And Then, There Was Fire.

fourteen.

Lauren later found herself home in bed after her run-in with Alexia earlier in the day. Overwhelmed with the course load from her classes, her lack of time-spent swimming, and now with the conversation she had with Alexia, she debated on attempting to nap or to pull herself up for a swim or bath to sulk in.

The sound of the doorbell rung throughout the apartment as she remained still, hoping that Sophia would answer it as it was just herself and Sophia home.

"Ren," Sophia shortly came knocking on her cracked bedroom door before pushing it open slightly. "Brey is here. You want me to tell him you're not here?" She asked.

Lauren sighed. "Did you already tell him I'm here?"

"Yeah." Sophia said, causing Lauren to laugh and shake her head.

"I got it." Lauren rolled her eyes while getting up, yawning as she rubbed her tired eyes and smoothed out her hair, making her way to the door. Pulling the front door back, she watched Aubrey stand there in a black crewneck sweater, jeans and timberland boots. His haircut looked very recent, if not done that day, and his wrist was laced with his large, sterling silver watch. She could smell his cologne from where she stood at a distance, almost positive that he came there with intentions of leaving with her.

"I'm sorry." He said almost immediately, apologizing for his actions and their last encounter while taking a step toward her with one hand in the pocket of his jeans as the other played with the backing of his diamond stud earring. "Let me try this again."

Lauren couldn't resist the familiar smell of his cologne with how close he stepped to her. Regardless if she tried to focus on the parking lot behind him, or on the ground he stood on to avoid eye contact, she missed him. In a matter of seconds, she realized the trance his presence put her in had taken over her as she tried her hardest to fight against it internally.

"Lauren," His hand went for her chin as he cupped her face up to his that was now inches away. The feel of his touch angered her that he was doing this to her, whatever it was that he was doing. He breathed softly, finally getting her eyes to meet his as he watched her face soften. "Just come with me, and hear me out." He whispered, very slowly inching his face even closer to hers now that her eyes were caught in his gaze.

She suddenly snapped her face out of his hand, staring directly at him still with her hand on the door. He sighed, feeling defeated that he didn't have his hook on her the way he used to. "Please?" He pleaded. "I'll bring you right back."

Within an hour, Lauren found herself at an upscale Italian restaurant where she sat lazily across from Aubrey in the booth they were seated at. They were only there long enough for the waiter to bring her blackberry Washington drink that she requested to be stiff enough to get her through the night. She made it awkward for Aubrey during the drive there after she couldn't fight the urge to reject his invitation out to dinner. He attempted small talk during the drive where her replies were short and cold, and he felt he had to tip-toe around the conversation that they needed to have. This only gave Lauren time to focus on her responses for when it was to come, and to find the strength to break out of whatever oblivion his presence puts her in.

"You're gonna keep hanging out with him, aren't you?" Aubrey finally asked after a long, awkward silence at their table. He watched her nonchalant expression unphased as she kept a hand to the side of her face that held her head up, looking up from her phone.