Leo did not, in fact, face Kyle at school tomorrow.
Leo lay curled up in bed, staring at the ceiling. The events of the previous day played over and over in his mind, each moment sharpening the edge of his fear and embarrassment. He couldn't bring himself to leave his room. The thought of facing anyoneâespecially Kyleâwas too overwhelming. He pulled the blanket tighter around himself, trying to block out the world and the relentless changes to his body.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking the silence. Leo glanced at it, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in his chest. It was a text from Kyle.
"Look outside."
Confused, Leo pushed himself up and walked cautiously to the window. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Kyle standing on the sidewalk, looking up at his house with a casual wave. Panic surged through him. How did Kyle know where he lived?
He grabbed his phone and texted back quickly: "How do you know where I live?"
A moment later, Kyle's reply came through: "My best friend lives right next door. I've seen you dozens of times. Small world, huh?"
Leo peered out again, and sure enough, there was the neighbor's house where Kyle's friend lived. He felt a mixture of relief and continued anxiety. He hadn't expected to see Kyle again so soon, especially not outside his own house.
Kyle texted again: "Come down. I've got an idea. Let's go shopping. You need some clothes that fit, right?"
Leo hesitated, but the voice in his head piped up, brimming with enthusiasm. "Yes! We need clothes that fit, makeup, and definitely a bra! I mean our chest so heavy, we need something to support it."
Leo sighed, feeling the weight of the voice's eagerness pressing against his own fears. Despite his apprehension, the idea of getting proper clothes and some semblance of normalcy appealed to him. With a resigned sigh, he texted back: "Fine. Give me a minute."
A few minutes later, Leo stepped outside, dressed in the only clothes that hide anything, though they barely fit, and even his baggy sweatshirt and jeans that did little to conceal the changes.
Kyle's face lit up with a friendly smile when he saw him.
Why is he smiling? Leo worried.
"Who cares?" replied the voice.
A few minutes later, Leo stepped outside, dressed in a baggy sweatshirt and jeans that did little to conceal his changing body. Kyle's face lit up with a friendly smile when he saw him.
"Hey," Kyle said, walking over. "Ready for a little adventure?"
Leo shrugged, still feeling nervous. "I guess. Why are you doing this?"
Kyle's smile softened. "Because you need it. And I think we both know you can't keep hiding forever. Plus, shopping's not so bad. Might even be fun."
Leo glanced at Kyle, still unsure but grateful for the support. "Okay, let's go."
They walked to Kyle's car, and as they drove to the nearest mall, Kyle kept the conversation light, cracking jokes and making casual small talk. Leo couldn't help but feel a bit more at ease, despite his lingering anxieties.
Leo felt his heart pound as they entered the bustling mall. The air was filled with the hum of conversations, the occasional burst of laughter, and the soft echoes of footsteps on polished tiles. It was overwhelming, but Kyle's presence at his side offered a strange sense of comfort. Leo tugged nervously at his sweatshirt, trying to ignore the eyes he felt on him.
Kyle led the way with an air of casual confidence, his eyes scanning the directory.
"Alright, first stop, clothing," he announced, heading toward a trendy boutique on the second floor. As they walked, Kyle kept up a steady stream of chatter, his tone light and friendly. "You know, my ex-girlfriend Maya used to drag me here all the time. I know all the best spots."
Leo glanced at him in surprise. "I didn't know you two broke up."
Kyle shrugged, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. "Yeah, it was almost a year ago, where have you been? She was kind of toxic, so it's all good. Honestly, I'm better off without the drama." He nudged Leo playfully. "Now I get to do this voluntarily. Lucky me, right?"
Leo couldn't help but chuckle, feeling a bit more at ease. "Lucky me, too, I guess."
They entered the first store, a brightly lit boutique filled with racks of colorful clothes. Kyle immediately started browsing through the shelves, pulling out various tops and holding them up for Leo to see.
"How about this one?" Kyle asked, holding up a light blue blouse with a delicate lace trim. "It's subtle but stylish."
Leo took the blouse hesitantly, feeling the soft fabric between his fingers. "I've never worn anything like this before."
Kyle grinned. "That's the point, dummy. It's all about finding what works for you now. Try it on; you might be surprised."
Leo headed to the fitting room, the voice in his head buzzing with excitement. "This is perfect! So soft and pretty. We're going to look amazing!"
Leo slipped into the blouse, feeling a strange mix of emotions as he looked at himself in the mirror. The fit was snug but comfortable, accentuating his new curves without feeling too revealing. He turned slightly, noting how the color brought out the brightness in his eyes.
Kyle knocked on the fitting room door. "How's it going in there?"
Leo opened the door cautiously. "It's... different. But not bad."
Kyle gave a thumbs up. "I'll take that. Let's keep going."
They continued through the store, picking out a variety of tops, jeans, and even a few skirts that Kyle convinced Leo to try. Leo felt a mixture of embarrassment and fascination as Kyle handed him a pile of clothes to try on. The voice in his head was practically singing with joy.
"See? Isn't this great? We look so much better already. And those jeans? Perfect!"
Leo rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at his lips. "You're way too excited about this," he whispered, earning a curious glance from the sales associate.
Kyle knocked on the door of the changing room, interrupting his thoughts. "How's it going in there? Need any help?"
Leo hesitated, then opened the door a crack. "It's... okay, I guess. Feels weird."
Kyle peeked in, nodding approvingly. "Weird is good. Weird means you're figuring it out. Now, let's get you some proper undergarments. Those look like they're killing you."
Leo blushed, but the voice in his head cheered. "Yes! Finally, some real support. We're going to feel so much better."
They moved on to a lingerie store, where Leo's embarrassment reached new heights. Kyle, however, was surprisingly tactful, helping Leo pick out bras that offered both support and comfort. Leo found himself standing in front of a mirror, staring at the reflection of his new figure in a supportive bra. It felt both alien and oddly right, the relief on his back and chest undeniable.
"These are going to make such a difference," the voice enthused. "Supporting these two is going to be a tall order."
Afterward, they stopped by a makeup store. As they walked in, Leo's nerves returned full force. The shelves were lined with products he'd never used, the array of colors and tools making his head spin.
Kyle guided him to a display of foundations and concealers. "Alright, now for the fun part. Let's get you some basics."
Leo stared at the selection, feeling overwhelmed. "I don't even know where to start."
The voice in his head chimed in eagerly. "How about you let me take over for a bit? I know just what we need."
Leo blinked, feeling a strange sense of calm wash over him. "Take over? I...what?"
"Great!" the voice replied cheerfully. "Let's get to work!"
Leo's hand moved seemingly on its own, reaching for a foundation that matched his skin tone perfectly. He watched in amazement as he picked up a brush and began to apply the makeup with a deftness and precision that he hadn't known he possessed. The voice took over, adding a touch of blush here, a swipe of eyeliner there, finishing with a light gloss on his lips.
Kyle, watching from nearby, looked both impressed and astonished. "Wow, Leo, that's... really good. I didn't know you had it in you."
Leo stared at his reflection in the mirror, barely recognizing himself. His face was subtly but expertly transformed, the makeup enhancing his features in a way that felt both strange and thrilling. "I didn't know I had it in me either," he murmured, marveling at the results.
"See? I told you we'd look amazing," the voice said, practically glowing with pride. "We're natural at this. Just needed a little push."
Kyle looked at the rest of the store, the incredible amount of mascara, lipsticks, eyeshadows, everything. "I have no idea what comes next."
"I do," said the voice. "This is the fun part."
Leo instinctively reached for piece after piece, blending and adding and contouring with ease. The final effect was stunningâa balanced look, complementary to his new appearance without feeling overdone. Leo marveled at the reflection in the mirror, barely believing that the person staring back was himself.
Kyle stood beside him, a grin spreading across his face. "Wow, Leo. You look incredible. I mean, really. You've got a talent for this."
When Leo responded, it wasn't his voice that came out, it was hers. "Thanks, Kyle."
His eyebrow raised. He'd noticed, but he said nothing.
Would it really be so bad, if he had? Leo thought.
Luna kept pressuring him to add more and more to his basket, and they left the makeup store with nearly a thousand dollars worth of makeup of literally everything Leo would need.
Leo had never spent the money he'd made from streaming, but this...it felt right, somehow.
Kyle led the way to a shoe store next. "Okay, now that we've got clothes and makeup sorted, you need some shoes that actually fit. I saw you stumbling around in those old sneakers."
Leo followed Kyle, still trying to process the morning's whirlwind of activities. The shoe store was filled with every style imaginable, from casual flats to stylish heels. Leo's eyes widened as he took in the selection, feeling a new wave of apprehension.
"I've never worn anything other than sneakers," Leo admitted, glancing nervously at a pair of ballet flats.
Kyle picked up a pair of comfortable-looking flats and handed them to Leo. "Start with these. They're easy to wear and go with pretty much anything. Once you're comfortable, we can try something more adventurous."
Leo tried on the flats, surprised by how different they felt from his usual sneakers. The soft material cradled his feet, and the fit was snug but comfortable. He took a few tentative steps, feeling a bit more stable with each one.
"See? Not so bad," the voice in his head encouraged. "These are cute and practical. Perfect for now."
Leo looked up at Kyle, who was watching him with a supportive smile. "They're... not bad. Comfortable, actually."
Kyle nodded approvingly. "Told you. And once you're ready, we'll get you something with a bit of a heel. Baby steps."
They spent the next hour picking out more shoes, with the voice in his head offering suggestions and Leo gradually feeling more confident in his choices. They added a couple of pairs of ankle boots and some stylish sneakers to the collection.
Their final stop was an accessory store, filled with jewelry, scarves, and bags. Kyle guided Leo through the selection, picking out a few simple pieces that complemented his new wardrobe. Leo found himself enjoying the process, the voice in his head offering enthusiastic feedback on each item they chose.
"Oh, that necklace is perfect! It'll go great with those tops."
Leo smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment as they checked out. "I didn't think I'd ever be into this stuff," he admitted to Kyle as they left the store. "But it's actually kind of fun."
Kyle laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "It sucks being right all the time. At least this time you've got a whole new look to go with the new you."
As they loaded the bags into Kyle's car, Leo felt a strange sense of accomplishment. The voice in his head hummed with satisfaction, and despite the lingering fear, he couldn't deny that the day had been a step in the right direction.
"Thanks," Leo said quietly as they drove back. "For everything. I don't think I could have done this alone."
Kyle smiled, glancing over at him. "Anytime. You're not alone, Leo. And besides, I think you're handling all this a lot better than you give yourself credit for. I have no idea what I'd do in your position, that's for sure." He laughed lightly, shaking his head. "But here we are."
Leo felt a warmth spread through him at Kyle's words. For the first time in days, he felt a glimmer of hope. He still had a long way to go, but with Kyle's support and the voice in his head cheering him on, he felt like he could face whatever came next.
When they reached Leo's house, he hesitated before getting out of the car, looking at the bags full of new clothes and makeup in the back seat. "I can't believe we bought so much stuff," he said, a touch of awe in his voice.
Kyle grinned. "Told you it'd be fun. Besides, now you've got a wardrobe that actually fits. No more hiding behind baggy clothes."
Leo paused, feeling a mix of emotions, but mostly just anxiety. "How am I supposed to go to school tomorrow? I still look like me, mostly."
Kyle patted him on the back. "I think you'll do great. And I'll walk with you, so if anyone tries to mess with you, I'll do to them what I used to do to you."
Leo smiled, feeling a bit lighter as he gathered his bags and headed inside. As he unpacked his new clothes and makeup, the voice in his head offered a final bit of encouragement.
"We're going to look so amazing, Leo. This is just the beginning. You've got this!"
Leo took a deep breath, looking at his reflection in the mirror. For the first time, he felt a glimmer of confidence amidst the fear and uncertainty. He had a long road ahead, but with Kyle's support and the voice in his head guiding him, he felt ready to take the next step.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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