CHAPTER THREE

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Martin didn't say anything as he drove Ruthie home. He didn't know what to say, everything was confusing now. He could feel Ruthie's eyes on him but he didn't say anything. He pulled up outside of her house, and stopped the car so she could get out.

"Martin," she started.

Martin just sighed.

"What's going on?" she asked

For the first time since they'd gotten in the car, he looked at her. "Look, I'll tell you everything tomorrow, but right now, I just need to be

alone." He wasn't sure if he would tell her tomorrow, but he did need to be alone.

She seemed to accept this for she replied with, "Alright."

She got out of the car, "Goodnight." Martin just nodded at her.

He watched as she walked up the driveway. He wondered what she was thinking, if she was just as confused as he was. Taking one last look, he drove away.

The next day at school was unbearable. Martin avoided Ruthie at all costs and every time he saw her he turned and walked the other way. He'd also been avoiding Meredith and when he saw her waiting by his locker he could tell by her face that she knew something was up.

"Hi," he said approaching her.

"Hey. So, you think you could give me a ride home?"

Glad that she was at least being normal, he replied with "Sure."

They turned and began walking down the hall when he saw Ruthie coming towards them. "Umm …. I left a book in my locker."

"What?"

"Yeah … A book, in my locker. I need to go get it."

"Ok." Said Meredith, she was looking at him funny. Martin just kept watching Ruthie who was getting closer and closer. "I'll be right

back." He practically ran away before Meredith had time to say anything else.

"What was that about?" Ruthie asked, as she approached.

"I don't know, but something weird is definitely going on."

"Tell me about it," said Ruthie, "Martin's been avoiding me all day."

"Really," said Meredith. She was giving Ruthie the same kind of look that she'd just given Martin.

"Yes." Ruthie was staring at her quizzically.

"Well, I have to go find Martin he's giving me a ride home." Ruthie looked incredibly sad at the mention of this.

"Ok, well I'll talk to you later," Ruthie told her.

"Ok. Bye."

Ruthie watched her walk away. It hurt her inside to know that Meredith was still with Martin. Ruthie knew how she felt about him, she knew that deep down, and as much as she could at this age, that she Ruthie Camden loved Martin Brewer. Up until last night she'd always assumed that Martin had only viewed her as friend, but she was starting to think that that wasn't true anymore. As much as she felt guilty about feeling this way because of Meredith she couldn't deny it anymore and she knew that she had to get the truth out of Martin, or make him realize the truth. She still wasn't convinced that he felt the same way, but she needed to take that chance. Smiling to herself, she knew what she had to do.

Meredith had been silent in the car ever since they got in. Martin could tell she wanted to say something, because she kept sighing.

"So, you want to tell me what's up?" he asked her.

"Not really," she replied

"Why's that?"

"Because you're not going to like what I have to say," she replied.

"Oh." Martin didn't know what else to say.

"Fine," she sighed and took a deep breath. "Is something going on with you and Ruthie?"

"What!" Martin almost veered off the road.

"You know what I said."

Martin pulled over to the side of the road and stopped the car. He sighed, and then turned to look at Meredith. He couldn't lie to her, as much as he didn't want to admit his feelings about Ruthie he couldn't lie to Meredith. "Not really," he told her.

"What does that mean?" She asked

"Honestly," Martin replied, "I don't know."

"Oh."

But honestly he did know. He knew that he Martin Brewer loved Ruthie Camden, loved her with all his heart. Meredith was still looking at him. I should tell her the truth, he told himself. He wished he hadn't told Meredith that he loved her it was making this so much harder.

"You don't love me, do you?" she said quietly.

He couldn't really answer her, he just looked at her.

"You're in love with Ruthie, aren't you?"

Martin could feel his heart start to beat and his face beginning to get red at the mention of her name. He merely nodded.

"Well it's no surprise."

He looked up at her, "What?"

"Well everyone knew that this was coming. Everyone can see the way that you guys look at each other."

Martin just stared at her speechless. "What are you talking about? It's not obvious."

"Yes it is, you blush at the mere mention of her name, and Ruthie looks so sad every time I mention yours."

Martin couldn't say anything because deep down he knew that it was true. Now he was wondering about Ruthie, from what Meredith was saying it sounded like Ruthie liked him also. But that couldn't be? His heart skipped a beat at the thought. Realizing that Meredith was waiting for him to say something, "So you're not mad?" After he said it, he realized how insensitive that sounded. "I mean …"

"No it's ok," she said. "Don't. I'm not mad, I mean I am upset but I'll get over it. You can't help who you fall in love with."

"I guess not," he replied. "I never meant to hurt you."

"I know."

He pulled her in for a hug. Now, that he and Meredith had talked he needed to talk to Ruthie. He was sure of how he felt, and he needed to know how Ruthie felt. Even though the possibility of her rejecting him would break his heart he couldn't bear the chance of not knowing. He knew what he had to do.

God, how could I have been so stupid, Ruthie told herself. It is freezing and I have been sitting outside of Martin's house on this porch for the past hour. Where is he? This was such a dumb idea. Then a thought occurred to her, what if he's been with Meredith this whole time? Her heart broke at this thought. God, I sit here for an hour and he's been off with Meredith, his girlfriend, the one he loves, remember, she reminded herself. She was debating leaving when his car pulled into the driveway. There was no turning back now she knew that he'd seen her. "Ruthie?" She could hear him calling her name.

She got up, "Yeah."

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh. Well I just came by to talk to you; you were acting so weird at school." Which was true, he'd been avoiding her all day. This was

the only way that she'd get to talk to him.

He just stared at her incredulously, "You've been waiting here since school ended? But that was over an hour ago."

"I know." She sat down again. "It was just something I wanted to do." She could feel herself start to blush. Why did I think this was a good idea? Martin sat down next to her, as he sat his arm brushed against her, and she felt a surge of electricity run through it. She glanced down at her feet suddenly feeling nervous and realizing that she had no idea what to say.

"So, I broke up with Meredith," she heard him say.

"What!" she looked at him in shock.

"Yeah." He just looked back at her.

"Wow." She pretended to be saddened by the news, but deep down her heart was jumping for joy. "How come?"

Martin was sitting next to Ruthie and he suddenly didn't know what to say. She'd just asked him why he and Meredith had broken up, and he couldn't form the words to tell her why. That it was because of her and that he loved her.

"You don't have to tell me," she said staring at her feet.

He did have to tell her. Do not wimp out now he told himself, you can do it. Worst that can happen she'll tell you that she doesn't love you. Who am I kidding? That news would breakmy heart into a million pieces. Realizing that he was putting his heart on the line with what he was about to say, he took a deep breath, "Well … she seems to think that there is something going on between me and you."

"What?" She jerked her head up and looked at him.

"She seems to think that there is something going on between us."

"No I heard what she said," she told him, she still looked shocked. "What'd you tell her?"

Martin didn't say anything, he just looked at Ruthie, and she looked directly back. In that moment neither one of them had to say anything, they could both tell by the looks in each other's eyes that they were both feeling the same thing.

Ruthie was just staring at Martin. The intense gaze that he was giving her was making her incredibly nervous. She could feel the heat between them growing, and she knew what was coming. She was going to experience a moment that would change her life as she knew it. She inched closer to Martin, and continued staring at Martin. Their faces slowly came closer and closer together until their lips met in the most perfect kiss that Ruthie could ever imagine. She saw fireworks, and she'd never felt happier than she did at this moment, kissing the boy that she loved.

Martin continued to gaze at Ruthie, she looked so beautiful. The intense stare that she was giving him was making him blush. She scooted closer and he knew what was coming, a life defining moment that he had been waiting for. This was no longer Ruthie Camden 'little sister'; this was Ruthie Camden 'love of his life.' As their faces drew closer and closer together he was thinking of no one else but her. Their lips aligned and he felt sparks as his and Ruthie's mouth connected. He had never felt happier than he did at this moment, kissing the girl that he loved.