Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Seriously? They went home together?

Jen eyed the vanishing tail lights of the car, her gaze slowly returning to Sammy, before pinching his arm. "Sammy, am I seeing things?"

Sammy winced, flashing a pained smile. "Jen, next time, can you pinch yourself?"

Why was it always him getting hurt?

Jen stood her ground. "You're younger, you'll bounce back faster. It's just a pinch."

Sammy could only sigh inwardly. If only gratitude was his to give.

Stoddard chuckled, not adding to the conversation, simply turning on his heel and strolling back home.

Liz's expression was beyond sour, not waiting for Sammy before she hopped into her car and left.

Sammy cast his gaze downwards, hiding the flicker of disappointment in his eyes.

It was okay; he was used to this by now.

eventually pay off,

...

Roseanne were oblivious to the reactions of everyone

apartment complex, they walked up

step they took, casting long, overlapping shadows of them both on the walls, giving Roseanne the illusion of having known

soft, yet it

mood, though she couldn't see his face, she could hear the relaxed tone in his voice. "For

meal, the ride, and for letting me use

the dinner table:

Owen stopped and turned to watch her as she caught her breath, taking the

say, but remember, a pearl covered in dust is still a pearl. It just needs to be cleaned to shine again." Roseanne felt a warm flutter in her chest as their eyes

spoke deliberately,

control over the present. It might be late, but I still want

to my lab."

twinkled with a smile as he

she gently shook his hand, "Thank you. I