Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Wasn't it all thanks to Madeleine's connections and networking?

At that moment, she felt as if she had been slapped across the face. Not directly, but as if a slap had whizzed by her side, leaving her cheeks burning.

***

As the meeting ended, everyone filed out of the auditorium in a steady stream.

Slater and his crew scurried out faster than rabbits, hunching their backs and sticking to the sides as much as possible.

It was a matter of pride.

And not just a small embarrassment, but one that happened in front of leaders and the entire student body.

"Roseanne, you were so cool!" Mamie stared at Roseanne with eyes that were more than just admiring-they were absolutely glowing with adoration.

Scales couldn't help but lift his chin in pride, "Now let's see who dares to look down on our group."

"Exactly! Next time I see Slater and Sybil, those pests, I'm going to strut past them with my nose in the air, chuckling to myself..."

Just the thought of it had Mamie bubbling with joy.

This feeling was even better than helping her family collect rent until her hands went limp!

"Roseanne, can we have more moments like this?"

a video game?"

to hit

the joke,

...

and was still in a daze by the time she got

"Hey-"

bird's

soup was the least of their concerns; it almost

right, I've arranged a lunch for you tomorrow at the Westgate Diner with Hurley. Make sure you talk

rich kids with a fake degree, but a genuine researcher! I heard he's published loads, been in all the top journals, just missing 'Nature' and 'Science' or something..." Suddenly,

"Sci...what?" She dismissed it nonchalantly,

"the one you said Hurley hasn't managed to get

Beverley was stunned.

...

...

Another morning dawned, and

was getting ready to

rsity cafeteria f

the door across from

There stood Owen.

locked, and both of them paused for

was the first to break the silence with a

"Morning. Headed to campus?"