not actively. my inbox is always open for requests but there’s no guarantee that i’ll write them. like, feel free to leave some ideas or suggestions, but i rly can’t guarantee anything
Would you ever consider writing a soft smut fanfic between two WOHO players?
not really, no. i mentioned before that i did write smut for another fandom, but i don’t think i can do that again. writing smut is v difficult for me bc i just keep cringing lol
Summary: You slammed her against the boards and Tessa Janecke's feminine intuition took it as a sign you'll be together eventually. Surprisingly, she was right.
Pairing: Tessa Janecke | Female Reader (You)
Tags: college!au, slightly rivals??, lots of ragebaiting, fluff, cute, tj as your hot and annoying gf, shy tj, long distance, college, slice of life, suggestive if you squint????, NOT proofread
AO3: Here
—
Whenever people talked about the top players of women's collegiate hockey, eventually they talked about the two of you. Not always together at first, but it never took long before your names ended up in the same conversation.
You belonged in the west, playing for the Wisconsin Badgers, a top-line forward with a lethal snapshot that's hard to shut down. Tessa Janecke was the pride of east, Penn State's captain and star center, and a player who was dragging her entire program into national relevance through sheer force of will.
Sports journalists and broadcasters made a living of comparing your statistics. You were both consistently ranked in the top three for scoring and assists within your respective conferences, and constantly battling each other for the top three spots in the national rankings. They would often debate the hypothetical clash of your playstyles. The hype surrounding a potential NCAA matchup built like a pressure cooker throughout your senior year, especially with Tessa steering Penn State into a historic season.
Most of the public didn't know that the hypothetical rivalry they were selling every live broadcast was already a deeply entrenched reality. Your relationship with Tessa wasn't exactly a secret, but something the two of you just didn't actively advertise to the world. You didn't try to hide it at all. Tessa still posted monthly instagram photo dumps, including a photo taken from above her shoulder showing the two of you walking side by side, your face slightly hidden but your wisconsin jacket visible, or a picture of your hands tangled together on a diner table. These "soft launch" photos were ones that some people either didn't notice or simply swiped past and assumed it was just Tessa showing off her friend.
You had been together for more than a year. But the groundwork of it all had been laid years prior, built on bruised ribs and egos.
Before dancing around the thin line of casual dating, before the late-night facetime calls and instagram dump photos, there was the U18 World Championship gold medal game.
-x-
You were playing for team Canada, and Tessa was representing team USA. You already knew who she was, of course. Everyone knew how scary Tessa Janecke was in the offensive zone. But knowing about her stats didn't mean you paid much attention to her outside the rink.
During the gold medal game, the tension on the ice was palpable. Midway through the second period, the puck was chipped deep into your defensive zone. You and Tessa chased it down the half-wall. She had a half-step on you, her skates digging aggressively into the ice, but you were never one to shy away from physicality.
As Tessa reached for the puck, you dropped your shoulder and drove your weight cleanly through her numbers. Tessa slammed into the boards, crumpling down to the ice as the puck trickled harmlessly away which you tried to chase. The referee's whistle blew instantly, shrill and demanding.
You breathed heavily, your stick resting on your hips as the referee signaled a boarding penalty.
"What the hell?" you shouted, skating toward the official, your temper flaring. "I was playing the puck! She turned into it!"
Before the referee could even answer, a blur of blue and white crashed into you. Tessa had gotten to her feet much faster than expected. She shoved you hard in the chest.
"Learn how to hit clean, asshole!" Tessa yelled, showing you again.
You shoved her right back. "Grow up!"
"Fuck off!" she fried back, her eyes flashing furiously behind her cage. "Next time you want the puck, try moving faster.”
Before you could throw your hands at her, some players from your and Tessa's team converged, physically dragging the two of you apart. The referee eventually hauled you toward the penalty box, but your kept your eyes locked on Tessa the entire time. She was glaring right back, breathing hard and looking fierce.
Canada won the gold that year, fortunately for you. But that specific collision left a mark. You had made a very real impact on each other (literally), and neither of you forgot it.
-x-
The true breaking point arrived weeks into your sophomore year in college, at a suffocating birthday party hosted by a mutual friend during a rare free weekend. You had slipped away from the deafening noise of the living room, seeking a quiet refuge outside, only to find Tessa there, leaning against a plastic cooler on the patio.
When she heard the sliding glass door click shut, she turned. Her expression brightened, a spark of recognition lighting up her eyes.
"Well," Tessa said, her voice carrying over the muffled music. "If it isn't the west's biggest headache."
You snorted softly, walking across the wooden deck. "I try my best to be a menace."
"Oh, you succeed," she noted, nudging the cooler with her sneaker. "I saw your game online last week. You practically talked that D into taking a roughing penalty."
"She was weak," you replied easily, stopping next to her. "Not my fault she couldn't take a little chirp."
Tessa laughed, the sound bright and genuine. She reached down, flipping the lid of the cooler open. "You want a beer or do wisconsin players only drink protein shakes?"
"I'll take a beer," you said, rolling your eyes and leaning against the railing next to her.
She handed you a cold can, your fingers brushing briefly in exchange. A strange, electric jolt rushed through your veins, subtle enough to ignore, but sharp enough to remember. You popped the tab, taking a sip while studying her profile. That was the exact moment you realized talking to her felt different when it was just the two of you.
One brief conversation bled into two hours, without either of you noticing the passage of time. You talked about the pressure of leading your respective teams, the reality of conference play, and the shock of trying to balance being a normal student with being a college athlete. Tessa admitted, her voice dropping a fraction, that the weight of trying to drag penn state into the national spotlight sometimes kept her awake at night, staring at the ceiling of her room.
You studied her while she spoke. The charisma everyone saw was still there, but it was softer. You noticed the way her hands made a lot of gestures whenever she's deep into telling a story, and how she tilted her head slightly while listening to you.
Eventually, your phone buzzed with texts from Laila, your teammate, demanding to know where you had disappeared to.
"I should get back inside before my team drags me by my hair," you said, pushing off the railing.
"Yeah," Tessa said, her voice sounding slightly disappointed.
Neither of you moved immediately. Then after about a minute, Tessa shifted her weight, suddenly looking nervous.
"So," she began, choosing her words carefully. "Since we never actually play each other in the regular season, could I maybe get your number?"
You blinked once, amused. Tessa Janecke actually looked nervous asking for your number. "Why would you want my number?"
"So I could scout my potential enemy in the nationals," Tessa said, trying to sound as casual as possible, handing you her phone.
You scoffed but took her phone and dialed your number anyway. "Careful. You might start liking me."
Tessa's ears turned a very distinct shade of pink under the patio lights as you handed her phone back. That was the moment you knew you were in trouble.
-x-
The texting started innocently. At first, it was mostly hockey memes, complaints about morning drills and lifts, and randomly shitting on each other's cellies. Slowly and inevitably, the tone shifted. Conversations stretched past the boundaries of casual banters. Late-night texts evolved into 2am facetime calls that only ended when one or the other falls asleep.
It was during the first few months of your long-distance talking stage with her that flirting began to escalate. You discovered quickly that for all of Tessa's on-ice confidence and swag, she possessed a shy and easily flustered core when it came to affection. And you, of course, exploited this weakness as much as you can.
One night, the two of you were on facetime. You were lying in your bed, exhausted from classes and drills. Tessa was in her dorm room, wearing a faded gray t-shirt, rambling about a drill her coach had run that afternoon.
She was gesturing with one hand, her brow furrowed in frustration. "We had to do it over and over, it felt like my legs and arms were about to---"
"You look really pretty tonight," you interrupted softly, your voice quiet in your dark room.
Tessa stopped talking mid-sentence. Her hand froze in the air. She blinked at the screen, her mouth opening and closing once before she finally managed to get her voice back.
"...what?" she muttered, her confident rant evaporating into thin air.
You shifted against your pillows, a slow, teasing smile pulling at your lips. "I said you look really pretty when you're talking."
Tessa dropped her hand, a deep blush creeping up her neck and spreading across her cheeks. She looked away from the screen, suddenly finding the posters on her wall interesting.
"You can't just say things like that!"
"Why not?" you challenged, enjoying how flustered she looked. "Does it make you nervous, T?"
"It makes me lose my train of thought," she said, reaching up to rub the back of her neck. "I was trying to rant about our drills."
"Yes, you were," you nodded. "But I like looking at you more than I like talking about hockey drills."
Tessa let out a frustrated, breathy laugh, sliding down in her bed until the blanket covered the bottom half of her face. Her eyes glared at the camera, though it was very obvious how flustered she was. "Keep this up and I'm hanging up on you."
"No you're not."
"Watch me."
"You want to keep looking at me just as much as I want to keep staring at you, babe." you said confidently, winking at her.
Tessa sighed, letting the blanket drop back down, the blush still staining her cheeks. "I hate you," she grumbled, but the soft and affectionate look she had in her eyes betrayed her words.
On one occasion, you were sitting in the back of a lecture when your phone buzzed in your pocket. You pulled it out and saw the message notification from Tessa.
You opened it quickly and nearly choked on your own saliva. It was two mirror selfies taken in the athletic gym. Tessa was wearing a tight gray shirt that did absolutely nothing to hide the defined cut of her biceps, a backward cap pulled over her messy low bun, and a slight sheen of sweat on her neck. She looked devastatingly hot and attractive.
You stared at both photos for a full thirty seconds, feeling a flush creeping up your neck.
: ??
: why are you sending me this?? i'm in class???
Three dots appeared immediately.
tj: i know lol
tj: just wanted ur opinion
tj: trying to decide which one to send to a girl i'm talking to rn
You rolled your eyes, leaning back in your chair. The smugness practically radiated through the screen.
: well both are ugly
tj: :( really?
: i'm joking
: i guess gun to my head, if i had to choose
: hmmm. the second one?
tj: geez. thanks
A minute passed. You tried to focus on the lecture, but your phone buzzed again. You opened the message.
It was the second photo that Tessa had just sent, followed by a single line of text.
tj: [photo 2]
tj: heyy :)
You pressed your hand over to your mouth to muffle your laughter.
: god you're such a loser
tj: ik you're blushing. i can feel it from here
: wrong
: i'm actually about to block you
tj: no you're not <3
It was a game of push and pull, of teasing and quiet moments stolen between practices and lifts. You loved making her blush over facetime by calling her hot or pretty, but the teasing slowly gave way to something deeper.
The realization hit you during the regular season. You had played four games, your body ached down to the bone, and you were operating on mostly coffee and bland protein bowls. You dragged your hockey bag into your dorm room, feeling dead on your feet.
"Oh, a delivery came for you. I left it there," Laila shouted from outside your room.
You dropped your bag and looked toward your desk. Sitting on the center was a brown delivery bag.
You frowned, walking over and opening it. Inside was a large container of chicken tenders along with a chocolate chip cookie.
You examined the printed receipt and saw the note she had asked to be included.
'You mentioned you were craving this the other day. Eat it all and go to sleep. Call me tomorrow. - TJ'
You stared at the note, your chest tightening so forcefully it actually hurt. She hadn't just ordered food; she had remembered a passing comment you made while exhausted, and had asked a favor from your roommate just so it could get to you.
That night, you realized that you really, really liked Tessa.
-x-
The long-distance was thrilling, but the gray area of casual dating became too heavy to carry. It wasn't until the postseason break when the pressure of going to the nationals momentarily lifted, that things finally started moving.
Tessa used her few free days to fly directly to Madison. The laptop was resting on your coffee table, playing some romantic comedy you were both mocking, but Tessa hadn't actually looked at the screen in twenty minutes. She had been fidgeting with the frayed edge of your blanket.
"You're fidgeting," you muttered.
"I am not," she denied quickly.
"You're literally picking apart my blanket."
Tessa dropped the fabric instantly, clearing her throat and attempting to lean back against the cushions in a display of pretend casualness. "Okay, maybe a little."
You paused the movie, plunging the room into quiet darkness.
"Tessa."
She groaned immediately, letting her head fall back against the cushion. "Don't say my name like that."
You started laughing, genuinely enjoying how nervous she looked, "Like what?"
"Like you're about to perceive me." she whined, jokingly pushing you away.
You rolled your eyes, shifting closer to her. The room was silent for a long moment. Tessa stared at the paused laptop screen, trying to concentrate, her jaw tight. Then, finally, she inhaled sharply and faced you.
"So," she began. "I know we already basically act like we're together."
"Hmm."
"And I know everyone already assumes we are," she continued, fidgeting with your blanket again.
You grinned, reaching out to pull her wrists down. Her expression looked vulnerable in a way the public never got to witness.
"But I was wondering," she said quietly, her voice getting smaller and smaller, "if maybe you wanted to actually be my girlfriend."
The raw nervousness in her voice hit you straight in your chest. The confident and charismatic Tessa Janecke looked genuinely scared of what your answer might be.
You moved before your brain fully processed the action. One second she was sitting beside you, and the next, you were shifting into her lap, framing her face with your hands, and kissing her hard enough to leave both of you breathless. Tessa made a soft, startled noise against your mouth, her hands coming up to grip your waist to pull you closer.
When you pulled back a little to look at her, she looked dazed, her lips slightly parted.
"Is that a yes?" she whispered, her cheeks flushed.
You smiled warmly against her lips. "Obviously."
The pure relief that washed across her face was very evident. Tessa laughed shakily, the tension finally leaving her frame as she pulled you close against her and buried her face into the crook of your neck.
"Thank fucking god," she muttered against your skin. "I had an entire speech prepared."
"You forgot, didn't you?"
She nodded against you, "Completely blanked."
You just laughed and kissed her again anyway.
-x-
Balancing the new, official relationship with the reality of D1 hockey appeared to be difficult, especially when international tournaments forced you onto opposite sides of the ice. During the Women's World Championship, that fragile balance fractured as you played again for Canada, while Tessa centered the top line for USA.
The stress of the tournament bled into a petty, frustrating argument between you over a facetime call just hours before your preliminary matchup. By the time the puck dropped, the ice was charged with an abrasive energy.
Late in the second period, you intercepted a pass in the defensive zone, turning on the jets to create a two-on-one rush. You crossed the blue line, releasing a blistering one-timer that rang violently off the post.
"Fuck--"
The rebound kicked sharply outward into the slot. You lunged forward, but Frankel dove and smothered the puck before your stick could reach it. The referee's whistle blew sharply.
And then suddenly, Tessa shoved you hard enough in the chest to nearly knock you backward onto the ice. It was a slightly hard shove fueled by the lingering frustration she had from your argument.
"The fuck is your problem?"
"Oh, now you're mad?" Tessa shot back, her face flushed behind her cage.
Nearby players immediately intervened before the pushing could escalate into something worse. Your linemate grabbed your arm from behind, pulling you back while laughing in sheer disbelief.
"Good god," Daryl muttered to your ear. "Just fight it out later after the game."
Team USA ultimately won the gold that year, with Tessa even netting the overtime winner. You actively avoided her hand and her gaze during the handshake line that followed. Hours after the game, you sat on the edge of your hotel bed, the sting of the loss compounding the guilt over the tension between you. When someone knocked softly at the door, you knew exactly who it was.
Daryl, your hotel roomie, opened it. Upon seeing Tessa, she instantly excused herself, muttering something about buying snacks. Tessa let herself in, wearing her sweats, the gold medal absent from her neck. She looked just as drained as you felt, her usual cheerful energy replaced by cautious hesitation painted all over her face. For a long second, neither of you spoke.
"I know this isn't a good time," Tessa said softly, keeping her voice low.
"No," you admitted, your voice sounding rough. "Probably not."
Her face fell slightly, a genuine flash of hurt and sadness crossing her features before she tried to mask it with an understanding nod. She took a half-step back, preparing to leave.
A sharp wave of guilt instantly hit you. She had just won gold in the world championship, one of the biggest achievements an athlete could have, and she had decided to come and check on you the moment she had some time to spare.
"But congratulations, Tessa." You exhaled, pushing back your frustration, and rubbing your tired eyes.
"Baby--"
"No, seriously." Your throat tightened unexpectedly, betraying your fragile composure. "You worked so hard. You earned it."
Suddenly, you were crying before you could physically stop yourself. It was everything collapsing at once; the crash, the bitter loss, the stupid fight from earlier, and the exhaustion of the tournament.
Tessa crossed the room and pulled you into her arms instantly, wrapping you in a warm embrace.
"Oh, baby." Tessa offered a soft smile, pressing a kiss to the crown of your head.
"I'm sorry," you muttered miserably into her sweatshirt. "I probably look disgusting right now."
"What do you mean? You look beautiful." Tessa said, her brows furrowed, looking slightly offended by your comment.
"You're lying to me right now."
"I'm actually a very honest person," she argued gently.
You snorted, pulling back enough to look at her. Tessa carefully wiped the damp tracks of tears from beneath your eyes with her thumbs. Her expression softened so visibly.
"I hate seeing you cry," she murmured quietly.
Your chest tightened all over again. And then, without thinking, Tessa whispered the words that changed everything in your relationship.
"I love you."
Silence slammed into the room. Her entire body froze afterward, her hands stalling on your cheeks. You just sat still, your eyes widened slightly in shock.
Tessa looked horrified with herself, her eyes wide with panic. "Oh my god," she breathed, starting to pull her hands back from your face. "I didn't---I mean, I did mean it, obviously, but I swear to god I wasn't trying to pressure you or make this super weird right after a loss and---"
You grabbed the front of her sweatshirt and kissed her before she could spiral any further into panic. Tessa melted right away, her hands returning to grip your waist securely as she kissed you back with heavy relief. When you finally pulled back, she still looked stunned, her chest rising and falling quickly.
"You love me?" you whispered.
Her face turned a deep shade of red immediately. "Yeah, I do. So much."
You smiled, the lingering tears forgotten. "I love you too."
The pure relief in her face was so overwhelming it almost made you emotional all over again. Instead, Tessa kissed you, careful and lingering, pouring everything neither of you had figured out how to say properly until this exact moment. Tessa felt like she won two gold medals that night.
-x-
The following nationals season was a test of endurance. Penn State surged nationally under Tessa's leadership, dominating the east and climbing the rankings game after game, with her team taking home the AHA championship and her being awarded as the MVP. Wisconsin fought through the WCHA, maintaining their status as the team to beat. The media narrative steady throughout the regular season, monitoring the possibility of a historic collision between two teams.
Eventually, the frozen four arrived, bringing with it the matchup the collegiate hockey world had been hyping and begging for. It was a Wisconsin vs. Penn State semifinals.
Because Penn State was hosting the frozen four at their home area, for the first time all season, you were in the same city, breathing the same air as your girlfriend, while trying to prepare for one of the biggest games of your lives.
Your team was staying in a hotel just a few miles away from pegula. The lobby was constantly bustling with game officials, families, and players from other qualifying teams.
The night before the semifinals, your phone buzzed on the nightstand of your shared hotel room with Laila and KK.
tj: baby
tj: are you awake?
tj: I'm in the lobby
You blinked, sitting up on bed and looking at your tired, sleeping roommates. You grabbed a hoodie, pulled it over your head, and quietly slipped out of the room.
You took the elevator down to the ground floor. The lobby was mostly empty at this hour. You spotted her instantly. Tessa was leaning against a pillar near the hallway, wearing her track pants and sweatshirt.
When she saw you, her signature smug grin appeared. She pushed off the pillar, shoving her hands into her pockets.
"Shouldn't wisconsin's top scorer be asleep?" Tessa teased as you walked over.
"Shouldn't the team captain be in her apartment resting her legs?" you countered, stopping a few feet away, crossing your arms.
"I have excellent stamina," she winked. "Just wanted to come see the competition. Make sure you're not doing something sketchy for tomorrow."
"You're so annoying," you laughed, shaking your head. "You snuck out of your apartment to come trash talk?"
"I'm a dedicated captain. It's kinda part of the job." Tessa's smiled softened slightly. "You ready for tomorrow?"
"Are you?" you challenged.
"Born ready, babe." Tessa took a step back, gesturing toward the elevators. "Go get your beauty sleep. You're going to need all the energy you can get to keep up with me."
You rolled your eyes, a fond smile breaking across your face. "Good night, Janecke. See you on the ice."
You walked toward the elevator banks. You pressed the button, then suddenly, you heard the rapid squeak of sneakers on the marble floor behind you.
Before you could turn around, a pair of strong arms wrapped around your waist from behind. Tessa pulled you flush against her, burying her face into the crook of your neck, inhaling deeply. You froze, completely caught off guard by the sudden display of physical affection.
"Good luck tomorrow," Tessa whispered softly against your skin, her voice stripped of its earlier arrogance. "Go easy on my team."
You laughed, turning in her arms and wrapping your own around her neck, hugging her tightly. "Not a chance."
"Well, I tried," she murmured, pressing a quick and lingering kiss to your cheek before pulling away and jogging back toward the main door, a soft smile on her face.
-x-
The semifinal game the next day was something else.
Warmups felt surreal. You stretched near center ice, watching Tessa during the line rushes on the other end of the rink. She caught your eye once and gave you a smug wink before her expression locked into a fierce, unbreakable focus.
Once the puck dropped, the switch had flipped. The first period flew by brutally fast, every shift carrying an edge of desperation. Tessa played like someone violently refusing her collegiate career end, flying through neutral zone with her speed. Halfway through second period, she stripped a defender of the puck below the circle, skated out front, and buried a shot.
The pegula arena exploded as Tessa opened the scoring. She did her usual goal celly while her teammates started mobbing her against the glass. You watched from the bench, a heavy feeling settling in your gut.
Laila answered quickly minutes later, wiring a shot through the traffic to tie the game. The second period grew nastier and more physical. Penn State scored again off sustained offensive zone pressure, only for Laila to tie it again late in the frame. By the third period, every player on the ice looked exhausted. Then finally, Lacey Eden gave Wisconsin a lead midway through the period, but with only five minutes remaining, Tessa willed her way to the net, outmuscling two defenders to slide the puck home, forcing an overtime.
During overtime, every hit carried the weight of the entire season. Every blocked shot from Penn State drew massive roars from the home crowd.
Then came the play.
Penn State was scrambling defensively after a broken transition rush. Tessa battled near the crease, but she dropped her stick trying to block a pass, leaving her momentarily defenseless. The puck kicked outward toward the point, right to Simms.
Your heartbeat thundered as you recognized the open space. Simms saw you drifting high in the slot, perfectly open. The pass connected cleanly on to your blade. You stepped into the slapshot with everything you had. The puck hit the back of the net before you even processed everything.
For one second, the arena went dead silent. Then, the Wisconsin bench erupted. Your teammates crashed into you against the boards, burying you under a pile of heavy gear and screaming joy while the buzzer sounded. It was game over and your team was finals bound. Penn State's historic run was over, and Tessa's legendary collegiate career had officially ended.
The reality hit you right beneath the rush of celebration. As soon as you untangled yourself from the pile, your eyes searched the ice automatically. Tessa stood near center ice, breathing hard, her hands resting on her knees as devastation was written openly across her face even when the home crowd was cheering for their team still.
By the time both teams lined up for the handshake line, your chest hurt. When you reached Tessa, the standard quick taps and nods lasted a fraction of a second before you pulled her into a gentle hug.
She held you tighter immediately, burying her face into your shoulder.
"I love you," you whispered, shielding the words from the cameras tracking the line.
Tessa exhaled a shaky breath and squeezed you even harder. She didn't need to say the words, you already knew what wanted to say.
You gave her space that night, letting her mourn the end of an era with her teammates, keeping your phone close on the hotel nightstand while some of your teammates celebrated the victory while the others chose to sleep.
At midnight, you stood outside Tessa's shared apartment. Her roommate that you had spoken to a few times was thankfully still awake when you messaged about visiting. She quietly unlocked the door for you, giving you a sympathetic nod before pointing at Tessa's door and retreating to her own room.
You gently pushed open Tessa's bedroom door. The room was pitch black. On the bed, there was a mound of heavy blankets and pillows, burying whatever was underneath it.
You closed the door softly behind you. "Tessa?"
A muffled, exhausted grown came from underneath the blankets. You walked over, toeing off your shoes, and lifted the edge of the heavy comforter. Tessa was curled into a tight ball, still wearing her penn state practice shit, her eyes red and swollen.
You didn't say a word. You just climbed into the bed, pulling the heavy blankets over both of you, and wrapped yourself around her back.
For a long time, the only sound in the room was her shaky breathing.
"It's over," Tessa whispered, her voice cracking in the dark.
"I really wanted to win it here," she confessed, the vulnerability bleeding out of her. "In this college. For this program. Four years and it just ends."
You let her talk. You listened as she spilled out all the grief, the pressure of carrying the program, the reality of her collegiate career being over without a natty, and the uncertainty of the upcoming pwhl draft. You held her, rubbing slow and soothing circles into her arm.
Eventually, the tears slowed. The heavy silence stretched out, feeling less heavy and more comforting. Soft giggles finally filled the room, as you endlessly tease Tessa.
"Mind suiting up for wisconsin when we face ohio, diva?" you asked jokingly. "We could use your help in faceoffs and offense."
"I'm going to smother you with this pillow," Tessa threatened, though a laugh was breaking through her voice.
"You wouldn't dare. You love me too much."
"Whatever."
She turned around under the covers, burying her face into your chest, her arms wrapping tightly around your waist. The exhaustion finally catching up to her. Within ten minutes, the steady rhythm of her breathing deepened as she finally fell asleep.
You stayed for another another hour, just holding her, before you carefully untangle from her grip. Before you left, you grabbed a pen from her desk and wrote a quick note on a piece of paper you found, leaving it on her nightstand, under her phone.
'You're the best player to have ever graced the program. I love you. Watch me win on Sunday. - Best hockey player/your gf'
Two days later, Wisconsin played Ohio state in the finals. Because of her historic career and the team's unprecedented run, they had asked Tessa perform the ceremonial puck drop in the pegula arena before the championship game.
You were heading down a quiet concrete hallway toward the locker room before changing into your gear when you turned a corner and nearly collided with her.
Tessa stood in the hallway, leaning against a wall. She was wearing her blue team USA jersey over a white hoodie, fit-jeans, and her usual penn state cap. Her hands were shoved deep into her pockets, but her breath caught visibly when she saw you. You were wearing a fitted black mini skirt with a red halter top underneath your team jacket.
Tessa stared openly, her eyes trailing down and then back up to your face, her jaw slightly slack.
"Hey," you said, a small, teasing smile forming.
"You can't just show up looking like that before the natty," she murmured, pulling her hands from her pockets and stepping nearer, closing the distance between you.
You laughed. "Looking like what?"
"Like you're trying to ruin my life," she breathed, backing you gently against the wall.
"You're staring too much, Janecke," you pointed out, your heart rate spiking as she rested her hands on your waist.
"Oh, I'm not trying to hide it, babe," Tessa grinned, a playful and teasing expression returning to her face. "Wanna skip the game and find an empty equipment closet instead?"
"You're crazy."
"That's not a no."
"I need to get ready, Tessa. Plus, you have a puck to drop."
Tessa hummed thoughtfully, her eyes dropping to your mouth. "I could just drop it right now, declare wisconsin the winner, and we can go on a date. How's that?"
"You don't have that authority."
"That's too bad." She leaned in and kissed you, soft and lingering, pinning you gently against the wall. You melted into it for half a second before pulling back.
"You're distracting," you whispered.
"That's the goal, babe." Tessa smirked.
An hour later, the arena was packed. They announced Tessa’s name, and the noise of the crowd echoing was deafening. Tessa walked out onto the red carpet unrolled over the ice, waving once to the crowd. As she looked around, she caught your eye as you watched from the bench. A slow, subtle wink passed over her face and you fought back a grin, ducking your head to hide your face.
Wisconsin struggled early against Ohio, but the momentum shifted in the second period. Late in the third, you dug out of the corner, taking a vicious hit to make a blind pass to the slot. Enright buried it, securing a 3-2 lead that the badgers defended with perfection until the final buzzer sounded.
Wisconsin Badgers won the natty again.
The explosion of joy was a blur of pure happiness. You scanned the crowd during the on-ice celebration and found Tessa, beaming with pride, clapping her hands abover her head for you.
Because the team was scheduled to fly back to Madison early next morning, the coaching staff only allowed a small celebration at a local bar downtown near the hotel that they had rented out.
You were inside, sitting in a booth with a drink in your hand, laughing as KK attempt to recount a play from the second period, when your phone buzzed in your pocket.
tj: come outside for a sec
You frowned, excusing yourself from the booth. "I'll be back in a bit," you told Laila, weaving your way through your celebrating teammates and pushing through the heavy doors of the bar.
You looked down the sidewalk. Standing beneath a flickering streetlamp was Tessa. She was wearing a casual jacket and jeans, and in her hands, she was awkwardly holding a huge, beautiful bouquet of red and white flowers.
Your breath caught in your throat. You walked toward her, a huge smile breaking across your face. When Tessa saw you, her eyes crinkled with warmth. She held out the bouquet as you approached.
"Congrats, natty champ," she said softly.
You took the flowers, overwhelmed by the thoughtful gesture. "You bought me flowers?"
"I felt like the occasion called for it," she shrugged, looking incredibly happy. "You played an amazing game, babe. That assist in the third? Incredible. I'm so proud of you."
"Thank you, baby." you murmured, stepping closer. "Come inside. Celebrate with us for a bit."
Tessa shook her head, taking a half-step back. "No way. This is your night with your team. I just really wanted to see you for a second before you fly out tomorrow."
"You sure?"
"Of course. Go back in there and celebrate."
You looked at her, standing there in the cold just to give you flowers, and your heart swelled. You grabbed the lapels of her jacket, pulling her down, and gave her a deep, bruising kiss right there. Tessa sighed happily into the kiss, her hands coming up to hold your waist for a fleeting moment.
"I'll call you when I get back to Madison," you promised against her lips. "I love you."
"You better," she smiled.
The chaotic bar-hopping celebration in Madison as soon as the team landed. The entire team was obliterated by midnight. By 1am, you had stumbled back into your dorm room, intoxicated and consumed by an overwhelming need to hear Tessa's voice after a day of just texting.
You dialed her on facetime on pure instinct, collapsing onto your mattress, feeling the room spin.
She picked up on the second ring, the screen illuminating her dark bedroom. "Hello?"
"Hi baby," you giggled, the sound loose, uncoordinated, and sappy. You rolled onto your stomach, bringing the phone close to your face.
Tessa blinked at the screen, a soft and breathy laugh escaping her lips. Your cheeks were flushed red from the alcohol and the cold air, and your hair was a mess.
"Oh my god," Tessa smiled, her voice radiating pure affection. "You are so fucking wasted."
"No I'm not," you protested, your words slurring heavily.
"You just said 'hi baby' in the sweetest, tiniest voice I've ever heard." Tessa teased, resting her phone against her pillow so she could watch you. "You are so gone, babe."
You squished your flushed cheek against the mattress. "I miss you. You should be here."
"I know, baby."
"We won the natty," you informed her, blinking slowly.
"I know. I was there and literally dropped the puck."
"You looked so good in that jersey," you mumbled, your eyelids growing impossibly heavy. "I wanted to bite you."
Tessa choked on a laugh, a loud, startled sound. "Okay, wow. Keep that energy for when I visit this weekend."
"Promise you're visiting?" you asked, your voice dropping into a clingy register. "Because I wanna hold your hand. And kiss your stupid, pretty face in front of all of Madison."
Tessa's expression softened into something tender. She watched your red, sleepy face on the screen, finding every slurred, sappy word endearing. "I promise," she said. "Drink some water and go to sleep, champ."
You tried to respond, to tell her about the assist again, but your grip on your phone finally loosened. The device slipped from your fingers, falling onto the mattress.
The camera angle shifted abruptly on Tessa's screen. Instead of your face, she was now looking at the white ceiling of your dorm room, illuminated by a sliver of your night lamp, with a few stray strands of your hair crossing the corner of the lens.
"Babe?" Tessa called softly.
There was no answer. A few seconds later, the soft sound of your breathing filtered through the speaker. You had fallen asleep mid-call, completely drunk and exhausted.
Tessa didn't reach for the button to end the call immediately. She stayed on the line, lying in the quiet dark of her own room, listening to the gentle sound of your breathing from hundred of miles away. Looking at the blurry image of your ceiling and the strands of your hard on the screen, a sudden ache settled deep in her chest. It was an overwhelming realization of exactly how much she was in love with you; a feeling so large it felt like it could barely fit inside her ribs. Her collegiate chapter may have ended, the future was wide open and scary but your relationship with her remained the steadiest, most beautiful thing in her life.
Tessa smiled softly, her eyes stinging with unshed, happy tears. She pressed her fingers lightly to her own lips, and then touched the phone screen of her phone.
"I love you," Tessa whispered into the quiet night, letting the words hang in the air for a long moment before she finally ended the call, then typing a reminder to book that plane ticket in the morning.
xxx
a/n: my eyes are sore but it’s here and it’s up!! thank fucking god. i hope you guys like this one. i actually dk if a lot of people fw tessa but i do and i’m so excited for her to hopefully get drafted to my broke ass team (toronto sceptres). she’s a superstar and going to have a joint slay with my goat daryl. anw i just rly wanted to write something cute and fun for my first tessa fic. please let me know ur thoughts about this and if you’d like me to write more. hope you were able to see some parallels lol i thought it would be fun to add. also, i am once again so sorry for those who are waiting for the last part of the kk harvey multi-shot fic. the draft is just looking so mid to me that i don’t want to put it up yet. hopefully i get a spark of something that will improve it idk.
are you guys excited for the draft?????? i am scared and excited.
Hi! I'm sorry if you've posted one before, but do you have lists of things you won't write?
oh i actually haven't lol HAHA. i guess i won't ever write something with men in it?? or like very explicit smut/smut in general?? i mean, i can def do suggestive stuff, but not the full-blown smut. i was able to do so for another fandom before but it was one (1) time and i killed off the main character after. i just feel like i'm bad at writing one. i'm also not going to be writing ones with HUGE age gaps like 10 years or something. kill me instead.
i will also not write about ships or pairings i don't particularly like (not for deep reasons. just not a fan, ig). so if people would request a this x that oneshot and it's a ship i don't rly like, i will probably not acknowledge it at all. not gonna reveal which ships tho!!
Sneak peak for the Tessa Janeke fic or eta? I’m also hoping she ends up with Toronto!
it’s just a cute college au oneshot! i have the story outline done, and i’ve written like maybe 30% of the whole thing atp. i’m still thinking if i should switch up some stuff but ig i’ll see.
also, you and me both. toronto needs tessa so i hope we actually get her or i’m gonna start rioting actually
they’re lucky daryl watts wanted to play for her hometown so bad and is toronto down fr because that 59k salary is criminal with how she basically CARRIED the team’s offense. she’s a superstar and the organization shouldn’t be paying her peanuts
as someone who followed and watched women’s college hockey i am SO pumped at the possibility of my broke ass team (toronto sceptres) drafting tessa janecke. like there’s a huge possibility of pwhl hamilton/san jose stealing our beloved top line center emma maltais, so drafting tessa janecke would be such a great fit. girl did just about anything for penn state and led the entire team in scoring. she could definitely help us on that part so our offense isn’t just daryl and a dream
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