Leo/Luna

Chapter 7: Reveal

Leo sat at his desk, staring blankly at the screen of his phone. He'd spent the entire day dodging questions from classmates and avoiding mirrors, his nerves fraying with each passing hour. The voice in his head had been surprisingly quiet, offering only occasional quips that he could mostly ignore.

Just as he was about to shut off his phone and try to focus on his homework, a text popped up from Kyle:

"Hey, wanna meet at the café again? I get that you're trying to push everyone out. I know what that's like. Let's talk."

Leo's heart skipped a beat. He stared at the message, feeling a rush of conflicting emotions. Part of him wanted to ignore it, to keep hiding, but another part—the part that was tired of feeling so alone—urged him to go. After a few moments of hesitation, he typed a quick reply:

"Okay. See you there."

Leo arrived at the café a few minutes early, choosing a table near the back where they wouldn't be overheard. He fidgeted with his hoodie, trying to adjust it to hide the increasingly obvious changes to his body. The voice in his head piped up again, its tone light and encouraging.

"Relax, you're doing great. Just be honest. Maybe he's more understanding than you think."

Leo sighed, glancing out the window as he waited for Kyle. "Easy for you to say," he muttered under his breath.

"Hey, I'm just saying, sometimes opening up can be really freeing. Give it a shot!" the voice replied cheerfully.

Leo took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. When Kyle finally walked in, Leo felt a mix of relief and anxiety. Kyle spotted him and waved, making his way over with a casual grin.

"Hey," Kyle said, dropping into the seat across from Leo. "Glad you came. You seemed pretty freaked out yesterday."

Leo managed a weak smile. "Yeah, it's been... a lot."

Kyle ordered a coffee and settled in, his gaze focused on Leo with a mix of curiosity and concern. "So, what's going on? You've been acting really weird lately."

Leo hesitated, his mind racing. The voice in his head urged him to be honest, but the fear of Kyle's reaction was almost paralyzing. "It's... complicated," he began, fidgeting with the edge of his sleeve.

Kyle leaned forward, his expression softening. "Look, I get it. Opening up is hard man, I struggle with it myself. But whatever it is, you can tell me. I'm not going to freak out."

Taking a deep breath, Leo decided to take the plunge. "Okay. But promise me you won't laugh or think I'm crazy."

Kyle nodded. "I promise."

Leo looked down at his hands, gathering his thoughts. "I've been... changing. Physically. It started a few days ago. My hair, my face, my body... they're all becoming more... feminine. I don't know why, and it's really freaking me out."

Kyle's eyes widened slightly, but he stayed silent, letting Leo continue.

Leo took another deep breath. "Every morning, I wake up and there's something new. I don't recognize myself anymore. I feel like I'm losing my mind."

Leo's heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing in his ears like a drum. Taking a deep breath, he glanced around the room nervously, his eyes flitting from the barista at the counter to the group of students in the corner, before settling back on Kyle's expectant gaze. With trembling hands, he reached up and slowly pulled back the hood of his sweatshirt

His elongated hair that cascaded in soft waves around his face, a mess, but very, very real. The hood, which had been his shield against the world, now lay crumpled behind his neck, leaving him feeling exposed and vulnerable.