Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne was jerked awake by the persistent knocking at her door. She shot up, her heart racing, sure someone was at her doorstep.

"Who's there?" she called out, caution heavy in her voice.

With Owen burning the midnight oil at the lab, she was on her own. If a burglar was at her door, she had no one to back her up.

The knocking paused for a moment, but the visitor remained silent.

Seeing that Roseanne wasn't budging, they resumed their knocking.

"If you won't speak, I'm not opening up."

"...Anne." Murray's voice came through, laced with a weary chuckle.

She was as stubborn as ever.

"...What do you want?" At the sound of his voice, Roseanne couldn't help but frown.

"Let me in. We need to talk. I promise I won't do anything. If it makes you feel better, leave the door ajar..."

"There's nothing between us worth discussing." Roseanne cut him off, clearly unwilling to open the door.

Despite his repeated knocks and pleas, she ignored him completely.

"Hello, officer? There's someone incessantly knocking on my door..."

Peace at last...

lay down

up, prepared a hearty breakfast of pancakes and bacon, dressed, and headed

the next couple of days, avoiding

Murray's potential knocks, and partly to

this paper before the grad

two birds

as she stepped out,

it funny?" Murray glared at her, his

sleepless night

under his once handsome features, giving him a wom,

Roseanne was a mix of love, resentment, frustration,

the whole night getting a lecture on civic duty. Happy now?" His words sounded accusatory, yet

enough to give the illusion

emotion: "First off, I wasn't playing a game; you truly were bothering me. Secondly, your 'education' was because of your disturbance in the middle of

you

open my door to

about the past six years?" "You said it