Julie awoke from her serene, dreamless sleep and set about her usual morning routine: bathroom, chores, diary, crossword. Same old, same old.

And then?

Not exactly same old, same old. Julie spent the remainder of her day wearing a funny hat while practicing kissing in front of a mirror.

Yes, the whole rest of the day. And no, we don’t get it either.

We don’t have a wannabe actress or a budding narcissist—or some combination of the two—on our hands, do we? That doesn’t really seem like Julie-esque behavior.

Maybe it’s a girl thing.

A girl-in-love-thing?

A girl-expecting-a-proposal thing?

Whatever it was, hunger eventually dragged Julie away from the mirror, and to the stove to prepare some macaroni and cheese.

Mac and cheese is not the most complicated of dishes to prepare; nor are the ingredients renowned for their flammability. But Julie is not the most experienced of cooks, and her mind was clearly elsewhere as items atop the stove grew hotter and hotter…

Julie had a brief moment of panic, then calmed herself with the knowledge that the fire department would surely arrive any moment.

She then realized that she had never furnished her home with a smoke detector. And had a slightly longer moment of panic.

That moment, too, passed, as Julie put her hands on a fire extinguisher and put out the fire herself.

(She didn’t remember ever purchasing a fire extinguisher; but Julie did not allow herself to dwell on this. As everyone knows, one should never look a gift extinguisher in the mouth.)

Julie discarded the lump of carbon which had been meant to be Kraft Dinner, as well as the pot it was smoldering in, and ordered some Chinese to be delivered instead. In her nervousness and delayed hunger, she polished off two containers in short order, and had started on a third when fatigue finally outweighed any remaining hunger.

There was first a little bedtime reading to finish calming the nerves, and then it was off to a deep dreamless sleep. A deep and long sleep. After the trauma of the fire, Julie had a good lie-in until 11 the next morning.

Frank’s Friday got off to a roaring start as he woke at eight, got up, made his bed…and promptly laid down again for a little relaxation and daydreaming. He finally rose again, for good, when the desire for a doughnut became just too powerful to resist.

As he finished his breakfast, Frank spotted an Elf Puddle walking by. He dashed outside to greet her, seized with the desire to…talk her into cleaning his house. Which she began to do, while he picked up the phone and called Julie.

“Why don’t you come over? I’m having the house cleaned especially nicely, just for you.

“No, I didn’t hire a maid.

“Of course not, silly. Elfie’s just a friend I just met.”

To help dispel any lingering doubts she might have had about the house-cleaning arrangement, Frank greeted Julie enthusiastically upon her arrival.

Elfie—who had just taken out the trash—looked on, amused.

She grew slightly less amused when Frank, wishing to keep all doubts as dispelled as possible, neglected to introduce her to Julie. He in fact ignored his new house-cleaning friend completely, as he took Julie’s hand and led her straight to the bedroom.

Luckily for Frank, Elfie is not one to easily take offense, or to hold on to grudges. She shrugged off the snub, got comfortable on the couch, and watched some television as Frank and Julie…um…entertained each other.

“Were those train noises? And someone making honking sounds?”

Yes, Elfie; we believe those were.

“They didn’t come from the TV, did they? I haven’t watched television in some time, it’s true; but I’m still pretty sure those noises aren’t a normal part of Iron Chef.”

No. No they aren’t.

“Mmm. Can I pretend that the noises came from the TV anyway?”

If it makes you feel better, sure. Pretend away.

In time, Frank and Julie emerged from the bedroom, and Julie took the opportunity to introduce herself to Elfie. While Frank…um…

You know, Frank, there’s more than one way for us to interpret that.

As for what came next—well, there was only one way to interpret that. With Elfie as a witness, Frank asked Julie a very important question.

An ecstatic Julie wasted no time in putting on the ring, admiring it in the light…and admiring her Frank, as he gazed up at her rapturously.

Overcome with emotion, Julie leapt into Frank’s arms…while Elfie put on a solemn expression, trying not to let her own emotions steal the show. A noble effort, Elfie; but we can tell you’re touched, and we see your eyes glistening just a skosh.

Elfie was, in fact, so tickled to have been there for the proposal that she was easily persuaded to fix dinner for everyone. This left Frank and Julie free to celebrate…

…to celebrate in the way you would expect a couple full of passionate love to celebrate their joy and devotion…

…to celebrate the only way you would expect them to celebrate, if their names are Frank and Julie.

Dinner was soon served, and the happy couple gave each other gooey-eyed looks and played footsie as they absently picked at their macaroni and cheese.

“Oh, Frank.”

“Yes, my Julie.”

“Mmm.”

“Mmmmmm.”

(And so on, and so forth.)

They were joined at the table by their new volunteer domestic servant, who was finally getting at least something—if only a cheap meal she had to cook herself—out of all her hard work.

Elfie did not pick absently at her food.

Frank finally tore himself away from the looks and the sighs and the footsie, and got up to clear his plate.

And…uh, Frank? Frank?

Frank not only cleared his dish, but also Elfie’s, so she wouldn’t have to get up.

He left Julie’s dish right where it sat.

(Apparently there were, indeed, two different ways to interpret that thought of his earlier.)

After dinner, Frank and Julie socialized with Elfie some more: Frank with the intent of becoming Elfie’s friend (which he accomplished), Julie with the intent of making sure Elfie didn’t become anything more than Frank’s friend (also accomplished). As bedtime approached, Elfie said her goodbyes and left.

Julie stayed the night. And helped Frank get to sleep by making him very relaxed, in her own special, drift-off-to-sleep-thinking-only-of-me way. It wasn’t long thereafter that they were both off in dreamland.

“I really do love Julie.”

“You know, I really don’t think I care much for butter.”

Next installment: Let’s have a wedding! (But do plenty of reading and diary-writing and skilling first!)

Frank arose at 5:30 feeling mighty fine. He drew himself a bubble bath, and sat in the tub a good while, daydreaming about getting engaged to Julie.

Afterwards, it was time to take some practical steps in that direction. Frank did a little remodeling of the Shorikiki, expanding the bedroom just enough to accomodate a double bed, and removing the wall between the now-smaller bathroom and the toilet.

A little cleaning, some breakfast, and bill-paying followed; and then it was time to invite Julie over to see the results of the remodeling. After the events of the previous day, one couldn’t help imagining the inspection of the bedroom turning into a rather hot time.

Frank and Julie, for their part, couldn’t help being themselves.

(Frank did eventually get some nice makeout time on the couch, however, before catching the carpool for work.)

After work, it was a quick shower and then straight to bed, where Frank slept soundly, knowing that he’d had a perfectly productive and enjoyable day…even if he hadn’t exactly kept his unseen audience on the edge of its seat in the process.

After the big night the day before, Julie slept in until 10:30. Which still left enough time for her morning crossword (of course), some chores, and some reading (of course).

Followed by her diary. (Of course.)

Would there be actual spillage of juicy tidbits this time? Surely Julie had plenty to talk about after the long, passionate afternoon and evening she spent at Frank’s.

“You know, that Kevin fellow is awfully attractive.”

Hey. Hey! Now that sounds like we’ve got some juicy potential here. Is it a secret crush? Cold feet about getting serious with Frank? A romantic triangle in the offing?

Oh, such drama this promises us! Whispers and lies and two-timing! Local gossip and rumor mills going wild! Covert assignations in downtown photo booths!

Oh, we’re sorry, Julie. Our imaginations ran off with us there for a minute. Do carry on with the diary confessions.

“But what am I going on about him for? You know that whatever happens, I will always love you, dear Diary. You will forever be my first love…

“…well, you and crosswords, of course.”

Sigh.

Revealing? We suppose.

A little sad? Perhaps.

Juicy? Um…no.

After reassuring her diary of the constancy of her affections, Julie headed off to work. To everyone’s relief.

Including that of a local canine named Alabama, who had been waiting for Julie to leave before starting some excavating in the corner of the lot.

Alabama dug, took a break to follow Simmie Cal down the sidewalk and growl and bark (hey, she doesn’t think much of you either, poochie), then kept digging, finally wandering off not long before Julie returned from work.

It had been a quiet night at the police station—quiet even by Cardinal standards—so Julie still had some energy left when she returned home. And so, she…

…headed straight for the bathroom mirror, and worked on her Charisma skill until the wee hours?

Well. That’s different.

Let’s try something different ourselves, shall we? Julie says she never dreams, but we’ve never believed that, have we?

So let’s sneak in and see just what Julie was up to in dreamland, after so much practicing in front of her mirror before bedtime.

Does she dream of Frank? Of Kevin?

Does she have a sweet, tender dream about her diary? We’ll take that, if we have to. We can work with it.

Gaaack!

We shall never speak of this again. Understand? Never.

And we shall, in future, take Julie at her word when she tells us she does not dream. Better yet, we will do so retroactively. So…(ahem)…

…as Julie slept, dreamlessly, Alabama returned to dig still more. Apparently the dog has been told that a shortcut to China may be found in that particular corner of the lot.

Just why Alabama is so intent on getting to China, we may never know.

Next installment: Remember what we were saying about bells?

Frank’s day off, like Julie’s, started with familiar routine. First came a bubble bath (he is one boy who never grew out of bubble baths), then some tidying up around the place, then the morning newspaper and a doughnut.

After his morning ritual, Frank wanted more than anything to pick up where he had left off in Crime-Scene Cleanup and You. His last study session had ended in the middle of an interesting section concerning press relations—Chapter 23, “Fifty-Seven Ways To Tell Nancy Grace To Get Lost”—and he was eager to learn the remaining twenty-six.

But he had only covered the next four when he spotted a neighbor walking by. Recognizing her from the One-Twenty-Five, he set his studies aside and went out to greet her.

“Yes, I remember seeing you downtown too. Glad I stumbled across your house this morning. You can call me ‘Sleepy Cat’…and what was your name?”

“Frank…and you can call me ‘Frank’.”

Frank looked awfully pleased; and he sure did put that book down quickly. Could Julie have herself a rival already?

That would largely depend on what Sleepy Cat had in mind when she stopped by Frank’s house. What was she after? Did she fancy Frank? Was she hoping for a tour of the Shorikiki? Did she want to borrow his copy of Crime-Scene Cleanup and You?

Nope. None of the above. She was only after his gnome.

Frank went back inside, returned to his reading, and resolved to not let anyone else interrupt him on his day off. The resolution held until half-past three, when his doorbell rang, and he saw it was Julie.

“See? I crossed the street for you today.”

“You don’t have to ring the bell, silly. Especially since I don’t really have a front door.

“Now let’s see if I can remember how shy girls like you like to say hello…”

“Mmm. Mmmmmm.

“Mmm hmm. I think you’ve got it.

“But feel free to practice some more.”

“If you say so.”

Julie’s visit was getting itself off to a fine start. A bit of flirting, a lot of kissing, and nary a book or newspaper in sight.

But did the two of them plan to stay out front on the sidewalk all afternoon? It’s ever so much cozier and more comfortable inside, you know.

(Even without a proper front door.)

“If you think you’ve been well and truly greeted now, maybe you’d like to come inside and get more comfortable.”

“I was about to give up on waiting for you to ask.”

It is ever so nice when one’s sims listen to reason.

And so Frank and Julie went inside, hand in hand; and headed straight for the couch, with the intent of getting cozy.

Very cozy.

“It’s a pity I’m so shy, isn’t it, Frank? Otherwise, I might lead you to that bed over there…”

Very, very cozy.

(And no, Julie, we don’t find you shy. For one thing, you didn’t bother to ask us to leave just then.

Or even to put away our camera.)

All that getting cozy made the two of them a bit peckish; so after a while, Frank got up to make some spaghetti.

He took care to cook the pasta to the perfect al dente firmness…which Julie would have noted and appreciated, were she not distracted by the fact that he hadn’t bothered to put any clothes on.

“I wouldn’t trade that for the whole world.”

“What, the spaghetti? If the whole world were yours, you could have all the pasta you wanted, Frank.”

“You know what I meant, silly.

“Now let’s clear up the dishes.”

“Ooh…I could attack you right here.”

“Okay.

“But put down that dish first.”

They kept each other company until nearly eleven, when Frank was tired enough that he had to call it a night. Julie wished him sweet dreams.

And dream he did.

“Damn, I’m good in bed. If I do say so myself.”

That might not be exactly what Julie had in mind, but it will have to do.

And at least you let us in on what you’re dreaming about, Frank. Unlike some people in this neighborhood.

Yes, we know she says she doesn’t dream. We don’t credit that.

No, we don’t know how we’re talking to you in the middle of your dreams either. Just part of life’s sweet mystery, we suppose. Now get your rest, Frank.

Next installment: Are those bells we hear in the distance?

Julie woke up a little after six, in a wonderful mood and looking forward to seeing more of Frank.

So what would be on the agenda after her morning ablutions? She has Wednesdays off from work, so the whole day lay ahead.

Julie started with some more P.D. James, and then her diary. Of course. Having a little crush doesn’t change one’s personality completely, you know.

But surely she would at least do some spilling to her diary about her new romance. Right?

“Dear Diary,

“I’ve been thinking about gnomes lately.

“Who invented them? I know I would never have thought of such a thing.

“Why are they always short, and old, and with beards?

“What’s with the red pointy hats? Always those same hats. Is it some official uniform? Required by their religion?

“And why do you never see a gnome inside?

“No one ever builds little shelters for them in the garden either. Don’t you think they might like having something like that, especially when the weather turns nasty?

“If I were a gnome, I’d want someplace to go if a big thunderstorm came along. That’s for certain.

“And I wouldn’t want to have to wear a beard, either.”

Sigh.

Julie certainly plays her cards close to the vest. Even where her diary is concerned.

Her thoughts on gnomes exhausted, Julie went out to get the morning paper…

…and a neighbor was there, waiting to meet her.

Hello, Rainbow Tigress.

Julie forgot all about the newspaper for the moment, and invited her new acquaintance in for a chat and some lunchmeat sandwiches.

Well. Except for the big-kiss greeting, you’ve got it all over Frank already, Rainbow.

Julie also resisted the pull of Crime-Scene Cleanup and You, her diary, and The Lighthouse, even though they all sat there gazing at her from the nearby bookcase. She was only interested in Rainbow.

So this is what a girl crush looks like.

Julie and Rainbow sat on the couch for a good while, bonding over talk of food, cooking, and especially desserts.

Frank may be the doughnut maven, but from the conversation we would guess Julie has quite a sweet tooth of her own.

Julie and Rainbow started to feel hungry again as evening fell, and so Julie whipped up some macaroni and cheese for them to share.

Julie was just digging into her bowl when the phone rang. (So that happens in the Sims’ world too.) It was Frank, inviting her on an outing Downtown.

Julie didn’t know what there might be to do downtown at night, in a town as small as Cardinal, but she eagerly accepted nonetheless. She did hope that there would at least be food.

Julie made her apologies to Rainbow, urged her to finish her dinner and make herself at home, freshened up a little, and then climbed into the taxi for the ride downtown.

It was seven-thirty when the taxi deposited Frank and Julie outside the One-Twenty-Five Cafe. Julie bought coffee for herself and for Frank; and then, too hungry to wait for Frank to take the lead, she got a table on the patio outside, and promptly ordered salmon for them both.

“Oh, sorry, Frank. You did say you liked salmon, didn’t you?”

As Frank and Julie chatted and waited for their food, some of the other inhabitants of Cardinal made use of the dart and chess boards

“Yes, Val’s a fine woman. I can see that for myself; and I’ve been assured of it by others too.

“Many, many others.

“(Odd how so many of them are named ‘Bayfield’. And male. Hmm…oh, well…probably doesn’t mean anything.)

“But her unreliable taste in music is a worry. I mean, Eminem? Couldn’t she have done a video to…oh, I don’t know…maybe Die Zauberflöte instead?

“Or Weird Al? That would be awesome too.

“At any rate, I think I’m going to stand here scowling, with my hands on my hips, until she notices how displeased I am.”

You’re a smooth operator, Kevin, and not the least bit snobbish. Don’t let anybody tell you any different.

After eating, Frank and Julie joined the dart-players for a while, until they were rudely interrupted by a Taz.

“Hear ye! Hear ye! Taz has just hit Frank and Julie with a VentriloFart! And the Town Crier still thinks Julie is cute!”

“Oh. Joe. Didn’t see you lurking over there in the corner. Thanks for the news bulletin. And I am flattered. But scram now, why don’t you?”

Sorry, Joe. Again.

“Hey, I know something that might take your mind off that. Shall we dance, Julie?”

“That Kevin fellow was right. This Mozart person is funky. Get down…yow!

“Julie? Are you laughing? At me?”

“With you, dear. With you. Now here, let’s slow dance a while.”

Frank and Julie slow-danced until the sun came up, then caught a cab home. Julie, exhausted and happy, went straight to bed, and slept in until nearly eleven.

Dreamlessly, of course. (Or so she maintains.)

Next installment: Frank gets his day off. How will he spend it? And with whom?

Once again, across the street from Frank’s house, Julie’s day started out in uncanny parallel to Frank’s. She, too, woke before dawn; and her first destination was also the bookcase. Breakfast could wait; she had P.D. James calling her.

And after that, her diary.

“Dear Diary,

“Yesterday this Town Crier character tried hitting on me.

“I didn’t care for it. Especially the way he made an announcement to the neighborhood afterward.

“‘Hear ye! Hear ye! Julie has cruelly and most unwisely rejected the smooth advances of the Town Crier!’

“I don’t think I like Town Criers.”

Sorry again, Joe.

Now that you’ve got that off your chest, anything else to report, Julie?

“Dear Diary,

“This morning I wrote in my diary.”

Sigh.

These two just keep getting more and more riveting, don’t they?

Anyhow, after recounting her diary-writing for the benefit of her diary, Julie had her morning shower and some breakfast. With plenty of time to kill between breakfast and work, she then, naturally, headed straight for the…

…telephone?

Because what she wanted to do, more than anything, was spend some time with Frank before work?

Not Crime-Scene Cleanup and You, not The Lighthouse, but Frank?

Please, Frank. Oh, please. Don’t screw this up. Come over when she asks you.

“Hi…Frank? Hey. What’re you up to?

“You too? Well. I did some diary-writing this morning myself, you see.

“No. I didn’t even know there was such a channel. But yes, I’m sure it would look very nice in high-definition.

“Mmm hmm. Say, Frank, the main reason I called was that I was wondering if you’d like to come over. Like…now-ish?

“Yes, I am at home. Still right across the street, yes.

“What? What makes you say that?

“Well, I suppose I could have just come over there; but being shy doesn’t come into it. Sheesh. I just felt like phoning you and having you come over here. If you’re interested. Or would you rather argue about the whole thing for awhile instead?

“Okay then. See you in a few.

“No, I don’t think you need to bring over your own books. I’ve got a bookshelf of my own over here, you know. And I’ll have an extra recliner set out for you.”

Well. That went about as well as could be expected.

But what about when Frank actually arrived, expecting to study together or talk shop or something? How would Julie play it? How would Frank—who had already rejected one female’s advances that morning—react?

“Still find me shy, Frank?”

That went way better than one would have expected. (And right in front of the mail carrier, too. Definitely not shy.)

What do you think, Frank?

Mmm hmm. That’s what we thought.

After a bunch of flirting, and a bit more smooching, Julie officially had a crush on Frank, and things were definitely looking up for this story.

So what would she do next? What would be Julie’s very next move, right after seeing those hearts dramatically burst forth from someplace deep inside her? What way would she find to express her feelings, her rush of emotions at this heady moment, her hopes and dreams and anxieties?

Oh, sure. Falling in love makes a lot of us feel like paying our bills too.

Hey, why not totally cut loose? Go wild, Julie. Go ahead…bring in the paper while you’re at it.

You know you want to.

Um, okay…see, we were being sarcastic just then.

But it worked out okay. She set down the paper on the end table; Frank was right there waiting, looking up at her expectantly; and she still had kissing on the brain.

Sorta.

“So now what, Frank? More kissing, or my crossword?”

“Um…well…now if I were you, I’d…”

“You’re right, Frank. Got to keep those logic skills sharp. Crossword it is.”

Sigh.

“And then, of course, I should really start that next chapter of Crime-Scene Cleanup and You.”

“You comfortable, Frank? Good thing I bought that extra recliner today, huh?”

Sorry, Frank. Looks like you should’ve brought a book over after all.

“Isn’t this a lovely date, Frank? I really hope we can do this again tomorrow.”

“Mmm.”

(Oh, c’mon. You read the previous installment. You can’t say the boy didn’t deserve this.)

Soon enough, it was two o’clock, and time for Julie’s carpool.

At eleven, Julie returned home from work, dead tired, just as Frank had been. (Just what were the two of them so busy doing during their shift, anyway?) And so it was straight to bed for her.

Did she dream about Frank? About crossword puzzles? About her diary?

She’ll never tell.

Next installment: Does the crush develop into something more? How long can this parallel lives thing be kept going if it doesn’t? Tune in and read all about Julie’s day off!