Dreaming is like Springtime
(CHAPTER BEGIN: Simply Irresistible)
"Ruthie, why did you rush off like that? You were only at the café for fifteen minutes."
"Oh, sorry Alison. I just had a lot on my mind… you know, Martin called me."
"You mean that guy you used to always talk about?"
"Yeah… him," She said plainly. "It was a major surprise for me, and especially when he asked me out to dinner for this Monday."
"He asked you to dinner? Isn't he like, two years older than you?"
"Yeah, he is, but he's my best friend. I guess— at least he used to be." Ruthie sighed. Then she laughed at herself. "Look at me, I'm already nervous and I've got two whole days until the dinner."
"Well, that means two whole days to find something to wear. It has to be simple but elegant, and it can't reveal that you absolutely adore him, but it has to say we're more than friends…" When Alison started on fashion rampages there was no stopping her. It was almost like saying you could stop a snow-plow by throwing a snowball at the front of it.
"Yeah, whatever," Ruthie said deciding she didn't care too much about what she was wearing. How could she worry about fashion with a diva like Alison for her roommate? Pretty impossible, huh? Ruthie looked at the clock: 2:00 PM sharp.
ONE DAY, TEN HOURS, AND TWENTY-THREE MINUTES LATER
Ruthie was lying awake in her bed unable to sleep. Tomorrow she would do her school work, have lunch, do more school, and then she would get ready to go to dinner. Martin would pick her up at five-thirty, and they'd go. She was ridiculously happy, but scared at the same time.
"Does Martin feel the same way about me?" She whispered softly. Wishing she could get to sleep she attempted closing her eyes and cuddling with the blankets as much as she could; sadly she was opening her eyes and pushing the cover off of her approximately three minutes later. "Why can't I sleep?" She asked in her normal voice.
"I don't know, but can you try? It's… oh my God it's 12:23 AM, gee! Get some sleep Ruthie." Alison replied not moving an inch. She started groggily, but when she saw the time apparently she began to wake up a little.
"I just can't Al." She said, looking worriedly over at the lump that made up her half-asleep friend.
"Ugh," Alison moaned through clenched teeth. "This so better be worth it." She whispered so Ruthie wouldn't hear her say that last bit.
"Sorry," Ruthie spoke apologetically. "For waking you up I mean."
"Oh, no, no, it's fine. It's absolutely fine, really." There was a pause. "How about, we make some hot chocolate with too many mini marshmallows, and tell stories by the empty fireplace? Sound good?"
"Yeah it does," Another pause, only this time from Ruthie. "But what about sleeping?" Ruthie asked sullenly.
"Oh, that will come later." Ali reassured her as she slowly began to clamber out of bed. "Ow," She mumbled as she hit the floor when she fell off.
"Oh, are you okay?" Ruthie asked with a deformed look of worry and laughter on her face. She stepped off the bed and walked over to her friend's side of the dorm. There, sprawled out like a monkey, was Alison on the floor rubbing her head.
"I'll never do that again." She knowingly advised herself.
Then the two girls broke out into hysterical laughter. "Oh goodness…" Ruthie stifled her laughter. "Shh, no waking people up! It's a horrible thing to do."
"Yeah, well you woke me up!" Ali whispered in a mock angry voice. This time it was silent giggling, and eventually it stopped.
"Oh gee, now I feel wiped." Ruthie stumbled a little on Ali's blanket before she found a chair and collapsed into it.
"Me too," Ali said bluntly. "Goodnight." She crawled back into her bed, and closed her eyes.
"Goodnight," Ruthie made her way to the bed on her side and fell onto her stomach on it. Then cuddling up with the blankets and closing her eyes she drifted off to sleep.
"Ruthie, are you ready? Oh I'm so happy… my little girl is growing up." Annie Camden smiled.
"Oh mom, I guess am, aren't I?"
"Of course darling, you've graduated college and you're getting married. Oh how wonderful!"
"Yes it is it's more than wonderful." She said dreamily
"Martin is so lucky to have you."
"But not as lucky as I am to have him."
"Oh you both make such a wonderful couple."
"Well, after he proposed at that surprise birthday dinner, I couldn't help but say yes. It's finally happening mom. I'm marrying Martin, and my dream is coming true…"
"Ruthie! Wake up, you lump of coal!" Alison shouted.
"Huh," Ruthie rolled over onto her back and looked up to a very angry Alison. "What time is it? Where's Martin? Was I dreaming?"
"It's time to get to class, I don't have a clue, and yes, you probably were." Alison said hastily. "Now wake up before you make us both late for class!"
"Oh my gosh! Class! I completely blanked…" Ruthie shot out of bed and immediately ran to her closet. "No, No, No…" She whined, throwing jeans and shirts all over the dorm room.
"Hey that's my top!" Alison said, snatching up a red peasant top with silver sequins lining the top.
"Sorry, borrowed it for Valentine's Day."
"Well, just find something to wear." Alison said, looking at the flurry of clothing.
"Aha!" Ruthie safely emerged from her closet holding a pair of jeans with a rip in the knee, a white camisole, a brown camisole, and a pink blazer over her right arm; and over her left arm was a silver sequined belt, and a brown beret. Being gripped by her left hand was a pair of dazzling silver sequined flats.
"Cute!" Alison approved.
"Thanks," Ruthie said as she hurriedly threw the ensemble on and rushed to her mini-vanity. She grabbed a pair of dangly earrings that were silver ballet shoes, and tied her hair up into a loose side ponytail. On went her lip gloss and she grabbed her sequined purse (in silver, of course) and ran out the door after Alison.
FIVE-O'CLOCK
"Alison, it's five-o'clock." Ruthie said nervously as she tried her best not to chew her fingernails off.
"Calm down Ruth, you've got half an hour."
"I know I just can't stand this waiting."
"Oh honey, it'll be okay." Alison comforted her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Really, it will."
"You think so?" Ruthie looked Alison directly in the eye.
"I know so." She smiled. A few minutes later after a large pep-talk given by Alison there was a knock at the door.
"That's him!" Ruthie jumped up from the chair she was sitting in and walked calmly to the door. "Hi Martin." She said when she opened the door.
"Hey Ruth," He replied, giving her the once-over. "You look simply irresistible." He teased.
"Yeah thanks, you too." She said. "Oh, come in. This is Ali, my roommate and very close friend since three years ago when she found her way to my dorm." Ruthie walked back over to where Alison was sitting.
"Hey there Ali, nice to meet you." Martin said charmingly, reaching his hand out to give a friendly handshake.
"You too," Ali said obliging to the gesture.
"Well Martin, think we should head out?" Ruthie asked him, smiling.
"Yeah, sure thing Ruth." He said as he followed her out the door.
"Bye Ali," Ruthie waved.
"Yeah, bye Ali." Martin just laughed.
"Bye you two, have fun and be careful." Alison called after them before closing the door.
------------------------------- (CHAPTER END, more chapters coming soon)