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

"I've got

Roseanne was speechless.

know you won't invite me up. So, how about we find

He was quite self-aware.

thinking, huh, this guy's pretty considerate, knows

Roseanne was shocked.

guessed right again,

ended up at a café they'd been to

had air conditioning, making it a cool

his business suit, seemed out of place among the

asked, "What'll you have?

frappe, no ice, extra sugar." Roseanne

his chin

a brief silence, Roseanne went to the counter: "Two

softly: "So you like it too. Does that mean we're...

replied, "Just

Corley smirked.

coincidences like

might not be aware, but over the years, he had come to know her preferences-what she liked to eat, what she

drinks were

down

what did you want to talk

a reason?"

IMS

moment: "...I don't think you

chat, he wouldn't suggest finding a

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