Flowers761: I'm glad I made you laugh, thanks for the review.

Meadow567: Thanks for the review and don't worry. I could never do that to OC - I love him too much. Rob was just being nice/sorta flirty. He has a girlfriend though, and she'll be in some chapters later.

Nelliebly413672: I'm glad you like Maddie and OC. Rob has a girlfriend that will be in the story later. Thanks for the review.

Emador: Thank you so much for your review. I wasn't really sure about the flashbacks. I really appreciate your input. I have another this chapter, and it is still sort of long. It was written before I wrote the last chapter, and I liked a lot of it too much to take out. (That happens sometimes, oh well.) I took some out though. After this chapter, there's not really any flashbacks, and if there are, I'm going to make them really short. Thanks again for the review.

A/N: So, here's another chapter. I don't really like this one that much, but I was having trouble changing it more than I already did. The end is mainly flashback. First, it starts off with Jack just thinking about earlier, then I have the flashback. The part that I don't like is the first part when Jack is thinking back, but I needed that in order to make the flashback fit and make sense. Oh well, I'm rambling. Just read it. You'll see what I mean.

Chapter 5

Jack and Maddie were the last to arrive at the bar. When they finally walked in, everyone had already found out that Maddie was in town. Most of the guys knew she was staying too. The table in back full of guys, turned and looked at the couple coming in.

"Nice of you to finally make it," Silky said sarcastically.

"Just ask them why they're so late," Jannie teased.

"I bet they were just busy," Mac said.

"Yeah, busy in the sheets," Buzz added.

Many other comments were shot at the two, but mainly at Jack, who finally stopped them.

"Look, it's none of your business why we were late, but we're here now, and you all need to be nice to Maddie."

"I can be very nice to Maddie," Verchota said, testing Jack to see his reaction.

"Watch it," Jack replied, giving him a death stare.

Jack sat down, with Maddie next to him, and started talking to some teammates. The guys from Boston greeted her with, "Hey Maddie" and "Good to see you." The guys that didn't know Maddie introduced themselves.

"I feel like I've known you my whole life, even though we just met," one of the guys who introduced himself as Bah said. "In the past two weeks, I've heard everything there is to know about you and then some."

"That's what I've been hearing a lot since I got here."

"I told you Jack doesn't shut up about you," Mac said.

Jack heard this and added in, "I'm not talking about her now am I?"

"If she weren't here you would be," Buzz answered.

Bah began imitating Jack. "Did you guys know that Maddie is in athletic training?"

Coxie played along. "No, OC, you've only told us fifty times."

"Did you know Maddie made me this picture album for our six month?" Bah continued.

"Let me guess - there are pictures of you two together right?" Cox continued.

"Yeah, how did you know? Have I told this one before?"

This time everyone at the table answered "Yesཀ"

This had Maddie laughing uncontrollably and Jack say "Okay, I get it. I went a little over board. Stop rubbing it in."

"I think it's really cute," Maddie said, putting her arm around Jack and kissing his cheek.

"You do?" Jack asked, turning toward her and kissing her on the lips.

"Would you guys get a room already?" Rizzo yelled from the end of the table.

"Well, we could go to your room," Jack shot back.

Everyone laughed again.

"So Maddie, I hear you're staying and helping with the team," Buzz said.

"Yeah, I'm interning with Doc."

"Oh." Most of the guys had unreadable and blank expressions on their faces.

"Guys, please try to contain your excitement," Maddie said sarcastically. "I'm not that bad to be around," she said, then paused before adding, "I thought Jack has said all good things about me."

"Look Maddie, it's nothing against you. You seem nice and all. It's just that, you're a girl." Maddie laughed at this. Buzz sounded like he was in third grade again when girls had cooties.

"Yeah, I'm a girl. And you're the one that's married right?" Maddie asked, hoping she had the right guy. Buzz nodded his head. "She's a girl too, am I right?"

"Yeah, but she's not going to be with the team constantly."

"Yeah, Maddie. If you're around all the time, we won't be able to talk about guy stuff," Jannie said.

"What kind of stuff is that?" Maddie asked, playing dumb.

"Like, I don't know. Stuff. You know . . . about girls and other stuff we talk about."

"You can still talk about girls. After three years of being around the BU teams, I've heard it all. I'm used to hearing and ignoring derogatory comments. Even from Jack," Maddie said, looking over at him. He had been talking to Rizzo and Silky and wasn't really listening until he heard his name.

"What about me?"

"Never mind." Jack turned back to Rizzo and Silky to continue their conversation. Then Maddie continued. "Anyway, your mothers will never find out that everything they taught you about treating girls with respect is being ignored. At least, they won't find out from me."

"Hey, that's not all of us," Mark Johnson protested. "I treat girls with respect."

"Yeah, but I bet the vast majority doesn't."

"You already know us too well," Verchota commented.

"I guess that's a downside to working with guys sports teams. I know how they think way to well."

"We're not that bad," Bah said, referring to him and his teammates.

"Wanna bet?" Maddie asked, raising her eyebrows slightly. "Hey Verchota, look, there's a tall blonde behind you."

Immediately, Verchota and a few other guys turned around to look for the blonde.

"Where? I don't see one," Verchota said confused.

"Told ya," Maddie said to Bah, who started laughing.

"Maddie, where is she?" Verchota asked again.

"Right there, behind you."

"I only see two guys."

"I never said it was a girl."

A few other guys laughed as they finally noticed the tall blonde standing behind them was a guy.

"That wasn't very nice," Verchota said.

"It was funny though," Maddie replied.

When everyone left the bar later that night, Maddie went to Jack's room even though she had her own. They promised Rizzo they would really go to sleep, and wouldn't make him want to leave. Maddie and Jack kept their promise and crawled into bed. Even though it was only a single bed, it wasn't a tight squeeze. Maddie cuddled right next to Jack, facing him, and used his shoulder as a pillow with one arm across his chest. Jack draped his arm across her waist, with his chin right above her head.

Jack was so happy Maddie was finally in Minnesota. He was also thrilled she was staying through the Olympics. She really is the best thing that's ever happened to me, Jack thought. As he tried to fall asleep, he remembered back to the time before they were dating.

Shortly after Jack and Maddie first met, Rizzo used to tell him that Maddie liked him. He also warned Jack that he was leading her on big time, and she would get hurt. Jack dismissed Rizzo's warning, not realizing that Maddie did have a slight crush. Being the player that he was, Jack continued his string of random, meaningless hookups. Maddie realized that Jack would probably never have the same feelings for her, so she stopped waiting around.

Jack still remembered the night he finally realized his feelings. It was the first night Maddie missed a game. She was on a date with her new boyfriend, Derek. Jack had been very jealous. He tried to remind himself that Maddie was just a friend, but it was no use. Jack had fallen for her. Six months later, Maddie and Derek were still dating, and Jack was losing hope that they would ever break up.

A few weeks into Jack's senior year, Silky had a party. Jack invited Maddie, who brought Derek. Maddie and Derek were together the entire night, and Derek was all over her. Jack couldn't stand Derek or seeing them together. Jack never thought Derek respected Maddie, and knew she deserved better.

Jack remembered the stupid fight him and Derek had over NHL teams later that night. For Jack however, the fight wasn't just about hockey. Silky suggested a game of truth or dare, just to stop the argument. It may have sounded like a stupid idea at the time, but it was the reason Jack and Maddie were together today.

September 1978

"Maddie, truth or dare?" Silky asked.

"Truth."

"Bor-ring," said Silky. "Okay then, how far have you gone with Derek?" Maddie's face turned red. "We're waiting," Silky prompted after a minute of silence. Although Jack wanted to know the answer himself, he was a little mad at Silky for putting Maddie on the spot.

"That's sort of personal," Jack spoke up in Maddie's defense.

"This whole game is personal. Besides, she picked truth."

"Yeah, but maybe she doesn't want to answer."

"Well, if she doesn't then I will," started Derek. He wrapped his arm tighter around her. "She doesn't really have anything to be embarrassed about anyway, right Maddie?"

This made Maddie turn ever redder.

"Don't say anything," Jack warned Derek. "She doesn't want everyone to know about your personal relationship."

"What's the big deal? Besides, I'm hoping the answer to the question will change after tonight anyway," Derek hinted suggestively while moving one hand up her leg and the other under her shirt. Maddie didn't look like she was enjoying this, and Jack wasn't either. He was really pissed.

'Who does he think he is trying to feel Maddie up like that? Doesn't he know she hates PDA?' Jack thought.

"Derek, please stop," Maddie warned him. He didn't stop.

"Why don't you just quit it, okay!" Jack said, visibly angry.

"What's your problem with me?" Derek yelled, letting Maddie go.

"Like you don't know," Jack mumbled to himself.

"Look, let's have a truce. I'll forget about everything you've said tonight, if you apologize. We'll just move on."

"Are you fricken' serious! Apologize? To you? I'd rather kill myself, thank you."

"That's real mature Jack. I can't believe you don't want to be friends because we like two different hockey teams!"

"You think that's what this is about? You're crazy. The hockey thing just helped me realize how much I don't like you. I've never liked you! We've never been friends will be. Why don't you stop pretending you want to be friends with me? I know you hate me just as much as I hate you, jackass."

"Jack! I need to talk to you. Now!" Maddie said, absolutely livid. Maddie stormed out of the room, and Jack followed. They walked to Maddie's room down the hall and went inside. Once Jack was in, she slammed the door and gave him a death stare.

"What the hell is your problem! You're the jackass. I can't believe the stuff you said to Derek. Come on Jack, why -"

Jack stopped her from talking by walking up, grabbing her arms, and kissing her hard. Instead of pulling away, Maddie relaxed and wrapped her arms around his neck, slightly kissing back. After she realized what she was doing, Maddie pulled away.

"What was that?" Maddie asked, after they broke apart, not sounding angry anymore.

"I'm sorry," said Jack. "I don't know why I did that . . . " he trailed off.

"No you're not," Maddie said, smiling slightly. Jack sat on her bed and sighed, rubbing his hands over his face.

"You just don't get it, do you?"

"Get what?" asked Maddie, looking confused.

"Do you know why I really hate Derek?"

"Cause you fight over hockey teams?" she said, in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Because he's dating you." Maddie didn't respond. She had no idea what to say. Jack finished. "Look, I'm an idiot. Ever since I've met you, we've been great friends. I didn't realize how I actually felt until he walked into your life," Jack said bitterly.

"I had no idea . . . " Maddie started, trailing off.

"I know. I wish I had said something earlier." There was a long pause before Maddie continued.

"Now I have a problem."

"What would that be?" Jack asked, though already knowing the answer.

"Do I break up with Derek?"

"Are you asking me?" Jack said smiling. "If you are, I say yes." Maddie smiled but before she responded, it faded to a frown.

"Jack, Derek's a great guy. I know you don't think so, but he really is. And you're great too, but both of you are totally different."

"You can't honestly say you love him though."

"We're not to that point yet Jack," Maddie tried to protest.

"Don't give me that bull shit Maddie. I see you two together and although you act all close and shit, you're not."

"And we'd be closer?" Maddie asked.

"It'd be real," Jack said, sounding somewhat annoyed.

"Why do you like me?"

"Huh?" Jack said, wondering why Maddie was changing the subject.

"What would make me different from the other girls you've dated?"

"I care about you," he said simply, and that was the only answer Maddie needed.

After nine months, Jack still felt the same way about her. Jack dosed off, thinking about how perfect his life was with Maddie in it, and how nothing could change that.

A/N: Okay, I hope you guys liked it. I wanted to post this now, because I can't wait to post the next chapter! You'll all find out what you've been waiting for . . . what July 6th was!