[center][h1]Ren White [/h1][/center]
[center][h2]Monday morning, Riverside [/h2][/center]
 
Ren's apartment smelled of freshly brewed coffee. Rays of sunlight were shining in through the windows, and there were birds chirping outside. Steam escaped the bathroom door as Ren stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist. Stepping into his walk in closet, Ren surveyed his possible options. The wardrobe's clothing's had a colour range from jet black to dark grey, making matching outfits an easy task. He put on a pair of black, tight jeans and a dark grey turtleneck. Then he removed a deep blue coloured blazer from it's hanger and pulled his arms through. Opening the drawer in his vanity, Ren took out a burgundy coloured box. The insides were covered with velvet fabric, and  obtained his collection of watches that he'd been given by his father through out the years. After he turned sixteen he'd usually get one every Christmas, and the collection had grown quite large. Running his fingers over the watches one after another, his fingers came to a halt at a slim, black "Master Ultra Thin Moon" Jaeger le Coultre watch. It was simple and elegant in design, with a moon phase dial on the case. He strapped it on his wrist, and gave his arm a tentative stretch to admire the small piece of art. A smile tugging on his lips. [i]At least he has good taste[/i], he thought about his father. 
 
Back in the bathroom Ren slicked his hair back with a gel, not wanting it to get in his eyes. He sprayed a dash of cologne as a finishing touch, before walking into the living room. His trusty bag full of books were standing by the door. Looking down at his wrist watch, the time read 08:27. His private chauffeur was probably waiting outside the front door of the apartment building, so Ren grabbed his bag and locked the door behind him. 
 
[color=crimson][i]"Good morning mister White."[/i][/color] The porter gave him a slight bow of his head. [color=crimson][i]"Your chauffeur is waiting out front."[/i][/color] He continued as he opened the door for him. 
 
[color=lightsteelblue][i]"Thank you."[/i][/color] Ren didn't even spare the porter a glance a as he stepped onto the pavement. His chauffeur, William, was waiting in front of his Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé - a birthday present from a few years back from his parents. 



[color=orange][i]"Good morning, Ren. You look well today. Did you have a good nights rest?"[/i][/color] The man had a warm smile on his youthful face, and reached out his white-gloved hand to open the car door for Ren.
 
[color=lightsteelblue][i]"I suppose."[/i][/color] Ren had fallen asleep much faster than he usually did last night. Blame it on the alcohol or the socializing he'd done at the Old Starboard, but it was lights out as soon as his head hit the pillows.  
 
[color=orange][i]"Are we going straight to the university or do you need to make a stop on the way?"[/i][/color]
 
As Ren had already made his own coffee in the morning, there was no point in stopping by the Coffee Pot as he, and many other students, often did before lectures. [color=lightsteelblue][i]"I'm good. I don't want to be late for my classes."[/i][/color] 



When Ren finally got his parents on board on him moving out, they insisted that he'd at least take some of their household staff with him. Ren had refused, but after a long time of back and forth they finally made a compromise - Ren didn't have to bring a maid and a butler if he brought William with him to drive him around safely. William had worked for their family over 10 years. He'd probably been in his early twenties when he started, because he didn't look a day over 30. Naturally he'd been around while Ren grew up, and they developed a sort of friendship during the years at the White manor. 
 
The car engine hummed as they rolled out on the street. There was a roughly 30 minute drive to the university depending on traffic, but Ren didn't mind. He put on his headphones and listened to his newest obsession, Gin Wigmore, while leaning his head against the window pane. 
 
[center][h2]Monday noon, Solaris University[/h2][/center]
On the back of his paper it read "one hundred percent". Naturally, Ren thought to himself. The class was humming with whispers between the students, talking about their grades. The professor walked up to his podium, cleared his throat loudly, and began his lecture on the skeletal system. 
 
A few hours later Ren was sitting in the study hall reading, when three girls approached him. The one in the front was fidgeting with her purse strap, while the two behind her nudged her forward. 


[color=palevioletred][i]"Hi Ren."[/i][/color] She looked at him, before quickly averting her eyes. [color=palevioletred][i]"Congratulations on your paper. You're best in the class as always."[/i][/color] She smiled sweetly, then opened her mouth before closing it again. The girl on her right poked her elbow in her side impatiently. 
 
Ren cocked an eyebrow, looking up from his book. [color=lightsteelblue][i]"Yes, well. It was an easy assignment. Only a true idiot would get a score below eighty percent."[/i][/color] He noticed how one of the girls eyes widened, suddenly looking embarrassed. [i]And it seems like you are one of them[/i], he thought to himself. [color=lightsteelblue][i]"May I help you with something?"[/i][/color]
 
The girl in the front chewed on her lower lip, straightening her back. [color=palevioletred][i]"You see, I'm hosting a party tonight… You should totally come. If, like, you want to, I mean." [/i][/color]
 
The girl on her right chimed in. [color=yellow][i]"Yeah, we've already invited a bunch from our class, and some other people too, but it'd be cool if you'd show up." [/i][/color]

The third girl was blushing furiously, and without even saying a word she held out an invitation with the address before quickly dashing away. The two other girls embarrassedly excused their friend, said their goodbyes and ran after her. 
 
Ren was stating dumbfounded after them. The girls were in his class, but had never spoken to him previously. [i]A party, huh. That could be fun.[/i] Even though Ren didn't have many close friends, he was used to being invited to events. Everybody loved having rich kids at their parties, hoping they would bring expensive alcohol, party drugs or something crazy like a limousine with a hot tub. He was better at socializing at parties anyways than he would be during the day, so he didn't really mind. It was a good distraction. 
 
[center][h2]Monday evening, Riverside[/h2][/center]
As the Solaris University was a prestigious university, most of the students there came from rich families. Therefore there was a large student community on the Riverside where they lived in luxury apartments paid out of their parents pockets. The party was hosted in a big apartment just a few blocks away from Ren's place. 
 
Ren stepped out of the car, as William had insisted on dropping him off. There were music and loud chatter from a balcony, so finding the right place was no trouble. The porter in the building told Ren the floor and apartment number, and he went into the elevator. Without knocking on the door, Ren went inside. There was music blasting from the stereo, people dancing on the floor, grinding up against each other, almost everybody with a glass in their hand. Nobody seemed the least concerned with drinking on a weekday. 



[color=palevioletred][i]"You came!"[/i][/color] A shrill voice pierced his ears, and the girl from earlier pushed through a couple who were vigorously making out. She had long, dark hair. Almost black in contrast to Ren's bright locks. She wore a tight, red dress with a split revealing her thigh. 
 
[color=lightsteelblue][i]"You sound surprised. I simply had to come after you went to the trouble of inviting me in person. You look quite charming tonight."[/i][/color] Ren said smoothly. He hadn't really paid her looks any attention, but he found it amusing how easy it was to make the girl flustered. 
 
[color=palevioletred][i]"Oh you, I bet you say that to all the girls."[/i][/color] She blushed and tried to laugh it off. [color=palevioletred][i]"Come, I'll introduce you to some of the others."[/i][/color] Ren walked around with the girl he didn't' even remember the name of, talking to different people, downing drink after drink. 
 
A group of people were lounging in the living room. Ren noticed the other two girls from earlier, a couple of guys from their class and some new faces. The conversation was loose and they talked about this and that while drinks were poured. [color=cyan][i]"There's someone I'd like you all to meet. My friend, Molly."[/i][/color] A tall guy with a mischievous grin on his face leaned over the coffee table as he pulled out a plastic bag with colorful little pills inside. Some of the others chuckled, some had wide eyes. The bag was passed around the group, and Ren picked out a red, heart shaped one. [color=cyan][i]"Bottoms up."[/i][/color] The guy cheered loudly. Ren shrugged. [i]What the hell.[/i] He took a big sip of his drink, and the pill was gone. 
 
Ren was feeling euphoric. He had no idea what time it was or if the pill had affected him yet, but he realized he didn't care. All he cared about was how enticing the beat of the music was. The music sent shivers down his spine, and suddenly he needed to move his body. Now.  Pushing his way through the crowd he disappeared into the waves of dancing people. His head swayed in time with the beat, eyes half closed and arms in the air. Someone was feeling up his chest, and though it felt amazing he didn't care who it was. He bumped into somebody's back and they started a playful game of pushing against each other. The crowd was moving like a fish steam, one united being with a hive mind. 
 
[color=darkolivegreen][i]"Oy, that's my girlfriend you asshole!"[/i][/color] Before Ren understood that the comment was directed at him, a fist connected with his jawline. He stumbled back, bumping into another guy. 
 
Squinting his eyes, Ren stood up. He took a step towards the other man. [color=lightsteelblue][i]"And here I was thinking the Neanderthals were extinct."[/i][/color]
 
[color=darkolivegreen][i]"You fucking watch your mouth. I'll kick your ass!"[/i][/color] He balled up his fists, but before the man could land another punch Ren kicked him in the gut. The guy groaned, and reeled back. 



[color=yellow][i]"Stop it! Maya, come help!"[/i][/color] A girl shouted.



The girl hosting the party, Maya, came rushing to the scene.[color=palevioletred][i]"Really Nate, stop being so jealous. You know Brittany clings up on everybody when she's drunk."[/i][/color] She motioned for some of the guys to get Nate out of there, before turning to Ren. [color=palevioletred][i]"Oh, your jaw is a little red."[/i][/color] She reached out her hand, but stopped it in the air between them before pulling it back, [color=palevioletred][i]"Do you wanna, like, go somewhere? Some of the others were talking about some jazz thing down at the record shop. We can still make it, I think."[/i][/color]
 
[color=lightsteelblue][i]"You're leaving your own party?"[/i][/color] Ren touched his jaw. It was beginning to bruise and hurt a lot more than he'd expected. 
 
[color=palevioletred][i]"The butler comes back at midnight to oversee everything. It's fine."[/i][/color] She called out some names and within minutes they were a little gang of people who left the apartment, making their way up to the Swan Song's. 
 
[center][h2] Monday evening, Swan Song's[/h2][/center]
Kicking the door open, the group entered the small venue. Ren was too caught up in some lame joke being told to notice the people already inside. They made their way over to a sitting area in the back with a couch and some chairs, slumped down and continued their chatter and laughter.