Not really requested, but I was somehow inspired to write it. So, for all fans of OC/Mac out there, hope you enjoy!
Being a girl from Boston, who is the last year student of Minnesota University , my heart is divided between the two teams when it comes to hockey- my brother Jack O'Callahan's team from Boston U. and my boyfriend Rob McClanahan's team from your university, Minnesota. I watched as my university defeated Boston U. in the playoffs three years before my brother and my boyfriend were called to Colorado Springs for the tryouts for the team, going to the Olympics.
"Can I come with you, Jack?" I annoy my older brother before he leaves to Colorado for the tryouts.
"Y/N, I don't know. Beside, nothing interesting will be happening. Just bunch of guys trying their luck."
"Please, please, please?"
"Fine. But why do you want to go?"
"I just want to support my older brother."
He looks at me with his eyes squinted: "Or do you want to support your...boyfriend?"
"B-Both of you. Beside, why does me dating Mac bother you?"
He huffs and turns around, carefully going through his gear.
"Really, Jack, tell me."
"Okay, but listen to me carefully," he turns around and looks directly in my eyes, making me step back a little.
"Not only he is older. This little prick cheap shot me, making us lose the National Championship."
"Jack, that was like three years ago. Let it go."
"I see. My own sister is my rival's side. Good to know."
"I am on nobody's side! And about him being older? Only by two years, Jack!"
We are glaring at each other, our palms clenched into fists, when our mother comes in, nearly knocking the door down: "Y/N, Jack, what is going on?"
"Nothing, mom," Jack says with his jaw clenched. I seize the chance: 'He is not letting me to go to Colorado Springs with him, mom! I want to see him, I want to support my brother!"
By the way our mom looks at my brother, I know, I've won the battle: "Jack, if your baby sister wants to support you, you should let her go with you."
Jack rolls his eyes and mumbles under his breath: "Fine, she can come with me. But if they won't let her watch, that's not my problem..."
"Thank you, bro!"
I run to my room and before packing, pick up my phone for the nightstand. Kicking my door, I close them and call Rob's number.
"Yeah?"
"Mac, it's me."
"Y/N! Hi, what's up?"
"Guess what? I am coming to Colorado for your tryouts!"
"You are kidding me! That's the best news I've heard in a while!"
"I am serious, Mac. My mom allows me, so I can come with Jack."
A silence on the other side of the line.
"Mac?"
He exhales deeply: "You are coming with your brother who hates me for no reason?"
"Yeah. But I promise he won't stand on my way."
"Okay. Well, I can't wait to see you in Colorado!"
"Neither can I! I love you, Mac."
"Love you too, Y/N/N."
At the same time we cancel the call. As soon as I put down your phone, someone says behind my back: "So, is your lover boy excited?"
"Were you eavesdropping on my conversation with my boyfriend?"
He shrugs his shoulders: "You'll see him soon. Maybe then our phone bill won't be so enormous."
I throw a pillow at him: "Get out of my room!"
Laughing, he walks out, leaving me alone to pack.
The first day of the training camp, I hug my brother and go find Mac, who is hanging out with a group of his former teammates.
"Mac!" I call him and he turns around. His eyes light up and he drops his bag on one of guys' toes, making him cringe in pain.
"Y/N/N!"
He picks me up and spins me around, covering my face with kisses. I giggle, hoping no one is really paying attention to the two of us.
When he puts me down, I notice your brother glaring daggers at me and Mac. I purposely hug Mac tighter.
"I really missed you, Macky."
"So did I, Y/N/N."
Our lips connect into another kiss, which lasts until I hear someone call my name. Of course it's my brother, who else would've! Mac turns around and sees Jack glaring at both of us: "So, our guard is calling you?"
"Mac," I groan. Gosh, they are supposed to be older, but they are acting like two kids.
"Go. I don't want you to see all locked up."
I smack his arm lightly before heading to my brother.
"No need to getting all lovey-dovey around bunch of guys, you know?" he scolds me and I roll my eyes: "Are you jealous?"
"No, Y/N, I am not," he sighs, trying hard not to start yelling at me. "Come on, we have to go. Wait for me on the stands."
The next day after all of the players signed up, I am sitting on the stands, watching the boys practice drills. Coach Brooks was at first against the idea of me watching their practices, but luckily, coach Craig Patrick remembered me from a hockey camp I went with Jack and Craig was my coach. Few hours later I am still sitting on the stands, but this time, all the boys who came to the tryouts are here. It's the time of the final decision. Guys are chatting and you notice Mac looking at me time to time. We share moments of small smiles and glances, knowing my brother sees everything. When coach Patrick and Doc step in front of them, merry chatting stops.
"Hughes, Ross, Auge, Delich, Horsch, Strobel, Christoff, Morrow, Suter, Ramsey, Janaszak, Christian, Pavelich, Verchota, Baker, Harrington, Schneider, O'Callahan, McClanahan, Silk, Johnson, Craig, Cox, Eruzione. And that's the roster for now. The rest of you thanks for coming out."
When my boyfriend's and my brother's names are called, I barely stop myself from clapping. I know how much both Jack and Rob wanted that, how much they wanted to play for United States of America.
Quiet murmur and congratulations fill the room, but even that stops when Herb Brooks walks in: "Take a good look, gentlemen, cause they're the ones getting off easy. We're putting a few of you on reserve in case somebody gets injured or their game goes to hell. Final roster will have 20 names on it in seven months so more of you are going home. You give 99 percent, you make my job very, very easy. I'll be your coach, I won't be your friend. If you need one of those, take it up with Doc or Coach Patrick."
I see boys sharing looks, most of them wondering what the hell has just happened. I notice my brother exchange a glance with Mike Eruzione, one of the boys from Boston U. And I realize, no matter how much me and Mac want to be together, this will not be an option. These are going to be months from hell.
The next day I go to their first practice with your brother.
"Are you excited?"
"Coach seems like he knows what he's doing. And he seems strict. So I guess you and your Mac won't have any time for yourselves."
"Do you really have to give me hard time for dating him?"
"Yes, my dear sister. Yes, I really have to."
"You really have to find a girlfriend, Jack."
He rolls his eyes, but doesn't say a word, making me a bit suspicious: "Wait... are you seeing someone?"
"None of your business."
"You are! My brother is in love!"
"Shut up, Y/N. It's nothing. Again, wait for me on the stands, I have to go."
He walks down the hall to their dressing room, leaving me alone. I head on the stands and sit in the third row, just enough to have a good view on the ice.
Their first practice reveals how serious Brooks is about winning the Olympics. And how deep the rivalry between Boston U. and University of Minnesota is. But the thing that worries me the most is when Jack takes Morrow's place as soon as he sees Mac on the ice. I know Jack didn't go on the ice for a friendly chat with his rival. And that becomes obvious when he blocks his way, knocking him down on purpose. My heart stops and my eyes start to water as I see Mac is not getting up. I see my brother say something, small smile on his cheeks. And that something must've pissed Mac off, because he gets up and yells: "Let's go!".
Two people I love the most, get into a fight, and all I can do is watch. I look at Herb, expecting him to separate them, but he doesn't move a muscle, making my suffering longer. Few boys try to separate them, but they are not stopping. Finally, when Jack's fist connects with Mac's jaw, they break them apart. When they get up, I see Mac has a bloody nose and my heart fills with anger towards my older brother.
"Well, how 'bout it boys? Look like hockey to you? Looks like two monkeys trying to hump a football to me, I don't know. What do you think, Craig?"
After a short pause Coach Patrick agrees: "Yeah."
With that, he gives Herb green light to start his disciplinary talk: "You wanna settle old scores, you're on the wrong team. We move forward starting right now. We start becoming a team RIGHT NOW! Skating. Passing. Flow. And creativity. That is what this team is all about, gentlemen. NOT old rivalries. So, why don't we start with some introductions. You know, get to know each other a little bit. Where you from. Who you are. Go ahead."
His gaze jumps to Mac, whose bloodied nose makes my heart hurt. Mac rolls his eyes before answering: " Rob McClanahan. St. Paul, Minnesota."
Herb asks him: "Who do you play for?"
For a second it seems Mac doesn't know what to answer, but then he says: "I play for you, here at the U."
Coach Brooks looks at your angered brother: "Jack?"
Jack answers, but there is something in his answer that makes me believe he doesn't see any use in introducing himself: "Jack O'Callahan. Charlestown, Mass. Boston University."
At last, Brooks looks at one of the players with mustache: "Over here."
"I'm Ralph Cox. I'm from wherever's not gonna get me hit."
Herb nods his head: "Very good. Everybody on the line, let's go!"
Practice continues without any fights, surprisingly.
An hour later I wait for my brother and as soon as he steps out of the locker room, I gather all the strength in me and shove him against the wall: "Why did you do that? That was the cheapest thing I've ever seen!"
"I just tripped him a bit..."
"Oh yeah? Tripped him a bit? Jack, you are such a resentful person!"
"Wow, calm down. That's hockey!"
"No, that's my brother, trying to be macho!"
I push him against the wall again and walk away: "You can go, I'll be here with Mac for a while."
I wait until the rest of the team is gone, before I head to their locker room. Mac is still there, holding an ice to his face. I hurry to him and take his hand in mine: "Are you okay?"
"Been better. Must be entertaining seeing your boyfriend beaten by your brother, eh?"
"No. What Jack did was cheap."
"Well, he is hot-headed, I guess."
I gently pull away the ice and touch his face. His eyes meet mine and he smiles: "Many girls would never date a loser."
"You are not a loser, Mac," I kiss him. He kisses me back and with his free hand grabs a plastic bag full of ice, shaking a whole lot of ice on my back.
"MAC!"