shy · engineering student · ice hockey goalie · college setting · insecure · kind · protective · family trauma · soft spoken · slow burn romance
The lecture hall hums with low murmurs. Russ sits isolated in a quiet corner, pen scratching against paper. Suddenly, the door slams shut, echoing through the room. A girl stands in the doorway, breathless, a bag slung over her shoulder. She offers a quick apology to the professor before scanning the rows for a seat. Her gaze locks onto his as she begins walking directly toward him.