Chapter 2- Lessons
The local bar was buzzing with a feeling of warmth as young adults filled the small building conversing with one another. There was a clear divide as Boston boys Jack O'Callahan, Dave Silk, Mike Eruzione, and Jim Craig were sat at a table with Ralph Cox of UNH. While the local Minnesota boys sat at another across the way
"You get stopped by a police man but you know you're not at fault do you state your disagreement?, he's got 300 of these things" Silk sighed
"It's a test Silky you've taken one or two before" Rizzo shrugged taking a sip of his beer
"Not to play hockey I haven't" He said matter of factly, Jim gave a slight smile
"I'm not even doing it" he said pouring himself another glass of the yellow liquid
"Can you even read Silky" Cox laughed amused, Silk smiled back shaking his head at the UNH joker. Jack looked up to say something but stopped as he caught sight of a certain forward being accompanied by Mark Johnson and three very good looking females. Jack recognized Allie as the pretty girl from the ice rink he also found the other blonde quite attractive but his eyes kept falling on the brunette. Her hair fell in soft waves and her skin had a soft summer glow, her jean shorts were high waisted and accented the curves of her body Jack let his eyes travel to other sections of her body quickly and noticed she was full in all the right places. Jack quickly pulled his eyes from her chest and he hoped no one noticed his 'examination', but he wouldn't deny he wanted her in every possible way.
"Hey Rizzo what's going on" Mac greeted with a smile
"Hey Mac" Rizzo gave the Minnesotan a wave the pretty blonde girl spoke smoothly,
"Mike Eruzione long time no see"
Cox smiled slightly when he noticed Jimmy's attention had been on her and only her. Cox also caught sight of OC's through examination of the beautiful brunette
"Claire, Avery good to see ya hey Allie" Rizzo said glancing at the younger blonde and noticed how laid back she had become since he'd last seen her
"How's it hanging?" Allie called with a smile
"Quite long if I do say so myself darling" Silk winked at the three Avery shook her head as Claire rolled her eyes, Allie just looked confused as she furrowed her brows in a cute fashion
"Oh you mean… okay I got it" Allie muttered loud enough for everyone to hear as a sudden look of realization flushed across her face. Avery chuckled throwing an arm around her youngest sister
"I think he's the Silk dad was telling us about" Avery said looking Dave in the eyes
"At least his game play is better than his pick up lines" Claire smirked Jimmy laughed grabbing everyone's attention. Claire definitely found the boy attractive with his dark hair and pretty blue eyes
"Jim Craig right?" Claire asked him with a sweet smile, Jim blushed slightly but nodded confirming her question
"Claire Patrick" Claire greeted with and out stretched hand, it took everything in her not to squeeze the beautiful boy to death. Jim took her small soft hand in his larger one and blushed even deeper as she smiled a little brighter at him
"Actually your name is Clarissa" Allie said in a know it all tone, Mac chuckled shacking his head as he walked toward his fellow Minnesotans
"And yours is Allison, what's your point" Avery laughed as Jacks eyes stayed on her once again for a long moment only this time she noticed the intense stare. She blushed a bit shifting under the attractive boy's eyes
"Anyway I'm going to make Mac buy me a drink" Avery came up with a quick exit line
"I'll buy you one" Silk offered with a smile not noticing Jack's slight glare towards him
"No, it's alright Mac owes me for my little cover story anyway" Avery said smiling as she recalled the situation Mac had been in
"I can't believe they actually thought you two were married" Allie giggled
"They act like they are most of the time, if I didn't know them so well I'd believe it too. Mac's what Avery likes to call her "back up husband'." Claire explained to the table of males " If neither of them are married by the time they're in their 30s they'll marry each other" Claire smiled accepting the beer Jimmy had poured for her
"It's only a back up plan, I'm not sure I could ever picture myself having sex with Mac anyway what a scary thought" Avery said more to herself, Allie shrugged
"Still not as bad as the nightmare I had about Verchota" Avery smiled slightly
"That's so true, now come on" Avery grabbed Allie's arm and pulled her toward the Minnesota table. Allie plopped down on Mike Ramsey's lap and casually sneaked a few sips of Phil Verchota's beer.
"Nice to see you too Allie, sure you can use me as a chair" Mike said with heavy sarcasm, the familiar feelings of attraction towards his best friend were pushed to the back of his head.
"It's not my fault you make the perfect chair Mikey" Allie shrugged innocently looking back at the tall hockey player she had grown to love. She felt slightly guilty about her non platonic feelings she'd been harboring for Mike Ramsey for the last 3 years or so. The two of them continued to look at each other for a few moments
"Hey Rammer tell your girl to stop drinking my beer" Verchota said snatching the glass from Allie's small hand there was amusement behind his words. Allie scowled giving him a firm kick to the leg
"OW! Keep your girl under control" Phil said with a scowl of his own
"You know my name Verchota why don't you start using it huh?" Allie rolled her eyes as she looked around she noticed Claire had taken a seat next to Jim Craig, she also noticed Claire fiddle with her loose waves a habit she had developed when she found the male she was talking to attractive. Allie smirked grabbing a peanut out of the bowl that was sat in front of her and chucked it swiftly hitting Claire in the face when Jimmy wasn't looking.
"She's got an arm, and I thought she couldn't be anymore attractive" Harrington chuckled, Allie didn't notice the glare her best friend was giving the boy she was too focused on getting Claire's attention. Claire looked up directly at Allie and mouthed 'WHAT', Allie bit back a laugh motioning between Jim Craig and her older sister before making kissing faces adding a wink at the end. Claire blushed shaking her head rapidly but stopped as soon as Jimmy started talking
"So you went to the University?" Jimmy looked at her trying to make small talk, Claire who was still quiet pink nodded
"Yea, Avery and I majored in nursing and Allie was studying astronomy" Claire said with a small smile
"Whens your birthday?" Silky interrupted, Claire laughed a little but answered the boys question .
"My birthday was last week Wednesday June 13th"
"Newly 21 nice how much did you drink?" Silky smirked making Claire roll her eyes but she answered honestly.
"A bit too much, according to Avery I tried to hug the bartender several times and started yelling "Han Solo can enter my spaceship any day" needless to say I'm laying off the hard stuff for a long while" Claire blushed a bit unsure of why she'd spill that to a bunch of guys she had just met no more than five minutes ago. Jim smiled with a light chuckle
"Sounds like you had quiet the night" Rizzo laughed along with the other boys making Claire feel a bit more comfortable
"Oh yes it was and Avery kept urging me to drink more what a terrible role model" she joked making the boys laugh once again
"Sounds like my kind of girl" Silk said glancing back at the brunette across the way "We definitely need to party some time" Silk yelled to her across the way making Avery furrow her brows in an amused fashion
"What the hell have you been telling them?" She jokingly asked Claire making her laugh
"About my birthday, I swear I haven't said nothing that isn't true" Claire said with a wink, Avery shook her head
"I may have to take you up on that one Silk" she replied simply and tuned back into the Minnesotans conversation though not completely. Her eyes kept wandering back to the attractive Boston boy who had been staring at her earlier, she admired him from a distance taking in all his features. He must have felt her stare because his eyes wandered the bar before landing back on the brunette beauty, Avery quickly averted her eyes but could still feel his eyes watch her every move. But it seemed only the blonde boy that was seated next to her and Ralph Cox noticed the exchange Ralph shook his head slightly amused
"Why don't you go talk to her?" Ralph asked quietly so no one else would hear startling Jack slightly
"What are you talking about Coxy? And how can you guys even stand to be in the same room as that clown?" Jack asked jumping the topic of the beautiful girl seated at their rival table. Dave, Jim, and Rizzo immediately knew what Jack or rather who he was referring too. Claire sat up a little straighter tuning into the unfolding scene before her
"Hey, it's over let it go" Rizzo ordered looking back at the god forsaken test their coach had given them
"What are you talking about? And you know what I was talking about" Ralph said taking on the two topics head on, Dave looked a bit confused at the last part of Cox's statement but answered
"OC has just got a little unfinished business over there" Cox knew what he meant right away but Claire still looked rather clueless
"Wasn't that long ago" Jack started but Rizzo cut him off
"Hey what I tell ya man let it go" Rizzo reiterated with a serious look on his face, Jack's scowl confirmed Cox's unanswered question
"What MacClanahan? Come on OC that happened like three years ago" Cox tried to reason making Jack tense up, Claire caught on rather quickly shifting awkwardly in her seat
"Ya know what Coxy, let me ask you a question. Why'd you wanna play college hockey?" Jack asked. "Isn't it obvious for the girls" Cox smiled winking at Claire making her giggle, but Jack remained serious
"I'm serious Coxy why's you wanna play college hockey?" Jack asked again with a stony look, Cox retracted a bit but answered anyway
"Because I love to play hockey okay? I want to go to the NHL just like everybody does"
"Well I wanted to win a national championship, but the pansy over there cheap shots me, I get tossed out of the game, and he steals the ring right off my finger how would you feel?" Jack asked his temper flaring with every word
"Everyone was throwing cheap shots that night" Claire said
"Yea she's right" Rizzo agreed fairly quickly Jack ignored Claire and hopped straight to Rizzo
"You know it's funny you say that Rizzo because I was just wondering what side you're on" Jack said his voice raising slightly
"I'm on your side" Rizzo defended himself, Jack ignored it with a snide comment
"Yeah it really seems that way" He said tossing his pen on the table
"Just relax it isn't that big of a deal you act like he shot your dog for crying out loud" Claire huffed picking up her glass
"No one asked your opinion honey, it's very clear to us who's side you're on. Why don't you run on back to the little hick club you call home huh?" Jack asked taking his temper out on her as well, Claire gritted her teeth gripping the glass a little harder as she stood, she made her way over to him with an unreadable expression upon her face
"Lesson number one Boston, insulting us on our territory will get you no where" Claire said pouring her beer all over his head. Jimmy, Cox, Silk, and Rizzo all looked shocked, no one that knew Jack O'Callahan had ever dared cross him and especially not a girl. The Minnesotans had all caught a look as well. Avery's jaw was a gape and she wondered just what the boy could've done to deserve that, Allie gasped as she was still seated on Mike Ramsey's lap. Claire was never a hot headed person and for her to do that to anyone they clearly must have deserved it
"Lesson number two, you shouldn't underestimate us Minnesota girls" Claire finished setting her glass down next to Jack. Jack was at a loss for words, this was something he'd never experienced before. Claire looked up meeting everyone's watching eyes
"I'm leaving you coming or you staying?" She asked Avery
"Allie and I are going to stay a bit, tell me all about this later" Avery said looking over at Jack O'Callahan who looked quiet embarrassed. Claire only nodded and turned around to leave the crowded bar, she was a bit shocked when Jim Craig stood to go with her
"It's late you shouldn't be wandering off by yourself" He shrugged
"Okay then come along" Claire said allowing the goalie to follow her.
"I can't believe she did that" Avery said stealing another glance at the soaked defense men his embarrassed nature had disappeared and was now replaced with a bitter expression. Allie nodded resting her head on Mike Ramsey's shoulder, a habit she had fallen into over the years. It was clear to Mike she was getting tired but he knew she'd refuse to leave if he tried to talk her into it so he left her to doze off on his shoulder. The blonde boy next to Avery started to engage in conversation with her for the first time tonight, Avery thought he very good looking as well
"Bill Baker" he introduced extending his and
"Avery" she replied giving him a firm shake
"So I saw you looking at OC quite a bit" Bill winked making her blush, Avery hadn't realized that the attractive Boston boy was indeed Jack O'Callahan
"Um I'm not sure what you're talking about" she said taking a sip of her beer, Bill laughed shaking his head
"Don't act innocent, you stared at him for a good fifteen minutes a while ago" he said kindheartedly
"Was it really that obvious" she asked now slightly embarrassed she had been staring at him so hard
"Don't worry I think your sisters and I were the only ones that noticed, and don't feel bad about it Jack was staring at you hardcore too" Bill reassured her making her blush even deeper
"Really?" she said feeling like a little school girl
"Yes really, and who can blame him for staring at a girl as beautiful as you?" Bill winked again, Avery laughed a bit
"Well aren't you a flirt"