Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Pete relished the people-watching aspects of his dorm staff job.  All
afternoon the lobby had been a steady stream of pick-ups and departures for
the long weekend.  From his seat at the front desk he could observe the
chaos of the tiny drive-up and parking areas, clogged with parents'
minivans, hastily arranged car pools, and airport taxis.  Some winter
weather was building in to make the rush hour more inconvenient, if not
particularly dangerous, and he was glad he had volunteered to stay in-house
for the weekend.  Soon the dorm would be emptied out except for the few
remaining reclusive grad students and the pizza deliveries that would keep
them alive for the next four days.  His plans weren't much more
elaborate--cover the desk until they locked up at six, get some take out,
and hunker down with some movies and a couple of beers.  He might take
advantage of the free turkey dinner being offered by a church down the
street tomorrow, but otherwise it would be sleep, vegetate, and sleep some
more until he found the energy to study on Sunday night.  He smirked a bit
at his friend Joel, who had sent his girlfriend Liz off to her parents'
with a hasty PDA.  That relationship had been perking along long enough
that Joel should be expecting some action soon--but Joel would be working
night shifts this weekend at the hospital.  They were just a couple of
mercenaries--trading off their holidays for overtime cash, he and Joel.  It
wasn't like he had any more attractive offers, though--it was either an
expensive flight to SFO to spend an uncomfortable weekend with his dad and
new "husband", or a long flat drive to Grand Forks to listen to his mother
complain about how shitty it was being married to a gay man for 15 years
and not know about it.  Well, his sister would do better at handling that
sort of thing...

   "Arrrgh!  Goddammed BUSES!" Julie Reynolds stomped in through the front
door, breathing an uncommon stream of profanity, seemingly pushing a huddle
of startled freshmen out of her way with a wave of her hand.  Coated in
dirty slush from her right shoulder down to her left knee, Julie slung her
wet backpack angrily at the rows of mail boxes and shook herself off over
the floor mat.  "That was the last one, too.  And not only does it not STOP
for me, it does THIS!  Dammit!" Tears were flowing now as she collapsed
against the wall.

   "Sorry, Jules...  Is there anything I can do to help?"

   "Nah.  Sorry I'm being such bitch about it.  I was just wanting to get
home early tonight and spend a quiet evening before the relatives arrive.
But I'll be doing that here, I guess.  "

   "Sure--hey look, I'm closing up in about an hour here, and was going
down to the Wok for some takeout.  How 'bout if I get you something too and
you come over around 7 and help me decide what movie to watch?"

   She wiped a tear away and smiled weakly.  "Really?  You'd do that? 
Aren't you leaving tonight?"

   "Long story...I'll tell you all about it over some hot and sour soup. 
What do you like from there?  I usually get sweet & sour pork.  Why don't
you go get a hot shower and relax, 'kay?"

   "Alright...thanks.  You're sweet.  Get me something spicier--kung pao
chicken, please.  Better call mom..." she hurried her drippy form down the
hallway.

   Pete tried keeping his mind busy during the remaining hour of his shift,
locking up the desk at 5:59 and breezing out quickly to get the takeout. 
He popped into the mini-mart for a bottle of cheap white zinfandel--he
wasn't sure if she liked beer, and he figured the blush pretty much went
with anything.  Entering his cozy single room, it dawned on him that he
hadn't really prepared for female companionship that night.  He hurriedly
made the bed, corralled dirty socks and such into his closet, and emptied
the past week's trash into the bin down the corridor.  He hoped things
didn't smell too much like a "boy's room".  He changed into one of his more
presentable t-shirts and a pair of clean sweatpants, splashed on some
cologne, and lit a candle in the window sill to try to counteract any
remaining odors.  He rummaged around a bit to find a pair of passable
glasses and went down the hall to the bathroom to wash them out.

   Julie was right on time, as he'd feared, and peeking curiously into his
open door as he returned up the hall.  "Hi there!  Your dinner has
arrived!" he attempted to chirp as he ushered her through the door.  He
thought it came out sounding rather nervous.  She looked as though she'd
given some attention to her preparations--freshly showered, short hair
neatly arranged, even light makeup, though she was dressed in sweats. 
There wasn't much to the room--a desk in the corner, a modest couch tucked
under the lofted bed, facing a fairly large LCD TV that had been last
year's birthday gift from his dad.  He got out a tiny folding table and
sorted through the containers to set their dinner out.  Hot-sour soup, a
couple of wontons, her kung pao chicken, the beef lomein he'd spontaneously
substituted.  He offered her a choice of beverage, and she seemed happy
that he'd thought to get wine.

   "This is wonderful, Pete.  Thanks again.  I really wasn't expecting to
have a dinner date tonight!"

   "Oh is that what this is?  Well, I'm just sorry it's taken me so long to
get around to asking you out--or in, or whatever--and that you had to get
drenched for me to do it.  You know, I really should have asked you out
last year when we had O-chem lab together..."

   "Yeah, but I was still with that idiot Kremer then, so I would have just
ended up rejecting you, and then you would have hated me and you wouldn't
have taken pity on me today." She smiled at him as she sipped at the soup.
"Damn, this is good..."

   "Yeah, it really warms you up good on a day like this.  It's my
favorite." He poured the wine.  "Happy Thanksgiving".

   "Happy Thanksgiving, Pete.  To good friends." She raised her glass his
direction.  He smiled sheepishly.  He was actually rather cute, she
thought. "So why is it that you're stuck here for the holiday?" He
explained the family drama and the generous overtime pay as she nodded
sympathetically.  "If my family were split, I'd probably avoid the holidays
too.  Guess I've got it pretty good..."

   "Well I'm not offended if you are thankful for them.  I guess I'm
thankful for my folks too, but it's good to be able to have a break."

   "Speaking of breaks...my Gram is going to pick me up now, tomorrow
noonish.  If you wanted a real Thanksgiving dinner, you'd be welcome to
come with us..."

   "Hmm, I suppose if I let Greg know.  He's the other staff-on-call.  He
does owe me a shift.  Would you really want me to 'meet the family'?"

   "Oh it's not like that," she laughed.  "We always have extra stragglers
over.  And who better than my Gallant Rescuer?"

   He wasn't sure how he felt about moving from "dinner date" to
"straggler" to "Rescuer" all in the same conversation, so he focused his
attention on the lo mein for a moment.  "So what's your movie preference?
Drunken frat-boy comedy?  Romantic comedy?  Classic flick?  Indie film?"

   He flipped through a stack of DVDs and let her peruse the on-screen
cable guide.  They finally settled on "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles",
which was playing on cable at the moment.  They finished off their food,
and she poured second glasses of wine for both of them.  Whether it was the
soup or wine, or just the inconsistent steam heat of the old dorm, she
complained of feeling a little warm, so lifted off her outer sweatshirt. 
He couldn't help but notice the gentle bounce of her breasts as she
rearranged her t-shirt underneath.  That was one thing he disliked about
winter--all those nice bodies hidden under layers of clothing.  She kicked
off her slippers and tucked her feet under her as she leaned back against
him.  He stretched an arm out around her shoulder, and she didn't protest
in the least, but snuggled closer.  They chatted and giggled at the movie
for awhile.  Soon she'd set her glass down and become more quiet.  He
wasn't expecting that.  Gradually her head came to rest on his shoulder and
her breathing softened.  He rather liked how she felt nestled against her,
and didn't want to disturb her.  When the movie ended he quietly flipped
through channels until he landed on ESPN.  He watched the inane chatter
about not-yet- played football games until his legs stiffened and he was
starting to feel a need to visit the bathroom.  Reluctantly and gently he
tried lifting her head off his shoulder and transferring it to a pillow,
but she woke.  Rubbing her eyes, she apologized sheepishly.  "Sorry--long
day, wine, chinese food...  I should have known.  Besides, it's cozy here
with you."

   "Hold that thought," he replied.  "I just need to um..." He pointed down
the hall and she smiled and nodded.  He took care of business as quickly as
he could, fearing that he might find her gone when he got back.  Instead he
found her clearing their food containers and refilling the wine glasses. 
The TV was off and she had moved the candle to the table.

   "You forgot our fortune cookies," she scolded.  "I found them in the bag
as I was clearing up." She held up the pair of wrapped cookies and made him
choose one, then opened the other.  "'You are about to start a long
journey'...  Boring.  What about yours?"

   " 'Prepare for a pleasant surprise'.  Kinda vague."

   "Well yours fits better with the game anyway.  '..Start a long
journey--in bed!' That doesn't make much sense."

   He didn't reply--he knew what kind of pleasant surprise he'd like in
bed, and also knew he shouldn't count on that.  It was a nice evening with
Julie and all, but he hardly considered that she'd be serious about him
after a single dinner of takeout.  And he also had a hard time shaking that
feeling that she was pretty far out of his league.  He crunched on the the
stale wafer, and wished he'd thought to pick up a pint of ice cream or
something better.  At least she was still smiling at him.  She popped the
last bite in her mouth with a crunch, then leaned back on the couch sipping
her wine.  He picked up his glass and sat down next to her and she
immediately snuggled up to him.  "I told you I liked how cozy it is
here..."

   "It's nice to have some warm company over for a change," he agreed. 
"Soft, too..." he murmured.  She responded by wrapping her arms around his
waist and huddling in closer.  He inhaled deeply of the fragrance of her
shampoo and pulled his arm a bit more snugly across her shoulders.  He so
did not want to screw this up!  "This is really kind of a pleasant surprise
already," he said softly, "just to have you here."

   She lifted up her face to his.  "I like it too." Her lips pressed
against his cheek softly, and didn't pull away.  He responded by turning to
bring his lips to meet hers.  They were soft, warm, and moistened with
sweet wine.  He pressed against her again for another taste and the tip of
her tongue tapped against his.  He set his glass down and wrapped his free
arm around her to bring her into an embrace.  She sighed with contentment
into his mouth.  "Such a nice way to start a long weekend.  You're making
me glad I missed that bus..." He stroked the back of her neck softly and
kissed her earlobe as her smooth cheek rubbed against his.  "That's
nice...mmm Pete.  That's the nicest feeling." Everything about being with
her was a nice feeling for him, too.  He'd forgotten how wonderful it felt
to embrace soft femininity like this.  He stroked her back and shoulders, a
bit surprised to note the absence of a bra strap.  She arched her back
slightly and he felt the softness of her breasts press into his chest.  Her
kisses seemed to become more passionate and he felt her fingers grip his
shoulder blades as he responded with deep kisses of his own.  His hand rose
softly, tracing up her side and brushing against the soft outer slope of
her breast.  He was surprised by her hand reaching for his--he thought at
first to push him away--but instead lifting the hem of her shirt and
nudging his inside.  He gently palmed the soft swell, and felt her nipple
tighten in his hand.  Soon he too was aware of swelling and tightening in
sensitive places.  His urge to hold her tightly to him was moderated by
concern that his arousal might be too obvious, but she kept kissing him
passionately.

   "God Julie--I could just kiss you like this all night long.  I don't
think I'd even care if I forgot to breathe." He gently and reluctantly
removed his hand from beneath her shirt, only to have her replace his hand
on her breast from outside.  "I've always thought you were beautiful, but
to hold you...and touch you...  You're lovely.  So lovely." He kissed her
again softly, as though to affirm his words.  She smiled.

   "Thanks.  I always kind of thought you had this in you.  I've missed
closeness like this." She held his head in her hands and kissed him deeply
again, moaning as he stroked her breasts through her shirt.  "Ohh Pete...oh
I don't want to stop either...but..."

   "I know...it's a bit fast.  Is this Good Night, then?"

   She nodded.  "Probably not the greatest idea to get naked on the first
date...'Pleasant surprise' or no."

   "Will there be a second date?" he asked hopefully, brushing a stray hair
away from her cheek, and kissing it softly.

   "Oh yeah...there'd better be!  If you don't ask for it, I will!"

   "And you still want me to meet Grandma tomorrow?"

   She grinned and nodded.  He draped her discarded sweatshirt over her
shoulders, and kissed her forehead.  She pulled him in for another long
kiss, then broke it off with a smile.  He stood and helped her up, and they
walked arm in arm to the deserted hallway.  "I think I can make it home on
my own.  It is only three floors up after all." She hugged him tightly at
the stairwell, pressing her belly slightly against the hardness in his
groin--enough to communicate that she was aware of its presence between
them.  He flushed at the realization, but she kissed him again quickly and
hurried up the stairs.

   In her room, she quickly stripped down to her briefs, slipped on a soft
cami, and covered up with her fluffy robe.  As she brushed her teeth she
remembered the warmth of his hand on her breast, and how warm she was
feeling further below.  He had been feeling it too, there was no mistaking
that--she'd felt his arousal when they embraced.  She knew she'd need the
relief of masturbation before sleep.  Probably he would be doing that too.
There was a vague sadness in that, she thought.

   He was slouched at his desk when his phone rang.  Nothing interesting in
email.  His groin still felt heavy, but he had no interest in looking for
porn sites--not when he'd held the real thing in his hand minutes before.
His heart beat faster when he heard her voice.  "Hey Pete?"

   "Oh--Hey!"

   "Look, um, uh thanks for tonight.  It really did mean a lot.  And I
liked being with you...even if I did fall asleep there a bit.  I was
thinking.  You know, as first dates go, it's the best one I've ever had
with a guy..."

   "Really.  Chinese food and a bad movie?  Yeah?"

   "Yeah.  Definitely.  But more the warmth that was shared with those. 
Anyway, though, I just thought I wanted...I mean, before I went to bed
tonight, I wanted to ask you out again.  Is that OK?"

   "OK?  Of course!  What did you have in mind?"

   "My room.  In fifteen minutes." There was no response.  "Are you there,
Pete?"

   "Uh--yeah...  Sorry.  My mouth went real dry there all of the sudden."
He coughed.  "So you're asking me on a second date, in your room...in
fifteen minutes?"

   "Well, since our first was in your room...that's the gist of it, yes...
Can you make it?"

   "Absolutely!"

   "Just bring yourself.  And well, one condition--I hope you're expecting
to stay until morning..."

   "No problem.  See you real soon." Fifteen minutes.  Enough time for a
quick shower and clean...  clothes?  If he read her right, he wouldn't need
to worry much about dressing up...  Oh...that reminded him.  He went to his
underwear drawer and pulled out a couple of condoms.  They hadn't talked
about protection, but he hoped it would be OK if he came prepared.

   Fourteen minutes later, he locked his door and walked deliberately up
the three floors to Julie's room.  His heart was pounding, and not, he
thought, from the short climb.  He knocked softly and heard her answer
"Come in" from close behind the door.  He entered into the dim room, lit
only by a pair of candles.  She closed the door, locked it behind them, and
wrapped him in a passionate kiss.

   "Wow.  I wasn't expecting such an enthusiastic welcome!"

   "There's more where that came from."

   "I'm not complaining.  I...uh...  Oh, Julie..." He kissed her thoroughly
and embraced her.  He liked how their heights matched, and how soft she was
in his arms.  She was covered in a thick fuzzy robe, but from the way the
neckline was gaping open, he guessed there wasn't much underneath it, at
least on top.

   "Are you wondering why I changed my mind?"

   "Well, honestly...yeah, kinda...but it doesn't change how I feel about
you."

   She smiled.  "Well I'll be direct.  I got up here and was getting ready
for bed, and just thought 'what a waste of a special, special night for
us...' All that good sexual energy going to waste with us alone in our
beds. I mean, when I was kissing you, I just knew that our 'first time'
together was going to be a 'When', not an 'If'--and soon.  And then I
though, honestly, would there be a better time than this?  So, I called
you. Too much?  Too fast?"

   "You, dear, are beyond my wildest dreams.  How would you like to spend
our night together?" he smiled.

   "I'm OK with making it up as we go along.  Shall we pick up where we
left off?  I don't have a couch, though.  Just the bed..."

   "Seems cozy enough.  Especially with this nice warm robe you have on."

   "Well, that might be a bit too warm, actually.  I wasn't actually
planning on wearing it once I got into bed."

   "Um, speaking of wearing something in bed..." He reached into his pocket
and pulled out the condoms.  She took them and placed them next to the bed.


   "That's thoughtful of you.  We can use these if you want, but I am on
the pill.  And I've been celibate, unfortunately, since Kremer and I broke
up last spring.  And believe me, I made sure I was tested for everything,
too!"

   "OK.  I tested clean after, um, a kind of crazy Spring Break last
year... And believe me, nothing has happened since!  But if you want to be
sure..."

   She led him over to the bed and sat down.  He stood in front of her as
she ran her hands underneath his t-shirt, and lifted it over his head.  She
stood to hug him, and his hands reached to loosen the tie of her robe.  She
wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes then tipped her
head to kiss him.  "Let's live dangerously, then", she whispered.  His
hands slipped beneath the robe and wrapped around her waist, encountering
the smooth warm skin below her cami.  He pulled her closer, letting the
robe fall open as his hands slid up her back.  He felt the smooth mounds of
her breasts press into his bare chest, and kissed her more deeply as she
dropped her arms to allow the robe to fall away.  Another kiss and she
pulled him back onto the bed.  They wriggled around together playfully as
she attempted to get them under the covers, but in the end it just allowed
them to generate more pleasant body heat.  He delightedly explored her
curves with his hands as her lips explored his face.  He caressed each
breast outside her top, tracing their soft contours and outlining the
aureolae with his fingers until she shivered with delight.  He kissed at
her neck as his hand moved under the delicate camisole and explored the
soft skin beneath.  She cradled his head to her breast with soft moans. 
Her leg lifted softly over his, her thigh pressed against his growing
hardness.  His hands roamed across her buttocks, and teased beneath the
elastic of her panties to expose more smooth skin to his touch.  "Take them
off", she groaned breathily, lifting her hips and grinding against him.  He
lifted the camisole upward and lowered his lips and tongue to roam
pleasantly over each tasty nipple in turn.  Her arms were not quite long
enough to reach his ass, so she struggled against his continued attentions
at her breasts until she could sit up further and tug at his shorts.  Their
intimate wrestling match continued for quite some time, neither apparently
willing to stop devouring the other's body long enough to cooperate fully
with the disrobing process.  Every movement brought some other segment of
bare skin in contact with a place it hadn't been before, hands and mouths
dueled for access.  Finally she fell backward and he managed to push her
briefs as far as her knees, where she was able to finally kick them off. 
He lifted the cami fully over her head, stretched himself out over her
nakedness, and kissed her deeply again.  She opened her legs to him,
moaning hungrily as she pressed her groin against his still-covered
erection and running her warm hands underneath his shorts to knead his firm
gluteal muscles.  "I want these shorts off of you", she urged.  He lifted
himself up slightly to allow her access as she pushed them down his ass,
then reached under him to free his cock.  "Oh my god, Pete.  Oh shit it's
hard and hot...." He eased upward a little further and she pushed the
shorts down his legs as he rubbed his hardness against her soft stomach. 
As he kicked his legs free of the shorts, she caressed the hot shaft,
squeezing gently and stroking lightly with encircling fingers.  Returning
to their full body embrace, she sighed contentedly and melted into him,
legs entwined.

   "God, Julie.  You are the sexiest thing...  What a gorgeous , soft ,
beautiful body you have.  You feel so...so, so *wonderful* next to me.  You
turn me on so...."

   "I *know*", she smiled, pulling his face to hers and tracing his lips
playfully with a warm tongue.  "And in case you hadn't noticed yet..." She
took his hand and placed it firmly against her pubic mound.  "...You do the
same to me." He felt the dampness of her thick fur and stroked it gently to
part down to her cleft.  She was hot, slippery, and wet with arousal.  He
pressed his hand down on her and she moaned loudly.  He covered her open
mouth with his and slid his tongue against hers while moving his fingers
through her slickness.  "Oohhhh.  Oh Pete....  Oh god.  Oh please..." His
response was to trail kisses down her neck, taking willing breasts into his
mouth while continuing to slowly caress her mound.  Not wanting to uncover
her, he slid his body sideways off the bed to kneel on the floor, then with
hands underneath her ass, pulled her closer to the edge until he could kiss
her inner thighs.  "Pete.  Oh Pete...you don't have too..."

   "I want to." He kissed upward toward her mound.  She moaned, but made no
other protest as he lightly pressed his lips against her labia and inhaled
her wonderful musky scent.  This was the holiday feast he wanted most at
that moment, and her aroma was making him ravenous.  He kissed more firmly
and she opened her legs wider in response.  He squeezed her ass and buried
his mouth in her wet cleft, probing her labia with his tongue.  Flicking it
upward, he heard her gasp loudly as he encountered her clit, and he lapped
firmly until she writhed and moaned.

   "Ahhh.  Oh oh ooooh omigod Pete....oh yes oh like that unnnh...oh.  OH.
OHmiGOD oh FUCK!" Her response stirred him on to lick harder and more
firmly, until she was convulsing in climax, her hips thrusting against his
willing mouth.  He held her firmly, pressing his tongue against the ridge
of her vibrating clit.  Her thighs quivered on his shoulders. 
"Ooooohhhhh", she groaned deeply.  "Ohhhh Pete...please come up here and
hold me..."

   He retraced his path of kisses across her belly and chest to once again
lie over her.  Her arms wrapped around him as she kissed his face, now damp
with her juices.  "That was really GOOD," she whispered intensely, "and
FAST.  Oh please--I need to feel you.  Please fuck me NOW." He didn't need
to consider a response to that.  Her vulva lay engorged, wet, and open
beneath his throbbing erection.  They needed shift only slightly for him to
enter, and with a pleasant, gentle thrust, he was fully enveloped within
her.  She lifted her legs to encircle his and held him tight as he groaned
his joy.

   "Ah.  Oh god Julie.  Oh sweetheart...feels so good.  Oh I want to stay
here forever."

   "Mmmm...good, lover.  Mmmm.  Oh fill me up....unh..." She grunted softly
as he thrust into her, pulling back only enough to allow her to appreciate
the pleasure of being filled up again.  She had almost forgotten how
wonderful it felt to be engorged and stretched and filled with a man's
desire for her.  She wanted to hold him inside and wrap him fully in her
desire for him.  With each gentle thrust she pressed herself upward against
him, wanting him deeper, closer.  She felt the hard root of his cock
against her swelling clit and she gasped with the pleasure, begging him
again and again to press there, wanting his body on hers, his breath in her
lungs, her heart pounding into his...  She cried and moaned with the
intensity of her desire, and felt his desire echoing back.  Just as she
longed for each thrust to penetrate deeper, he pressed harder, and faster.
His breathing, too, quickened and the breaths became groans of longing for
her.

   "Oh Jules...oh hon...oh I...oh.  Oh god.  Oh fuck honey unhh I'm
coming...OH!"

   She felt joy as his body stiffened over her and his cock surged deeply
into her.  "Ahhh", she moaned, as she felt the hard rod twitching in her
innermost places.  She thrust back to grind her clit against him and to let
her pleasure build again.  She wanted, needed to come around him, to climax
again.  She softly insinuated a hand between them to rub her little shaft
to a peak, and with another thrust from him, she crashed through.  "Oh
Pete...oh so good...oh god..." Together they let the glow of contentment
and satisfaction wash over them until their bodies slowly and reluctantly
separated.  She rolled slightly to her side, reaching for a box of tissues,
and handed one to him before dabbing at herself.  He turned to her,
wrapping an arm around her, and cuddling her close.

   "You're wonderful," he whispered.  She murmured her gratitude and
wriggled a naked bottom into him, relishing the warmth of his skin.

   "mmmm.  You're GOOD.  Hold me and let's rest a bit..."

   He cupped a soft breast in his hand and sighed against her neck.  "I
hope it wasn't over too fast."

   "That was just the start, sweetie...don't worry."

   It occured to him that he WAS worried.  He certainly hadn't started the
day expecting to end it in her bed, but now that it had, his insecurities
were telling him that it was just a quick fling, and she'd be regretfully
done with him in the morning, like his South Padre hookups last spring.  It
wasn't what he wanted.  He hadn't expected a long term relationship to come
of ordering wontons and lo mein--but if he was honest with himself, that
longing had been there for months.  And now having touched her and held
her, would she slip away?  "Julie...  I guess I'm a little afraid."

   She turned over to face him.  "Don't be.  I want it too." She touched
his face softly.

   "You want this to be more than just a hookup, you mean?"

   "That's exactly what I mean."

   He sighed in relief and held her close, feeling the warmth of her breath
on his neck.  "Then it really is just the start," he whispered.

   "Yeah...and if it's starting like THIS...we've got a LOT to look forward
to!" She giggle and growled softly, wriggling her body against him.

   He grinned and grabbed at her bottom, pulling her groin into his. 
"Again?"

   She nodded.  "You satisfy the hell out of me--but a half hour later I
want more.  Must be the Chinese food."

   "I might need help..."

   She slid down his body.  "Only a little persuasion, I think.  Just relax
and let me do the work this time."

   "Oh Julie..."