Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"Oh, sure! Go ahead, Roseanne-"

Oops! Before she could even finish her sentence, Roseanne was already halfway down the hall.

Mamie wondered, "Is she always in such a hurry?"

It was rare to see Roseanne move with such urgency.

She dashed out of the academic building, not stopping until she reached the tree-lined path where she finally caught up with Owen. He looked at her, slightly surprised.

Taking a deep breath and steadying herself, Roseanne looked up at him and asked, "Mr. Reynolds, do you have a problem with me?" Owen felt his heart flutter. He hadn't expected her to catch up, let alone confront him like this.

"...No." Why would he have a problem with her?

"Then why have you been avoiding me recently?"

Owen's gaze flickered, avoiding her eyes.

Clearly, he was feeling guilty.

"...I haven't been avoiding you." He coughed lightly, answering softly.

"Is there something I'm not aware of?" Roseanne pressed.

Owen's expression froze.

Images and details of indescribable dreams about her flashed through his mind. And there she was, standing right in front of him. Just a reach away, just like in his dreams, he could pull her into his arms, lower his head, and slowly kiss her... At that thought, Owen snapped back to reality, wishing he could slap some sense into himself.

What the heck are you thinking?!

As he looked into Roseanne's clear, honest eyes again, he felt even more embarrassed.

"...Professor? Professor?!"

was lost

you sick?" Roseanne looked at

"?"

face..." She pointed towards his cheeks, "It's so

like he had

uh, must be the heat.

so?" Roseanne accepted his explanation,

avoiding me recently, and maybe I

gaze was focused,

"But from

е

that? If there's an issue, just

Owen as a mentor and

softly

smiled, "Then, shall we go grab

sigh of relief

...

who was also

over at a

over at a certaine her mouth agape, a

sw pelongs

from her, couldn't stand it anymore:

can't

Scales: "?"

She nodded towards where

and Owen were sitting