The Truth Will Set You Free-Conor Sheary
Warnings: Swearing
Weaving through the crowd at the fundraiser was easy for me, considering I had been using a power wheelchair for as long as I could remember. Being in the wheelchair also made me shorter than any standing person in the room, which had the added aspect of making me basically invisible to everyone else. I stopped short when I heard two of Conor’s teammates talking about me and Conor. “At first I didn’t think that they would stay together this long but Conor and Victoria are perfect for each other.”
“I know, I thought he would just go on the one date with her and then that would be that. He got the money from the bet just for asking her out, but he seems to be much happier now that they are dating.” Hearing them say that he asked me out because it was a bet shattered my heart. I moved away quickly before they could see me, trying to hold back tears as I moved through the venue. I tried to hurry though before any of the Penguins or their significant others saw me.
I made it outside and the afternoon sun blinded me as I heard the door open and close behind me. “Victoria, are you okay?” It was Conor’s voice, one I had grown to love over the past few months. “V?”
“I’m not feeling well, I’m going home.”
“Okay, I’ll go tell everyone we are leaving.” I finally turn around to see Conor looking at me, a confused and concerned look staring back at me.
“No, I’m going home. I honestly don’t care what you do.”
“V, what’s going on?”
“Were you ever going to tell me that you asked me out that first night on a bet?”
“I can explain…”
“How much did you make off of my humiliation? Did you get the money for just asking or did I have to say yes?”
“Tori-”
“No, answer my fucking questions!”
“It was $300 to ask you, he gave me another $100 because you said yes. But I can explain.”
“I don’t want your explanation, and I certainly don’t want your pity. I’ve had enough of that for a lifetime, thanks to you. I actually thought you liked me, someone who could see past the wheelchair and see me. You and your teammates must have had some really good laughs at my expense.”
“That isn’t what happened.”
“So you didn’t ask me out because of a bet that ended in you getting 400 dollars?”
“No, but-.”
“Then I’m done, have a nice life.” I leave him standing there, getting in my van and driving home before all of the tears started to flow. I was humiliated and heartbroken, not a good combination.
***
“Alright, if you guys can open your textbooks to chapter 3 we are going to work on the questions at the end of the chapter since we have a test in 2 days.” A knock on the door frame took me out of my train of thought, same with all of my students. All of the students freaked out and once I looked at the door I understood why, Sidney Crosby was standing in the doorway of my classroom. I hadn't spoken to any of the Penguins since I left Conor on Friday night and it was now Tuesday.
“Can we talk?” Turning on my power chair I look at all my students who were trying to control themselves.
“I want questions 1 through 4 done, work by yourselves since this is prep for the test.” Moving towards the door I stay in the room so I can still see my students. “What do you want Sidney? How did you even get back here?”
“I can be charming when I need to be.” I raise an eyebrow at him, the same one I gave to students, and he looked uncomfortable. “I them gave tickets to tomorrow’s game.”
“Why are you here?”
“I think you know why. Conor is miserable.” I roll my eyes and let out a quiet snort.
“Poor baby, if only he had $400 to make him feel better. If that is the only reason you came here, you can leave because I am not doing that at my work.”
“Just talk to him, it can give both of you closure if nothing else. But I think you need to listen to him and hear his side of the story, yes what he did was stupid but he does love you.”
“Tell him if he calls tonight, I’ll answer and listen to what he has to say.”
“Alright, thank you.” I could tell he wanted to say something else, his eyes kept straying from me to my classroom of students.
“1 minute and then you need to leave.” He nods and says something to the class before giving me a sincere smile and leaving. “Alright, who wants to show their work for question 1 on the board?”
***
Pouring a glass of wine for myself I got comfortable on the sofa to go over the test I was giving in a few days when my doorbell rang. Groaning, I transferred into my wheelchair before making my way to the door. Using the handle next to the door to stand up I look through the peephole to see Conor standing in the hallway of my apartment building. Shaking my head I sit back down before opening the door. “I said you could call, not just show up.”
“I know.”
“Why should I not slam this door in your face?”
“Because I love you and I think you still love me, please Victoria.” Rolling my eyes I move my chair back and point him towards the sofa. “Thank you.” Closing my front door and heading back to the sofa I was wishing I was already on my second glass of wine. Moving onto the sofa myself I could tell Conor was itching to help me make the transfer, but held himself back. I watch as he reaches into his pocket, handing my four dollar bills, each of them a 100 dollar bill. “This is the money I won from the bet, it has been in an envelope since the day I received it. I had been planning on asking you out for a while before that stupid bet. You were always at that restaurant, every single Friday when we were there you would be at a table by yourself. I had been trying to build up the courage to ask you for an embarrassing length of time. Sidney kept joking that he needed to warn you about having a stalker, he was probably right.
“The guy who dared me was some call up who thought that since he made the big league he was a hot shot. He saw me staring at you and made the bet, I don’t know why that was the push I needed but it was. When I got back from you saying yes, he told me to keep the 300 for myself and gave me the extra 100 ‘for the date’. He was an ass that everyone pissed everyone off, he is no longer with the organization. You can call Sid and Geno to confirm all of this, but I’m not done fighting for you.” I dial Sidney and Geno, they both confirmed everything Conor said.
“Why do you still have the money?”
“Once we hit it off, I thought maybe I would use it on a big date out, or an engagement ring, or maybe a vacation during the summer.”
“What? What did you just say?”
“A vacation?”
“Before that.”
“An engagement ring, and before you say it, I know we aren’t at that point yet. But I see that for us, or at least I did before I ruined it all.”
“God, I really want to hate you but I can’t. Not after everything you just told me.”
“You forgive me?”
“Yes, because I see that same future for us.”
“I love you and I am going to do everything in my power to make up for all of this, make you forget I was such an idiot to begin with.”
“I love you, let’s just get back to us. And tell Sidney that if he shows up to my classroom unannounced again, I am going to be pissed at him. He distracted my class for the rest of the day.” Conor chuckles but nods as he leans in for a kiss, this felt right.
I am taking request! I just need a player and a scenario!
