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 you

got

Roseanne was speechless.

hot outside, and I know you won't invite me up. So, how about we

He was quite self-aware.

you're thinking, huh, this guy's pretty considerate, knows his

Roseanne was shocked.

right again, didn't

at a café they'd been to

had air conditioning, making it a cool

out of place

"What'll you

cream frappe, no ice,

Corley touched his

a brief silence, Roseanne went to the counter:

chuckled softly: "So you like

"Just a

Corley smirked.

coincidences like this

come to know her preferences-what she liked to eat, what she liked to drink-perhaps not

drinks were

sat down to sip

what did you want

I see you without a reason?" he

IMS

fell silent for a moment: "...I don't

he wouldn't

certainly wouldn't appear under her apartment late