"Hurry up! We're gonna be late," Jimmy called to the boys the next morning. Most of them were rushing around, trying to finish any last minute packing.
"How can they still be so bad at this? We leave like every week," Robbie laughed. Robbie, of course, was perfectly packed and ready to go.
"We have to leave to meet the bus to take us to the airport in ten minutes," Rizzo announced, before going to turn on the television. Jack dragged his bag out of his room joining the few that were ready in the living room. He and Robbie made quick, awkward eye contact. Jack was pretty sure Robbie knew. After all, he and Julia had disappeared together after the game last night. Jack hadn't gotten an opportunity to ask Robbie, but something told him their secret was safe with Robbie.
"Guys, you might wanna see this," Rizzo said, his eyes glued to the television screen. Jack, Robbie, and Jimmy rushed over to find out what information the television was relaying. With all the political upset going on, they were surprised to see it had nothing to do with politics.
"...after authorities were called this morning sometime between two and three A.M. The drummer is alive, but in unstable condition."
"Rizzo, who are they talking about?" Robbie asked nervously. He already knew who the unidentifiable man on the stretcher was.
"It's Tommy. He overdosed," Rizzo told them, barely above a whisper. He looked between his friends' faces, one unspoken thought being shared between: did Julia know, and how was she reacting?
"Shit," Jack muttered, shaking his head. "She's gonna be a wreck."
"She mentioned when we were in D.C. that Tommy wasn't doing so well. I know she talked to Cyndi the other day, but she didn't say anything about Tommy," Robbie explained.
"Is he gonna be okay?" Jimmy asked, eyes glued to the screen that showed a loop of an ambulance pulling up to a hospital.
"I'm sure he will. They said he's alive," Robbie reminded them, trying to stay optimistic. He had gone through this scenario a thousand times in his head, but in his head it was always Julia he was hearing about. As more of the team joined them in the living room, they heard the news and joined in the worrying.
"Poor Jules," Magic sighed when he found out. He remembered Julia talking about how close she and Tommy were, and he wondered where Julia would be if she wasn't in Minnesota right then. Would she be on a stretcher next to Tommy?
"This is the last thing she needs right now," Jack said sadly. Robbie could've sworn that Jack almost looked...guilty?
"We gotta get going," Jimmy sighed, getting up and turning off the television.
"Are you sure you want to go?" Herb asked Julia quietly as they loaded up the car. She nodded silently, wiping the tears off her cheeks. Herb patted her shoulder as Patti and the kids got into the car. Her cousins didn't say much as they drove to meet the boys. The whole family knew Julia was upset, but they had no idea what to say to make her feel better. Herb was glad they were spending the next couple of days with the team, as he was pretty sure they were the only ones that could make her feel better. The drive was short and quiet. As they pulled into the arena's parking lot to the sight of the boys loading their stuff on the bus, Julia wondered how she would tell them about Tommy.
Jack turned around when he heard the car pull up, and he held himself back from rushing to greet Julia. He watched as she got out of the car, her sunglasses covering her eyes and her white fur coat wrapped around her. Her face portrayed no emotion, but her cheeks were red.
"OC!" Danny yelled, rushing up to Jack. Jack tore his eyes away from Julia, looking to Danny and forcing a grin.
"Hey, bud. What's up?"
"You and Robbie have to help," Danny told Jack quietly. Jack glanced to Julia, who was getting her suitcase out of the trunk, totally unaware of Jack and Danny.
"What's wrong, Danny?" Robbie asked, joining them after hearing his name.
"Julia's really upset. Something bad happened to her friend," Danny told them. He could tell based on the look that Robbie and Jack shared that they already knew what had happened.
"Yeah, we heard. Is she okay?" Jack asked.
"She cried all morning," Danny informed the boys. Julia was making her way across the parking lot toward them. She was stone-faced and walking quickly.
"Good morning," Robbie said as she approached them.
"Hi," she quietly replied, not slowing down as she took her suitcase to the bus. Robbie and Jack shared a nervous look, before Robbie turned and followed Julia.
"Are you alright?" Robbie asked her softly as she put her suitcase in the space underneath the bus. She turned around, and her face didn't betray the emotionless demeanor she had.
"I'm fine," she insisted. Robbie stared at the dark plastic of her sunglasses, but he was only met with his own concerned reflection.
"We heard what happened," Robbie continued. Several of the boys were starting to load onto the bus. Jack slowly got onto the bus, glancing back to look at Julia again before he took a seat.
"Funny how that happens, but that's paparazzi. Really is shitty, if you ask me," Julia sighed, walking around him to get on the bus. She kept her voice level and casual. Robbie took a deep breath, trying not to shake his head at her. He swore she could've gone into acting if music didn't work out.
Julia ignored the feeling of all the boys' eyes on her when she got onto the bus. Danny was just ahead of her, excitedly looking around the bus.
"OC, can I sit with you?" Danny asked, looking at the older boy, whose eyes were fixed on Julia. Jack looked to Danny, giving him a grin that Julia could tell was slightly forced. He was too worried about Julia.
"Of course," Jack assured him. Danny wasted no time taking the empty seat next to Jack. As she watched them, Julia felt a smile creeping on her face. She didn't linger, instead taking a seat across the aisle from them. Robbie was close behind her, taking the seat next to her. Robbie decided he wouldn't push her about Tommy, and she could talk about it when and if she was ready.
"I still wanna hear about your date," Julia said quickly. It wouldn't be a long bus ride to the airport, but Julia was determined to distract herself the entire time.
"Oh. Right, well, her name is Fran. We met at that Halloween party," Robbie explained.
"I knew I recognized her! Tell me everything about her," Julia demanded.
"She goes to the U. She's a math major with a music minor, and she's getting her masters in education."
"Oh, so she's smart like you?" Julia laughed, before instructing him to continue.
"She's from Long Island. She brought her friend Grace for Brots."
"Should I go interrogate Neil?" Julia wondered aloud.
"Not in front of the boys. They'll tease him forever. But hey, Grace is from California," Robbie offered. Julia's shoulder slumped slightly at the mention of her second home state. Robbie grimaced, mentally chastising himself for forgetting that California probably wasn't what Julia wanted to talk about then.
"Sorry," he said quietly. Julia shook her head, giving Robbie the best smile she could muster.
"Don't be sorry. It's alright," she promised him. She was suddenly distracted by the sound of Danny laughing, and she glanced over to see him and Jack chuckling in their seat.
"Is your family meeting us at the airport?" Julia questioned, looking back to Robbie.
"No, they're flying up tomorrow," Robbie told her. He lowered his voice before he spoke again. "I think Jack's pretty worried about you."
Julia nodded, glancing back at Jack before returning her attention to Robbie.
"He's pretty good at that," she said with a sad smile. "I'll talk to him."
It wasn't until after the game that Julia and Jack were finally able to get some alone time together. Julia had tried her hardest to behave normally all day, but everyone could tell that she was still upset. Jack had felt horrible about not being able to comfort her. After a disappointing loss, Julia was sitting up in bed, hoping Jack would make a surprise visit. It was nearing midnight when she finally heard a quiet knock on her door. Relief flooded her as she jumped up, throwing open the door. She smiled when she saw Jack waiting in the hallway, and she wasted no time pulling him by the hand into her room.
"I was hoping you'd come," she told him, not releasing his hand. Jack gave her a half smile, squeezing her hand.
"Sorry it took me so long. Jimmy wouldn't go to bed," Jack explained. Julia opened her mouth to say something, but her words froze in her throat. She dropped his hands, turning away from Jack. A haunting silence took over the room as he waited for her to say what was plaguing her thoughts, even if he already knew what it was.
"Jules," he finally spoke up, causing her to turn and look at him. Her eyes fell to the floor, her face pulling down into a frown. Just as Jack was about to ask her if she was okay, she had buried her face in his chest, wrapping her arms around him. Jack was surprised for a second, but he quickly secured his arms around her, resting his chin on top of her head.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" He asked her quietly. She didn't answer, but the subtle shaking of her body gave Jack his answer. He rubbed her back as she cried, before pulling her to sit on the bed.
"I feel like such a bad friend," she finally spoke, her voice muffled as she kept herself close to Jack's chest.
"You're not a bad friend, Julsie," he assured her, keeping his arms wrapped around her tightly.
"I should be in LA. I should be there with them," Julia insisted through her tears.
"I know you miss them, sweetheart. It'll be okay. Tommy will be okay, and I'm sure you'll get to see them soon," Jack tried to soothe her. Julia didn't say much more, crying against his chest quietly. Jack sat with her, rocking her back and forth gently. After a few minutes, Julia pulled away from him, rubbing roughly at her puffy eyes.
"I'm sorry," she sniffed. Jack pulled her hands away from her face, wiping at her cheeks gently.
"Don't be sorry, Jules."
"They called me early this morning. It was so weird. I can't explain it, but when I woke up to the phone ringing I knew it was them. Tommy was already at the hospital when they called," Julia said sadly.
"How long is he gonna be there?" Jack asked her.
"A couple days, maybe. They're gonna send him somewhere. Like a rehab or something."
"Maybe that's good," Jack reasoned, noticing the pout on Julia's face. "Then when you go back you and Tommy can stay away from all that stuff together."
"Yeah. I guess so. That's what Jim said, too. Also," she sighed, looking up at Jack through her tears. "Robbie knows about us."
"I figured as much when I saw you two talking after the game last night. Was he mad?" Jack asked, still gripping her hands in his.
"No. He doesn't care. He's not gonna tell anyone," Julia told him. Jack wasn't surprised to hear this, and he gave her an encouraging smile.
"Well, that's one good thing. I'm sure we can count on Mac to make it easier when the rest of them find out."
"Ugh, those idiots have a strategy," Julia told him a roll of her still teary eyes. "Apparently the boys decided it would be a great idea to flirt with me in an attempt to make you...well, I don't even know what. Admit it out of jealousy? I'm not sure."
Jack and Julia shared a look, and Julia broke into a reluctant smile.
"It's not funny," she insisted, but her face betrayed her lie.
"That might be the dumbest thing I've ever heard," Jack chuckled, shaking his head. He looked down at Julia, an eyebrow raised. "What are we gonna do about them?"
"Oh, I'm gonna flirt back and make them uncomfortable. They think they're gonna catch me off guard, but joke's on them," Julia said triumphantly. Jack looked at her, obviously a little unsure. Julia noticed the look on his face, and she couldn't help but smirk a little bit. "Don't tell me you're jealous."
"Oh, coming from the girl who wouldn't let me ask the boys for date advice because she didn't want them thinking I was taking another girl out? That's rich," Jack said with an eye roll. "You can flirt with the boys all you want. I don't care."
Julia just giggled, pulling him close to her.
"As long as you're the one sneaking into my hotel room at night," she told him before kissing him. Jack stayed later than he should have, and Julia told him all kinds of stories about her adventures with Tommy, wiping away a few stray tears every now and then. He tucked her into bed, pulling the blanket around her and giving her a kiss goodnight.
"Be careful sneaking out. Danny and Kelly are right next door," Julia told him quietly.
"Somehow I don't think Danny would be upset," Jack grinned, thinking of how much Danny seemed to like him. "But I will be. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Jack."