As Ruthie rode her horse, all Martin could think of was Ruthie getting hurt.He could see her falling off the horse easily. Hurting herself. He couldn't stand it much longer. Martin sat on the bench waiting for practice to be over. As Ruthie walked out, she walked slowly. Martin knew she didn't feel fine. He knew she was exhausted.

"Well, since your going to follow mw home, we might as well get somthing straight." Ruthie said walking up to Martin slowly.

"What?" Martin said handing Ruthie a water bottle.

"I want you to know thst I really don't... I don't," Ruthie started to sway, she looked dazed. Ruthie started to fall, but Martin grabbed her.

"Ruthie! Ruthie! Wake up! Can you hear me? Ruthie!" He yelled.

She opened her eyes slightly and said in a long sigh "I"m sorry Martin."

Martin had Ruthie in his arms as he ran all the way to the hospital. He knew this was going to happen. He knew that Ruthie was going to get herself hurt. When Martin reached the hospital he whispered into Ruthies ear:

"Don't ever do this to me again, Ruthie," he said as he ran into the hospital emergency room and handed Ruthie to the doctor.

"Whats wrong?" the doctor asked.

"She fainted. I thing she's exhausted." Martin said with his hand over his head.

"Room 302B!" The doctor yelled as he started to walk away.

"Doctor! Is she going to be alright?" Martin said with a desprate look on his face.

"I think she'll be fine," the doctor said with a reassuring smile.

An hour later, the doctor came out with a good look on his face. Martin could not think of what he was going to say.

"Ruthie wants to see you," the doctor said, pointing to the room.

Martin walked slowly to the room, as if he was thinking of what to say. He didn't want to say the wrong thing to Ruthie, especially when she might be PMS-ing.

"Hello?" Martin said as he walked into the room.

"Hey," Ruthie said with an exhausted voice. "I am really sorry, Martin. I know I really messed up. Here you are warning me that I had an unhealthy schedule, and I say I don't need a babysitter. Obviously I do." She said with tears swelling up in her eyes.

"Don't say that Ruthie. You were hurting. You were trying to get your mind off of the thing that was making you hurt. a lot of people do the same thing," Martin said, pushing Ruthies hair out of her face.

"Why did you care so much though. I was being such a jerk to you," she said sniffing.

"Ruthie. I don't know right now. For some reason...I can't stand to see you in pain. It makes me want to punch the daylights out of myself. I always feel like it's my fault," He said scratching his head.

"Well, Martin. I wanna say thanks, for everything you've done. And that I love you," she said as Martin looked up in surprise, "I mean...like a brother," She said looking down at her fingers.

"I love you too," Martin said, standing up.

"You forgot to say like a sister," Ruthie said before Martin got the chance to get out the door.

Martin turned and smiled at Ruthie:

"No I didn't."

As Martin left the hospital, he saw Annie and Eric arriving.

"Ruthie's fine," Martin said smiling at the Camden parents.

"Thankyou Martin. Thankyou," Annie said hugging Martin.

The only thing that was running through Martind head was a short, but meaningful phrase:

"I love Ruthie."