Christmas was perfect for the Camdens and Ruthie most of all. She didn't expect such a great gift from Martin; when he handed her the small box Ruthie instantly felt bad for the gift she got Martin. She opened the box and saw the most beautiful necklace inside. She kissed Martin and went into kitchen holding back the tears that she wouldn't let fall in front of him. She didn't know why she was crying for what made her cry.

Martin just left Ruthie to be alone because she had that look on her face meaning she wanted to be alone. So he talked to Simon about nothing special. After awhile Martin started worrying so he went into the kitchen and Ruthie wasn't there. He started worrying and searched the whole house but didn't find her. He went outside and saw here sitting on the picnic table.

"Here you are; you had me so worried."

"I think that we should take some time off."

"What?"

"I mean I'm holding you back; you should be having fun at school and not worrying if you do something that I'll be upset. I mean I'm still a sophomore in high school and you're a freshman in college almost 3000 miles away. I think that you and I both need to think if it's worth it."

"Ruthie don't do this."

"Please Martin just go." He looked her and walked back into the house not even stopping to say goodbye he just kept walking. Matt sent Simon to talk to Martin and he went to talk to Ruthie.

"Why did Martin just storm out of the house?"

"I just broke up with him."

"What, why?"

"Because he gave me this perfect gift and it made me realize that I'm holding him back."

"How are you holding him back?"

"I'm holding him back by being with him. I mean he should be out having fun with his friends not hanging out with a sophomore."

"Ruthie he loves you and you're not holding him back. I think you're just scared."

"I'm not scared."

"Yes you are I mean he makes you happy and you make him happy."

When Simon found Martin he was sitting on the steps leading into his house throwing a baseball in the air.

"Hey."

"I just wanna be alone."

"What happened?"

"She broke up with me."

"Why?"

"She doesn't want to hold me back."

"Well get up and go tell her that she's not holding you back."

"I tried she doesn't want to talk to me."

"I don't care; now go and get your girlfriend back." Martin just sat there looking at the house.

"No I'm gonna give her time to think. I also need time to think."

"About what?"

"How I'm gonna prove to her that she's worth it."

"You scared me for a minute there."

"You didn't honestly think that I wasn't going to get back together?"
"Yeah I did."

"Well I'm not going to give up like that."

"Good now come on back to the house."

"I think I'm fine right here."

"No you don't need to think about how to get her back just do it." Simon grabbed Martin's arm and pulled him back to the house. "Now go talk to her." He pushed him into the kitchen where Ruthie and Matt were sitting.

"Hey Ruthie can I talk to you outside?"

"Sure." They sat on the picnic table and Martin turned to face Ruthie.

"Okay I think it's stupid; I mean you worth everything plus so much more. I'm not giving up on you."

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry about breaking up with you; it's just that I don't want to get hurt."

"I'm not gonna hurt you."

"I know it's just that I felt bad for not getting you a better gift and the necklace is beautiful. I just felt like I wasn't good enough."

"Ruthie I love you and even without me you're still worth so much. I mean you got me and my dad talking again. That means something." He wrapped his arm around her.

"I love you too."

"I know and Merry Christmas." They kissed while Matt, Simon, Sarah, and Carlos watched from the kitchen.

"They're gonna make it." Sarah whispered to Matt. "I think they'll be fine."

"Yeah. He's perfect for her."

"And she's perfect for him." Simon turned away from the window and looked at Matt.

"I just got the perfect idea."

"What?"

"Well he leaves in a month right?"

"Yeah."

"And the next they'll get to see each other is Spring Break so why don't you, Sarah, Carlos, and I plan a trip down there and invite her."

"That's brilliant Simon."

"I know."

"So we'll tell them tomorrow."

"Yeah." Matt wrapped his arm around Sarah's waist as they watched Ruthie and Martin talking. "Merry Christmas."