Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Murray's fist brushed past Corley's cheekbone with a dull thud.

As Murray raised his fist for a second blow, Corley grabbed his collar, yanked hard, and nearly knocked him down.

Corley took the opportunity to step back and create some distance.

"Damn," he muttered, touching the sore spot on his cheekbone.

"Murray, have you lost your mind?!"

"You're asking for it!"

Corley smirked, seeing Murray grinding his teeth in rage. Understanding the cause, his smirk widened even more. "Saw everything, did you?" Murray raised his fist again, his eyes bloodshot with anger.

"What? Can't handle it? You know, scenes like this will happen over and over, even bigger than this. What's your plan? Hit me every time you see me?"

"But what's the point? Does hitting me stop anything from happening?"

Murray's chest heaved with suppressed rage. If looks could kill, Corley would have been dead a thousand times over.

Suddenly calming down, Murray asked, "So, Roseanne agreed to be with you?"

Corley's smile faltered.

she hasn't. You couldn't win her over back then; what

else's leftovers? Can't afford anything new,

"Am I wrong?"

about me; I can take it. But keep her out of this-don't

"Admit it, you're just

jealous of a loser who

straight

for her, Toved a

you."

punched Murray right on

punch, was

on Murray's cheekbone. "And this one, is me

going down without a fight. He swung back, and under the dim streetlight, in the secluded alley, two men in suits traded blows,

all bore

Until-

knew this was

going to kill each other at

rushed forward, grabbing one man

urged, "Murray, Corley, cool it! This isn't solving

"I'll