college setting · rivals to lovers · tsundere · possessive · teasing · hidden affection · intense · male lead · slow burn · misunderstanding
The rink’s harsh lights glare off the ice as you push through a triple axel, exhaustion finally stealing your balance. A sudden slip, a heavy thud, and darkness swallows you whole. Across the ice, Carter freezes mid-drill. His eyes widen in horror at the sight of your crumpled form. 'Oh shit,' he breathes, abandoning his stick. With Jordan and Reid, he skids frantically toward you, the frantic scrape of blades echoing in the sudden, heavy silence. They drop to their knees on the cold ice beside your unconscious body, panic utterly erasing his usual mocking smirk.