The party was too loud. Not just music-loud, but inside-your-head loud—bass thumping through the floor, through your ribs, like it was trying to rattle something loose. Colored lights smeared together every time you blinked, reds bleeding into blues, faces stretching and snapping back into place like bad reflections in warped glass.

You’d been fine ten minutes ago.

Now the cup in your hand felt heavier than it should, plastic bending under your fingers like it was melting. You frowned at it, trying to remember how long you’d been standing there, when you’d last taken a sip. The air felt thick, cottony, like breathing through fog.

“Hey,” Cassie said, leaning close so you could hear her, voice syrupy with concern. “You good?”

You opened your mouth to answer, but the words lagged behind your thoughts. Your tongue felt slow. Detached. “I—yeah. I think? I just—” You laughed weakly, but it came out wrong, too sharp, then too soft. “I feel… weird.”

Lexi was already watching you, brows knit, eyes sharper than the rest of the room. “Weird how?”

The floor tilted. Not enough to knock you over, but enough that your stomach flipped like you’d missed a step on the stairs. You grabbed Cassie’s arm on instinct, nails digging in a little too hard.

“Hazy,” you said, swallowing. “Like I’m floating. I don’t like it.”

That’s when panic started to creep in—slow at first, then faster when your heart kicked up, pounding against your chest like it wanted out. The noise swelled, laughter turning echoey, distant, like you were underwater.

Cassie wrapped an arm around you immediately. “Okay, okay. Sit down. Let’s sit you down.”

“I didn’t take anything,” you said quickly, the words tumbling over each other now. “I swear. I only had—” You glanced down at the cup, suddenly suspicious, a cold spike of fear cutting through the haze. “I didn’t leave it alone for long. Just—just for a second.”

Lexi’s face hardened. She didn’t say anything—just handed your cup to Maddie, who’d been hovering nearby, already keyed in, eyes sharp and dangerous.

“Where’s Fez?” Maddie asked, not waiting for an answer. She was already moving, shoving past bodies like the party was nothing but furniture in her way. “I’ll get him.”

“Don’t leave,” you blurted, reaching out, fingers catching air as she disappeared into the crowd. Your breathing hitched. “Please don’t leave.”

“I’m here,” Cassie said quickly, pulling you closer, guiding you toward a quieter corner near the stairs. “We’re not going anywhere. Okay? You’re safe.”

You nodded, but your vision swam, lights streaking, the room stretching too far, then snapping back. Your hands started to tremble, and you curled them into fists, grounding yourself in the feel of Cassie’s dress, Lexi’s steady hand on your shoulder.

“I don’t like this,” you whispered, voice breaking despite yourself. “I don’t like not feeling in control.”

Lexi squeezed your shoulder gently, anchoring. “I know. Just focus on me. Breathe. Fez is coming, okay? Maddie’ll find him.”

Somewhere in the distance, raised voices cut through the music—Maddie’s unmistakable tone, sharp and furious. Your heart lurched with relief even as another wave of dizziness rolled through you.

You closed your eyes for a second, just one, clinging to the thought of Fez—his calm voice, steady hands, the way he always made the world feel slower, safer.

You needed him. And you hoped he was close.