Sweet Caroline (Corey Crawford)

More Than They Lead You To Believe

Corey

A new season is under way for this young Blackhawks team. After having a strong rookie year last year I was hoping to stay in net for a while. I had a lot to work on and I had no problems taking on the challenges that laid ahead of me. It all started today and I was excited to get to it.

I walk into the Blackhawks practice facility and head to the lockeroom to change. I say hi to all the guys as we wait for further instruction. The first day was usually pretty hectic and this was a testament to that. I wait on the bench as new guys come in and introduce themselves. I look around but I didn't see who I was told I was going to be with.

"Isn't there a goalie specialist or whatever around here" I ask to nobody in general.

"Yeah, but she's a girl and these guys aren't dressed so she's not allowed in here" Coach Q tells me.

"A girl" I smirk. "How old is she" I ask and the guys who heard me start to groan. I'm pretty good at having a good time with the girls around here.

"She's young and she's innocent so please don't break her. I have strict orders from her father that if any of you guys do something you shouldn't I get to kick your ass personally" Q claims and I raise my eyebrow.

"Who's her Dad" Jonny asks.

"I'm not allowed to say. She doesn't even know I know who her dad is and until she says it no one besides me will know. Just know that you should defiantly listen to what she says" Q says pointing at me.

"Yes sir" I reply and he nods.

"Alrighty then. Everyone out to the ice for warmups" he yells and we all hop up.

We head out to the ice and I stop before getting on. I see a girl on skates talking to the goalie coach. A smile comes on my face when I see a nice figure out there by the goal crease. She was pretty petite with long dirty blond hair sitting in a pony tail under a baseball cap. She had on a pair of jeans that made her legs look real nice and a Blackhawks hoodie on top. Nothing too special but still something I would be very interested in.

"Why are you so creepy" Seabrook asks as he catches my stare.

"I'm not creepy" I defend.

"You're preying on this girl like she's your next meal. That's creepy" he claims.

"You never know... she might be" I wink.

"Ew" he gags. "Don't you have a girlfriend or something" he asks.

"Yeah, but it's complicated" I claim.

"It's complicated or you don't know what you're doing" he asks.

"Both" I shrug and he rolls his eyes.

"You, my good man, have so much to learn" he claims before skating off.

I take the ice and skate over to the net. When I get closer I see something familiar and not at all what I was expecting.

"Caroline" I gasp and the girl turns around. I'm met with a familiar pair of bright brown eyes from the day before.

"Hello Crawford" she replies in her soft voice with a little wave. I stand frozen in my spot in utter disbelief that this was happening.

"Wait... I'm so confused" I admit.

"Close your mouth why don't you" Seabrook teases skating up to me.

"I'm sorry. I just... I don't know what to say" I whisper.

"Do you two know each other" Brent asks pointing between us.

"Not really. We both took the plane over from Montreal yesterday and ended up sitting together. Then he suggested a place for dinner and I went there where we met again. Then he was a gentleman and took me home" she explains. Brent turns to me and my eyes go big. He grows a smirk and I hold my breath as he was about to say something stupid. I just know it.