Rock 'N' Roll Singer

𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗘

     1 December 1978
When I say that Lydon University was a labyrinth, it's not hyperbole. You'd think Beverly would've given me a map or a reference photo. It was bad enough trying to find a space in the car park, indicating that this party was more popular than I had anticipated, but then add to the fact that Bon and I had to speed across the lot past students walking casually beside us.

If the sight of Bon Scott on a college campus wasn't odd enough, seeing a girl wearing a knee-length gown dragging him along by the wrist turned a few heads for sure. I only prayed that I wasn't sweating through the dress. What little makeup I was wearing could run, or my hair could lose its Farrah Fawcettness, but I liked the dress too much for it to be ruined before the show even started.

To his credit, Bon didn't show up in a T-shirt and ripped jeans as I had originally thought. His sleeveless white button-up was crisply ironed, and if you didn't look too closely at his pants, his black jeans could be mistaken for the sort of trousers you'd wear to church.

We followed the cobblestone path that brought us past looming towers of bricks. Golden plaques marked each building, describing how it was named after Professor So-and-So, who always seemed to be long-dead.

"Marie," Bon coughed, hunching over to stop. "I'm out of breath. Can we please just walk?"

I put a hand on his shoulder, crouching to be at eye-level with him.

"Are you alright? I'll find us a bench so you can sit down," I scanned the quad when Bon slowly stood. His cheeks were a pale pink.

"I'll be right. We all can't run like you can. I'm old, and I've got asthma."

     I started sputtering out an apology that wasn't needed, only for him to interject that I was being silly. He turned, took a breath, and turned back as though I didn't see him grab his puffer from his pocket.

     We took our time strolling through the campus and stumbled upon the ballroom at the sight of a small marquee sitting outside. My band and Beverly were waiting at a stage door.

     "There you are!" Beverly cheered, running up to me. A Polaroid camera bounced against her chest. "Look at you, Miss Prim. You should've told me you were dressing up. I could've thrown something together."

     I smiled and told her that she looked pretty enough in the dress she was wearing, resembling a teenage Glinda the Good Witch.

     "Look at you and how dolled up you are. Isn't this a party for university students?"

     "My sister asked me to snap some photos for the yearbook."

     The boys interrupted our conversation by taking notice of Bon. I could only guess that they stood huddled together, wondering who would be the first one to approach him.

     "Crikey, it really is him!" Jack shouted, staring wide-eyed at Bon. He turned to me right after. "Can you bring Cliff and Phil with you next time?"

     George and Joey shared in their enthusiasm but seemed more focused on the fact that I should've been at the ballroom a while ago. Bon waved their concerns away with his hand and took the blame. He shook Jack's hand and smiled at Beverly. She flashed him one back, but it was clear that she wasn't going to swoon over him. She had another AC/DC man on her mind.

     The door behind them opened to reveal an older girl with a relieved expression. The first thing I took notice of was her hairdo, which I was shocked to realise would fit through the doorframe. She carried a clipboard under her arm and introduced herself as Penny, Beverly's sister. I shot Bon a dirty look in case in case he was thinking of checking her out.