Chapter Seven
Ruthie made her way to the attic and climbed into bed. She spread the covers out, making herself comfortable with 2 pillows propped up behind her head. She was in a sitting position, smoothing out wrinkles, invisible and otherwise, in her comforter.
Martin walked in, a trey in hand, carrying the contents of her beverage.
"Your Highness," He bowed with a goofy flourish and presented the drink with one arm, Vana White style.
"Why thank you, kind sir," she said, playing along. He gave a boyish grin and sat down on the edge of her bed.
"I wasn't sure how much honey," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, "or what kind of tea, so I just brought up a bunch."
"It's fine. Thanks."
"Yeah, no problem." He said, looking around the room. He took in the old vanity by the wall, and the posters of boy-bands surrounding the walls. He looked over the pictures of Ruthie growing up, some with her friend Katelyn riding horses, some with Lucy and Mary. There were pictures of Simon and Ruthie when they were younger and still very close.
Martin paused at the last picture. It was framed by her bedside. It was a picture of them, one he hadn't seen in years. Martin was dressed in his baseball uniform had his arm around Ruthie's shoulder, and in the other hand was his bat. He was looking down at her petite figure with a smile on his face; he guessed it was probably after a game.
She was smiling brightly at the camera and had her arm tucked around his waist. She was wearing his jersey, one he'd given her a while back. She was always supportive of his baseball.
His eyes were fixed on that picture. It was taken before he had broken her trust, before their relationship was strained. It was a little bit after when he had realized that his feelings for her weren't exactly sisterly.
Ruthie followed his gaze.
"We had some good times, huh?" she asked quietly. He quickly turned his head back to face her. She was still staring at the picture.
He looked back to the frame. "Yeah, we did."
She nodded solemnly, her eyes still transfixed with the photo.
Neither of them spoke for a few minutes. They sat in a comfortable silence, remembering the good times, and then the bad times that tore them apart.
She took a small sip of her tea, mug held in both hands. Her hair had been let down from the sloppy ponytail it had been thrown into earlier. She may have been sick, but she was a sight.
Her cup was set down, and her small fingers played with the loose thread in the blanket. She sniffled, trying to keep the unwanted tears in check. Why she was crying, was a mystery to her.
Martin reached over and weaved his fingers with hers. They sat there, holding hands trying to think of something to say to the other. His large thumb traced light circles on the back of her hand and she found herself smiling slightly.
She took a deep breath, which was a little bit difficult considering her state of health, and let it out shakily. "It doesn't feel like much as changed." She said, looking down at their intertwined fingers.
Martin agreed silently with a small nod and glance at her. She went on. "Except it has. A lot has changed." She paused, not sure of what to say next. "I just…I wish-"
She paused again, trying to think of a way to phrase it. Another deep breath was inhaled and let go just a moment after. "I wish we could go back to the way things were. I changed in Scotland. I experienced a lot of new things, not all exactly good. If I could go back in time, I'd take back what happened. I really would." She drew her hand away slowly before looking up at him.
Martin lifted his gaze to hers and propped his chin on the bridge of his knuckles.
"I'm really glad you're back, Ruthie." She smiled as a single tear dripped down her face. She paused and tilted her head in a playful manner.
"I wish I could say the same for you" She said. He feigned an offended expression and she laughed. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Geez, Brewer. Learn to take a joke," She said through giggles. He smiled and gestured at her tea, which was probably cold by now.
"Well, you have your tea, so I'll just let you rest." He made a move to get up, but Ruthie pulled him back down.
-&-
Ruthie didn't know why she had gotten so emotional over the picture. It was after all, just a picture. That's what she told herself anyway.
Another part of her knew why she had gotten so worked up about the photograph. It was a big part of her life; well what the picture was of was a big part anyway. That picture was one of her favorites. She always used to look at it before she went to bed, and it helped her sleep many a night. She used it for comfort mostly when Martin had made her upset, or when said boy went about shattering her heart. She viewed it like it was a promise that everything would be okay.
It had sentimental value, and Ruthie was pretty sure if she were stranded on an island that would be the one possession she would take.
She had felt so guilty sitting there in bed with him. She wanted to tell him what happened; she almost had, too. Ruthie trusted him. He was her best friend throughout their teen years. He had made her fall in love with him. And she didn't regret any of it. The journey was worth it in the end.
Not once did she want to take back anything that happened with Martin. Several times, she wished that she wasn't in love with him. She wished she could have fallen for someone else…someone else who wasn't Martin. She wished a couple of times in her youth, that she could at least fall out of love with him eventually. Needless to say, none of these things happened.
She was still very much head over heels for Martin Brewer, and as of right then, she didn't want to change anything about that.
-&-
"Stay with me. Just for a little bit." She said, tugging him back down to the bed where he had been seated just moments before. "Keep me company."
A light smile played on his lips. "Fine." He replied. "For a little while anyway. But you need to sleep. If you don't get better, I'm going to have to go out and find someone else to annoy…which would indeed be a waste of time. Since, after all, you are right here."
As Ruthie went to input her opinion, he continued. "Besides," he started, "I've already had years of practice with you. I'm like a pro now." He gave her a sly smile, daring her to quip that with a reply.
She thought about it for a minute, and then finally decided that there was no way she could respond without either complimenting him, thus enlarging his ego, or agreeing with him, thus saying he's right and boosting his already big enough self-confidence.
Ruthie settled for an eye roll and told him not to be such an idiot before asking how old he was again. He laughed at this remark and told her he was twenty-three. It was totally expected of her, and he knew that was what would happen.
His green eyes sparkled as they looked into hers and gave her another heart searing boyish grin; the kind he was infamous for.
She gave a small 'hmph' and laid back to relax.
Her hand was in his again and he was playing with her fingers, drawing imaginary shapes and objects on her palm.
Martin moved over and laid down next to her, her small hand still engulfed in his larger one. His head was in his palm, propped up by his elbow. He took her in and watched as she relaxed. It seemed as if everything were perfect. This was how it was supposed to be.
-&-
Martin thought back to when he first realized his feelings for Ruthie. It had been years ago. He was still living with the Camden's at the time.
It was when Ruthie and Vincent were together, and Vincent had asked Martin to get her to break it off. He remembered how Ruthie had thought Martin was jealous, and he had been doing it for selfish reasons.
Everything had worked itself out in the end. Ruthie had found out what was going on, and that Martin wasn't interested in her that way.
His dad was coming home from Iraq, and before they left, Ruthie went up to the garage apartment and the two talked, as if to be rid of the awkwardness of the situation. He had hugged her, and that was when it happened. If anything, it made the situation even more awkward. It was their first ever hug, and he then realized that he liked Ruthie more than he should. He wasn't supposed to have a thing for someone who he once looked at as a little sister. But he did.
-&-
She was drifting off. The cold medicine she had taken earlier was making her drowsy, and she could barely keep her eyes open.
Martin's calloused fingers, from years of playing baseball, were caressing her hand, and it was soothing.
He watched as her eyelids fluttered closed and then open, and then closed again.
As she was falling asleep, she barely registered what Martin was saying.
"I love you, Ruthie Camden." He whispered in her ear.
(A/N So....what does everybody think? Am I doing Okay so far? Let me know!
I'm really really sorry for the late update. I just finished taking the SAT, and it totally kicked my butt, as I've explained to a couple of you before. I wasn't planning on taking so long to update this time, and I'm sorry it's not that long too. I haven't had a lot of time to write lately...I've got sooooo much on my schedule! But, I just wanted to let you know, that no. I did NOT fall off the face of the earth or into a black hole. and I definately didn't get abducted, so no worries. I'm back now, and that's all that matters, right? left? whatever. So yeah... Thanks everyone for reviewing and subscribing, it gives me warm fuzzies. lol-I'm not really sure if anybody reads these author notes, but it's worth a shot, no?
Okay, so I'm going to stop babbling right now. You all know the drill, read, review, have a great Valentine's, etc.
I'll try to get back with an update next week or the week right after. Peace!)
~E