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?"

is a video game?"

want to

joke,

...

the auditorium and was still in a daze by the time she got

"Hey-"

living room with a bowl of bird's nest soup when Hertha bumped

was the least of

out of it... Oh right, I've arranged a lunch for you

checked him out for you. Hurley is a Stanford scholar, not one of those 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, Hertha spoke up, "Roseanne

puzzled, "Sci...what?" She dismissed it nonchalantly, "Why bring

"the one you said Hurley hasn't managed

Beverley was stunned.

...

...

Another morning dawned, and

was getting ready to

rsity cafeteria f

her door, the door across from

There stood Owen.

locked, and both of them paused for

silence with a

"Morning. Headed to campus?"