Just The Music • • Robert Plant

sixteenth

April 3, 1970 •
The next morning was fun for no one. Everybody grumbled about the hotel, demanding food and coffee from room service.

Georgia decided to eat breakfast alone in her room. She remembered everything with Robert and she hated herself for it. Although the power rush felt great in the moment, what was she gonna do now when she sees Robert? Hopefully for her he won't remember.

Sitting in her bed while eating a very large stack of pancakes, Bonzo walks in carrying his own plate of food and mug of coffee.

"What a friend you are," Bonzo says, slamming the door and sitting in the bed with her.

"Too loud, Johnny," Georgia winced at his voice. "What do you mean?"

"Did you know last night I slept in the lobby! On one of those sofas! There's already photos of me in the newspaper!" Bonzo exclaimed, spilling scrambled eggs on the bed. Georgia started laughing at him before her headache hit.

"It's you're own fault you passed out," she said. Bonzo continued to talk her ear off about what he remembered last night. It was mainly stories about him chugging beers at "record breaking" speeds or about how he cheated when playing card games with JPJ. Georgia drowned out his stories and focused on her breakfast.

"And Robert wouldn't shut up about you," this caught her attention. "It's like he likes you or something. He was all like 'blah-blah Georgie's funny, Georgie's talented, blah-blah,'" Bonzo imitated Robert with a very high voice.

Georgia's heart beat a little faster. He thought about her. He talked about her. She felt like a school girl all over again.

"I think he has a crush on you, Georgie," Bonzo nudged her shoulder.

"Don't be silly, Robert only likes those young groupies that hang around," Georgia was mainly telling herself this.

"You're not wrong. Plus, if he laid a finger on you, I'd kill 'em," Bonzo said, stealing pancakes off Georgia's plate. She sat there silently. Was Bonzo serious? She knew that if her and Robert ever did get together it would be weird for Bonzo but she never thought it would be that bad. Her heart sinking, Georgia told Bonzo to get out so she could get dressed. Bonzo left and Georgia just laid in her bed.

A whole night of obsessing and forgetting him, Georgia still wanted him. Would it really hurt Bonzo if they did get together? Georgia wondered if it was worth it to find out.

Later that night •

Staying in her room for the rest of the day, Georgia lounged around and tried to ignore the gross feeling in her gut. The band was off at the stage warming-up for the show so she knew she would be undisturbed.

She ordered room service, took a bubble bath, and even drew a little. The room she stayed in had a gorgeous view of the city, so she decided to sketch the landscape. Feeling depressed the whole day, once it came around to showtime, Georgia decided to dress up. She didn't really want to go to the gig but she knew it would make Bonzo suspicious if she didn't.

Trying to feel more confident, she wore bell bottoms she had patched together with old bandanas, a paisley top, and she even wore boots she kept for nice occasions. The boots were old, she was given them as a Christmas present many years ago. They were tall, stopping just before her knee, and a beautiful dark brown. Most importantly, they clicked when Georgia walked.

She planned to arrive at the venue at the exact time they were supposed to start playing, in order to avoid Robert. That was her mission of the night. Standing with the stage hands in the wing, Georgia couldn't help but stare at the Golden God onstage.

They just began to play and were full of energy. Robert was walking around the stage, caressing the mike in his hands and belting every note perfectly. No matter how much Georgia wanted to hate him, she couldn't help but to be entranced by his performance. Every once and a while, Robert would thrust into the mike stand along to the beat of the drum. With each dance move, as subtle as it may be, Georgia couldn't move her eyes.

After the first song, Robert glanced back stage and made eye contact with Georgia. Thankfully, the lights were so bright onstage that he couldn't see her massive blushing. He smiled wide and made a shout out to the audience, complimenting the town of Charleston, which of course got a giant applause.
For the rest of the set, Georgia stood backstage and just imagined what it would be like if it was just her and Robert on the stage and no one else.

•

As always, Bonzo immediately ran up to Georgia and picked her up after the show. He was sweaty and smelled awful but that didn't prevent him from carrying her all the way from the wing of the stage back to where the snacks and drinks were.

"Time to get drunk and have a riot!" Bonzo exclaimed as he put her down and found the beer.

"Bloody hell you're going to start a riot!" Peter walked into the room. "All of you are gonna go back to the hotel and pack up so we can get the hell outta here." The band groaned at the orders. Georgia looked around and all the roadies and stage hands were already packing up equipment. Before Bonzo could start to complain, Peter shushed him and told them all to put away their instruments and get in a cab.

They all did so obediently, each sneaking a beer to take with them. Georgia helped roadies wrap up cords and wires before getting in a cab with Bonzo and riding back to the hotel.

"Where'd you disappear to today, Georgie? I didn't see you after brekky," he said in the cab.

"I decided to have a quiet day today. You make me feel like a grandma with how often you guys party," Georgia said, hoping to not make him worry. Bonzo only laughed.

"Well, lucky for you I'm gonna have everyone in my room tonight drinking and having fun for our last night in the Carolinas. And you better be there Georgie," Bonzo said.

•

Two in a row!! I'm getting back into this story and hopefully will get back into the groove of writing!
I appreciate all the feedback and sweet comments you leave, each one great encouragement.
Thank you!