Reality overload Chapter 16: CACOON OF THE BUTTERFLY Pt2

Read chapter 16 of Reality overload by Namizou on NovelPedia.

Charlie guided me back to the dorm room. The whole way, we were getting looks from everyone we passed, whispers reaching my ears, girls staring like they'd just spotted a rare animal they wanted to pet. "Whoa, did you see that girl's hair? It's half white." "She's that new freshman in the new dorm wing?" "She's so pretty!" Fantastic. I was now a walking campus attraction. Step right up, folks, come see the panicked half‑ghost girl. I ignored them as Charlie pulled me along by the hand. She'd calmed me down considerably, which was impressive considering I was basically vibrating with anxiety. Her grip was firm, steady... and maybe a little too protective, like she was afraid someone might try to snatch me. "Hey... Charlie, you found Kris, thank god!!" Riley came running up as we reached the dorm room, sounding like she'd sprinted a marathon fueled entirely by panic. Her eyes flicked over me, widening just a bit too long before she forced herself to focus. "Are you okay, Kris? What happened? Why did you run away like that?" Her voice cracked on "okay," which was... new. Before we became a side show attraction. Charlie dragged us inside and shut the door with a "CLICK " that sounded way too dramatic for a dorm room. She spoke first, not giving me a chance to defend my honor. "I found him in the bathroom near the front of the building. Surrounded by girls bombarding him with questions." She sounded exhausted, but her eyes kept darting toward me like she was checking I hadn't evaporated. "It seems Kris has become quite famous already. Here, look." She held up her phone, showing a forum thread exploding with comments like a digital wildfire. "Holy crap... is that Kris?" Riley squinted. "It says: 'New school belle candidate running through the girls dorm house. Who is this cute new junior!' " Her voice went soft on "Kris," like she couldn't reconcile the picture with the person standing in front of her. My eyes almost launched out of my skull and rolled under the bed. What...why though? This is ridiculous. I've been here for TWO HOURS. I haven't even unpacked my toothbrush and I'm already a campus celebrity. "Hweeeee". I sighed. This was going to be trouble. The kind of trouble that required snacks, and the privacy of my own home. Please can I just... I wanted to go home. Right at that moment, something slipped out of my back pocket and landed softly on the floor. A rectangular, purple ‑colored packet. Oh n... the sanitary pad. The room froze. Charlie blinked. Riley blinked harder. I considered spontaneous combustion as a valid escape route. Riley was the first to speak, voice cracking like a whip across hot iron. "Um... Kris? Is that... a... pad?" Charlie squinted at it like it was a crime scene clue. "Why do you have that!?" My soul left my body. Que my obituary... "I-It's not, It's not mine!" I blurted, hands flailing like I was trying to swat away the embarrassment physically. "A girl gave it to me!" Both of them stared at me. I swallowed. "Her name was Cecilia," I muttered. "She, uh... she thought I needed it." Riley's eyebrows shot up so high they nearly left orbit. "Why would she think that?" I wanted to die. I wanted to dig a ten foot hole and hide in it. "Because," I said, voice shrinking, "I was in the girls' bathroom." Charlie's eyes deadpanned . "We know you were in the girls' bathroom, But it still doesn't explain why you have that?" I covered my face with both hands. "Because I had to check something!" Riley leaned forward, concern and curiosity battling on her face. "Check... what?" I mumbled something into my palms. My voice muffled like I was speaking under water. Charlie frowned. "Kris, we can't hear you." I dropped my hands, cheeks burning hot enough to light a fire. "I had to check if it was still there, okay?!" Silence. Then.....!!!!!!! "Oh," Charlie said, understanding dawning. "Ohhh!" Riley's face went pink. "So... is it...?" I stared at the floor, wishing it would swallow me. "Please don't make me answer."I mu