A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews. I'm glad you guys like my story so far. I wasn't going to post this until Friday, but after I got the great reviews, I couldn't wait to give you guys more. I hope everyone likes this chapter too, let me know what you think.

Chapter 2

July 6, 1979

The next morning Jack, Rizzo, and Silky went to the arena for tryouts. At least three hundred people were there. The three guys checked in and got ready to play. Jack saw a lot of guys from Boston University, and he also recognized many faces from teams he had played against over the years. Unfortunately, one of these teams was the University of Minnesota.

Well hopefully the coaches will see that they suck and cut them. There isn't a need for those hicks on the team, Jack thought. At first, Jack thought that since he got a personal invitation to tryout, there wouldn't be more than seventy guys there, and getting a spot on the team wouldn't be that difficult. Now Jack knew he was totally wrong. Apparently, three hundred guys got invitations and this was a much bigger deal than he thought.

As he played, Jack tried to watch other guys too. From the looks of it, he was one of the best there. But Jack always thought he was one of the best. Getting consumed in these thoughts, Jack didn't even see the open man on the breakout. Someone Jack didn't know was playing defense opposite him, and skating with a forward who had the puck. The guy passed the puck across the ice to the open man Jack should have seen. He one-timed it, knowing Jack wasn't in position to block the shot. Jimmy Craig was in goal behind Jack and the puck went right over his glove.

"Damn it!" Jack said to himself, hitting his stick in the ground. I can't believe I just let the guy have it.

The guy turned around and Jack noticed the name on the back of his jersey. It read McClanahan.

"Damn it," Jack said again. Now he was really pissed. Of all people to score with Jack defending, it had to be him. Now, I not only made myself look like an idiot, but I made that pansy look good.

After skating and playing hard for a few hours, the guys were called off the ice. Waiting for Craig Patrick to announce the first cut was very nerve raking. It was even worse when Jack found out that the team was basically made already. Tryouts were supposed to last the whole week, but Herb Brooks already had twenty-six names. Was he insane?

Jack sat in the stands, waiting for his name to be called. He wasn't even paying much attention to the other names, just waiting for his own.

"Christoff, Morrow, Suter..."

I hope he didn't see that stupid mistake I made earlier, Jack thought. Thoughts like this were running through everyone's heads too as they all waited, hopefully, to hear their name.

"Pavelich, Verchota, Baker..."

Come on, read them faster. I can't take this much longer, thought Jack impatiently.

"O'Callahan..."

What? He just called my name, I made itཀ I made itཀ Jack smiled, with the reality setting in. He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he didn't hear anything else Craig said. A voice from behind him snapped Jack out of his thoughts.

"Take a good look, gentlemen, cause they're the ones getting off easy." It was Herb, and Jack didn't think he seemed too friendly. After a few more words of "encouragement," or whatever they were to Herb, Jack was wondering what he had gotten himself into.

These thoughts immediately vanished as the team was dismissed and everyone began congratulating each other.

"Hey OC, we made it!" Rizzo excitedly said.

"Yeah, this is great. I can't believe we're on the U.S. Olympic team."

"Let's go celebrate."

"I heard some guys talking about some bar, McGuire's, or something," Jack said, remembering what he had heard in the locker room earlier.

"Sounds good. See you later."

On Jack's way out, he picked up the "homework" Herb wanted them to do. It was a thick packet with numbered questions throughout it. Flipping through it, Jack realized it was some sort of two-hundred question psychology test.

What the hell, he thought. What is wrong with this guy? A test, for hockey. Herb Brooks is definitely weird.

After Jack got his equipment from the locker room, he went to find a pay phone. Jack couldn't wait to tell Maddie the news. She picked up on the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey baby."

"Jack! How are you? How were tryouts? Did you make the first cut?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. One question at a time."

"Okay, okay. Did you make it?"

"Well, the tryouts were tiring and it was quite a work out. They were also cut short. Instead of being a week like they were supposed to be, they were just today. The first cut is the only cut, at least for a while and -"

"Just spit it out already. Did you make it?" Jack wanted to torture her a little more, but she was so excited that he couldn't wait any longer. He pulled the phone away from his ear and just left his mouth near the mouthpiece.

"Yeah, I made -"

Maddie cut him off squealing so loudly that people standing near Jack in the hallway looked over to see what was going on. As Maddie said, "Oh my God, I'm so happy for you, I knew you would make it" Jack mouthed, "I just told my girlfriend," to the guys looking at him.

They all nodded and knew then what was going on, and went back to what they were doing before.

"Well, I'm glad you're happy. I am too."

"Who else made it?"

"Rizzo and Silky both made it, and Jim Craig did too. Remember him?"

"Of course I remember Jimmy. Make sure you tell everyone congratulations for me."

"I will."

"Anyone else I would know?"

"Ralph Cox made it. He went to UNH."

"I don't really remember him."

"Robbie McClanahan made it too, and a bunch of other people from Minnesota." Jack said this with a grimace, which Maddie immediately noticed.

"Jack, just play your game. Don't worry about those guys."

"He's such a jerk Maddie. I really can't stand him."

"Just don't do anything stupid. You don't want to get kicked off the team for something stupid. You really need to let it go."

"It's hard to let it go, Maddie. And today, he made me look like an idiot."

"Was it his fault or yours?" Jack was silent for a minute, before he honestly answered.

"Fine. It was mine. But still, I can't stand him."

"I know letting it go is hard for a tough guy like you, but for your on sake, move on. Please."

"Once I take care of things soon, I won't have to think about it," Jack mumbled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Maddie asked, but the truth was, Jack himself didn't really know what it meant. He knew he had to get back at Robbie once and for all, but he hadn't thought about how yet.

"Nothing. I promise I'll be careful," Jack assured her, though Maddie wasn't sure that she completely believed him. After a long pause, Maddie changed the subject.

"So, what's the big celebration plan for tonight?"

"We're just going to some bar. We also have to take this test with at least two hundred questions. It's like a psychology test or something."

"Sounds like fun," Maddie said sarcastically.

"Yeah, I'm sure it will be," Jack replied dryly. "It'd be better if you were here," Jack added, hinting around.

"I promise I'll visit you soon."

"You better."

"Have fun tonight."

"I will."

"And Jack, don't talk to any girls unless their boyfriends are on the team okay. I don't want any girl trying to go after my guy."

"Okay, I'll chat up all the girls with boyfriends on the team then," Jack joked.

"Very funny Jack," Maddie said sarcastically. "But when I come to visit, there better not be a girl that stole your heart."

"Not possible, baby. I love you too much."

"Love you too, talk to you soon."

Jack hung up the phone and went to find his friends.

Maddie's house in Boston . . .

After Maddie hung up with Jack, her father walked into the living room where she was sitting.

"Who was that?" her father asked.

"George Washington," she answered sarcastically. Maddie knew that her dad knew she was talking to Jack. He just wanted to start with her again.

"Madison."

"Oooh, full name."

"Stop it. You're acting like a child."

"You're treating me like a child," she countered. "You don't have to start every time I talk to, or mention, Jack. I'm twenty-one years old, and I can date whoever I want."

"Well, no matter how old you are, you're still my daughter and I can give you advice."

"Doesn't mean I'm going to listen."

"Maddie, that boy -"

"Jack," Maddie interrupted.

"Is not the type of guy you want, and -"

"Dad, you barely know him."

"I know enough."

"Fine. Thanks for the advice dad. I appreciate you trying control my life." Maddie walked up the stairs to her room, not wanting to talk to her dad anymore.

It was no secret that her parents didn't like Jack very much. Maddie could take a guess why. She used always do what her parents wanted and rarely got into trouble. After she met Jack, Maddie stopped caring what her parents thought. It didn't matter to her anymore if they disapproved of something she did. Her parents both thought Jack was the reason Maddie started acting that way, and he was, but it wasn't a bad thing. Jack really helped Maddie realize that it didn't matter what other people thought. Although she still had trouble with that at times, as far as her parents were concerned, she didn't care at all what they thought.

Maddie shut her door and decided to visit Jack sooner rather than later. Maybe she could even stay the whole summer, if she could afford a room that long. She pulled out her calender to find a date she could leave. That's when she noticed the date. July 6. Oh my God, no. It can't be. July 6? This is really bad, she thought. Maddie looked up at the month again, hoping she was looking at the wrong page. She wasn't. What am I going to do? she thought, worried.

A/N: Well, my first cliffhanger. You probably all hate me now, lol. I'm sorry to say that the next chapter probably won't be up until Tuesday. Please review to let me know how it was.