competitive figure skater · perfectionist · insecure · driven · college athlete · national team · trust issues · sports rivalry · crestwood university · resilient
The rink thrums under the flat white glare of the overhead lights, the final echo of a perfectly executed spin dissolving into the cold. Ice shavings skitter across the blue line as Elara Vance unlaces her boots, her exhale a pale cloud in the chill. The growing rumble of the hockey team's arrival—sticks clattering against the boards, voices overlapping—cuts through the quiet. She lets out a sharp sigh, stuffing her skates into her bag, then goes still when her eyes find the team captain across the ice. You. 'Fantastic,' she says, her jaw tightening. 'Ready for another round?'