for the boys

prologue

-1994-

Matthew ran across the rink in flip flops and a hockey jersey. his gym shorts matched the jersey and his hair in a sweaty mess from the helmet.

"mo-m!" he yelled out as he approached his mother, "can Corey spend the night tonight?" he asked.

she began to respond when a kid with brown curls spilling from his head approached them with his mom close behind.

"mom this is Matthew. the friend I told you about!" he exclaimed, "and that's his mom and that's Ari, his little sister."

a little girl appeared behind her mother. bright blue eyes popped out from behind her curly Hazel
hair. she bit the sleeve of an old hockey jersey and stood mesmerized at him. like any nine year old would she blocked out the words spoken by the surrounding people and just looked at the goalie.

-1996-
"Ari!" Corey shouted across the hall as he began to jog towards the girl he knew simply as Matthew's sister.

the corners of her mouth tipped into a smile as he pulled her into a soft hug.

"hey I didn't know you'd be going here!" she exclaimed.

he smiled and opened his mouth to reply but stopped at the sight of her black eye. he couldn't see it a moment ago but now it was all that stood out.

"Ari what's that?" he asked with a worried tone.

"nothing. just some kids. I'm okay. really I am," she explained.

Corey's face turned bright red with anger as he looked around. he knew exactly who did it. Corey found the face and walked over to them.

"if you ever touch her again I'm going to kill you with my bare hands!" he yelled. his fist went up and sailed through the kids nose.

blood began to pour onto the concrete as he walked back to Ari and led her outside the school and walked her home.

"I promise to protect you forever," he assured her.

-1998-

he watched her move back and forth throughout the living room. the same kid he beat up two years ago for hitting her was picking her up to take her to the dance.

he took a sip of his water and laughed, "here let me help you!"

Corey popped in the CD and wonderwall by oasis started playing. 

"put your hands in mine," he instructed. she did so and he began to lead her around the living room.

Ari watched as he mouthed the words on the song and lead her around the room.

the doorbell rang and cut their dance short.

"have fun tonight. and be careful!" he instructed before disappearing into Matthew's room.

-2000-

"Matthew! Corey!" Ari shouted across the airport terminal. they both smiled and and ran across the terminal to pull her into a bear hug.

"I missed you kid!" Matthew explained.

"I missed you, Ari." Corey tagged on.

"and I missed my guys! come on mom and dad are already at the lake. you're parents are there too, Corey" she explained.

(later that night)

Ari trotted down to the dock and began to pick up the life vests spread across the ground.

"Ari!" Corey called out to her.

he reached the dock and looked down at her.

"I leave early tomorrow and I really need do something before that happens!" he explained just as his lips began to touch hers.

they fell into an awkward kiss but to her everything was perfect.

"mon goalie," she whispered.

"ma danseuse," he confirmed as he kissed her once again.

-2003-

(night before the draft)

his hand wrapped tightly around hers as they strolled down the path in the park. it was late and the sun was long gone.

"you leave me tomorrow," Ari whispered.

"I'm not leaving you." Corey explained, "I'll still see you during off season!"

"that's not the point. you'll find some girl in whatever city you go to and I'll be here."

"I'm you're goalie no matter what. and you are my dancer."

he stopped and pulled out a ring box. "I got this made the summer after I kissed you," he explained as he pulled out a ring with the words ma danseuse engraved on the inside.

"you're my dancer, Ariane. no matter what!"