(annika's outfit for this chapter)

The next morning, Mac woke up before Annika did. He blinked a few times and yawned, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He was so warm and comfortable. It was then that he remembered where he was, and he realized the warmth was coming from Annika who was snuggled close to him. He didn't want to get up but he knew he had to get back before his parents realized he was gone. He reluctantly pulled away from her and carefully got out of bed. He made sure the blanket was covering her, and then he slipped his socks and shoes on.

He looked over at her one last time and he couldn't help the smile on his face. Last night had felt like a dream, and he didn't want it to end. He didn't want to leave, but he knew he had to. Before he left, he went back over to her to kiss her forehead. As he pulled back, he froze when she stirred, but he was relieved when she didn't wake up. He headed over to her window and carefully climbed out, and then he was on his way home.

****

It was a few hours later when Annika woke up. She yawned and stretched a little, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Her bed was a little cold which made her frown. She thought for sure Mac would still be there, but he must've left already. She knew his parents would freak if they found out he snuck out. She was disappointed, and she wished he stayed, but she understood. She would probably see him later today. She rolled back over to her other side where her nightstand was and grabbed her phone. A smile tugged on her lips at seeing a text from him.

M🏒

hey, hope you slept well! i had to get going but i'll see you later today :)

Nika🌷

good morning!! i slept great, thank you :) see you later!

Annika smiled a little as she sat her phone down. She stretched a little as she sat up and got out of bed. She went and changed into her clothes for the day, and then made her way downstairs. She noticed her parents were already awake and they were unpacking some boxes.

"Hey." She greeted them with a small smile.

"Good morning, sweetheart." Her mom greets her, giving her a smile. "There's some cereal for breakfast in the kitchen."

"Thanks." Annika said, nodding her head. She heads over to the kitchen, grabbing the cereal from the pantry and made herself a bowl. She had grabbed the Lucky Charms, and she had to admit, these were her favorite kind of cereal. Although she did like Fruit Loops, too. But she liked her Lucky Charms better. After she finished her breakfast, she helped her parents unpack some boxes. "Where's Harrison? I haven't seen him since yesterday." Annika asked as they were unpacking.

"He's still asleep, I think." Their dad answers her question, shrugging a little. "It's pretty early."

Annika nods her head, humming a little. She couldn't blame him. She wasn't usually a morning person either. She would rather stay in bed, especially on the weekends. But she had been wanting to hang out with Mac more, so she forced herself to get up. She had gotten a text from him a couple minutes ago saying he would be there soon.

About ten minutes later, the doorbell rang, and Annika's face lit up. "Who's at the door?" Lena questions, glancing at her husband and then her daughter with confusion. "Were you expecting anyone?"

"It's Mac. We're gonna hang out today, he's gonna show me around." She explained, her voice muffled slightly as she hurried with finishing eating her breakfast. She got up from the kitchen island, continuing to eat while walking to the sink.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, honey." Lena chided gently, sighing and shaking her had when Annika sent her a sheepish look.

"Oh, and you just thought we would be okay with that and let you off the hook? We still have a lot of unpacking to do." Her dad, Robert, half-heartedly scolds her. "Plus I thought they hadn't been here that long either. He probably doesn't know where everything is either."

"Been here longer than we have." Annika sheepishly said with a shrug. "We'll explore and find out where everything is together."

Robert shares a look with his wife, causing Annika to quickly add, "I promise I'll finish unpacking when I get back. Please, can I go? This is the first time in a few years I get to spend a whole day with him in person." She knew she probably shouldn't pull that card, but it was true. They haven't been able to hang out in person in years, and she was excited to spend the day with him.

Her parents gave in, letting her off the hook, and she grins. "Thank you! You guys are the best." She finishes eating, putting her empty bowl in the sink before putting away the cereal and the milk. She walks over to give them both a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I'll be back later and help finish unpacking. Promise. Love you."

"Love you, too." Lena says with a small smile. "Have fun, sweetie."

"We'll see you later." Robert tells her, waving her off. "Now go have fun. Be safe. You don't have to come back until it gets dark."

"Awesome." Annika grins, practically running out the front door. She sees Mac leaning against the porch railing, waiting for her. "Hey, M!"

Mac perks up, his eyes lighting up and a grin spreads across his face. He pushes himself away from the railing and meets her halfway, pulling her in a hug. "Hey, Nika." He greeted her, pressing a quick kiss to the top of her head.

"Did your parents let you off the hook, too?" Annika asked, pulling away from him.

"Yep." Mac nods his head, smiling. "I told them you were here and wanted to see me, so they were okay with it." He grins at her. "You ready for me to show you around?"

"Even though you only been here for like a week?" She teased, nudging him playfully.

Mac laughs, shaking his head. "That's longer than you. Besides, I've already explored a bit. So, yes, I can show you around. Are you ready?"

"Yeah." Annika smiles, nodding her head. "I'm ready. Lead the way, Drama Queen." She spoke teasingly, poking his side with a smirk.

After he had an interview with Winter Sports Canada about his scholarship he won, one of the questions was if his nickname from before with his old team in Canada was still the Macgician. But Mac had explained to her that Kayla had snuck out and he muttered under his breath about her being a drama queen after their parents (more so their mom) were freaking out about her. And unfortunately for him, the name had gotten around and his new teammates were calling him that. And it seemed like so was his best friend now.

"You're never gonna let that go, are you?" Mac groaned, shaking his head.

"Never." Annika giggles, her grin growing bigger when she saw his expression. "C'mon, I'm sure it'll go away eventually and you can go back to your cool nickname. But until then, Drama Queen, lead the way. Definitely changing your contact name to that, by the way." She added with a giggle, playfully poking his side again.

"Don't you dare." Mac threatened, glaring at her.

"Ooh, so scary." Annika mocks, playfully nudging him. "You can't do anything about it, it's done." She tells him as she got her phone out, changing his contact name. "See?" She showed it to him, smirking and looking at him with amusement. She quickly pulled her phone out of his reach when he tried grabbing it to most likely change it. She laughed, quickly starting to run from him. She could hear his footsteps following her and she ran faster, giggling after hearing him laugh.

"Nika, I'm warning you!" Mac shouts, laughing and running after her. He managed to catch her and he wraps his arms around her from behind. He held her tight and he lifted her up off the ground, spinning her around. She shrieked, laughing as he spun her. "I'll call you that nickname I always called you when we were younger, the one I know you hated. Then we'll be even."

Her eyes widen and a gasp left her lips, her heart stopping for a split second. He couldn't be serious, could he? No way. That nickname was embarrassing. It was a horrible nickname, and she had begged him not to call her that when they were younger. She was sure he wouldn't remember, he was probably bluffing. "You wouldn't dare." She hissed, trying to get out of his grasp but it was no use. He had her trapped and she was stuck.

"Oh, I would. Don't test me, Nika. I'll do it." Mac smirks, his tone teasing and his grip on her tightened. "Say the word and I'll change your contact name. And keep calling you that annoying nickname."

Annika knew he wasn't lying, and she had no doubt in her mind that he would do it. She groans, finally giving in. "Fine, I won't call you Drama Queen." She reassures him, pausing before adding. "For now." She smirked when she felt his hold loosen a little and she took this opportunity to break free.

"Hey!" Mac yelled, his tone a mix between playful and annoyed.

"Sorry, Drama Queen, you're gonna have to catch me first." She giggled, running off when she was able to get away from him. She laughed, her heart racing and a grin was spread across her face. It was moments like these where she wished she could stay like this forever. With Mac.

****

After the two had spent a majority of the day together exploring, they were currently hanging out in Annika's room. Mac had his legs outstretched on the bed and his back was resting against the wall. Annika had her head in his lap and her legs outstretched on the bed as well. Mac had one hand running through her hair while the other was playing a game on his phone. They had both gotten a snack earlier, and Annika was currently snacking on the strawberries she had picked out. A movie was playing on her TV, but it was more so background noise at this point. It was one they've seen many times before and were only half paying attention.

Annika glances up at him after a moment and she takes the chance to admire him. He was handsome, and his face was perfect. She could look at his face for hours and never get tired. Her heart fluttered at the thought, and her cheeks turned pink. He had always been handsome, but she's started to notice him even more lately. She has no idea when or how it started. He must've caught her staring because he glanced down at her, a smile tugging on his lips.

"What?" Mac asked, looking at her curiously, his hand pausing in her hair. It now rested on her head and his fingers were absentmindedly twirling some strands around his fingers.

Annika quickly shakes her head, a sheepish look on her face. "Nothing. Just spaced out for a second." She half lied. She did zone out, but it was because she had been thinking about him. She was embarrassed, and she didn't want him to know what she had been thinking.

Mac hummed, nodding his head and he seemed to believe her. He looks back at his phone and continued to play his game, his other hand going back to playing with her hair. She relaxed and her eyes drifted shut. She loved when he played with her hair. It was soothing and relaxing. She didn't realize she was falling asleep until she was suddenly woken up.

"Hey, sleepyhead." Mac's voice was quiet and soft, and a small smile was on his face as he looked down at her. His eyes were warm and his tone was gentle. He was playing with her hair, his fingers combing through it gently. He hadn't realized she fell asleep until he heard a small snore. He smiled a little at how adorable she was, and he couldn't help but keep playing with her hair. "Is it time for a nap?" He chuckled, slight amusement in his tone.

Annika sat up, yawning and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "No, I'm awake." She tells him, her voice still a little slurred from the sleep. She didn't mean to fall asleep. She looks at him apologetically. "Sorry, M, I didn't mean to fall asleep on you. You can leave if you want."

"It's fine, Nika, I don't mind." Mac reassures her with a gentle smile, shaking his head. "As long as I'm with you, I'm happy." He spoke the truth. It didn't matter where they were, what they were doing, or if they were alone or not. As long as he was with her, he was happy.

Annika blushes a little at his words, her heart fluttering. "Are you sure?"

"Positive." Mac nodded his head.

"Well, thank you." Annika gave him a small smile, feeling her heart skip a beat when he smiled back. "But if you ever want to leave or do something else, let me know. Don't feel obligated to stay here if you don't want to."

"Nika, I'm good." Mac reassures her again, setting his phone down to wrap his arm around her shoulders. He presses a kiss to the side of her head, holding her close. "I'm right where I wanna be."

Annika smiles, relaxing and leaning into his touch. Her cheeks turned pink and her heart skipped a beat. She loved spending time with him. She's missed him a lot, and she was so happy to have him back. They haven't been able to hang out in person in years, and now that she's back with him in person, they're spending as much time together as possible. The fact that her crush on him hasn't gone away is a problem. It's only grown more, and she's starting to have stronger feelings for him. But she tries her best to ignore it. It's hard though when they're cuddling like this and she can feel his breath on her skin, his heartbeat against her cheek, and the warmth radiating off his body.

She closes her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder. Mac kisses her forehead again and she blushes, her heart skipping a beat. He wraps his arm tighter around her and rests his head against hers, a content smile on his face. The two sit in a comfortable silence, enjoying the peace and quiet and each others presence. It was moments like this where she was thankful for his touch and affection. She loved it, and she didn't want him to stop. His touch always left her craving more, and she would get butterflies in her stomach whenever he was near her. She had missed him so much. Even though they've been best friends for years and have been talking every day, it wasn't the same as seeing him in person.

"Nika?" Mac asked after a few minutes. His voice was soft and gentle.

"Hm?" She murmured, not opening her eyes.

"Can I ask you a question?" He questioned.

"You just did." Annika mumbled, causing Mac to lightly push her as he chuckled.

"Shut up, you know what I mean." He huffed, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah, what is it?" She asked, opening her eyes to look at him. He was looking at her with an expression that seemed both curious and a bit nervous. His usual confident demeanor was replaced with something softer, more vulnerable.

"I was just wondering," He began, pausing to take a deep breath. "How have you been, really? Like, with everything that's happened and moving here and all that. Are you okay?"

Annika was taken aback by his question. It wasn't that Mac didn't care, but he usually kept things light and fun between them. Seeing him so genuinely concerned touched her heart. She sat up a little straighter, looking into his eyes. "I've been...Adjusting," She admits, her voice soft. "It's been a lot, you know? Never moved somewhere before. And I never been to England either so it's all a lot. But, it's okay. I'll be okay." She reassured him, giving him a small smile.

Mac nods, biting his bottom lip. He hesitated for a second before speaking. "If you ever need someone to talk to, you know I'm here for you. Right?" He looked at her, his eyes warm and sincere.

"Yeah, I know." She smiles, nodding as her heart fluttered at his look and words. "I know I can always come to you for anything and I'm thankful for that. Same goes to you . You know I'm always here for you too." She reached out, taking his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

Mac's smile widens, and he squeezes her hand back. "Thanks, Nika. That means a lot."

Annika couldn't help but get lost in his eyes. He was looking at her in a way that made her heart beat faster. "Yeah, anytime." She clears her throat, forcing herself to look away when she realizes how long they were staring at each other. Her cheeks turn pink and she pulls her hand away, turning her head so she was facing the TV. Realizing the movie was done, she suggests, "Wanna watch a different movie?"

"Yeah, sure." Mac nods, grabbing the remote from her bedside table and handed it to her. "You can pick."

Annika smiled, grabbing the remote and turning the channel. She picked out another movie, then set the remote down on the bed beside her. She settles herself back into the same position, laying her head on his shoulder and resting her hand on his chest.

Mac puts his arm around her, holding her close to him. He tried to calm his racing heart as he leaned his head against hers, closing his eyes and focusing on her touch and warmth. He loved the feeling of having her close. It was a feeling he's always craved. Her presence alone made him feel better, and her touch sent electricity through his body. He was always looking for an excuse to be closer to her, and he took every opportunity to do so. Annika was feeling the same, and she tried her best not to get distracted by the feeling of his hand on her waist and his thumb rubbing circles against her skin. It was hard, but she managed to focus on the movie and try to pay attention to it. The two of them sat in a comfortable silence, the only sound being the TV playing in the background.

They stayed like that for a few minutes before Annika broke the silence, her voice soft. "Thank you for today, M. I've missed this. Being with you, spending time together, and doing things. We haven't done that in years."

"Yeah, I've missed it, too." Mac smiles fondly, his tone gentle and his voice quiet. He kisses the top of her head, hugging her close. "I love that we can hang out in person now. That we're neighbors again. I missed you a lot, Nika. You have no idea."

Annika blushes at the affection and her heart fluttered. She smiles, her tone shy. "I've missed you too, Mac. More than you'll ever know." She admitted, snuggling closer to him.

The rest of the evening they continued watching movies and cuddling until it was time for dinner. Annika offered him to stay for dinner and he, of course, agreed and let his parents know he was staying for dinner. Thankfully, Annika's family was okay with him staying for dinner. He assumed they would, but he wanted to be sure. After dinner, Annika was walking him outside and now stood on the front porch with him.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow, right?" Mac asked, his tone hopeful.

"Yeah, of course. You guys are going to the ice rink, right? I'll come watch you guys practice." Annika nods, her eyes shining. "And then after practice, we can go do something together."

"Yeah, okay." Mac's smile widens. He steps closer to her and pulls her into a tight hug. She hugs him back and he holds her close, kissing the top of her head. "Sounds perfect. I'll text you later, Nika. Bye." He pulled away from the hug, waving at her with a smile before he turned to head next door.

"Bye, M." She called out, smiling and waving back at him. After making sure he was inside, she went back inside, rolling her eyes when she saw the look of amusement on her brother's face. He was standing near the door with his arms crossed, smirking at her.

"'Bye, M'." He mocked her, wiggling his eyebrows and grinning.

"Shut up." Annika hissed, punching him in the arm.

"What?" He asks innocently, rubbing his arm. "You guys are so adorable." Harrison smirks at his little sister, walking over to her and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "My little sister has a crush on her best friend." He sing-songed, teasing her.

"Whatever, Harrison," Annika mutters, shaking her head but unable to hide the smile tugging at her lips. She pushed him away gently and started up the stairs. "Just leave it alone, okay?"

Harrison chuckles, following her. "Hey, I'm just saying, you two look cute together. And it's obvious he likes you too."

Annika pauses on the steps, turning to face her brother. "Do you really think so?" She blushes at seeing the smirk on his face. "Never mind, doesn't matter 'cause nothing is there. We're just best friends, you know this. Nothing more." She quickly turned around and started heading up the stairs, ignoring her brother's laugh and comment.

"Mhm, keep telling yourself that, sis." He teased, going into his room and leaving her alone.

Annika huffed, entering her room and closing the door behind her. She sat on her bed, letting out a sigh. She glanced at her phone when it buzzed with a notification. Her lock screen was a photo of her and Mac. It was a selfie they took when they were facetiming a while ago. She had forgotten they took the picture and it made her smile at seeing it. She unlocked her phone and was pleasantly surprised to see it was from him. He had texted her he missed her already and couldn't wait to see her tomorrow. She replied back, then went about her night.

As Annika lay in bed later that night, her thoughts kept drifting to Mac. She couldn't help but imagine what would've happened if she had kissed him earlier today. Would he have kissed her back? Would they have taken things further? A shiver runs through her body and she shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She needs to get a grip and stop thinking like this. Of course he doesn't feel the same way. They're just best friends and he's way out of her league. He could have any girl he wants. She was not on his radar, nor did she have a chance. But it doesn't stop her from thinking about him. Or imagining him in her bed.

Annika groaned, turning onto her side and pulling the covers over her head. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to fall asleep. If she fell asleep, she wouldn't have to think about it. But instead, she dreamt about him. About being close to him, feeling his touch, and hearing his soft whispers. Her dreams were filled with moments that felt so real, moments she wished could be true.

A/N mac & annika >>>>