Riley and Val oneshots

Ice breath the surface

Riley laughed as she skated ahead of Val, the sound echoing through the empty rink. "Come on, Val, you're supposed to be the fast one!"

Val smirked, effortlessly catching up. "I'm just letting you think you're winning," she teased, nudging Riley with her shoulder as they skated side by side.

"You're too kind," Riley shot back playfully, though there was an underlying hint of seriousness in her tone. She admired Val's skill, but it also made her feel like she was always one step behind.

They slowed to a stop at the center of the rink, both catching their breath. Riley's usual goofy grin faltered slightly as she looked at Val. "You know, I'm really glad we're doing this. These early practices... they're the best part of my day."

Val gave a small, nonchalant smile. "Yeah, me too," she replied, though her tone was more subdued. She could see the sincerity in Riley's eyes, and it made her uneasy. Val wasn't used to people caring about her so openly, and it stirred something in her she wasn't ready to face.

As their practices continued, Riley began to feel the weight of being in Val's shadow. During a team drill, she watched as everyone gravitated towards Val, their star player.

"Val, you're amazing!" one of the girls shouted, high-fiving her.

Riley skated over to Val after practice, trying to mask her feelings with a smile. "You were on fire today."

"Thanks," Val said, her voice cool. She noticed the tension in Riley's voice, but she didn't know how to address it. "You did great too, you know."

Riley shrugged, her smile fading. "Yeah... but it's different. You're the one everyone looks up to."

Val frowned, sensing the insecurity in Riley's words. "Riley, you don't have to compare yourself to me. You're great in your own way."

Riley wanted to believe her, but the imbalance between them was becoming more apparent with each passing day. "It just feels like I'm always playing catch-up," she admitted softly.

Val didn't respond immediately. She felt a pang of guilt but also a sense of frustration. She never asked for this pedestal, yet she couldn't deny that she liked the admiration. "We're a team," she said finally, but the words felt hollow even to her.

Later, as they walked out of the rink, Riley spoke up, her voice hesitant. "Val... do you ever feel like... I don't know, like you're scared to get too close to people?"

Val stiffened at the question, her instinctive walls going up. "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious," Riley said quickly, sensing Val's discomfort. She forced a laugh. "I guess I'm just overthinking things."

Val stopped walking, turning to face Riley. "You're not overthinking. I... I do feel that way sometimes. It's hard for me to let people in. It's easier to keep things light, you know?"

Riley nodded, but there was sadness in her eyes. "Yeah, I get that. But... I don't want to be just another person you keep at a distance, Val."

Val looked down, unable to meet Riley's gaze. "It's not you, Riley. It's just... how I am. I don't want to hurt you."

"But you are," Riley said softly, the pain in her voice clear. "I care about you, Val, more than I probably should. And I don't know how long I can keep pretending that's enough."

As the weeks passed, rumors began to circulate around the camp about Riley and Val's relationship. The whispers and glances from their teammates started to weigh on Riley.

One evening, after another intense practice, Riley confronted Val. "People are talking about us," she said bluntly.

Val shrugged, trying to downplay it. "Let them talk. Who cares?"

"I care!" Riley snapped, surprising herself with the intensity of her own emotions. "I care because it feels like I'm the only one who's actually invested in this. And it hurts, Val. It really hurts."

Val looked at her, torn between the urge to comfort Riley and the overwhelming fear of what that would mean. "Riley... I didn't ask for this attention as fuck. I didn't want to complicate things."

"But they are complicated," Riley shot back. "And you pretending like they're not is what's killing me."

Val took a deep breath, struggling to find the right words. "I don't know how to be what you want me to be, Riley. I'm scared, okay? I'm scared of getting too close, of losing control."

"Then maybe we shouldn't be doing this at all," Riley said, her voice breaking. "Maybe it's better if we just... stop."

Val's heart sank, but she didn't argue. She knew Riley was right, even if it hurt to admit it. "Maybe," she whispered, looking away.

The final straw came one night after a camp party. They'd both had a bit to drink, and the tension between them reached a boiling point.

Riley, her emotions raw, finally let everything out. "I can't keep doing this, Val. I can't keep pretending that you care when you won't even let me in."

Val, equally emotional, fired back. "I do care, Riley! But I can't be the person you want me to be. I don't know how!"

"Then we're done," Riley said, tears streaming down her face. "Because I deserve someone who isn't afraid to care about me."

Val stood there, stunned and hurt, as Riley walked away. She wanted to call her back, to fix things, but the words wouldn't come. She was too afraid of what would happen if she did.

Weeks later, after the camp ended, Riley and Val went their separate ways. But the memories of their time together lingered, haunting them both. They occasionally texted, but the conversations were short and strained, a painful reminder of what they had lost.

Riley found herself wondering what might have been if Val had been able to open up, if she had been able to keep her own insecurities at bay. Val, too, regretted the way things ended, but she knew that her fear of vulnerability had driven Riley away.

Despite the pain, they both knew that their relationship, marked by love, fear, and misunderstanding, had taught them something important about themselves. But that knowledge was bittersweet, as they each faced the reality that sometimes, love alone isn't enough.