Vaughnloveralwaysandforev: Thanks for the review! The drama in this is a lot but I managed to sneak in some funny stuff too! I hope you like it!
KOLU: Phil is gonna have a tough time getting Margaret's forgiveness in this chapter but you'll see what happens there. Thanks for the review! You get to see some of Annie's interview too!
Meadow567: Thanks for reviewing :)
Iheartobama: Thanks for the review! You'll get drama but I got some funny parts in there too! Hope you like it.
AN: Ok first off, so sorry it wasn't up this weekend. It's early Tuesday (1:10 AM) or should I say late Monday (on Pacific time). The reason why I was unable to get it up was because my mom's best friend flew in from Paris because my mom's birthday was this weekend (yesterday August 4th). I had to be with them a lot this weekend and it was fun but boring after a while. I wish I was able to write more. Anyways, I'm happy you all liked my last chapter and I hope you enjoy this one too. There's a lot of drama, but I managed to slip in some funny and fluffy stuff as well. I hope you all enjoy!
Chapter 38
Margaret waited in line for the check out right after Phil left. She was so pissed at him. It was her Valentine's Day gift to go see the Figure Skating. She's been waiting forever and he sold the tickets! God, she just wanted to dump him and go home right then and there. Margaret was about to leave when she heard a familiar voice stop her.
"Margaret!"
Margaret turned around and saw OC's girlfriend, Rachel. She met her a few times and she was alright. Rachel actually picked her up from the airport because she got the phone call that was supposed to be for the redhead. She gabbed the whole way to the hotel from the airport but Margaret only could think about the Figure Skating competition that she thought she was going to. All she really remembered about her was that she was from New York City and was good friends with the girl Annie, who may or may not be going out with Mac. She really didn't want to keep up with the team's melodrama.
"Hey Rachel," Margaret plastered on a fake smile.
"Hey," Rachel gave an equally fake smile back. She was just reject by Jack and had no idea why, "Did you see Phil yet?"
"Yeah," she rolled her eyes, "He's such an asshole. I hate guys right now!"
Just then OC and Rizzo came through the lobby, Rizzo with his hockey gear and Jack on his crutches. Jack looked at Rachel and then quickly looked away. She saw him do it.
"Jack!" she called to him, trying to get his attention.
OC nodded awkwardly to her as he left the lobby. He shut her down twice in less than ten minutes. That's like a new record.
"Yeah," the blonde nodded as she watched her boyfriend walk off, "Join the club...We should grab something to eat."
Margaret at this point was in front of the line. She moved up to check in. As the receptionist was getting her key, she turned to OC's girlfriend.
"Ya know...that sounds like a pretty good idea."
This was going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
--
After practice most of the guys went in different directions. OC and Rizzo mentioned something about getting Rachel's gift; Phil went to find a scalper to get two tickets to Figure Skating tomorrow; Buzz, Bah, and Pav went back to the hotel; and the remainder of the guys went out to eat.
"So Gail's pregnant," Buzz told Pav and Bah on their way back to the hotel. They were the first people he told, he still couldn't believe it.
"Woah really?" Bah asked.
"Congrats, man," Pav patted his shoulder.
"Thanks," Buzz replied, "She just told me right before practice."
"Why didn't you mention it to anybody else?" Bah asked.
"Because watching Verchota flip out over those tickets was pretty entertaining," Buzz joked.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Pav asked.
"I think it's a boy," Buzz told her, "I'm not positive because I think it like just happened but it has to be a boy."
"Having a girl would be lame," Bah said.
"Yeah," Pav replied, "They're boring, they don't play hockey. I don't want a girl. I'd want all boys."
"Who wouldn't?" Buzz agreed. To be honest he didn't really care if it was a girl or a boy, as long as it was healthy.
When the coneheads arrived back to the hotel, Buzz immediately went up to his hotel room. He really wanted to talk to Gail about the baby. He opened the door to their room and he saw her lying on her back on the bed. It looked like she was crying.
"Gail..." Buzz addressed her.
Gail propped up, looking pretty upset, "I'm not pregnant. It was a false alarm. I just got my period."
Buzz closed the door to their room and sat down next to his wife on the bed. He put his arm around her shoulder trying to comfort her.
"God, I feel so stupid," she looked down.
"Don't," he told her as he kissed her temple, "It's not your fault. It's gonna happen one day."
"Yeah," she sighed, "I guess your right. I just wish it was today."
Buzz and Gail talked a bit more, but Gail was still pretty disappointed. Buzz was too but didn't say anything to his wife about it when comforting her. Gail then took a nap to calm down and rest after her flight from earlier that day. When Gail was asleep Buzz went to Pav and Bah's room to tell them the bad news and ask not to mention it to the other guys. They understood.
--
"Are you positive her ring size is a seven?" Rizzo asked OC as they walked out of the jewelry store.
"Yes," OC sighed for what felt like the hundredth time.
"How do you know for sure?" Rizzo questioned while looking down at the small box in the bag he was holding for his friend on crutches.
"She joked about it once..."
"How could Rachel make a joke about that?"
"On our first date. She joked that some loser proposed to her on another first date," OC explained, "At least I think it was a joke...come to think about it, she did sound pretty serious..."
"Did the guy get the wrong ring size?" Rizzo interrupted.
"No. She said if I were to pull that than her ring size is a seven," OC said, "Why are you making such a big deal about this anyways?"
The two, who were walking, stopped and waited for the crossing signal.
"I'm making a big deal about this because Rachel seems like she'd make this type of thing a very big deal. Dude, if you fuck up the ring size than she's gonna kick you out of her room for the night."
"Riz, that's not gonna happen. And if it does than I can always sleep in our room," OC then thought about it, "Do you not want me in our room tomorrow night?"
"I don't care," Rizzo answered too quickly.
"Ohhhh," OC laughed, "Rizzo's got a date tomorrow night. Who's the lucky lady, Riz?"
"No one," Rizzo walked quickly away from his temporarily handicapped friend as soon as they were able to cross.
"Who is it? Who is it?" OC repeated over and over again trying to catch up with Rizzo.
Rizzo waited for OC to finish crossing. OC was now joking and purposely annoying him at this point and Rizzo had something to get back at his friend.
"You know, I was just thinking," Rizzo began, "If you're crashing in Rachel's room tomorrow and Conway is her roommate, and Conway is going out with Mac, then Conway's crashing with Mac."
"So?" OC tried to sound like he didn't care but he came off as a child, "I think the real question here is where is Magic sleeping?"
"What do you mean?" Rizzo asked as they started walking again.
"If I'm crashing with Rach, and Conway's crashing with Mac, and Mac's roommate is Magic, then where is Magic crashing? He can't crash in our room cuz you've got a hot date..."
"Wait...that's not the point! You're going off topic!"
"You started it man," OC pointed out.
"No! You did!" Rizzo wasn't falling in that trap again and changed the subject, "Whatever...How are you gonna do it anyways?"
"Do what?" OC asked.
"Give her the ring!" a Rizzo exclaimed. He felt like he was talking to a five year old. But OC was just kidding around of course.
"I don't know yet..."OC sighed, "But I'll figure it out! Don't worry man, you'll still be able to bring your hot date up to the room."
"Thank you!" Rizzo said. He meant about making a plan, but OC thought about the hot date part.
"So now you admit you have a hot date!"
"Shut up!" Rizzo laughed.
--
A few hours after practice and lunch all the guys went back to the hotel and hung out. Not many events were going on that day and there was nothing else to do but just sit around and watch tv. The guys were all pretty bored.
Mac and Mark laid on their beds and flipped through the channels on tv, not finding anything to watch. They didn't want to leave the room by chance that they would run into their parents. Sure, they loved their parents but to them it felt like they were just there hovering like 24/7 and it was getting pretty old, pretty fast. Also Mac was planning on seeing them tonight for dinner, so there was no point of seeing them now!
"Dude, where were you last night?" Mac asked as he continually clicked the channel controls on the remote.
"What do you mean?" Mark questioned.
"You didn't come home, man!" Robbie laughed.
"Yeah I did," the center responded.
"When?" this was new to Robbie. He was up pretty late and didn't hear him come in last night.
"I came in at like two and woke up at nine. You and Annie were asleep the whole time!" Mark laughed.
"Really?" Mac was surprised. He always considered himself a light sleep. Maybe he was wrong.
"Yeah," Mark answered in an I told you so way, then changed the subject, "Whatever man. I'll stay out tomorrow night if you want. I know it's Valentine's Day and..."
"Annie's birthday," Mac finished his sentence, "Thanks man, I appreciate it. Who you gonna crash with?"
"Linda," Mark answered him.
"MAGIC HAS A GIRLFRIEND!" Mac exclaimed over excitedly. He stopped flipping through the channels, "Linda who?"
"Linda Fratianne," Mark replied. Linda Fratianne is an American figure skater, and the skater that Phil's girlfriend is obsessed with.
"She's an ice skater, right?" Mac asked.
"Yep," Mark nodded, "We're going out after her competition and the game. I would've told Phil to ask her for tickets but...he wouldn't shut up about it this morning. Besides his locker room flip out was classic!"
"Yeah it was, wasn't it?" Mac laughed.
Just then the phone rang. It was only five o'clock and Mac wasn't meeting his parents until seven. Mark didn't have any plans with his parents or anybody.
"You pick it up," Robbie nodded to his roommate, then teased, "It might be Linda!"
"Shut up!" Mark laughed at how dumb Mac just sounded saying Linda.
Mark finally picked up the phone on the fourth ring.
"Hello?" Mark answered, still laughing at Mac, "...Oh, hey Conway. Yeah... yeah I'll get him!"
Mark then put the phone done and looked at Robbie with the most serious face and then mimicked, "Mac, it's Annie!"
Mac grabbed the phone and gave Mark a look, "Hey, kid."
"Hey," he heard his girlfriend reply.
"Are you serious?" Mark laughed.
"Shut up!" Mac laughed back.
"What?" Annie was really confused.
"I'm so sorry, Annie. Can you hold on a second?" Mac then dropped the phone and covered the microphone and tried not to laugh, "Magic, get out of here!"
"Sure thing...kid," Mark laughed before getting up and leaving the hotel room.
Mac then picked up the phone again, "Sorry about that. Mark is acting really different today. I think he's really pumped for this hot date he has."
"That's cool," his girlfriend shrugged unenthusiastically.
"Is everything alright, Annie?"
"I saw our apartment today"
"Yeah. What did you think about it?"
"Well...it's pretty small. It's like the perfect bachelor pad..." she emphasized on the bachelor part.
"What?" the hockey player was confused.
"It's small! It can't fit us both. It only has one room! And the bathroom is teeny tiny. And there are hardly any windows! It's like a prison!" Annie sounded really upset.
"Annie, baby, calm down! I'm sure it's not as bad as you think!" he tried to reassure her, then thought of what the real problem might have been, "Have you had the interview yet?"
"No. It's in twenty minutes. I'm in the building right now, I just have to go upstairs," Annie informed him.
"It's gonna go great," he told her, "And don't even worry about the apartment. We don't have the money to get an other one so we have to make due with what we have. Besides, if it's really that small I can keep all my stuff under the bed!"
"Really?" Annie sounded a lot better. They both had a lot of stuff they were going to bring.
"Yeah," Robbie said, "We'll make this work, trust me!"
"You're right. Sorry I flipped out," Annie took a deep breath, "And you don't need to keep your things under the bed. We'll make space and share and stuff..."
"You should go up to that interview," he told her, "Knock 'em dead!"
"Thanks. I love you."
"Love you too. Bye."
"Bye."
Mac hung up the phone and took a deep breath. He talked her out of a few crisis that day. She was really stressed about that interview and turned that stress into stuff about their apartment. To be honest he wanted to keep that apartment. He didn't want to give it up. The team manager gave it to him for a few months and he wanted to keep it. Besides that he really didn't want to go out looking for an apartment until he absolutely had to. Mac figured that Annie was probably exaggerating anyways.
'After today's interview she'll be fine,' Mac told himself, 'Nothing to worry about.'
--
After hanging up the call with her boyfriend, Annie left the telephone booth and went upstairs to the dean of admissions office. She fiddled in her chair waiting outside his office and grinned her teeth. She was nervous. She couldn't help it, she just wanted everything to be perfect when she moved to Buffalo with Robbie. She didn't want to be stressed about school and stuff either.
'It's gonna go great!' she reassured herself, 'You're great at interviews. Everyone loves you. It's going to be a piece of...'
Her thought was interrupted by a man opening the door and announcing her name, "Annie Conway."
The red head looked up at the dean of admissions and smiled, "Thats...me."
"Alright. Come in, Miss Conway," he held the door open and gestured for her to enter.
Annie got up and nodded at him as she entered, "Thank you."
She sat down at the chair in front of his desk and heard the door close and him moving towards his chair. She took a big gulp. This was it.
"So Miss Conway, your from Boston I see," he looked down on her application, "What part are you from?"
"I'm from Southie, sir," she told him.
"Wow. I grew up in Dorchester. Right next door," the interviewer said. He was really nice. This wasn't so bad.
"So down to business. Why do you want to attend Medical School here in Buffalo?"
"Well, I'm moving here because my boyfriend is a hockey player and he's playing with the Sabres," she explained with a big proud smile, "He starts playing after the Olympics."
"Alright, then. Now to the most important question. We don't have this on the application because we believe that it's more important to hear in person," he started off, then went into the question, "Why do you want to be a doctor?"
Annie answered, "Ever since I was a little girl my grandfather told me that he had high hopes for me and he always wanted me to become a doctor..."
"I'm sorry, that's not the question. I wanted to know why you want to become a doctor," he restated the question.
"I...I don't understand. I thought I just answered that," Annie nervously shifted in her seat and crossed one leg over the other.
"No, Ms. Conway. You told me why you're grandfather wanted you to become a doctor and why you're coming here to be closer to your hockey player boyfriend. You're not your grandfather or your boyfriend. Why do you want to become a doctor and attend school in Buffalo?" he asked again.
"Well..."
--
"C'mon OC, let's go!" Rizzo complained, "Any more grooming and we're all gonna think you're a girl."
Rizzo, OC, and some of the guys were planning on going out to eat. They were all gonna meet in the lobby and of course OC and Rizzo were running late due to OC's need to groom.
"Alright, Alright. I'm done," OC came out of the bathroom with his crutches.
"Great! Let's go!" Rizzo opened the door and saw OC's girlfriend waiting outside the room. She looked mad.
"Hey Riz," she said quickly as she entered the room, "Jack, we need to talk!"
"I'll meet you down in the lobby man," Rizzo said right before he practically ran out of the room.
Rachel and Margaret had a long talk about their guys and Rachel felt really empowered to kick Jack's ass after the way he's been treating her today.
"Rachel, what's up?" OC pretended like everything was normal.
"OC why are you being a goof?" she asked her boyfriend.
"What?" OC pretended to act confused.
"You've been acting really weird and secretive all day and I don't like it," she told him, "What's going on?"
"Nothing," he tried to get pass her. It was no use because she was blocking the door.
"Bull shit," her teeth grinned.
"Bull true," OC said, then confessed, "I'm sorry. I got you a gift today and I don't want you to see it until tomorrow. You understand that?"
"Oh my god, really?" she went from pissed off to excited in one second.
"Yes," he nodded, "And it's sort of a huge deal. You gotta leave right now..."
"Why do I have to go?" Rachel asked.
"It's in here right now!" he exclaimed trying to lead her out.
"Really?" she gasped.
"Yeah, you gotta go. You don't wanna be spoiled don't you?" OC tried.
"You're right," she smiled and kissed his cheek, "I love you."
"Love you too, Rach. Now, we gotta leave," OC nodded towards the door, directing her out. He was hungry
"Ok," she walked backwards out the door and then waited until he left and closed the door of the room for him.
"I'm sleeping in your room tonight, right?" OC asked.
"Yeah, well we're doing a lot more than just sleeping," she said suggestively as she stroked his arm.
"Really? Like what?" he looked down at her, only a few inches from her face.
"Now, I can't tell you. You don't wanna be spoiled don't you?" Rachel giggled.
"You're such a tease!" OC laughed.
"Later," she gave him a quick peck on the lips and walked away.
"I'll rush through dinner," he yelled down the hallway at her.
Rachel laughed, "I bet you will!"
Rachel continued walking away and OC checked her out as she left. She was sure some broad. Only Rachel could make him want to skip a meal. He figured he'd just skip the appetizer and go right for the main course. He'll be back in no time.
--
After dinner with his parents, Mac got back to his room around eight thirty. Mark wasn't around yet, but once he got back the two were planning on going to the bar. He called down to the lobby to see if Annie called him again after the interview. They told him he didn't have any messages. Mac waited around for either Annie to call or Mark to come back to the room as he laid on his bed to watch tv.
'She's probably tired after all the traveling and stuff today,' Mac reassured himself, 'Everything went great.'
About ten minutes into an episode of Charlie's Angels, Mark came back to the room. He was one of the guys that went out to eat with the rest of the team.
"Hey, ready to go?" he asked as soon as he walked in.
"Yep," Mac turned off the tv and got up, "Let me just get my jacket."
Mac got his jacket which was thrown on a chair when he came in.
"Let's go..." Mac began to walk out
"Yeah. On the way I gotta tell you about Rizzo's date tomorrow night," Mark laughed as he followed his friend out the door.
--
February 14, 1980
It was finally here, Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is considered by some to be the most romantic day of the year. By others it was thought of as a holiday invented by chocolate and card companies to rip people off and make single people feel like shit. Rachel Dawson being a romantic at heart, despite her attitude at times, believes in the former. And being woken up by her hot boyfriend stroking her arm in bed next to her only made her beliefs stronger.
The blonde rolled over to look at her boyfriend. He had his arm up with his hand supporting his head and he laid on his side, showing his six pack. He looked very cute. No, wait, not cute! Hot!
"Morning," she smiled, "Are you glad you rushed through dinner?"
"Of course. I wanted to get right to my desert," he joked right before kissing her on the lips.
They kissed for a few seconds when Rachel stopped them. She was very impatient and immediately wanted to give him his gift, in hopes of getting hers too.
"I'll be right back," she quickly got off the bed and put her boyfriend's BU shirt, which she found on the floor, on to keep warm.
She opened up one of her drawers and dug to the bottom of it. Then she found it and took it out. It was an envelope.
"An envelope! Thanks Rach!" he laughed.
She laughed in a sarcastic way, "Haha, very funny. Now open it!"
She put on a pair of fresh undies she found in the drawer and sat down on the bed next to him. She handed him the envelope and he propped up. He opened the envelope and inside were two tickets to the Boston Celtics. They were for the week right after the Olympics and right before he left for Chicago. He planned to spend that week home in Boston getting ready for his permanent move.
"Rach, are you serious? These are floor seats! How did you get these?" OC couldn't believe it.
"I have my ways. Do you like them?" she gleamed.
"Do I like them?" he laughed.
OC then grabbed his girlfriend's hips and pulled her on his lap and tickled her. She immediately cracked up and kissed him to stop.
"I knew you'd like them," she giggled as she sat on his good knee, "And plus you get to see that new guy that you were talking about...Larry Bird!"
"Yeah," OC nodded, "He's supposed to be amazing."
OC then kissed his girlfriend, this time not as hard as the kiss right before. It was soft and quick, right on the lips, "Thanks, Rach."
"Welcome, babe," she smiled. Then she clapped her hands, "Ok, my turn! My turn!"
She really wanted her gift. OC wasn't planning on giving it to her...at least not yet. He wanted to wait until that night to give it to her. When they were out to eat. It had to be perfect.
"Later, Rach," he sighed.
"Why not now?" Rachel's impatience grew by the second.
"Because what I'm giving you is a big deal. Something that you'd make a big deal about if it wasn't absolutely perfect. I'll give it to you tonight," OC told her.
"Ok," Rachel sounded disappointed. But then she got to thinking.
"Well since we already showered last night, I'm gonna get dressed," he said as he got up slowly trying not to put too much pressure on his leg. He brought an extra pair of clothes with him because he knew he was staying the night.
As OC was getting dressed, Rachel was thinking about the gift, 'It's something I would make a big deal about and it has to be perfect. He said it in the singular so it has to be...Oh my god! It's an engagement ring! He's going to propose!'
Rachel gleamed and touched her hands to her cheeks as she thought about it. OC noticed her acting weird and snapped her out of her frame of though, "Rach, you okay?"
Rachel then put her hands down and looked right at him, "I'm great! Let's go out to eat for breakfast."
--
As things couldn't be any better for OC and Rachel, things couldn't be any worse for Phil and Margaret. She hasn't talked to him since finding out what he did to her Valentine's Day gift. And after having a vent session with Rachel yesterday, she wasn't going to back down.
Knock, Knock, Knock
In order to avoid seeing Phil that morning, Margaret ordered room service. It was bad enough they had to stay in the same hotel, only a floor apart. She just really didn't want to deal with him right now. But unfortunately, he did.
Margaret opened the door to see her boyfriend standing there, with a box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers at hand. She didn't even say anything before she slammed the door in his face. At first she felt sorry and sort of regretted it, then thinking of watching her idol Linda Fratianne on a little crap tv instead of live in person made her pissed off all over again.
--
A few hours later and the guys all headed out for their game against Czechoslovakia, who were considered the second best team in the world behind the Soviet Union. Annie, who was expected to arrive around one o'clock, still hadn't shown up yet. The guys were pretty surprised but just expected that there was a lot of traffic, or that she got a late start. The game started around five o'clock, and Annie arrived at the hotel at 4:30. She was spotted by Rachel, who was on her way to the game.
Annie looked really upset. Her hair was all messed up and it looked like she hadn't slept because the bags under her eyes were huge. She didn't even noticed that she walked right past Rachel, who was approaching her.
"Annie!" Rachel called out to her and ran towards her, after she passed.
The red head turned around. She looked awfully distraught.
"Rachel! Hey! How are you?"
"I'm fine," Rachel grimaced looking at her friend, she looked horrible, "Are you okay?"
"Me? I'm...I'm okay. I've just been driving ya know...driving around. I drove all night.."
Annie was actually physically shaking, it might have been because she was tired and trying to keep herself up. Rachel put her hands on the red head's shoulders to calm her down.
"You drove all night?" she asked in a concerned tone.
"Yeah," Annie nodded her head, her eyes had never been wider, "I started driving right after the interview. I just drove around and around...I drove to New York City and back and then to here...I just couldn't sleep...I couldn't stop thinking..."
Rachel looked around to make sure nobody else they knew was there. Thankfully the whole team was at the arena getting ready for the game. She then turned to face her friend.
"Ok. Let me take you upstairs to our room," Rachel grabbed Annie's arm and led her through the lobby to the elevators.
"Wow...this is some fuckin' birthday...huh?"
The two got into the elevator and Annie talked some more. It was more stuff that made no sense, this was probably due to the lack of sleep that Annie seemed to have. Annie was in really really bad shape. Rachel had never seen her so bad before, even after he grandfather died. She didn't know what happened and didn't want to ask Annie, in fear that she will turn worse. Rachel led her to their hotel room and unlocked the door. She pushed Annie inside and stayed at the door.
"Take a shower and then take a nap. I'll cover for you," Rachel directed her.
"Ok...sure thing," Annie laughed uneasily.
Rachel closed the door and took a deep breath. This couldn't be happening. Everything was going so perfect for them. Why would Annie be acting up like this? Something really bad happened but Rachel had no time to calm down the situation. She felt like Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre and honestly she didn't like that feeling. But Rachel didn't care. She had to cover for Annie during the game, or this could get a lot uglier.
From the hotel Rachel rushed to get to the arena. She arrived with fifteen minutes to spare. She didn't want to go into the locker room because that would've been really awkward talking to everybody. Rachel waited outside near the locker room. Talking to one person like Herb, or Craig Patrick, or even...
"Rachel," the blonde's thoughts were interrupted.
Rachel turned around and sighed, she was happy it wasn't anyone on the team. It was Doc.
"Hey Doc," Rachel laughed nervously, "I was just looking for you."
"Sure, what's up?"
"Well," Rachel began the lie she thought up on the way, "Annie just came back from Buffalo. I ran into her in the lobby. She was stuck in terrible traffic. Anyways, she really wanted to come to today's game, but I told her to go up to the room and take a nap. She looked really tired from all the travel."
"Oh, ok," Doc seemed to believe her, "Thanks for telling me before the game, Rachel."
"No problem," Rachel smiled and nodded, sure of her lie, "Tell the guys good luck from me and Annie."
Rachel began walking away but Doc said something that instantly got her to stop.
"Do you want to fill in Annie's place today?"
Rachel turned around slowly to face Doc again.
"Uhmm...I don't know," she answered, "It might be weird and all the guys would be wondering about Conway. And I've never done this before. Also I have a tendency to yell really loudly at the opposing team..."
"I could always use an extra hand," Doc tried.
"Well," Rachel took a deep breath, "Okay!"
"That's great. The guys are already on the ice," Doc informed her.
"Okay," Rachel laughed nervously, "I'll see you out there, Doc."
Rachel walked away to head towards the bench. What had she just gotten herself into?
--
The team ended up beating the Czechs, seven to three. Everyone was surprised, but they were the most shocked. They didn't believe that they could beat Czechoslovakia, the second best team behind the Soviet Union. Going into the Olympics they thought that they could get the bronze, but after today's victory they started believing that they could go all the way.
The guys were pretty cool about Rachel filling in for Annie, mostly because she lied to them and told them the same thing she told Doc. After watching today's game, Rachel was disappointed that Annie would act up like that and that she had to cover for them. Mark Johnson got hit really hard late in the third period, and Rachel knew it would have been better if Annie was there instead of her.
"Magic, your shoulder alright?" Robbie asked his friend in the locker room after the game.
"Yeah," the hockey player nodded, "It hurts a bit now, but it'll be fine by tomorrow."
"Mark, do you need me to like rub your shoulder or anything?" Rachel asked. She sounded a little nervous when she asked because she didn't know if thats what she was supposed to ask or not. But the guys didn't find it weird because Annie would've asked the exact same thing.
"No thanks, Rachel. I'll be alright," Mark responded.
"Linda will make it alright," Robbie joked.
"Ok, so I don't have anything else to do?" Rachel asked and the guys shook their heads, "So I'm gonna take off."
Rachel walked towards OC and the two walked out, planning on going right from the game to the restaurant for dinner. Mac and a few of the guys right after them and bumped into them outside the arena. As OC were talking to a few of his teammates, Mac talked to Rachel about his girlfriend.
"Is Annie in your room?" he asked.
"Yep," she nodded, "She was so exhausted, she really needed the rest. Just knock on the door and she'll let you in. You guys gotta move it on out though because after dinner Jack and I..."
Mac cut her off, "I get it. You don't need to say any more."
Rachel laughed, "Yeah. You should tell Annie about the game. You all played awesome and she really wanted to see it. You should watch it on tv. It's supposed to be on in like an hour."
None of the games were broadcast live on the weekdays. They were shot around five and then played prime time on tv later that night. Only some weekend events were live.
"Good idea," Robbie nodded, "It's gonna be weird seeing myself on tv."
"Yeah. I hear ya. And on top of that all the commentators judging your performance and stuff," Rachel agreed.
OC turned to Rachel at this point and asked if she was ready to go. She nodded and the couple said their goodbyes to their friends and continued their walk to the restaurant. When they arrived at the restaurant they sat down, Jack ordered champagne, and they read the menu. Rachel wasn't thinking about food, she was thinking about the ring!
"So did you have fun filling in for Conway?" OC asked.
Rachel nodded, "Yeah. It's really cool seeing the game from the bench."
When the champagne arrived to the table, Rachel instantly thought it was going to be at the bottom of the champagne glass. That would be so romantic! And it was also how her father proposed to her mom. Rachel picked up her glass over her head and looked up to examine the bottom.
"What are you doing?" OC asked.
"Nothing," she groaned disappointedly. She didn't see any ring.
"So do you want your present now?" OC gave his signature smile.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Rachel clapped her hands in anticipation.
OC then pulled a small box out of his pocket. It was definitely a ring box! Rachel gasped, half pretending to be surprised and the other half not believing she was getting married. The blonde to the little box out of her boyfriend's hand and opened it.
"Wh...what?" the color on Rachel's face drained.
It wasn't an engagement ring. It didn't have a diamond or anything. It was just a simple silver ring.
"What is this?" she gave her boyfriend a very upset look.
"It's a promise ring," he explained.
"A promise ring?" she was growing more upset and embarrassed by the second, "A promise ring? I thought you were going to propose!"
"Propose!?" OC laughed, "No way! I don't want that...at least not yet anyways."
"Why would you give me a promise ring? What are you, fifteen?" Rachel voice became louder and angrier.
OC then became defensive, "Why would I want to propose to you? We always fight! This week has been the longest time we've gone without a fight or a breakup!"
"Oh yeah! Well that streak is over, bucko! We're done!" she threw the box on the table, bolted up and rushed out of the restaurant.
The whole restaurant seemed to witness the fight that took place. OC was really embarrassed. He didn't think that she wanted to get married yet either. And he didn't even hint to her anything about a possible engagement. A defeated OC picked the ring box up from the table and put it in his pocket. He then paid for the champagne by throwing some money on the table, got up, and walked away with his head down.
--
Knock, Knock, Knock
Phil waited a few seconds outside of his girlfriend's hotel room before she answered. She groaned and was about to slam the door in his face for the second time, when Phil put his hand on the door to prevent it.
"Margaret, wait! Just hear me out!" Phil tried.
The brunette sighed and let go of the door. Then she folded her arms and gave him the 'I'm waiting' look.
"Ok. First off, I know you're not that mad because I saw you in the stands at the game...You still care," the hockey player said.
"Of course I care!" she exclaimed, those were her first words to him since the day before, "But it's obvious that you don't! You knew I wanted to see that competition. I love ice skating and I've been talking about this for months. And you going out and selling them all for..."
Margaret suddenly stopped talking. She was interrupted by her boyfriend. He didn't cut her off by saying something over her or trying to explain himself. He did the romantic gesture that could be a scene from a movie. He held up the tickets to the ice skating.
"Now I know that it doesn't start for another forty-five minutes so if we go right now we..." Margaret cut him off. She gave him a big hug. He really did care.
"I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear.
She then let go. She didn't apologize back and frankly, Phil didn't expect her to. But she did look like she forgave him though. And despite the fact that Phil had no desire at all to go, he was happy because of that one look she gave him when she saw the tickets. It was like everything was ok.
--
After Mac left the arena, he went straight to the hotel to see his girlfriend. It was like a double holiday for him to give her gifts for. Not only was today Valentine's Day but her birthday too. He had a very romantic night planned.
When he arrived at her hotel room and knocked on the door it took a minute or two for her to open the door up. He must've just woken her up. Her hair was wet and in a messy bun and she was in sweats and a BU tee shirt.
"Hey," Robbie greeted her the second she opened the door, "Happy Birthday and Valentine's Day."
He kissed her cheek as he walked passed her, as she held the door open. Robbie sat on her bed and she shut the door and sat down beside him.
"Sorry I woke ya. You missed a great game," Robbie told her, "We should watch it later. It's on soon."
"Really?" Annie yawned, "Sounds like you guys won."
"Yeah. Seven to three!" Robbie was really proud.
"Congrats!" Annie gave a half smile, which seemed sort of forced.
Robbie noticed this and the awkward presence she was bringing to the room. Something must've been up.
"Annie, are you okay?" he asked his girlfriend.
Annie rubbed her eye and temple with her hand, "I've just had a really bad twenty four hours."
"How did the interview go?" Robbie attempted. He regretted it right away, assuming that was the basis of her problem.
"I don't want to talk about it..." she told him in a soft but stern voice.
Robbie sighed. This was not good at all. But they're were always other Med Schools in Buffalo. It wasn't the end of the world and he tried to tell her that.
"It's gonna be okay. We're going to be fine. There's more than one Med School in Buffalo..."
"Robbie please!" she interrupted him with a loud and cruel voice. He's never heard her talk like that before.
"I'm sorry," he sighed as he looked down to his feet.
Annie turned to him. He looked a little hurt by her tone. She probably would've felt the same as he did. It was really bitchy.
"I'm sorry!" she apologized in a kind and meaningful tone, "You're amazing. This...this is all on me..."
"No it's not!" Robbie tried, "Whatever happened during that interview...it's not the end of the world. We're a team and we're gonna get through this. You can apply to other Med Schools..."
"Robbie..I..." Annie tried but he stopped her.
"Hold on! Stop right there! Let's go to my room! I have my gifts for you in there. They'll make you feel better," he got up and walked anxiously towards the door.
Annie reluctantly got up and followed. When they got to his room, he opened the door and she sat on his bed as he walked through his room. The red head wasn't really paying attention to what was going on. Robbie sat down beside her on his bed a few seconds later. He took her hand.
"Ok, Annie Conway. I love you. And no matter what happened in that interview we're going to get through this together," Robbie then took out a small box from his pocket.
"Robbie..."
"No, no, no! I made a promise to you that I would give you the best gift ever. And when I was thinking about it and thinking about us I realized that if you're going to move to Buffalo with me than it's obviously going well. So..."
Robbie then opened the small box and revealed a ring. It was an engagement ring with a beautiful diamond on it.
"Last night I went to dinner with my parents and my mom gave me this. It was her engagement ring and her mother's before that. I want you to have it..."
"Oh god..."
"Annie Conway," he then got on one knee as tradition, "Will you marry me?"
Long huh? Yeah, this is almost 15 pages on OpenOffice. Please review! I hope you all liked it!