Chaka Khan, “Like Sugar”. The dancing in the music video makes me feel good too.
I think it’s probably wise not to place too much of your own happiness in the hands of others. Sometimes they can let us down even if they don’t mean to. It sounds like your friend is trying to reach out to you and reestablish contact. On some level, that’s positive.
For some reason, the gender expression of others matters a lot to some people. I find it confusing, so I can only imagine that it’s even more confusing for cisgender people. A lot of how we relate to others involves us playing our respective gender roles as expected and established by society, so when something gender related changes, uncertainty sets in. So, it’s a bit of a journey for your friend, too.
Best of luck to you.