Meadow567: Lots of drama this chapter! Thanks for the review :)

Justlikewedo: Thanks for reviewing. I'm happy you were surprised lol, I tried not to make it OC because everyone was guessing him.

Vaughnloveralwaysandforev: Thanks for the review. I'm happy you like Annie! I've tried really hard to make her not a Mary Sue and I'm glad you like it.

Anna: Thanks for reviewing. There's lots of drama in this chapter :)

Bluehaven422: Thanks for the review. I'm glad you liked it, enjoy the drama lol.

AN: Hope you all like this chapter. I start school tomorrow so I'll be busy but I'm gonna try really hard to get up the next chapter by the weekend. The cliffy is a big one and I don't want you guys to wait too long. I owe you guys that much. I promised that I'd update a lot more than I have but this summer I have learned it's a lot more about the quality of the story and my writing than how many chapters there are. This chapter is drama but I had to throw one or two funny parts in it, you'll read on later. Anyways here it is, enjoy!

Chapter 25

A few days after Robbie and Annie spent the night together, Annie finally got out of school for Christmas break. She was so excited to finish up classes. She had some time to rest. Rachel left with some of her friends to go to Florida, leaving things with OC to be "on the rocks". As much as Annie hated school sometimes she would miss having Rachel to talk to in class. But they promised to sign up for all their classes together for the next semester.

Conway walked into the arena and passed by someone who was leaving. It was a boy and by the looks of it he was a hockey player. She had never seen him before and was really confused. Annie turned to give him a second look and saw that he was checking her out. She blushed and then walked quickly to the locker room.

"...That's my point." she heard Jimmy say as she entered the locker room.

"What's your point?" Annie asked.

The guys all looked up at her. They didn't even notice her enter. They all looked a little pissed off and worried. But most of all they looked scared. With a hockey player she never saw before leaving the locker room and those faces, something must be going on.

"Hey," she said a little awkwardly, "I saw some guy leaving when I came in. Do any of you know him?"

"His name is Tim Harrer. He's a Gopher," Ramsey told her.

"We're you guys practicing with them today?" Annie asked.

"No," Jimmy shook his head, "He's going out for the team now."

Annie didn't ask anymore. Another player going for it means two more are going to get cut. This was really bad.

Harrer being added really got everyone worried. Herb was riding their asses everyday in practice and this just made it worse. He was especially tough on Rizzo. He couldn't get the net, but he wasn't a bad player. Annie had known him for a couple of years and he's a really nice guy and a good leader, maybe that's what Herb saw in him when he made the cut in Colorado.

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"We have to do something," OC said.

After a home game some of them decided to go out to Mario's afterwards. OC, Annie, Rizzo, Mark, and to everyone's surprise he asked Mac to come too.

"He's messing everything up," Mac agreed.

"We should talk to Herb or something," Rizzo thought aloud.

"We should do it soon, before he cuts anyone," Mark told them.

"Bah told me that he was having a big year. He's a pretty good looking skater too. How are you guys gonna present this to Herb?" Annie asked.

"Well we're better looking skaters than him," Robbie got a bit defensive.

Mark quietly laughed at Mac's jealousy and Rizzo laughed too, but he thought it was because the way he exclaimed it was funny.

"It's too late to talk to Herb tonight," OC said.

"We should talk to him while we're in Milwaukee," Rizzo suggested.

"Why aren't you coming with us, Conway?" Mark asked, "Aren't you out on break?"

Annie nodded, "Yeah but I gotta work tomorrow night. Gotta save up money for Christmas presents."

"Still coming to Fargo with us?" OC asked.

"Wouldn't miss it," she grinned.

The boys left for Milwaukee the next morning and won the game against the IHL All Stars. Like they planned Rizzo, Mac, OC, and Mark talked to Herb about Harrer. Herb listened to them and decided to cut him from the line up, but reminded them that he needed to cut one more player. OC called Annie to tell her the news but she didn't pick up, probably because she was working. Mac called too a little later but there was still no answer. She must be working a double shift tonight.

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They came back the next day but didn't have practice. OC called Annie to ask her to come out with the team but she didn't answer. OC didn't worry though. She was probably busy with the final moving arrangements or visiting her grandfather in the nursing home. Besides she needed some rest after a long couple of months so he decided to call her another time.

The following day the team had practice. After showering off, Annie came in, a little later than usual.

"Hey," some of the guys greeted her. They were in a lot better spirits since Tim left.

"Hey," she greeted them quietly back, giving a half smile.

"Tim's gone," OC said happily.

"That's good," Annie nodded.

For the most part Annie was quiet as she helped some of the guys out. She was acting really different from her normally talkative self. Mac saw this but didn't know what to do. After some of the guys left Mac spoke up.

"So Conway," he was used to saying Annie by now, "Fargo tomorrow. You excited?"

He knew how excited she was about Fargo, God knows why. But maybe that would cheer her up.

"No," she answered, "I'm not going."

"Why not?" Mac was shocked. Everybody was. They knew how excited she was. "You've been planning this for weeks."

"Well plans change, MAC!" she said coldly, especially when she said Mac. She was practically mocking him when saying that since he asked her to call him Robbie.

By this time she was done helping out the guys and just stormed out of the locker room. None of the guys could believe that just happened. Her bad mood came out of no where.

"What was that about?" Mark asked.

"I have no idea," Mac replied.

"Well plans change, MAC!" Verchota mimicked in an odd shrilly girl voice. He and Silk laughed but some of the others weren't so amused.

"I'll talk to her later," OC said, "She's probably pissed because she's forced to work or something."

Mac was sorta pissed. She embarrassed him in front of everybody when he was just trying to help her feel better. Now he was sorta glad she wasn't going to Fargo. If she was in a pissy mood, he didn't want to deal with her.

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"Hey, we need to talk," OC said to his best friend.

He went to the bar before everybody else to find out what was up with Conway and maybe even cool her down a bit.

"Yeah, well, I'm working," she said coolly.

"Hey Joe!" OC shouted to her boss, "She's taking her fifteen minutes."

"OC what the-" her best friend cut him off.

"Come on," he took her arm and pulled her to the back where employees were only allowed.

"What's your problem, Jack?" she wasn't happy.

"Me? What's your problem? You exploded today after practice..." OC pointed out.

"I'm not in a good mood..."

"Why? Because you can't go to Fargo. Big deal! You miss one game, you've missed plenty already. Besides you said you needed the money..."

"NO OC! It's nothing you would understand!"

"What is it your grandfather?" he asked then he paused and slowly asked "Do you have your "lady parts problem"?"

"OH MY GOD!" she couldn't believe he actually said those words, "Get out of here right now!"

"Ok I'm your best friend I've been dealing with this since you first got it. I get it. Hopefully you'll be fine and it stops by the time we get back."

"Get out now!"she said, still in shock of what he said.

"Later," he nodded as he left her sight.

"Perfect," she sighed in frustration, "Now what?"

Annie went back to work. She was so pissed at OC right now for saying that. He was so awkward about it too. Like he would know! Luckily the guys were going to Fargo the next day. She couldn't deal with them after that.

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Annie wiped down the bar as she looked up at the clock. The guys were going to come by soon. They arrived back earlier in the day but Herb held a practice so they didn't have too much time for a rest. Hopefully they didn't come during her shift. She was still mad that she didn't go to Fargo but she couldn't, she was working and had so much on her plate.

Luckily she only had a half an hour left on her shift. She continued wiping down the surface when someone called out to her.

"Hey barmaid, can you serve me now?"

Annie looked up. She didn't realize that a new person came over. She already served everyone else who was sitting there.

"I'm sorry," the waitress apologized, "How can I help you?"

"Banana daiquiri," the girl ordered, "And make is snappy."

Annie rolled her eyes. She hated annoying customers like that. She just made it with a smile on her face. She was certainly no mood to start anything tonight.

"Here you go," Annie gave her the drink, "That will be three fifty."

The girl gave her a five and sighed, "Give me the change."

Annie reluctantly gave her back her change.

'What a bitch! Couldn't give me the change as a tip,' Annie thought to herself.

"Do you know Rob McClanahan?" the girl asked.

"Yeah," Annie nodded. She was a little confused.

"Well I'm his girlfriend, Jamie. Do you know when he's gonna come in?" the girl asked.

So that was Jamie. She wasn't going out with Mac, well not anymore. They broke up a long time before he got together with Annie. OC slept with her and said she was sorta annoying. If that was how she acted all the time Annie felt bad that Mac put up with it for so long.

"Robbie's a friend of mine and I know that you guys aren't dating anymore. In fact he hates your guts. So how about you do everyone a favor and get out," Annie was starting to get a bit defensive. She already has had a bad week, and this made it even worse.

"I know about you. You're Annie Conway, right?" the girl asked in a cool tone.

Annie nodded. She didn't know how she knew about her at all.

"Andrew told me about you. He said that you were hot. I always knew he had bad taste," Jamie said.

"Well I guess that explains why he went out with you," Annie retaliated.

"At least I get guys. You're just that lumberjack looking tomboy that everyone thinks is a really a man."

Jamie laughed and began to walk away when Annie spoke up.

"Jamie," she said angrily.

"What," Jamie turned around.

"You forgot your change," she yelled as she hit her in the face as hard as she could with the tray.

Jamie was knocked down and had a bloody nose. She got up and ran out of the restaurant crying. When someone was sad Annie was sympathetic, but this time. This time she was happy that she did that. Didn't feel bad at all. And that scared her.

"ANNIE!"

Annie turned around to see her boss. At this point a lot of the bar was caught up in the commotion. Several of her friends on the wait staff were shocked by what just happened.

"MY OFFICE! NOW!"

Her boss walked out of the bar area into the back and Annie followed him. They went into his office and he slammed the door shut.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?!"

"She deserved it!"

"SHE'S A CUSTOMER. IF SHE ACTS LIKE AN ASS JUST DEAL WITH IT. THAT'S YOUR JOB! WE'D BE LUCKY TO GOD IF WE DON'T GET A LAWSUIT!"

"WELL I'M NOT SORRY!" Annie exclaimed.

"Well then, honey, you're fired. Pick up your last pay check in the morning. I just want you out of my site!"

"FINE BY ME!"

Annie angrily left the office and slammed the door. She left her apron on the counter of the bar and put her tips in her pockets. She then walked out of the place not saying goodbye to her coworker friends or giving anybody eye contact at all.

The red head walked out to her car and tried to get it to start, but it wouldn't go. She tried a few more times until she gave up all together.

"FUCK!" she screamed on the top of her lungs. She couldn't believe it, she just got fired. How was she going to get money now? The only reason she kept it was to repair this rinky dink piece of crap she called a car. But now what?

Thinking about this entire horrible week made Annie want to ball. It began with her getting her boyfriend mad at her, her awkward talk with OC, then not going to Fargo, and now getting fired.

'Merry Christmas to me' she thought. That's another thing she had to worry about, Christmas presents. Christmas was only about ten days away and she hadn't gotten anybody gifts.

Annie got out of the car. She didn't want to be anywhere near the bar right now and decided to walk home. She only got to the end of her parking space when Robbie and Mark were there, just arriving to the bar.

"Hey," she said coolly as she tried to pass them. She didn't want to talk to anyone on the team, especially Robbie.

Robbie grabbed her arm and gently moved her back towards him. He had somewhat forgiven her when she was in Fargo.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she said not too convincingly, "My car broke down so I'm walking home."

"Don't you still have some time on your shift?" her boyfriend asked.

"Well I don't have anymore shifts because I just got fired!" she yelled. It hadn't really sunk in yet until that moment.

"What!?!" Mark was the first to speak up this time, and he was shocked.

"What happened?" Robbie asked, a bit concerned.

"I don't wanna talk about it. I just wanna go home," she sighed.

"I'll drive you," Mac volunteered, "It's too cold to walk."

"Thanks," she said as she brushed past the two guys into the direction of Mac's car.

Robbie took a deep breath and left his friend to follow his girlfriend. She's been acting really mean and coldly for the past few days, even before she got fired. And he needed to know what was going on with her.

"So what happened today?" Robbie asked her while he was driving her home.

Annie didn't answered. Instead she uncomfortably shifted in her seat. She looked at the road straight ahead instead of looking at her boyfriend. She was in no mood to talk.

"Annie, why did you get fired?"

Again she didn't answer. He knew that she heard him and didn't bother to respond. He sighed and tried for a third time.

"Annie,what happened at the bar?" he asked losing his patience.

Annie again did not answer. Robbie groaned. Her bad mood was affecting everybody. And all of this because she couldn't go to a game in Fargo. That was ridiculous. Robbie knew the only way to get her attention. He pulled over right to the side of the road.

"MAC! What the hell are you doing?" Annie finally spoke up.

"What's been up your ass all week? Ever since we got back from Milwaukee you've been acting like a bitch. And now you got fired. What's going on with you? Is it because stupid Fargo because if you really want I'll take you up there sometime. There's nothing there anyways, so I don't know why you're bitching."

"Do you really want to know?" Annie asked coolly.

"I really want to know," Mac asked. He finally go through to her.

"I'm pregnant."

There it is guys. I'm sorry for that. I feel mean now leaving it like this. I'll try to get the next chapter up by the weekend. Please review!!!