LOGINAUTHOR'S POVHeavy sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the boutique organic juice bar in Westwood. Outside the glass, the midday traffic crawled down the sun-bleached boulevard, a shimmering line of luxury SUVs and imported sedans. Inside the heavily air-conditioned cafe, the distinct hum of expensive espresso machines masked the ambient noise of the surrounding college campus.Sipping a ginger wellness shot through a flimsy paper straw, Sienna stared blankly at the bustling sidewalk. Heat prickled beneath her skin, a physical rash creeping up her neck whenever she unlocked her phone. She swiped her thumb aggressively across the screen. The viral video of Athena Cole effortlessly shutting her down during the Bruin Plaza rally played on a continuous, mocking loop. Fifty thousand views had already accumulated on the main campus app.Scanning the comment section caused her jaw to lock. Hundreds of replies flooded the thread, almost unanimously clowning her. Users cal
ATHENAThe thick calluses on his palms pressed through the thin nylon of my track jacket, creating points of burning heat against my skin. Resting his forehead gently against mine, our breaths mixed in small, rhythmic white clouds under the harsh, buzzing overhead stadium lights."You think I’m just trying to stay on top of an investment, Athena," Jeremiah murmured. His voice scraped low across the quiet ice, carrying a weight that demanded attention. A heavy sigh vibrated through his torso, transferring the physical movement directly into my ribs. "But you don't get how this place works.""Then explain it to me," I replied. Keeping my tone hushed felt necessary, as if speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile, pressurized bubble enclosing us. "Because right now, it feels like everyone has a hidden agenda. Nobody does anything in this league without a contract or a selfish motive attached to it."Stepping a fraction closer, his skates carved a tiny, sharp groove into the frozen su
ATHENA“What?”"I’m maintaining momentum, Cole," Jeremiah fired back. His chest heaved with exertion, his dark eyes locking onto mine. "Maybe if your drill structures actually factored in realistic transition times instead of theoretical geometry, I wouldn't have to compensate for the lag.""My geometry got you five goals on Saturday." I gripped the shaft of my stick, my knuckles paling. "Your puck protection is sloppy because you’re relying on brute force instead of actual finesse.""Finesse doesn't win board battles against Westmore's defensive line," he retorted, taking a slow, menacing step closer. "But I guess you’re the expert on what Westmore wants."My jaw tightened so hard my back teeth ground together. A phantom ringing started in my ears. He knew exactly where to hit to leave a bruise. The reference to Luca and my past mistakes acted like gasoline on an open flame."Watch your mouth," I warned, my voice dropping an octave."Or what?" Jeremiah challenged, his grip tightening
ATHENAExiting the brutalist architecture of the humanities building, the humid air hit my face like a hot, wet towel. The midday sun beat down mercilessly on the concrete walkways, reflecting a harsh, blinding glare off the massive windows of the student center. Scanning the crowded plaza for Tessa’s bright curls yielded zero results among the sea of undergraduates rushing between summer lectures.Sweat prickled the back of my neck. Weaving through a pack of freshmen riding electric scooters, I dodged a guy balancing three iced coffees in a cardboard carrier. I finally spotted her. She leaned against a poured-concrete planter outside the campus juice bar, her thumbs flying aggressively across her phone screen."I’ve been tracking you for ten minutes," I said, stopping next to her and wiping my forehead with the back of my hand. "I thought you got abducted by the math department."Looking up, Tessa slid the device into the back pocket of her denim cutoffs. "Please, I’d rather go to f
ATHENAThe heavy, lingering silence from the morning's explosive fight with Jeremiah suffocated my Westwood apartment. Pacing a tight circle across the worn rug in the living room, the friction between my tightly clenched jaw muscles hadn't eased a single fraction all day. The orange hue of the setting sun filtered weakly through the blinds, casting long, stark shadows against the walls.My phone screen suddenly lit up on the cheap wooden coffee table, buzzing violently against the surface. Snatching it up, I swiped the glowing screen and pressed the device heavily against my ear."Athena?" Tessa's voice crackled aggressively over the line. "Oh my god, turn the TV down, I literally have the ultimate tea. Maya Reeves actually agreed to speak to us."Stopping dead in my tracks, my chest tightened painfully, restricting my oxygen."Wait, what?" I demanded, the phone slipping slightly against my sweating palm. "Are you serious right now? Tessa, Maya entirely ghosted the collegiate hockey
ATHENA The humid air hung heavy in Bruin Plaza, a thick, stagnant layer of smog that tasted faintly of roasted street corn, overpriced espresso, and cheap hairspray. Strolling into the center of the campus rally, the environment felt less like a university event and more like a low-budget teen movie set. Students roamed the concrete walkways in unhinged costumes—two guys sprinted past us trapped inside giant, overheating inflatable bear suits, while a group of dance majors in vintage 80s neon fitness gear practiced a routine near the steps.Tessa bumped her shoulder against mine, shaking a massive plastic cup of lemonade. "If anyone asks, I don't know the guys in the bear suits. Also, your hair looks surprisingly calm today despite the heat wave. That takes skill.""Compliment accepted," I murmured, keeping my pace steady. "Let’s just grab the rally schedules from Talia and get back to the rink before the traffic on Sunset gets completely locked up."Cutting through the dense crowd







