A/N: I really, really like reviews. Just so you know.

[begin transcript]

"Shit. This is stupid.

I'm so pissed at you, you know that, right?"

[sigh]

"I wish you were here. You're the one person in the world I can talk to but you're...

God damn it. I miss you. I've tried to tell you so many times. You have no idea how many times I tried to write you but I just...I mean...what the hell am I supposed to say? What do you want me to say? That I'm sorry? I'm not. I was right and you damn well know it. That I trust you? I don't. Not anymore. I can't.

But fuck...that doesn't mean I don't love you. I wish I could stop.

I miss you."

[sigh]

"This is a waste of time."

[click]

[end of transcript]

It all started when Julia Lachar invited Kaidan to watch the Post Apocalyptic Lions perform in concert. It wasn't that he particularly liked the Post Apocalyptic Lions or that he even knew what they were (some band? with guitars maybe?), it was that Julia Lachar was the hottest girl in his class who he had been pining after for god only knows how long and she was asking him if he wanted to go see the Post Apocalyptic Lions.

Hell yes, he wanted to see the Post Apocalyptic Lions. With her, he would watch grass grow, paint dry, and any other cliche boring activity you could think of.

The problem was in actually getting to the concert. He had a car, but if he were to peel out of the driveway and head for downtown Vancouver at ten o'clock at night his parents would throw a shit fit. Really, he decided very early on, it would be better if they never even heard anything about the Post Apocalyptic Lions. Instead he told them he was staying at his friend Matt's house, and Matt's college aged brother would be paid twenty dollars to field any calls from the Alenkos and lie to them. From there they could take Matt's car.

It was Kaidan's first time attempting to be rebellious and he was more than a little nervous. As he and Matt slipped out the back door and shut it behind them, his stomach flip flopped. Still, the thought of Julia Lacher beckoned him towards the city lights. Lately, the news had been spouting some reports of gang violence in the worst parts of the city and the concert venue was smack in the middle of it. But Julia Lacher was planning to be there so Kaidan threw his usual caution to the proverbial wind and hopped into the car.

When they arrived there, meeting Julia and her two friends Terry and Britt, in the long line into the venue.

"I'm thirsty," Julia complained. She sighed, "it's gonna be like, an hour at least before we get in. Someone wanna go get us drinks?" She glanced meaningfully at Kaidan and before he really registered what was happening he was being loaded down with drink orders and sent to a gas station on the corner. Matt tossed him keys with a pocket knife attached and he set off for the corner market.

He stopped and looked at Julia, "you wanna come along? It might be fun?" The thought of walking to the corner market with Julia made his mouth go dry but she half shrugged. "It's...you know...kind of dangerous. We'll save your spot. He set off feeling happy enough though.

He was on his way back when he ran into trouble. From the shadows a figure stepped out holding a gun and, for the first time in his life, he felt the cold metal of a gun against his skin. "Stop there kid."

He didn't need the instruction, the gun had been enough. Another figure appeared in front of him. It was aboy not that much older than him, but more muscular. He was tall and he spoke with deadly confidence.

"Wallet."

"In my back pocket," Kaidan said. He started to reach a hand towards it and the guy nodded. "Don't try anything."

Kaidan's fingers brushed against the leather of his wallet but he was shaking and dammit he didn't know if he'd be able to grip it.

"Aw, c'mon!" Another voice pierced the air, this one female. At first Kaidan thought it must be talking to him. He jumped, wondering for all the world if he had been shot, but he was still breathing. "Haven't you guys figured up this is Reds turf yet?" The voice continued. "Or are you just a fuckin' moron?"

The gun was no longer pointing at Kaidan and he let out a deep breath and turned slowly. Down the alleyway, the woman was holding another gun, he could see the way the moonlight glinted off the barrel. Her face and body were otherwise shrouded in the dimness of the alleyway. His would be mugger and her were watching each other.

"Don't come any closer."

"Or what?" The girl said, "you'll shoot me? Before I shoot you? ya sure?"

The man hesitated. The girl chuckled. "Now turn your ass around, tuck your tail between your legs, and get the hell off Reds territory. We can both walk away."

Kaidan saw the figure behind the girl and he tried to say something, but words, apparently, weren't working right now. The girl stiffened and sighed. "You bastard."

"Drop the gun."

She sighed and did as she was told, kicking it towards him. Kaidan met her eyes and she raised an eyebrow. The message was clear. For the first time, Kaidan realized no one was looking at him right now. He took a tentative step towards the gun. It was five feet away. He took a deep breath and glanced at the girl again. She was being directed towards a wall.

"What do you think we should do with this one, huh?"

The girl looked from one man to the other and swallowed hard. The first man put his gun in the waistband of his pants and stroked her cheek. "She's a pretty one. What's your name sweetheart?" His other hand wandered down her neck, towards her breasts.

She spat. The glob of saliva ran down the man's face. He punched her. The girl stumbled to the side and nearly fell, but made no sound.

That was the moment Kaidan decided to act. He snatched the pistol up and aimed it, suddenly thankful to his father for taking him to the shooting range. "Stop." Both men were distracted for a second, but that was all the girl needed. She surfed foreward, headbutting the gunman and snatching his weapon. She pivoted and brought a knee into the other man's crotch. He bent double.

"C'mon." The girl grabbed his arm and ran two strides before he caught on and followed her. She ducked down a corner and he followed her. He wasn't sure how long they ran, but by the time they stopped he had lost all sense of direction. She bent double, breathing deeply and when she straightened he saw she still had a bloody nose from where she had gotten hit. She grinned and he found himself returning it.

"Shepard," she said, holding out a hand.

He shook it, "Kaidan Alenko." He furrowed his brow, "I remember you."

She studied him for a moment and then nodded, "yeah, from school. Holy shit, that was a long time ago." She smiled at him and he noticed she had freckles. "What's a rich guy like you doing in this part of the town?" She rubbed at the skin under her nose, trying to remove the blood and felt her nose gingerly. As he watched her, all thoughts of Julia Lacher vanished. He realized he prefered freckles and redheads to brown eyed bruenttes.

One look, that was all it had taken, all it would ever take for him to be pulled into her orbit.

"Want to go get something to eat?"

As it turned out, Kaidan was feeling a little hungry.