Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

However, when they both looked-

There was no sign of Roseanne.

York shrugged, "If I hadn't said it, would you guys ever stop?"

Murray was silent. Corley didn't utter a word.

"Why can't we handle this like adults instead of acting like kids?"

Corley snapped, "He got mad and threw the first punch."

Murray retorted, "Because he was asking for it!"

"Enough, both of you cool it," York intervened, "If we actually bring Roseanne into this, neither of you is going to like the outcome."

Corley's lips pursed.

Murray fell silent, too.

Cliff, seeing an opportunity, chimed in, "Let's head to the ER and get those wounds looked at."

Murray coldly glanced at Corley, "No need," he said, "Same goes for you give up on her while you can."

"Is that so?" Corley smirked lightly, "Guess we'll see about that. As for making it work, I'm still in the game, while you you've been out for a long time."

Murray's eyes reddened, and he was about to throw another punch, but Cliff quickly intervened.

Corley dropped a final taunt: "Pathetic rage."

Then he opened his car door and drove away.

Murray angrily shrugged off Cliff, "Let go! He's gone, what are you afraid of?"

Cliff sighed, "Murray, what's the point?"

Murray, eyes still blazing, turned to him, "That's a question for Corley!"

They used to be as close as brothers. Why did Corley have to fixate on Roseanne?

After saying that, he also got into his car and drove off, leaving Cliff and York exchanging looks of disbelief.

Cliff confessed, "This feels awful."

York replied, "They're set on their ways; we can't do much."

Cliff pondered, "Why is he so obsessed with Roseanne?"

"Why indeed?" York paused. Maybe thinking of something, he said somewhat impulsively, "Sometimes attraction doesn't make sense, it just is."

Cliff was taken aback, "That's not how you used to see things!"

What happened to "There are plenty of fish in the sea"?

Brothers before others, right?

And what about "Women come and go, I could have a different one every day"?

The next morning, sunlight spilled

across the land, awakening everything beneath the blue

and

the chorus of cicadas. ContelBelonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Inside the lab, the sunlight filtered through the windows, waking Stoddard.

He sat up, stretched, and then made his way out of the resting area.

"Man, Owen, did you even sleep, or are you just up early?"

At the lab bench, Owen was deeply engrossed in his work. He didn't look up or respond. Finally-

After finishing his task, taking off his lab coat and gloves, he stepped away from the bench. "Got up early."

"What time?"

"5:30."

Stoddard gulped, "That's hardcore.

need to head back home and

I'll come back later tonight.sh.

and

can Oborrow your charger? My phone's dead."

"It's in the cab, help yourself."

"Why do you always put it back in the cab? Isn't that a hassle?"

Not at all.

Because these past few days Owen hadn't even used his charger. To be precise, he hadn't used his phone.

After putting it on silent, he'd just left it in the cab.

Stoddard grabbed the charger and

came back, "Owen, you've got missed calls. I brought your

out

"Thanks," Owen took it.

The next second, he froze.

Roseanne had called him?

Twice.

He immediately opened his messages, and there it was-

"Professor, I needed some advice on something, when you have a moment?"

It was sent five days ago.

He had completely missed it.