The Collision

Jace’s POVMy lungs burned as I dashed off the face-off dot, I dug my stick blade into the ice, the puck snapped back to me clean. I dropped my shoulders low, and drove hard. I carried it through the neutral zone, faked left, cut right, and ripped a wrist shot that whistled past the goalie’s glove. The net rattled, my teammates banged their sticks against the boards.I didn’t celebrate, I skated back to center ice, my jaw tight, already signaling for the next drill. My shoulders felt heavy under the pads even though practice had barely started. This was my job as the Captain; The one everyone looked to when things got messy, I had to be the example.Mike tapped my shin pad as he lined up beside me. “You’re on another level today, man.”I gave him a quick nod but didn’t answer. Words took energy I didn’t want to waste. Instead, I focused on the cold air biting at my face, the way my skates gripped the ice when I pushed off. Every stride had to be perfect and every decision sharp. Becau

Jace’s POVI sat on the bench in front of my locker, my towel heavy around my neck, hair still dripping cold water down my back. My shoulder throbbed in steady pulses. I kept rolling it slowly, my jaw clenched every time the pain flared.The locker room was loud. “Yo, Captain!” Ryan called out, grinning wide as he waved his phone. “You seeing this shit? That video’s everywhere. #CollisionCouple is actually trending.”I didn’t look up. My eyes stayed glued to the scuffed floor between my feet. I dug my fingers into the edge of the bench.Mike dropped down beside me, elbows on his knees. “For real though, people are eating it up. Comments are all positive for once.”I exhaled hard through my nose and started shoving my gear into my bag, the zipper caught. I yanked it harder. “It was an accident and I barely touched her.”Ryan laughed from across the row. “Accident or not, it’s perfect timing. After Maya’s been dragging your name through the mud for weeks—”“Don’t,” I cut him off sharpl

Ariana's POV I stood outside the library doors, cold wind cutting straight through my sweater. My heart wouldn’t slow down. I watched Jace walk away, his broad shoulders tense, hands shoved deep in his pockets like he was trying to hold himself together. My fingers tightened on my bag strap until it hurt. That whole conversation kept replaying in my head; the way his voice had dropped, the way his hands had clasped so tight on the table, the way he had looked at me when he said “think about it.”I started walking toward the dorm, my legs felt heavy. The quad was full of students laughing and talking, but it all felt far away. My mind wouldn’t stop thinking about it. Fake dating, three months, no feelings.The words tasted wrong.By the time I pushed open the dorm room door, my chest felt tight. Becca was on her bed, legs crossed, scrolling on her phone. She looked up the second I walked in, her bright smile faded fast.“Ari? You look like something happened, spill.”I dropped my bag o

Jace's POVI barely slept after Ariana called last night. Her voice kept echoing in my head; quiet, a little shaky, but clear when she finally said “Let’s do it.” I lay there staring at the ceiling for hours, surprised she actually agreed. Part of me felt relieved, like maybe this mess with Maya and my dad could finally quiet down. The rest of me felt like shit for dragging her into it.Morning hit too fast. I stood in front of the small mirror in our dorm room, pulling a clean black hoodie over my head. My shoulder throbbed when I raised my arm, but I ignored it. Mike leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching me with that steady look he always had.“So she really said yes?” he asked, keeping his voice low.I ran my hand through my hair, messing it up. “Yeah, late last night. She sounded like she was forcing the words out, but she said it.”Mike pushed off the frame and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “You sure about this, Jace? She doesn’t seem like the type

Jace’s POVI couldn’t stop thinking about yesterday’s café “date.” The way Ariana had forced those smiles, the way her hand had felt when I brushed it, the way she had looked at me like she was waiting for me to mess everything up. I was still replaying it when my phone buzzed on my desk.Ariana: If you’re still offering to help with the hockey article, you can come by my dorm. Room 312. Becca will be here too.I stared at the message for a long second. My stomach did a weird flip. I hadn’t expected her to actually invite me over. I typed back quickly before I could overthink it.Jace: On my way. Be there in ten.Mike looked up from his bed where he was scrolling on his phone. “You’re smiling at your phone like an idiot. Is that her?”I shoved the phone in my pocket and grabbed my hoodie. “Yeah. She said I could come help with her article. Don’t make it weird.”Mike grinned. “Too late. You already look nervous. Just don’t do anything stupid, Captain. She’s not a game.”“I know,” I mut