"Here, take it," Marcus said, pressing a small pink pill into Lily's palm. The bass from the speakers thrummed through the floor, vibrating up her legs as she hesitated, glancing at the pill. Around them, bodies pulsed under neon lights, sweat glistening on skin as the crowd moved in unison to the relentless beat.

Marcus, tall and lean with a mop of dark curls that clung to his forehead, leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Trust me, you’ll love it." Lily, her blonde hair damp at the roots, bit her lip, her fitted tank top clinging to her slight frame. Her wide, hazel eyes flicked from the pill to Marcus, then to the sea of strangers around them, their faces glowing under the strobe lights.

She swallowed hard, then nodded, popping the pill into her mouth. Marcus grinned, his hand brushing hers as he handed her a water bottle. "Good call," he said, his voice barely audible over the music. As she took a sip, the first wave of warmth began to creep through her chest, and she felt his eyes on her, watching, waiting. Something in his gaze made her pulse quicken, but she couldn’t tell if it was the drug or him.