Martin's POV:
I sat and watched Ruthie laughing and joking with the guys over dinner the girls sitting intermixed with the guys and it seemed like Ruthie was forcing her joyous mood. I knew what Ruthie was like when she was truly happy and right now she was faking it big time.
I know that she said that the whole Jimmy thing was no biggy but still it was buggy her and I just wanted her to show her true colors. Ever since that day when I walked in on Jimmy hitting her she's been putting on a front as if to lure people away from prying and trying to figure out what's really going on.
Lately she'd been showing her true colors when we were hanging out at my apartment or in Simon's but when we went somewhere she was always so happy and so perky. She was really trying too hard to show that she was okay.
As the group broke up to head home I pulled Ruthie aside and saw the scared tired look in her eye. I knew that she was going to break down soon and just hoped that she would be okay this time. No matter how much she tried to deny it her last encounter with Jimmy had really shaken her up this time.
I knew after it happened and we went to the batting cages she was just there to make me happy. And I felt bad for bringing it up, I should've just forgot all about it but she looked so scared and sad that I just had to cheer her up.
She decided not to tell her family about it and I couldn't go behind her back and tell them because she wouldn't trust me. It was bad enough that she won't tell me anything anymore. She keeps everything bottled up and it kills me to see her. She acts like she can't trust anyone for fear that they'll hurt her.
I just want to tell her that nobody will hurt her and that I'm here for her but she barely acknowledges me anymore. She needs to realize that she's hurting me and that I'm only trying to help. As I drove her home she looked out the window not paying any attention to me. I feel like she wants nothing to do with me and every time I try to get her to talk to me it turns into a full fledged fight.
I stopped in front of Simon's building and she turns to me. "Wanna come in?" I nodded knowing that this is probably the only time she'll acknowledge me for another week. I parked the car and we silently walked into Simon's apartment. She walked into her room to change leaving me in the living room by myself. She sits next to me and turns towards me.
"Ruthie, we need to talk." She nods twirling a piece of her long curly hair. "What's going on with you lately?"
"Nothing's going on." I hear the anger in her voice and instantly throw my hands up in surrender.
"I don't wanna fight I just wanna talk. You're ignoring me and it hurts. I'm not Jimmy and I would never hurt you. I love you and I know that you're trying to get over it but talk to me. Don't shut me out and then you get mad at me for not paying you attention. I just want you to trust me again; I don't want to fight with you anymore." She looks down and I can see the tears streaming down her face. Without thinking about it I pulled her close to me holding her as she sobbed.
We sat there for awhile before Simon came home from class. He looked at me and I just nodded. He knew she was gonna break down and he just left us there. 20 minutes later after Simon left for work Ruthie stopped crying and fell asleep on me. I picked her up and carried her to her room feeling like we were finally back on track. She still had to finally move on but this was a step in the right direction.
