Martin knew his time was running out. He knew that 3 monthes was pushing the envelope. Ruthie was getting tired of waiting, Annie was getting tired of waiting, MARTIN was getting tired of waiting. What was keeping Martin from telling Mr. Camden was the fact that he might not even let Martin and Ruthie see each other again after Martin tells him. Ruthie was his life, Ruthie was everything! He couldn't bting himself to risking everything.

"Martin, It's been three monthes," said Ruthie closing her bedroom door after Martin walked in. "Don't you think your throughing this whole thing a little out of perportion?"

"No. What if your parents say we can never see each other -"

"Come on!" Ruthie interupted, "My parents would never do that to me! Martin, I want them to know - I need them to know." She said simply.

"I know Ruthie. I'll do it. I'll tell them," Martin said trying to convince himself.

"You've been saying that for 3 monthes now, hav'n't you?" Ruthie whispered, but she meant for Martin to hear, she thought it would add a dramatic touch. "I can't wait anymore. I said I'd wait, but I thought you liked me enough to tell my parents that you liked me. I still love you Martin, but I can't wait forever. I'm not reserving myself anymore, Martin. I'm going to see other guys. I think... I think that that will be the right thing to do seeing as you have your heart bent on breaking mine."

"I don't want to break your heart!" Martin shouted, and he was surprised at his sudden out-cry.

"Well, that doesn't really matter now, does it! You already have broken my heart!" Ruthie said with one tear falling down her rosey cheek.

Martin could not see her cry, "I just need time Ruthie. Just a little more time and- "

"I've given you time," Ruthie said bowing her head down to the ground.

"Ruthie, don't," Martin pleaded as his eyes filled up with hot liquid.

"I have to Martin," she said taking a gasp of air, "I have to."

Ruthie walked slowly out of the room. When she was out of ear-shot, Martin let out a big breath of air he had created while trying not to cry. Him and his stinkin masculinity. He turned around and slid his hand through his hair, taking deep breaths as his face reddened. "I need her!" he shouted, as he kicked Ruthies bed. Martin instantly fell to the ground, gripping his toe in pain.

"I need her," he breathed.

A week had gone by and things between Martin and Ruthie were weird. Ruthie would talk to Martin like their relationship never happened. She'd come up to him and have conversations with him, like she did before any of this ever happened. Martin knew that inside of her heart, even though their relationship had gone astray, Martin was the best friend she had ever had. It was painful for both of them. But, Ruthie hadn't given up yet.

Ruthie grew up in her family being the spy, the wise one, the all-seer. Ruthie knew how people worked. She knew what she was going to have to do to finally, truly get Martin.

"Hey Martin," Ruthie said casually to Martin as she spotted him at his locker.

"Hey Ruthie," Martin said turning awckwardly towards her, having a hard time looking her in the eye.

"Umm, I was just wondering. We hav'n't spent much time together lately, so I was wondering if you wanted to go to the pramanade with me after school?" Ruthie said with a suggestive look on her face.

Martin instantly knew the answer he was going to give, and Ruthie did too. But of course Martin couldn't damage his so called "masulinity". So he prolonged the "umms" and the "wait let me see if have to do somthing..." to add a little masculinity points. "Sure, I'll go," he said slowly. He was dancing the cha cha slide inside. He actually thought it was his chance to win Ruthie back! "Meet me at my car after school. Ok?"

"It's a date," said Ruthie turning around and walking away. She thought to herself "just enough mystery." Martin started to blush at the word date. He was already planning what Ruthie and him would do at the mall. Just as Ruthie had planned.

Both Martin and Ruthie had had an acceptionally good day at school. Thay spent all day thinking about each other, but the other would never know. Ruthie stand outside Martin's car, waiting for him to arrive. When she saw Martin walking up to her, she couldn't wait to exsecute her plan. It was going to be great.

"Hey," Martin said, unlocking the doors.

"Hey," Ruthie said getting into the car. "How was your day?" Ruthie asked nicely.

"Good...good," Martin said, turning on the engine.

"Soooo...I say we get the radio going. How 'bout you?" said Ruthie, trying desprately to be casual.

"Sure, whatever station you want," he said, at this point he would give anything to Ruthie for him to be in her favor.

Ruthie flipped through the stations until she came across the station that was playing her song... "No one", by Ali and AJ.

I am moving through the crowd

Try'na find myself

Feel like a guitar that's never played

Will someone strum away?

Ruthie layed her head down on the seat rest and started to sing the words of the song. Martin looked over at Ruthie, all he could see was an innocent girl singing. She looked so beautiful, and rested. He kept regretting letting her turn on the radio because all he wanted to do was look at her. And that was definitely a better site then the street in fron of him.

And I ask myself

Who do I wanna be?

"Martin's girlfriend" Ruthie thought to herself.

Do I wanna through away the key

And invent a whole new me?

And I tell myself

No one

No one

Don't wanna be

No one

But me

Ruthie turned off the radio quickly as tears started to swell up in her eyes. That song was exactly how she felt. Only she was the guitar. Martin looked over quickly, wondering why Ruthie had so suddenly turned off the music.

"Are you alright?" Martin asked.

"Yea, I'm fine," Ruthie said laying her head back down on the seat.

"Well, we're at the pramanade. So, you wanna get some pizza or somthing?"

"Sure," said Ruthie, getting out of the car and smoothly dabbing her teary eyes. She knew this was where she was going to unleash her plan. And in order for it to work she needed to be swift, and smooth. Martin and Ruthie walked to the pizza shop, chatting on the way there. "What kind of pizza do you want?" asked Ruthie innocently looking at her menu.

"You choose," he said, "I have weird taste in pizza."

"Cheese please," Ruthie said to the waiter.

"Soooo..." said Martin, "I wanted to - "

Martin was cut off by a person so rudely showing up at Martin and Ruthies table. It was a boy with blonde spikey hair, and a relativly big head.

"Hi, my name is Cory," said the stranger.

"Hi, Cory," said Ruthie. She was surprised her plan had been started so quickly. "I've seen you in school right?"

"Yea, you have. I'm a grade higher, though. I've been trying to get a chance to talk to you - "

This is where Martin drew his line, "Yea, umm, me and Ruthie are trying to have some pizza, so - "

"Why don't you have some with us!" Ruthie re-interupted.

Martin threw Ruthie an exasperated look, and Ruthie just gave him a grin. Ruthie knew her plan was working. The pizza arrive and everyone dug in. Martin just ate his slice slowly, watching Vincint. He knew what Vincint was trying to pull. Hw was trying to pick up HIS girlfriend. Martin couldn't let this happen.

"Umm, Ruthie, Are you and Martin dating?" asked Vincent randomly.

"Nope," Ruthie said simply. Martin cringed when he heard her say that.

"Well, I was wondering if maybe I could have your number, or I could give you mine. Either or is fine." Cory said.

Martin knew Ruthie was going to say no. Ruthie would not give her number to a boy she just met. He knew she wouldn't fall for a play like Cory was trying to pull.

"Sure!" she said, pulling out a pen and a pad from her bag. She started scribbling down her number. Martin thought desprately. He raked his mind for a way to get Ruthie out of this. And only one thing came to mind. Martin grabbed the pad and smashed it into the remaining pizza. Cory looked at Martin, puzzled, like he was a mad-man. He must have looked like one, him just smashing a pad into the pizza he had bought with his own money.

"Come on Ruthie!" shouted Martin. He grabbed her arm and pulled, they were at the car within seconds.

"What was that!" Ruthie shouted, as though she wasn't expecting this whole thing to happen.

"He wasn't good enough!" Martin exhaled.

"I know, I know Martin! No guy is good enough for me. I diserve better, right?" Ruthie yelled, stopping, and gazing into Martin's eyes.

"Yes! You disserve better! You disserve - " Martin was cut off.

"You, Martin! I disserve you!" Ruthie screamed with a bit of obviousness in her voice.

"I'm telling your dad. Tonight. I'm telling him. I can't take this anymore. I need you. When you started to give your number to Vincent, I realized it. I need you to be with me, and only me. And if I have to take the chance of telling your dad, then that's a chance I'm willing to take. I promise."

Ruthie let out a long breath, and got into the car. Martin ran to the other side of the car and got in.

"Finally," Ruthie said looking into Martin's eyes as he got in the car.

"What do you mean by finally?" He said giving Ruthie a mysterious slash relieved look.

"Oh...just that I set this whole thing up so you would give me that very promise," Ruthie said letting a smile spread across her face.

Martin let out a sigh of understanding, and smiled. "You're good, Ruthie. You're good." He said grabbing Ruthies face and pulling into a passionate kiss.

I THINK THIS IS THE LONGEST CHAPTER I HAVE EVER WRITTEN. AT MY READERS REQUEST OF COURSE. PLEASE REVIEW ME AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THOUGHT!