Thanks to those who reviewed. I tried to provide some more details in this chapter.

Disclaimer: I own this story, the characters Jake, Rachel, Tom, Adam and nothing else. The songs are "Always" and "First Date" by blink-182.

Come on let me hold you, touch you, feel you...
Always
Kiss you, taste you all night...
Always...

"How was your date, Ruthie?" Annie asked as Ruthie walked through the kitchen door.
Ruthie smiled.

It was great, Mom. The movie we saw was excellent, I recommend you go and see it. Anyway, I'll be in my room, if you need me."

"Okay, honey." Annie watched as her youngest daughter walked up the stairs.
God, she's growing up so fast. I remember when she was the little curly-haired girl who got a Tic- Tac stuck up her nose in church. In only a couple years she'll be graduating high school and leaving, like the other kids have. And then Eric and I will have only Sam and David left to raise. But, she'll always be my little girl.

Ruthie, alone in her room, was lying on her bed, thinking about the night's events. Somewhat shocking herself, she realized she had no regrets whatsoever.
This has been the most amazing night of my life! I never thought I would find that "right" person at just 16 years old. I'm glad it was Jake, he means the world to me. I can just see us growing old together...
Ruthie thought back to when she first met Jake, just 5 months earlier.

"Hi. Is this seat taken?" Ruthie looked up from the mashed potatoes she was puncturing with her spoon at lunch and saw a pale skinned, brown haired kid pointing to the seat in front of her. She observed him for a moment. He had a body that resembled a toothpick, skinny, with the most beautiful blue eyes Ruthie had ever seen, and a shy smile spread across his face. He was wearing a black Warped Tour 2004 T-shirt and baggy blue jeans, his left hand buried deep in his pocket.

It was Monday. Ruthie didn't have any uncompleted homework assignments to finish during her lunch period. I might as well talk to him, he looks like an interesting kid... and I have nothing better to do right now.

"No, sit down."

"Thanks" The mystery boy said, then shoving a spoonful of chocolate pudding into his mouth. He swallowed, and then talked. "By the way, I'm Jacob Gardner. You can call me Jake, though."

"I'm Ruthie Camden. Are you new here?"

Jake took a sip of the chocolate milk in his hand, then obviously not liking the taste, put it down in disgust and wiped the milk that had missed his mouth off his face with the back of his hand.

"Yeah, me and my brothers. We just started here two weeks ago." Jake answered.
Ruthie threw her tray with her unfinished food on it in the garbage can in back of her.

"How many brothers do you have?" Ruthie asked curiously.

"4. 3 older ones, and I have a twin. My poor mother... she always wanted a girl and she got stuck with 5 boys."

Ruthie and Jake both laughed.

"So, what about you? Any siblings?" Jake questioned, taking a bite out of his pizza, cheese and sauce spilling onto his shirt.

"I'm stuck with six siblings. But, I love growing up in a big family, or loved, I should say. Everybody has moved out. I'm the 3rd youngest in my family." Ruthie wasn't sure if Jake had been paying attention to her or not, as he was absorbed in trying to get the sauce out of his shirt with a paper thin napkin. She sat back in her seat, twirling her hair, and watching Jake. He seems like a nice kid, I wonder if he has a girlfriend...
Jake finally gave up the hopeless war against the sauce that, by now, was nearly invisible. He tossed his crumpled up napkin, aiming for the garbage can behind Ruthie. The napkin missed, and was picked up by a guy Ruthie didn't know, who then, after placing the napkin in the trash, sat down next to Jake.

"You got yourself a girlfriend already? Man… you're fast. But not faster than me, I've got a date for Friday."

"She's not my girlfriend… yet." Jake turned and winked at Ruthie, his eyes twinkling. "I guess I should introduce you to my brother, Tom this is Ruthie, Ruthie this is…well you get it."

Ruthie looked at Tom. They must be identical…their faces are exactly the same. Tom had spiked, dyed blond hair with dark roots showing. He had the same glowing eyes as Jake had, and the same body structure. He wore black pants, with chains on them, and an oversized Nirvana T-shirt. Although they had identical faces, Tom's appearance made him look less innocent than Jake.

"Hi." Ruthie said, in a shy way, her eyes focused on the floor rather than at Tom's eyes,

"Hey, don't you have a class or something?" Jake asked Tom.

"No, I have a life. I'm skipping it. Can't stand that class anyway."

"Yeah, that's a great way to start off at a new school…" Jake said sarcastically.

"You bet it is." Tom replied and then playfully punched Jake's arm.

"Ouch."

"Anyway, I'll leave you two lovebirds alone." Tom said, getting out of his chair and walking towards the doors.

"So that was Tom?"

"Yep, that's Tommy Boy for you."

"He seems nice."

"Yeah, he is." Jake said as he picked up his backpack, realizing the bell would be ringing any second. "Anyway… would you want to come to the promenade with me on Friday and catch a movie and get something to eat… we can double with Tom and his date or we can go by ourselves."
Ruthie remained silent for a moment, thinking about any plans she might have already made for Friday. There were none.

"Aww… please?" Jake asked, pouting, then breaking into a smile.
Ruthie couldn't resist the cute face he was making, his lip out, his glassy eyes pleading.

"Sure. I'd love to go with you."

The bell rang.

"Okay, I'll talk to you tomorrow." Jake said as he and Ruthie separated, heading to their next classes.

Ruthie fell asleep thinking about that.

The next morning Ruthie woke up, still dressed in the clothes she wore on her date with Jake the previous night. Ruthie examined herself in her full length mirror.
There was no doubt about it, she was pretty. With her recently cut, curly, brown hair that bounced on her shoulders and her beautiful brown eyes, she knew why guys were attracted to her.
But, that's NOT why Jake loves me. He loves me for what is inside, not for my body, or my hair, or face. And, although he's good looking, no doubt about that, I love him for what is in his heart.
Ruthie was head over heels in love, and enjoying every second of it.
I finally have someone I can count on to be there for me and cannot hurt me the way I've seen my sisters get hurt in their teenage relationships. But, is this just a "teenage relationship" like Mary and Lucy's boyfriends were or is this for real...?
Ruthie quickly changed into a pair of jeans and a plain white T-shirt and made her way downstairs. Lucy, Savannah, and Annie were seated at the kitchen table, talking. Ruthie walked over to her niece and gave her a hug.
I wonder if me and Jake will ever have kids together…?

"So, Ruthie, I heard you had a hot date last night. How'd it go?" Lucy asked when Ruthie sat down at the table.

Ruthie chuckled. "Not exactly a 'hot date'. We just saw a movie and got some pizza at the promenade."

"So, who's the lucky guy?"

"The same guy I've been going out with for 5 months, Lucy."

"You guys seem to be getting pretty serious, huh?"

Ruthie rolled her eyes.

Pretending not to notice, Lucy spoke, "Anyway Kevin left this morning to visit Ben and his mother in Buffalo, so it's just me and Savannah for a week. Would you like to come to the park with us when you're finished with your breakfast?"

"Sure, Lucy, that sounds great." Ruthie said, spreading butter onto her toasted bagel.

"Would you mind if I came along with Sam and David?" Annie asked Lucy.

"Oh, sure Mom, I thought you had a lot of things you wanted to get done around the house today."

"Don't worry, it can wait." Annie replied, taking a sip of coffee.

At the Park

Ruthie watched Sam, David, and Savannah play on the jungle gym for a while, and then walked over to the skateboarding area of the park, where she saw Jake trying to prefect a new trick on his skateboard. He had spotted her and he walked over and gave her a tender kiss on the lips.

"Guess what."

"What?" Ruthie inquired.

"I love you" Jake replied.

"Oh…really I had no idea." Jake laughed, then lead her over to a bench where they sat and talked for a little while.

Jake thought about their first date.

In the car I just can't wait
to pick you up on our very first date
Is it cool if I hold your hand?
Is it wrong if I think it's lame to dance?
Do you like my stupid hair?
Would you guess that I didn't know what to wear?
I'm too scared of what you think
You make me nervous so I really can't eat…

Nervously, Jake rang the doorbell at the Camden house on the night of his first date with Ruthie. Jake's older brother, Adam, the designated driver for the night, was waiting in the car, along with Tom and his date, Rachel.

"Hi. I'm Mrs. Camden, Ruthie's mom, you must be Jake, it's nice to meet you. Come in, I'll go get Ruthie." Annie said after she opened the door, and ushered Jake inside.

A couple minutes later, Ruthie walked down the stairs.

"I want her home by 10:00, okay?" Annie asked Jake.

Jake looked at his watch. It was only 6:00. "Sure, Mrs. Camden." He said, aas Ruthie literally pulled him out the front door.

At the promenade, they chatted over some pizza.

"So… when we visited our grandparents last weekend on their ranch Jake got attacked by a cock." Tom announced, taking a gulp of his Sprite.
Ruthie raised her eyebrow, and looked over at Tom.

"Shut up, man." Jake told Tom. He looked over at Ruthie. "He means a rooster."

"Oh." Ruthie realized that Jake and Tom seemed to share a brain. She felt as if she had known Jake and Tom for her whole life, rather than just meeting them 5 days before.
A little while later they went to the movie theater. I'm not sure even sure what the movie was about. Jake remembered thinking. I was so focused on what was going on around me. He looked behind him and saw Tom and Rachel in a heavy make out session. He looked to his right and saw Ruthie, eyes intently watching the movie. He took her hand and held it.

Afterwards, when the date was over, he walked Ruthie up to her house, and decided to save their first kiss for the second date.

My life cannot get any better than it is right now. Ruthie thought as she was held in Jake's arms and looked up into the warm April sun.