Feng got out of the car, stretched, and, following Liumei, dragged his roller-bag into the nondescript side-by-side the Rez provided to medical staff.

CHAPTER 16

The next day, Bugz watched a new student walk into her homeroom just before the morning bell. He sat at a desk next to hers, looking serious. She spotted some calligraphy sketched onto his binder with a Sharpie.

The newcomer turned to Bugz and introduced himself through his automatic translator: “Hello, I’m Feng.”

“Ni hao,” she blurted out. Bugz felt embarrassed when Feng gave her a puzzled look. “Sorry. I don’t know if you’re speaking Mandarin. It’s just something I learned online.”

“No. It’s cool. I’m just surprised. I didn’t think anyone here would know any Mandarin…other than what the phone translates for you.”

“What, the poor Indigenous folks wouldn’t know anything about the wider world?” Bugz looked to the sky as she feigned a tone of indignation. “I am offended.”

Feng smiled. “What’s your name?” he asked, blushing as he spoke.

“Bagonegiizhigok Holiday.” She forced a smile, feeling hot and self-conscious with the effort. This guy’s pretending not to recognize me from the ’Verse, she thought. She could feel his gaze, like he was checking her out. God, I hope I look okay.

“So, you’re new here?” Bugz cringed as the words left her mouth.

“Yeah, this is my first day.” Feng stated what they both knew. His face turned serious, as though straining to think of a way to keep the conversation going.

“I—”

“D—”

They spoke simultaneously, cutting each other off. They both stopped after a syllable and apologized nervously.

“I’m sorry, you go.”

“No, I wasn’t going to say anything.”

Bugz sighed and caressed her phone, a nervous habit. “So,” Bugz began anew. “Where you staying in town?”

“Town? I moved to the Rez.”

“Really?”

“What, a guy from China can’t live on the Rez?”

Bugz giggled and looked down.

“Guess it’s my turn to be offended.” Feng smirked.

Bugz could feel Feng smiling at her and forced herself to look back up at him. As their gazes met, she felt like she looked more deeply into his eyes than she’d ever looked into anyone’s eyes before—at least not without a screen in between them. She thought about the curved light reflecting back at her from his irises. For a moment, she felt so calm—her heart beat half a dozen times before her anxiety returned and the shyness enveloped her again.

“Guess we’re both triggered then,” she said, her cheeks turning red.

“Triggered,” Feng repeated.

The teacher walked in and the class began. Feng turned to face the teacher, but for the rest of homeroom Bugz watched him from the corner of her eye.

CHAPTER 17