The days after Megan's dad was taken into custody felt like a surreal blur. Police statements, court hearings, and countless questions filled their days, while sleepless nights left Megan and her mom emotionally drained. They stayed at Riley's house for nearly a week while the authorities ensured their home was safe.
Riley's parents had gone above and beyond. Her mom made sure Megan and her mom had everything they needed—home-cooked meals, clean clothes, and a warm, welcoming space. Her dad, always the protector, installed a new security system at Megan's house and reinforced the locks on the doors and windows. Even after they moved back home, Riley's dad checked in frequently, just to make sure they felt safe.
But despite the newfound safety, Megan felt anything but secure.
"I just feel… weird," Megan admitted one evening. She and Riley were sitting on the floor of Riley's room, flipping through an old hockey magazine. Megan's knees were pulled up to her chest, her eyes distant. "Like I should feel better now that he's gone. But I don't. I just… don't."
"Oh...poor Megan..." Sadness sighed.
"That really is tough," Envy added.
Riley set the magazine aside, her brow furrowing with concern. "That makes sense," she said gently. "You've been living with all that fear for so long. It's not just going to disappear overnight."
Megan looked down, her fingers tracing invisible patterns on the carpet. "What if… what if I never feel normal again?"
"You will," Riley promised, her voice steady. "It's gonna take time, but you're not doing this alone." She reached over, giving Megan's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Man, poor kid," Anger murmured.
"I know," Joy said softly, her usual sparkle dimmed as she watched the console. "But we're here for her, no matter what."
"Yeah, but what if Riley pushes too hard?" Anxiety piped up, pacing back and forth. "She's carrying a lot right now. If we're not careful, this could break her."
"Which is why we have to take it slow," Joy replied firmly. "One step at a time."
Over the next few weeks, Megan threw herself into anything that kept her mind busy—schoolwork, cleaning, and especially hockey. But without games or practices, the offseason left her feeling restless. The quiet felt too loud, and her thoughts too heavy.
One afternoon, while they were hanging out at the rink, Riley noticed the way Megan's smile didn't quite reach her eyes. They had just finished an informal scrimmage with some of the other girls from their team, but even on the ice, Megan seemed distant.
"Something's off," Anxiety noted. "We should check on her."
"She might want space, you guys," Disgust pointed out. "We don't wanna be like a parasite clinging onto her at every moment."
"But she needs us," Sadness said.
"I have an idea!" Joy announced, plugging an idea bulb into the console.
"Hey," Riley said as they unlaced their skates on the bench. "What if we signed up for that summer hockey camp? The elite one Coach Roberts mentioned?"
Megan blinked, her hands pausing mid-lace. "The elite camp? But that's for—"
"For players who want to take their game to the next level," Riley finished with a knowing grin. "You're one of the best players I know, Megan. And honestly? I think we could both use something to focus on."
Megan's expression softened, a flicker of hope crossing her features. "You really think I could do it?"
"Absolutely," Riley said, her tone unwavering. "And we'll do it together."
"Okay," Megan said softly, her lips curving into a small smile. "Let's do it."
Joy pumped her fist. "Yes! This is exactly what we need!"
"Okay, but let's not get ahead of ourselves," Anxiety warned, eyeing the calendar with a wary glance. "This camp is intense. We'll have to be prepared."
"And you remember the last time we went to a camp?" Ennui added, glaring at a certain orange emotion.
"Relax, guys," Joy said with a reassuring smile. "We're ready for this."
The weeks leading up to tryouts were grueling. Riley and Megan trained harder than ever—waking up early for morning ice time, squeezing in extra drills after school, and watching game footage late into the night. Megan pushed herself harder than she ever had before, as though she was trying to prove something to herself.
"You don't have to be perfect," Riley reminded her one afternoon after a particularly tough practice. They were sitting in the empty stands, their water bottles resting at their feet.
"I know," Megan said, but her eyes said otherwise.
"Do you?" Riley pressed gently. "Because it's okay to take a breath, Megan."
Megan sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I just… I don't want to mess this up. This is my shot at something good. Something normal."
"And you won't mess it up," Riley said softly. "You're not doing this alone. I'm with you. Always."
Megan's eyes met Riley's, and for the first time in a long time, some of the tension in her face eased.
"It's crazy that we hated this girl like...what? Days ago?" Disgust smirked. "Now we're out here giving her pep talks and therapy sessions."
"That's how amazing our Riley is!" Joy smiled, putting her arms around the two emotions that were next to her, which ended up being Anxiety and Anger.
The other emotions grinned proudly as they watched the screen.
The day of tryouts arrived faster than either of them expected. The rink was buzzing with energy as dozens of hopefuls took the ice, all vying for a spot in the elite training program. Scouts and coaches lined the boards, clipboards in hand, watching every move with sharp eyes.
"Ready?" Riley asked, adjusting her helmet as they stood at the edge of the ice.
Megan took a steadying breath, her fingers tightening around her stick. "I think so."
"Good," Riley said with a grin. "Let's show them what we've got."
Inside Riley's mind, Joy was rallying the troops.
"Alright, team," Joy called out, her voice filled with determination. "This is where we shine!"
"Eyes on the puck," Anxiety reminded, eyeing the competition.
"Watch that defender on the left!" Fear yelped as they skated into the first drill.
Riley and Megan fell into sync almost immediately. Their chemistry on the ice was undeniable—sharp passes, seamless communication, and an instinctual understanding of each other's movements. Riley's speed and quick decision-making balanced perfectly with Megan's precision and control.
Megan skated with a focus that Riley hadn't seen in weeks. Every stride, every shot, every pass was deliberate. Her confidence grew with each drill, her movements more fluid and decisive.
By the end of tryouts, they were exhausted but exhilarated.
"I don't know about you," Megan said, leaning against the boards as they peeled off their gloves. "But I think we crushed it."
"Definitely," Riley agreed, her grin wide. "We left it all on the ice."
"Hell yeah!" Envy screeched with excitement.
"Look at us," Joy said with pride. "This is what happens when we don't worry so much and just enjoy the moment."
"Those opponent players did not know who they were facing!" Anger laughed, cracking his knuckles.
"But what if all of that was for nothing?" Anxiety wondered. "There's no guarantee we'll make it."
However, a few days later, the email arrived.
All of the emotions gasped in unison.
"Did we actually...?" Envy stared at the screen in shock, seeing Riley Andersen on the list.
"We made it!" Riley shouted, holding up her phone for Megan to see. "We're in!"
Megan's face lit up, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you serious?"
"Dead serious," Riley said, her excitement contagious.
"We did it…" Megan whispered, her voice filled with awe. "We actually did it."
"We did," Riley confirmed, pulling her into a tight hug.
For the first time in a long time, Megan's smile felt real.
⸻
When the first day of hockey camp finally arrived, Riley and Megan walked into the rink with a mix of excitement and nerves. The facility was massive, with multiple rinks, state-of-the-art training equipment, and banners from some of the best youth teams in the country hanging from the rafters.
"Whoa," Megan murmured, taking it all in. "This is… intense."
"Yeah," Riley agreed, her eyes scanning the arena. The other players looked just as serious, their gear spotless and their focus razor-sharp. The coaching staff stood at the far end of the ice, their expressions stern and watchful.
"Okay, maybe this is more intense than I thought," Anxiety muttered, pacing nervously.
"Relax," Joy said calmly, her eyes sparkling. "We've prepared for this. We're ready."
Coach Roberts, one of the assistant instructors, spotted them and gave a small nod. "Glad to see you both here," she said, her tone neutral but approving. "Ready to work?"
"Absolutely," Riley said, her voice filled with confidence.
The first few days of camp pushed them harder than they had ever been pushed before. The drills were brutal, demanding speed, precision, and mental toughness. Megan struggled at first, her confidence wavering as she compared herself to the other players. But Riley was always there—encouraging her, pushing her, reminding her why they were there.
"Don't overthink it," Riley whispered one afternoon as they skated back to the bench after an intense drill. "Just play your game."
"Let's do this," Joy said.
Megan's jaw tightened with determination. And from that moment on, something shifted. She wasn't just skating to escape anymore—she was skating to prove to herself that she belonged there.