A/N: This is my first Miracle story, and actually my first story for anything ever, and I finally have decided to post it. Please review and let me know how I can make it better.
Disclaimer: I own Miracle . . . in my dreams. In reality, I don't own it and never will.
A/N 2: I have a lot of the story written or at least planned out, so updates will be frequent.
Chapter 1
July 5, 1979
Jack O'Callahan was sitting at gate 24A at the Boston Logan International Airport. His flight to Colorado was scheduled to leave in an hour. Although Jack was excited to be going with a bunch of his friends to tryout for the Olympic Hockey Team, he wasn't as happy as he should have been. His friends from Boston University, Mike Eruzione and Dave Silk were laughing and having a good time, but Jack was distracted. His thoughts kept turning back to the fight he had with his girlfriend three days ago.
July 2, 1979 . . .
"When were you planning on telling me? Were you going to wait until after you left and then just tell me over the phone? I can't believe you didn't tell me about this!"
"Maddie, why can't you be happy for me? This is a huge deal. If I make the team, I'll be in the Olympics. But you don't even care, do you. You're too concerned with yourself."
"No, Jack, I'm not. You're the self-centered one. I think it's amazing you have this opportunity but it would have been nice for you to tell me. I didn't need to accidentally find out from Rizzo!"
"I was waiting for the right time," Jack countered.
"Okay, whatever. If you think three days before you leave is a good time, then you obviously don't care much about me."
"I do to care about you. I think you would have seen that by now."
"I'm not so sure that's true Jack. If you cared, you would have told me earlier. Before we even got together, I was warned about you. People told me I would think you cared until I got hurt. Then I would know it was all for one thing. . . . " Maddie trailed off.
"People meaning your parents? Come on, Maddie."
"My friends too. They all said I would get hurt."
"Your friends were just jealous. They couldn't get a guy like me if they paid him."
"A guy like you? My friends wouldn't fall for a guy that was using them."
"Using you? I can't believe you said that. My God, if I was using you . . . you know I care about you. If I didn't, I would have been gone a while ago."
"You know what, I don't care. Go to the tryouts and play in the Olympics. Don't count on me to be waiting here when you get back." With that, Maddie walked out of the room and slammed the door.
Jack really did love Maddie, but he knew he had to break the news that he was leaving for Colorado and may not be home until February gently. Maddie was always a pretty emotional person, but she always tried to hide her real feelings. Jack hated that Maddie would never tell him how she really felt. Now he knew not telling her right away was a big mistake.
Normally, Jack was very careful with his relationship with Maddie, because he didn't want to mess things up. She was more important than any other girlfriend he had before. Maddie changed him into a different person. Before her, Jack was a player and wouldn't commit to long term relationships. He never dated a girl for more than a month at the most, and as soon as he got what he wanted, he got bored and dumped them. Jack was totally different with Maddie, and even after dating her for nine months, he wasn't bored.
Bringing him out of his thoughts, Rizzo asked him what was wrong.
"He's thinking about Maddie," Silky said in a sing song voice.
"Shut up Silk," Jack said angrily. Then he got up. "I'll be back in a minute."
Jack walked over to the pay phones and decided to call her, hoping she'd forgive him. He had never seen Maddie so angry though. Actually, Jack never heard her yell the way she did either. Dialing the number he knew by heart, Jack heard three rings and figured she wasn't home. Just before he was going to hang up, Maddie answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey Maddie, it's me." Jack knew she would recognize his voice.
"Hi. How are you?" Maddie said, lacking any tone for Jack to guess how she felt.
"Okay. I'm at the airport."
"Oh," Maddie said, now sounding sort of disappointed. Maddie was hoping Jack would come and see her before he left. She knew she overreacted during their fight, and she still didn't know why she got so angry. Maddie never meant to make Jack mad at her. After a long pause, Jack spoke up.
"Look. I'm really sorry. I've been such a jerk lately, and I didn't mean to keep this from you. I just didn't want you to get mad at me for leaving, because it might be eight months until I get to see you. But now I can see that it was even worse not telling you. I just want you to be happy for me."
"Jack, I am happy for you. It is so exciting. I mean, my boyfriend might win a gold medal . . . "
"I haven't even made the team yet," Jack reminded her.
"I know, but you will. Which brings me to another point. Do you really think I will stay here and not come to visit you? Even if you can't get home, I can come there." Jack smiled, sensing her smiling at the other end of the line.
"So do you forgive me?"
"Of course. I love you. But I should be the one that needs forgiveness. I'm sorry too. I know these past few days I've been stubborn, and I completely overreacted."
"I'm glad you got mad at me and yelled for once. Most of the time you're too nice."
"I just hate the thought of you being mad at me."
"You hate the thought of anyone being mad at you," Jack pointed out. After all, it was true. Maddie was a people pleaser, which sometimes annoyed Jack. She always tried to be perfect and make everyone else happy, even if it meant she wasn't happy.
"Yeah, I guess," Maddie admitted.
"Well, I'm still glad we had our first fight. Cause you know what that means?" Jack asked hinting around.
"Yeah, but I won't get to see you before you leave and we won't be able to really make up until I come to visit." Jack smiled at Maddie's attempt at subtlety.
"The plane doesn't leave for another forty five minutes . . . " he started. Maddie cut him off.
"Okay, I'll be there in fifteen."
"Maddie, we're not doing anything in the airport."
"I know, but I at least have to see you."
"Okay, I love you."
"Love you too. Bye."
Jack went back to sit with the guys and of course they gave him a hard time.
"OC, who were you on the phone with?" Silky said with a tone that Jack knew all too well. After all, Silky knew who Jack was talking to.
"I think you know," was all he responded with.
"So is everything okay with you two?" Rizzo asked.
"Yeah, she's coming to see us off."
"Oooh, we'd better not let OC out of our sight," Silky said. "He might miss the plane."
"Shut up Silk," Jack said with an annoyed tone.
The three guys played cards to pass the time, and Jack joined in and was now having some fun. Now that everything was okay between him and Maddie, he had no more worries.
Fifteen minutes later, Maddie showed up at the gate and looked around for Jack. Rizzo saw her and waved.
"Maddie's here," Rizzo said.
Jack turned around and got up, running over to her. He picked her up and spun her around, he was smiling, she was squealing with excitement.
"Jack, I missed you so much."
"I missed you too, baby."
"Promise we'll never fight again."
"Well, I don't want to make promises, but I'll try."
They shared a kiss, and ten seconds into it, Silky made another comment.
"Geese, will you two get a room?"
Maddie gave Silky a death stare as her and Jack walk over to him, holding hands.
"Do you want kids when you get older?" Maddie threatened. Rizzo answered for him.
"You know he's just jealous of OC because he doesn't get any regularly."
This made Maddie blush, and Jack and Rizzo laughed. Silky just tried to think of a come back.
A few minutes later, a flight attendant announced that their flight was boarding. Maddie wished everyone luck, and gave Jack a good luck kiss. More like several kisses.
"Now, call me as soon as you find out, okay."
"I will. I love you."
"I love you too, and I'll miss you so much."
"Well, you're just going to have to visit me then."
"Don't worry about that one," Maddie said with a smile.
After Jack and Maddie each said "goodbye" and "I love you" a few more times each and gave each other a few more kisses, he got on the plane.
"Wow, you're turning into a mushy sap more by the day around that girl," Silky commented. Jack ignored Silky's comment and changed the subject, though knowing Silky was right.
"Colorado, here we come," Jack said as the three friends boarded the plane, ready to tryout for the Olympic Hockey Team. They all knew making the team would be a dream come true. If they made it, they knew there would be tough work ahead, but they also thought the next seven months could be the best times of their lives.