#burrliza

The Virginian spotted Aaron outside of his locker, pinning him as the first girl who would have the luck of receiving his attention that year. “Well, hello there sweet stuff. How would you like the honor of going out with me this Friday?”

Aaron slammed his locker shut and glared at hm.

“You’re cute when you’re angry.”

Aaron slapped his hand away before it could rest on his cheek, a classic Thomas Jefferson move. “It’s me.”

Thomas nearly jumped out of his skin, definitely not expecting that voice, the only masculine trait that the hormones actually left Aaron with. “Oh, god. Sorry. What happened?”

“I had to stop the HRT. I scheduled my top surgery for summer break and my blood is too thin while I’m on it, so I have to stop.” He sighed. “My stupid body has completely reverted. I knew I looked feminine, but this much?” He groaned and leaned against the wall. “This is just great…”

“That sucks. Sorry again.”

“It’s fine. I hardly recognize myself.”

And that’s how Aaron’s day was, everyone making the same mistake. Well… Almost everyone.

“Hey, Aaron. Congratulations!” Eliza smiled as she sat beside him, the confused whispers across the classroom becoming more confused and more frantic.

“Congratulations?.. What for?”

She smiled and turned towards him. “I did some research and I learned that the main danger with testosterone was having to stop before major surgeries because it thins out blood for some people. So, that must mean that your top surgery is soon, right? So, congratulations!”

Aaron couldn’t help but smile as she explained herself. As awful as his day had been, of course Eliza could still manage to make him smile. “Yeah.. It’s scheduled for the beginning of summer break. I wanted to give myself plenty of recovery time. Thank you… Nobody else even noticed it was me, much less figured out what was happening..”

“Really? But the way you hold yourself and where you sit, one of your other friends at least should’ve guessed.”

“I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’m not exactly a people person.. You are the only person who recognizes me.”

Eliza frowned, but her smile bounced right back. “Well, we’re going to have to fix that, now aren’t we? Meet me at my place after school. It’ll be worth it, I promise.”

Aaron looked at her curiously, but nodded. “Okay.”

After school, Aaron went straight to Eliza’s house. The brunette was waiting for him in the living room, smiling as he appeared.

“There you are! I forgot you walked. Come on, let’s go up to my room.” She hardly gave him a choice before dragging him upstairs, but Aaron trusted her.

He followed her upstairs and sat in the chair in front of the vanity that she practically pushed him down into.

“Just trust me, okay?”

Aaron nodded, though he felt hesitant when she started bringing out makeup brushes and Angelica’s contour palettes. “Eliza?..”

“Trust me. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

Aaron nodded hesitantly and closed his eyes, letting Eliza work.

It took much longer than either of them expected, but Eliza eventually finished and let Aaron open his eyes.

When he did, he gasped at his reflection and looked at it from multiple angles. “I look just like before!”

“Never underestimate the power of makeup.” She smiled proudly.

“Thank you so much..”

“I can do it everyday, if you want. I’ll get better and faster with time.”

Aaron nodded.

“But you owe me.”

Aaron smiled and looked up at her. “How about a date?”