“Thanks,” Bugz said, a resigned smile on her face. “Even if my big brother is making you be nice to me.”

Country music filled the cab as they pulled on to a dirt road and drove into the forest. The path wound deep into the woods until eventually they pulled up to a bush trail.

“Here we are,” Waawaate announced. “You’ll have to hoof it the rest of the way. I’ll come pick you up later if you want. Just text.”

Bugz jumped out of the front seat and walked to the trailhead. She turned back to the truck and raised her eyebrows to Feng. He removed his seat belt.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Waawaate called after them, his tone mocking that of a concerned parent. He answered a video call on his phone from Stormy. As Feng closed the door, Bugz heard the start of Waawaate’s conversation.

“What’s up? Hey, you can’t be mean like that to my little sister…”

His voice trailed off as the truck pulled away, leaving Bugz and Feng to walk along the path, their footsteps cushioned by red pine needles on the forest floor. Their eyes adjusted to the shade the forest canopy cast all around them. Bugz walked in the lead for a few moments until she turned to look at Feng, the renewed warmth in her eyes letting him know it was okay to join her. He caught up in a few steps and they walked side by side.

“That was messed up.” Feng exhaled.

“I know,” Bugz agreed.

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too.”

“You don’t have to be sorry.”

Bugz contemplated this before stopping to face Feng. “Then why are you sorry?”

Feng searched Bugz’s face for a hint of what he should say next. He registered her facial expression, but it might as well have been written in the hieroglyphs of some long-forgotten language. And the automatic translator was no help for nonverbal cues.

I’m broadcasting this loud and clear, buddy, she thought to herself. Read it in my eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Feng ventured, “that we almost got into a fight with those girls.”

“Yeah, that was really too bad.” Bugz turned and continued down the path. He didn’t get it.

Feng ran to catch up with her and thought hard about what to say next. “I’m sorry I didn’t stand up for you. Especially since you had my back about the racist stuff.”

“Mm-hmm.” Bugz nodded. Please don’t make this about you.

Bugz could feel Feng’s eyes on her as he did his best to keep pace with her. As much as he frustrated her, Bugz admitted to herself that Feng’s clumsy attempts to make nice belied the picture she had of him as a member of a misogynistic neo-alt-right mob.