Chapter Six

The Dates and The Kiss

"Mac asked me out." Olivia told Ruthie and Freddie as she looked through the clothing rack.

"When?" Freddie asked.

"He called me last night." Olivia said holding a top up, "Do you like this?"

"Cute," Freddie said, "but not you."

"I'm so happy for you." Ruthie said she still wasn't herself but she was happy for her friend, "Can we go get a pretzel I'm starving."

"Anyway," Olivia said as they headed to the food court, "I was wondering…."

"What?" Ruthie asked buying her cheese pretzel.

"I want you guys to come with me." Olivia said.

"On your date?" Freddie and Ruthie asked in unison.

"We can make it a double." Olivia said.

"Don't you remember that Ruthie is the one that helped me come to terms with being gay?" Freddie said.

"Yeah!" Ruthie said agreeing, "We only went out so he could find out weather or not he was gay."

"And I am." Freddie said not giving Olivia a chance to speak, "I'm flaming hot gay!"

"Would you let me speak!?" Olivia said, I didn't mean you guys together. I meant I would set you guys up."

"Oh!" Freddie said grinning, "Then I'm in!"

"Ruthie?" Olivia begged.

"I'm not sure I'm ready." Ruthie replied as Simon walked up.

"Not ready for what?" Simon asked taking a bite of his pretzel.

"Did you follow me?"

"I told you I needed an idea for my screenplay." Simon said.

Martin was in the middle of writing his midterm essay when his phone rang, it was his dad, Beau.

"Hey." Martin said answering.

"Hi Martin," Beau said, "I have some good news."

"What?" Martin asked.

"I can't tell you over the phone. I was wondering if you would meet me at Oscar's Grill tomorrow for dinner and bring date." Beau said.

"Sure," Martin replied, "but I don't see why you can't tell me over the phone."

"Because I can't!" Beau said, "And dress nice."

"I will." Martin said hanging up. The last thing he wanted to do was find a date.

Later the next night Ruthie found herself on a double or triple date with Olivia and Freddie. Olivia couldn't take her eyes off Mac and Mac couldn't take his off Olivia. Freddie for once in his life couldn't stand someone. Johnny was probably the most annoying person in the world and he was all over Freddie. Ruthie's date Henry was really sweet but it was obvious that they had nothing in common.

"I think I made a mistake making this a double date." Olivia whispered to Ruthie when Mac went to the restroom.

"You think!" Ruthie said eyeing her. How she let Olivia talk her into to stuff like this she didn't know.

"I'm getting married." Beau told his son wrapping his arm around his fiancée Michelle the French fashion designer he'd been dating for the past three months.

"You're what?!" Martin yelled shocked.

"I'm getting married. We're getting married." Beau said grinning like a schoolboy.

"I can't believe this." Martin said, "Oh my god! You're pregnant?"

"No no no." Michelle said smiling sweetly, "We're in love."

"Aw how sweet." Martin's date Jenny said trying to lighten the mood, "Congratulations."

"Thank you." Beau said.

"Excuse me." Martin said getting up, "I have to go to the restroom."

"I should go talk to him." Beau said starting to get up.

"No let me." Michelle said standing up.

Ruthie felt a wave of nausea come over her standing up she said, "Excuse me."

"I should go check on her." Freddie said when Johnny began to lean in closer to him. Freddie found Ruthie in the girl's bathroom throwing up.

"Are you ok?" Freddie asked handing Ruthie a paper towel under the stall door.

"Yeah I'm fine." Ruthie said coming out, "I think I have the flu."

"You look like shit!" Freddie said.

"Thanks a lot!" Ruthie said splashing water into her face, "Come on let's go we have to get back to 'our dates'."

"Can't we just make a quick exist?" Freddie begged.

"No." Ruthie said walking out and not paying attention to what she was doing. Ruthie didn't even see Martin until she collided with him and fell back. Martin caught her before she hit the ground.

"Ruthie?" Martin said, "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine." she said not looking up at him, "Freddie you know what I want to go home."

"Thank god!" Freddie said, "Johnny ordered a creaser salad and I know he wants me."

"Martin, I'm sorry I know that was a shock to you. I'm not trying to replace…" Michelle began until she spotted Freddie, "Fredrick, darling!"

"Fredrick?" Ruthie and Martin asked in unison.

"He's my cousin." Michelle said as she gave Freddie air kisses.

"Michelle, I love that bag." Freddie said, "Is it from your new collection?"

"Yes." she said, "I was thinking about doing it in another color. What do you think?"

"Hmm…" Freddie began as another wave of nausea came over Ruthie.

"Freddie I really want to go home…"

"I'll take you." Martin said taking her hand and pulling her out to the parking lot, "I have to get out of here."

Ruthie sat beside Martin in her driveway. He looked really upset she thought to herself.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"He's getting married!"

"Your dad?" Ruthie questioned.

"Yes my dad," Martin said, "to that French Michelle woman that's related to your friend."

"If she's related to my friend Freddie she can't be that bad." Ruthie said turning to look in him in the eyes for the first time since the party.

"I'm sure she's great." he said, "Hell she's probably perfect for my dad but..."

"Your mom?" Ruthie said putting her hand on Martin's arm.

"It's hard enough seeing him date another woman," Martin said, "but marriage that's a whole new ball park."

"I'm sorry Martin." Ruthie said taking his hand in hers. Martin looked down at their entwined hands and then back up at her face.

"Ruthie?"

"Martin?" she said as he rubbed the back of his fingers against her cheek. He took her chin in the palm of his hands and pulled her close. At first their lips just touched then they teased and then she opened her mouth and the kiss deepen.

Martin had dreamed about this. He'd longed for her kiss for so long and he knew in that moment that his obsession with her wasn't going away but he wasn't sure he wanted it to anymore.