(annika's outfit for this chapter)

The next morning, Annika woke up feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. She had promised Mac she would watch his practice, and she was looking forward to spending more time with him. After getting ready, she headed downstairs to find her brother already at the breakfast table, grinning at her.

"Morning, love-struck." Harrison teased, causing Annika to roll her eyes.

"Morning, annoying." She shot back, but her smile betrayed her true feelings. She headed over to the toaster that had just got done with cooking some toast. She put one on a plate and added some jam on it, then walked over to the table and sat down across from her brother.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Harrison asks, feigning hurt. "I'm just stating facts."

"Leave your sister alone, Harrison." Robert tells his son as he enters the kitchen, chuckling. "She has a point. You can be annoying at times."

"Ha!" Annika grins, laughing and pointing at her brother. "Dad agrees!"

Harrison rolls his eyes, muttering under his breath. "Whatever."

Robert chuckles, walking over to him to place a hand on his shoulder, gently squeezing. "Whatever indeed. Just let her be happy, alright?" Robert smiles warmly at Annika before heading to the coffee maker. "What are your plans for today, Annika?"

Annika takes a bite of her toast, glancing at her father. "I'm going to the ice rink to watch Mac practice, and then we might hang out afterward."

"Sounds fun," Robert replies, taking a sip of his coffee. "Just be back in time for dinner."

"I will, dad," Annika assures him with a smile. When she heard footsteps entering the room, she smiles at her mom. "Morning, mom."

"Morning, sweetheart. What are you up to today?" Lena kissed her son on the head when she walked by, earning a small smile from him and when she got to her younger daughter, she bent down to kiss her head as well.

"I'm going to watch Mac practice. We might go out and do something afterward." Annika told her, smiling as she kept eating her toast.

"That sounds fun." Lena smiles at her daughter, then went to fix herself a cup of coffee. She brought her mug over and sat down at the table, sipping her drink. "Are you excited to finally see Mac with his new team?"

"Yeah, I am. He always talks about it and so I'm looking forward to seeing them play." Annika admitted.

"Well, I hope you have fun." Lena reaches over to squeeze her daughter's hand, giving her a smile. She pulls her hand away, glancing at her oldest son. "Harrison, you have any plans for today?"

Harrison shrugs, taking a sip of his orange juice. "No, not really. Probably go with Annika to the rink and hang out with Kayla. Kayla said she had to go since her parents and brother were going. So I planned on keeping her company." His parents nodded and smiled at him.

Once Annika was finished with her toast and her cup of tea, she got up and headed upstairs to her room to get ready for the day. It was that afternoon when she and Harrison got ready to go to the ice rink. She quickly put on her shoes and grabbed her backpack, then headed out to the car. She got in and buckled her seatbelt, then put her bag in the backseat.

Harrison gets in the car and starts it up, backing out of the driveway and onto the street. He glances at his sister, smirking at her. "Ready to go watch your boyfriend practice?"

She huffs, blushing as leans back against the seat. "Shut up. He's not my boyfriend." She muttered, crossing her arms. Though she did hope that maybe one day, he could be her boyfriend.

"Not yet." Harrison teases, earning him an elbow in the ribs from his sister. "Ow! What was that for?"

"Stop teasing me." She muttered, looking out the window. They drove the rest of the way in silence, save for the music playing on the radio. 

The drive was quick and soon they were pulling into the parking lot of the ice rink. The rink was popular, buzzing with activity. At this rink there was a café a part of it as well and you could see the rink from the café too. Annika followed her older brother to the café, smiling as she noticed Mac and his team already on the ice. Her gaze immediately went to find Mac, finding him easily. As if he sensed her gaze, he looked up and smiled widely when he saw her. Annika's heart fluttered and she couldn't help but return the smile, her cheeks turning a faint pink. She waved at him and he waved back before he skated off with his team.

A nudge from her brother brought her back and she turns to face him, sighing heavily at the smirk he wore. "Stop it."

"What?" He asks innocently. "I didn't say anything." He grinned, knowing exactly what he was doing.

Annika rolls her eyes, walking over to a table and taking a seat. "Your face said it all. Go order us something and stop giving me that look."

Harrison chuckles, giving her a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am."

Annika shakes her head, watching as he went up to the counter. She turns her gaze back to the café, perking up when she noticed Kayla, Mac's twin sister and her and Harrison's close friend, was sitting at a table by herself. She notices Kayla looked upset, drawing a mustache on a poster that she noticed was for an event upcoming called 'Ice Blast'. She heard of that event, it was a big deal. It was for ice skaters to perform their best. Annika got up and walked over to Kayla, smiling when she noticed her. "Hey, Kay."

"You're here!" Kayla beams, her mood improving instantly when she noticed the girl. She got up, setting the marker down to pull her in for a hug. "Finally, I get to hang out with you and not have my stupid brother hogging you to himself. No offense." She added, chuckling.

"None taken." Annika chuckles, rolling her eyes fondly. "I'll be hanging out with him afterward, so sorry, but you'll have to share me. But I guess, if it helps you'll probably have my brother to yourself." She smirked at her, then sat down across from her.

Kayla's face flushes a bright red and she looks away, fiddling with her fingers. "Yeah, it does help. I missed hanging out with him too. Even though we do a lot of video chatting and texting, it's not the same as being with him in person. Same with you." She adds quickly, looking at Annika with a smile. "I'm glad you guys are here."

"Me too." Annika agrees, smiling back at her, her gaze flickering down to the poster Kayla was vandalizing. "What's up with the mustache?"

Kayla huffs, her expression turning sour as she looked at the poster. "So, Jacob apparently has a new partner and doesn't want to be my skating partner anymore 'cause we're in different countries..."

"Oh, Kay," Annika said sympathetically, frowning at her and reaching over to grab her hand to squeeze it gently. "I thought you guys were doing that face time skating thing?"

"We've had and it's been really great until it's not and he said that." Kayla mumbles, frowning at her and squeezing her hand back. She appreciated the comforting gesture. "And my mom had pointed this 'Ice Blast' out to me, saying it could be good for me and I could find a new partner, but..."

"But you don't want a new partner." Annika realizes, nodding in response. "Yeah, I've always noticed you and Jacob were always so in sync with each other. I can understand how it would be hard to find someone else who could match that."

"Yeah," Kayla nods, smiling at her. "Thanks for understanding."

"Of course, Kay." Annika smiled back, rubbing her thumb gently across her knuckles.

At the front counter, Harrison was standing and looking at the menu, doing a double take when a cute girl walked out from the back to take his order. She looked around his age, short black hair, and had a beautiful smile. He couldn't help but return the smile, his heart skipping a beat when she spoke.

"Hello, what can I get for you today?" She asked, smiling at him.

"Hi, can I get a grilled cheese and fries with a Pepsi? And burgers and fries with a Dr. Pepper." Harrison replied, smiling back at her. He couldn't bring himself to tear his gaze from her. He felt like he was mesmerized by her beauty and voice. She had a British accent and he thought it sounded beautiful coming from her. Plus her eyes were really pretty, and her smile was contagious.

"Sure thing. I'll have it right out." She nodded, smiling warmly at him and once Harrison paid for it, she turned to walk to the back to put the order in. 

Butterflies swarmed in his stomach when she looked back over her shoulder at him, this smile a little more shy than the others, but just as beautiful. He returned the smile and his gaze never left her as she disappeared into the back. He couldn't help it, he felt drawn to her and he wanted to know her better. He couldn't wait until she returned with his food, so he could ask her name. Normally he wasn't the type to be this way towards a girl, normally he was more cool and calm, but there was just something about her that had him feeling all flustered and his heart beating a little faster. He had to get her number, no doubt about it. Or at least her name.

Annika pulls her hand away from Kayla and looks over at his brother, noticing that he was still staring at the girl who walked to the back. She smirks to herself. Her brother wasn't one to be so easily flustered by a girl. Normally he was the opposite, he was the one making the girls blush.

Kayla's gaze follows hers, her lips twitching upward when she noticed him staring. "First time in forever that he's the one who's blushing." She murmured, turning to look back at Annika.

"Right? It's so funny. We're gonna have to tease him." Annika giggled.

"Obviously." Kayla immediately agreed, smirking.

Harrison then walks over to the girls as the girls look at him with amused looks. "You got our orders in?"

Harrison nods, having already known what she wanted. "Yeah, ordered you a grilled cheese and a Pepsi." He reassures his sister, who grins back at him and nods. His gaze lands on Kayla, a fond smile forming on his lips. He pauses when he noticed the mustache on the poster. "What did the poor poster do to you?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Nothing. It's Jacob who deserves the mustache and a few choice words." Kayla muttered bitterly, her frown deepening.

"Ah," Harrison nods, sitting down next to her. "What did he do now?" He asked with concern, resting a hand on her shoulder.

Kayla sighs and proceedes to explain the whole situation, not missing a beat. Harrison frowns when she finishes, looking down. "Wow, I'm sorry, Kay. That sucks."

"Tell me about it." Kayla frowned.

Harrison looks at the poster, his lips tugging into a smirk. He grabs the marker from her, adding a unibrow and a goatee on the guy on the poster. "It'd be better if it was Jacob on it instead of that dude."

Kayla couldn't help but snort in laughter, giggling as she looked at it. "True." She agrees, appreciating how he always managed to know what to say to cheer her up. Despite Harrison being a year older than her, the two had been close friends for a while now and they were able to tell each other everything. Just like his sister and her. She nudges him with a smirk. "So, that girl, huh? Never seen you get so flustered by a girl before." She teased. 

She'd only seen him that way once before, when he'd been with his ex-girlfriend, but he hadn't been that way in a long time. This girl seemed special. She didn't miss how his gaze kept going back to her every time she passed by. It was kind of cute, if she was honest. And she was glad that he found someone who had caught his attention. He was a great guy and he deserved to be happy. He hadn't dated anyone since he broke up with his ex after finding out she cheated on him.

Harrison rolls his eyes, trying to act casual and shrug as he ignores the blush creeping up his neck. "Nah, I'm not flustered...She's just...Interesting, I guess."

Kayla raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Interesting? Is that your way of saying you're interested in her?" She smirks when he doesn't reply, his cheeks turning a shade of pink. She laughs, playfully nudging him again. "I'm kidding, but you are blushing, though. It's cute."

Harrison's cheeks turn a brighter red and he looks down in an attempt to try to hide it. He chuckles, rolling his eyes fondly. "Very funny." He leaned back into his chair, crossing his arms and looking down in an attempt to hide his blush. He couldn't deny he was a little bit interested in her, though.

Annika and Kayla glances at each other and burst into giggles, making him flush even more. He huffs, shaking his head. "Come on, knock it off."

"Okay, okay. Sorry, couldn't help myself." Kayla snickered, smirking at him.

Harrison rolls his eyes and kept his head down. Their conversation was cut off when the girl came back with another employee carrying their food. Harrison sat up straighter at seeing the girl who took his order before and perks up, giving her a smile. "Thank you, uh...."

"Sky." The girl introduces herself, smiling back at him and setting the tray she held down and hands the right drinks to them. "No problem."

"I'm Harrison, nice to meet you, Sky." Harrison tells her, smiling at her and taking his drink. When Kayla elbowed him and cleared her throat to get his attention, he quickly adds, "And this is my younger sister, Annika, and our friend Kayla." He introduced them and nodded at his sister and Kayla.

"Hi," Annika greets her, smiling and taking her drink from her. "It's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too." Sky smiles warmly, her gaze lingering on Harrison a little longer than the others. She then tore her gaze from him and turned her gaze back to Annika and Kayla, looking amused when she noticed Kayla working on finishing touches on a mustache drawing on a poster. "You guys need any ketchup?"

"Sure." Kayla replied without looking up. Sky nodded and walked away as the other employee gave them their food and went to the back as well. When Sky came back with the ketchup, Annika and Harrison immediately noticed she had drawn a mustache, making them share a smile.

"Here you go." Sky spoke, setting the ketchup on the table.

"Thank you." Kayla responded, looking up at Sky finally, surprised to see the mustache drawn on her face.

"Enjoy your meal." Sky commented, smiling at the group. She walked away, looking back at Kayla with a grin. Kayla laughed with disbelief, grinning back at her. Harrison couldn't help but chuckle along with Annika, finding himself smiling more.

"She seems nice." Annika spoke, starting to eat her grilled cheese as she glanced at Harrison with a teasing smile. She knew Harrison was clearly smitten, and she couldn't help but enjoy teasing him a bit about it.

"Yeah, she does." Harrison agreed, smiling as he watched her walk around the counter. She then glanced over at him, a smile coming across her features and she waved. Harrison's cheeks turn pink, returning the wave.

"Wow, you got it so bad." Annika chuckled, shaking her head at her brother.

Harrison glares at her, kicking her shin under the table. She winces, sticking her tongue out at him. "Ow! Okay, okay, I'll stop." She reassured him, taking another bite of her sandwich.

Harrison rolled his eyes, but couldn't help smiling back at his sister. Kayla chuckled at their antics, glad to see her friends having fun together. They spent the rest of their time at the café chatting and eating, with occasional teasing aimed at Harrison whenever Sky passed by their table. Sky eventually decided to sit down with the group to talk to them and get to know them more. She sat by Annika, smiling and talking with them. They all know wore matching mustaches done by markers and chatted with each other. Harrison was finding himself falling for this girl even more. Annika and Kayla would share a grin when they would notice him and Sky staring at each other with adoring expressions.

Annika turned her gaze to the ice when she heard practice was over, but she noticed Mac kept throwing pucks at the goal. His fellow teammate and friends, Bear and his brother, kept trying to convince him to leave and get a drink, but Mac told them he's not done until he missed. She grimaced when she overheard one of the boys tell him 'no need to be a drama queen'. That threw him off, making him miss one and causing the younger brother at the goal to cheer. A sympathetic look formed on her face when Mac looked upset. He shook his head and looked over at her direction, his gaze landing on her immediately. She smiled reassuringly at him, giving him a thumbs up. This seemed to cheer him up because she could see a faint smile hidden behind his mask.

"Do you ever skate?" Kayla's question to Sky brought her attention back to them.

"No, I just work here." Sky admitted.

"You sure or just pretend to for free food?" Kayla joked.

"I think that's a good deal." Harrison piped up.

Sky laughs a little, nodding in agreement. "I wish. Mum runs the café. She likes to keep an eye on me. Isn't that right, mum?" She called out, knowing her mom was listening in on them.

"I can't answer that, Sky, because I'm not eavesdropping." Her mother responded as she walked past them.

Annika chuckles a little, amused by the mother and daughter interaction. "Are you some kind of master criminal?" Kayla inquired, looking at Sky with amusement.

"Something like that." Sky shrugged with a small grin.

Harrison chuckles and shakes his head. "Ah, so she's a master criminal, working at a café undercover. Nice."

Sky gives Harrison a mock serious look. "Hey now, don't blow my cover." She said, lowering her voice.

Harrison smirks, raising his eyebrows. "Or what? You'll make me clean dishes for a week?"

Sky laughs, grinning at him. "Maybe I'll make you mop the floors too." She teased, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Harrison chuckles, enjoying their playful banter. "Alright, alright, I'll keep your secret safe." He reassures her with a grin. He pauses when he noticed his sister watching Mac get off the ice. He chuckles and rolls his eyes. "Go talk to him and stop it with the heart eyes."

"I don't have heart eyes!" Annika argues immediately, her face flushing while looking at him with a glare. At seeing Kayla and Sky nodding in agreement, her face turns more red. She huffs and gets up. "Whatever, I'm going to talk to him. Sky, it was nice to meet you." She quickly said to the girl before walking away.

"Likewise." Sky replied, smiling as she watched her walk over to the boy she looked at.

Annika met Mac halfway, smiling brightly at him. "Hi."

"Hi," He replies, pulling his helmet off and smiling back at her. "So, what did you think of the team?"

"That you were as amazing as you said you guys are." She replies. "You know, besides that last shot." She added playfully, nudging him.

Mac sighs, but smiles nonetheless. "Yeah, I really thought I had it that time. Guess I got a little too cocky."

"Not surprising with someone who has a big ego like yours." She teased, poking his chest.

Mac chuckles, shaking his head at her. "I'm not that full of myself."

"Uh huh, sure." She replied, giving him a playful smile.

"Whatever. Okay, I'll go change and then we can hang out." Mac tells her, smiling at her as he began walking backwards to where the locker room was. "I'll try not to hit my big ego on the way there." He added jokingly.

"Oh, so you're now admitting you have a big ego?" Annika laughed, grinning at him.

"Never." Mac chuckled and shook his head. He walked into the locker room with his hockey gear bag.

Annika rolls her eyes, unable to wipe the grin off her face as she goes to wait for him. It wasn't long until he came back out and joined her. He grabs his duffel bag and slung it over his shoulder. "So, there's this place not far from here I wanna show you I think you might like." He spoke, his gaze landing on her and a warm smile came across his features.

"Sounds great. I love exploring." Annika nodded, smiling at him and follows him out of the rink.

He chuckles. "I know, that's why I thought of taking you there."

She couldn't help but smile wider, a warmth spreading throughout her chest at knowing he knew her so well. She's always loved when he took her places she had never been to before. She enjoyed learning new things and the fact Mac was always willing to go explore with her. And the fact he knew her so well? That made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  

"Okay, then lead the way." Annika said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

A/N any ship name ideas for annika & mac??