Ruthie POV

Once we got to Martin's apartment, I went straight to the fridge to see what he had. He leaned on the wall watching me as he lazily asked "what are you searching for?"

"Food" I replied as Martin laughed at me before picking up the phone and ordering a large pie.

As we waited for the pizza to arrive, I took my homework out and started working on it. A few minutes later I glanced over at Martin to see what he was doing and he was staring intently at the textbook in front of him as he jotted notes on the pad.

It was moments like this that made all the pain I had suffered worth it. Martin was the only guy I could sit with in silence and feel comfortable about it.

The doorbell rang, 45 minutes later jarring us out of our homework and Martin got up to pay the delivery man, while I took out plates and glasses and set them on the coffee table in the living room.

We each took a slice of pizza and sat down to watch some baseball game that Martin had turned on. A few minutes into the second inning I grabbed the stack of magazines that I purposely kept at Martin's and began thumbing through them.

Halfway through the fourth inning, Martin finally noticed that I was not watching the game and said "Did you want to watch something else?"

"No I'm fine" I replied with a smile. It was nice to see him smile and relax, considering that his whole life changed a few days ago.

At 10:00, when the game finally was over I said "I need to get home. I didn't realize it was this late. I have to get up early tomorrow to prepare for my presentation"

"Why don't you stay here and I'll drop you off tomorrow at school" Martin suggested, not even looking at me as he carried the dishes to the sink.

"Are you sure? I don't want to impose…" I began as Martin cut me off and said "of course I'm sure. You can take my bed and I'll take the couch" I didn't know what to say, I mean Martin was totally not acting like himself.

"Why don't you get ready for bed and I'll call Simon. You have your stuff here so you may as well stay" he said finally as I yawned and said "Okay" and made my way to his bathroom.

As I brushed my teeth and washed my face, I remembered the first time I had stayed over.

Flashback

It had been a week after we returned home from Scotland and I was still reeling from the fact that my dad had a year to live and Martin and Sandy were going to get married.

It had been an awful day and I was dreading going to my house because Simon had to go out of town and my mother was worried about me staying by myself. Martin had happened to be there when I threw the biggest temper tantrum in history.

"I can't believe you still think I'm a baby! I went half way around the world by myself and could have done anything and you wouldn't know and you want me to stay here because Simon isn't home?"

"Ruthie, it's just for two nights"

"Two nights living here mother, close to…" and I had stopped when I realized I was going to say the reason I couldn't stay home.

"You can stay with me" Martin had offered as I smiled at him. My mother, on the other hand, looked almost alarmed.

"That's very kind Martin but I really don't think that's appropriate.."

"Why not?" I demanded "Martin has lived with us for two years and he's like my brother"

"but he's not your brother" my mother had replied and just as I was going to say something else me Dad intervened and said "Annie, why don't you let her go."

"Eric.. are you.." but it was too late because I flew towards my dad and kissed his cheek "Thanks Daddy"

"You must call at night and we must see you both for dinner" Mt dad said as Martin and I agreed and I grabbed my bag and headed towards the car.

End of Flashback

I smiled at the memory. The first night we stayed up all night long, watching scary movies and by the time we were ready to go to bed I was too scared and Martin had to sleep on the floor of his bedroom that night.

After that week, I found myself sometimes staying over and then I started leaving things here, wondering if Sandy ever noticed or if Martin even cared that I was taking up space in his apartment.

The only difference about tonight was that he invited me over. I usually had to invite myself. So what exactly did that mean? On top of that, where was he taking me that would require us staying over two nights in a row? It was all very confusing.

When I got out I noticed that Martin had already pulled the sheets back for me and was getting some blankets from his closet.

"Are you sure you don't want the bed? I can take the couch"

"Ruthie it's fine. Night"

"Good night" I replied before giving him a hug and jumping into his bed. As I tried to get comfortable I sighed, the bed smelled entirely of Martin. This was just another reminder of how close I was yet still so far away.

I awoke the next morning to the smell of bacon frying. Once I took a shower and got dressed, I walked into the kitchen where Martin was scrambling eggs.

"Dinner and Breakfast? I'm a lucky girl"

"yes you are" Martin replied with a wink as I sat down and took a sip of orange juice.

"So I was thinking" Martin began as he set a plate in front of me and sat across from me "That we could go to the movies tonight"

"To see?" I asked as I took a bite of my eggs

"Your choice"

"My choice?"

"Sure" he easily replied as he took a sip of his juice.

"Really?" I asked surprised as Martin laughed before replying "Why do you keep asking that? Yes really"

"Okay, I'm meeting Noah later and then I'm going to have dinner at Mom and Dad's. You should come"

"Do you think Sandy will be there?"

"I don't know maybe"

"I'll think about it" he said at last and I nodded in satisfaction. Whenever Martin said that it was usually a yes.

After school, I met Noah at the coffee shop as went over the logistics of a possible CD. He finally said after "So love, tomorrow is the big day huh?"

"Yes it is" I replied happily as he laughed.

"17 is a great age" Noah went on as I looked at him and asked "I guess so"

"It really is and 17 isn't as young at 16, you know?"

"Yes that's true" I replied as Noah cleared his throat and said "So Friday is dinner with the family right?"

"Yes that's the plan" I replied as I took a sip of my vanilla latte.

"So maybe we can do something on Saturday?"

"Oh that would be fun but I have plans"

"No worries love, how about Sunday then?"

"I won't be free till late and I have school on Monday"

"Alright, perhaps I'll see you tonight then"

"Okay and if not we can always have breakfast tomorrow morning since I don't have school tomorrow"

"Sounds like a plan"

Just then my cell rang and I picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hi, where are you?" It was Martin

"I'm at the coffee shop with Noah, we were going over some things"

"Did you need a ride home?"

"Sure, if it's not too much trouble"

"No, I just got out of practice. Do you mind stopping at my place before going to dinner?"

"Nope"

"Cool, I'll see you in fifteen minutes"

"Okay bye"

"Bye" he replied before hanging up.

"Was that Martin?" Noah asked me as I replied "yes"

"Well I'll see you tonight or tomorrow love"

"Alright have a nice night" I replied as I gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Exactly fifteen minutes later, Martin walked in his baseball uniform looking sweaty, dirty, and hot. He smiled when he saw me and took my bag from me.

"Practice was fun?' I asked as he rolled his eyes and replied "Coach is killing us and we are in the off season"

"Well he probably wants to make sure you guys are ready for the season"

"I suppose" Martin replied as we got into the car and drove to his place. Once we got there, Martin handed me a key.

"What's this?" I asked as he took his shoes off and was in the process of taking off his shirt.

"It's a key"

"Duh, I know that. What key is it for?"

"It's for here. You're over here more than Simon's so you might as well have a key. This way you can come over whenever you want to"

"Really?" I asked as Martin rolled his eyes and replied "Ruthie, half your stuff is here. It just makes sense."

"Thanks" I said as I rushed up to give him a hug as he hugged me back in return before I realized that he was dirty and shirtless.

"Brewer take a shower, you smell" I said finally as I stepped away from him to avoid any sort of awkwardness. Luckily he reacted just as I hoped as he replied "You're the one that launched yourself at me, not the other way around"

"Whatever, you know you enjoyed it" I replied saucily as I gave him a wink and walked away, as Martin laughed once more and went into the bathroom to shower.

Once I heard the shower running I jumped up and down and quietly squealed.