While Mary and Ben were still kissing, Robbie realized that neither one of them had heard him walk into the room. He still had very strong feelings for Mary but couldn't get up the courage to tell her, she seemed so happy with Ben. But this afternoon he had made up his mind that if he never told her, she would never know, so he called but she wasn't home.

Now watching Mary and Ben express their love for each other and seeing the ring on Mary's wedding finger was like getting stabbed in the stomach over and over. He felt a feeling of nausea rush over him and he turned quietly and slowly so that neither of them would hear him.

As he was making his way up the back stairs, he ran into 15 ½ year old, Simon, who was on his way down to get something to eat from the kitchen.

"Hey, Robbie! How was work today, man?"

"Ummm….work, work, work. Did I even go to work today? Sorry, I'm not feeling too well. I think that I'm going to go upstairs and lie down for a little bit. Tell your mom not to bother fixing dinner for me."

Whew, Robbie thought to himself, I just barely escaped that one. I can't ever let anyone know about my feelings for Mary. If I did, she might find out! But I just got to tell someone. I'm gonna burst if I cant get this off of my chest!

Robbie knew that one of the people that he could trust the most was Ruthie. He walked to her door and knocked gently.

"Hi, Robbie, cmon in!'

"Hey ruthie, listen, I was just wondering, could I talk to you about something personal?"

"Yeah, sure. Tell me everything that is on your mind."

"Well, you know Mary's new boyfriend, Ben? I think that they might be engaged. I just walked into the living room and they were there and Mary had a diamond ring on her finger. You know that I still love her, don't you?"

"Wow, I cant believe that you are trusting me with all of this information! But I can see that you still have feelings for Mary. I think that the best thing for you to do would to tell Mary how you feel and hope that she feels the same way back."

"ok, thanks, Ruthie, I don't know what I would do without you.

SAME TIME DOWNSTAIRS

"Oh, my gosh, Ben, I just cant believe that we are getting married!! But think of all of the things that I have to do!! Is it ok if my dad marries us? When do you want to set the date? What color should the bridesmaids dresses be??"

"Mary, Mary, Mary," Ben said while enveloping her into a comforting hug. " You need to just calm down! We have to take things one step at a time!! We haven't even told anyone yet! When do you want to tell your parents?

" I think that probably tonight after they get back from their movie. I don't know where Lucy and the twins went, she's babysitting, but Ruthie's upstairs, and Simon is probably gone. If we wait until later, then we can tell everybody at the same time."

"What about your old boyfriend, Robbie? Doesn't he live here too?"

"Yeah, but I think that he still is at work. I don't really want to tell him right now. Oh, yeah! I almost forgot! I was about to call him right when you called! I'll be right back, sweetheart."

Mary ran up the stairs, all the way knowing that Ben's deep brown eyes were watching her. She was almost to her room and was turning the corner when she ran straight into Robbie! She was so surprised that the momentum of the run in made her fall to the floor. Robbie looked at her with an astonished look on his face.

"Mary! Oh my gosh, I am so sorry! I should have been watching where I was going!"

Mary held out her hand for Robbie to help her up. Robbie reached down to grab her hand and was surprised by the softness of it. Once she was up, he held onto it for a moment more, not wanting to let go.

The gentleness of the touch startled Mary. She remembered having his hand caress her face and arms. Mary suddenly awoke from her daydream and noticed that Robbie was still holding her hand

"Robbie, you can let go of my hand now, im okay, I promise."

"Hmm…. what?? Oh! Yeah, sorry about that, I lost my train of thought. Are you sure that you are all right? Im so sorry, I will try to be more careful next time, its just that I have a lot of things on my mind and…."

"Robbie. I Promise. I am okay. I was just coming up to call you but I guess that you are already home."

"Yeah well, I guess that we could talk about it now, do you have a minute?"

"Sure, Ben is downstairs, but he can wait for a moment."

Mary followed Robbie into the room that Simon and him shared. It was messy with clothes lying in piles all over the room. The two beds were unmade and there was an empty pizza box laying inbetween them.

"Oh, my gosh," Mary giggled," I don't know how you can live in this kind of pigsty!"

Robbie smiled nervously and tried to reassure himself that he was going to do the right thing by telling Mary how he felt.

"Mary, ever since we broke up after you came back from Buffalo, I can't seem to get you out of my mind. Everything that I do reminds me of things that we used to do together. I miss holding you in my arms and your soft kisses. I was thinking the other day about one of the times that your dad caught us making out in the living room."

When Robbie said that, Mary couldn't help but giggle. She remembered that time, perhaps too well. She thought of it every time that she missed Robbie.

Robbie continued, " It was then that I realized that I loved you once, and I will love you forever. Even now that you are engaged to Ben.."

Mary gasped, " How did you know that I was engaged to Ben?"

"Well, I walked in and saw the ring on your finger and I just assumed, but anyways, that is besides that point. What I mean is…"

All of a sudden Robbie reached under his pillow on his bed and pulled out a tiny burgundy velvet box. Mary gasped and choked down a feeling of shock.

"Marry me, Mary Camden, and you will make me the happiest man on earth."

It took Mary and moment to realize what Robbie was actually saying to her. But her mind was reeling and she was feeling a little dizzy.

"I don't know. I just don't know, " was all she could say before passing out on the bed.