Title: "The Day That It's Over"
Author: Juana
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story they are the property of the CW network.
As she stood there alone the movers having finally left she felt cheated that was for sure.
But after her last confrontation with Martin Lily knew that she needed to make things right or they would never be able to be friends…and she still needed him to be her friend.
This was the reason she had decided to return the bed even though it killed her to do so.
She didn't hate Martin just the situation.
And the more she thought about it the more she convinced herself that Ruthie was a phase that he was going through in his quest to remain unmarried.
She really regretted now all the pressure she had been putting on him to marry her reasoning that must have been what sent him down the path to infidelity.
Standing next to the bed Lily loving replaced the picture she had taken from the bedroom it was a picture of her and Martin in Hawaii.
Lily and Martin had gone there for her sisters wedding just last summer and it was one of Lily's fondest memories of her and Martin they had been so happy then.
Hopefully the picture would remind him of their happier times too.
Suddenly without warning the despair of her current life situation hit her and Lily began to break down and fell sobbing onto the bed.
Walking down the hall to his apartment loaded down with groceries Wes noticed the door to Martin's apartment was wide open and putting the bags down glanced inside.
He immediately heard the racking sobs coming from the bedroom and walked over to the open door.
"Lily?" Wes said immediately realizing who the sobbing woman on the bed was.
Startled Lily sat up and wiped at her eyes a little embarrassed to be caught in such a distraught situation.
"I'm sorry…I was just returning some of Martin's things and it just got a little overwhelming." Lily admitted.
Wanting to comfort his friend and now ex-neighbor Wes went and sat down next to her on the bed.
"Is there anything I can do?" Wes asked a little concerned at how upset she looked.
"Can you bring Martin back to me?" "I don't know how to live with out him." She confessed shamefully.
Wes really liked Lily but on that count he had no good news for her and never one to minced words he told her the truth.
"We both know that's not going to be happening Lily." Wes said trying to sound at least a little comforting.
"I know…but it doesn't mean I'm ready to let go yet." Lily told him not holding any truths back.
"No one expects you to be it will definitely take some time." Wes said understanding her pain after having gone through his own horrendous break up with Olivia.
Lily reached over giving Wes a hug.
"I think I'm actually going to miss you a lot." Lily admitted.
"I do tend to grow on people." Wes said turning on a little of his charm.
Slowly Lily stood up putting a small smile on her face.
"Thanks for being here today Wes…I think I might have lain here and cried forever if you hadn't shown up.
"Now that would have been tragic." Wes said giving her a comforting smile.
Lily wasn't sure what exactly what prompted her next request maybe a deep seated need to keep somehow connected to Martin maybe a genuine desire not to lose Wes as a friend…she wasn't really sure.
"Do you think we can we keep in touch?" Lily asked a little hesitantly.
Wes was a little surprised that Lily wanted to keep in touch knowing that the best thing for him after Olivia had been to stay as far away from her and any reminders of her as he could but he also understood Lily's need to hang on to some of her old life too.
"I don't see why not." Wes surprised himself by saying.
Quickly Lily opened her purse and produced a note pad and paper thrusting it in front of him almost as if she was afraid he would change his mind.
And he almost did knowing for a fact that Martin wouldn't like him giving Lily a reason to be around, but as much as he liked Martin he felt really bad for Lily and if she needed a friend he was going to be there for her.
Because after all was said and done the score really did fall in Martin's favor.
Martin was happy with a really great new girl and moving on beautifully.
Lily was a mess with no shred of her life intact anymore.
Martin had been prepared for the break-up while Lily had been blindsided.
It was like that last day of your life…you never actually knew it was the last day until it was over.
And until the day Martin had come home and ended them Lily had had no indication it was coming and without a warning it was just done and her world had come crashing down.
Handing Lily back the note pad with his phone number and cell number now written on it Wes looked seriously at her.
"I have no problem being your friend still Lily…I will however have a problem if you try to use me to get to Martin. Do we have an understanding?" Wes said questioning her motives for the first time.
Lily smiled as she took the paper back. "I just want to retain some of my old life Wes…and we were friends too." Lily reminded him.
"You didn't answer the question Lily." Wes stated not backing down.
Lily didn't want to lie to Wes but she didn't really know the truth all she knew was that she wasn't quite ready to sever this bond.
"We understand each other." Lily said hoping her motives weren't completely Martin centered because she really did like Wes.
Ruthie stood looking at her reflection in the cabin mirror. She was dressed and ready to head to the dance unfortunately without Martin.
After a short discussion they had decided it was best if they continued to keep things under the radar knowing that it was just for the one last night.
A couple of guys had actually asked Ruthie to be their date for the dance but for Martin's sanity Ruthie had elected to go stag with Christine and Felice as her dates for the evening.
With one last turn in the mirror to make sure she looked okay Ruthie and her cabin mates headed out.
The meeting hall had been completely transformed by a few overzealous campers and streamers and balloons were everywhere.
It almost felt like being back in high school at the senior prom something Martin had unfortunately missed because of Sandy and his determination to do the right thing by her.
A waste of a memory now as far as he was concerned since the baby hadn't actually ended up being his.
The minute Ruthie walked into the meeting hall she spotted him, he just stood out in a crowd that way…your eyes were immediately drawn to him and his good looks.
They had decided together that it was best to maintain their distance at the dance but like a powerful magnet they were drawn to each other and before he knew it he was standing in front of her.
"You look amazing." Martin said clearly mesmerized by her.
Without having to be told Christine and Felice quickly disbursed to other parts of the room to leave the love struck couple alone.
"You look edible…I mean incredible." Ruthie said a hint of flirting in her tone as she appreciated how gorgeous Martin looked dressed up in a suit and tie, the green of the tie picking up the hazel tone in his eyes giving them an even more penetrating quality than usual.
As the music started Martin reached out to take Ruthie's hand a glowing smile spreading across his face.
"Let's dance." He said taking charge.
'You do know you're breaking all the rules right now." Ruthie reluctantly reminded him.
"I don't care. I want to spend this night with you no matter what it costs me." Martin said confidently.
Ruthie thought she might melt right there in front of him. This had to be a dream…a really beautiful dream.
"You're saying all the right things." Ruthie told him as she gave him her hand to let him lead her to the dance floor.
Martin smiled as he pulled her into his arms and began to slow dance with her.
No two people could have fit together more perfectly as their bodies molded together as one with not an ounce of space between them.
Martin knew they were being watched and he just didn't care.
Foothill had been his haven since leaving Glen Oak and it had certainly taught him a lot but what he realized now was that he was ready to move on.
And although he didn't really want to be fired he was done pretending that Ruthie wasn't special to him, because she was and he was ready for the world to know it.
As expected as soon as the slow dance ended the director came directly over to him and told him he needed a word with him.
Reluctantly Martin left with him toward the hall as they reached it the director turned to him.
"Is there something you need to tell me Martin?" Director Leroy asked bluntly.
"If you mean about Ruthie…I love her Leroy." Martin said using his friends name instead of title hoping to lessen the blow.
"While I can appreciate that Martin I can't appreciate that you've been fraternizing with a camper behind my back." Leroy stated not very understanding.
"Ruthie and I have known each other for a long time." Martin informed Leroy. "I didn't just decide to hit on some random camper I would hope you know me better than that."
"That doesn't make it okay Martin but seeing as this is the last night here and we are friends…please just keep it decent." Leroy pleaded.
"I have other people to worry about and I don't want it getting back to parents that counselors are dating the kids they are entrusting to us." Leroy admitted.
"Thank you Leroy I'm sorry I kept this from you." Martin said a little relieved that everything was out in the open now.
"I'm not going to lie to you Martin I expected better from you and unfortunately I'm afraid we won't be asking you back next year." Leroy finished removing his friend hat to put the director one back on.
"I understand" Martin said not in the least bit surprised other than to realize it didn't disappoint him like he thought it might at the prospect of not returning next year.
As Martin entered back into the hall Ruthie immediately came up to him.
"Is everything okay?" She asked concerned.
"I won't be coming back next year." Martin told her.
"I'm sorry Martin…this is my fault and I feel horrible." Ruthie said on the verge of tears.
"I'm okay with it Ruthie…I really am. I don't need Foothill to heal me anymore." Martin said hoping to make her understand.
With slow music wafting through the room Martin reached out once again for Ruthie's hand and as she gave it willingly he led her to the dance floor this time respecting Leroy's request and maintaining a physical space between them.
And although it was still dancing it was like denying a thirsty man water trying to keep their distance from each other when all they really wanted was to be close.
"Let's get out of here." Martin said before the song was even half way over.
Ruthie followed willingly as Martin led her off the dance floor and they waited for an opportune moment to sneak out a side door.
Once outside the cool air hit Ruthie giving her a chill and without a thought to his own discomfort Martin removed his coat jacket and put in around her exposed shoulders as the two began walking in the moonlight.
"This has been a pretty amazing three weeks." Martin said as he pulled Ruthie closer and kissed the top of her head.
Neither realized the destination they were headed for until they actually arrived at the shore of the lake and sat down arms still around each other on the sandy ground.
Ruthie turned to Martin a look of apprehension on her face.
"You're sure being with me is really what you want?" She asked.
Martin couldn't contain the look of surprise on his face.
"Of course it is. Why are you questioning this now?" Martin wanted to know.
"I guess I'm just starting to realize how much you've given up for me I just hope I don't turn out to be a disappointment for you." Ruthie admitted.
Martin couldn't believe it this was not the Ruthie he knew, the Ruthie he knew rarely if ever questioned herself, she was confident in all her decisions and actions.
"My expectations are that we will probably butt heads a lot Ruthie because that's who we are but it's the moments like this that will make it all worth it." Martin said gazing into her eyes.
God what was wrong with her she had everything she had wanted for years and she was terrified. She had never questioned whether she was good enough for someone before Martin, she had only questioned if they were good enough for her.
Martin was so different than any other guy who had come before him and he certainly wasn't perfect but still Ruthie couldn't help putting him on a pedestal because he had stolen her heart.
Sensing Ruthie was struggling with something Martin gently placed his hand on the side of her face and leaned in to begin kissing her. When she was ready to share where her doubts were coming from he would be there for her but until then he would gladly share the silence with her too.
Wes did not understand how this had happened. Yesterday he had been giving her his phone number to mostly appease her and today he was waking up next to a naked Lily mentally kicking himself for letting this happen.
He should have just said goodbye to her and let her go but she had seemed so lost that he had invited her over for dinner that night. He had half expected her to say no but she had jumped at the invitation and had arrived at his place promptly and looking worlds better than earlier when he had run into her at Martin's.
There was definitely some alcohol involved but not enough to justify why he had seduced her into his bed and he had definitely been the one doing the seducing.
Sometimes Wes hated what Olivia had turned him into. Before Olivia he had been the guy you took home to mom, faithful, loyal and dependable, after Olivia had dumped him and shredded his pride he had become a regular bar fly taking a different woman home every night in search of the one that would heal the hole in his heart.
The problem was Wes had no respect for a woman who would follow you home from a bar and give up the goods without even knowing your last name. It was a serious rock and a hard place.
As Lily started to stir Wes closed his eyes to try and feign sleep because the truth was he had no idea how he was going to deal with this new development in his life.
Slowly awaking Lily tried to put it all together, a part of her thought it had been a dream but as she turned with a small smile on her face she saw a sleeping Wes and sat up mortified at what she had let happen.
Gingerly she slid out of bed and picked up the pieces of her clothes that she could find before slipping into his bathroom to quickly dress. Her first thought was to just get the hell out of there and figure things out away from him.
Ruthie and Martin entered the hallway of his apartment complex laughing and as they reached the door of his apartment he unlocked it and without warning he scooped her up into his arms to carry her over the threshold.
"What are you doing" "Ruthie said giggling at the unexpected move.
"It's the beginning of our new..." Martin began the sound of a door opening cutting him off as the two turned to see a disheveled Lily exiting Wes' apartment.
Still holding onto Ruthie Martin turned a complete look of surprise on his face.
"Lily?" Martin questioned the answer to what the hell was going on having already formed in his mind.
Lily for her part looked sufficiently guilty until she realized she didn't owe anyone an explanation least of all Martin.
And her first look at Ruthie nestled so comfortably in Martin's arms steeled her resolve to go with her first instinct of just getting the hell out of there.
"I should be going." Lily said simply hurrying past Martin and Ruthie.
She was gone in an instant but the look on Martin's face wasn't and it was a look that fed into Ruthie's already constant doubts.
Their romantic moment shattered by Lily's entrance Martin sat Ruthie down and opened the door for her letting her walk inside his mind clearly on the scene he had just been made privy to .
It was obvious to Martin if not to Ruthie that Wes had put another notch on his bedpost in his quest to forget Olivia but this notch Martin had a problem with and when the time was right he would make sure Wes knew it.
Entering the apartment Ruthie was stunned by the transformation from the last time she had been there. Lily had returned all the missing items and Ruthie could imagine now what it must have been like when Lily and Martin had lived here, particularly since Lily had seen fit to install her and Martin's couple pictures back into their former resting places.
It stung to see the pictures, it stung to see Martin's obvious annoyance with Wes…if this was the beginning of what she was to expect from her new start with Martin it just plain stunk and brought home the point that Lily was still a fixture in Martin's life whether he realized it or not.