February 1992: Boston
The job interview was Saturday as the interviewer was going to be out of town. After a leisurely breakfast at the Four Seasons, Robert left me dressed in his best suit and I went off to do some shopping.
Walking down the streets, I was so happy. After we had got to the hotel the night before, we fucked with wild abandon. Robert made me tell him every detail of my encounter in the bathroom of the train. When I did, that drove him crazy and he fucked me until we were both screaming.
I was definitely sore that day, but it was a good sore.
Robert and I met up later in the day and he was smiles and sunshine on the dreary February day.
"I think I'm going to get this job," he said brightly.
I knew he wanted this job, but I was feeling selfish. I didn't want him to leave New York.
He read my mind and pulled me close.
"I know what you're thinking - but it will be ok. Boston isn't far. We can arrange something..."
I pulled away and fell on the bed.
"Let's not think about that now."
I looked up at him and rubbed my breast through my sweater. He didn't need to be asked twice.
Much later we were strolling hand in hand in Boston's Theatre District. We had just had a fabulous dinner, but I knew he was restless for some fun. And so was I, but it was so cold, I just wanted to go back to the hotel and get naked under the sheets. But I walked with him as the cold air swirled around us.
Suddenly he saw something taped to mailbox and looked it closely. It was a flyer advertising a rave. They were all the rage in New York but much harder find in Boston.
"Let's go," he said excitedly.
"Are you serious? That's for 20 year olds." We were both in our late 20's by now and I often felt my drugging and dancing days were over.
"Yeah, let's do it. We'll get some X and dance the night away."
"X?"
"Ecstasy, you know."
"Oh, that stuff?"
I had heard about the 'Love Drug', but it never really interested me.
"Come on - I think I know where this place is."
He hailed a cab and told the driver to bring us down to the waterfront. Things were going to get very interesting and they certainly did.
Twenty minutes later we were standing in front of an old warehouse. I looked doubtful, but we both heard the thumping of the bass inside. Groups of kids were going in, but there were older people as well so I felt a little relieved.
I was glad that we were dressed casual having gone to an Irish pub for dinner instead of a trendy restaurant. I had jeans, boots, a sweater and tank top on. Robert had jeans, sneakers and a thin shirt. We were both bundled up under coats.
When we got inside the first thing that struck me was the music. I had shied away from techno and I knew why. It was fast - impossibly fast. My heart felt like it was skipping beats as the bass pounded us from all directions. I again got doubtful but there we were - shedding our coats in the corner. Robert gave someone at the door a bunch of bills and within minutes he was holding two tabs of X in his hand.
"Ok, you ready?" he asked.
"I don't know..."
"Come on! Where's the adventurous Beth that used coke in the bathrooms with me?"
"Alright, alright," I said and popped the X in my mouth. I dry swallowed it down and followed him into the throng.
It was hot and crowded and loud. Everyone was dancing to the music which assaulted us. There was definitely no place to hide here. We made our way to other side of the floor and stood on the sidelines to wait for the X to kick in. Robert held me tightly and bopped to the beat. I watched people move and sway and touch each other. In fact, there was a lot of touching. I shouted to Robert about that and he said it was the X.
It wasn't long before I felt the first rush of the drug. At first it felt like I did 3 or 4 lines of coke suddenly. It was an incredible high. Robert was feeling it too and went and got us some bottled water.
"Drink this," he shouted. "This stuff dehydrates you."
It was then that I noticed lots of people clutching bottles of water. There was no alcohol in the place, but none was needed. I drank the water all down and tossed the empty bottle to the side. Robert pulled me out onto the floor and the odyssey began.