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Back to the Drawing Board
Annabelle sat watching the team practice yet again. Rizzo still was having problems executing his goal scoring, but he never gave up which kept him out on the ice. There still were 21 guys on the team, and they all knew one of them would be sent home if he didn't perform well. In the past week they had off for the holiday, Annabelle played hockey everyday to make up for her high school years. She and Herb really weren't on speaking terms unless it was necessary. After the so called 'Christmas Kiss', Annabelle and Jack were spending a little more quality time together, in and out side.
It was one day that Annabelle was by herself in the common room that Herb came up to her.
"Hey where're the guys?"
"Probably resting or playing poker." Annabelle said still looking at her newspaper.
"Annabelle can I talk to you?" Herb asked sitting down in the chair across from her.
"We're doing that right now aren't we?" She asked setting the paper a little lower to were Herb could see her eyes.
"I mean really talk." He said looking into her eyes. "I've noticed that we have hit rock bottom ever since that Andrew thing and I was wondering if there's any way of us getting back on the same page."
"Maybe, but Herb here's the deal; I want to be in the loop on everything, and I mean everything with this team. When you brought Timmy in here I had to yell at the team to tell them I wasn't a part of it and I didn't know anything of it. But what mostly surprised me and busted my bubble was when you were babying Timmy. That right there just threw me off." Annabelle explained. "I just sometimes wonder what goes through your head and then other times if I'm just imagining everything that the teams going through."
"Well if you feel that highly on it, then I think tomorrow we should discuss something that will rock the foundation of this team."
"What do you mean 'rock the foundation'? Haven't you done enough of it?" Annabelle asked standing up in front of Herb.
"I'm going to cut a player very soon. The board members want me to get the final list in before Madison Square Garden." Herb explained. "We have to have 20 players before then, or it will possibly be harder on the team if we stall until the night before the Olympics."
"Well I'll stand behind you Herb, but I'll try not to take sides." Annabelle said more calmly. Herb nodded and started to walk away; Annabelle sat back down and looked at her newspaper.
"Hey AB thanks for not quieting after all these struggles." Herb said.
"What and let you win! Not a chance." Annabelle said playfully. Herb smiled and continued walking down the hall.
The next day while at practice, Annabelle took notes over the team's performance at who was doing the best and worst on drills. In reality all the boys were doing great, but the '20 teammates' was holding back the final roster. It was three weeks before they departed to Madison Square Garden to play the Soviet Union, and the 'what if's' were starting up full force. All the while Annabelle was getting job offers left and right for her work at keeping the team organized. Not only was Annabelle's job offers lifting her spirits, but her and Jack were getting more intimate with each other. So far they had gone out on three dates, of course undercover so Herb wouldn't find out.
"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Herb yelled at the guys. "I want more flow in your plays. You're making it to where not only I can read it, but also where the others can read it. Put more effort into the plays!" Herb kept yelling. He nodded for Craig to hit another puck out to the ice and watched the lines fix they're problems.
As soon as the practice was finished Herb stopped by Annabelle and said,
"Come to my office for a meeting." He then left. Craig came up to her and they both went together. As soon as the door closed and Herb was seated the meeting began.
"Ok this is what I have in mind to keep the team on they're toes, I'm gonna cut Rizzo. That way none of the players can get comfortable with they're positions. Also I'm gonna take Jimmy out of the net and put Janie in it."
"Herb don't you think that's a little extreme?" Craig asked.
"Like I said, it's the only thing that will keep them on they're toes."
Later that night, Annabelle and Jack walked to the nearest restaurant to have they're date before the Olympic Games.
"So are you nervous about the Olympics?" Annabelle said after taking a sip of her water.
"Eh a little, but not too much." Jack said looking around.
"Jack what do you think will happen to us after the Olympics?"
"I don't know, but I hope that we can stay together as much as possible. I just don't want the same thing to happen again where I went off to college and you dated a guy who was a jerk, and then we get into a huge fight. Right now I do want us to work out, and hopefully after Lake Placid, we can go to the next step." Jack said.
Annabelle smiled at Jack and looked back out the window at the falling snow. This is what she loved about Minnesota, the snow; it seemed so light and fluffy that it didn't seem real. Annabelle had become lost in her fantasy that she didn't hear the waiter ask what she wanted until Jack touched her hand. After all the orders where taken, Jack looked at Annabelle's profile, which was looking back out the window.
"You love the snow here don't you?"
"Yeah. It just doesn't feel like I'm here, but at peace." Annabelle said looking at Jack, "Do you get what I'm saying?"
"Yeah I think I am." Jack chuckled. "Now about those job offers, which are you going to choose?"
"Well I've been asked to work for the USOC, the NHL, the Junior League, and many others outside to the U.S." Annabelle sighed, "But I just don't know what I want to do. I don't want to be stuck in the same place forever, but I want us to work out."
"Well maybe if I get into the NHL then we won't have to stay in the same place twice."
"You mean when you get into the NHL, there is no 'if'." Annabelle said with a smile that also went to Jack. "Jack you have so many talents that will make an excellent career."
"Do you really think so?"
"When do you start questioning me?" Annabelle asked jokingly. Jack chuckled and looked out the window with Annabelle.
"I love you." Jack said unexpectedly.
Annabelle turned her head at Jack thinking she heard him wrong. Jack repeated what he said, but this time he said it to Annabelle's face. After hearing the second time, she smiled.
"I love you too." She whispered.
In what felt like minutes, they're dinner was finished and they were on they're way back to the dorms hand in hand. Annabelle felt like she was on Cloud 9 at that moment. She could name millions of reasons why she could think her relationship with Jack would work; they knew each other since high school, they liked the same things, they both had hot tempers, the list could go on and on. Also the number one reason she knew this relationship would work was that Jack knew what she wanted and didn't force her into other things that were uncomfortable.
"Annabelle what was the real reason you quit figure skating?"
"I wasn't that in love with it. I mostly loved hockey, but with figure skating I wouldn't be around Grace as much and I couldn't bear that." Annabelle said putting her hand out to catch snow flakes. "I did love figure skating, but I didn't love it enough to continue. The way I saw it was to have fun and get dressed up to perform, but when it turned into contending with each other, my skating friends turned against me."
"Well I'm glad that you quit because I wouldn't be here with you. Right now you would probably be getting ready for the Olympics. I know that you would've made it, but I'm glad you stopped." Jack said and kissed her hand.
"Jack did you really mean it when you said that you loved me?"
"Of course I did. I'll always love you." Jack said and stopped Annabelle. "Remember that night when we kissed in your room?"
"Yeah after we came back to the dorms."
"That night I wanted to say that I loved you, but it didn't seem fitting. Right here and now, I think it was a good thing to say it."
"I agree." Annabelle said with a chuckle.
"Now let's hurry up and get home, my ass is freezing." Jack said.
"I know a way to fix that." Annabelle said half joking, half serious.
Again sorry for the long delay. I hope that this chapter will make up for that time.
