(A/N-Thank you to my first reviewer, Sophia-Chad! This is my first fan fiction, and it means a lot to me when I get reviews. So keep 'em coming! Also, Martin is not the father of Sandy's baby, Aaron. Just wanted to clear this up...so that's it! Hope you like my story! R&R!)

Chapter Three

The next morning, Ruthie got up around 10:00. She hadn't slept really at all, because her mind wouldn't stop repeating the events of last night over and over.

She finally dragged herself out of bed, and went downstairs in her PJ's and bathrobe. When she reached the bottom step, she heard hushed voices; those of Annie and Lucy. They were definitely talking about her. If she had had more energy, she would've stayed where she was to listen, as she did when she was younger, but she needed some coffee.

"Good Morning," she said brightly, as she walked into the kitchen.

Lucy and Annie looked up from their conversation.

"Morning Ruthie." replied Mrs. Camden

Lucy got up from the table. "Aw, hey Ruthie, we missed you" She said, giving her baby sister a hug.

"I missed you too." Said Ruthie, reaching for the pot of coffee. Lifting up her mug to her face with both hands, she eyed them suspiciously. "Look, I know you two were talking about me, so you might as well tell me."

"What are you talking about?" Lucy asked, turning to look at her mother, hands on hips. "We-we weren't talking about you."

Lucy looked around the kitchen before continuing, "So..." She started.

"So?" Ruthie asked.

"So...how's Martin?" She asked, trying not to sound too interested.

Ruthie rolled her eyes and went back to her coffee mug.

A few minutes later, as Ruthie finished off her cup, someone knocked at the door. Ruthie looked up to see both her mom and her sister looking at her. "I'm just gonna go take a shower and get ready." She said, backing towards the stairs. She stopped at the top step as her mom opened the door.

"Oh! Martin, come in!" She said, hugging him.

"Thanks Mrs. Camden, I was wondering if Ruthie was here. I kind of need to talk to her."

"Oh sure, just make yourself at home, I'll go tell her you're here." Ruthie, hearing this, sprinted up the stairs, meanwhile tripping over her robe and falling on the floor.

"Ouch." She said, quietly.

The three in the kitchen heard this, and Martin raised his eyebrows in amusement. "I guess I'll just go get her then." Said Annie, rushing over to the stairs.

"Ruthie Camden, what on earth are you doing up here?" Ruthie looked at her mom.

"I don't want to talk to him" She whispered.

"Why not?" Both Martin and Lucy could hear everything they were saying.

"Because...I just don't" Ruthie replied with a finality to her voice.

"Ruthie, get downstairs and talk to that boy who's waiting for you. Martin came to talk, and I'm going to make sure you two talk."

"I have nothing to say to him." She said, knowing what he wanted to talk about. Receiving a harsh look from her mother, Ruthie got up and trudged up the stairs. She sighed, "I'll be down in 10 minutes."

Finally, after a quick shower and putting her make-up on, Ruthie was ready to go. She came down the stairs one step at a time. She paused at the last step and saw Martin looking at her, then entered the kitchen and stopped, putting her hands on the counter. Martin watched Ruthie as she looked at him, eyebrows raised. He quickly realized what she was waiting for. He stood up, "Ready?" he asked, gesturing towards the door with his hands.

"Yeah." She responded. He opened the door leading to the backyard and after Ruthie walked past, closed it behind him.

Ruthie walked quickly towards the car. She was a few feet ahead of Martin, when he yelled, "Ruthie!" in an exasperated attempt to get her attention.

She whipped around. "What?"

"Will you just wait a second?" By that time, Martin had caught up with Ruthie and was now standing right in front of her.

Ruthie crossed her arms over her chest. "What did you want to talk about?" she asked, not looking him in the eye, but preferring to focus on a squirrel running across the yard.

Martin, noticing her resistance, asked, "Are you mad at me or something?" This got Ruthie's attention. She looked up at him and into those beautiful green eyes.

"No. I'm not mad at you...exactly." She took a deep breath and looked away again. "We shouldn't have kissed." She said this so softly, that he could barely hear it.

Martin tilted his head up and stuck his hands in his pockets. He looked back down at Ruthie and said, "Do you honestly believe that?"

She tilted her head. "Martin-" But she couldn't finish. Once again, Martin had interrupted her. But this time, it wasn't with words.

As he pulled away from the kiss, he looked her in the eye. "Do you think that shouldn't have happened?"

"I-"

"And what about this?" He asked, as he again pressed his lips to hers. Once the kiss ended and he pulled back ever so slightly, he looked at her and she looked back. He smiled softly and lowered his mouth to hers once more, deepening the kiss.

And that's where they stood, for half an hour, until the two finally broke apart.

Ruthie looked down at her shoes and shuffled her feet. "Brewer, you are the most stubborn person I know." She looked up and met his gaze. She smiled at him and reached up on her tippy-toes. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and turned towards the car.