by A. V. Zeppa
David didn’t know what to say. He wanted that conversation to end. “I’m not a genius. I just do well on things like that.”
Marco was getting the last laugh because his friends couldn’t comprehend what his boyfriend was all about. David changed the topic. “Zander, your home is amazing.”
“Thanks.”
“Do you like living in New York?”
Zander gave David a dirty grin. “I love it to death. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. It’s the epicenter of everything worthwhile. There is always something going on, and so many cute guys for the taking.”
Adam chimed in at that point. “David, you need to know that Zander is a total slut.” Everyone laughed. Zander gave Adam the finger. “You would be a slut too if you could ever get any women.” In unison, Marco and Claire told them to shut the fuck up.
Everyone settled down and they spent the rest of the evening listening to music and talking about nothing in particular.
It was just after two in the morning when the party started breaking up. They were putting on their jackets in the entrance hall when Zander made his next move. “Do you guys want to go to a rave tomorrow night?” Everyone said yes except Marco. “I think we’ll pass. David and I have other plans.”
“Come on, you have to show him how we have fun.” Zander turned to David and pleaded.
“Please try and talk your guy into going?”
“What’s a rave?” David asked.
Zander started to explain but Claire interrupted him. “Raves happen at certain dance clubs around the city. There are famous DJs who spin their style of music as people dance and party. It’s a lot of fun, but you have to be careful because things can get strange.”
It didn’t sound like fun to David, but he didn’t want to spoil everyone else’s fun. “Do you want to go? It sounds interesting.”
“I’d love to go if you want to,” Marco said.
David hesitated for a moment. “Well, you said you were going to show me the real New York, so I think it would be an interesting experience.”
Zander got all excited because the trap was set. “Cool, we’ll pick you guys up at midnight and head to the Pyramid Club. David, you are going to have the best time of your life.”
And with that, everyone said their goodbyes.
David put his head on Marco’s shoulder as soon as they got in the cab. “Your friends are nice.”
“I’m glad you like them. I’m sorry that Zander was being a jerk. He’s just jealous.”
“I guess friends can get a little over protective sometimes.”
Marco showed David to the guest suite. Everything was all laid out on the bed. Pajamas, a toiletry kit, a silk robe, and leather slippers. “Wow, I feel like royalty.”
“Only the best for you. We want you to feel at home.”
“Thanks.” David yawned. Marco kissed him on the forehead. “Let’s get you to bed before you fall asleep standing up.” He gave Marco a sleepy smile. “I had a nice time tonight.”
“Me too. If you need anything or get scared or something, text me and I’ll sneak in and keep you company.”
“Thanks, I just might do that.” They kissed one more time and then Marco reluctantly made his way down the hall to his bedroom.
David got up after four and a half hours of restless sleep. He had fallen asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, but woke up a couple of hour later thinking about Marco’s friends. He wondered why some of them didn’t like him. He tried to understand Zander’s hostility. The only thing he could think of was that Zander probably had a secret crush on Marco. If that was the case he knew it would be a battle. He stopped feeling sorry for himself and decided not to let Zander get under his skin.
David spent the morning reading and working on a Fourier Transform. He was happy to be in his mathematical mindset. Rosa knocked on his door at eight-thirty. “I brought you some juice, coffee, and danish. You must be starving papi.”
“Thank you. I am a little hungry.”
“Did you have a nice time last night?”
“Yes I did. I enjoyed meeting Marco’s friends.”
“He was excited to have you meet them.”
“What time does he usually wake up?”
“Around noon, but I’m going to wake him at ten.”
“You don’t have to do that. Let him sleep.”
All of a sudden Marco peered around the door. “Are you two talking about me?”
“Of course we are,” David said, with an infectious smile. Rosa said good morning and kissed him on the cheek and then quietly left.
“Are you ready for a day of shopping Upper East Side style?”
“Sure, I didn’t bring very much money, so I’ll pretty much just be window shopping.”
“No you won’t. I’m treating you to the full experience. My father put an extra ten thousand on my card last night. He wants us to have a great time today.”
“Marco, I know you and your father are trying to be nice, but I can’t let you spend that kind of money on me.”
“Yes you can. Remember, I’m showing you how I live just like you showed me how you live. Please let me do this, ok?”
David couldn’t refuse his puppy dog look and finally relented.
They spent the entire afternoon going to Marco’s favorite stores. They shopped at Salvatore Ferragano, Gucci, Luigi Borrelli, and Calvin Klein. Marco was in his element. He purchased a new leather jacket, five pairs of skinnys, and a half dozen new shirts. He made David try on some skinnys. This was a first for him. When he came out of the dressing room, Marco couldn’t believe how thin he actually was. “God, you look extremely hot in those.” Marco made him turn around so he could check him out at every angle. David felt self-conscious. “I don’t think I’m cut out for these,” he said, hoping Marco would understand.
“David, you look like a runway model.” He leaned close and whispered, “You have a very cute ass.”
“Thanks. S-so do you,” David whispered back. Marco smiled. “Come on, let’s get them so you can wear them tonight, ok?”
David knew he was going to lose this battle. “Ok.” He was just about to go back to the dressing room when Marco asked him to wait. He grabbed two very stylish cardigan sweaters and two shirts he had found earlier.
“I think these will go nicely with your skinnys.”
David was shocked that his new clothes cost over nine hundred dollars. He thanked Marco for being so generous.
They stopped at Gucci next and spent close to three thousand dollars in less than thirty minutes. Marco bought two new pairs of shoes for himself, and tried to do the same for David, but he wouldn’t let him. He was finally able to talk David into some cool looking high tops. They were hand made with imported leather and even had arches built into them. David almost had a heart attack when he saw the seven hundred dollar price tag. He felt guilty about spending so much money, but he wanted to make Marco happy. They ended their afternoon of shopping and went to Marco’s favorite Italian restaurant on 73rd Street. After a nice dinner they cabbed back to Marco’s and relaxed.
It was just before midnight when Zander and Claire picked Marco and David up and headed to the East Village. Zander started using his charm as soon as they got into the limo.
“You guys look hot, especially you David.”
“Stop hitting on my boyfriend,” Marco playfully said.
Claire noticed too. “Both of you look very handsome.”
David gave them a nervous smile. “You guys look nice too.”
“Are you ready to party the night away?” Zander asked, as the limo pulled into traffic.
Marco was glowing. “Yeah, it’s been a while since we’ve done this.” He put his hand in David’s and asked, “Are you ready for a night of dancing?”
“Yeah. It should be a lot of fun. But I have to warn you, I’m not a very good dancer.”
“Don’t worry. That’s not the point. You’ll see why when we get there.”
A few
minutes later things began to unravel. Claire put some Electro House Music on to get everyone in the mood. Marco and Zander started talking about some of the past raves they had been to and how much fun they were. David tried to listen but Claire wanted his complete attention. She was asking question after question trying to get to know him better. He smiled to himself because Melissa had done the same thing to Marco.
He was answering a question about growing up in the country when he noticed Zander pull a slim silver case out of his pocket. Zander opened it, smiling like he was opening up heaven.
“We have to do some Molly.”
David saw a dozen little white pills scattered against the reflection. He turned to Marco wondering what was going on. Marco had the same look Zander had as he stared at the pills.
“David, have you ever taken Molly?”
“No. I’ve never even smoked weed. Sorry.”
“Oh. no problem,” Marco said, trying to reassure him. But Zander wouldn’t give up.
“This is a low dose and only lasts a few hours. You don’t have to be afraid. It’s perfect for dancing because it makes you feel invincible. It’s the perfect high. We’ve done it a thousand times. Marco, tell him.” He gave Zander a look that could kill. “We don’t need to take it tonight. David and I are going to party straight.”
David was close to tears. He never thought for a second that Marco did drugs. He didn’t want to ruin the evening, so he acquiesced. “You can take it if you want, but I’m not. I hope you understand.”
“So you don’t mind?”
“No.”
Zander took a pill and swallowed it. Claire took one and swallowed it. Marco took one and looked at it. He put it back. “I have everything I need to feel invincible.” He turned and kissed David.
The Escalade pulled up in front of the club a few minutes later. People dressed like runway models filled the sidewalk and blocked the entrance and smoked their cigarettes and posed with bored enticing smiles. David stayed close to Marco because the entire atmosphere felt bleak. It felt tragic.
Zander sent a text to see if any of their friends were inside yet. A couple of minutes later Adam and Tracy appeared at the entrance and motioned for them. They walked past the posers to the front of the line. Marco slipped the doorman a one hundred dollar bill as they walked in. They headed up a once opulent staircase to the second floor. David held on to Marco like his life depended on it. Music was blaring, the smell of weed covered the walls, the hypnotic droning bass vibrated through his body. Marco leaned in. “This is going to get a little crazy, so stay close, ok?”
“Don’t worry, I will.”
The flashing lights and the sea of hypnotized bodies made Marco, Zander, and Claire come alive as they entered the rave. David followed Marco as they walked the perimeter trying to find their friends. They found them at the bar drinking. Marco lied. He told David that his friends didn’t drink. And before he knew it Marco handed him one.
“What is it?”
“Vodka and cranberry juice.”
“Thanks, but I don’t drink.”
“Oh. Ok, no problem.” David gave it back.
“Do you mind if I have a couple?”
“No, I guess not.”
“Cool.” Marco kissed him and finished off his drink. David felt out of place, but at the same time knew that Marco was trying to show him a good time. The boyfriend thing was new and he didn’t know how it worked yet, so he decided to let Marco be Marco. He felt he would know him much better by the end of the night.
David stood next to Marco as he continued drinking and talking with his friends. He would smile and nod whenever they looked his way, but couldn’t hear what they were saying with the music blaring at a billion decibels. Eventually he began watching other people with a detached curiosity. Chaos Theory came to mind while David tried to figure out the rave’s allure. He pictured himself being caught inside the Butterfly Effect or the Double Pendulum and figured it must be some kind of adrenalin rush. No future or past. Only the present moment. That had to be it.
Marco finished his second drink and was ready to party. “Will you dance with me?”
“I’d love to. Remember, I’m not very good.”
“You will be in five minutes.” They kissed and started toward the dance floor. And that’s when Zander, Adam, and some other guy walked up and blocked their way. All of Marco’s friends looked like they had just seen a ghost. Marco froze when the guy walked right up and gave him a hug.
“It’s been awhile,” he said.
“Yeah, it has,” Marco said, backing away.
Zander was all smiles as he put his arm around David and made the introduction.
“I’d like you to meet Patrick. He’s one of my best friends.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” David said as they shook hands.
“It’s nice to meet you too. I heard about you and Marco. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
Patrick smiled as he looked David over. He gave Marco an approving nod and then grabbed Zander and headed to the dance floor. Marco kissed David on the cheek and followed.
The night had now begun.
The music and lights began working their seductive magic as they danced their first dance. Marco showed David a few moves in a playful way. David began to forget about the madness around him and started having a good time. Marco was trying to be a caring boyfriend, but the thought of fucking David started creeping into his mind. He started dancing extra sexy and decided to see how far he could go. He slid his hands up and down the side of David’s slender body as they moved to the music. David didn’t seem to mind so Marco moved his hands around to his cute little ass and caressed it. David gave him a disapproving grin and moved his hands away.
Forty minutes later, exhausted and thirsty, they headed to the bar to get something to drink. Marco did the honorable thing and ordered cokes for both of them, and then apologized. “I’m sorry I got carried away out there.”
“You don’t have to apologize. It’s just that I want to take things slow. I hope you understand.”
“I understand completely and respect you for it.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“You are just too cute. May I have the honor of kissing you?” Marco asked.
“Yes you may.”
Zander, Adam, and Patrick walked up just as they finished their kiss and ordered drinks.
“You guys looked great on the dance floor,” Adam told them. Zander and Patrick, who were holding hands, agreed. Then Zander leaned close to Marco and said something that made him nod in the affirmative. A minute later they got their drinks and said they were going to cruise around. “Your friends are really nice,” David said, finally feeling like they were accepting him.
“They like you a lot. Are you having fun?”
“Yeah I am.”
“Cool. Hey, I have to hit the bathroom. I’ll be back in a few, ok.”
“Sure, no problem.” Marco walked away and disappeared into the crowd. Fifteen minutes went by and he still hadn’t come back. David started to get worried. Claire noticed him standing at the bar by himself so she went over to say hi. “Someone as cute as you shouldn’t be standing by themselves. Where is Marco?” she asked, slurring her words. David knew she was flying high with those words, and her glazed look. “He went to the bathroom, but that was fifteen minutes ago. I’m starting to get worried.”
“Don’t worry, the bathrooms get really crowded and it takes a while.” She gave him an amorous smile and took him by the hand to where Tracy, Becca, and Debra were partying.
Another twenty minutes went by and Marco still hadn’t come back. Total panic mode set in as David continued scanning the crowd. At the same time he was looking for his lost boyfriend, he was also trying to contain Claire. She kept hitting on him. “You’re just the cutest thing. I wish you were straight so we could fuck. We should fuck anyway. Will you fuck me Davy? We’ll keep it a secret.” She leaned against his body and tr
ied to kiss him. David knew the Molly had taken over so he tried to calm her down. He decided to keep an eye on her because he was afraid that someone would take advantage of the situation. The night was turning into one gigantic nightmare.
Claire decided that she wanted to dance. She kissed David on the cheek and led him to the dance floor. He kept looking for a Marco as they danced, but the lights made it difficult to see anything. Then another layer of craziness started happening when Tracy, Becca, and Debra joined them. He had four crazy girls trying to feel him up at the same time.
Marco finally showed up along with Zander, Adam, and Patrick and everyone started dancing together. David was happy to see Marco but could tell something was wrong. He had that same euphoric smile and glassy-eyed look Claire had. Marco was high. David turned and started walking away, but Marco grabbed him by the arm and flung him against his chest. His hands began caressing David’s ass. He felt violated and tried to move away. Marco wouldn’t let go. “Stop it Marco. Please let me go.”
He wasn’t listening. The words slurred off his tongue. “You’re so fucking hot. You drive me fucking crazy.” That glazed look frightened David. He didn’t have any experience dealing with someone who was high. He decided to play along, hoping whatever Marco was on would wear off soon. But Marco just got crazier and more amorous as they danced.
While trying desperately to contain Marco, he was suddenly being fondled by someone else. It was Zander. “Don’t touch me,” David yelled as he backed away.
“I wanna dance with you,” Zander said, his words slurring out of his sick smile. He started dancing with David at the same time Adam, Sean, and Patrick grabbed Marco to dance with them.
David wanted to get Marco off the dance floor but Zander wouldn’t let him go. He started touching David inappropriately again, trying to keep him distracted. He grabbed Zander’s hands and yelled, “Keep your hands off of me.” Zander backed off. “I’m sorry man. It’s just that you’re fucking hot and I’m feeling pretty good.” David turned away not knowing what do, and that’s when saw how erotically Marco was dancing with Patrick and Adam. He finally walked off the dance floor hoping Marco would eventually come down. Zander smiled as he watched what was happening. Marco was oblivious. David stood off to the side by himself, watching and realizing that he had jumped into the boyfriend thing way too soon. If lying, getting high, and disappearing was part of having a boyfriend, then he wanted nothing to do with it.