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?!"

Sorry, I was lost in

looked at him with

"?"

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

he

uh,

that so?" Roseanne accepted

don't know why you've been avoiding me recently, and maybe I

gaze was

sincere, "But

е

If there's

to lose Owen as a mentor and friend over some inexplicable

softly

we go grab

of relief

...

also

glanced over

her mouth agape, a few grains

sw pelongs

from her, couldn't stand it

"Sorry, can't

Scales: "?"

She nodded towards where

Owen