caroline harvey x fem!reader
sypnosis : how would things end up when the popular cheer captain gets entangled with the star player from the opponent team?
— tags & warnings : slow burn , reader is a cheerleader , sort of enemies to lovers , smut maybe?? , i lowkey have very minimal knowledge of hockey so if that’s obvious in the fic ignore it , adding tags along the way
.✦ ݁˖ chapter one - next chapter
The cold pierced through your skin the moment you stepped into the rink, sharp and familiar. You took a deep breath, letting the icy air fill your lungs, grounding you in a way nothing else really could. It was too early for anyone else to be here, and for a second, you just stood there, taking in the silence.
You sighed as you tightened your ponytail, your hair feeling unusually overstimulating today. It sat too heavy against your neck, too present, and you briefly wished you could just cut it all off and be done with it. The emptiness of the rink, though, made up for it. It was rare for it to be this quiet, and you let yourself enjoy it while it lasted.
Your gaze drifted, as it always did, toward the same spot the broken corner of the rink wall. You had been begging your coach to get the university team to fix it for weeks now. Being captain of Minnesota’s hockey cheer team apparently meant worrying about things no one else cared enough to notice. Still, you couldn’t ignore it. You wouldn’t risk one of your girls—or even one of the hockey players—getting hurt because of it.
Letting out a small breath, you pushed the thought aside and stepped onto the ice. The familiar glide came easily, your body slipping into rhythm as you began skating slow laps around the rink. With each pass, your mind grew quieter, your muscles loosening as you warmed up. This was the one place you felt completely in control.
The upcoming game against the University of Wisconsin lingered in the back of your mind. You didn’t know much about their players—just bits and pieces you’d overheard, comments about how strong they were this season. What you did know, though, was their cheer team. Loud, prissy, overly polished—everything about them annoyed you. You’d never actually fought one of them, but you’d definitely imagined it more than once. That alone was enough motivation to make sure your routine was better than anything they could come up with.
The sound of the rink doors opening cut through the silence, pulling you from your thoughts. You slowed slightly, turning your head to see who had come in, only to find Abbey Murphy stepping onto the ice. A small smile tugged at your lips as she skated toward you.
“Early again, huh?” she said, raising a brow.
You let out a soft chuckle. “Could say the same about you.”
The two of you fell into an easy rhythm, skating side by side as you warmed up. “How’s practice going?” you asked, glancing at her.
Murphy sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Smooth, I guess. I’m just… I don’t know. Wisconsin’s got a strong team this year.”
You nodded slightly, understanding the concern. “I’m sure you’ll do well. You’re a great player, Murphy.” You meant it—she was, without a doubt, one of the best.
“Thanks, beauty,” she replied with a grin.
You only shrugged, brushing it off as the two of you eventually drifted into your own routines. Time passed quickly, and before long, the clock struck eleven, signaling the start of the hockey team’s practice. You did one last lap around the rink before skating off, giving a small wave to the players as they began to file in.
“Good luck,” you called casually before heading out.
The locker room, unfortunately, was shared between the cheer team and the hockey players. No matter how many times you requested a separate one, nothing ever changed. As you walked in, a few players were still getting ready, and almost immediately, the teasing started.
“Well, if it isn’t our favourite cheer captain.”
“Careful, she’s gonna steal all the attention again.”
You chuckled, shaking your head as you moved to your spot. “You guys are dramatic,” you muttered, though there was amusement in your voice.
“You get more attention than we do,” someone shot back.
You ignored it, a small smile lingering as you changed out of your practice clothes and into something more comfortable—a pair of jeans and a soft pink cardigan. After fixing your hair and touching up your makeup, you grabbed your bag and headed out, already shifting into a completely different mindset.
“Holy shit, have you seen how many goals Caroline Harvey scored in her last game?”
You barely had time to react before Maddie appeared beside you, practically buzzing with excitement.
You blinked, confused. “Who?”
She stopped dead in her tracks, staring at you like you’d just committed a crime. “Uh—hello? Caroline Harvey? Wisconsin’s star player?”
You let out a laugh at her reaction. “I don’t keep track of every opposing player.”
“That’s insane,” she said, clearly offended.
“You’re literally cheering for another team instead of your own,” you pointed out, raising a brow.
She shrugged without hesitation. “Can’t help it. Have you seen her?”
You rolled your eyes, though a smile slipped through. “You should come to the game with me,” you said. “Maybe you’ll get your moment. Talk to her or whatever it is you’re planning in your head.”
Maddie gasped loudly, drawing the attention of people passing by. You smiled awkwardly before grabbing her arm.
“Okay, shush. People are staring.”
“Are you serious? Oh my God, yes—I love you,” she said, practically bouncing beside you.
“I know,” you replied dryly, pulling her along toward class as you finally got her to quiet down.
Class went well—better than well, actually. You got the highest grade, as usual. It wasn’t something you tried to brag about, nor something you made a big deal out of, but people noticed anyway. They always did. It was part of the reason some of them couldn’t stand you. Not only were you the cheer captain, constantly in the spotlight whether you wanted it or not, but you were also effortlessly good at everything else. Academics included.
You couldn’t really help it. It came naturally.
By the time you made it back to the rink later that day, the earlier quiet had completely disappeared, replaced by the familiar energy of your team. You had called for one final practice before tomorrow’s game—one last run to make sure everything was perfect, or as close to perfect as you could get it.
The ice hummed beneath your skates as you stepped onto it, your teammates already gathering, gliding into position in front of you. Some were stretching, others chatting quietly, but their attention slowly shifted toward you as you took your place at the center.
You let your eyes move across each of them, calm but firm. “Okay,” you said, your voice steady, carrying easily across the rink. “I’m expecting no mistakes tomorrow. Clean lines, clean transitions, clean skate. Let’s not give them anything to criticise.”
A chorus of nods followed, the energy tightening into focus. You gave a small nod in return before signalling for the music.
The moment it started, everything clicked into place. Movements synced, timing sharp, every glide intentional. You moved with them, through them, like it was second nature—because it was. Your body knew this routine better than your own thoughts did.
You pushed forward, building speed, the ice cutting cleanly beneath your blades as you prepared. There was a brief second of silence in your mind—the kind that always came right before a jump—and then you launched.
The triple axel was clean.
You landed smoothly, weight balanced, posture perfect, not even a wobble as you transitioned straight back into the routine. Your teammates lifted their pom-poms in perfect timing, the formation tightening as you all moved together, closing in until you formed a circle at the center of the rink.
The music hit its final beat. And you finished strong.
Then you broke into a smile, clapping your hands once, sharp and proud. “Well done, girls,” you said, your tone softening just slightly. “That’s exactly what I want tomorrow. Keep that same energy, and we’ll be more than fine.”
They lit up at that, clapping and cheering lightly among themselves, the tension dissolving into something lighter, more excited.
One by one, you all skated off the ice, slipping on your guards as conversation picked up again. The shift from focused athletes to something more relaxed was immediate, familiar. You walked alongside them toward the locker room, listening to the chatter without really engaging—just enjoying the presence of it.
You turned at the sound of Lily’s voice, raising a brow in question.
She grinned, clearly up to no good. “So,” she started, dragging it out just enough to catch everyone’s attention, “which player is gonna swoon over you tomorrow night?”
Laughter broke out instantly, a few of the girls nudging each other, all eyes landing on you.
You let out a small laugh, shaking your head as you pulled your cardigan over your shoulders. “Shut up and focus on the routine,” you replied, brushing it off easily.
If only they knew who it would be.
a/n : holy shit first chapter there we go, this is lowkey a mess and not proofread so there’s that — comment your opinions and if anyone would like to be on the taglist do say so
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