Hey everyone!!!!! Sorry it's been so long, I have had such a bad case of writer's block! But I'm back, so I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 3:

Back at the lodging house, Race considered telling every one about Julia's heroic actions that day, but decided against it. She was finally starting to come out of her shell, and he didn't want to jeopardize that.

            The next morning, Race and Julia walked down to the distribution office together. After they got their papers, they automatically headed towards central park. They sold papers all morning, talking about the headlines and other such topics.

            Race noticed that, though Julia was loosening up tremendously, there was still an emotional wall that was hidden behind the smiles and timid laughs. 

            As the weeks went by, Julia loosened up more and more, but Race also found himself opening up as well.  In Julia he had found someone who understood his pain, although he still wasn't sure exactly why.

But mysteries were not Race's forte, and for the next month the pair grew to simply like each other's company. Every morning they would go to the distribution office together, then wander through Central Park for a few hours, selling papers as they went. Then they'd have lunch at Tibby's and head out for the evening edition. 

The other newsies had come to expect this, although they could never understand Race's attraction to the silent girl who slept in their bunk room and used their showers. But Race and Julia never cared, and they carried on without fail day in and day out. That was, until they met him.

One day, as they walked through the park on their routine path, Race was recounting how the newsies had beat Pulitzer and Hearst during the strike. Julia followed him, smiling as he relived the memories of the fights that would break out in the street between the newsies and the police.

"Ah, we licked 'em!" Race exclaimed, passionate as ever about the great newsies victory, "d'ere we was, out numbered ten ta one. D'en who happens along, but Spot! And d'en…" But the rest faded into the backround.

At that moment, he came around the bend. Julia was transfixed, watching him. He was well dressed, and everything in his manner suggested class. She could faintly hear Race's story, but it seemed so distant. All she was aware of was him.

Then, he turned toward her, a golden light shining on his brown hair, almost the same shade as her own. But it was not his hair that held her transfixed. It was his eyes. Their eyes met and, though just for a moment, Julia felt that in that timeless instant, he could see all the way down into her deepest thoughts.

"Julia… you'se ok?" Race's voice brought her back into the real world. She turned to Race, but quickly glanced back over to the bend, but he was gone.

"Yea, I'm fine. Let's go get something to eat, I'm starving," Julia replied, wondering if, perhaps, it had all been a dream. 

@@@@@@@@@@

Well, I hope you liked it! I'm trying to get back into my grove, but it's been hard… I think I'm going to start updating faster though, now that I've gotten past this point. Please review! –Maudie (Racesgurl)