A/N: Hello all. Just wanted to clarify that Q and A's is finished...at least for a good while. I don't know if it'll come back soon but for now, I don't have the motivation to continue it. I want to focus on this story. Thanks for understanding.

The silence didn't last.

It never does.

The morning after the announcement should've been full of celebration. It should've been laughter and pancakes and spontaneous hugs in the hallway. It should've felt like victory.

But instead, the storm hit.

Not the kind you hear rumbling miles away—the kind that erupts from within.

Riley barely got her gear packed before the first whispers began.

"She only made it because of Coach Roberts."

"Did you see her limp off the ice? Total liability."

"I heard Northridge was already backing out."

Inside Riley's mind, the control room was spinning.

"What is happening?" Anxiety cried, scanning for the source of the noise.

Envy hunched near the console, eyes wide. "They're talking about us. They're turning on us."

"They're just jealous," Anger growled, flames licking his eyebrows. "Let me at 'em. One punch to shut them up."

"No punches!" Joy wailed, tugging his arm down. "Please don't make it worse."

Disgust groaned. "Ugh. Three posts already questioning if we 'faked' the injury. Seriously? Do people hear themselves?"

Riley kept her head down as she exited the locker room, shouldering her bag like it was made of bricks. The hall seemed longer, the faces colder. Every glance felt like an accusation. Every smile felt fake.

Val caught up to her, eyes darting. "You okay?"

Riley didn't answer right away. "Did you hear what they're saying?"

Val hesitated. "Yeah. But it doesn't matter."

"It does to me."

Val stopped her in her tracks. "You played through pain, you showed up early every day, and you earned your spot. The rest? Noise."

But Riley's stomach churned.

"Yeah, noise that could get us in a real PICKLE!" Fear panicked.

Later that afternoon, things got worse.

The camp group chat lit up with a message Riley never expected to see. An anonymous message:

Hope she packed crutches for the next level.

Then another, also anonymous:

Some of us had to actually earn it. Not beg for it.

Envy gasped inside Riley's head. "Someone made a burner account just to—?"

Anger exploded. "THAT'S IT. WHOEVER THIS IS, THEY'RE DONE."

"I think I'm gonna throw up," Disgust whimpered.

"Don't let it get to us," Joy said, voice shaking. "We can't spiral."

Riley stared at her phone, fingers trembling. Her mind was buzzing. She'd thought the hard part was over. But this… this felt like sabotage.

She turned to Megan and Grace, showing them the messages. Megan's jaw tightened immediately. Grace's face fell in disbelief.

"I swear if I find out who's behind this—" Megan started, fists clenched.

"We can't escalate it," Riley said quickly, but her voice lacked conviction. "It'll make things worse."

But that night, worse came anyway.

A group of girls Riley barely knew confronted her by the vending machines outside the dining hall. One leaned in, voice dripping with mock concern.

"Must be nice, huh? Failing upward."

Riley flinched. "Excuse me?"

Another girl snorted. "Your little 'injury' act was real convincing. Shame you didn't just take yourself out. Would've opened up a real spot."

Megan was there in seconds.

"Back off," she snapped. "You jealous, or just pathetic?"

The girls backed off with smirks, but the damage was done.

Back in her cabin, Riley stared blankly at the wall. The darkness was closing in fast.

Inside the control room, Anxiety was unraveling. "They hate us. They all hate us."

Envy hugged herself. "We don't belong here. We never did."

Joy was flickering like a dying lightbulb. "She's… she's losing it. I can't stop it."

Then came the knock.

Val stood at the door, holding something in her hand—Riley's old team photo, the one that had fallen out of her bag earlier in the week.

"I thought you might want this," she said softly.

Riley took it wordlessly.

"I heard what happened," Val said, sitting beside her. "People get cruel when they're scared. But don't let their fear become yours."

Riley's voice cracked. "I thought this was supposed to feel good. I thought making it would make it worth it."

Val nodded. "It will. But not right away. You're in the middle of the fire, Riley. And you're still standing."

She glanced down at the photo. "You're not alone. Not now."

Inside, Joy stood up slowly, her color returning. "She's not broken."

Sadness linked arms with her. "But she's hurting."

"Good," Anger grunted. "Let it fuel us."

Anxiety was still on the floor, but she nodded. "As long as we don't let it define us."

The next morning brought another twist.

Coach Roberts called Riley into her office.

"You've got a decision to make," she said, sliding a folder across the desk.

Riley opened it. Northridge. A formal offer.

"But there's something else," the coach continued. "U.S. Development wants to bring you in for the Fall Showcase in Colorado. It overlaps with Northridge's preseason."

Riley stared at the papers.

Anxiety blinked. "Wait, WHAT?!"

Fear started hyperventilating. "We have to choose?!"

"We can't lose either!" Envy added.

"Someone's going to be disappointed," Sadness said quietly.

Riley swallowed. "What do I do?"

Coach Roberts didn't answer. "That's your call."

That night, Riley walked the length of the empty rink again. The silence was thick with uncertainty. She sat at center ice, holding both letters in her hands.

Inside, the emotions stood in a circle around the core memory console.

"She's about to change her life," Anxiety whispered.

"But which direction?" Ennui asked, still staring at her phone.

Sadness looked around. "We don't know what comes next."

Joy stepped forward. "But we do know who she is."

Riley closed her eyes, then pulled out her phone.

She typed a message to her mom. Just two sentences.

I have to decide what kind of player I want to be. Not just who I want to play for.

Then she stood.

The decision wasn't made yet—but the fear didn't own her anymore.

The next morning, Riley didn't speak much. Her knee was stiff, every step a reminder of how close she'd come to losing everything. Still, she dragged herself through the motions—breakfast, end-of-camp goodbyes, signing jerseys, taking group photos. The finality of it all buzzed beneath the surface like static.

Val nudged her gently while they waited for the shuttle to the airport. "Have you decided?"

Riley shook her head. "Not yet."

"Colorado's not going anywhere," Val said. "Neither is Northridge. You don't have to rush this."

"I know," Riley said, but her stomach twisted. Time wasn't the enemy—doubt was.

Later, on the bus, the silence was unbearable.

Inside her mind, the console flickered as the emotions watched her quietly.

Joy sat forward, hands clasped. "We've always known what we wanted. But now it's not that simple."

Anger paced. "The people doubting us don't matter. We should take both, force them to make room."

"That's not how time works," Disgust snapped.

Sadness tilted her head. "What if neither path is wrong? Just… different?"

Anxiety looked like he hadn't slept in days. "What if we make the wrong choice and ruin everything?!"

"She won't," Joy said, more fiercely than before. "Because she's not choosing from fear anymore."

Outside, the landscape rolled by. Trees blurred together. Riley leaned her forehead against the window and closed her eyes.

Then came a vibration—her phone.

A text from Bree.

You okay?

Riley blinked, then typed back:

Trying. You?

A moment later:

Yeah. Thinking about next season. I might ask my coach to switch me to defense. I think I need a challenge.

Riley stared at the screen, as another message from Bree popped up.

You inspired me. I want to push myself again. For real this time.

Riley felt a lump rise in her throat.

Inside, Joy smiled ear to ear. "See? This is why we fight! We love Bree!"

When Riley stepped off the bus, Megan and Grace were waiting for her by the baggage claim. Val had already peeled off toward her gate.

"We're not letting you go without saying goodbye," Grace said, pulling her into a hug.

"You're gonna kill it at Northridge," Megan added.

Riley hesitated, then gave a tiny shake of her head. "I don't know if I'm going."

Megan's eyes widened. "Wait, what?"

"I mean—I haven't decided. Northridge's offer is solid. I've dreamed about playing there since I was fourteen. But the U.S. team—" she trailed off, emotion knotting in her throat.

"They both terrify you, huh?" Megan said gently.

Riley nodded.

"Then you're probably right where you're supposed to be."

Joy nodded too, hearing it echo deep inside her.

But then, just as Riley turned to go, a sharp voice cut through the crowd.

"Riley Andersen?"

They turned. A woman in a sleek black coat and clipboard stepped forward.

"I'm with the Northridge program," she said. "Mind if we talk?"

Riley blinked. "Uh—sure."

"What does she want?!" Anger shouted.

"We're gonna get booted..." Sadness cried, falling to the floor.

Embarrassment whimpered and ducked himself with his hoodie onto the ground.

"Hold on you guys!" Joy called out, gesturing towards the screen.

The woman gestured toward a quiet corner.

"I won't take much of your time," she said. "We were impressed with your performance, but… we've also heard some rumors. About your injury. And your temperament."

Riley's heart stuttered.

Fear's mouth fell open. "What?!"

Anxiety screamed. "We're about to lose it all right now."

But the woman continued.

"I just want to hear it from you. Are you healthy enough to compete in the fall? Can we count on you to commit fully?"

Riley's eyes narrowed. The chaos inside her stilled.

She stood a little taller. "I am. And yes—you can."

The woman nodded slowly, watching her like she was a puzzle.

"Then we'll expect to see you in August. Congratulations again, Riley."

She walked away, leaving Riley rooted in place, adrenaline pulsing under her skin.

Inside her head, the control room was silent for a beat—then Ennui muttered, "She really just came up here with vibes and threats?"

"I hated her coat," Disgust said.

"I think I need a nap," Anxiety whimpered.

Riley exhaled hard, then turned back to Megan and Grace, who'd been hovering nearby.

Megan raised an eyebrow. "Everything good?"

"Is everything good?" Fear asked.

None of the emotions responded for a moment. Joy slowly reached for the console but stopped. She looked at her glowing hand. She smiled and gently pressed a button.

Riley hesitated—then smiled.

"Yeah. Actually… yeah."