Reality overload

HEY MY LOVELY LITTLE GREMLINS!!!

I hope you had an AMAZING month because I am BACK and I am SCREAMING AT MAXIMUM VOLUME. I’m so excited to be posting again I could bite drywall. The chapter is HERE and I am THROWING IT AT YOU LIKE A GREMLIN WITH NO REGARD FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

Thank you for being patient with me — genuinely, you chaotic disasters are the backbone of my sanity and the reason I haven’t combusted. I adore you more than is medically advisable.

I hope you enjoy the chapter. I hope it knocks you sideways. I hope it makes you yell in the comments like feral woodland creatures.

WE ARE NOT DOING CALM TONIGHT.

WE ARE DOING CHAOS.

Don’t worry I still haven’t joined the circus yes pfft

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I was starfished across Charlie's bed like a smug octopus, when the door slammed open hard enough to rattle the hinges.

"GOOD MORNING, MY LITTLE FROZEN WAFFLES!"

Riley.

Of course.

Charlie groaned into her pillow. "No. Absolutely not. Get out."

Riley ignored her completely and marched in like she owned the place. "Breakfast is ready! And by 'ready' I mean Nate burned the first batch, and Lucas banned him from touching the stove."

I blinked blearily at her. "It's morning?"

"No," Charlie muttered. "It's the crack of doom."

Riley clapped her hands. "It's seven thirty."

Charlie sat up like she'd been electrocuted. "Seven THIRTY?!"

I jolted awake too. "We slept too long?"

"Yes," Riley said, pointing at me. "Because SOMEONE starfished across the bed and trapped Charlie in a corner like a hostage, and I didn't want to wake you."

Charlie glared at me. "She did... kept me up half the night. No wonder I'm up so late."

I pulled the blanket over my face. "I was unconscious. I can't control my limbs."

Riley snorted. "You say that like it's a defense."

Charlie shoved my leg off her again. "Get up, before Riley starts narrating more."

Riley gasped. "I would NEVER... anyway, breakfast is getting cold, so move your butts."

She spun around dramatically and marched back out, yelling down the hall, "THEY'RE ALIVE! THEY'RE COMING DOWN!"

Charlie sighed, rubbing her face. "Why do we let her in the house."

I stretched, braid flopping over my shoulder. "Because she feeds us."

Charlie paused. "...fair."

She shoved me lightly. "Come on, snow gremlin, before Riley eats all the good slices."

I slid out of bed, still half asleep, and followed the smell of food, the kind of chaotic, loud, stupidly comforting morning that only happened when all of us were under the same roof.

And honestly?

It felt right.

"BY THE WAY I HAD THE BOYS CLEAN UP YOUR EMOTIONAL ELSA EXPLOSION," Riley called up the stairs.

We looked at each other for a moment.

"Riley is chaotic as all get out, but she is on top of it sometimes," I said, mumbling. "But I'm NOT freaking Elsa..."

I was glad I wouldn't have to clean that mess up, but still embarrassed Nate and Lucas did it.

Charlie smiled pulling me towards the bathroom. "C'mon, Elsa... we need to get you ready. I also have to work today, so you and Riley will have to ride with Nate and Lucas."

I balked at that. "Can't you at least drive me up there? After the past few days, I don't think I can handle a half hour ride with Nate."

I sighed " but food..." making my way to the bathroom with Charlie to brush our teeth.

"No... sorry, Zora, I have to be at work in an hour. I won't have time."

"Fine... but if Nate says anything stupid, I'm going to turn him into a human sized popsicle."

Charlie laughed at that. "Just try to wait until you get to campus," she paused for a moment, spitting into the sink.

"By the way," she looked at me, "it looks like they made the medical checkup mandatory. Remember, don't tell them you were a boy."

I rolled my eyes. "I know, I don't want to socially self destruct."

After we finished, Charlie went to her closet, pulling out the skirt and blouse we had picked yesterday. The pink pleated skirt and the white blouse.

I looked at it like it was a boss fight.

"I...I forgot it was that outfit," I muttered, face frosting.

Charlie smirked at me. "Hey, you agreed to this outfit last night."

"Look, I...I was emotionally compromised."

"You still are, Elsa," she said, handing me the skirt first while giggling. "Now put it on, we don't have time to pick a new one."

"I'M NOT ELSA..." I snatched the skirt, pouting. "Fine..."

I changed into the skirt while Charlie went downstairs. The fabric brushing my legs tickling a little. The feeling drafty below. That was going to take some getting used to.

I tugged at the skirt's hem, trying to pull it down if even just a little. Ugh, what have I gotten myself into... I thought, my face frosting slightly.

I squeaked, yes in the literal sense, as Riley came bursting into the room at full throttle, right as I was pulling the blouse on.

"RILEY... knock next time, jeez!"

"OH, good, you're dressed, WAIT," she gasped. "The cardigan!"

She dove into the pile of clothes in the corner of the room, triumphantly pulling out the beige cardigan.

She draped it over my shoulders like she was crowning a princess.

"There... perfectly adorable. Accept your fate."

I covered my face with my hands. "I'm going to die."

Charlie smirked from the doorway. "You'll be fine."

"No... she'll be cute," Riley cut in.

I groaned, trying not to freeze the air.

Riley grabbed a hairbrush, spinning me around like a top. "Sit... I'm going to fix your hair."

I did as she asked, still frosted in the face.

Riley's hands were deft and fast, brushing my hair into something smooth and soft, and she proceeded to tie it up in a high ponytail. She added a tiny flower clip she had found to the side of my bangs.

I blinked. "Where did that come from?"

"Your chaos pile," Riley chirped. "You have so many cute things now, so might as well use them."

Lucas and Nate were gobbling up the remainder of their pancakes when we finally came downstairs.

Riley had decided to wear a skirt as well, so that I wouldn't feel like the lone wolf. And that was saying a lot, because Riley absolutely hated wearing them. She loved seeing them on others but not herself.

Lucas looked up first and froze, fork halfway to his mouth. His face went pink like he'd swallowed the syrup wrong.

I didn't think much of it, Lucas was always weird in the mornings. Probably just tired. Or choking. Or both.

"Uum... morning," I said.

He swallowed hard. "Y...Yeah... morning."

Nate just stared, grinning too wide.

"WOAH, k... Zora, you look"

Charlie cut him off instantly. "Choose your next word carefully, Nate."

Nate held up his hands. "I was gonna say cute!"

Lucas choked on his coffee.

I covered my face. "Nate... please stop talking."

Riley cackled. "This is the best morning ever."

We sat and ate our breakfast as Nate and Lucas got up and headed out of the kitchen.

Ten minutes later...

Charlie was already dressed for work, hair tied up, keys looped around her finger, travel mug tucked under her arm like she was about to march into war. Meanwhile, Riley and I were still scrambling around the living room, grabbing bags, shoes, chargers, and whatever scraps of dignity we hadn't lost this week, and shoving them into suitcases and backpacks.

Lucas and Nate had already headed outside, Nate mumbling something about "taking too long."

I tugged at the sleeve of my cardigan, trying to make myself smaller. The outfit still felt like a spotlight aimed directly at me.

Riley kept fussing with my hair like I was some kind of doll she'd been waiting her whole life to style.

I swatted her hands away. "Riley... can you stop? I'm not your Barbie doll, dammit!"

Riley gave me a smug look. "Debatable."

I received a patented Charlie chop to the head. "OWW... Charlie, what was that for?!" My hands covered my sore head.

"Cute girls shouldn't curse, don't make me say it again, Zora!" She gave me the look.

"OK... ok, sorry, jeez," I whined.

Charlie grabbed her bag. "Alright. Enough. I'm going to be late."

She stepped closer, her voice dropping into that soft, serious tone she only used when she was worried, my hands still on my head.

"Hey. You'll be fine today."

I nodded, even though my stomach was twisting itself into origami.

She squeezed my shoulder, warm and steady.

"Seriously. If anything feels off, call me. I don't care if I'm in the middle of a meeting. I'll come get you."

I blinked at her. "You're gonna get yelled at by your boss though."

Charlie smirked like that was the least of her concerns.

"Worth it."

Riley snorted behind me. "Aww, mom mode has been activated."

Charlie elbowed her without looking away from me. "Shut up."

She gave me one last look, the kind that said she believed in me even when I didn't, then she headed toward the door.

"Love you, idiots. Don't die."

She waved once, then disappeared outside, leaving me standing there in my cardigan and skirt, heart thumping, trying to believe her.

Meanwhile.

Lucas stood by his driver's side door, arms crossed, posture straight, expression neutral, the picture of someone who had decided nothing was going to rattle him today.

Unfortunately, Nate existed.

The moment Zora and Riley stepped outside, stopping to talk to Charlie, Zora looking animated about something they couldn't hear.

Nate leaned closer to Lucas with a grin that promised trouble.

"Dude," Nate murmured, "you're doing it again."

Lucas didn't even blink. "Doing what."

"Being weird," he said as they both waved to Charlie pulling out of the driveway.

"I'm not being weird."

"You're being so weird."

Lucas exhaled slowly, like he was counting to ten. "Nate. I am literally standing here. Breathing. That's it."

Nate elbowed him. "Yeah, but you're standing here breathing while staring at Zora, getting red in the face."

Lucas didn't look over. He simply said, in the calmest voice imaginable, "I wasn't staring. I was observing my surroundings."

Nate snorted. "Yeah, and your surroundings have a name."

Lucas finally turned his head, with the expression of a man who had survived years of Nate's nonsense.

"Nate," he said evenly, "I am not doing this with you."

"You like her."

"No."

"You so like her."

"No, I don't."

"You're lying."

Lucas sighed. "I don't lie. I don't like her. I don't have feelings. I don't even think about feelings. Zora is our best friend..."

Nate grinned wider. "You're deflecting."

"Look, she is our best friend. A guy... that would be messed up if I did that."

"You're in denial."

"I'm being rational."

"You're blushing."

Lucas didn't even raise his voice. "I'm going to put you in the trunk of this car in two seconds."

Riley walked ahead, waving her phone like she was conducting an orchestra. I was right behind, dragging my suitcase.

Lucas noticed and came over. "Here, let me help you with that." He grabbed my suitcase like it weighed nothing.

I smiled. "Thanks, Lucas."

Of course he helped, he always carried heavy stuff for me back when I was a guy too. That's just what Lucas did. Reliable. Practical.

I didn't think twice about it.

Riley yanked open the back door. "Move, nerds. We're late."

Nate dove into the front seat. "I called it!"

Lucas muttered as he got in the driver seat. "I hate you."

I climbed into the backseat, my knee brushing the back of Lucas's seat. Lucas froze like someone had unplugged him. I was busy trying to buckle my seat belt.

Riley noticed though. She smirked, filing it away for later.

Lucas started the car with the energy of someone trying to outrun his own emotions.

"I don't like her," he mumbled under his breath, too quiet for anyone else to hear. "I can't..."

Thirty minutes later...

Lucas's car rolled into the campus parking lot, the suspension groaning under the weight of four people, two backpacks, a suitcase, and Riley's dramatic suffering. The moment he eased into a spot and put the car in park, Riley let out the loudest, most theatrical sigh known to mankind.

"Never again," she declared, flopping forward against her seatbelt. "I swear, next time I'm taking my Mazda. At least me and Zora could ride in style instead of being sardines in Lucas's clown car."

Lucas glanced at her in the rearview mirror, offended."It's not a clown car. It's a compact sedan. Count yourself lucky…at least your not a giant crammed into a small car.”

Nate snorted. "Bro, it's compact in the same way a coffin is compact, honestly though I don’t know how you even got into the driver seat.

Riley pointed aggressively. "Exactly! Zora and I deserve legroom. And seats that don't feel like medieval torture devices."

I blinked. "It wasn't that bad. I feel sorry for Mr. Giant though.”

Riley whipped around to stare at me. "Zora. Sweet. Innocent. Elsa themed Zora. You're tiny. You could fit in a shoebox. I, however, have a tail. And hips. And standards."

"I AM NOT TINY," I said with a pout.

Nate cackled. "She got you there, kr-Zora."

Lucas groaned. "C'mon, let's go."

I tried not to think about it, frost shimmering faintly across my cheeks, but they made it hard.

Nate practically lurched himself out of the passenger seat like he'd been freed from captivity, but already turned eighty years old.

"God, why did I have to pick an old wizard."

Riley climbed out with a dramatic stretch, tail flicking like it had been personally wronged. "Because, dear brother of mine, you are an idiot."

I unbuckled and stepped out carefully, smoothing my clothes, ears twitching at the morning breeze, my hands trying to hold my skirt in place.

Lucas popped the trunk and grabbed my suitcase before I could even fully stand.

"I've got it," he said softly.

"Thanks, Lucas," I said, not really paying it any mind as I smiled at him.

He nodded quickly and turned away, probably just trying to stay on schedule. Lucas was always punctual.

Nate slammed the trunk. "Alright! First day of college! Let's go!"

Lucas rolled his eyes but smiled.

I breathed in, looking at the campus stretching out before us, transformed students, normal students, the world, and DLO blending together in real time.

Lucas and Nate were already bickering, Riley was stretching dramatically, and everything felt... normal.

Lucas was acting like Lucas.

Nate was acting like Nate.

Nothing strange. Nothing different.

Just friends.

Just us.

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