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When Maggie agrees to go for drinks with OA and Scola, it’s with the understanding that she won’t be able to stay for long, though she doesn’t detail why when asked. She knows the two of them will only be insufferable if they find out she has plans with Isobel later – mocking her would be a great distraction after the day they’ve had.
The case itself was tricky enough, but it was only worsened by the presence of some BAU agent who couldn’t have been more of an inconvenience even if she’d tried. She was inexperienced, unprofessional, and more than a little rude when Maggie had made an effort to be nice to her. She certainly didn’t bother a second time. It’s not entirely unsurprising, then, that said agent is immediately the topic of conversation.
Evidently, they’re all glad to see the back of her. Maggie might be a risk taker, but she’s never put herself in serious danger just for the sake of it – certainly not for self-gain. She can’t imagine working with someone like that every day, inclined to agree with OA’s remark about her belonging in the basement when there’s no doubt she isn’t fit for field work, at least not without considerably more experience.
By the time they're finishing their first set of drinks, the topic of conversation has at least moved on – mostly to prodding Scola about his lack of a work partner again. He’s very visibly recoiling at OA’s suggestion of Jubal when Maggie checks her watch and realizes she's been underestimating the time. “Hey, I’ve only got time for one more,” she tells them, pushing her empty glass towards OA’s. “Then I’ve gotta go meet Isobel at the theater.” She realizes a second too late that she wasn’t meant to tell them that last part, immediately freezing.
“Since when do you like the theater?” OA asks, giving her an incredulous look. That’s about as far removed as anything can get from what he knows Maggie enjoys. It’s a pain in the ass trying to get her to even sit still at her desk, let alone in a crowded theater for several hours.
“Since she found out Isobel does,” Scola answers from his other side, before Maggie can think of anything non-incriminating to say. She immediately leans forward against the bar to scowl at him around OA’s frame.
“Watch yourself, Scola,” she warns darkly, knowing he’s just waiting to make another comment as soon as she elaborates any further. He somehow manages to be even more obnoxious about this subject than OA, as if it didn’t take him three times as long to catch on. “Her friend gave her the tickets, and she invited me.” She never had a hope of saying no – not that she’d ever want to. Isobel’s shyness when asking had been endearing, and Maggie was happy for any excuse to spend time with her. Not that she’d ever admit it to these two idiots, but she’d gladly listen to Isobel read the dictionary.
“So, the definition of a date,” OA points out, right on cue. Maggie can’t entirely say she didn’t see that coming – after all, it’s exactly why she was trying to keep it a secret. It’s rare that OA ignores an opportunity to tease her about Isobel. Trying to deny how she feels about her has never worked on him – he knows her too well to believe it.
She sighs, part of her regretting the decision to come with them. “I really should’ve just gone straight home to get changed,” she mutters, already exasperated. She would’ve been ready earlier than needed, but it would’ve been preferable to this.
“Oh, you’re gonna get dressed up for her?” Scola taunts, in a tone that’s deliberately trying to get under her skin. Clearly her earlier warning was for nothing, and the amusement of winding her up outweighs the risk of her kicking his ass one way or another.
Maggie immediately glares at them both. “You two need to kill yourselves,” she retorts, only for them to almost predictably snort with laughter. She huffs in annoyance, staring daggers at the surface of the bar instead. It’s not often that their teasing bothers her so much, but given her slight anxiety over tonight, it’s hitting more of a nerve than usual and only making her feel worse. This is definitely the last time she agrees to drink with them for the foreseeable future.
“Notice how you haven’t denied any of it,” OA notes, still grinning in amusement. Not that either of them would believe her even if she tried, which is most likely why she hasn’t bothered – that and it wouldn’t be truthful anyway. Maggie’s crush on Isobel is as certain as the sun rising in the morning.
“You wanna sleep with her so bad it makes you look stupid,” Scola adds, resting his arm on the bar, as if he wasn’t single for most of the time Maggie’s known him or completely pathetic about Nina. If she looks stupid over Isobel, then he was the dumbest person alive by comparison.
“I hope your kid keeps you awake every night until he’s three,” she snaps before she can say something far harsher.
“And I hope you have to watch Isobel kiss a man,” he fires back, draining the rest of his drink. Whether it’s the alcohol, the sleep deprivation, or his general obliviousness – maybe all three – Scola doesn’t seem to realize he’s pushed his luck too far. Maggie immediately tenses, enough that even OA notices, expression falling, but she speaks before he can make any attempt to deescalate things or change the subject.
At the very least, she doesn’t verbally eviscerate him on the spot like OA is expecting. “I won’t have to if I kiss her first,” she counters, as if she might actually make that be the case. It would certainly be overdue progress for her when the last time OA suggested she make a move, she mumbled some excuse and shied away from the idea.
“Do it,” Scola dares, leaning his weight against the bar as he looks across at her. “You won’t.”
“Yeah?” Maggie says, almost making OA jump when she abruptly gets to her feet. Screw staying for another drink. She’s going to dress to the nines and kiss Isobel in the bright glow of the theater district, and Scola can choke on those words. “Watch me.” She doesn’t say anything else, still glaring as she turns and walks out on them.
“Fifty bucks says she doesn’t do it,” Scola offers after a moment of silence, motioning for the bartender to refill his glass, but OA saw the angry look of determination in Maggie’s eyes. He thinks she might actually go through with it.
“You’re on,” he decides, turning back to the bar. He’s not a gambling man, but this is one bet that almost seems easy – Maggie will finally get to be with Isobel, and he’ll be $50 richer.
Win-win.