Title: Picture Perfect Plan
Author: Juana
Rating : M
Story Summary: Two years have passed since Martin and Ruthie has seen each other, but it's more intervention than fate that puts them together as Reverend and Mrs. Camden send her away for the summer to a camp where Martin is a counselor in the hopes he can steer her away from her current bad boy boyfriend.
As the bus pulled up to the front of the building Martin stood back with the others and waited. Ever since talking to Rev. Camden, he had known she was coming here and had prepared himself.
He hadn't seen her for two years, her choice, not his and understandably so, he had broken her heart and the fights and angry words had come all too easily after that, essentially destroying their hard won friendship.
In the beginning of their deteriorating relationship he had blamed her, accusing her of being immature and selfish and completely unforgiving. He didn't want to be with Sandy or to be a dad…these were not his choices but the life that had been thrust upon him.
But then one day completely out of the blue... she had forgiven him and things had still never been the same, because she no longer trusted him and it killed him to realize that.
But that was the past and as he sat waiting fairly impatiently for the campers to disembark from the bus he realized that even though he had lost Ruthie as a potential mate this might be his second chance to gain his friend back.
As Ruthie collected her things to leave the bus she couldn't control her thoughts. She had battled with her parents over going to this stupid summer camp, she didn't want to be here, she wanted to be home with her current boyfriend Ian, which ironically enough was exactly why she was here, because she had been dumb enough to choose the honesty route with her parents and it had not only scared them, but she was pretty sure it had left a permanent scar where the issue of trust came in.
Without really realizing it Ruthie's dad and mom had been striving to keep her on the straight and narrow to an almost smothering degree.
Enter Ian. Ian was the antithesis of everything the Camdens wanted their youngest daughter to find in a potential spouse.
But what did they want for her exactly? She had no idea because no one she brought home to them ever seem to be good enough.
Martin watched Ruthie as she began her descent down the bus steps his recent conversation with the Camden's replaying in his mind. They were sending Ruthie there for him to talk some sense into.
Martin had protested saying he and Ruthie were hardly what you could call friends anymore and truth be known she was probably not going to be very happy to see him, much less listen to any advice he might have to offer.
Reverend Camden had simply laughed that off saying he was certain that Martin was the man for the job the job being to convince Ruthie that her current boyfriend was not exactly a good guy, which was not exactly new news to Martin who had been secretly keeping tabs on Ruthie and her love life since leaving her in Glen Oak.
His main source of information was his best buddy Mac and according to him this Ian guy was bad news.
Coming down the steps of the bus Ruthie couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, but it didn't creep her out, oddly enough it kind of "comforted" her.
Turning around to find the source Ruthie almost ran into a bubbly blond girl who was standing with a group of girls starting in on her spiel of how "excited" she was to see them here, her name was Megan and she would be their counsler for the duration of their three-week stay here in the mountains. Ruthie wanted to bolt...three weeks was an eternity away from "normal life"...her parents had sent her on a"spiritual vacation " and it annoyed her.
It wasn't that she didn't believe in God...she did, she just hadn't embedded him in her life the way Lucy and her parents had...or even Martin for that matter. In fact she knew through the grapevine that Martin worked summers at a mountain retreat just like this one.
Suddenly it clicked...it was him...he was here, he was the comforting feeling she had felt as she got off the bus. Martin was here, and this was the camp he had been counseling at during his summers since leaving Glen Oak. She was going to kill her parents for doing this to her.
She saw it clear as day, like she had been standing right there, the scenario and how it must have gone, a frantic phone call to Martin when they had found her and Ian making out in her bedroom.
They had asked her point blank after that how "invested" she was in him, she could have lied to them and in hindsight probably should have, but she was almost eighteen and she wasn't a little girl anymore, she thought they could handle it, she thought wrong.
So now here she was probably in the hopes that Martin could save her wayward soul.
Way to go mom and dad send the virginal daughter to the one boy who "didn't" wait for marriage...bold move.
Martin stood rooted to the spot as he watched his ex-best friend and he realized how much he must have missed. In his mind and memories Ruthie had always been a cutie...full of spunk and life, but now...he silently prayed...dear lord help me...Ruthie was for lack of better words...grown up and so beautiful.
Ruthie stood as if she was listening but her mind was obviously elsewhere, she had spent countless sleepless nights imagining what seeing and talking to Martin again would be like, but now that it was here she wasn't ready for it.
Martin knew the first move would have to be his but the reality sinking in was that he wasn't ready for this either.
Talking to the Camdens he had become excited at the prospect of seeing Ruthie again, imagining all the hurt and pain gone and forgotten, but standing here just a few feet away from her... the reality was that he was scared.
As Ruthie's cell began to ring bubbly Megan turned to her clearly annoyed at her interrupted speech , but ever the professional segued with the interruption...
"and so we move on to the "no cell phone" part of the speech."
Things were just going from bad to worse as far as Ruthie was concerned, three-weeks without Ian was bad enough, but three-weeks of zero contact by phone also? This was too much.
" I need to keep my cell...medical reasons" Ruthie lied.
"Oh...okay...I'll just have to clear that with the camp director " Megan said clearly caught off guard.
Martin chose this moment to finally break the ice.
"I'll vouch for her...we're old friends" Martin interrupted.
Ruthie turned to look finally...preparing herself to see her old friend, but nothing could have prepared her for the grown man before her, she was speechless but appreciative none the less that the years had only made him even better looking.
As Martin stood directly in front of Ruthie for the first time in two years he sighed inwardly as he remembered all too clearly what had brought him to this place and away from her.
One night while having yet another argument with Sandy she had finally snapped and told him the truth Aaron was not his son, something Ruthie had been telling him all along but he had refused to believe. When Sandy had confessed that Simon was the father and she had used Martin because she was scared to end up alone he had stormed out feeling confused and betrayed.
His first phone call had been to Ruthie in Scotland pleading with her to come home telling her that he needed his friend.
It had taken her days to get home and he had spent all of them thinking the same thing, his life was now free to take other directions, he could go to college close to Glen Oak , he could play ball but most importantly he could tell Ruthie the truth…he wanted her in his life as more than a friend.
But as it turned out his heartfelt speech had gone unsaid as he had started talking to her about Sandy and Aaron and she had suddenly lapsed into a glowing speech about her new Scottish boyfriend and had kept it up all the way home from the airport.
It was all just too much for Martin. He had started an argument and she had stomped into the house without even waiting for her suitcase, it was then he realized she would never be his.
Leaving town at that point had seemed like the only solution, he had no family there anymore and no friends he hadn't alienated and most of all he realized that Aaron needed the chance to know his real father and Simon was a great guy and he was only in the way.
He only explained his situation to Reverend Camden not wanting any big fanfare or farewells and he had left without so much as goodbye to anyone. He had needed to find himself and he had finally, here at Camp Foothill.
At first he had prayed daily for his old carefree life back until he finally realized he was praying for the wrong things and that the lessons he had been given were for a reason...it was at that point he realized that to get back to being the old Martin he needed to get back to the things that made him that Martin.
Finally Ruthie found her voice but before she could use it Martin spoke first as he leaned a little too close and whispered in her ear.
"I know that's not exactly a true statement, the "friends" thing...but we've got three-weeks" he finished before turning and walking away.
As Ruthie watched Martin walked away she couldn't help but think...maybe her parents weren't so dumb after all.
Later that night Ruthie walked into the meeting hall with a couple of girls from her cabin, Christine and Felice, and they quickly found seats.
Not really knowing what to expect Ruthie had been pleasantly surprised to find the girls in her cabin were all pretty cool and even more so to find them all wanting to be her friend because the hunky counselor and her had a connection the hunky counselor being Martin of course.
Christine and Felice had been barraging her with questions about him when the meeting bell had rung and they had had to leave the cabin to make it to the meeting hall on time.
As the meeting director came to the front of the room the room began to quiet and Christine leaned into Ruthie to whisper. "Do you think you'll talk to him tonight?"
Ruthie sighed a little at the prospect. " I don't know...I'm sure he's pretty busy with his camp boys." Ruthie offered.
Much to Ruthie's surprise the meeting was fun and she had been given the opportunity to meet LOTS of new boys from the boy's side of camp and by campfire time she had three very interested suitors for the seat next to her on the log.
Martin watched as the boys flocked around Ruthie like a moth to a flame trying not to let his stomach feel like someone was gut kicking him every time she laughed at something funny they must have said.
He wanted to talk to her...but how? He couldn't actually walk up to her and take her off for a walk in the woods...although to his dismay he knew one of the three boys sitting drooling over her right now probably would try to. He made a mental note to keep an eye on all of them.
Ruthie was having a great time, all the boy attention was certainly great, but her eyes kept wandering to him...to Martin. She wanted to talk to him and she was determined to make it happen.
Suddenly her phone rang and she hurried quickly to shut it off, but not quick enough as one of the male counselors ordered her to hand it over.
Ruthie hesitated looking quickly to Martin and quick as a flash he was there.
"I'll take it Brett...she has it on her for medical reasons. As Brett handed Martin the phone Martin glanced unwillingly at the caller idea and saw a picture of a dark haired boy as the words "Ian's calling" kept scrolling across the screen.
"She should probably return this call" Martin finished as he handed the phone to Ruthie.
Ruthie took the phone with a smile.
"You know the rules Brewer...no campers allowed away from the group without a counselor escort...I'll get Megan." Brett offered.
"It's cool Brett, I'll walk out with her and get her back as soon as she's done" Martin stated.
Brett looked from Ruthie to Martin as both gave their well practiced innocent faces to him.
"Okay...but ten minutes tops...Leroy doesn't like counselors and campers fraternizing."
"It's just a walk Brett, lighten up" laughed Martin.
Ruthie's heart skipped a beat as she got up to follow Martin out of the campfire area to a more secluded location.
Finally Martin stopped walking and turned to face Ruthie.
"It may be hard to get a signal but go ahead and give it a try" he offered.
"Oh." Ruthie was a little taken aback at Martin's willingness to let her make a call.
"You did want to call him right?" Martin asked.
" I did...I do...yes. I just thought..." Ruthie trailed off without finishing her sentence.
"Thought what? " Martin asked.
Ruthie held her breath a little at the realization that once again she was being an idiot over Martin Brewer. She had thought he wanted to talk to her and had seized the opportunity when her cell had rung to get her away from all prying eyes.
Boy how many times could a girl be wrong about a guy?
Quickly Ruthie opened her phone and hit a quick dial number..." Nevermind " she said a little under her breath. " Now can I have a little privacy please?" Ruthie snapped.
"Sure" Martin offered. "I'll just hang out by that tree over there."
Martin walked off a little hurt by Ruthie's attitude towards him.
As Ruthie finished her phone call she snapped the phone shut and walked over to Martin.
"I'm done. You can escort me back now" Ruthie said like a prisoner in tow.
Martin turned to Ruthie an unreadable look on his face. "Can we not do this please?" he said, a softer tone in his voice.
"Do what?" Ruthie asked.
"Hate each other" Martin finished a look of sadness crossing his face.
Ruthie softened a little at his words. Years of hurts and troubles between them bubbling up to the surface from where they had been festering at a low boil.
" I don't hate you" Ruthie spoke softly the words almost catching in her throat.
Martin felt the pressure of the tears welling behind his eyes. For two long years he had waited to hear her say that.
Ruthie saw the intensity in Martin's eyes and it almost made her start to cry.
"I'm not going to cry over you Martin Brewer, I've done a lifetime of that. " Ruthie finished glancing quickly at Martin to see his reaction.
"Fair enough" Martin laughed lightly to try and ease a little of the tension.
Ruthie glanced up at Martin and like she had done so many times in the past walked quickly into his arms. As he wrapped her in a tight embrace it felt like bringing her home to him and he knew he should step back but he couldn't, he didn't want to.
Ruthie reveled in the feeling of Martin's arms around her once again. It had always felt so right to be here it made her feel like the world around them didn't exist.
It was just him and her and the feelings they would always have towards one another.
The hug lasted just a few minutes.
Martin didn't know why he pulled back at that moment, to talk to her, to see her face...he wasn't sure, but as he gazed upon her face and her lips parted he knew he wasn't going to stop himself. He had kissed her before, but never like this...never being "all in" like this.
As the kiss ended they both stood staring at each other, unsure what to say.
As far as kisses go...it was a twenty on a scale of 1-10 as far as Ruthie was concerned.
She knew he felt the same, he had to of, and the chemistry between them was undeniable.
So why then did he look so guilty...so confused?
Martin was mentally kicking himself, he was suppose to be saving her not drowning himself in her.
Whatever the Reverend had hoped for he wasn't going to be able to deliver.
He got it now...he had been set up too. Reverend and Mrs. Camden had sent Ruthie here in the hopes that she would "fall in love with him" again thus insuring she would "fall out of love " with Ian.
And he knew they weren't exactly using him just pinning their hopes on him being the one Ruthie was supposed to be with forever.
What they didn't realize was that he believed that Ruthie deserved better. Ruthie deserved someone who had saved himself for just her. Martin was not that guy, although now standing in the moon light with her, he really wished he was, that he had been morally stronger that summer when he had made all his costly mistakes.
"Okay it wasn't that bad was it?" Ruthie said confidently. "I've been told I'm a phenomenal kisser." She finished.
Martin looked at Ruthie his heart breaking. " I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry."
Ruthie cringed at his words...he was sorry?
"Not the reaction I usually get " Ruthie stated unable to hide her disappointment.
"Ruthie we haven't communicated in over two years, don't you think talking might have been a little more appropriate?" asked Martin.
"Appropriate or not, we both wanted that, we have for a long, long time, so what's the big deal?" Ruthie asked fighting back her tears.
"Do you even know why you're here Ruthie?" Martin hated that he had to be the one to put this all out there, but he felt like she deserved to know the truth.
"Of course I do. I'm not an idiot." "My parents are hoping that I will forget about my boyfriend who they hate with a fairly unbridled passion." Ruthie said using air quotes to make her point.
Martin stepped back a little needing the distance.
"They think you're in love with him and on the verge of making a huge mistake Ruthie...are you?" Martin held his breath as he waited for the answer.
Ruthie wanted to scream. Why could he still not see it? He was the one for her...the only one. And no matter how many ups and downs she had to experience with him in the end she wanted to end up with him and all that she had been saving was for him.
She hadn't answered his question, she had simply turned and walked away leaving him to wonder. He hated how she had always been able to do that...leave him wondering and wanting. Was it already too late? Had she already given herself to Ian?
Frustrated Ruthie had headed straight back to her cabin instead of the campfire. As she sat on the steps she pulled out her cell phone and dialed, waiting for the person on the other end to pick up.
Finally her dad answered.
"Dad its Ruthie." She blurted out.
"Ruthie sweetie so great to hear your voice" said her dad.
"Cut the baloney dad I have only got a few minutes and I have a lot to say." Ruthie said clearly agitated.
" I know why I'm here, I know what you and mom did and even why you did it. " Ruthie took a deep breath and plunged forward. But you forgot one thing.
Reverend Camden couldn't keep himself from interrupting.
"Imagining that maybe, just maybe I know what you're speaking of...What did we forget?" Her dad asked curious now.
" Martin doesn't love me. " lamented Ruthie. " And that's going to put a big hole in your picture perfect plan. "
As Ruthie's dad began to answer the other line beeped through.
" Can you hold on for a second sweetheart the other line is beeping and it could be important.
" This...this is important." Shouted Ruthie.
"Of course it is...but the other line could be church related, I'll just be a minute. "said her dad..
"Always time for a lost soul, never time for a lost daughter." Ruthie said under her breath.
Ruthie was almost ready to hang up when her dad came back on the line.
"Don't give up on Martin just yet Ruthie...I have a good feeling about him."
" I have to go dad, but you're wrong about this one. I promise you." Ruthie stated.
On the other line Martin sat waiting for the Reverend to pick back up, finally he clicked back on to the line.
"What can I help you with Martin" Reverend Camden said as innocently as possible.
" I can't help you with your plan Rev. Camden I thought I would be able to but I can't. Martin added the next sentence with a heavy heart ..." You asked me to help out Ruthie but the truth is she's not a little girl anymore and I'm not the one to talk to about avoiding the pitfalls of life since I've pretty much landed knee deep in every one." Martin reminded him.
Reverend Camden chuckled inwardly...everything as he could see it was going according to plan, now he just needed a little verbal confirmation.
"Did something happen with you two?"
" You're not as clever as you might think Rev. Camden. Ruthie and I both know why you sent her here. It's not going to happen." Martin finished.
" What 's not going to happen ? " Reverend Camden asked coyly.
" Her, me...us...I wasn't the right guy then and I'm not the right guy now. God has someone a lot less tarnished in mind for Ruthie than me. I guarantee it." Said Martin.
" You're being way too hard on yourself Martin and as for Ruthie well God put you both there for a reason so let's just wait and see.
"You sent Ruthie here!" said Martin raising his voice slightly. "This isn't God's plan this is Camden interference at its best!" "And you have no idea what you're doing."
Martin knew he shouldn't but he couldn't help himself and he hung up the phone without a goodbye, his frustration evident.
If not for the knock at his cabin door he would have immediately called Reverend Camden back with an apology. But for now that would have to wait.
As Martin approached the door he hesitated knowing almost instinctively who would be on the other side of it. Slowly he opened the door to find Ruthie there.
" You shouldn't be here." Said Martin.
" Then tell me to leave. " Ruthie replied.
Martin looked at the young girl in front of him she had certainly matured in their years apart from each other and yes he was definitely attracted to her. But it was more than that, she was the only person who ever made him regret the things he had done…the mistakes he had made.
" Can I come in please." She said putting on her best puppy dog eyes.
He would be nuts to let her in...he knew that. But he did it anyway glancing warily around to make sure no one saw him shut the door behind her.
Turning around and seeing that she had made herself comfortable in one of his big over stuffed chairs, Martin positioned himself on the tiny loveseat across from her.
"Okay...I'm sure you came here for a reason, so let me have it. " Martin steeled himself for a verbal battle.
"Remember when you moved into the house? Ruthie asked catching him completely off guard.
Instantly Martin was taken back to long ago, to the night Reverend and Mrs. Camden had taken him in to their home and their hearts, to the night he had met precocious Ruthie for the second time and they had forged what was suppose to be their forever friendship.
"Yeah...I remember. " Martin said with a nostalgic tone.
"We've been through a lot together haven't we? Ruthie asked.
"Yeah, we have. " Martin couldn't help but wondered where this was going.
"You've done a lot of things that have hurt me" off Martin's look Ruthie continued, and I'm pretty sure I've done my fair share to hurt you too. Martin nodded in full agreement.
"I'm going to break up with Ian." Ruthie offered.
Martin looked into Ruthie's eyes wanting to say what he knew she wanted to hear but letting her continue on instead.
"I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing it because it's the right thing to do."Ruthie continued with tears forming in her eyes.
" I'm pretty sure this news doesn't surprise you though, since it was probably your pre-programmed mission before I got here. " Ruthie said a hint of bitterness in her tone now.
"I know where you're going with this Ruthie and you could not be more wrong" Martin started to panic a little as he realized what she must be thinking now.
" I don't know why I'm even the slightest bit surprised though, I mean this is what you do...you lead me on right before you send me crashing down.
Martin got up from the couch and went over to Ruthie kneeling down in front of her to put them at eye level with each other.
Silently he reached for her hand and took it into his own softly caressing it with his fingers.
" You can either believe this or not…but I had no ulterior motive when I kissed you...it wasn't pre-planned. It just...happened. Martin sighed as he tried to make sense of it all.
Ruthie tried to ignore the sensation of Martin's fingers running gently across her skin, she was mad at him and she wanted him to know it.
"What do you want me to say? That it's okay? That we're cool? Cause we're not." "In case you haven't noticed…I'm not a little girl anymore and I don't have that silly school girl crush on you." Ruthie said trying to hold back her tears.
"Ruthie…I'm sorry…I am." Martin knew now was the time to tell her the truth, even if it might potentially blow up in his face.
"I shouldn't have kissed you, but not for the reasons you think." Martin swallowed a little to get over the lump forming in his throat.
" I think you're a jerk, and I think it's all about Martin and it always has been." Ruthie said through her now freely flowing tears.
Martin hesitated for a second before getting up and walking away from her.
"You know…let's go with that." Martin closed his eyes in pure frustration. "Because I don't have the strength to do this with you anymore."
Without another word Martin walked over and opened his cabin door.
"We're done here…you can show yourself out."
Ruthie stood up from the chair the surprised evident on her face, but her feet were still rooted to the ground. Was he really kicking her out?
" I said go." He said still standing by the door to accentuate his point.
"If I leave…we're done, you do realize that?"All attempts at salvaging our relationship will be met with deaf ears." Ruthie promised.
Annoyed Martin slammed the door and turned back around to Ruthie ready to speak his peace..
"You haven't really heard me in years! " Martin said his growing anger now evident.
"Why should this be any different?!"
Ruthie stepped back a little surprised at Martin's tone.
She was the one who had every right to be mad at him, not the other way around.
"What are you talking about?" Ruthie asked clearly confused now.
Martin knew it was too late to turn back now, the pain that was festering inside him needed to come out, but the shock in his voice was evident.
"What am I talking about?" "From the very first day I left Glen Oak I tried to reach you.
" I left you numerous voicemails, that went unanswered, I texted you daily and you never responded, I emailed you an embarrassing amount of times and not once did you send even one back with so much as a "hello." I gave you every chance to stay close to me, but you didn't want to be."
" You can't come here now and expect me to fall right back into step with you.
"Ruthie wished that she could say that he was wrong, but he wasn't…she had done everything she could to avoid him, a little from anger at his leaving but mostly from the pain she felt at losing him.
Ruthie tried to interrupt…"I'm sorry."
"I'm not finished. And you need to know this." Martin informed her.
" When I asked you to come home from Scotland, it wasn't because I needed a friend, it was because I wanted to be with you." "I had this whole corny speech worked out about you and me and how happy I could make you." Martin looked at Ruthie…he was emotionally drained.
"With a genuine need to know Ruthie asked "Why didn't you tell me this then?"
Martin sat down heavily on the love seat. "Because you didn't want to be with me, you kept going on and on about your new boyfriend in Scotland."
Ruthie's mind drifted back to the night she had gotten back from Scotland. She had been excited to see Martin, but it had quickly faded as he started in about Sandy and Aaron and her jealousy had begun rearing its ugly head.
She remembered rambling on about Liam, the Scottish boy she had met, as a defense mechanism against being hurt again by Martin. Now for the first time she saw what her immaturity might have cost her and she needed to know for sure how badly she might have screwed things up that night.
"Can I hear it now?" inquired Ruthie.
"Hear what?" Martin asked even though he understood all too well.
"The speech, the corny speech" Ruthie said filling in the blanks.
Martin hesitated, unsure…I mean what difference would it make now?
"It's stupid. I'm not even sure I remember it."
Frantically Martin tried to figure a way out of this. There had been a time when Ruthie was his heart and the words he had been so willing to say would have rung true, but now…too much time had passed and he didn't know the Ruthie standing before him at all. But maybe…just maybe his words could bring her back to him.
"I think you do." Ruthie chided him wanting so much for him to open up
Martin sighed as he looked into her beautiful brown eyes, it was still there after so long those…spark between them.
Martin remembered the first time he had felt it…they had been so young then and the best of friends.
He had prided himself on being her protector back then and she let him be up until he told her the truth about her no good boyfriend Vincent. They had fought and he had thought they were done up until Vincent dumped Ruthie and she had come to the garage apartment to apologize.
As he pulled her into his arms to comfort her that first un-brotherly like feeling had happened and it had shaken him to his core, but he had refused to act on it instinctively knowing that Ruthie was not ready and too good of a friend to risk losing her.
Coming back to reality Martin looked at Ruthie and patted the empty seat beside him on the couch.
Grinning Ruthie sat down next to him. Martin took her hand in his.
"If I say these things to you, If I give you this speech you need to take them in the context in which they were intended and the time for which they were true."
" And remember..I planned them for a girl I was very much in love with who I thought felt the same way."
Martin took a deep breath before pushing on, the feel of Ruthie's hand in his was perfect and he could almost imagine that this was how it should have gone if he had not run away into the night but instead stayed and fought for her.
Ruthie felt as if her heart was going to beat out of her chest at any minute. She knew if Martin said his speech to her she would be a goner, but she had to hear it…she needed to hear it and to let it validate to her that she had not wasted all those years on Martin.
"Okay…I promise you this is not verbatim…but it went something like this."
Instinctively Martin took Ruthie's other hand in his causing her to face him.
"I'm glad you came home Ruthie, but not to be here for me. I'm glad you came home because I want you to be with me…as my girlfriend.
Suddenly Martin let go of her hands.
"This is stupid. I feel foolish." Martin said clearly uncomfortable.
Reaching out Ruthie took Martin's hand into hers.
"You shouldn't…because my answer would have been yes." Now Ruthie felt a bit foolish. What did he care what her answer would have been. She was doing exactly what he asked her not to do taking the speech out of context.
Clearly startled Martin looked up at Ruthie. "Ruthie…I"
Ruthie cut him off before he could finish. "It's cool Martin, I just meant back then my answer would have been yes…I was crazy for you…but you knew that."
"I will always love you Ruthie you know that don't you.? " questioned Martin.
"Like a sister…yeah I get it" it was hard to hide the annoyance of that statement in her voice.
Martin knew that given his circumstances going forward now was wrong, wrong, wrong…but he needed to say what was in his heart before his common sense took over and he chickened out.
"You are the most impossible woman Ruthie…you have this huge heart that you either dole out to guys with loser tattooed across their forehead or you bottle it up to keep it away from the guys who might truly deserve you.
"I can't imagine how incredibly hard your husband will have to work to keep up with you. " "But that said…whoever he ends up being he will be one incredibly lucky guy."
Ruthie was on the verge of tears at Martin's beautiful words and she wanted to return the favor.
As she gazed into his intense, sexy eyes the words escaped her though as she opted for actions rather than words and grabbed onto the front of his shirt pulling him closer to her.
As their lips met she started slowly kissing him at first, teasing him with the soft pressure of her lips, waiting for that sign that he needed more and was as invested in this kiss as she was.
As she increased the pressure slightly he let out a small groan and she knew he was hers.
Years of being a preacher's daughter had kept her chaste in many ways and frankly when pretty much all you do is kiss you can get pretty good at it and she had.
As Martin felt himself sinking into her lips all he could think was…Damn she knew how to kiss!
For her part Ruthie knew that she was getting to him and usually at this point she would begin having to fight off the guys wandering hands, but Martin remained a gentleman merely using his arms to embrace her closer to him and as he lightly began nuzzling the side of her neck and raining small sensual kisses on it she thought she might faint.
No one had ever made her feel this way she felt alive and on fire and almost instinctively her body molded to fit his and for the first time in her life she wanted more from a guy not for the learning aspect but for the sheer thrill of it.
Martin sensed the turning point in Ruthie, he'd dated enough girls in the past to know when they wanted more and instantly he broke the kiss pushing her lightly from him.
"We need to stop." Martin said trying unsuccessfully to hide the tone of regret that had crept into his voice.
He was hoping only he knew that he was sorry not for kissing her but for having to stop.
"I'm not asking you to stop" Ruthie said with her best seductive tone, a tone which Martin found quite effective.
"Okay stop Ruthie…please give a guy a break." Martin pleaded.
"You know you're beautiful and sexy and yes I am insanely attracted to you and I don't think I've ever been so unwilling to break a kiss…but a week ago you weren't even talking to me." Martin tried to continue but Ruthie interrupted with her perspective.
"Talking is over-rated."
Okay this was so bad...no matter how over-rated talking was if she had been talking to him before coming here she would know why he couldn't do this. Why no matter how right this all felt…it was all wrong.
Martin stood up to get some distance but Ruthie wasn't giving up without a fight and went to stand in front of him putting her hand on his chest causing him to take a step backwards.
Ruthie liked the feeling of power she had in that moment, he may have been fighting his feelings but he was still hers and whatever walls he was putting up she was determined to break down.
It was a game of cat and mouse.
Every step Martin took backwards Ruthie stepped forward until she had backed him up against his bed. Finally with no place else to go Martin sat down on his bed and Ruthie took her final step to stand between his legs.
Martin told himself if he just didn't look at her everything would be okay he could "talk her down off the ledge she was so determined to leap off of."
But her hands on his face were so soft and demanding and his free will pretty much shot at this point so he allowed her to lift his chin up so their lips could meet once again.
It wasn't fair how good she was at this Martin thought, how she knew just the right moves to make and the right amount of pressure to exert to make him her willing participant.
It wasn't fair how perfectly their mouths fit together or how in sync they were as the kissing became more passionate and his hands found natural resting places that might have made Rev. Camden not so happy he had put them here in the mountains together virtually unsupervised.
Ruthie was in heaven everything about being in Martin's arms felt so right, as he turned her to lay her down on the bed the passion she saw in his eyes made her heart skip a beat.
But looking at Ruthie lying there so willing beneath him caused Martin's disconnected brain to finally start and he pulled quickly away from her and sat up.
Ruthie could not hide her disappointment as she sat up too.
"Did I do something wrong?" she asked nervously.
Taking Ruthie's hand Martin pulled her off the bed.
Martin fully understood now why the Rev and Mrs. Camden were so worried about Ruthie and it worried him now too.
"You can't be this free with guys Ruthie; you just can't its going to get you into trouble." Martin lectured her.
Ruthie couldn't believe what she was hearing. Martin was lecturing her?
"I didn't hear you complaining earlier." Ruthie answered clearly annoyed with him now.
"Okay I'm a hypocrite…I get it. But I'm also worried about you if this is how you are with that guy Ian or any other guy for that matter." Martin added reluctantly.
"So this was what…a test?" a surprised Ruthie said.
Martin sensed her temper boiling just below the surface; it was a temper he knew all too well.
Ruthie could believe a lot of things about Martin but not that he would use her like this just to prove a point.
Completely hurt by Martin's accusations Ruthie headed for the door and opened it.
"Ruthie please wait." Martin pleaded
But her only response was to shut the door behind herself as she left.
Unable to stop the tears Ruthie began to cry on her way back to her cabin.
Suddenly she heard a voice from behind her.
"You okay Ruthie?" Ruthie turned to find Spencer standing there.
"Spencer…hi. Yeah I'm fine. I just got some bad news." Ruthie finished.
"Can I walk you back to your cabin?" asked a concerned Spencer.
Ruthie smiled at the young boy in front of her, he was sweet and good looking probably someone her parents would adore, but not someone she was attracted to which is what she would have gone with if in that moment she hadn't seen Martin coming down the road heading towards her cabin.
"Sure, yes…that would be really nice of you. Thank you." Ruthie said as she linked her fingers together with Spencer's to hold his hand.
"My pleasure." Said a now very happy Spencer.
Martin stopped walking as he saw Ruthie take Spencer's hand in hers and then lightly give him a peck on the cheek before turning to walk back towards her cabin.
Had she seen him? Was that little show for his benefit he wondered?
Ruthie wondered if Martin had followed them or not as she approached the cabin door with Spencer but unsure decided to go for it any way just in case.
Leaning in Ruthie began kissing a very surprised Spencer when out of the corner of her eye she saw Martin standing by a tree watching her.
This was going to be Spencer's lucky day she decided as she began to deepen the kiss.
Martin had had enough, he might not be her boyfriend but he was a counselor and she was making a spectacle of herself.
Boldly he marched up to her and Spencer and cleared his throat before speaking.
"Break it up guys this is a church camp." Martin said trying a little too hard not to sound like a jealous boyfriend.
Ruthie acted as if she hadn't heard him pulling Spencer closer to her.
"I said break it up!" Martin wanted so badly to ring this kid's neck.
Finally Ruthie stood back from Spencer as if she'd just heard Martin.
"You know boys aren't allowed in the girl's cabin area Spencer now get out of here before I report you to the director." Finished Martin.
"Right…I was just leaving." Stammered Spencer.
Ruthie leaned forward as if to kiss Spencer again and he looked at Martin torn.
"Don't even think it about it or you'll be spending the next two weeks rinsing and stacking cafeteria trays." Martin warned.
"I'll see you at campfire Ruthie." Spencer stated.
"Sounds good, save me a seat." Said Ruthie giving him a sweet smile and wave but when he rounded the corner out of sight she turned on Martin.
"You had no right to do that!" Ruthie shouted at him.
Martin looked at Ruthie his exasperation with her evident.
"I had every right." Said Martin. "You're a camper and I'm a counselor who is supposed to enforce the rules.
"Unless the rules are being broken by you…right?" accused Ruthie.
Martin could not figure out how he had gotten to this place with her.
He was being possessive of someone who wasn't even a part of his life anymore and she was right it was unfair to her.
Martin stepped closer to Ruthie so he could speak in a lower tone.
"Just tell me Ruthie do you really like Spencer or are you just pissed at me and he's the payback?"
Back at his cabin Martin sat down heavily on his bed.
His mind was reeling with thoughts of Ruthie and what had just occurred. He still hadn't told her the truth and now he had kissed her again!
He had stepped closer to her to lower his voice, he didn't really want all of the camp knowing his business, but in hindsight that had been his fatal mistake as she had uttered the one telling word.
"Payback."
She just knew how to push his buttons, to goad him into doing things he shouldn't be doing and that one word had sent him over the edge as he had pushed her back against the cabin wall and kissed her with everything he had before uttering his final parting words to her.
"Leave Spencer out of this…this is between you and me."
Ruthie sat down on her cabin bed unable to believe what had just happened between her and Martin. The feel of his kiss was still on her lips when Felice and Christine walked back into the cabin.
"Ruthie could tell that Christine and Felice had something on their minds.
"What's up guys?" asked Ruthie.
Felice pushed Christine towards Ruthie urging her to speak up.
"Go on tell her" Felice gave Christine a look indicating it was her job to do this.
"So…we saw you guys." Christine started.
Ruthie looked at Christine and Felice confused.
"You and Martin outside the cabin like ten minutes ago."
"Oh" was all Ruthie could think of to say. She should probably let Martin know that other people had seen them though.
Christine went on…"I'm guessing from the looks of that kiss you really like him"
Ruthie smiled…"yeah I do" she admitted.
Finally Felice stepped forward, "That's what we were afraid of."
I don't understand what do you mean? Questioned Ruthie.
"We just don't want to see you get hurt Ruthie"
Ruthie was confused why would Christine and Felice think Martin was going to hurt her?
"This is why we're telling you this now, before you get in any deeper." Felice continued.
"We have it on good authority that Martin has a girlfriend and that during the year when he's doing baseball…they live together."
Ruthie felt the room start to spin it all made perfect sense now all of Martin's cryptic talk…it wasn't that he didn't want to be with her, he couldn't because he was already with someone.
In her heart Ruthie had wanted to believe that Martin sleeping with Sandy had been a one time thing and that it had cured him of the sleeping with people before marriage thing…but if Martin had a girlfriend and he was living with her for the better part of the year it certainly wasn't platonic.
"Ruthie are you okay?" asked a now worried Christine.
Ruthie got up off her bed, putting her jacket on. "I have to go meet Spencer, but thank you guys for telling me the truth."
Christine and Felice knew that Ruthie was anything but okay but they had no idea what they could do to help, all they knew was they felt really sorry for Martin once Ruthie got a hold of him.