And Then, There Was Fire.

one.

If she could, she would fall asleep here, just like this. Her eyes were closed peacefully while she felt an air bubble tickle past her upper lip and the soft rim of her button nose. Due to the size of her tub, she was curled into a fetal position while the side of her face rested on the back of her hand that laid gently on the tub's floor. Sometimes she would count how long she could do this for, but the duration often scared her with just how long and how unbothered she was underneath the surface of the water.

The hot water surrounded her entire body, causing her dark hair to smoothly float around her.

"Ren." Her eyes flung open in the water to her roommate's voice on the other side of the locked bathroom door. She remained still, listening to the knocks that were followed by the voice.

Lauren lifted her body above the water's surface in her tub, lifting her arm from her face to toss back her drenched, long hair. "Yeah, I'm here." She answered quickly, making sure she didn't keep her roommates waiting on an answer from her. The last time she didn't respond to them while relaxing beneath the water's surface, she sent them in a panic. She knew it wasn't normal, and she knew she wasn't normal, so, she learned how to adapt.

Sarai pressed her ear against the door, listening to the commotion the water made. "I'm almost ready. Hurry up." Sarai reminded her through the door.

Ren sighed, owning her promise to join her roommates tonight, although she preferred to lay in the water. She wiped the water from her face before grabbing a towel and pulling the stainless steel plug up to drain the tub.

A few hours later, she was glad that she was forced out of their apartment. It wasn't the alcohol in her system, nor was it the vibe throughout the frequented bar, Frank's, on a Ladies Night; it was as simple as having him in her presence once again.

"The fuck ya'll looking at?" Tremaine's northern drawl softly, yet harshly, spoke to the group of girls who were being obnoxiously loud for his attention at another pool table next to the one he and Ren played. Leaving the group of girls quiet, he continued finding the spot for his next shot, gripping his pool stick.

Ren shook her head while smirking, assuming that the bar's regulars should have known about Trey and his antics by now. She was grateful to gain his smiles, laughs, company and overall friendship although he was a taken man; a difficult one at that.

She watched him underneath the bright, draping, ceiling light that hung above the table, rubbing his shaven chin as the light reflected off of his shining, silver watch that covered some of the tattooed wrist of his sleeved arm.

"Hurry up." Ren rushed, rolling her head to the side as she noticed Sarai flirting with a close friend of Trey's who was playing at another table against Ren's other roommate, Sophia.

Trey's eyes moved up from the table, making it to Ren's brown eyes once he glanced at her small, but round bottom that was held up by her long slender legs wearing black leggings and a gray sweater that draped off her shoulder.

He then noticed she had no more balls remaining except for the black eight ball, cursing himself knowing she would win this game. He placed his stick up on the wall rack, avoiding her victorious eyes that would rub in her victory.

"One day." She smirked, placing her stick on the table as they returned to the table nearby that they shared with their mutual friends.

She sipped on her Amaretto Sour, watching the group of girls begin to move their bodies to the new song that began playing loudly throughout the bar. She was beginning to enjoy the fact that they had the table to their selves while the others were still playing pool, but her joy quickly faded once she noticed how focused he was in his phone.

"Are you coming to the other side of the bar or what?" He became irate once he read the message, reading his girlfriend's text. He felt disrespected that she continued to use indirect comments like this. Not only was it clear that he came here without her, but her attitude was unnecessary. He felt as if she assumed he was obligated to spend his entire time with her once she showed up, as if he didn't want time his friends.

"When the fuck did I say I was coming over there?" He replied back. He then became aware of his sudden mood change in front of Ren.

He was a man of intelligence; whether it was taught to him or just pure intuition. He had to know everything, especially this one thing that rubbed him so wrong; he was on a mission to figure out the differences between the two women that bothered him. It wasn't that Ren bothered him exactly, but it was what she had inside of her that bothered him, simply because he couldn't define it.

He knew it was something beyond anyone else's knowledge. He just couldn't put his finger on why he felt so compelled to Alexia by force, but compelled to Ren by desire.

Trey then felt the burning sensation underneath his skin, a typical feeling he would get when he was in deep thought.

"Are you ready?" He shook the thought to Ren's question, knowing she was concerned if his mood was ruined for the night now due to Alexia.

Ren then narrowed her eyes mistakenly at the sudden glimmer that she caught in his eyes, that were now focused on his hand. He was lost in deep thought again, unaware of what just happened. She leaned closer into the table, trying to look deeper into his eyes without seeming noticeable.

Her ears pulled back and her eyes softened. Fire. She then watched a light flame in the pupil of his eyes, causing her lips to part absent-mindedly.

Her eyes fell down to the direction that he was focused on, which was a lighter in his hands that he played with, yet she didn't remember it being lighted when she saw the flame in his eyes at first. So, she narrowed her eyes down on his hand that played with it, finally watching his finger press down on the ignitor, and then, there was fire.