Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne could see Corley's confidence, and as she furrowed her brows, about to voice her concerns, a voice suddenly cut through the air. "Roseanne?"

Cliff was in the neighborhood for a dinner party, and as he passed by, he glimpsed through the coffee shop's floor-to-ceiling windows of Corley and Roseanne together.

A coffee shop was a quintessential spot for romantic dates. There was no doubt about it.

For a moment, he thought he had seen it wrong, but lo and behold, it was them!

Cliff wasn't shocked by Corley's audacity to make a move on a buddy's girl. After all, Corley had pulled off far more scandalous stunts in the past. But the idea that Roseanne might go for it? That was enough to make Cliff's jaw drop.

He couldn't help but shuttle his gaze between the two, his expression a complex tapestry of emotions, struggling to find the right words.

Not want to continue the conversation, Roseanne gave Cliff a smile and a wave before heading out of the coffee shop.

Once she was gone, Cliff slid into her vacated seat, eyeing Corley across the table. "Seriously, man? You're going for it?"

"What's real or not?" Corley responded casually, sipping his coffee.

Cliff voiced his doubt. "But I doubt Roseanne's into you."

Corley paused, setting down his cup, "And why's that?"

Cliff suddenly felt uneasy at the turn in Corley's demeanor. "Well, two reasons. First, you're not her type. Second, given your history with Murray, you two are a no-go." Corley scoffed, not caring about Murray's opinion.

"Spill it," Cliff leaned in closer, lowering his voice, "When did you start falling for Roseanne?"

Corley gazed out the window, sipping his coffee before replying, "Pretty early on, I guess... around the time she got together with Murray."

"Man, you're ruthless!" Cliff clenched his teeth, appalled at Corley's shamelessness. "You've been eyeing your buddy's girl!"

Corley smirked coldly. "Did I make a move when they were together? Now that they've split, why can't I try?"

Cliff retorted, "You've been lurking from the start. That's wrong!"

"Heh," Corley snorted, "Weren't you and York into the same girl back in high school?"

"I..." Cliff choked, "That was different. I was young and dumb. Plus, falling for someone isn't something I can control..."

Corley shot back. "So, I can control it?"

Murray didn't appreciate what he

had, so someone else would. Besides, Corley hadn't swooped in until Murray and Roseanne broke up, showing considerable restraint given their history. He was merely

pursuing what he wanted.

Seeing Corley's stubborn stance, Cliff ruffled his hair, attempting to persuade him. "Look. Maybe just let it go? You know how headstrong Roseanne can be. A forced relationship is never sweet."

Since the fallgut, Murray had

declared an end to their friendship,

warning he would have Corley

excluded from any gatherings honet

attended. The social circle trod

lightly around the subject, fearing unintended consequences

The reason behind their sudden fallout became a hot topic. Some speculated it was due to a failed business partnership or an uneven distribution of profits. Others thought it stemmed from familial tensions, with the elder family members forcing their hand. And then there were rumors about a dispute over a cocktail waitress.

The last guess became the most talked-about theory. Cliff remained tight-lipped, resorting to laughter whenever questioned.