Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

The car stopped at the end of the alley, and Roseanne stepped out.

Scales and Mamie had already made their way ahead.

Roseanne walked towards the apartment building.

The moonlight was soft, and the stars were sparse, scattered thinly across the night sky.

The breeze carried the heat of high summer, offering no cool relief.

Suddenly, she paused in her tracks.

A man was leaning against a tree at the foot of the building, hands in his pockets. When he saw her, he subconsciously straightened up. Then, he flashed a smile.

"Surprised to see me?" Corley Sullivan stepped forward.

Roseanne was taken aback for a moment: "...A bit."

"Getting used to the new term?"

"Yeah."

"Classes filling up?"

That hit right on the mark for Roseanne. It wasn't just full; it was overwhelmingly so!

Corley shrugged: "Your expression says it all."

"...Is it that obvious?" she touched her face.

"Not really."

how did

got a good

Roseanne was speechless.

won't invite me up. So, how about we find somewhere cooler to

He was quite self-aware.

you're thinking, huh, this guy's pretty

Roseanne was shocked.

I guessed right

ended up at a café

street, it had air conditioning, making it a cool

seemed out of place among

you have?

cookies and cream frappe, no ice, extra sugar."

his chin as

Roseanne went to the counter: "Two cookies and

like

"Just a

Corley smirked.

coincidences like

years, he had come to know her preferences-what she liked to eat, what she liked to drink-perhaps not all, but certainly

drinks

they sat down to

you want

see you without a reason?" he raised an

IMS

a moment: "...I

Corley just wanted to chat, he wouldn't suggest finding a cooler

he certainly wouldn't appear under her apartment late at night