Whipped 4 Changes

I am so angry with Gil right now. What in the world is wrong with him? Just because he realized I'm a girl doesn't mean he'll avoid me like cooties or whatever. I knew it. I knew he's just as bad as those bullies in school.

I cried hard that day. Mom was worried, but I refused to talk about it at all. Why did Gil do that? I pleaded so much yet he never even spared me a glance. And what am I crying for? I should be glad that I discovered Gil's real personality before things got too late. Stop crying stupid me! Crying is Roderich's thing! And I am not a sissy!

I stopped going to the Beilschmidts' house even when school's started. Well, actually, just until the day we talked for the first time since we've "fought". But I still hated the fact that Gilbert's my classmate in Second Grade and that he had two new cronies with him: Francis Bonnefroy and Antonio Fernandez Carriedo. Ugh. Jerk.

Just because Gil's not my friend anymore doesn't mean that I really wouldn't talk to him. We still talk: when we're partnered in school activities and when our families decide to have a dinner party. It's very awkward; we still avoid each other whenever we can but we have this silent agreement that we'd never let our families know.

We know our mothers talk about us every time we're seen "together", and we also know how much it'd break their hearts when they discover that we're not really best friends anymore, so we pretended that we're still in good terms when we're not. This went on until we both reached the age of 14. Seven years of pretending, actually.

Now, the summer of before the start of my ninth grade, my family went on for a vacation in Hungary, my birthplace. I was just so happy because that means I wouldn't see Gil for the whole summer! This would be the first time I've truly relaxed since that disastrous day!

I admit I acted like a complete jerk. I avoided Liz...er, Eli ever since I realized she was a girl. I mean, I just panicked, you know? All my life I've been surrounded by males (my mom's an exception) and I seriously don't know how to deal with girls.

Before, when I was still dense, I didn't have any problems in dealing with Eli. I mean, he...ugh, she was easy to talk to and I know that the rules of being tough and rough applies to him (her, I don't know anymore!).

But now that I know that she's a girl, I'm not sure what do to anymore. I don't think it's right if I continue acting rough, considering the number of times I fought without holding back. So I do the only thing I could think of that time: walk away.

It's cowardly and unmanly, I know, but I am seriously about to go insane with all of this. I don't know how to act around girls, and I seriously don't know what I'll do especially when the very best friend whom you thought was a guy was actually a girl. It's the best thing to do when you're a seven year old.

I met two awesome guys a few blocks from home. Francis Bonnefroy and Antonio Fernandez Carriedo. Though they're not as awesome as that of guy-Eli, still, I like them enough to hang out with.

Eli (I'm still practicing to call her Liz) and I still avoid each other at school and sometimes at our neighborhood. There was one particular awkward day where she and I got partnered in Science. It was the day we talked since we broke our bestfriendship.

Actually, Liz did all the talking since she practically knew the subject and I only sat there looking all confused and just nodded when she asked my opinion. We managed to finish the work ahead of our classmates and well...we talked about our moms. We had this silent agreement that we'd never upset our moms, especially about the fact that they're happy about our friendship.

Thanks to that, family dinner parties became much more bearable. Liz and I would "talk" when in actuality we're sending hushed insults at each other. That's what we do these days; we tease and insult until somebody or something distracts us from our anger at each other all the while acting like we're just best friends hanging out. This tactic went on for the next seven years, and still nobody, not even my family and new friends, noticed our little lie.

I went downstairs to call Liz since my mother's here and I mentally rolled my eyes when she smiled widely after I told her the reason why I'm near the telephone.

"Yo." I said after making sure Mom's far enough to not hear our conversation.

"Hey, brat." She replied, voice monotonous as ever whenever she's talking to me.

"I read your text, flat chested smartass. What is it that you had to force me to call you?"

"Ugh. Both our moms are home, you brainless sissy. That should be obvious enough." Well, that certainly made things clearer to me.

"Anyways," she continued. "I'm spending summer in Hungary. Go and spend it doing all those shit that you do."

She may have a mouth like a sailor's, but my mouth is far more fouler than hers. All thanks to my very awesome grandpa, Old Fritz.

"Fuck you, lassie. Well, whatever. Are you going to be there whole summer?"

"Why? You'll miss me?" She said teasingly.

"In your dreams, tomboy. I'm just glad I wouldn't see your ugly face for a long while."

Her voice was sharp. "I can't wait to leave you too, egoistical dickless jerk. Bye."

I gripped the phone so hard my knuckles turned white. That annoying bitch! I counted until I felt myself relaxed and at least presentable to my mom. I faked a smile at my mutti, gave a thumbs up, and hurriedly ran to my room where I'd send my message full of foul-mouthing to that annoying brat who happened to be my next door Hungarian neighbor.

I spent my summer with Toni and Francis. We did a lot of manly stuff, as usual, and things were pretty much awesome until those two started teasing me. I don't know why, but they firmly believe that Liz and I are "meant" to be; you know, the usual we're-best-friends-since-childhood-and-we've-eventually-fallen-in-love-with-each -other plot shit that people adored so much.

I don't really think of her that way, anyways. That girl is too much of a pain in the ass for me to like. I see her as my most promising rival, and I plan to see her that way only.

The days went on like this. I won't admit it to anyone, but I kinda missed her. A lot. I don't know why, just that I missed exchanging banters with her. Toni and Francis are fun to hang around, but Liz' smartassness isn't there. There's also no one who could make the gears in my brain work haywire anytime. I sigh everytime I see their house across from my bedroom window.

The day before the start of our 9th grade, I got the biggest surprise of my life.

Standing in front of our painted fence was a really pretty girl with long, curly chestnut brown hair and deep emerald eyes. She wore a light green sundress that reached just inches below the knee and was carrying a basket full of stuff.

I quickly checked my look through the reflection on the window, and walked towards her with confidence. Yes, people, I tried to act cool in front of the pretty miss. I readied my best smile when...

"Long time no see, Gil."

It took me approximately ten seconds to react.

No. Fucking. Way.

This is Liz? THE Liz? B-But...but...no way!

I could literally feel my jaw drop when I processed the thought.

"Hello? Earth to Gil? Hey, what's wrong with you?!"

No. This really attractive female isn't Liz at all. I mean, the Liz I knew has flat-as-a-board chest while this girl in front of me has chest, though its still small in my standards. Not that I'm being a pervert, but you could definitely see that she has developing boobs. Secondly, she has long curly hair! The Liz I knew always kept her hair short or shoulder-length.

And really, sundress? Liz wouldn't even dare wear dresses. She always wore denim pants or baggy tshirts whether in school or at home. I laughed to myself. She really isn't Elizaveta Balaton Hedervary! Right?

"Brother! What are you doing?" Ludwig, my ever serious 12-year old little brother, asked as he marched towards us. He swiftly opened the fence, took the basket out of the girl's arms and let her enter as what a normal gentleman would. The girl walked swiftly with grace and stopped just an arm's length from me. She turned to my brother.

"Thank you, Ludwig. I was seriously wondering whether or not Gilbert would let me in."

"It's okay, Veta. I'm sorry if my bruder was being rude. And thank you for the souvenirs."

They stood there talking while I felt lost and shocked again. So, this really is Liz? If Ludwig, the guy who never called people by their nicknames, called her 'Veta', then she must be the real thing. Liz is the only person in the world whom Ludwig calls by nickname. That's because he's really attached and fond of her.

They would sometimes talk for hours about things I really don't give a shit about, and that's how they bonded. He sees her as his older sister, and on very rare occasions, he calls her "Big Sister" or in German-Schuester.

"I'm going inside." I said abruptly. Yeah, I know I'm being rude, but right now I'm too shocked to give a damn.

My brother sent me a 'what-are-you-doing-you're-being-rude' look while Liz just raised her brows.

I didn't care. I didn't wait for their response as I immediately turned and marched back inside the house. Probably straight to my room where I could ponder for hours. Damn. This is so not a good day for me.

End.