Life 5
Lyrics are from Lee ann Rimes, Letters to Cleo. I don't own any Seventh Heaven characters, except for Thomas.
Ruth
"Guess who's coming for a visit and staying here next week?" I asked Mac that night as we were in my kitchen cooking dinner together.
"Umm...could it be someone who is 6 feet tall and 2 inches, black hair and green eyes?"
"How did you know?" I pouted slightly as Mac laughed and said "Well you wouldn't let just anyone stay here"
"That's true" I replied as I said to him "so spill"
"Spill what?" he asked mischievously, his brown eyes lighting up with mirth.
"How was the date last night?"
"Not too bad, considering she is not my dream girl"
"Yeah right. She is absolutely beautiful." I scoffed.
"Not as beautiful as you" Mac said softly as I looked over at him and he said quickly "I know... I know. You have your heart set on being Mrs. Martin Brewer"
"Stop it" I protested as I threw a pepper over at him.
"Well come on, tell me the truth. Martin? He's the one isn't he?"
"Yes" I replied honestly before turning my attention back to the vegetables I was chopping.
The next morning, I woke up and took a shower.
We were going to shoot my video in the afternoon but I wanted to go into the studio to record a new song I was working on.
I got to the studio at 10:00 and went into the booth and began singing
Oh, I can't take another heartache
Though you say you're my friend
I'm at my wits end
You say your love is bona fide
But that don't coincide
With the things that you're doing
When I ask you to be nice
You say you gotta be
Cruel to be kind, in the right measure
Cruel to be kind, it's a very good sign
Cruel to be kind, means that I love you
Baby, you gotta be cruel to be kind
Well, I do my best to understand dear
But you still mystify, and I wanna know why
I pick myself up off the ground
To have you knock me back down
Again and again
And when I ask you to explain
You say you gotta be
Cruel to be kind, in the right measure
Cruel to be kind, it's a very good sign
Cruel to be kind, means that I love you
Baby, (you gotta be cruel)you gotta be cruel to be kind
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh...
Cruel to be kind, in the right measure
Cruel to be kind, it's a very good sign
Cruel to be kind, means that I love you
Baby, (you gotta be cruel)you gotta be cruel to be kind
"Sounds great Camden" Ritchie, my producer, said as he gave me a thumbs up.
I smiled at him as I took the headphones off and walked into the room.
"You ready for today?" he asked as he handed me a cup of herbal tea.
"Yes." I replied nodding as he leaned closer "So have you thought about my offer?"
I rolled my eyes and counted to ten before answering "Ritchie? You are my producer. I respect youand that's all. I'm not interested in a relationship with you"
"Is it because of Mac?"
"What about me?" Mac asked as he came up and slipped his arm around my shoulder.
I smiled at him gratefully as Ritchie turned red and mumbled "I'm going to go and finish that track" and with that left.
"I could kiss you right now" I exclaimed to Mac as I turned to him happily.
"Well by all means go ahead" Mac shot back daring me.
"Let's just go eat" I replied as I playfully shoved him and he held his hand to his heart.
The rest of the week went by quickly and before I knew it I was in JFK with Mac, waiting for Martin's plane.
"Are you sure you told him we would be here?" I asked for the millionth time as I self-consciously adjusted my dress straps.
"You look wonderful Ruth" Mac said seriously as he grabbed my hand and said "Stop fussing"
I smiled gratefully at him before turning my attention back to the gate where Martin would be coming through any moment.
Mac really was a great friend and I knew he would be a wonderful partner if I wasn't so head over heels in love with Martin.
I couldn't believe how a couple of months could put everything in perspective, but I now knew that I wanted to be as close to Martin as he would allow me to be.
All at once I noticed Martin as he looked at us.
He gave us a big smile as his green eyes lit up with recognition. We met him halfway and before he said anything at all I threw myself in his arms and gave him a hug.
He smelled like the forest and soap as I snuggled deeper in his chest. I could hear him chuckling as he said "I missed you too"
Mac chuckled and said "Hey Ruth, desperate much"
I turned bright red as I pulled back and Martin smiled at me before grabbing my hand "I was going to do the same thing but you beat me to it"
I smiled back gratefully before allowing Mac to greet Martin as well.
"Do you have bags to get?" I asked as he replied "I have everything with me" holding up a small suitcase and suit holder.
"So where first?" Mac asked Martin as we started walking out the airport.
I dropped Martin's hand momentarily before putting a huge floppy hat on my head.
Once it was on, I grabbed his hand once more as he gently squeezed it before answering Mac "Anywhere is fine with me, I just need to get to a computer and check a couple of things out"
"Still working man?"
"Well it is what I do best"
"How about a game of basketball?" Mac suggested as Martin's eyes lit up and looked at me apologetically as I shrugged and said "Sure you guys have fun. I have my shoot and then we can meet up for dinner at home"
"Cool" Martin and Mac replied as they hailed a cab and I hailed another one.
Martin
As Mac chattered on about living in New York and all the things Ruth and him did, I sighed. "She looks great"
"Yes she does" Mac automatically agreed and then asked "Wait. Who are we talking about?"
"Ruth"
"Of course we are. There is no other woman out there for Martin Brewer" Mac intoned deeply.
"Please drop it" I pleaded as Mac laughed and said "Well, what if I were to tell you that the feeling is definitely not one sided"
"What do you mean?" I demanded anxiously as Mac grinned and replied "Sorry my friend. I have already said too much, but I will do you a favor and not come over for dinner. That way you can flirt and not gross me out at the same time"
"Hey!" I protested and then grew serious and said "Thanks man"
"You are welcome. I only hope I find someone as special as Ruthie" Mac replied softly and then said "Are you ready to get your butt wiped on the court?"
"In your dreams man" I replied laughing.
Threehours later I took the cab back to the address that Ruth had given me. When I rang the door, she came out wearing an apron.
"Hey" she greeted as she let me in. "How was the game?"
"It was good" I replied looking around. It was a cute apartment with a lot of windows.
"So do you like it?" she asked anxiously as she gave me a short tour.
"It's great" I replied honestly as she beamed at me.
"I need a shower" I said self consciously as I noticed how wonderful she looked wearing navy linen pants and matching top. She also had heels on.
"The bathroom's down the hall" she indicated as she turned her attention back to the pot she was stirring and called out "Is pasta okay?"
"It's fine" I replied before stepping inside the shower.
Once I got out, I noticed that the table was fixed and Ruth was sitting on the couch.
"Is dinner ready?" I asked hopefully as she smiled and said "Yes. I hope you're hungry"
After dinner, we sat back on the couch. She seemed so happy and so relaxed.
It was almost as though she was the Ruth in high school, before I had shattered her dreams.
"You seem so happy" I said out loud as Ruth turned to me and smiled saying "I am"
"I'm glad" I sincerely replied smiling as Ruth moved closer to me and asked "Don't you want to know why?"
"Well if you want to tell me, sure" I replied thinking the worst.
"I'm in love" she said it so softly that I didn't hear it at first but the look on her face said it all. Contentment and happiness radiated from her.
"That's wonderful" I replied a little stiffly before asking "Who's the lucky guy? Someone I know?"
"Yes" she said as she leaned her curly head on my chest. I wrapped my arm around her and held her close. If this was goodbye then I intended to make sure that she would know exactly how I felt.
"So aren't you curious who the guy is ?" Ruth questioned me as she leaned up and planted butterfly kisses near my ear, causing me in turn to shiver.
"Not really" I managed to let out before she kissed my cheek.
"Martin" she exclaimed in frustration as she stood up.
"What?" I asked in shock. One minute she was kissing me and the next moment she was pacing. What the hell had happened?
"The guy I'm in love with?"
Oh so she wants me to play this game I thought to myself before sighing and saying "Sure, who is this guy that has captured your heart?"
"Better" she replied softly before walking right up to me and wrapping her arms around my waist.
As I looked down in confusion she smiled at me and said "I'm in love with you Martin Brewer" and with that she leaned up and kissed me on my lips.