Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Millie bounded down the stairs in a few quick steps and raced toward the school gates, her eyes immediately locking onto Murray's car parked by the curb.

Leaning against the car hood, Murray was the picture of youthful vigor in a cream-white tee under a charcoal-grey long coat paired with sleek black jeans that made him look like a college student. His appearance turned heads.

He checked the time on his wrist three times in less than three minutes. They had agreed on 10 o'clock, and they were running late.

Pulling out his phone, he scrolled to Millie's contact, about to call her, when a sweet, soft presence enveloped him.

Millie wrapped her arms around Murray's neck, her voice playful and cute, "Have you been waiting long?"

"You're late." Murray glanced at her, hands casually stuffed in his pockets.

"Sorry, I promise I'll be on time next time." When noticing he wasn't making a big deal out of it, Millie breathed a sigh of relief.

"Get in the car." Murray could see right through her little schemes but chose not to call her out on it.

Millie quickly hopped into the passenger seat, chattering away nonstop.

Keeping his eyes on the road, Murray occasionally grunted in response.

As they stopped at a crossroad, Millie glanced out the window, catching sight of a massive LED screen advertising the newly opened Universal Studios.

Her heart leaped at the sight, and she tugged at Murray's sleeve, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Babe, can we go to Universal Studios today?" Murray agreed without a second thought, "Sure."

Today was all about celebrating Millie's birthday, so Murray didn't mind the destination. He casually handed her a bag branded with a luxury jewelry logo, "Happy birthday." Millie gasped as she opened it. "Isn't this Chanel's latest limited edition bracelet? It's super expensive and hard to get!"

Excitedly, she took it out of the box slipping it onto her wrist. Admiring

the shell design with sodmiringProperty of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

diamonds, Millie couldn't help but flaunt it before him.

"Does it look good? How did you know I wanted this?" Millie's voice was full of playful complaints and sweetness, utterly charming Murray.

As the light turned green, Murray

stepped on the gas. Catching Millie snapping photos with her phone, he casually remarked, "As long

you're happy."

...

When Leda said she had a place in mind, Roseanne hadn't expected such an early start. She had just woken up when Leda called.

Leda's voice rushed through the phone, "Hurry up, Anne. There's no parking here. I'm giving you ten minutes!"

Roseanne climbed into the car ten minutes later, even handing Leda a sandwich.

Leda took a bite, playfully scolding, "You're never late, are you?"

The sports car zoomed off, eventually coming to a halt outside Universal Studios.

Roseanne looked up. "This is where you wanted to take me?"

"Gosh, you've been cooped up

studying and reading every day. How

borings that? It's the wetime

relax. I'll grab the tickets. You wait here."

Soon enough, Leda was back. Along with two tickets, Leda also had two headbands.

"One for each of us." Leda handed Roseanne a pure white fox headband, keeping the pink Princess Bell one for herself.

After putting them on, Leda saw Roseanne hesitating and urged, "Why aren't you wearing yours?"

With no other choice, Roseanne put it on.

Leda stepped back, examining her, then nodded in satisfaction, "Fluffy and cute, you've got that fox spirit vibe going on."