When I lived with the Camden's 10.

Martin POV

After the game, which we won, I went to take a shower. When I walked out, Ruth was waiting for me. I picked her up and spun her around and then gently placed her on the ground.

"So?' I asked her grinning as she smiled and gave me a hug.

"Great game"

"And?"

"The last catch was really good" she promptly responded before taking my hand and saying "We need to talk"

"What about?" I wearily asked her. Those words were never really good.

"The prom"

"Oh, that's all" I asked the relief evident in my tone as I squeezed her hand lightly and we began walking towards the car.

"Why don't we hold our own prom?"

"Have you been speaking with Zoë?"

"It will be fun" she urged ignoring my question as she stopped and looked up at me. I knew where she was going with this. Be strong, I said to myself as she stepped closer and stood on her tiptoes and lightly kissed me on the lips. It was all over.

"Okay, so you want to hold our own Prom. Where were you thinking?"

"At the hotel, we could rent a suite and have pizza and watch movies, and we can discuss the wedding"

"Okay, I'll talk to my dad. I'm sure they will want to be there."

Meanwhile

Brian watched as Ruthie and Martin got into the car. What was Martin doing holding her hand? And what was that diamond on her left finger? When had that happened? This was not good.

He couldn't believe that Zoë had changed their mind about attending the Prom. How was he going to get Ruth if she didn't show up? There had to be at least seven different hotels in Glen Oak. He sat there contemplating before his hazel eyes lit up. He had just thought of a plan.

Martin's Car

"Why?" Ruth asked groaning as we got into the car.

"Why what?" I asked her as she tuned the radio on.

"Why do we have to tell our parents?"

"Because that's the deal Ruth. When we get married, we won't have to answer to anyone but each other but as of now, they are still our parents, besides have you noticed that they are always demanding we spend time with them?"

"Yes, you would think they would start to loosen the belt a little."

"Are you staying over tonight?"

"No, I invited Zoë to come over and hang out"

"Okay, I'll watch the game with my dad" slightly disappointed.

"You don't mind do you?" she asked as she looked at me.

"No, of course not. I'm glad you have a friend, if you think you can trust Zoë"

"I think I can" she said as she questioned "unless you don't?"

"She just seems weird, I mean first she wants to date me and then she moves on to Mac and now she wants to be your best friend?"

"I guess you are right" Ruth replied slowly as we reached home. I felt bad that I had blown her bubble but Zoë was just plain weird. The last thing I needed was my fiancé getting hurt because of some crazy girl and her antics.

"So I'll see you tonight" Ruth said at last as she stepped out of the car.

"Tonight? I thought you were hanging out with Zoë?"

"I will and then she'll go home and I'll come over"

"Okay, I'll see you later" I replied as I bent down and kissed her quickly before watching her walk through her back door.

Ruth's POV

Later that evening after Zoë left, I made my way across the street and went through the back door. Mr. Brewer and Martin were sitting in the living room watching some baseball game.

"Hey" I greeted them as they looked up in surprise.

"You're here early" Martin commented as I greeted Mr. Brewer with a kiss on his cheek and then kissed Martin.

"Zoë and I had a huge fight. I kicked her out." I felt slightly ashamed of my behavior but she had said some really off color things to me.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Martin asked me, his handsome face etched with concern.

"No, you two enjoy the game. I have a paper that I need to finish" I replied as I walked out the room and upstairs to Martin's bedroom.

Two hours later, Martin walked into the room. I had finally finished my paper and was reading a book.

"So you want to talk about it?"

"Zoë is going to seduce Mac tomorrow night" I replied.

"What?" Martin asked me in surprise as he sat down beside me.

"Yes, she started talking on how she felt it was the right time and..."

"Does she love him?" Martin interrupted as I looked at him annoyed and replied "Does it even matter? I mean they are not committed to one another"

"How do you know that?"

"Because she ended the sentence that she would sleep with you if she had the chance. Now do you really think she cares that much about Mac?"

"Is that really our problem?" Martin finally asked me as I rolled my eyes at him "It is if we are sharing the suite with them. Do you really want to hear that?"

"I guess you are right"

"So talk Mac out of it"

"Ruthie" Martin said softly as he took my hands "I will share our displeasure withMac,but at the end of the day we can't stop them, no matter how much we want to"

"Fine" I replied pouting then added "When she ends up pregnant don't get upset when I say 'told you so'"

"Okay I won't" Martin agreed before handing me his cell phone "Now call and apologize"

"Okay" I dialed Zoë's number and was greeted by a sullen voice "Hello?"

"Hi, it's Ruth"

"Ruth and what else would you like to add to your sermon?"

"Zoë, don't make this harder than it already is. I'm sorry"

"Why do you even care what I do?"

"Because you're my friend and despite today, I like you. I think we could really be great friends"

"Really?" I heard Zoë ask, a smile in her tone before she said "I've never really had friends before, at least not like you"

"Well I happen to like you." I said firmly as I heard her sniffling a little. She took a deep breath and said "Did Martin set everything up for tomorrow? Mac told me that he did"

"I believe he did" I said as I looked over at Martin, who was looking over his final math problem.

"I'll let you know tomorrow morning" I promised her.

"Good thing we don't have school tomorrow"

"Yes, I will be able to sleep in"

"Me too" Zoë said before she said "My mom needs the phone. I'll call you tomorrow"

"Okay, night"

"Night Ruthie and thanks"

"What are friends for?" I replied softly before hanging the phone up. Martin looked over at me and asked "Everything settled?"

"Yes" I replied happily as I moved closer to him on the bed and he placed his arm around my shoulder, before dropping a butterfly kiss on my forehead.

"Have you given any thought to where we are going in the fall?"

"Well part of me wants to be close to home and the other part of me wants to be far, far away"

"How about Santa Clara University? They both gave us full scholarships and they have a music program and a great baseball team. We will be able to live off campus or on campus."

"It seems as though you have done some research" I said playfully as Martin laughed and said "a little. Plus it is only two hours away. Far enough but still relatively close"

"That sounds perfect" I said happily as I leaned over to kiss him.

Mr. Brewer then walked in "Did I hear you pick a college?" he asked excitedly as we nodded and told him.

"Great, that's perfect." He replied happily as he sat down at Martin's desk and continued "Now about tomorrow night"

Martin groaned slightly as I looked over at Mr. Brewer "We have decided that you are old enough to stay there by yourself. So we will not chaperone"

"Really dad?" I blurted out happily as Mr. Brewer looked over at me with the biggest smile on his face.

"Really" he replied a bit choked up as he smiled at us once more and said goodnight.

Martin turned to me and said smiling "You just made my dad's year"

"Well he will be my dad soon"

"I know, and he's really happy about that" Martin said softly before saying "Ready for bed?"

"We don't have school tomorrow" I whined a bit as Martin shook his head. "And I'm tired from today. If you want you can keep a light on"

"Thanks" I said happily as I turned the light on by my side and picked my book up once more. Martin smiled before shutting his light off and lying down on the pillow. "Night"

"Night" I replied before leaning over to kiss his cheek.

Across Town

Brian had called all but the last hotel and no one could give him any information. Finally the receptionist came back on the phone. "Who were you looking for again?"

"Ruth Camden. She's my wife and I think she is having an affair"

"Oh no" the lady crowed into the phone feeling horrible. It was against policy to let people know who was staying in the hotel, but her husband had just cheated on her.

"Plus we have three kids" Brian continued, with a whimper in his voice.

"Well I have here Ruth Camden and Martin Brewer, arriving tomorrow evening, staying for 1 night"

"Oh no. Do you have a room number by any chance?"

"Yes it is a honeymoon suite, Room 560. It is one of our most expensive rooms"

"Thank you so much"

"And what was your name?" She asked the poor man but it was too late. He had hung up.

"Room 560" Brian murmured to himself as he got ready for bed. He was this much closer.