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 a

Roseanne was speechless.

you won't invite me up.

He was quite self-aware.

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

Roseanne was shocked.

right

ended up at a café they'd been to

air

in his business suit, seemed out of place among

you have? My

no

touched his chin

silence, Roseanne went to the counter: "Two cookies and

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

"Just a

Corley smirked.

coincidences

not be aware, but over the years, he had come to know her preferences-what she liked to eat, what she liked to drink-perhaps not all, but certainly more than Murray

their drinks were

they sat down to sip

you want to

I see you without a reason?" he raised

IMS

silent for a moment: "...I

wanted to chat, he wouldn't

certainly wouldn't appear under her apartment late at night