May 1, 1976
St. Paul, Minnesota
St. Paul Civic Center
Julia brought her hand up to cover her mouth, trying not to spit out her drink. Everyone around her laughed wildly at something Joey Kramer was saying. They were backstage at the Civic Center, listening to Jeff Beck's set crackle through the speakers in the room. Julia and the rest of the band were absolutely buzzing after their set, still trying to adjust to playing for such large crowds.
"Miss Brooks?" An unnamed security guard spoke up from the door of Steven Tyler's dressing room, where they all lounged on couches. Julia looked up to the security guard after she got over the shock of being called 'Miss Brooks.'
"I have three guys here with backstage passes. They say they're here to see you," the young man told her, sounding a little suspicious of the guys he spoke of. Julia jumped up from the couch where she sat beside Tommy, nearly spilling her drink on both of them.
"Let them in!" She said excitedly, running toward the door. At the sound of her voice, Robbie stepped around the security guard, barely catching his best friend as she launched herself at him.
"Hi, Jules," he laughed, laughing as he tried to stay upright. Julia's feet dangled above the ground as Robbie spun her in a circle.
"Hi! Oh my God, I'm so happy to see you!" Julia squealed, not loosening her arms around his neck. The rock bands, their surrounding groupies, and the two boys that had followed Robbie in all felt like they were witnessing something far too private, until Robbie put her back down on her feet, the two of them suddenly remembering the other people in the room and sharing a laugh.
"Everyone, this is my best friend, Robbie McClanahan," Julia announced. Tommy was the first to heave himself off the couch, stumbling his way over to Robbie with a grin.
"Robbie, man, it's good to finally meet you. I'm Tommy," he introduced, shaking Robbie's hand. Tommy had a habit of interrupting Julia's phone calls, which often led to him talking to Robbie, although this was their first in-person meeting. The rest of the band slowly made their way over, introducing themselves to the boy they had heard so much about. Steven was chatty, in part due to the alcohol. Cyndi was her typical sweet and down-to-earth self, while Jim was friendly, if a little reserved.
"Robbie, I'd like you to meet the only person who can give you a run for your money in protectiveness," Julia giggled as Jim and Robbie shook hands. Both of the guys gave her matching eye rolls.
"Robbie, I commend you on managing to look after this one for years. She's a handful," Jim sighed. Robbie quickly expressed his agreement, making Julia scoff.
"Oh, my God, I'm being so rude," Julia gasped, looking at the two boys standing awkwardly by the door.
"Robbie, who are your friends?" She asked, looking over at the boys. One of them was a tall brunette with shaggy hair, looking around at the rock star-filled room with curiosity and excitement. The other boy stood nearly as tall, with long blonde hair and a bit more apprehension on his face.
"Jules, this is Phil Verchota," Robbie gestured to the brunette, before pointing to the blonde. "And this is Bill Baker. They're both freshmen at the U. They play for Herb. I met them at try-outs."
"Nice to meet you both," Julia smiled as she shook their hands. "You'll watch out for Robbie next year, right?"
Robbie's cheeks turned pink and he rolled his eyes. Bill and Phil just laughed.
"Jules, I'll be fine," he insisted with a huff. Julia reached up, roughing up his hair with a grin.
"I'm sure you will be, Mac," she laughed, but she shot a wink to the boys she had just met. "Let me introduce you to everyone."
Julia led the boys to the rest of her band, introducing them all and then turning to the rest of the rockstars scattered on the couches.
"Guys, this is my friend Robbie, and his future teammates Phil and Bill," Julia introduced. Steven Tyler looked the boys over, a cigarette hanging lazily from his hand.
"Robbie, guys, this is Steven Tyler, Joey Kramer, Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford, and Joe Perry," Julia smiled, gesturing to the eyeliner-marked, long-haired men who lounged around the dressing room. There were pleasant enough greetings passed back and forth. Robbie, Bill, and Phil were trying not to sound too starstruck by Aerosmith, while the band was simply tired of meeting people. No one bothered to introduce any of the groupies that hovered around.
"You guys didn't wanna stay in your seats for Jeff Beck? Or us?" Steven asked them, not doing much to hide his smirk as he puffed his cigarette. Robbie's friends shared a nervous look, but Robbie just grinned.
"With all due respect, I just didn't want to wait any longer to see my best friend," Robbie explained. Steven just shrugged, turning back to whatever groupie had caught his eye for the moment. Julia's smile grew and she walked toward the mini fridge that was fully stocked. She grabbed out four beers, handing them to Robbie and his friends, keeping one for herself.
"That's why you're my best friend," she told him. "Cheers to us. And to our first legal drinks together!"
Although their birthdays were in January and February, Julia couldn't help but remember that it was the first legal alcohol they were sharing. She couldn't tell Robbie how much she had cried when she realized she couldn't be in Minnesota for his birthday.
"Cheers to our very belated eighteenth birthdays," Robbie agreed, twisting the cap off his beer. "And cheers to your first tour."
"Cheers to you both for free tickets to Aerosmith," Phil laughed, opening his beer as Bill followed suit. The four of them clinked their bottles together, taking celebratory swigs of beer.
Hours later, Aerosmith was finally exiting the stage. Julia had taken the boys to the side of the stage to watch them, which they all agreed was the best concert experience they had ever had. Of course, that could have had something to do with the fact that the beer had flowed until it turned to liquor. Julia had hit a joint when Robbie was rightfully enthralled by the show Aerosmith was putting on. Robbie was the most sober of them all, but even he had a good buzz.
"That rocked!" Phil exclaimed as the stadium buzzed with the roar of the adoring crowd.
"You were great, by the way. I don't think I told you," Robbie told Julia, before a smirk crossed his face. "You look funny though."
"What do you mean I look funny?" Julia asked him with a glare. Robbie looked her up and down, trying not to grin. Leopard print pants, a black low cut tank top, a red leather jacket, and boots that 15 year-old Julia would've broken an ankle in. Her hair was curled and teased. Her face was painted with heavy makeup, although it had gotten smudged throughout the night.
"I guess I shouldn't say funny. You just don't look like yourself," he chuckled. Julia rolled her eyes, blowing a fallen curl out of her eyes.
"I think I look cool," she protested.
"You do. That's why you don't look like yourself," Robbie teased, laughing loudly at the reaction that was painted so clearly across her face.
"I can't believe I missed you and your relentless teasing," Julia huffed.
"Can I get you kids some drinks?" Joe Perry interrupted, joining the two of them and looking to their empty glasses.
"Jack and Coke, please," Julia requested with an ever-charming smile.
"I'm fine with just beer," Robbie told the older man, looking at him warily. Joe didn't seem to notice Robbie's look, walking off to get the drinks. "Is everyone nice to you?"
"Yeah," Julia sighed, staring off after the mysterious man who had just left them.
"Jules? You good?" Robbie questioned, snapping his fingers in front of her face. She looked to him, her cheeks turning red.
"Yeah, everyone's nice," she muttered, looking anywhere but Robbie's eyes. He sighed, shaking his head.
"Be careful, Julia. I don't know about these guys," Robbie cautioned her. Julia rolled her eyes.
"It's fine," she assured him as Joe returned with their drinks. She shot him a smile, taking the drink he handed her. "Thanks, Joe."
"Not a problem. Ya know, Robbie, you should be proud of Julie. She's really kicking ass out there," Joe said with a grin to Julia. Julia's smile grew under his gaze.
"Believe me, I am," Robbie assured him. Robbie couldn't help but be suspicious of the man who couldn't keep his eyes off Julia.
"Oh, and uh, speaking of proud, Robbie is gonna be playing hockey at the University of Minnesota," Julia spoke up, looking at her friend proudly. "My uncle is the coach there."
"Hey, good for you, man," Joe said, clapping Robbie on the shoulder. "Too bad you won't be joining Julie in Hollywood."
"Maybe one day," Julia laughed, but there was a certain degree of hope to her words.
"Hey, didn't you go have lunch with your parents earlier today?" Joe asked, looking to Julia curiously. Robbie and Julia both tensed up, sharing a look with one another. It had happened on occasion that someone would refer to Herb and Patti as Julia's parents, but it was something she was definitely still sensitive to.
"No, uh, my aunt and uncle. But yeah, I did see them," she confirmed, before taking what Robbie would consider a concerningly long drink of the mixed drink. Joe didn't seem to notice her suddenly strange behavior, but his glassy eyes were a sign that he wouldn't have noticed much at the moment.
"Juliaaaaa!" Tommy whined, suddenly joining their little circle and breaking the tension.
"What?" Julia asked as her friend wrapped his arms around her from behind, leaning his head on her shoulder.
"Let's go out," Tommy declared. "You're the townie, where should we go?"
"I don't know," Julia laughed, reaching up and unclasping Tommy's arms around her. "Go ask Robbie's friends, I'm sure they'll know."
Phil and Bill were currently enjoying the attention of two groupies who hadn't made the final cut of any certain rock star's roster for the evening, but the hockey players were more than happy to keep the girls company. Somehow Julia was sure that they would be more than happy to accompany the band on a night on the town.
Two hours later, Julia wasn't even sure where she was. A steady flow of whiskey plus the occasional hit of a joint had her mind totally fuzzy. Julia and her bandmates were enjoying a taste of fame, as they had ended up being recognized by concert goers at the bar, and they were now being spoiled with drinks whenever their hands lacked a full cup. Jim and Cyndi had passed quite a few of their drinks to Phil and Bill, who were reaping the rewards of being in proximity to rockstars. Loud music pumped through the speakers of whatever bar they were in. The low lighting certainly didn't help Julia's vision.
"Jules, let's dance," Cyndi demanded, pulling Julia up from her seat and toward the dance floor. The two girls made their clumsy way to the middle of the floor, Cyndi doing most of the work to lead Julia along.
"You're so drunk," Cyndi giggled as the two of them started moving to the music.
"Am not," Julia slurred, spinning in sloppy circles. She giggled wildly, her tangled curls flowing around her shoulders.
"Careful," Robbie laughed as Julia spun right into him. He caught her by the arms, holding her steady as she swayed slightly.
"I miss you," Julia whined, leaning into him. Robbie chuckled again, keeping Julia close to him.
"Yeah, I miss you, too. But this is it. Your career is taking off," Robbie reminded her upon seeing the pout on her face.
"I know!" She smiled, her eyes lighting up. Robbie hid his smirk at how easy it was to distract her. "You're going to college! And playing hockey!"
"Everything's going as planned," Robbie sighed contentedly. "Now, let's go get you some water, drunkie."
Hi friends! Sorry this update took so long. I'm dealing with some health stuff that is just leaving me drained. Also if anyone is ever bored and just wants to like chat, about hockey or otherwise, always feel free to shoot me a message! Thanks for reading!!