(A/N: We're coming down to the end. I hope everyone has enjoyed the Emotions' little adventure. The rest of the story is pretty much going to be about Riley. Well, ok, technically I guess the whole story was about Riley, but you know what I mean. This chapter will be the turning point for her and Jordan's relationship.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 16: Make Up or Break Up

Riley ran down the street, looking for Jordan. They hadn't spoken that long ago, and she was hoping to head him off. But no, he wasn't anywhere in sight.

"Maybe he went home," Sadness suggested. "Whenever I'm really sad, I like to just curl up in bed and cry."

"Right then!" Joy cried, inserting the idea to go to Jordan's house into the control panel. "To Jordan's house it is!"

But Jordan wasn't there. His mother said she hadn't seen him since he left the house. His sister didn't know either, but she wasn't talking to him since he was going to miss the semi-finals.

"Make a note to have Riley talk to her about that," said Joy.

Their next stop was Nathan's house. Perhaps Jordan had decided to blow off some steam by practicing with his band mates after their fight. But no, he wasn't there either, and Nathan was not happy to see her.

"He's been trying to reschedule, even cancel, our gig," the boy told her irritably. "He's turning down a chance to gain recognition and make good money just so he can go to your stupid hockey game."

Despite her hurry to find Jordan, she took the time to fix Nathan with a glare. "It's not stupid! It's the semi-finals."

Nathan scoffed. "I would have thought that seeing your favorite team play live would be more fun."

Riley blinked, not understanding. "What?"

The boy rolled his eyes. "Jordan plans to use the money he makes from the gig to buy tickets to see your favorite hockey team's next game. It's supposed to be your Christmas present. Guess the surprise is blown."

Riley was taken aback. That was why Jordan needed the money? To get hockey tickets? For her? That was why he couldn't tell her what he needed the money for; he didn't want to ruin the surprise, something Nathan had no issue doing for him.

"That is so sweet." Joy awed.

"Yeah, but jerk-face here just ruined the surprise!" Anger snarled, pounding his fist on the control pad.

"I don't even care. We'll have to make sure to act surprised when Jordan gives us the tickets." She pressed a button, but there was no reaction. She pressed it again, but still nothing. "Ah, man, Riley's in shock."

As Joy continued to try and get a reaction, Riley stared at Nathan, completely dumbfounded. "Jordan is… getting me tickets…?"

Nathan rolled his eyes. "He really cares about you, you know. So you two better hurry and make up."

He closed the door in her face. It took a few moments for her to get over her shock, but she was soon on the search again.

"We're never gonna find him!" Fear shouted in despair. "What if he was so upset over our break up that he jumped off a bridge or something?"

"Calm down, panicky," Disgust mumbled. "Jordan wouldn't do something stupid like that. Besides, Riley didn't even break up with him, they just departed badly after a fight."

"Guys, focus," Joy pleaded. "Where else could he have gone?"

She began recalling several memories, searching for a spot Jordan may have gone. When one particular memory appeared on screen, she realized how obvious it should have been.

"Of course," she muttered, sticking the idea into the control pad. "Why didn't we think to check there sooner?"

Riley's eyes widened as it occurred to her where Jordan might be. She ran until she reached the ice skating center, only to collide with Caprice and her two friends.

"Oww," the cool girl grunted as they both went down. "Watch where you're going!"

Disgust's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "Oh my gosh! We just knocked down Caprice! Our social life is over!"

Riley jumped to her feet and helped her up. "I'm so sorry."

"Riley? Is that you? What's the rush?"

Riley tapped her fingers together nervously as the three girls stared at her. "Um, nothing much. I just had a big fight with my boyfriend, so now I'm going to go make up with him. Talk to you in school tomorrow. See ya."

She hurried inside before any of the three girl could say anything. They stared at the door she had disappeared through before Caprice glanced at her friends. "You know, Riley's pretty cool. We should ask her to hang out with us some time."

Inside the center, Riley headed for the ice rink where she had her hockey games. The stadium was empty except for a few people skating. Riley's eyes darted around, and they finally landed on Jordan. He was sitting in the stadium with his head down, looking at his feet. The flower he had gotten for her was still in his hands.

"I think we missed a few things," said Joy. She knew that Riley and Jordan had quarreled shortly before she and the other Emotions had retaken Headquarters, but they didn't know the details.

Sadness pointed at the screen. "We should do a quick memory recall so we know what kind of trouble I.B. caused."

"Good call," Joy agreed, pressing a few buttons, and the memory began playing.

The Emotions cringed as they watched how I.B. had forced Riley to interact with Jordan, ending with her throwing the flower back in his face and closing the door on him. As the memories played in her mind, guilt clawed at Riley's insides.

"What a creep," Disgust grumbled, referring to I.B.

"Riley would never act like that," Fear agreed.

Joy sighed. "Let's fix this."

"Approach with caution," the purple Emotion insisted.

Feeling uneasy, Riley slowly approached Jordan. With his eyes closed, he didn't seem to notice her until she cleared her throat. "Um, Jordan."

He glanced at her, and leapt back in surprise at seeing her there. It resulted in him sinking back into his seat as it folded up on him, his legs ending up beside his head.

Despite the tension, Riley couldn't help but chuckle. He really was adorable.

"R-Riley!" he croaked, quickly climbing out of the seat and standing up. "What are you doing here?"

She gave him a small smile and reached out to take the flower from him. "I could ask you the same thing."

He glanced at her extended hand, looked back up at her, then at her hand again before placing the flower in it. "I don't know. I just felt the need to come here since I can't go to your…" He trailed off and sighed. "Riley, I-"

She shushed him. "No, Jordan, don't. I was being unreasonable and selfish. I'm still upset that you can't come to the game, but I understand. I know it's not really your fault. You were stuck in a no-win situation and chose the lesser of two evils. I don't know why I said the things I said. I was wrong."

He offered her a smile. "I thought in a relationship, the girl was always right, even when she was wrong."

"Well, he got that right," said Disgust.

Riley chuckled. "Ordinarily, yes. But this time supernatural forces must have been at work." She frowned. "I really don't know what came over me. It was like I was a completely different person."

Jordan rubbed the back of his head. "It's ok. I was told this would happen. It happens to my mom every month."

He seemed to realize that he had said too much, because his hand instantly slapped against his mouth and he blushed madly. Riley stared at him in confusion, as did her Emotions.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Fear asked.

"Not sure," Joy replied. "What would his mother go through every month that would make her act like a different person?"

It suddenly clicked in Sadness' head, and her hands flew to her mouth as she gasped. "Oooh, he thinks that Riley is… well, um, you know…"

No, not at first, but they soon caught on to what she was getting at.

"Oh, no he did not!" Anger bellowed furiously, and reached for the controls.

Joy stopped him. "Wait, wait, wait. Maybe this is for the best. It's a much simpler explanation for the way she's been acting. Let's just let him think that and move on. It'll be much easier for everyone."

Riley was also blushing furiously, but she didn't correct his theory. "Y-Yeah, we girls can be crazy sometimes…"

A few awkward moments of silence passed where they were unable to meet each other's gaze.

Finally, Jordan spoke. "But I think it's worth it." He slowly looked at her again, and she at him. "I think you're really great, Riley. Even when you get crazy."

She blushed again, this time for a different reason. "Well, I think you're great too, Jordan." She recalled her mother's words. "Even when you get on my nerves. But I wouldn't change single thing about you."

He was blushing again, this time for a different reason. "I wouldn't either."

They chuckled bashfully, then fell into an awkward silence. Jordan glanced at the ice rink, then back at Riley. "You know I want to see your game. I would if I could."

She smiled sadly. "I know. Like I said, I was being unreasonable."

"I'll still be rooting for you from afar," he offered. "Not that you need it. You're team rocks. I'll take you out somewhere special to celebrate afterwards to make up for it."

Riley's eyes lit up and her smile widened as she was struck with inspiration. "Tell you what, you get me a really great Christmas present, and I'll forgive you for skipping out on my game."

Jordan beamed at that. "Deal! You'll be totally blown away."

Not letting on that she knew his intentions, she chuckled. "You really are a great boyfriend."

"And you're a great girlfriend, the best ever." He seemed to be considering something and looked over her shoulder. "Hey, what's that?"

When she turned to look, he quickly leaned forward and kissed her cheek. Riley's head snapped back towards him, her eyes wide. Her hand came up, covering the place where he kissed, a red tint filling her cheeks.

The Emotions' mouths were hanging open. "Did he just…?" Joy asked.

"He did," Disgust confirmed. "He totally did."

None of them seemed sure how to react. "What should we do now?" Anger asked. "Should she be angry that he took such liberties, or disgusted?"

"Are you kidding?" Fear shouted. "She should be terrified! Boys only want one thing, and we just started down a slippery slope to it!"

Joy gave them a stunned look. "What are you talking about? This is a good thing. It's what Riley was going for. He's finally made a real move. Here, let me drive."

Riley lowered her hand. "What was that?"

Blushing again, Jordan looked away. "S-Sorry."

"You should be," she told him. "You missed."

"I know, I just… What?"

She smiled at him. "You were a little off."

She began to lean in. Jordan's eyes widened as her face got closer. Inside his head, his own Emotions were focusing on the screen intently.

"This is it, boys!" his Joy cried. "Prepare to make first contact!"

His Fear was pulling at his hair anxiously. "Careful not to bump heads!"

Contact was established as the two teens shared their first kiss. Inside their heads, lights and explosions went off as their Emotions celebrated.

(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)

The darkness began to clear. I.B. blinked a few times as his vision returned. He looked around in confusion, wondering where he was. The last thing he remembered was being stuck in the Memory Dump as he slowly faded away.

He certainly wasn't in the Dump now. At least he didn't think so. He was surrounded by memories though. He bent down to pick one up, watching as a scene from when Riley was only a year old played. As he watched, another memory materialized by his feet, this one showing Riley when she was 13. It must have just recently been tossed into the Dump; it couldn't have been more than a few weeks old, but clearly not that important or it wouldn't have been thrown out.

"Where am I?" he wondered out loud.

As the fog began to clear, his mouth dropped open. There were familiar things here that he had once seen in Imagination Land before the Mind Workers deemed them no longer necessary and demolished them before tossing the remains in the Dump. There was Graham Cracker Castle, and there was the Stuffed Animal Hall of Fame, and Sparkle Pony Mountain, not to mention other places, all intact. And there were even the original Islands of Personality that had collapsed two years ago.

There were people too. He recognized several imaginary characters walking around that had leapt into the Dump when the depression of being ignored and forgotten had become too much. There was a large gathering of them right now, seemingly preparing to watch a drive-in movie. One imaginary character was standing by the projector, waving around a yellow memory.

"Ok, people," they announced, "tonight we're watching Riley's imaginary adventure through the cave of lava from when she was three!"

As the imaginary characters cheered, I.B. simply stared, completely bewildered. "What is going on?"

A hand fell on his shoulder. He turned to be greeted by a fuzzy, pink, elephant-like creature. Standing beside them, with her arm locked with his, was Rainbow Unicorn.

I.B. continued to stare. "Bing Bong?"

"So you finally made it," the cotton candy imaginary character stated. "You certainly caused a lot of trouble, but at least you did the right thing in the end. That was very brave, sacrificing yourself for Riley's happiness."

He plucked Bing Bong's hand off his shoulder. "How would you know? You were forgotten years ago. Did you see a memory of what happened?"

"Oh, I got to go back for a little bit after Riley saw something that reminded her of me. It didn't last long with everything that was happening. I ended up here again when she forgot about me again after she and Jordan kissed."

I.B.'s eyes bugged out. "They kissed?!"

Bing Bong nodded. "Hey, Riley's growing up, it was bound to happen." He turned to Rainbow Unicorn and stroked under her chin with a finger. "Right, pookey."

His girlfriend giggled as I.B. tried to come to terms with this. "They kissed? You're saying all my hard work was for nothing? It can't be. I'm the only one suited for her. I would die for Riley!"

Bing Bong rolled his eyes and sighed. "Oi, join the club." He wrapped an arm around him. "Literally. I'll show you where it is."

He then half led, half dragged I.B. through many forgotten locations, finally coming to a place that had a big sign over it labeled CLUB RILEY. Inside, the room was filled with Riley merchandise, from posters to figurines, and numerous other things featuring Riley. And it was filled with thousands of copes of I.B. that had once served as Joy's stepladder two years ago.

"Welcome home," Bing Bong told I.B.

All the imaginary boyfriends turned to the newcomer and declared in one proud voice, "I would die for Riley!"

(A/N: Well, all's well that ends well, for everyone. Now I.B. can finally be with his own kind. I wonder how he would feel if he found out that one of the reason's Jordan was going to miss her game was so he could earn money from his gig to buy Riley a Christmas present. And speaking of Riley and Jordan, they not only made up, they finally had their first kiss. Heh, how do you think her parent's Emotions would react to that? So, it looks like that's the end, right? Well, you're wrong. We've got an epilogue coming up. Since my epilogues tend to be short, I'll have it out on Friday, so look forward to it.)