A/N: Sorry for taking so long to update... I had some major writer's block. But it's all good now and I have a couple more chapters written. I'm not sure how much I like this chapter but it's the best I could do so bear with me. This one takes place in the year 1990 and there are some pop culture references. If you don't know what Cop Rock is then I suggest you do a quick youtube search. It's basically your average crime show, except everyone randomly bursts out into song. It's helluva cheesy but it's also hilariously entertaining. It got cancelled pretty fast and was universally regarded as awful but I figure it would definitely something a young Tom and Julia would watch.

And a face and a name to remember..

Tom Levitt sat in the lecture hall contemplating gouging his eyes out. He couldn't remember ever being so bored. The professor was going on about some number sequence, looking about as pleased to be there as Tom was.

"The value of a over b divided by c is equal to the..." the balding man droned on and on. Absentmindedly, Tom began humming, creating a song in this head.

This class is goddamn boring,

And that kid over there is snoring.

He had made it through a chorus and three verses by the time the teacher finally dismissed the class. Tom grabbed his bag and bolted to the door, calculating how much time he had until Cop Rock. Distractedly he rounded a corner and crashed full on into a redheaded female, causing her to tip over unceremoniously and spill her tea everywhere.

"Oh my god!" he cried, bouncing up quickly and rushing around, picking up all things she had dropped.

"I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention."

"It's fine. Honestly." she said, smiling and pushing her crazy red curls off her face so that they were sitting on the top of head. She was wearing a black jacket complete with shoulder pads and and a long flowing skirt, that was now stained and slightly wet at the bottom. It was a odd outfit, but it worked on her. Tom thought she was very pretty though she wasn't exactly his type, being female and all.

"At least let me buy you another tea." he offered.

"I'm gay by the way," he told her matter of factly, so she knew he wasn't coming on to her.
"Alright. But let's stop by my apartment so I can change clothes." He agreed and soon he was being guided towards a rundown building in the shadiest part of town. After climbing up what seemed like 30 flights of stairs and witnessing a total of five couples making out, the two finally reached her door. He watched as she turned the knob and followed her in.

"Wait here for a sec. I'll be right back." she said. He settled down on her couch and turned on the TV. The picture was grainy but watchable and he flipped channels until he found what he was looking for.

"Are you seriously watching Cop Rock?" came her voice from behind him. He shrieked in surprise and shame.

"Maybe." he said hesitantly, trying to avoid eye contact. This was extremely embarrassing. Honestly Tom he reprimanded himself You're never going to make friends if you keep doing things like this. But she surprised him by grinning wildly and running toward him.

"I LOVE THAT SHOW!" she cried, jumping over the back of the couch to sit next to him.

"You do?" he asked, wondering if she was playing some kind of trick on him.

"Yeah. Well, I mean, I know it sucks. But come on, it's a musical TV show! With Ben Vereen!"

And that was when Tom realized that this girl was soul mate.

They never did end up going out for coffee. Instead they stayed at her apartment with a bottle of wine where he discovered she was an art history major but what she really wanted to do was write music for broadway. Her family was dirt poor and she was working her way from the ground up. He found himself confiding to her that he really didn't want to become an accountant, that he was doing it to please his dad who was still adjusting to the whole gay thing. They talked about theatre and their favourite composers (They both agreed Stephen Sondheim was the best by far). They talked about their friends and significant others (Julia was off again with her boyfriend, Frank). They talked about their hopes and dreams and how hard it was sometimes, wanting something so seemingly unattainable.

And then they were at the keyboard she had bought from a secondhand store, playing songs they had written themselves. Tom was taken aback by her abilities. Not only was her voice beautiful but her lyrics were really witty although she was clearly a self-taught piano player. Soon enough, they were working together and writing silly songs about whatever struck their fancy, him on music with her making up the words. Giggling wildly, she lay back on the floor.

"God, I haven't had so much fun in ages." she said, turning her head to look at him. He sat down beside her.

"Me neither." And it was true. This was the one of the best nights he'd ever had. Suddenly, she collapsed into a fit of laughter.

"What?" he asked, smiling.

"I just realized I don't even know your name." she told him.

"It's Tom." he said, laughing himself.

"How about you?"

"Julia."

Thanks for reading. Please review and/or check out my other story. :)