Thank you so much for the great reviews. It feels great to write something everyone enjoys. I hope that you like Chapter 11, and hopefully it's better then Chapter 10.

A/N: The bulk of this chapter is a flashback to why the Boston guys don't like Andrew and why Annabelle doesn't like Dennis.


Almost Back to Normal

Annabelle sat watching the team practice new lines that Herb thought would help them succeed in defeating the Russians. The team was now much better off without Dennis and Andrew around, and they're attitudes only improved to a certain extent. The only thing that lingered with them was the thought of two people being cut from the team, with Timmy Harrer in the line up. Annabelle and Jack remained friends and they're relationship was starting to get stronger.

Herb and her dad never really found out about Andrew except that he made a quick escape during the night. Christmas wasn't too far away, actually it was less then a week away and Annabelle hadn't made her mind upon going home or staying to have it with the team. If she did stay it would've been the first Christmas in over 10 years that Annabelle had with her dad.

"Hey AB what're you doing tonight?" Jimmy asked when he skated up to the bench to get another bottle of water.

Annabelle shrugged her shoulders and looked out on the ice.

"You miss it don't you?" Jimmy asked looking into her eyes.

"Yeah I do. I just miss the free flowing motion of being out there and performing."

"Yup; hey I got an idea, when was the last time you were out here playing hockey with guys?"

"Um I think since freshman year of high school." Annabelle said a little unsure. "Why? What do you have in mind?"

"After practice we'll get some guys to stay out and we'll play some hockey with you. Besides you still look down since Andrew left." Jimmy said with concern in his voice.

"Thanks Jimmy. I guess I am a little down since I thought Andrew was going to be the right one for me."

"No you save that for Jack alright?" Jimmy whispered and skated back out to his net leaving Annabelle a little shocked.

Annabelle stood up and walked back to her office and locked the door. She sat down thinking about what Jimmy said and that maybe he was right.


Annabelle was in her freshman year of high school and was starting to fit in a little better. Jack and her had become great friends even though he was a year older then her and in the 'big leagues'. Everyday after school, Annabelle would sneak out of the house and go play some hockey with a few boys in the neighborhood. The guys that would make fun of her stopped after a few games when she beat them. It was during her freshman year that Annabelle met Andrew, but they really weren't friends.

By Annabelle's sophomore year, her and Jack went to every dance they had or Annabelle went to every game Jack had. Around this time Jack started to like Annabelle along with every other guy in the school .Annabelle at this time quit figure skating and left it to others with more passion then her to continue.

With Jack's last year of school at hand, he had her come to EVERY game, in state and out, to every dance that he was invited to, and she had to be there for his graduation. Things were fine until he left and Annabelle was all alone until Andrew stepped out of the shadows and started to date her. Jack didn't find out about her dating until he left for college. The conversation between the two of them on the phone was unforgettable.

"Annabelle it's for you, he says he one of your friends…" Her mom said handing her the phone.

"Hello?" Annabelle asked unsure of who it was.

"Hey AB how's it going?"

"JACK!" Annabelle screeched.

"I guess you're happy to hear from me?"

"Yes I am. So how's college life treaeten' ya?"

"Lonely without you here to go to the dances, parties, and games."

"Oh come on Jack, I can't be there all the time to hold your hand, besides I'm dating now and keeping up with my studies."

"You're dating?" Jack asked surprised.

"Yeah Jack I can date you know! Andrew is sweet and nice to me all the time."

"But…how did this happen? I mean wasn't it not too long ago you said he would be the last person you'd date?"

"Well I met him more in the open and I like him. He's really nice to me. So how's college hockey going?"

"Annabelle don't change the subject, how did you two finally meet up?" Jack asked getting annoyed.

"I was out on the ice just skating around and he came up and just asked if we could go to the movies some time soon and I said yes. Come on Jack it's not going to kill you that I'm dating a guy from high school. This is probably a little fling."

"If you say so AB. Well I need to go and study some before heading to practice. I'll talk to you later, k?"

"Yeah alright. Oh Jack, give 'em hell out there."

"I will. Bye."

"Bye." Annabelle hung up the phone and looked at the clock, 5:45, and nothing to do. Her mom and step-dad were both at work, Grace was at school, and her dad was probably working with some hockey team.

She sat down in front of the TV not really watching what was on and thought about what Jack said to her.

'I mean wasn't it not too long ago you said he would be the last person you'd date?'

"Well Jack, I did say it, but I didn't mean it. I can't just wait for someone like you to come and take me off my feet when you feel like it." Annabelle said out loud.


Annabelle looked at the clock on her wall that read, 4:30, if she kept thinking like she was, her answer would probably come, but she didn't want it. In reality, Annabelle was too afraid to like Jack, the tough guy, because it would break down her walls that she built when she dated Andrew.


Annabelle sat watching the hockey game Jack and the Boston Terriers were playing. Andrew had come with Annabelle and continuously asked what that call meant or what she thought of that play the other team made. In-between periods when Annabelle didn't leave for drinks, Andrew made short hints about them going out again, and possibly back to his house to watch TV.

"Look Andrew I don't have time to go out because of school and my sister." Annabelle said a little annoyed.

"Just think about it." Andrew said and stood up. "I need to go and get a few things done for school. See you tomorrow."

After the game finished, Annabelle ran down to there locker room waiting for Jack to come out.

"Hey Jack!" Annabelle said and hugged him. Jack smiled and hugged her close.

"I thought you said that you couldn't come because of butt head."

"Only you to come up with clever names huh?" Annabelle asked teasingly.

"You know me. Beside where is he?" Jack asked letting her go.

"He left to go home. I don't know and I'm starting to not really care." Annabelle said a little agitated.

"Hey OC good game out there." A dark haired man came out with wet hair. "Oh I'm sorry." He said realizing that Jack was talking.

"It's ok Jimmy, besides I would like you to meet Annabelle Patrick, the girl I talked to you about that could kill a goalie."

"Oh yeah, well it's nice meeting you Annabelle and I guess I'll see you later. I have a few things to finish so I'll see you back at the dorm." Jimmy said and walked down the hall with his hockey bag.

"He seems nice." Annabelle said leaning against the wall looking at Jack.

"Yeah he's a real good friend. Just to tell you, he's wanted to see what your shot is like."

"Yeah since you told him it could kill a goalie. Jack just to tell you, I haven't played a real game of hockey since early high school."

"Well hopefully we can change that if it's alright to butt head out there."

"I don't care what he thinks." Annabelle said stubbornly.

Jack chuckled and looked up when more of his team came out. Mike Eruzione and Dave Silk walked out talking and laughing, but stopped for a moment when they saw Jack.

"Hey OC what're you still doing out here?"

"Talking to my good friend." Jack said and nodded over to Annabelle.

"So you're the infamous Annabelle Patrick?" Rizzo asked.

"I guess so, and you are?" Annabelle asked shaking they're hands.

"I'm Rizzo, or Mike Eruzione."

"I'm Silky, or Dave Silk. So are you really that good of a hockey player?"

"Oh my God Jack how many people did you tell?" Annabelle asked laughing.

"All the hockey players." He said chuckling.


Annabelle remembered that meeting real well and it developed even further when she went into college. That was when she met up with Dennis again and when she won't let Andrew go.


Annabelle walked through the halls of the dorms heading to Andrew's room so they could go study. It was then that she saw someone that she knew when she was younger, Dennis. At that moment she looked over at Annabelle.

"Well Annabelle I didn't know that you came here. Since when did you come out of your cave?"

"Since I knew your ugly face wasn't going to be in front of me." Annabelle said and walked right by her. Dennis didn't stop there and followed her to Andrew's room.

"Looks like something crawled up your butt and died. Seriously why did you choose this place? Your daddy is in New York isn't he? Why not go there and get knocked up by his hockey players?" Dennis said with a smirk knowing she was getting under her skin.

"Because that's your job." Annabelle said looking at her. "And you know what; it wasn't my choice to have skill while you have to make it up." Dennis walked away in a huff toward her wing of the dorms.

"Ok, so good hockey player and trash talker. I'll keep that in mind so I won't get under your skin." Jimmy said coming up behind her.

"Hey Jimmy what're you doing here?"

"Just going to check in on my girl." He said and walked on.


Annabelle looked back up at the clock and knew that if she couldn't concentrate on her work in her office, the next best place would to be at her dorm. She gathered up everything she needed and walked out in the dark hallway. Herb and the others had left at least an hour ago and hadn't locked up. Annabelle saw the key hanging on the hook for her to lock up.


Annabelle was in her sophomore year of college with Jack and the others except Rizzo in their junior. Rizzo had graduated the year before and was looking for a job. Annabelle and Andrew had been fighting a lot lately and her friends had seen it happen in front of them. It was only one time that it took for Jack, Jimmy, and Dave to get after Andrew and that was when he slapped Annabelle for smart mouthing him for something she did.

"Come on Andrew! I can't go, I have things to get done that are more important then going to the bar." Annabelle said in the doorway of her room.

"Nothings more important then going to the bar! Annabelle let loose and forget your studies so we can have fun. Please?" Andrew said harshly and slightly drunk.

"NO! I'm not going to the bar to get drunk out of my ass like you do." Annabelle said loudly.

"I don't get drunk out of my ass!" Andrew screamed back at her.

"What ever; just go away smelly ass." Annabelle mumbled and was about to close her door when Andrew threw it open and slapped her across the face. Annabelle flew to the floor holding her cheek and saw that Andrew was going to slap her again. Before he even made it down to her, she heard a slight yelp and Jack was standing behind Andrew holding his wrist.

"I dare ya." Jack said mincingly.

"Get out of our business O'Callahan!" Andrew said.

"I'll get out of your business when you don't show up here again." Jack said and let go of his wrist. Andrew looked back at Annabelle and walked quickly out of the dorm. On his way down the stairs he ran into Silk and Jimmy. They took one look at him and continued upstairs.

"AB what happened?" Silky asked kneeling down to her sitting form.

"Andrew hit her and I don't know where his scrawny ass went." Jack said holding Annabelle.

"We saw him going down the stairs and I guess he left the building." Jimmy said.


That was the only time that Andrew laid a hand on Annabelle because of the threats that he received from the hockey team and mostly Jack, Jimmy, and Silky. Annabelle smiled thinking back to that time, and the answer to her question on whether she loved Jack or not was on the tip of her tongue.


I hope that you liked this chapter. It may seem a little confusing, but I'm trying to stick to the movie and not change the whole plot that we know. Please review!