For the_hockey_life, hope you'll like it. It was actually written yesterday, but I wanted to publish it today since it's 36th anniversary of Miracle on Ice. :D
Let me just tell you something. Dating John J. "Jack" O'Callahan is not easy. Not at all. Yes, he is handsome and loyal and is willing to fight for those who he loves, but that doesn't mean being with him is easy. Trust me, I know. Jack and I have been dating for two years, since my sophomore year at the Boston University, but we've never faced such challenge like we did when he made the Olympic hockey team. I am an athlete myself and I understand practices demand much attention and I am glad he goes along with all of his teammates, but I could count the days we spent together since he made the final cut on fingers of one hand.
~20th February 1980~
The boys are playing their best once again and the game ends with USA winning over Western Germany 4 to 2. Needless to say, the whole arena is giving them standing ovation as they salute us, their faces glimmering with pride and sweat. I catch Jack's eyes and give him thumbs up. For a second it seems he will wave at me and his lips are starting to curve into a smile, but that doesn't happen. I see him hug his teammates again and I also notice Pavelich, Ramsey and Strobel point up at me. He quickly nods, but that's all he does. Great, he is in a bad mood again and again for completely unknown reason.
Avoiding the crowd, I make my way to their locker rooms just to congratulate them for another great victory. When I get there, I hear loud laughter, hollering and shouts from the locker room, making me realize how happy they are after another great game. The door open and Herb walks out: "Hey, Y/N."
"Hello, coach Brooks. C-Congratulations on another win," I stutter quietly and look down. Even though I've met him after the first game they played, he still gets me nervous and maybe a bit afraid of him. Hey, he is capable of anything and I don't doubt he would forbade OC seeing me if his game started going downhill.
"Thank you. But honestly, I think they could've played much better..."
Leaving the words hang in the air, he curves his lips into something that looks like a smile and walks away. I wait until he disappears around the corner before I knock on the door. Voices on the other side are immediately silenced and I hear one of the Minnesotans whisper: "Herb's back, come on, shut up everyone."
"Oh come on, you scared us shitless!" Bah exclaims as I open the door, grinning widely.
"Sorry, guys. Didn't think you'd be such chickens," I wink and earn glares from twenty guys, the nastiest one coming from no one else than my beloved boyfriend.
"Did you come in here to make fun of us?" his voice cuts through the air and the rest of the boys go completely quiet.
"Excuse me?"
"Did you come in here to make fun of us?" he repeats, his fists clenched. I've seen him pissed off, but he has never acted like that.
"I came here to congratulate you."
"Then do it," he spits and continues taking off his gear. One part of me wants to start yelling at him for being such an idiot, but the other part is telling me to let it go. Something must've happened on the ice to piss him off despite the victory and the best thing to do is to leave him alone.
"Well, uh, congratulations, guys. Another great game. Verchota, congratulations for that game-winning goal. And Mac, those were two beautiful goals!"
"Thank you, Y/N/N," both Minnesotan grin while pulling on their team hoodies. After fist bumping few other guys, I head out, without looking at OC for the final time.
