We make our way out of my building and back to Corey's car. We start for his apartment, the ride silent. I'm getting tired because I was up at 6 am this morning to go to work. I lean my head back against the head rest and close my eyes. Corey mumbles a swear word before stopping the car, at a red light I'm assuming. Why does he want me to spend the night with him? Sure he said it was because of my nose but I just have a broken nose. Why would he need to make sure I'm okay if it's just broken? Does he expect me to sleep with him? Or does he actually see potential in a relationship? I know I do, I've never had this much fun with a guy. But he's suspicious of me I'm sure, after all the questions about my fits and not being able to drive. He has to know that there's something wrong. I want to tell him, but I don't want to risk scaring him. Every guy I ever told left me because they didn't want to deal with me. Sure I like Corey, but not just because he's my favorite hockey player. Tonight I realized that I actually do like him, as a person. I'm worried that if I tell him my secret, that's how he'll see me, not as a person.
"Evelyn." Corey calls, his hand running up and down my arm. I rub my eyes and lift my head up, looking around. I must've fallen asleep for a few minutes. We're parked in a parking lot, the one to his apartment complex I'm assuming. I look at Corey and he smiles at me.
"Tired?" He asks and I just nod. I unbuckle my seat belt and grab my bags from the floor. I get out of the car and follow Corey inside. He takes a hold of my hand and helps me in the elevator. We go to his floor and his apartment is at the end of the hall. He lets me inside and I hear laughing, and yelling, lots of yelling. Corey puts his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into the living room, which is actually decorated quite decently. Brandon, Patrick Kane, and Jonathan are sat on the couch playing a video game.
"Hey boys." Corey greets and they look over at us, their eyes widening when they see me. I wave at them and laugh.
"This is Evelyn, the girl I hit at the game. We just went on a date." He explains and I blush, looking at the floor.
"Well you're hot." Patrick chimes and I look up to see Jon smacking him on the back of the head. I laugh and cover my mouth, trying to be quiet.
"Sorry he's a bit wasted." Brandon says and I roll my eyes
"I can tell." I answer and they laugh. I look at Corey and he winks at me, "Can I change?"
"Oh, right, sure. The bathroom is the first door on the left and my room is straight across from it." He answers, pointing to a hallway. I nod and head for the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I dig through my bag and find my pajamas, an old uni sweatshirt and some patterned pajama pants. I change quickly and then throw my hair in a messy bun, which doesn't look that cute because the left side of my head is shaved. I take what's remaining of my makeup off and then leave the bathroom, tossing my bags in Corey's room. I make my way back to the living room and freeze at the end of the hallway when I hear my name.
"Evelyn really is hot though." Patrick says
"I know, Pat." Corey laughs, "I seriously think I like her though. Do you think she's hiding something from me?" He must've told them what happened during our date.
"I wouldn't consider it hiding as much as being embarrassed. That's what it sounds like anyways." Jonathan says. I walk into the room and they all smile at me. I roll my eyes and sit down next to Corey.
"You okay?" He asks and I shrug
"Fine." I answer
"You heard us talking, didn't you?" Brandon asks
"A bit. I'm not hiding anything. I just have some personal problems." I whisper, frowning.
"I know, I'm sorry." Corey says and I stand up.
"I'm gonna go to bed. Goodnight." I say and they nod, telling me goodnight. I go back to Corey's room and close the door. I crawl into his bed and just lie there, staring at the wall. After thinking for a while, I close my eyes and try to sleep. I toss and turn for what feels like hours, no such luck of sleeping. I finally get tired again when I hear the door open. I assume it's Corey but I can't see what he's doing because my back is facing the door. I hear him shuffling around before the bed sinks down. He lays beside me and I look back at him.
"You're still awake?" He asks and I nod before laying on my side again. Corey shifts and then his chest is pressed against my back, his arm thrown lazily across my waist.
"What're you doing." I laugh, reaching up to lace our fingers together.
"Just accept it." He mumbles, nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck. I feel like we shouldn't be this close after one date, but we did talk a lot and we did really get to know each other. I 'accept it' and finally am able to drift off to sleep.
I wake up to singing birds and bright light coming into the room. I rub my eyes and open them, looking around. Corey has a tight grip on my waist and I smile. We must've stayed in the same position all night. I manage to squeeze from his grip and go and use the bathroom. I look in the mirror as I wash my hands and, as predicted, my nose is swollen and kind of gross. I sigh and go back into Corey's room, quietly sitting on the bed, my head against the headboard. Corey shifts before opening his eyes. He looks up at me and smiles, resting his head on my thigh.
"Sleep okay?" He asks, his voice especially deep.
"Yea, actually. I usually don't sleep very well because-" I cut myself off. No more secrets.
"Because what?" He mumbles, clearly still tired
"Corey?" I ask and he lifts his head up looking at me
"What's wrong?" He asks, frowning
"Can I tell you something? Something I don't like to tell anyone. Something that could ruin whatever 'this' is?" I question and he sits up, sitting directly across from me.
"Please do." He says
"I had cancer. About a year ago." I breathe and he doesn't say anything, "It was a brain tumor, the left side of my head, that's why it's shaved. And my 'fits' are seizures that I have every so often as a side effect. I get bad headaches and such a lot. And I can't drive in case I have a seizure. I'm basically missing a small section of my brain." I explain
"So, so that's what you're hiding? Your personal problem?" He asks, clearly unsure of what to say
"Yes. I guess it's not a big deal but I don't like to tell people because they get scared." I sigh
"It is a big deal. Are you okay?" Corey questions
"I'm fine. I've been cancer free ever since the tumor was removed last year." I nod
"If you had it removed last year then why is your head still shaved? Won't it grow back?" He asks quietly. I pull up the sleeve of my sweatshirt and show him my tattoos. He stares at them for a minute before looking back at me.
"I'm a nurse, as you know. I work in the children's cancer ward. I continue to shave my head to show them that it gets better. That I was sick but now I'm healthy and living my life. Whenever someone is healthy again, they draw a butterfly on my arm and I get it tattooed there. I want them to have hope." I explain and he shakes his head.
"I think that is the most incredible thing that I've ever heard." He whispers and hugs me. I laugh and hug him back.
"So you aren't, like, turned off by the fact that I had cancer?" I ask
"Of fucking course not!" He answers, pulling away from the hug. I smile and Corey connects our lips, shivers running down my spine.
YOU ARE READING
Butterflies {Corey Crawford}
Fanfiction"Seguin is up for Dallas. He quickly approaches the net. He fakes left... and shoots! Corey Crawford dives in the puck's direction and deflects it! It's a no goal!" "Hang on, Stan, the puck has been deflected up into the crowd... A young lady has ju...
