Author's Note: Hi guys! I've been wanting to work on my storytelling and writing. This particular story has been in mind for the past couple of days. It's a bit basic, I know, and the message is a little cheesy but I'm trying to make it as less cheesy as possible haha
Feedback is highly appreciated! I haven't wrote an actually story on here in a while and I want to keep improving. Enjoy this chapter!
And don't worry, Q & A's isn't over! The next chapter will be uploaded soon!
Riley Andersen, a now 16-year-old hockey prodigy, was jolted awake by the piercing sound of her alarm at 4:30 AM. Her body ached with the fatigue of another short night, but she knew she had to muster the strength to start her day. Her eyes flickered open, adjusting to the dim light of her shared bedroom. She carefully slipped out of bed. Her parents, Jill and Bill, were still asleep, Bill's snores being heard from all the way upstairs.
Riley dressed quickly, pulling on her worn workout gear, her movements swift and efficient. She glanced at the clock, every second counted in her meticulously planned morning routine. Silently, she tiptoed downstairs, past the tiny kitchen with its chipped countertops and faded linoleum, and slipped out into the pre-dawn darkness. The cold air bit at her cheeks, a stark contrast to the warmth of the small house. She inhaled deeply, the crisp air filling her lungs as she made her way to the local ice rink, her breath visible in the frosty morning air.
By 5:00 AM, Riley was on the ice. The local rink manager, Mr. Thompson, had recognized her unparalleled dedication and granted her the privilege of practicing before the rink officially opened. The ice was her sanctuary, a place where the burdens of her daily life seemed to melt away. She glided across the smooth surface with grace and precision, her skates carving intricate patterns into the ice. Each stroke was a testament to her skill and determination. The rink was eerily quiet at this hour, the only sound the rhythmic swish of her skates and the occasional crack of the ice beneath her blades.
However, Riley's mind was the opposite of quiet.
"Anxiety, do we really have to wake up early again?" a red, impatient brick-shaped emotion complained.
The orange, panicked emotion was up at the console, in control. "This is the only time we have to be able to practice!" Anxiety explained. "If we don't use it now, we'll never get better!"
"It's sometimes good to wake up early and practice," a positive, yellow emotion reassured, hopping along to the console to join Anxiety. "We're so lucky to have Mr. Thompson allow us to use the rink while it's closed!"
"It still feels illegal to do such a thing..." a scared, purple emotion pointed out.
The first light of dawn began to filter through the rink's windows, casting a soft glow on the ice. Riley knew it was time to leave her haven and face the realities of the day. She had a full schedule ahead—school, a part-time job at a local coffee shop, and a mountain of homework. Each responsibility tugged at her, demanding her attention and energy. She finished her routine, a series of drills that honed her skills and tested her endurance, and reluctantly left the ice.
"Ugh, I can't believe it's almost time for school already," a small, envious, googly-eyed emotion groaned. "It feels like we got to the rink, like, five minutes ago!"
"Times flies when we're having fun..." a blue, chubby emotion sighed.
"This isn't exactly...fun," a bored, lazy emotion said.
The locker room was empty, and the sound of her skates on the tiled floor echoed in the silence. Riley quickly changed out of her gear, her movements brisk and practiced. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, her blue eyes weary but determined. She tied her hair back into a ponytail, steeling herself for the day ahead.
As she left the rink, Mr. Thompson called out to her from his office. "Riley, you're here early as always. How's the training going?"
"It's always good to see Mr. Thompson!" the yellow emotion, Joy, beamed, as she pressed a button on the console.
"Good, Mr. Thompson. Thank you for letting me use the rink this early," Riley replied, a genuine smile lighting up her face.
Mr. Thompson nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and concern. "Just remember to take care of yourself. You're pushing yourself too hard."
"Do you think he really means that?" Anxiety wondered, glancing at Joy. "By saying we're pushing ourselves too hard? Is it because of me?"
"Look, it can be rough sometimes having so much to do, but it's life, and sometimes we have to push ourselves," Joy said, smiling at the orange emotion. "As long as we don't overdo it." She pushed another button.
Riley nodded, appreciating his concern. "I will. Thanks again."
She stepped outside, the morning light now brighter, the world slowly waking up. She walked briskly, her mind already racing with the day's agenda. She had a full load of classes, each one demanding her undivided attention. She excelled academically, not because it came easily to her, but because she knew that maintaining her grades was as crucial as perfecting her slap shot. Her teachers were supportive yet firm, constantly reminding her that academics should be her top priority.
Arriving at school, Riley navigated the crowded hallways, her mind focused on the tasks ahead. She sat through her classes, absorbing information like a sponge. During lunch breaks, she would retreat to a quiet corner of the library, furiously completing assignments. She was acutely aware that her evenings were monopolized by other responsibilities. The relentless pace was taking its toll, but she pushed through, driven by a combination of ambition and necessity.
The final bell of the day was both a relief and a reminder of the long hours still ahead. Riley dashed to her part-time job at the local coffee shop. The hours behind the counter were long, and the pay was modest, but every dollar helped support herself.
"Why is so dead in here right now?" a green, sassy emotion, Disgust, scoffed.
"Because people don't normally get coffee at night," Anxiety explained. "Unless they want no sleep."
"Then why is our job, mind you, a coffee shop, open at night?!" Anger shouted.
That evening, as she wiped down the counters and prepared to close up, her friend and teammate, Val, walked in.
"Hey, Minnesota, you look like you're about to drop," Val said, her brow furrowed with concern.
"Heyyy, it's Val!" Envy beamed at the screen.
"But we can't let her know that we're miserable right now!" Anxiety yelped, pressing a button.
Riley forced a smile, trying to mask her exhaustion. "I'm fine, Val. Just tired, you know?"
Val reached across the counter and squeezed Riley's hand. "You don't have to do this alone, you know. We're a team, on and off the ice."
"Aww, isn't she the sweetest?" Joy stared in awe.
"Doesn't Val always have to deal with our issues?" Sadness sighed. "She's probably exhausted from it..."
"Yeah, what if she can't handle it anymore and she gets sick of us and doesn't want to hang out anymore?!" Anxiety worried, starting to press buttons.
Riley nodded, appreciating Val's words but unsure how to accept help without feeling like a burden. The weight of her responsibilities felt like a personal challenge, one she was determined to face head-on. As she locked up the shop and headed home, the reality of her situation weighed heavily on her shoulders. She knew she couldn't continue at this pace indefinitely, but the path forward seemed uncertain.
The walk home was quiet, the streets illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights. Riley's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and worries. She reached the house, climbed the stairs to the door, and quietly let herself in. The house was dark, save for a small lamp left on in the living room. She tiptoed to the kitchen, where she found a note from her mother.
"Dinner's in the fridge. I'm proud of you. Love, Mom."
"Aw, mom's the best!" Joy smiled, pulling a lever.
Riley's heart swelled with gratitude and love. She heated up the dinner, a simple meal of leftovers, and ate quickly, her mind still racing with the tasks ahead. She had a history essay to write, and her eyelids were heavy with exhaustion.
The history essay loomed large in Riley's mind as she stared at the blank page before her. The topic, "The Economic Impact of the Industrial Revolution," felt distant and irrelevant compared to the immediate pressures of her daily life. She rubbed her temples, trying to summon the focus and energy to start writing. The kitchen clock ticked relentlessly, each second a reminder of how little time she had.
"This. Sucks," Anger complained. "I knew we shouldn't have waited until the last minute to do this!"
"And whose idea was that, hm?" Disgust asked, glancing at the block emotion to let him know that it was, indeed, his idea.
Her phone buzzed on the table, and she glanced at the screen. A message from Val: "Hang in there, Minnesota. You've got this. See you at practice tomorrow."
"What would we do without Val?" Joy smiled, elbows resting on the console. "Let's get this essay done, shall we?" She pressed a button.
Riley's heart warmed at the message. Taking a deep breath, she began to write, her fingers flying over the keyboard. She lost herself in the flow of words, each sentence bringing her closer to completing the assignment. As the hours passed, fatigue gnawed at her, but she pushed through, driven by a determination that had become second nature.
Finally, with the essay completed and saved, Riley allowed herself a brief moment of satisfaction. She glanced at the clock—2:00 AM. She had to be up in just a few short hours for her morning practice. The thought was daunting, but she knew that skipping practice was not an option. Her dreams of playing college hockey hinged on her relentless commitment and improvement.
"Yet again, we only get 3 hours of sleep," Ennui sighed, lying back on the couch in despair.
"It's better than nothing, right?" Joy tried to reassure. "How about some energy drinks in the morning?"
"But I thought we were gonna stop using energy drinks!" Anxiety commented. "How about we just make coffee instead?"
"But coffee doesn't work as good as energy drinks for us!" Envy whined. "What's one drink gonna do?"
Joy stood there, clueless as to what to do.
Riley dragged herself to bed, slipping under the covers with a sigh of exhaustion and slowly closing her eyes.
The alarm clock's shrill ring came all too soon, and Riley forced herself out of bed, her body protesting with every movement. She went through her morning routine in a daze, her muscles aching from both physical exertion and lack of sleep.
"Can we just grab a shovel and bury ourselves deep underground so we can just end it all?" Disgust moaned as she forced herself to the console.
"I'm too scared of being buried alive, but I'm actually with you on this," Fear nodded.
"Guys, knock it off! We're about to get to the rink!" Joy said.
Yet again, as Riley stepped onto the ice, a familiar sense of peace and purpose washed over her. The rink was her sanctuary, a place where she could channel her frustrations and aspirations into something tangible.
Mr. Thompson was waiting for her as usual, a thermos of hot coffee in hand. "Morning, Riley," he greeted her with a warm smile. "Ready to conquer the day?"
"No," Ennui muttered. She was about to press a button on the console app but Joy quickly stopped her.
"Not today, Wee Wee," she grinned, pressing a button.
"Always," Riley replied, her breath visible in the chilly air. She took a sip of the coffee he offered, savoring the warmth that spread through her. "Thanks, Mr. Thompson. I don't know what I'd do without this early practice time."
"You're welcome, Riley. It's a pleasure to see such dedication. Just make sure you're taking care of yourself, too," he advised gently.
"I know we had a hard day yesterday, but let's take it easy this time!" Joy encouraged.
"But what if today is even harder than yesterday?" Anxiety asked.
"Then we push through it, no matter what!" Joy smiled, pressing another button.
Riley nodded. "I will. It's just a busy time right now."
Mr. Thompson's expression softened. "I know it is. Just remember, it's okay to ask for help. We all need a little support sometimes."
With those words in mind, Riley began her practice. The rhythmic sound of her skates cutting into the ice was both meditative and invigorating. She pushed herself through her drills, each movement precise and deliberate. Despite her exhaustion, she felt a renewed sense of determination. The ice was her canvas, and she was painting her future with every stroke.
As she completed her final lap, the sun began to rise, casting a golden glow over the rink. Riley paused, breathing heavily, and took a moment to appreciate the beauty of the morning. She knew that these moments of tranquility were fleeting, but they were also what made the struggle worthwhile.
Back in the locker room, Riley changed quickly, her mind already shifting to the day ahead. She had a math test in the morning, followed by a history presentation. After school, she would head straight to the coffee shop for her shift, and then home to tackle more homework. It was a relentless cycle, but one she had grown accustomed to.
At school, Riley navigated the crowded hallways with practiced ease. She exchanged quick hellos with friends and teachers, her mind focused on the tasks at hand. During her free period, she retreated to the library, seeking solace among the rows of books. She found a quiet corner and pulled out her math textbook, reviewing the formulas and concepts she needed to master for the upcoming test.
"Riley, there you are," a voice interrupted her thoughts. It was Ms. Rodriguez, the school counselor, her kind eyes filled with concern. "I've been looking for you. Do you have a few minutes to talk?"
"What does Ms. Rodriguez want?" Anxiety wondered. "Did we do something to concern her?"
"We can't even talk right now!" Anger pointed out. "We have a test to study!"
"We can't say no to her!" Anxiety panicked, pushing a button.
Riley hesitated, glancing at her notes. "I have a test coming up, but… sure. I can spare a few minutes."
They walked to Ms. Rodriguez's office, a small but inviting space filled with plants and motivational posters. Sophie sat down, feeling a mixture of apprehension and relief.
"I've noticed you've been looking pretty worn out lately," Ms. Rodriguez began gently. "I know you have a lot on your plate. How are you holding up?"
"Of course it's about our busy life," Ennui said.
"Here Sadness," Joy offered the console to the blue emotion. "Let Riley express herself."
Sadness slowly approached the console. "What should we say? Should we cry?"
"Not when we have a test to study!" Anxiety said nervously.
"Yeah, just briefly explain what's been going on," Joy instructed. Sadness nodded and pulled a lever.
Riley took a deep breath, her resolve faltering for a moment. "I'm trying my best. It's just… a lot. School, work, hockey. Sometimes it feels like I'm drowning."
Ms. Rodriguez nodded sympathetically. "It's understandable. You're juggling a lot of responsibilities. Have you thought about ways to manage your time more effectively, or perhaps delegating some tasks?"
"We haven't had time to think about any of that," Anxiety commented. Sadness pressed a button.
Riley shook her head. "I feel like I have to do it all. I don't want to let anyone down."
Ms. Rodriguez leaned forward, her voice soft yet firm. "It's important to remember that asking for help isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of strength. You have people who care about you and want to support you. Let them in."
"Oh...this is sad..." Sadness sniffled, pressing a couple more buttons.
Riley felt a tear slip down her cheek.
"Sadness! Why are you making Riley cry?!" Anxiety panicked. "Embarrassment, stop her!"
A giant, pink emotion, Embarrassment, gasped and quickly pulled two levers.
Riley's eyes widened as she quickly wiped the tear away, embarrassed by her vulnerability. "I just… don't know where to start."
"We can take it one step at a time," Ms. Rodriguez said kindly. "Let's work on a plan together. You don't have to do this alone."
"See guys?" Joy smiled. "We can do this." She pressed a button.
Riley nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope. They spent the next few minutes discussing strategies for time management and stress relief. Ms. Rodriguez also suggested Riley speak with her teachers about her situation, to see if any accommodations could be made.
As Riley left the counselor's office, she felt a weight lift off her shoulders. The path ahead still seemed daunting, but she no longer felt like she had to navigate it alone. She returned to her studies with renewed focus, determined to make the most of the support offered to her.
The rest of the school day passed in a blur. Riley aced her math test, her preparation paying off. During her history presentation, she spoke with confidence, her research thorough and well-articulated. Her classmates applauded her effort, and her teacher gave her a nod of approval.
At the coffee shop, Riley moved through her shift with practiced efficiency. Val stopped by again, this time with Bree and Grace. They chatted briefly, their presence a comforting reminder of the support she had.
"Don't forget about practice tomorrow," Val reminded her as they left. "We need our star player in top form!"
"I'll be there," Riley promised, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Bye Bree, bye Grace!"
"We love you, Riley!" Grace called out as the door closed.
As she walked home that evening, Riley reflected on the day. It had been long and challenging, but also filled with small victories and moments of connection. She knew the road ahead would be difficult, but she felt more equipped to handle it with the support of her loved ones.
She arrived home to find Bill talking on the phone while Jill prepared dinner nearby. Riley joined them, the warmth of their small home a stark contrast to the cold, hard world outside. They shared stories about their day, laughter and love filling the room.
As Riley lay in bed that night, her body exhausted but her spirit uplifted, she felt a sense of peace. She knew that tomorrow would bring new challenges, but she also knew she had the strength and support to face them. With a final deep breath, she closed her eyes, letting sleep wash over her, dreams of the ice rink and a brighter future filling her mind.