Shadows (Patrick Kane)

(9) Mixed Drinks

Patrick

After Sophie's brother Henry got drafted second overall by the Bears I could tell she was upset. Her whole demeanor changed and I felt bad. Usually she is bubbly and always smiling but now her eyes are dark and her shoulders hang low. She had nothing against her brother, she was proud of him and excited that he gets a chance at the pros. But she changes the subject every time it's brought up and her bright brown eyes got darker at the mention of the situation. So to take the edge off before she meets my family this weekend I offer to take her out for drinks.

I meet up with Sophia at a bar like I did most nights nowadays. Both of us were well aware that this wasn't going to solve our respective problems but neither of us were willing to try something else. So to get away for a little and just hang out we meet up with some friends to have a good night.

"Next bar" Sophia yells as we walk out of the third bar of the night. I think we over stayed our welcome at this particular bar anyway.

"Last one" I beg as she starts to pout. I was in the middle of playoffs after all, this is far from where I should be but at this point it's kind of expected. I'm still playing good so no one can complain. Just as long as my dad doesn't find out I should be fine.

"Oh come on! Don't be a buzz kill" she pleads.

"Hey, I have a reputation to try and save and practice in the morning. I might not care a lot about what happens to me but I still care" I remind her.

"Ugh, fine. But you're buying drinks the rest of the night then" she says.

"Deal" I smirk.

So we grab our friends and waltz into the new club then straight to the bar. She orders her drinks and I happily pay for them knowing that it'll put a smile on her face. If I didn't buy her the drinks some other guy was gonna buy them anyway.

We dance for a little and like always she makes some new friends. Not everyone in a bar is awful, and the girls always seems to stick together, with good reason. And while I wasn't over protective of Sophie and not letting her have fun with the people around her, I know how guys think. And I know someone like her had to be extra careful.

"Hey Patsy" she starts and I roll my eyes. She always calls me that when she's drunk and I hated it. But she will never know that. "Can you watch my drink while I go to the bathroom" she asks.

"Of course" I smile.

She hands me the drink and I hold it with mine. She takes off and I wait patiently for her to come back.

"Yo! Patrick" someone says and I turn around. I see one of the guys we met here tonight standing behind me so I turn around to address him.

"Hey Ian, what's up" I wonder. I didn't know much about him but he seems like a lot of fun.

"Is that Sophias drink" he says pointing to her mixed drink in my hand. She got one of the girly ones so it definitely isn't mine.

I look at her glass then back up to Ian as he waits for me to answer. "It is" I say almost like a question.

"Can I see it? I was... gonna go refill it for her before she gets back" he tries as he fiddles with something in his front jean pocket. His hand makes a fist around whatever he grabs and he doesn't move like he was trying to hide it. I look at him weird because her drink was almost full and she didn't need it refilled.

"Oh, I can do that" I say not really trusting him. He didn't seem like the guy to drug someone's drink but those are usually the ones to do it.

"Wait-" he tries. "I can handle it. I promise I won't spill."

"No, I got it. She asked me to hold the drink so I can handle it" I stand my ground.

"Just-" he continues.

"I'm not giving you the drink Ian" I yell.

He stands there staring at me as I stare right back. He takes something from his hand and slips it into his back pocket. I only imagine that's what he intended putting in her drink I just know it doesn't belong in her system. When she ordered a mixed drink she never wanted it mixed with whatever that is.

He doesn't say a word as he walks away. Sophia comes back out and takes her drink from me.

"Thank you" she smiles.

"I think we should go" I tell her. I wasn't sure if Ian would come back and try again when I didn't have her drink or buy her a new one with something in it. She was drunk enough for her to fall for his tricks and she likes to blindly trust people for whatever reason. I didn't feel safe staying here knowing what just happened.

"Oh poo, I was just starting to have fun" she whines.

"You are meeting my family this weekend so I think you should get some water and some rest" I suggest.

"Yay! I get to watch hockey" she asks.

"If you let me take you home" I try.

"Ugh... fine. Carry me" she insists as her arms raise above her head. If she's not careful her top is going to come up too far and we are going to have a interesting conversation with my parents on why her boobs were on Twitter.

So I turn around and she hops on my back. I walk out to my car and open the passenger side so she can get in. She slumps into the seat before looking up at me.

"You're so good to me" she slurs.

"I just want you to be safe" I insist.

"Safe? Why wouldn't I be safe" she questions oh so innocently. If only she knew.

"We can discuss this tomorrow when you're... better. Right now I gotta get you home" I insist.

"Okie dokie" she smiles as I smile back.

I drive her home and drop her off inside. We grab her a glass of water and change of clothes before I get her in bed. She wiggles under the blankets and I chuckle. She was so cute when she's drunk.

"I'm so happy that you're my friend" she mumbles.

"And why is that" I wonder.

"Because I don't feel like anyone in this life understands what I feel. No one understands why I am the way I am but you... do. And I am so happy that you're a part of my life and you don't look at me like the Elway who is useless. You don't think I'm a waste of space. Even when I feel like I am you take it all away and I'm happy we're friends" she claims.

I lean over and softly kiss her forehead. I'm not not even sure if she knew what she was saying but I believed every word of it. I know she struggles with the things she can't say unless she is drunk off her ass. And I'm happy we're friends too.