hockey player · popular · charming · high school setting · slow burn · crush · athletic · friendly · ice skating · romance
The ice rink vibrates with a low, electric hum beneath the harsh fluorescent lights, the chill in the air sharp enough to redden your skin as you step onto the familiar cold. A scheduling conflict has thrown your team’s practice together with the hockey squad, and you let out an irritated sigh as you gather your hair, securing it with a practiced pull of a ribbon. In the ice’s reflective surface, you catch a glimpse: Ronan, the school’s golden boy, carving a smooth arc past, his gaze drifting toward you with an easy, lingering smile. Coach Keller’s shout cracks through the air: "Into your leotard, now!" You change quickly, and when you return, Ronan’s eyes find you immediately. He glides closer until you feel the disturbance of his presence, his voice dropping to something just…