Until I Met You

The biting chill of the ice rink always invigorated Sasha. Today, however, it carried a subtle edge of frustration. Her coach's words echoed in her ears: "You need to work on your speed. You're skilled and graceful enough to play it off, but this can seriously drag you down if you don't improve."

Sasha slumped onto the bench, her skates feeling heavier than usual. How could she push harder without sacrificing the very grace that defined her? Her best friend, Angel, sat beside her, offering a comforting smile.

"Hey, don't stress too much about it. You'll figure it out." Angel's voice was a soft balm, but Sasha's perfectionist mind refused to yield. As practice concluded and the hockey team began to filter in, Sasha and Angel walked out, chatting idly. Suddenly, Sasha collided with a solid mass.

She stumbled back, looking up into the face of a strikingly handsome boy. Speechless for a moment, she managed a hurried apology. He merely offered a perfect smile and walked away, leaving Sasha flustered and Angel giggling beside her. "He's hot! You should've asked for his phone number." Angel teased, but Sasha brushed it off. Love was a distraction she couldn't afford, not with the Olympics on her mind.