Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Karl dropped Roseanne off at her apartment building, and instead of heading straight up, she detoured into the nearby farmers' market.

Twenty minutes later, laden with bags of groceries, she was about to head inside. Just then, she saw Owen approaching in the glow of the setting sun.

The light was fading, but he was in a cloak of orange and gold, his tall figure stretched even longer by the sunset. He walked with a purposeful stride, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

"Fancy bumping into you again," Roseanne called out, initiating the conversation.

Owen looked up, adjusting his glasses. "Indeed, quite the coincidence."

"Have you had dinner? I've got plenty of groceries. How about joining me for a meal?"

Owen was about to decline, but the thought of her cooking made him nod almost against his will.

It was his first visit to Roseanne's place. The front balcony was adorned with blooming tulips, and two goldfish swam lazily in a square aquarium to the side. The white curtains fluttered in the sunset, casting warm hues over the cherry wood furniture. It was cozy, peaceful, and beautiful.

A spread of graduate school books and papers lay on the glass coffee table. A glance told him the answers in black ink were almost correct.

Roseanne asked warmly, "Would you like something to drink?"

Owen smiled. "Just water is fine."

Roseanne poured him a glass of water.

"Thanks."

"I bought quite a bit today, perfect for making a fancy meal."

She unpacked the groceries, including various vegetables, beef, and a box of handmade meatballs. There was also some chicken leftover last time, which was ideal for dinner.

"You got one of the multiple-choice questions wrong," Owen suddenly said.

Following his gaze to the test paper she had worked on that morning, Roseanne immediately knew which one he meant. "Embarrassing, huh? That question involved biophysics. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the dynamics part."

"The choice of potential and its

el?

relationship with dynamic calculations is crucial. Different potential lead to different potential energy surfaces, affecting the trajectories of molecular motion and intramolecular movements, Owen explained.

Roseanne paused, then her eyes lit up. "I see now!"

Owen was surprised at her quick grasp. "You understood that?"

"Mostly," Roseanne admitted honestly. "I've read your research notes in the library and picked up the basics of molecular dynamics."

"And you could follow?"

"Yes."

Owen's face turned slightly red. "Those were my undergrad notes. Ahem, they're full of typos."

Roseanne couldn't help but laugh. There were quite a few.

"You're smart and insightful. You won't have trouble with grad school exams."

Her smile widened. "I'll take that as a good omen, Mr. Reynolds."

...

When Murray and Cliff left the high-end shopping area, it was dark.

Cliff glanced at the shopping bag in Murray's hand, containing jewelry worth almost a million, casually swung by its handles. It was as if he wanted everyone to see.

Despite the store offering secure

delivery, Murray had insisted on carrying it himself. Sadly, their entire walk was uneventful, devoid of any encounters they might have hoped for

"How about dinner?" Cliff suggested, noting the time.

Murray nodded, not really caring. "You pick."

Cliff chose a well-known local restaurant nearby. They sat in a second-floor private dining room with a great view and some privacy.

The waiter brought over the menu. The restaurant was known for local cuisine featuring a variety of fresh, farm-to-table dishes. Cliff took his time choosing, his eyes nearly crossing from all the options.