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Edd was the complete opposite to Matt.
Matt was always staring at his reflection, while Edd coudn't even look at himself in the mirror. He had always hated the way he looked, especially when he was younger. When he was 18 he finally figured out why, but still wasn't able to do anything about it until he left his parents house.
He had moved in with Matt, Tom, and Tord, his friends from university-turned-roomates. And even though he was an artist, he still wasn't making that much money.
Which is why he wasn't able to get/do some of the things he wanted.
Like hormone therapy.
Matt was a beauty influencer on instagram. He would always be advertising some form of make-up (which Edd felt too dysphoric to wear) and was constantly trying new skin-care products. He wanted to take Edd shopping for some.
"What about this weekend? I can take you to Ulta or sephora."
"I-I guess."
But, on the day they were supposed to go out, Edd was visited by the red shark, and it was biting his ass. (why did I write this)
Matt knocked on his door after noticing wasn't anywhere else in the house. "Edd? Are you in there?"
"Yeah, why"
Matt opened the door. "I thought we were going to go shopping today."
Edd's face went red as he sat up in bed. "Oh! I'm... not feeling well actually. Must've been something I ate. I should probably just stay home and rest."
Matt looked disheartened. "I understand. Maybe tomorrow then if you're feeling up for it."
"Yeah, maybe." Edd replied, lying back down.
Matt was about to leave his room when he noticed Edd's laundry. There was a pair of shorts sitting at the top that had red stains on them. 'Wait a minute," He said, picking them up, "Is this blood?!"
"I... uh..." Edd couldn't think of a response. "What's wrong? Is there something else going on? DO I NEED TO TAKE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?!"
Edd shushed Matt. "I'm fine! Really!"
Matt still looked skeptical. "Then what is this?" He asked, pointing to the shorts.
Edd looked embarrassed. "If I tell you, will you promise not to tell anyone or judge me?"
Matt became confused. Over blood soaked shorts? But he still agreed anyways.
"I... I'm on my period..." Edd's face was the deepest shade of red imaginable.
"Wait... You're a woman?!"
"Shh! Please don't say that too loudly. And could you please phrase that differently?"
"Oh, sorry. You were once a woman and now you're a man? But you're still not a man biologically?"
"Wow, that was actually the best way of putting it."
Matt let out a sigh. "Sorry for what I just said. I'm probably the first person you've told about this and I feel so stupid."
"No, you're fine-!" Edd clutched his stomach as another cramp hit him like someone had just punched him fifty times. "Omigosh are you okay?" Matt asked, closing the door behind him and rushing over to Edd. "Yeah, just another stomach cramp."
"Do you want me to sit with you?" Matt suggested. "Sure, why not?" Edd replied, lying back down and holding his stomach, Matt sitting next to him on the bed.
For a few minutes both of them stayed where they were, neither of them doing or saying anything. Then, Edd rolled over to face him. "C-Can you... lie down with me?"
"Okay."
Matt got under the covers and laid down next to Edd. They laid next to each other in silence until Matt heard Edd's soft crying. "What's wrong?" He asked.
"I hate this. I hate being a girl, I hate having periods, and I hate that I'll never be a man!" Edd yelled as tears streamed down his face.
"Hey, don't say that!" Matt wrapped his arms around Edd. "You're a man to me. I've never once thought of you as a girl. Not in any of the time we've lived together. You are a boy, got that?"
"O-Okay."
Matt didn't let go of him. "Now, just relax for me, okay?"
"Okay."
After a few minutes, Edd was about to fall asleep when Matt spoke.
"So, are you gonna be up for shopping with me tomorrow?"
Edd couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face as he said yes.