Uma took one last look at the broken dragon before she turned around and walked off.
Mal had no idea how long she sat there. An hour? Maybe 2? Long enough for the world to settle itself again so she could stand without falling. She looked at her phone. It was 5:15 in the morning. The sun would be rising soon. Which meant Macie would wake up in the next hour or so.
Mal started making her way home again. She could feel the alcohol leaving her body and by the time she reached her apartment door, she was all but sober.
—
Evie woke with a start when she heard the bedroom door open. She looked over and saw a very ragged Mal entering the room. "Where have you been?" Evie could smell the tequila from where she sat.
"I went to find Hadley but Uma interrupted us." Mal headed to the bathroom to shower and brush her teeth before Evie figured out what she had been doing.
"You smell like tequila and cigarettes."
"Damn," Mal whispered under her breath. "Yeah I found Hadley in a bar. She spilt some of her drink on me."
"You're lying," Evie countered.
"I'm not. She was really drunk. I couldn't get anything out of her," Mal stripped down as she spoke from the bathroom.
"Come kiss me then," Evie challenged, knowing full well that Mal was lying.
"Baby, I really need to shower okay? I have to be at work in an hour." Mal tried. She knew she couldn't kiss Evie without her tasting the remaining alcohol.
"Right. Okay then," Evie said cautiously. "Enjoy your shower. Don't forget to brush your teeth so I can't taste the tequila."
Mal took a deep breath in before letting out a long sigh. She reached over and turned on the water in the shower and grabbed her toothbrush while it heated up. She brushed her teeth until she was completely certain all remnants of the evening were gone. She didn't really know why she was lying and hiding the fact that she had been drinking. Uma was bound to tell Evie anyway.
Evie sat on the bed as she listened to the water pour. She heard Mal brush her teeth for longer than was needed. That was more than enough proof that her girlfriend had been up to stuff she shouldn't. Evie felt stuck. Confronting Mal would most likely push her in the wrong direction but keeping it a secret that she knew and watching Mal spiral would eventually push Evie back to drugs.
She couldn't understand what happened. They had been happy. Mal was so proud of her sobriety. The blonde wasn't one to talk about her feelings though. So while Evie thought they were happy, Mal could have easily been thinking something else.
Evie heard the water shut off and moments later, Mal appeared wrapped in her towel. "I have to get ready for work. Will you drop Macie at daycare today?"
Evie nodded, "yeah, of course."
The room was silent as Mal changed into her scrubs, her head pounding from the shots she had taken so quickly.
"Are you going to NA tonight?" Evie asked.
Mal nodded, "yeah but the early meeting. I should be home earlier tonight."
"Good," Evie replied back. She didn't really know what to say.
"Okay, I'll see you later," Mal walked over and kissed Evie. "Give Macie a kiss from me."
"Will do. Bye," Evie waved as the door shut behind Mal. She took a deep breath to steady herself before laying back down. She had every intention of laying there until Macie appeared. There was no desire to start the day. It was already off to a shitty start.
—-
"She's lying to me, Diz." Evie sat on the couch of her pseudo sister.
"It's possible she was telling the truth. I mean Hadley seems like the type of person who would get drunk off tequila and spilling it," Dizzy shrugged. She placed her hands on her even growing bump.
"I don't know what to do," Evie felt a tear fall down her cheek.
"Talk to her. Or get Uma to talk to her. Then you don't have to be the bad guy." Dizzy suggested.
"Can we just change the subject? How's my handsome nephew growing?" Evie reached out and ran her fingers tips over Dizzy tiny bump.
"He's good. Growing like he should. In the perfect percentile for 28 weeks." Dizzy stood up to grab the latest sonogram off the fridge.
Evie took the pictures when she was offered them a moment later, "I can't wait to spoil him!"
"Do you think you and Mal will have kids?" Dizzy asked, returning to her spot next to Evie.
"We have a kid. Well she does," Evie told her.
"I mean together. One you guys have together," Dizzy tried again.
Evie was taken aback by the question. It certainly wasn't anything she had thought about. Her and Mal had only been together for a few months and the thought of having a baby was years off. "I...I don't know honestly. Macie is pretty great. I guess maybe, eventually, a sibling would be good. It's years off though, Dizzy."
Dizzy shrugged in response, "I just think a little Evie would be adorable."
The older woman just rolled her eyes, "how about you just grow that little man in there and let me worry about mini me?"
"I guess so," Dizzy laughed.
"I have to get going, kid. I need to pick up Macie from daycare," Evie said, standing up, with Dizzy following. "I love you."
The girls embraced in a hug for a few moments before pulling apart.
"I love you too," Dizzy smiled, "and talk to Mal okay?"
Evie nodded before turning and walking out the door.
