My heart was pounding, hard. I couldn't hear. I felt claustrophobic and trapped.

But surprisingly, I was having a good time.

The club music thudded a loud bass. I could feel the vibrations coursing through me. The combined scent of sweat, alcohol and perfumes were all that I could inhale.

As I moved to the music, I wished that I could have breathed in some fresh air. But Maddie and I were in the middle of the dance floor and the nearest exit lead to a designated smoking area. I doubted that I would have been offered a lot of pure air out there.

I had a feeling that going out again wasn't the smartest idea. It landed me in a hell of a lot of trouble last night. But lightening never struck the same place twice. I figured that Desmond wouldn't come home again. Especially not at nine at night. Which is when Maddie and I left the apartment.

We had a couple of wines each while we got dressed and dolled up. Maddie looked gorgeous in her dress. It was a simple satin slip paired with thigh high boots that she suited so well. Her legs were thick. Not enormous but more sizeable than my thin stems. I always wished that I had a more curvaceous figure. But it just wasn't how I was shaped.

I'd opted for stilettos, a pair of black high waist culottes with a sheer white tank top tucked into the waist band. My copper hair fell in loose waves around my shoulders. It was an unkempt sort of look.

Part of me struggled to relax. I was on a constant alert. Terrified that someone would see me here and it would get back to Desmond. But as worried as I was, I was having a good time. Maddie was fun. She wasn't here to get laid either, so there was no fear that she would ditch me for a one night stand. We danced together, drank and sang.

I had a method that kept me from getting too drunk too fast. In between each wine, I had a glass of water. It slowed me down. Kept me in control of my senses and it ensured that I was hangover free in the morning. It was advice that a friend in college gave me. Chels. She was a wild free spirit and last I heard, she was tripping across Europe. I hadn't been out on the town in forever so I was glad that I remembered her words of wisdom. As it was, I decided to cap it at five glasses. I had a light buzz but I was in no danger of total inebriation.

"I need another drink!" Maddie shouted over the music, fanning her face which was no longer her usual pale but blushing bright and red as strands of her auburn hair clung to her skin.

I leaned closer to her. "Of water?"

"No, vodka!"

"Yeah, water!"

"No, Arian—"

"Come on, let's go and get a water."

She gave me a playful punch in the arm but followed me through the crowd. Occasionally someone would elbow me in the side or whip me with their hair. My feet were numb at this point so it didn't matter if they were stood on. I must not have been pushing through the throng of people fast enough because Maddie switched our positions and took the lead, shoving and pushing at a much faster speed.

We reached the bar and requested two waters. While we waited, I couldn't help but feel as though I was being watched. It was stupid because there were hundreds of people and someone was bound to glance my way once in a while. But it was more than that. It was so intense. It made my skin prickle. But I brushed it off as alcohol induced paranoia.

Maddie tapped my shoulder when the waters were served and I turned away from the crowd that I had been watching. We stood beside the bar while we drank and swayed a little with the beat. Even if we weren't outside, it was a relief to be out of the thick of it. We finished our drinks and decided to go to the bathroom before we carried on dancing. I hoped that Maddie wanted to give up soon because I was keen on bed and some hot food.

"I love your hair," a girl squealed while I stood at the bathroom basin and washed my hands.

I glanced at her in the mirror and laughed as she stared at me with round eyes and a stumble in her step. "Thanks. That's a gorgeous dress."

"My boyfriend bought it for me," she glanced down at the fabric and pinched at it. "But he's an asshole. Because he only bought it because he felt bad for calling me chubby when I tried it on."

"What?!" I shouted at her, surprised when the word was a little slurred. "No girl. Fuck him. You are beautiful. Look at you. Besides. How does the saying go? More cushion for the pushin."

We both curled over with laughter, ignoring the girls around us who tried to wash their hands. "Girl I'd push you," I said with a drowsy wink.

"Would you?! Like actual," she stumbled against me and we held each other up with what were meant to be hugs. Who knew what it really looked like though.

I was startled when I felt pins and needles shooting up my legs. It felt weird and abrupt. But my new friend shook me and poked me in the boob. "Can we be sisters. Like, I love you so much!"

"I love you too!" I grinned. "And for real, do not let your boyfriend talk that shit to you. You're not married. Find you a man that loves your cushion. Mhmm. Okay?"

I knew that I was being a hypocrite. But I didn't want her to end up like me. I didn't want her stuck, miserable day in and day out because of one asshole that she was too good for.

She nodded and pulled me in for another hug. "I love you!"

"I love you more!"

She left a moment later. A kiss on each cheek and the promise of a dance. I think. I couldn't quite remember which seemed weird. Maddie came out of the stall and began washing her hands. "Who was that?"

"I have no idea. But we're sisters now. Apparently—"

My sentence fell off as my head began to spin. It was so violent that I had to clutch the basin before I went ass over. The entire room began to spin and through the haze I could see a few girls watching me with amusement. They probably thought it was funny. Like I'd had too much to drink. But no, something was wrong.

"Maddie, I think someone's spiked my drink," I said, just realising that she was walking me out of the bathroom with concern. How had we ended up outside so fast? "Maddie? Something's wrong. Please don't leave me."

She had the phone pressed to her ear, staring down at me with concern. Fresh air. We were out in the fresh air. The concrete beneath me was cold. There were stars in the sky. "Maddie? I don't— what's happeni— I feel sick."

"He's on his way," Maddie said, keeping me close to her side. We were sitting. Where were we?

Who was coming?

"Fuck, how long have you two been sitting out here?" Aiden.

"Like fifteen minutes. I didn't know what else to do. She could have ended up being sick in the club. Plus whoever did this might have followed me. I slipped her straight out of the exit beside the bathroom."

"Are you sure that she was drugged?"

"Yes Aiden. She didn't even drink much and it happened so fast. Believe me. I see this in the ER all the time."

I opened my eyes when I felt my body being touched and moved. It felt so far away. Like whoever was holding me was holding me through layers of numb skin. I could see Aiden. The black night was moving behind him as he stared straight ahead.

"Did you just come from a job?"

"Yes Maddison. What does that matter?"

"Look at you, you're a mess."

"I'll clean up at home."

"What if she notices?"

"She won't remember even if she could see straight. It'll be fine."

"Aiden—"

"What do we need to do? Does she need the hospital."

"I can help her from your place. If you can handle the stench of vomit."

"I think you know that I'll cope. Whatever you need to do so that she's okay."