Love at 11 - By Mari Mancusi Page 0,44

drugged! I was going to pass out and wake up naked in some skanky guy’s trailer.

“You bastard!” I cried. “You drugged me!”

“Yeah, so, can I have my thirty bucks since you’re going to be rolling and I’m not?” Scrawny Guy whined.

“Get the fuck out of here before I call the cops on you,” Jamie said, shoving him backward. Scrawny Guy must have realized he was no match for Jamie or not in the mood for cops and retreated, sad and drugless, into the sea of dancers. Jamie turned to me, grabbing me by my shoulders.

“Calm down, Maddy,” he commanded. “Don’t panic.”

“Don’t panic?” I cried. “Don’t panic? I’ve just taken drugs! Illegal drugs. What’s going to happen to me? Am I going to hallucinate? Will I see God? Oh, God, I don’t think I’m ready to see God!”

Jamie groaned. “It’s just Ecstasy, Maddy. I took it once or twice in college. You’re not going to see anything. You’re going to feel really warm and fuzzy and great in a few minutes and it’ll last for about four hours. As long as we keep you well hydrated there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Are … are you sure?”

“Yes. You only had a few sips of water. You probably didn’t even get a full dose. We’ll just hang out here by the fire.”

“Maybe we should find a hospital. I mean, just in case.” I hated that I sounded wimpy, but, well, I was.

Jamie shook his head. “Can’t. I drank the water, too. It’d be unsafe for me to drive. And we know there’s no cell reception out here to call anyone.”

“Great. We’re going to die out here in the desert and no one will even know where to look for us.”

Jamie shook me. “Listen to me, Maddy. We’re going to be fine. As long as you don’t panic. Just let the drug move in gradually. And soon it will be gone. And someday you’ll look on this and laugh.”

“I doubt it.” I sulked. But already I felt my insides warming. And the concern and fear I felt a few seconds before were gradually slipping away. Damn drug. I should be frightened to death. Now all I could think about was how they called Ecstasy the “love drug.”

And Jamie and I were rolling together.

The Raver’s Guide to Ecstasy

The Multifaceted Jewel: Ecstasy use can lead to world healing and inner peace. The pill can catalyze a powerful experience that takes many different forms. It can induce an intense, spiritual high or lead to loving relaxation. It can connect people freely and openly with each other or promote deep inner thinking and analysis.

TIPS WHILE ON ECSTASY

Drink lots of water to replenish bodily fluids. Otherwise you may die of heatstroke and that would be a bad thing.

Even if you don’t feel tired or overheated, stop dancing for a while—to chill out. (See above tip about heatstroke and dying.)

Outside raves, maintain a healthy diet. Take vitamins. Get a good night’s sleep. This will also ensure that your parents don’t think you’re a fuck-up and will allow you to go to more raves, thus giving you extra chances to explore yourself through Ecstasy.

Watch out for impure Ecstasy—bad drug dealers will try to sell you pills laced with amphetamines, LSD, heroin, and PCP. If you want to take these drugs on your own, fine. But don’t encourage dealers to skimp on the active ingredient (MDMA) in Ecstasy pills. The rest of us non-hardcore druggies will thank you.

Alcohol reduces or changes the effects of the drug. Besides, most of you are not old enough to legally drink it, so leave the beer at home!

Chapter Nine

I threw the drug pamphlet in the fire. What was done was done and worrying about it wouldn’t sober me up any sooner. Best to just sit tight and try to get through the evening best I could.

Jamie went to his bike and grabbed a beach towel. He spread it over the ground and we sat, as if partaking in an odd kind of drug picnic. We’d chosen a spot close to the bonfire and contented ourselves with watching the strange dance rituals of the raver kids with avid fascination.

They twirled and twirled like whirling dervishes, caught up in the power of the dance. I could see for the first time why tribes and witches used dancing in ceremonies. The power of the body’s movement was almost a spell in itself.

Personally, I had no interest in dancing. And as the Ecstasy kicked in, heating my body with a pleasant