TOUCH .

page 1 The concert

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MAYA’S POV

I didn’t want to go to the concert.

I sighed, dragging myself out from under the warmth of my blankets. The weather had been perfect for staying in—cold, cloudy, and just quiet enough to roll a few joints, sip on something strong, and binge-watch a show.

But Kate had insisted.

"Come on, Maya, you never go out anymore."

So, against my better judgment, I got up and showered, letting the hot water shake off my reluctance. I threw on an all-black Nike sweatpants set, paired it with some chains, and dusted a little glitter across my eyes and cheeks—just for a bit of shine under the concert lights. Rings, lace-up white Converse, and my essentials tucked into my pockets.

Before heading out, I poured mojito into my favorite rum bottle (because why not?), pocketed a few edibles, and grabbed some grapes from the fridge. I wasn’t about to drive my mom’s car—too much effort. I ordered an Uber and leaned against the kitchen counter, waiting.

By the time I arrived, the venue had started buzzing with excitement. Street food vendors lined the outskirts, their stalls glowing under the streetlights, and the air was thick with the scent of grilled meat and fried snacks. Inside, the stage gleamed with LED displays, and the bass from the speakers thumped in my chest.

It wasn’t too crowded—just the right number of people to make it feel exclusive. As I made my way closer to the stage, I spotted DJ Snake, Tiësto, and Alan Walker arriving. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad after all.

I popped a brownie, washing it down with a sip of mojito. The music pulsed around me, my energy lifting, my body sinking into the rhythm. But then…

Something felt off.

The lights blurred. The voices around me melted into a distant hum. My breath hitched, and my limbs grew heavier with every step. My stomach twisted, my head spun, and the ground beneath me felt like it was tilting.

"Shit."

I stumbled out of the crowd, my vision flickering at the edges. A loud ringing buzzed in my ears, drowning out the music. Just as my legs threatened to give out, someone caught me.

"You don’t look so good," a voice murmured near my ear.

I blinked, trying to focus, but my surroundings kept spinning.

"Stay here, okay? Let me get you some water." The person’s hand hovered in front of my face, checking if I was still aware.

I took another sip from my bottle, but the second the liquid hit my tongue, I knew.

Someone had spiked my drink.

But who? And why?

Before I could spiral, the girl returned, crouching in front of me.

"Here," she said, offering me a bottle of water. "It’s room temp—it should help with whatever was put in your drink."

"You mean I was spiked?" My voice came out weaker than I wanted. I tried to stand, but the dizziness yanked me back down. My mind swam with paranoia. "Wait—how do you even know that? Are you trying to drug me or something?"

Her eyes widened. "No, no, no—God, no." She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "I saw who did it, but he bailed when I came over to you."

Her name was Alice Casagrande.

I wasn’t sure if I should believe her, but my body was too weak to argue. My hands trembled as I took another sip of water.

Alice must have sensed my hesitation because she sighed and pulled out a dollar bill, scribbling something on it.

"I’ll leave if that makes you feel safer," she said, folding the bill and slipping it into my hoodie pocket. "That’s my number. Let me know when you get home safe. I won’t text unless you text first. Promise."

She brushed her fingers against my cheek, her touch featherlight. "Take care of yourself, lilmama. Crazy people out here for someone as pretty as you."

And just like that, she disappeared into the crowd.

I sat there for a moment, gripping the water bottle. My head still swam, but I forced myself to stand.

I needed to leave.

Looking around, I spotted an empty bench near the outskirts of the venue. A person sat alone, their face partially hidden by their hoodie, the glow of their phone screen illuminating their features.

I hesitated before approaching.

"Hey," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Can I sit here? Just trying to catch my breath."

The person glanced up, a smirk tugging at their lips. "Sure," they said smoothly, shifting their backpack aside. "Hope you don’t mind a little smoke?"

They exhaled slowly, watching me through the haze.

I shook my head. "Nah, I’m good."

I sank onto the bench, my mind still reeling. The stranger studied me for a moment before flicking their lighter absentmindedly.

"You look like you’ve had a night," they mused.

I let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah. You could say that."

We sat in silence for a few minutes. No prying questions, no forced conversation. Just an unspoken understanding.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

Kate: Where the hell are you?

I sighed and typed back a quick response before standing up.

"Thanks for the seat," I muttered, adjusting my hoodie.

The stranger gave me a lazy salute. "Anytime."

I pulled out my phone and ordered an Uber.

As I stood by the curb, I fished out the dollar bill Alice had given me. Her number was scrawled across the front, along with an address.

My fingers hovered over my phone screen.

Should I text her?

Should I even trust her?

Before I could decide, the Uber pulled up.

I sighed, pocketing the bill and slipping into the backseat.

"Home," I mumbled.

Tonight had been way more than I bargained for.

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