Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne sighed, "Habits can change."

"For others, maybe, but for you, I don't want them to."

Silence hung in the air.

After leaving the diner, Roseanne and her friends all headed in the same direction.

Mamie pulled out her phone, ready to hail a ride.

That's when a sleek Mercedes business van pulled up in front of them.

The window rolled down, and Corley said, "Hop in, I'll give you a lift home."

Mamie's questioning gaze shifted towards Roseanne.

Corley chuckled, "It's hard to catch a cab here. Without a ride from me, you might be home two hours late."

Scales remained silent, evidently aware of the situation.

Mamie glanced at her phone screen, which showed a queue of 216 people ahead.

Two hours seemed like an optimistic guess...

Roseanne conceded, "Let's get in. Thanks, Mr. Sullivan."

Corley's lips curled into a smile, "No problem, Anne."

Awkward silence.

According to the GPS, Roseanne was supposed to be the first to be dropped off, followed by Mamie, then Scales.

However, at an intersection where they should have turned right, Corley ended up in the wrong lane and had to go straight instead.

The GPS recalculated, making Mamie the first to get off, then Scales, and Roseanne last.

car stopped at the end of an

got out, walked around to the other side, and opened the door

stood still as she got out, looking up at him,

door, or for the

"Both."

me up for

Roseanne hesitated.

don't take me for a

steadily, not detecting any humor

I could be, yet I'm afraid to

"I don't follow."

don't. Some things aren't meant to be

was no reason. Hence,

he was so fixated on Roseanne. Yes,

At theod wasn't the

of Kingswell University

Murrayten with Roseanne a

one

There was also him,

Oh, and Aaron Lincoln.

the first move, Aaron followed

for him torn by his feelings and out of respect for his good friend Murray he decided to wait. By the time he heard from her again, it was to

hadn't expected Murray to

expect him

was when Corley realized,

down, he always believed

knew Murray too well, including

that was left

fall apart, for Roseanne to give up

but a simple 'goodnight' will do,