Shooting Lessons

Maddie pulled her skates out of the car, she witnessed Robbie take her car afterwards but she did give him the keys. Some of the guys hung around outside the arena but most went with Robbie and the guys for something to eat. Maddie skated onto the ice in her brother's jersey over her sweater. She had on her jeans too while O.C. had his full gear on.

"You went all out." He laughed.

"Well Rob said he didn't want me to use his gear just like I don't want him using my car-wait, I gave him the keys. He's going to get it." Maddie scowled.

"You're tough."

"Growing up with a brother taking care of you can do that to a girl."

"Do you at least have a stick?" O.C. asked.

"No." Maddie hesitated with a laugh.

"It's a good thing I have one." He replied sarcastically.

"I would hope so." Maddie stated with a serious face.

He raised his brow at her as she threw her hair up. It would only get in her way when she tried to shoot.

"Alright, I'm good." Maddie stated confidently.

"For a McClanahan you sure are uncoordinated."

"Want to quit making fun of me and show me how to shoot?" Maddie asked.

Jack shrugged. Maddie grabbed the stick from his gloved hands and skated around the rink, closely followed by Jack. He was fast, fast enough to catch up with her and stop her. Maddie grunted softly as he dragged her towards the centerline. He turned her to set her up like a person would shoot, then glided around and stood behind her. She listened carefully as Jack told her what to do, then he dropped down a puck and she whacked it, missing the net completely but hitting the glass pretty hard.

"So you're good but not accurate."

"Last time I took a stick and hit something it was my brother, he's hard to miss." Maddie stated.

"Yeah."

"Come on Boston Boy just show me how to shoot."

"Anything for you Princess."

Maddie stood, with his stick, ready to shoot but her aim was way off. He turned her a bit and put his hand on hers to aim the puck. She turned her head and found his head practically on her shoulder. She grinned and shot the puck, spinning around quickly but stopping when he caught her.

"Bad habit." She grimaced as she fell to the ice, pulling him with her.

The hockey stick flew across the ice as Maddie burst out laughing. Falling had always been fun to her, Mac used to push her down and when he did, she laughed and it made him mad. Her laughter was hard to control, she rolled over and lied down, face to the ice, laughing hysterically. Maddie closed her eyes and pushed herself back onto her back. She looked up at Jack.

"My bad." She laughed harder than stopped. "Sorry."

"Shall we continue?"

Maddie stumbled to her feet and skated over to the boards, grabbed the hockey stick and returned back to the middle. She had picked up the puck too and set it down. She took a shot and hit the goalpost, yelling at the net as it did so.

"Damn it." Maddie yelled and skated over towards the net, about to hit it.

"Hey!" Jack yelled. "That's my stick."

Maddie held her arms back, restraining herself from letting the net have it. Her mind wandered after a minute and she forgot what she was going to do to the net. Jack stood at the centerline, admiring her self-control, something he needed to work on. His anger was gone though; normally he would've been mad if someone had tried to break his stick but not that night.

"Let me ask you a question." He stated as Maddie skated circles around him.

"Sure." She smiled as she stopped in front of him.

"Is this all a scam to get me to spend time with you or did you really want to learn how to score?"

She stopped smiling. Her act was caught, Maddie rolled her eyes around, trying to figure out an excuse but all she could do was stare. Her hand dropped the stick and grabbed onto his shoulder as she went down. Sighing, Jack pulled her back up, holding onto her with dear life.

"Third time I've found myself with you." Maddie joked.

"So answer the question."

Maddie looked up at him, helmet and all. She hated the way he never smiled, the way he almost always never complimented her. It bugged her so much yet at the same time drove her crazy. It was what she liked, not seeing her as Mac's little sister but as Maddie. Maddie, the girl who could take on any challenge she chose, except for the guy at the bar, he was there.

Madison continued to stare and stared she did, until the sound of her skates were heard. She was sliding backward, falling closer to the ground. He hoisted her up and she kissed him.

XxxxxXxxxxX

Mac sat on his bed, reading about the Soviets and how good they were. He was anxious to find out what happened between Maddie and Jack; not only for his own knowledge but to see if he should go at Jack again when he got on the ice. His fears died down when Jack walked through the door, no Maddie in sight.

"So?" Robbie questioned.

"So what?"

"Do I have to hurt you?"

"No. Next time you tell me she can't do anything, at least tell me your lying please."

"Why?" Robbie asked.

"She hit the damn goalpost third try." O.C. laughed.

"I honestly had no clue." Robbie confessed.

"Right and I'm getting cut."

XxxxxXxxxxX

Gwen was sleeping; she was snoring loudly too, almost too loudly. Maddie debated whether or not to shove an apple in her mouth to make her stop. Her tiredness kicked in and she collapsed on her bed, not even bothering to change.

XxxxxXxxxxX

Herb cancelled practice; he had told everyone to meet him for Christmas the next week. Winter rolled around and Maddie watched for snow every day. Jack watched her as she watched for snow and Robbie watched the two of them.

The bus one night had been full, full of gifts purchased in other cities, mostly by the coaches and Gwen. Maddie sat at the back with Jack, Robbie and Mark in the seat opposite them. She had gotten the jersey, worn it almost everyday too. Robbie laughed the day after the first night when Maddie wandered into practice with it on.

"Hey, you going to Doc's for Christmas?" Mark asked, out of nowhere.

"I am." Robbie replied.

Maddie gasped. She totally forgot about it. Her friend had already invited her to come home with her and her family, which included her uncle and aunt and Curt, her brother.

"Madds?" Robbie asked.

"I'll get back to you on that." Maddie replied nervously.

"Why's the matter?" Jack asked.

"I got to go home, aunt and uncle are expecting me but I can cancel if you want." Maddie smiled uneasily.

"You got invited to Aunt Chelsea's and Uncle Charlie's?" Robbie gaped.

"Guess I'm the special one." Maddie smirked. "Don't count on me going though."

"Why not?" Jack asked.

"I only went the past years because I didn't have anywhere else to go, now I got the team."

"We're a family." Mark smiled.

"Does it count if we're dysfunctional?" Rizzo turned around and peered over his seat.

"It makes us all the more family like." Robbie grinned.

"Are you implying something?" Maddie asked, "Just because I'm your sister you think you can call me whatever you want and it's absolutely true. In the end, you're the only real family I got."

"Hey Rammer, you want to talk hockey?" Jack yelled up the bus jokingly.

"Is family not your topic?" Mark asked.

"Is someone sensitive?" Robbie asked.

"You want to make something of it?" Maddie asked with a glare.

Robbie backed away, as Maddie moved her glare closer. She had not argued with her brother since earlier that day and she was bored. Late nights got to her, it seemed like things were hiding in the shadows, things happened, weird things. The bus slowed down as it turned onto the highway, preparing itself for the long drive home. Mac fell asleep, so did most of the guys on the bus, most except for the ones loaded on coffee. Maddie just couldn't sleep.

"Hey." Jack whispered.

"Yeah?"

"You alright?"

"If I say yes what'll you do?" Maddie asked.

"Chose to not believe you, something wrong?"

"Why do you want to know?" Maddie asked with a smile. "Do you love me? Care about me?"

Jack gave her a look. The real Maddie was back, the one that made no sense, was different and made his head spin. She was perfect, except the related to Mac part but that was easy to get past. Considering he won the fight between her brother and him, he was no longer a threat, and they were friends.

"I love you." Maddie looked up at him and smiled. "More than anything."

"I love you too."

"LOVEBIRDS!"

Buzz Schneider yelled from the front of the buys, waking up most of the players but some stayed sleeping.

"Yeah, so?" Maddie asked, making her way to get up.

"I just think it's cute that's all."

"I think I'm cute too. Thanks." Maddie grinned.

XxxxxXxxxxX

Everyone was finally sleeping, but by the time night ended, the bus had not yet arrived. People were hungry, antsy, ready to do fifteen Herbies if they had too. Maddie was holding a staring contest with her brother and won. Robbie grinned to himself as the bus stopped. Everyone loaded out of the bus, witnessing a blonde girl standing close to the bus, holding her purse carefully. She was pretty, all the players were ogling her.

Maddie followed her brother out of the bus, being closely followed by Jack. She stepped onto the icy ground and wiped out, looking up at the girl.

"Hey." She smiled.

Maddie blinked. She knew the face all too well. It was…

"Alex McClanahan." Maddie smirked.

The blonde stood above her, looking around as she hoisted Maddie up. Robbie gave her a smile as he wandered over to the two girls, Jack eyeing her suspiciously.

"Who's that?" A few whispers. "Why's she here?"

"This is Alex, she's my cousin." Robbie introduced her and she bowed jokingly.

Maddie choked her after hugging her tight. Alex was the best cousin; she was her Aunt Chelsea's oldest daughter, same age as Maddie, older by a month. Robbie had taken a liking to her too; she was like another sister who they hardly ever got to see.

"She's related to you?" Verchota asked.

"Yes." Maddie smiled proudly.

"Two of you, plus one juvenile, that's the three most beautiful girls in the world right here." Pavelich added.

Maddie turned to look at Gwen, she was whining and in a fight with her father. Maddie nudged Alex and she looked over too. Soon enough, the fight ceased and Gwen stormed into the building behind the bus. Alex turned back to Maddie.

"Who's that?" She asked, pointing to the guy beside her with his hand holding Maddie's.

"Jack O'Callahan." Robbie retorted.

"'76." Alex stated. "Must of gotten your ass kicked eh Rob?"

Maddie held back a fit of laughter as she look up at O.C. and half smiled. Maddie began to chuckle softly.

"Yeah he did." Jack laughed.

Maddie was silent. Robbie was hurt, she was hurt a short while later. That guy at the bar, he scared her now, he was just normal looking and attractive.

"Hey." Alex tapped her shoulder. "You okay?"

"Tired." Maddie replied.