Chapter 1: Do I tell him?

Martin's POV

Dear Ruthie,

Hi, it's me ... Martin. I just wanted to make sure

that you know, how thankful I'am, for how much you've

helped me out, this past summer. After Cecilia & I broke up

I didn't know how I was ever going to get through thoes

three months. But you were right there for me, when

ever I needed you. If it was just to talk ... or if I just

needed someone to give me a hug ... you were right by

my side. We've become very close and, you've become

my best friend. I hope you know

how much I appreciate you being here for me ... and I

will always be here for you, for anything. Ok well I better

get going, I'll talk to you later. Bye.

Love you Always,

Martin

Martin reread the letter one last time, folded it in half,

and wrote "Ruthie" on the front half.

He herd Annie shout from downstairs that dinner was ready, so he put the letter

in his backpack and decided he would put it in her locker at school the next day.

When he opened the door to the hallway, he found Ruthie standing there ... looking

kind of weird ... like she was sick or nervous, or something.

"Hey Ruth what's up?" Said Martin, while giving her a funny look.

"Hey, ... uh ... nothing." Ruthie stammered nervously.

"Then what are you doing?"He couldn't help but laugh a little at how she was acting.

"Oh, uh ... dinner's ready!"

"Yea, I herd. I was just finishing up something before I went down."

Ruthie just stood there, crossed her arm's, and smiled with a little nod.

"Are you sure your Ok Ruthie? Your acting kind of funny."

"Yea, yea I'm fine. We better get downstairs."

With that she turned and walked away rather quickly.

"Ok something is definitely up with her." Martin thought to himself, as he closed his

door, and followed her down the stairs .

Ruthie's POV

"What am I going to do?" Ruthie thought to herself as she came down the stairs

from her room. "What am I going to tell him? I can't tell him, it'll just

cause him more pain." she stopped in front of Martin's door. "I have to tell him."

Right as she was about to knock on the door, it opened. Martin stood there looking

at her like she was crazy.

"Hey Ruth what's up?" He asked, while giving her a funny look.

"Hey, ... uh ... nothing."she couldn't tell him "I can't.Not yet." she thought to herself.

"Then what are you doing?" She herd him laugh softly to himself

"Oh, uh ... dinners ready!" It was the first thing that she could think of to say.

"Yea I herd. I was just finishing up something before I went down." Replied Martin.

She didn't know what else she could possably say, so she just crossed her arms, and smiled with a little nod."He must think I'm nut's!"she thought to herself.

"Are you sure your Ok Ruthie? Your acting kind of funny." He gave her a look of concern.

"Yea, yea I'm fine. We better get downstairs." She felt him watch her turn and walk away, so she walked a little faster.

Downstairs in the kitchen

"Hello Martin."Annie smiled at him.

"Hey." He smiled back. "What's for dinner?"

"Umm well, I was just going to serve left overs ... but I thought you guy's might be tierd of that. I am." She laughed, and so did Martin. "So I decided on letting the boy's decide."(Sam & David)

"And what did they choose?" Asked Martin knowing that it was going to be something weird.

Annie laughed."Breakfast."

Martin laughed lightly, then went to sit down at the table, along with Lucy,Kevin, Sam, David and Ruthie.

They were all talking except for Ruthie, she looked like she was thinking about something important.

He hadn't noticed he was staring at her until he herd Lucy calling out to him.

"Martin?Martin?" Lucy shouted rather loudly, pulling him out of his trans.

Ruthie looked up at Martin apperantly pulled away from her train of thought also, and Martin looked at Lucy.

"Yea?" He replied quickly, trying to avoid the look Ruthie was giving him.

"Are you Ok?" Lucy asked.

"Yea fine. Why?" Came his answer, once again quickly enough to gain more concerned looks from both Ruthie and Lucy.

"Well you kind of zoned out there for a second." Lucy laughed.

"Ooh. I did?Sorry." He tried not to sound embarrassed, but was unsuccessful.

"For what?" Asked Ruthie, finally speaking up.

"Nothing. Ook I'm going to go upstairs and do my homework." As he started to turn, to leave, Ruthie called him.

"Martin ... are you sure your Ok?" She asked. Her voice full of concern, for her friend.

"Yea, yea I'm fine. ... why?" He stammered, mimicking Ruthie's previous answer.

"Well because we already did our homework." She answered, giving him a half sypathetic, half humorous smile.

"Oh yea, ... right ... Ok.Well then let's eat." As he sat down he noticed Lucy giving him a funny look.

And he knew why ... the only thing he didn't know, was why he couldn't stop looking at Ruthie.

"What's going on?"He thought to himself, while everyone else started eating.