Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed



The bell for class rang, cutting through the murmurs of the hallway.

Owen Reynolds stepped into the classroom with a stack of notes under his arm, announcing, "Today, we'll dive into molecular evolution and phylogeny..."

During the ten-minute break, Mamie slumped over her desk, utterly deflated.

Scales, unable to hold back any longer, blurted out, "You've been off your game these past few days!"

Mamie looked up, puzzled. "Me?"

"Yes, you!"

Far from getting annoyed, Mamie nodded in agreement, "I feel the same!"

Scales was taken aback.

"I've been starving myself skinny. Never in my life have I endured such hardship... Losing weight is just too hard, so I've decided=" "Decided what?"

"I'm not doing it anymore! No way!"ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Scales was speechless, "But you were just saying "

"How about we grab a bite after class? I'll treat you and Roseanne."

Before Scales or Roseanne could respond, Mamie decisively said, "Great, it's settled then!"

Scales and Roseanne exchanged bewildered looks.

"What do you fancy? Steak, or maybe a seafood buffet? Or we could go for burgers and fries, fried chicken with soda? Or... why not have a bit of everything? That sounds perfect!"

As the bell finally rang, signaling the end of the lecture, Mamie, Roseanne, and Scales dashed out of the classroom, leaving nothing but a blur behind.

Owen Reynolds's attempt to call Roseanne back was swallowed by the empty air as she had already vanished.

After indulging in a hearty meal, Mamie leaned back in her chair, radiating contentment from every pore.

She had an epiphany-

Why should I starve myself?

Let those who want to slim down do it. She was done with suffering!

Even if she met a guy she liked, she wouldn't starve herself for him.

And as for Sammy...

Once she found out he had a girlfriend, Mamie lost interest.

What decent girl would pine for someone else's boyfriend?

With no afternoon classes, they all headed home.

Just around the corner, Roseanne spotted Qwen Reynolds walking ahead. She quickened her pace and poked his shoulder, then swiftly dodged to the other side as be turned.

He looked around, confused, as Roseanne giggled from her new hiding spot.

Owen couldn't help but smile, "Lucky it's me. Anyone else might've been scared."

"If it weren't you, I wouldn't dare," Roseanne blurted out.

“And why's that?" His gaze deepened.

Caught off guard, she quickly said,

bri know each other well, soe esent

teasing's fine. And second, you're brave. You can take a joke Content

"Where did you get the idea I can take a joke?" Owen chuckled.

"Just now," she said with conviction.

As they walked upstairs together, Owen asked, "How's everything going in Professor Farrell's lab?"

"Great! Professor Farrell is really nice, and the equipment's top-notch.”

"Getting used to it all?"

Just as Roseanne was about to reply, a dog's bark echoed down the stairs.

Before they could react, a husky charged towards them.

Roseanne saw a blur of black and white fur lunging at her and

instinctively shut her eyes, wish

for something to lift her off the ground.

Acting on impulse, she leaped up.

The dog brushed past her legs, continuing its mad dash downstairs.

She exhaled in relief, then realized-

She had jumped right into Owen Reynolds's arms.