CHAPTER TWO

Ruthie was staring into her closet trying to figure out something to wear. It shouldn't be this difficult to pick out an outfit, she told herself. But, I want to look good, but not like I'm trying to hard. What is it about Meredith that makes Martin want her? She wondered. What does Meredith have that I don't? She's not that much older than me. She started to feel guilty, Meredith is my friend, and I shouldn't be thinking like this. Staring at her short black skirt, an idea came over her. She studied herself in the mirror, perfect, she smiled to herself. She had decided on a short black skirt, black tights to wear under it, a white t-shirt, and then her light pink corduroy jacket, and then finally her black flat boots. She smiled again, perfect! She dabbed on a little lip gloss then headed downstairs to wait in the kitchen.

"Well don't you look nice," Eric said as she walked into the kitchen. He was sitting at the table reading the newspaper.

"Thanks," said Ruthie smiling. She sat down at one of the stools.

"So, what's going?" her dad asked

"Nothing. I'm just waiting for Martin."

"Really?" Eric was surprised. "You're going out?"

"Yeah."

"But it's a school night." Eric told her.

"I know," Ruthie said. "But, we're only going to the promenade, we'll be back in an hour or so. Mom said it was ok."

"Oh, she did, huh?" Eric didn't like this. He was looking at his daughters face, she was glowing. He had recently been informed that

Ruthie liked Martin, and while he liked Martin he wasn't sure if he was ready for them to start dating. "Isn't Martin still dating

Meredith?"

"Yes," said Ruthie, looking at him questioningly.

Eric just looked back at her with raised eyebrows.

"What!" said Ruthie getting annoyed. "We're just hanging out. I mentioned to him how we never hang out anymore, and he suggested

that we get ice cream or something." Ok, that's not exactly true, but either way we are still just hanging out. "Martin only sees me as a

friend, and for your information he told Meredith that he loved her."

Eric looks taken aback, "Oh."

Ruthie just sighs.

Eric watches his daughter and he can see how upset this makes her, and decides not to press the subject any further. He gets up, he

kisses her on the head, "Have fun." He leaves to go upstairs.

Martin pulled into the Camden's driveway. He was debating whether to just honk, but decided it would be more polite to go up to the door. He didn't want to run into Eric again. Yesterday he'd been asking a lot of weird questions and it had made him very uncomfortable. He got out of the car and made his way up to the back door, he was starting to feel nervous again, he could feel his heart beating. Get, a grip. He knocked on the door, Ruthie must have been expecting him because she opened the door right away.

"Hey," she said.

He looked at her. Wow, she looks beautiful. For once, she didn't seem to be wearing a lot of makeup, so he could see how naturally pretty she was. His eyes traveled down her outfit, she was wearing a short skirt. Realizing what he was doing, he averted his eyes to her face. She was looking at him expectantly. He took a big gulp. "Hi." He swallowed.

"What's the matter with you?" Ruthie asked.

"What!"

"You look weird," she said. "Pale or something."

"I'm fine," Martin replied. "You look really nice."

She seemed surprised at his comment, but then a big smile broke across her face.

"Thanks."

"So, then, shall we?"

Ruthie stepped outside, and began walking to the car. What am I doing, Martin thought shaking his head. This is Ruthie Camden, the girl you lived with for a year. You shouldn't be thinking these kinds of thoughts, what would she do if she knew? Maybe she'd be happy, he thought. There had been times when he thought that she liked him, but he'd always brushed it off. Wait, stop. What are you doing? You're with Meredith, he reminded himself. Shaking his head, he ran to catch up with Ruthie.

The ride to the promenade was fairly quiet. Ruthie kept glancing over at Martin, he wasn't even looking at her, his eyes were just on the road. Something is going on with him. He'd had this weird look on his face when she'd opened the door. He'd just sort of stared at her, with this half smile on her face and then he'd told her that she looked nice. Wait, does Martin like me, she wondered. There had been times when she thought that he had liked her, but she'd always brushed it off. Of course he doesn't like me, she told herself, I'm Ruthie Camden, 'the little sister' but even as she was thinking these thoughts she was beginning to realize that this wasn't quite so true anymore. She could feel that something was different.

"So, can I ask you something?" Ruthie asked. They were sitting on a bench, enjoying one of the last warmer nights of fall before it started

to get cold again.

"Sure," Martin replied as he took a bite of his ice cream.

"Why do you like Meredith so much?" Ruthie had been debating asking him this, but it was something that had been bugging her and she

just wanted to know.

"What?" Martin almost choked on his ice cream.

"I said, 'why do you like Meredith so much'"

"Why do you want to know?"

Ruthie thought for a second, "I don't know. I was just wondering, you don't have to tell me anything." Why are you avoiding the

question, she thought to herself. She looked at him.

Martin sighed, "Well she's pretty, she's smart, and we get along really well."

"Oh."

"What?" said Martin.

"Just … that's it?"

"What do you mean 'that's it'?" Martin asked, beginning to get annoyed.

"Well those things could describe a number of people. They could even describe me, and we both know that you're not interested in

me."

Martin raised his eyebrows at that comment.

"So," she continued. "Why do you like Meredith so much?"

Martin sighed. He didn't know what to say. He felt really bad that he couldn't answer such a question about the girl he supposedly loved. Wait, supposedly? I do love Meredith, he told himself. Who are you trying to fool? You don't love Meredith. Yes I do!

"So …." Ruthie was still staring at him expectantly.

Martin just looked at her. She looked so innocent, so pure, and oh so pretty. He could feel his heart start to beat again as he just stared at her. Ruthie reached over to touch his arm and he felt a surge of electricity rush through his arm. She was just staring at him. Having her being so close to him, he had a strong desire to lean in and kiss her.

Ruthie's heart was beating really fast. Martin hadn't said anything to her since she'd asked him why he liked Meredith so much. She'd leaned in and touched him on the arm to make sure that he was ok, and now he was just sitting there staring at her and she couldn't help but stare back. The intense gaze that they were both giving each other was what was making her heart beat so fast. As she looked up at Martin's face, she had a strong desire to grab him and pull him in for a kiss.

Martin could feel their faces starting to get closer and he couldn't take it anymore, he turned his gaze away from her. He thought that he heard Ruthie sigh, but he wasn't sure.

He didn't know what to think, did Ruthie and I almost kiss? He sighed, he glanced at Ruthie and she was just sitting there staring at the ground. As he looked at her he realized what the problem was, and why he couldn't answer Ruthie's question. It wasbecause he didn't love Meredith, he loved Ruthie. With that realization he jumped up with a start. This can't be happening, I cannot love Ruthie Camden.

"Uh, I have to go," he told her. "I'll drive you home."

"What? Martin, what is going on?" Ruthie got up.

"I have to go." He repeated.

He started walking towards the car, and Ruthie had no choice but to follow.