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Later on that night, I woke up to the sound of loud chuckles which signified that our hosts were back from the party. I heard their noisy thumps and quiet murmurs as they climbed up the staircase as well as the opening and closing of doors opposite us. When I glanced at the wall clock it read three am, and that meant that they had spent the whole night outside. Someone knocked at the door and I started to get up to answer it when Cole pushed my body back onto the bed and shook his head. "I'll get it." He padded out of the bed, his lithe form lightly swaying as he walked the small distance to the door.

Not surprisingly, Crystal's voice came through in a whisper. "How's she doing?" Her words were slurred, rising and falling in intensity and I guessed they must have drank alcohol to their fills.

Cole whispered that I was feeling better, thanks to the drugs that I reluctantly took and I silently agreed with him. The bitter taste was still evident in my mouth, and I struggled not to swallo