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."

did

got a

Roseanne was speechless.

you won't invite me up.

He was quite self-aware.

huh, this guy's

Roseanne was shocked.

right again,

ended up at a café they'd

it had air conditioning, making it

out of

you

cream frappe, no ice,

Corley touched his chin as she

went to the counter:

finished, Corley chuckled softly: "So you like it too. Does

replied, "Just a

Corley smirked.

coincidences like this

know her preferences-what she liked to eat, what she liked to drink-perhaps not all, but certainly more than Murray did

drinks

sat down to

you want

a reason?"

IMS

for a moment: "...I

to chat, he wouldn't suggest

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