Chapter two

Martin leaned towards her slowly. She pulled back.

"I think I should be going now." She said, fumbling for the door handle. She opened the passenger door and started climbing out. Martin quickly unfastened his seat belt and reached to open his door as well.

"Here, I'll walk you over," he said.

"I think I'm capable of walking across the street." She replied.

"I'm sure you are, but I just want to make sure you get in safely…" He paused. "So that you're not locked out or anything." He continued, puling her bags out of the car.

"Martin…" She sighed, as she looked down and played with the bottom of her jacket.

"Ruthie, really. I want to do this," he said, holding her suitcase and standing less than a foot away. He looked into her eyes.

"Okay." She finally relented.

As they walked over to the Camden's house, it was silent. Neither one spoke.

When the two reached the kitchen door, Ruthie and Martin both went inside. He set Ruthie's bags down, and watched Ruthie nervously bite her bottom lip.

"Do you want some cake?" she asked, walking towards the counter.

"I'd love some. Thanks." He went over and sat down at the table.

She got two plates and set a piece of cake on each. She brought them over to the table, and set one in front of martin. She set the other down in the spot next to him, and sat.

"When's the last time we did this?" he asked her, before taking a bite.

"I don't know. It's been years." She said, digging into her own piece.

Martin was watching her intently as she finished and then took both plates to the sink.

He watched as she rinsed them and set them down. When she turned to look at him, she caught him staring.

"What? do i have something on my face?" She asked, looking at herself in the toaster. Martin laughed.

"no, you look great." he said.

Ruthie turned back to him and walked over to her seat. She pretended to be examining her fingernails while Martin watched her.

"I've missed you." He said, breaking the silence.

Ruthie looked him in the eye for a moment, and then said, "I've missed you two."

Since they had ran into each other, They held the other's gaze without breaking it. Martin moved closer to her slowly. When they were inches apart, He lowered his gaze to her lips, which made them tingle. He looked back up at her eyes, and then at her lips again.

Ruthie could barely breathe. The feeling of him being this close to her, and her thoughts racing about what she knew was coming, was an overwhelming feeling. She could feel her heart slam against her ribs and she found it difficult to think.

And then, she was thinking. About how great of a kiss this was and how much of an amazing guy Martin was.

The kiss lasted a few seconds longer, before Martin slowly pulled away. He looked up at her eyes.

"You don't know how long I've been wanting to do that." He said, not moving.

Ruthie could barely form the words in her mouth. "Just a..about as long as I have?" She asked it as more of a statement than a question. Martin smiled. He liked having this effect on Ruthie. And then, Martin lowered his head again, and kissed her.

As the kiss deepened, both were oblivious to the fact that there was anyone else in the room.

"Ahem." Rev. Camden said, clearing his throat. The two quickly pulled away and looked at who was standing at the entrance to the stairway. Eric Camden and his wife stood there, trying not to smile.

"Do you know what time it is?" he asked.

Martin, still a little disoriented, looked at the clock on the oven. "Um... 12:30. Sir."

"Yeah, past midnight." he said sternly, but feeling over joyous inside.

"You guys scared us. We didn't know who it was." Mrs. Camden included.

"Sorry rev. Mrs Camden." Martin replied.

"That's all right. Just try to be a little more quiet next time." She said, hoping there definitely would be a next time.

Martin looked over at Ruthie, who hadn't said a word. She was still trying to figure out what exactly just happened. Had Martin Brewer just kissed her? and did Annie just imply that there would be another make-out session in the kitchen?

She broke from her daze, to realize everyone was looking at her.

"Goodnight." She said, popping up from the table and kissing her parents on the cheek. She grabbed her suitcase and ran upstairs.