Hope you guys like this next chapter! Enjoy! :)

Ch. 3

"Yes mom, I'm fine," Ruthie reassured her mother for the tenth time that morning. "I got in safely last night but it was so late I didn't want to call the house and wake you or the twins. I'm sorry."

"Well sweetheart I'm just glad you got there okay," said Annie. "Now how is the apartment? Is it in a safe neighborhood? Make sure you go meet some neighbors so if anything happens you have someone to go to for help," her mom said. "Oh and your father wants you to remember that even though your not in Glen Oak anymore you still need to go to Sunday service."

Ruthie adjusted the phone by her ear while opening up a box. "Mom, of course I'm still going to go to church. Remember, dad's a minister, I was raised to be in church on Sunday mornings," she said with a smile. "And yes I'll get out and meet the neighbors, I promise. And the apartment is in a safe area, don't worry so much mom." Ruthie stopped struggling with the box and went to move the blinds and look out the window. She wasn't exactly being honest with her mother, but Annie Camden didn't need to know that. As her mom continued telling her things she should do, Ruthie looked down towards the street and saw a cop car and a taped off scene below. Definitely won't be telling mom about this, she thought. As she listened back in to the conversation she heard her mom mention something about the grocery store.

"I'm sorry mom, what was that?" she asked.

"I said, 'Don't forget to go to the grocery store so you have food to eat tonight" Annie repeated.

"I won't," Ruthie said while she laughed silently to herself. Her mom was such a worrier. Ruthie went back to the box and started taking out some plates and bowls. Luckily she had the necessities back from her old apartment in Glen Oak. "Alright mom" she said as her mother was wrapping up the call. "I'll talk to you soon and don't forget to tell everyone I love them."

"I won't dear," said Annie. "Call after your first day of work and let us know how the lessons went."

"I will, love you mom."

"Love you Ruthie," came her mother's reply.

After hanging up the phone Ruthie started organizing all the kitchen stuff how she wanted. About an hour later her stomach started growling. Well I guess I better make that run to the store,she thought.

After changing into a cute white dress and putting on her favorite brown boots she grabbed her jean jacket and left. Getting into the car she turned the volume up so she could listen to the radio. A man came on talking about the crime scene that was just outside Ruthie's apartment. "Right out front of the Lighthouse apartment complex where a young man was killed in what appears to be an animal attack. The investigation is still on going, but Sheriff Stilinksi from the Beacon Hills Police Department said his people are covering all leads involving this tragedy."

Ruthie felt bad for the man that had died and said a silent prayer to watch over the man's family and friends who were surely going to be grieving his passing. Switching the station over and letting some music lift her mood, Ruthie pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store and headed inside after parking. Walking in after grabbing a shopping cart Ruthie started walking up and down the aisles grabbing items that she could eat. She was choosing what syrup to get when she heard a voice behind her.

"Excuse me, I just need to grab some syrup," she heard.

Ruthie would recognize that voice anywhere. It belonged to the one person she said she'd never think about again. Everyone in the Camden family knew that Ruthie's heart broke the night Martin left. They had tried to get answers from her but all she had told anyone was that he had to leave. She didn't tell them where he went or anything about what they had talked about that night as promised. She also didn't think that when she moved here for a job that she would end up running into him. Who was she kidding, part of the reason she took this job was because of its location. She always hated how they had ended things and she hated herself even more for how she treated him that night.

Turning around she looked at Derek. She saw his polite smile turn into shock as he took her in. "Derek, is it really you?" she asked him, not able to believe it.

"Ruthie," he whispered, before he pulled her into him and held her tightly. She gladly returned his hug and wrapped her arms tightly around him. He's here. I'm in his arms again. She hoped he'd never let her go. All too soon to Ruthie he pulled back from her.

"Ruthie what are you doing here?" he asked. "Where are you staying? When did you get here?"

She laughed at his rapid fire questioning of her and to make sure she didn't stand there staring at him, she went back to looking at the syrup. Finally finding the one that her family used at home she grabbed it and put it in her cart before looking back at him.

"I'm here to start a new job," she told him. "I just got into town last night and am getting all moved into my apartment now. But after unpacking for awhile I realized I was starving and had no food so I decided to make a trip to the store and well, here I am," she said laughing a little.

Derek smiled at her and before he could ask where she was staying they heard Lydia's voice behind him. "Derek it's time to go, come on," she said flipping her hair and walking away.

Ruthie looked at the beautiful red headed girl that was walking away from them and her face fell. Luckily Derek, who had turned around at the voice, didn't see before she mustered up a small smile and looked back at him. "Well I better get going," she said softly. "It was nice to see you again Derek." And without waiting for his response she started pushing her cart away from him and tried to get back into her shopping.

"Ruthie wait," Derek said. And just like that he was back with her all those years ago in Glen Oak, chasing her and trying to explain himself. "Please, let me explain."

She stopped and just stared at him. "Derek I don't want to do this, you don't owe me an explanation," she told him dejectedly, looking at the ground.

"Ruthie you need to give me a chance," he begged. "Please just let me talk to you and explain things."

Ruthie thought about it and decided she could put him to work helping her set up some furniture in her new apartment. "Ok, fine. I'll make you a deal. You come help me set up a few things in my apartment and I'll make you lunch and you can explain what's been going on since we last saw each other."

"Deal," he said with a smile. "Let me just make a call really quick and then we can go."

"I'm just going to pay for all my things and then I'll meet you out front," she told him.

He nodded and walked outside to go call Lydia only to see her leaning against the camaro holding out her hand for his keys. "So," she began with a big grin on her face. "Who was she?"

"It's her," Derek said, still unable to believe that Ruthie was actually here.

"Her," Lydia repeated. "Her as in her," she asked him. "The girl you left back in Glen Oak."

"Yes, it's Ruthie."

"What the hell are you doing out here talking to me," she snapped at him. "Go back and talk to her."

"I'm going to," he said. "I came out here to give you the keys so you could drive the car home. Will you tell everyone else I'll be home later?"

"Yes," she said with a smile. "Hey Derek," she said as he turned to walk away. "I'm happy that she's here. And I'm happy that she makes you happy. Now go get your mate," she said with a wink and a smile.

"You go get yours," he said back as he started to walk towards Ruthie who came out of the store with bags in her cart.

Oh I plan to she thought, as she got into the driver's seat of Derek's camaro and pulled out of the parking lot. She watched as Derek helped load Ruthie's groceries into her midnight blue Honda CRV and got in the passenger seat after opening the driver's side door for her. Smiling to herself Lydia's only thought was this girl is going to change things.

So they're going to talk and hear each other out... maybe. Hope you guys liked this chapter! :)