Red rifled through the newspapers as Zhanzing drove back to Sturgis, rubbing his temples as his Sister's composure melted into a steaming mess of emotional turmoil.

"Oh God he probably thinks im some kind of crazy stalker..."

"it's the media, of course they're going to make you look bad, they think you're... yanno... being stupid and being taken advantage of by him. It's not like they're making him look any better."

Red pulled out her phone in panic, throwing the newspapers in the back seat, resisting the urge to tear them to peices as if that would some how erase what they said from public memory.

*Can we just pretend last week never happened.* she texted frantically, biting her lip and hoping to get a quick reply. Maybe he hadn't seen the coverage, maybe he would have the frame of mind to think that she was indeed sweet for what she did. Maybe.

Silence. Maybe his phone was out of reach? No she'd seen it on the table near him when she left. No quips about thier next hookup... no snarky remarks about the hospital fare... nothing. She expected him to at least laugh it off. He knew... she knew he knew... she had to explain. More frantic texting while Zhanzing groaned at the constant tic-tic-tic of the phone's keyboard sound effect.

*I was... worried about you. im sorry. I.... I realize it could be taken the wrong way, i wasn't thinking. I just care about you but i dont want to be that Girl especially if it wasn't what you wanted out of me, so.... if you want to, just... I don't want you to think im one of those crazy leeches .... gah im babbleing and probably making this worse.... im sorry i don't know what posessed me other than wanting to know you were okay. I'll leave you alone for awhile if youd prefer that...*

No response. Red felt a lump forming in her throat. She was choking back tears before finally screaming mostly to herself.

"i am an IDIOT!"

Zhanzing let her wimper and howl for a bit untill she finally settled her sobbing enough for her to hear him without interruption.

"NOOOOO he's a GUY.... a guy whose never been in anything comitted.... ever... yanno he doesnt even speak to his family... did you see anyone from his family even come and visit him the entire time he was there?"

Red looked at her brother who spared a glance from the road to give her a warm comforting look before letting his attention slip back to the street.

"no..." she finally replied in a small voice that didn't quite feel like her own.

Zhanzing sighed. "Listen.... if i know a guy like that he probably doesn't want to face someone gives a damn about him much as you do and its scary. it makes him feel obligated to give you more than he's willing to."

"But that's not what I..."

"DOOOEEESN'T MATTER thats how women trap a guy, and even if it wasn't your intention, thats how its going to come across. IF he cares about you Red... he'll come around, probably never mention this week, ever, and things will be the same weird... friends with benefits thing you have going... if he does mention this week..... like... ever.... well maybe I'm wrong and deep down he DOES want something more from you than even he wants to admit but you have to realize.... if he does... hes not gonna show it for a really long time and you can't expect it. If you expect it well... I'm not the one who should be encouraging this but I just don't want to see you get hurt... not like this."

"I am not stupid Zhanzing i know he's not that kind of guy...."

" What are you even doing with him anyway? Dylan was willing to do anything for you he'd be a good husband type, isn't that what you girls want anyway?"

Red snorted derisively. "HA! Dylan had no spine, no real drive, you think i didn't notice his clumsy attempts? At least Shane had some confidence, he never hesitated to ask me out or do things."

Zhan chuckled. "You know you set them both to the same standard... curious though that that standard is what MOST women use to find a more... long term mate instead of a fuck buddy... women aren't too picky about a fuck buddy"

Red paused, cursing silently to herself.

Zahnzing saw his opportunity and grinned, opting to rib Red a bit. "just admit it Red you love that dumbass"

Red sat there, saying nothing looking a bit guilty all of a sudden.

Zhanzing paused, blinking. "Wait... wait..... this isn't about Shane.... is it? well it is.. but.... this isn't about that guy back at Otter State...."

Red's silence didn't break.

"yanno i thought this crazy thing was all because you had to prove something to me.... that you had to shove it in my face you were better than me... but GOLDWIN REALLY? the dropout who didn't even GRADUATE. is this whole thing with Shane to get back at that little b..... Shane was his favorite player..... OH MY GOD RED PLEASE TELL ME YOU DIDN'T PLAN THAT."

"I didn't..... mean to..."

"HE TRIED TO KILL YOU! For the love of God you don't have to prove ANYTHING to that son of a bitch.... did... did you go after Shane to get back at him...? Please please PLEASE tell me this is a coincidence and you just HAPPEN to be interested in Shane for other reasons that just because he was your psycho ex's favorite player."

" it.... wasn't like that... i thought maybe if i could slam Shane on the court i could finally prove to Goldwin i was better than him AND his hero... i never EVER .... planned this part... i didn't expect to fall for him, it was just... well it was fun! it was fun to be with Shane and yes knowing it was Goldwin's hero i was spending time with added a certain thrill but.... it was more than that.... now that i know Shane... it was so much more than that...."

"you fell in love with your revenge scheme... that is Fucking rich."

"Yes well it's probably over now." Red sighed sadly, looking at her phone.

Zahnzing sighed. "Maybe he'll come around, give him space and no more texting for awhile... he needs to know you respect his space."

Red sighed and turned off her phone with some reluctance and turned on the radio, the rest of the trip back to Sturgis was spent in vocal silence punctuated only by the crackling music of various radio channels.