"He's just been acting…odd lately," Ruthie said.

Mac shrugged, sure he knew why Martin was acting so strangely lately; the boy was in love! "He's just dealing with college stuff and finals. He'll be fine in a few days. And trust me, he'll make prom night a memorable one for you, Ruthie."

Ruthie watched Mac walk away, heading off to his first class with his usual pit stop at the candy bar vending machine. (Mac was always hungry!) What had he meant by making prom night memorable? Did Martin have something special planned?

Ruthie had begged her parents for permission to extend her curfew. Her father had said no. Her mother, the more logical, understanding of the two, said that Ruthie could be home by midnight. All she cared about was being with Martin, dancing up a storm, dressing up in her beautiful gown and having Martin kiss her under the stairs on her front porch.

"You look like a girl in love," Meredith said coming up to Ruthie.

Ruthie smiled awkwardly at Meredith. They had chatted a few times since her announcement about going to the prom with Mac, but Ruthie still felt weird, especially discussing her relationship with Martin, in front of Meredith.

"Hey. Did you see Mac? He was heading your way."

Meredith smiled. "It's a good thing my locker is on the way to the junk food machine or else I'd probably never see Mac! Are you getting excited about Saturday?"

Ruthie smiled. She was glad that she would be sharing this night with Meredith. Once upon a time the two girls had been close. It would nice to get that friendship back, especially if Martin wouldn't be here next year. "I bought my dress weeks ago. Mary's home, so she's offered to do my hair for me."

Meredith nodded her head. "I thought that Cecilia would be home, but something came up, so I guess I'll just have to figure something else out."

A great idea struck Ruthie so hard it almost knocked her over! "If it wouldn't be too weird, you could come and get ready at my house. With Mary, Lucy, Sarah and my mom, someone's bound to be able to help out with your hair too!"

Meredith beamed. "I'd really like that, Ruthie. I have only one question. Mac told me that Simon came home for Martin's graduation. Did he bring…with him?"

Ruthie made a face. "Yes. Sorry. I forgot that there was someone else with an equal reason for hating her as much as I do. Is that a problem?"

Meredith put her arm around Ruthie's shoulders, like the old times when the two had plotted to get the men they thought they both wanted. "If there's two of us, Sandy won't be a problem."

Martin sighed and looked at his watch. Ruthie had said that she just needed to change. She went upstairs almost twenty minutes ago. In the past, waiting for Ruthie in her kitchen wouldn't have bothered Martin. He probably would have opened the fridge and helped himself. But things were different now. The Camden household no longer felt warm and welcoming. If he didn't know better Martin would swear the Reverend Camden had installed video cameras in every area of this house and was watching him at this very moment!

"Martin!" Eric called coming into the room suddenly.

Martin jumped and clutched his chest. "Reverend Camden, hi."

"Little jumpy there, son. Something on your mind?" Eric asked taking a seat, a little too closely to Martin.

Martin looked away, swallowing hard. He hated the way Eric looked at him; like Martin was about to shed his skin and reveal his true, evil identity. So this is what it's like to date a girl whose father can't stand you? A smart man would know when to quit!

"Martin?" Eric pushed. "You okay?"

Martin nodded his head and attempted a smile, but the effort was feeble. "Just waiting for Ruthie. We're going to the Promenade for a milkshake."

"No exams?" Eric asked.

"I have one tomorrow, but I've been studying like crazy, so this will be a good break before I get back to the books tonight."

Eric observed Martin, fidgeting. A small bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face. Something was going on with this boy and Eric was determined to find out!

"So, prom," Eric said simply.

"Yeah?"

Eric smiled. "Saturday."

"Yes, sir."

"Got any special plans?" Eric asked, hardly able to stop himself from manhandling this boy into a confession.

Martin shook his head and averted his eyes to the stairs, willing Ruthie to come down them and rescue him from this horrible situation.

"Nothing special planned for prom night?" Eric asked skeptically. "Hard to believe that a red-blooded American, eighteen year-old young man wouldn't have anything special planned for his one and only prom."

And that's when Martin cracked. "Okay, Reverend Camden! Why don't you just say what you know?"

Eric sat back surprised by Martin's outburst. He was breaking the kid! "What I know?"

"Yes. You know or think you know something and you're trying to get it out of me, but I have no idea what you want me to say. So, to save us both a lot of time and agony, why don't you just tell me what you know or think you know?"

This was a different approach, Eric thought. He's trying to turn the tables here. How should I best approach this?

"I spoke to Mac the other day and he let the cat out of the bag," Eric confessed.

Martin's face fell. "He told you? Everything?"

Eric nodded his face. "It's best if you just come clean. Cleanse your soul, son."

Martin sighed heavily. "It's something that I want to do, Reverend Camden. I figure that my father probably won't be that happy with my decision, but I know that Ruthie will. It's something she's wanted, but been too afraid to ask for."

Eric face distorted until he was nothing but an ugly shell of his former self. Never in all of his years had he wanted to hit another human being as much as he wanted to hit this boy sitting in front of him.

"And I know that there could be long-term repercussions, but who cares? In the end, if it makes me happy, then so what? I'm actually really glad to have gotten this off my chest, Reverend Camden. I didn't think it would be this easy to tell you, but it really wasn't that bad. And not to be crass here, but the truth is that this decision doesn't really have anything to do with you or Mrs. Camden. But I am hoping that you'll understand and eventually, when you get used to the idea, you'll even be supportive," Martin said.

Ruthie came bouncing down the stairs just then, smiling at her father, who remained speechless. Ruthie gave her dad a small kiss on the cheek, took hold of Martin's hand and headed for the door. Martin turned back and smiled at Eric. "Thanks for the talk, Reverend Camden."