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All Chapters of The Collision : Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

155 Chapters

Cameras at the Rink

Jace's POVI spotted the van the second Mike pulled into the parking lot, a local news logo painted across the side, a camera crew already unloading equipment near the rink's main entrance."What the hell is that," Mike said, slowing the car."I don't know." Dread pooled fast in my stomach as I climbed out, my bag slung over my good shoulder. A woman with a microphone spotted me immediately, cutting across the lot with a cameraman trailing close behind."Jace! Jace Carter, do you have a minute?""I need to get to practice," I said, trying to walk past her without engaging, though she matched my pace easily, the camera's red light already blinking."Just a quick question," she pressed. "There's been a lot of speculation about an undisclosed injury and pressure from your father affecting your performance. Can you comment on whether either is true?""No comment," I said, quickening my steps toward the entrance."Sources close to the team say your coach has been covering for you," she con

Last Updated : 2026-09-28

Between the Lines

Ariana's POV"Ari. Ari. Look at this."Becca came through the dorm door running towards me, her phone held out in front of her like it was on fire. I looked up from my desk, where I'd been staring at a spreadsheet of documents my mom kept sending photos of."What?""The magazine posted your essay early. Like, an hour ago." She dropped onto my bed and turned the screen toward me. "It has four hundred shares."I took the phone. My title sat at the top of the page in the magazine's clean serif font, my name beneath it, and below that, comment after comment.*This is the most honest thing I've read all semester.**I read this twice and then called my sister.**Whoever Ariana Brooks is, please keep writing.*"Four hundred," I said, my voice coming out smaller than I meant it to."Four hundred and twelve now." Becca grinned and shoved my shoulder. "You're kind of famous, roommate."My phone buzzed on the desk. Mom.Mom: Your aunt sent me this. Ariana, is this yours? I am reading it in the k

Last Updated : 2026-09-29

The Statement I Didn't Approve

Maya's POVI saw the post before Patricia even told me it was live, my name sitting right there in the tagged list under a headline I hadn't written and would never have chosen.*STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF JACE CARTER.*I called her before I'd even finished reading it. "Patricia. What is this.""A statement," she said, unbothered, like I'd asked her the weather. "You wanted the narrative controlled. I controlled it.""I never said anything about Ariana's essay. I never said the word 'weaponized.' You put words in his mouth about a piece he probably hasn't even read yet.""The essay was already circulating and tying his name to hers again," Patricia said. "I got ahead of it before someone else framed it worse.""You made it worse. You made it sound like he's attacking her." My hands were shaking. "He didn't authorize this. I didn't authorize this.""Technically you did," Patricia said, and something in her voice sharpened for the first time. "You signed the engagement letter last week, May

Last Updated : 2026-09-29

What He's Been Doing Behind My Back

Jace's POVCoach was already sitting outside Dean Whitaker's office when I got there Friday morning, his jaw tight, a single folder resting on his knee."You know what this is about?" I asked, sitting down beside him."I have a guess," Coach said. "And I don't like it."Whitaker's assistant waved us in a minute later. The office was clean and quiet, framed photos of past championship teams lining one wall like a résumé. Whitaker didn't stand when we walked in, just gestured at the two chairs across from his desk."Mr. Carter. Coach Miller. Thank you for coming.""You said my father called your office twice," I said, not bothering to sit yet. "What did he want?"Whitaker opened the folder, though he didn't look down at it, his eyes staying fixed on me instead. "Your father asked my office to guarantee you a starting roster spot through the remainder of the tournament. Regardless of what your medical evaluation finds."The room went very still. Coach's jaw tightened beside me."He asked

Last Updated : 2026-10-03

What I Bought Him

Ethan’s POVI made the first call from the car, forty minutes outside the university, my assistant already lining up the second and third for when the first ended.“Richard, it’s Ethan Carter. I need a favor regarding a scouting evaluation.”Richard Haas had tracked Jace for two seasons now. One of the more senior scouts in the regional circuit. A man I’d cultivated carefully through three charity dinners and a quiet donation to his son’s junior program. He answered on the second ring.“Ethan. This a bad time for you, given everything in the news?”“That’s precisely why I’m calling,” I said. “I understand there’s concern about an injury affecting your evaluation.”“There’s concern about a pattern,” Richard said carefully. “Performance dips, a public meltdown with reporters, now whispers about something physical he’s been hiding. I can’t recommend a player with that many red flags, Ethan. Regardless of talent.”“What if I could guarantee the red flags resolve themselves favorably,” I s

Last Updated : 2026-10-03

What I Choose Not to Do

Ariana's POVBecca had the local sports site pulled up on her laptop when I walked into our room, her expression already tight in a way that told me that whatever she was reading wasn't good."What is it," I asked, dropping my bag by the door."Athletic department put out a statement." She turned the screen toward me. "About Jace. About the whole mess with the reporters and the injury speculation."I read it slowly, the careful, bureaucratic language doing little to soften what sat underneath it. *The university remains confident in Mr. Carter's ability to perform through the tournament, pending completion of a full medical evaluation currently underway.*"Pending evaluation," I said. "So he still hasn't actually gotten it done.""Apparently not." Becca scrolled further down, to the comments section already filling with speculation. "People are saying his dad basically strong-armed the department into backing him publicly before they even know what's actually wrong."Something tighten

Last Updated : 2026-10-03

The Bus

Jace's POVI stood at the edge of the parking lot, gear bag over my good shoulder, watching the team load equipment into the bus's lower compartment, the early morning air cold enough to fog with every breath.I hadn't gone to the imaging appointment. I'd meant to. I'd even gotten as far as the clinic parking lot two days ago before turning the car around, the fear of what an actual diagnosis might mean for the roster, for Whitaker's statement, for everything riding on this stretch of the season, winning out over the growing ache that hadn't eased in weeks.Mike came up beside me, a duffel bag slung over one shoulder, his expression more neutral than it had been in days. Things between us were still careful, still rebuilding, but he'd started talking to me again like something other than a disappointment."You good?" he asked."Yeah," I said, the word automatic."You went to the imaging appointment, right?" Mike's eyes stayed on me, something searching in them. "Whitaker's expecting r

Last Updated : 2026-10-07

What The Scout Saw

Jace's POVThe visiting locker room smelled like bleach and old rubber, and I sat lacing my skates slower than usual, my shoulder already throbbing before we'd even hit the ice for warmups.Richard Haas sat three rows up from the glass when we skated out, a clipboard resting on his knee, a gray coat buttoned against the rink's chill. I spotted him immediately, Coach having pointed him out during the walkthrough, and something cold settled low in my stomach every time my gaze drifted toward that section of the stands."Eyes on the ice, Carter," Coach called from the bench. "Not the seats."I forced my attention back to warmups, running drills carefully, favoring my left side wherever the routine allowed without making it obvious. The puck felt heavier than it should have in my right hand, every pass sending a dull warning signal radiating through my shoulder that I did my best to swallow before it reached my face.The game started fast, Hartwell's forwards aggressive from the opening f

Last Updated : 2026-10-07

Borrowed Time

Jace's POVRichard Haas was waiting by the visiting locker room door when I finally came out, showered and changed, my shoulder wrapped tight enough under my jacket that nobody should have been able to tell anything was wrong just by looking."Carter." He extended a hand, his grip firm, professional. "Good game tonight. That last goal was exactly the kind of composure under pressure we like to see.""Thank you, sir." I kept my voice steady despite the dread still sitting heavy in my chest."I'll be honest, there's been some noise lately," Haas said, studying me with the same clinical detachment I remembered from weeks ago. "Family pressure, a public breakup, now whispers about an injury. I like to form my own impressions rather than relying on speculation.""I appreciate that.""How's the shoulder," he asked, direct enough that my stomach dropped straight through the floor."Managing some soreness," I said, the lie coming automatic now, worn smooth from months of repetition. "Nothing

Last Updated : 2026-10-08

The Slip

Jace's POV"Full speed, Carter," Coach shouted again. "Top of the circle. Let's see that release."The camera's red light kept blinking at the end of the line. Denise stood beside the tripod with her arms folded, and she didn't look away from me once.I skated to my mark and took the puck from the bucket. It felt heavier than it should have. Ryan stood three spots down with his stick across his knees, watching."Don't pull anything, Captain," he called."Shut up, Ryan," Mike said from the other side of me. He said it without much heat. Then he lowered his voice. "You okay?""I'm fine.""You keep saying that to me like I'm Coach.""Then believe me," I said.He frowned but skated back to his spot. Coach blew the whistle, short and sharp.I pushed off. The first three strides felt fine. My legs were strong and the ice was clean, and for a second I almost forgot the camera. I carried the puck toward the top of the circle, brought my stick back, and started the swing.Halfway through, my a

Last Updated : 2026-10-11

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