Julia was perched upon a fluffy cushion placed on top of a previously uncomfortable chair. Her legs were tucked neatly beneath her body, and her chin rested in her hands as she surveyed her trailer. Naturally, it was far larger than necessary- Thomas had seen to that- but it was finally beginning to somewhat resemble home. She'd much prefer to actually be home, of course, but shooting had taken them into the recesses of Utah, and such a thing was impossible. Julia attempted to stifle the pangs of homesickness by consoling herself; she'd be back in New York by the end of the week… but such tactics were ineffective. Ever since she and William had parted, even the thought of her cozy abode seemed lonely and forlorn. Though she'd spent the majority of her life without him, she felt incomplete when he wasn't around, as if a part of her had been torn away, and which resided in Toronto. Thomas may have laughed unkindly and called it a passing phase, but Julia felt something stronger at work between her and William. She was determined to remain in contact with him as best she could. Just as these thoughts crossed her mind, her phone buzzed from across the room. Her eyes brightening, and her pensive expression morphing into keenness, Julia jumped up and slid inelegantly across the floor in her socks, throwing a hand out to stabilize herself as she jolted to a stop against the writing desk. She grabbed the phone and tapped her feet impatiently as it loaded her text messages, glancing at the windows as she did so. The soft orange glow of sunrise was just beginning to bathe the room as the sun ascended to the sky, and Julia bit her lip as she calculated the time. Within the hour, she would have to report to the hair and makeup trailer, and after that, the set. Generally, this wouldn't at all bother her, but today was shaping up to be what she called a lazy day- she had no inclination to do anything other than laze about in her pajamas and eat chocolate.

Good morning, William's text read; in her mind's eye, Julia could hear his voice. She hastened to reply, her fingers flying across the keyboard. She had at first been very clumsy with her phone, having not used it at length before, but hours of texting and calling had made her adept at the practice.

Good morning, William. Off to work, I assume?

Yes- I only have several minutes. I don't believe there are any paparazzi outside today, thank the heavens. I don't believe I would be able to deal with them again.

They were only words; only cold, blank, metallic snatches of letters, but Julia felt a lump form within her throat. Guilt was an emotion that she was revisiting far more often than she would like of late. William insisted that it had been his decision, but it was her fault that the paparazzi now chased him relentlessly. It was because of her that William had lost a semblance of his privacy, and that knowledge weighted Julia down. She placed the phone firmly down upon the surface of the desk, and turned, even as again it droned. Retreating to her chair, she curled herself into a tight ball, closing her eyes and hoping to take a short nap before duty called. Unfortunately, destiny was not on her side- there was a sharp rap against the door, accompanied by an insistent call. "Jules!"

"Come in," replied Julia, resigned, turning to face the sound. She knew that voice, and knew well that its owner would have barged right in, permission or not.

Ruby Ogden swung open the door and proffered a beaming smile. "Morning!" she said, sounding typically chipper, and Julia grunted in response. "It's a bit early, Ruby," she grumbled, folding her arms. "I could have been asleep, for all you knew, and I'd have been pissed if you'd woken me."

"It seems that you're pissed, anyways," Ruby observed cheerfully, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. "Besides, I knew that you'd be up. Ever since you met William, you've been awake at the most ungodly hours, texting away. Very school-girlish, Jules, but I sympathize completely." She took a seat, across from Julia, kicking her feet up onto the table, smiling merrily all the while.

Julia fought the urge to say something short and rude, settling instead on an aggravated sigh. "Bringing you along with me was the worst idea that I have ever had," she groaned, passing a hand over her face. "What on Earth possessed me?"

"Your fun side?" suggested Ruby, airily. "I know it's in there somewhere, Jules. Loosen up. I'm just here to chat. Don't you want to chat with your only sister?" Her blue eyes widened and took on an injured glaze as she leaned back. "Don't you love me?"

Julia stared at her flatly. "Let's not start this again. I'm not in the mood to talk, Ruby."

"That's fine," her sister replied, whipping from the crook of her arm a thick magazine. "I brought the latest gossip magazine for us to go through. We can check ourselves out, read about all the latest scandals, and look for hot single celebrities."

Julia rolled her eyes, glancing briefly toward the glossy magazine. "Ruby, I don't want…" she began, beginning to brush it away. "…Hold on. Is that…?"

"Yes," Ruby said, with a pleased air about her. "It's you. You and William. You've made the front page for the first time in months, Jules. I'm proud of you, and I imagine that Thomas is too. I must say, ordinary person aside, he is rather dashing."

Julia snatched the magazine, beginning to rifle feverishly. Her foul temper returned, full force, and she leveled a poisonous glare at Ruby from over the magazine. "What do you mean- ordinary person aside? There's nothing wrong about being in a relationship with someone who isn't rich and famous. Other things are far more important."

"Come on," Ruby persisted, raising an eyebrow. "You must know that this won't last."

"And why not?" she demanded, her voice rising slightly as her annoyance deepened.

"Firstly, a long distance relationship. Please! That's a disaster waiting to happen! Believe me, I've tried. It gets so very frustrating. You don't want that, Jules." The girl sounded sincere enough, though a small smirk graced the corners of her lips. "Secondly, non-celebs just don't understand our schedules and duties. It won't work; you'll see. You would be far better off with Darcy Garland, or one of your other handsome costars."

Julia shook her head, resolutely. "You don't understand. Besides, what right do you have to hand out dating advice? You've never been in a truly commited relationship before."

Ruby's little smile blossomed into a fully-fledged grin. "That's because the alternative is so much more fun."

"Well, one of these days, you'll have to grow up," Julia responded, bad-temperedly.

"I don't see why." Ruby inspected her perfect nails, pursing her lips. "As I've said many times, you take life far too seriously, Jules. You need to live a little. When we get back home, we'll go out on the town, just us girls. There's this thing called having a good time, which I think you've completely forgotten about. Luckily enough, you have a gorgeous little sister who's here to remind you." With one swift, decisive motion, she seized the magazine. Julia allowed it to slide from her hands willingly, not wanting to read further about 'the secret relationship between Julia Ogden and William Murdoch'.

Another knock, against the door, floated through the air of the trailer. Julia got up, eager to even temporarily escape Ruby's company. "That'll be Emily," she told the disinterested blonde. "This time, you will be nice. Otherwise, I will take you by the ear and throw you bodily out of my trailer. Have you got that?"

Ruby sniffed disdainfully. "When's the last time I wasn't nice? I'm a lady, even if she isn't."

Julia snorted loudly. "It was certainly very ladylike when you got so hammered that you couldn't walk last week," she commented, with a bite to her voice.

Emily Grace was a medical student who worked part-time as Julia's personal assistant. They had met and quickly become friends several months ago, when Julia had been looking for such a person. Emily, from a working-class family, was struggling to pay her tuition fees, and was seeking a job. It was perfect- Emily was the most organized person that Julia had ever met, and she knew just how to handle her wayward agent. The only snag was that she wasn't available at all times, due to her schooling, but Julia had firmly insisted that they could work around that. She had wanted badly to help her careworn friend in any way possible, and this solution was beneficial for both parties.

At present, Emily looked rather flustered. Her hair was loose about her shoulders; its dark strands lifting in the wind, and her cheeks were flushed lightly, as if she had been running. "Julia," she panted. "I have some scheduling to talk over with you." Grimacing, she hefted the pale green book that documented Julia's social life. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you," she added, hastily, straightening her jacket.

"I was already disturbed," Julia replied, wryly, stepping aside. "Come in. Have you been running? I hope not on my account- are you going to be late for your meeting?"

"I have a good half hour," Emily assured her, with a smile. "I thought that I was behind schedule, though… my watch is screwed up." She entered the trailer.

"Well, then, it's time that you got a new one," Ruby piped up. "Or can you afford it?"

Emily's face drew inward, as if she had bitten something sour. "Hello, Ruby," she said, coolly, her voice icy. "I take it that you're the disturbance Julia told me about?"

Ruby shot her an angelic look. "Yes, I am. It's good to see you, Emily." She looked the other woman up and down, slowly, her lips curling into a sneer. "Nice jacket. Fake, I assume? It looks quite cheap, I'm afraid."

Emily's eyes hardened. "I agree. Fake and cheap, just like someone that I know."

Julia glanced between the two of them, wearily. "I honestly don't understand the pair of you," she said helplessly. "You're like two children in the playground."

Emily's jaw tightened, and she pointedly looked away from the jovial Ruby. She opened her book, and clicked open a pen. "Mr. Brackenreid has arranged three interviews for tomorrow, and a photo shoot for the day after. The times aren't conflicting; I made sure."

Julia closed her eyes in dismay. "Tomorrow is my only day off. I didn't want… could they be rescheduled? Everything is getting on top of me, lately, and I need a break."

Emily nodded resolutely. "I can do it, with a little bit of work. The photo shoot is fine, though, isn't it? I'd have hell to pay if I were to ask for a rescheduling on that."

"The photo shoot is fine," Julia assured her, "so don't worry. Now, you need to get off. I'd hate if you missed your meeting because of me."

Once Emily had departed, Julia whirled on her younger sister. "What was that? I told you to be nice! You started an entirely new bout of insults and verbal jabs!"

Ruby shrugged delicately, once more lifting her magazine. "The sight of her upset me. I am somewhat disappointed that I forgot to mention my fling with Leslie Garland."

Julia was taken aback. "Darcy Garland's brother? The star of Houdini Whodunit? You had a… fling… with him? Do I want to know?"

"Probably not," said Ruby, smugly. "But the point is, Emily has a massive crush on him. I missed an opportunity to rub my fling with him in her face. Stupid of me, really."

"We're done here," Julia affirmed, rising, and beginning to head out. "You can stay here, if you wish, but lock up when you leave, and don't eat all of my food."

"Food?" A look of shock passed over Ruby's face. "Who eats food these days? I'm on a diet. You should consider going on one, too, Jules. I've seen the empty boxes of chocolate that litter your place. Do you know how many calories-"

The door shut, and Julia exhaled as Ruby's lecture faded away. She did indeed love her, but Ruby needed to be taken in small doses, seen for snatches of time, and today's allotted amount of time had been well overspent. She began to walk, inhaling the decayed-dry-putrid air, glancing up at the hard blue sky, the sun a bright white orb in its midst. Julia wasn't a fan of the heat- she preferred the freshness that the winter months brought- but today, oddly, she didn't mind it. The prospect of her trailer seemed equally, if not more so, stifling, and in any case, she was due at hair and makeup. Haziness blurred her mind, sweeping over her thoughts like fog, and she hoped that she would be able to doze off in the hairstyling chair, if only for a few moments. Chaotic as her life was, Julia felt as if she was always moving, never stopping, never slowing down, and she relished any time spent resting. Navigating the maze of white, tired, weather-beaten trailers was easy, as Julia had gotten used to the pattern of her pathway over time. Naturally, the hair and makeup trailer was the farthest from her, but Julia enjoyed the rhythm of walking, and the peace of mind that it offered her. Disappointment even swept over her as her destination came into sight, and she slowed, not wanting to enter.

"Thank you, Eva. I'll meet you on the set. Make sure to write down the appointment." Darcy, who was standing just beside the trailer, was speaking rapidly to his own assistant.

Eva Pearce batted her eyelashes, and spoke in a low voice. "Of course, Mr. Garland," she murmured softly. As she passed Julia, she shot her a malicious gaze, before disappearing around a corner. Julia shivered slightly- the girl had always made her uneasy- and then she approached Darcy, intending to simply put forward a cordial greeting and then step inside.

Clearly, her coworker had different ideas, as he swiveled to block her. "Julia."

"Hello, Darcy," Julia said tightly, managing a half smile. "Can I do something for you?"

Darcy shrugged, his eyes hooded. "I just wanted to chat, I suppose."

"I'm sure we'll have plenty of time for that on set," hinted Julia, narrowing her eyes.

"I read about you and Mr. Murdoch. Very well done. It gave me several ideas of my own… the publicity you received was staggering. I assume Thomas put you up to it?"

"I'm sorry, Darcy, but that's really none of your business," snapped Julia, furious now. She moved to brush past him, but he remained immobile, looking at her.

"Isn't it? You see… as I said… I had an idea, which spawned from your little publicity stunt, which would benefit us both, media wise." He took a lengthy pause, allowed her to digest this information. Still moderately confused, Julia began to formulate a question. Before she could fully articulate it, however, he leaned down and kissed her.