The bass thumped so hard it felt like it was rattling her ribs. "Here," Jake shouted over the music, pressing a small pill into her hand. His fingers lingered for a second, warm against her palm. "Trust me, you’ll love it." Emma hesitated, glancing around at the sea of neon lights and bodies swaying in the dark.

They’d met an hour ago at the bar, Jake offering to buy her a drink after she spilled hers. He was tall, with messy dark hair and a grin that made her stomach flip. Emma, on the other hand, was all sharp angles and soft edges—her cropped tank top clinging to her toned frame, her cheeks flushed from the heat of the crowd. She looked like she belonged here, even if she didn’t feel like it.

"Okay," she finally said, popping the pill into her mouth. Jake’s grin widened, and he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "You’re gonna feel amazing in about twenty minutes." She laughed, nervous but excited, as the lights around them seemed to pulse brighter. Something was about to shift, and she could feel it in the air.