This night was different. For the first time in weeks Ruthie was able to fall asleep. All it had taken was the forty calculus problems Mr. Williams had assigned yesterday in class. If that wasn't sleep inducing enough the American Revolution chapter she'd skimmed through a couple of minute before heading to bed had taken care of that problem. Martin was safe tonight, and all was well.

That is until Ruthie woke up in the middle of the night, her heart hammering at her chest so fast and hard she thought is was going pop out.

She sat up right and took a look at her cell phone. It was two o'clock in the morning. Tirelessly rubbing her eyes, Ruthie laid back down. Her heart was beginning to work itself back to normal now, but she was left feeling scared. She was sure of one thing, she had had a nightmare. When she tried to recount the nightmare the more it seemed it became lost.

She was knew that the nightmare had nothing to do with Martin, but as she began to dial the numbers on her cell phone, she wasn't sure why his was the first that came to mind this time.

T-Bone, who had been in Seattle for the past three months with his dad, wasn't due back till next week. Ruthie knew that he wouldn't mind her calling him at such ungodly hours, and he would stay up as long as it took for her to fall back asleep. Yet, for reasons she didn't know, Ruthie didn't think of him. That thought alone made her feel guilty and at the same time sad. She loved him, she was sure she wanted to be with him, but she couldn't bring herself to call him at her hour of need.

She hung up after the third ring. Ruthie was just going to stop being such a big baby and troop this one out by herself. She wanted to be brave and say she could do it, but the room was becoming unbearable to be in.

The wind was harsh in Glenoak this winter, but it wasn't unusual for this time of year. Ruthie, who'd lived all her life in the small town, had never heard such huge gusts of air like the one that blew ruthlessly outside. The wind was beginning to seep in through the window cracks outside her room making an eerie sound that came across like a low whisper. To make matters worst the trees outside had grown branches so big that when the wind rattled them up it sounded like a cat was scratching her window, and that is when Ruthie knew she was done toughing it out. She was ready to dial Martin's number again, but just then his number flashed across the small LCD screen of her phone, and Ruthie quickly pushing the SEND button.

"Martin?"

"I'm out-ide o-en th– door" a barely audible voice came from the other side, but Ruthie was able to figure out what he'd said.

Ruthie, getting the robe that lay on the edge of her bed, almost ran the whole way downstairs. When she opened the door and saw him standing there she felt relieved, and if she hadn't stopped herself, she was sure she would have ran up to him and given him a big hug.

He hurried inside, and took off the hood that covered his head and most of his face. "I would've come sooner when you called," he took of his jacket as he spoke, "but the wind really picked up, so I waited a while for it to die down."

Ruthie just nodded, and she felt stupid at the fact that that was the only response she could give him. She wasn't sure why this time felt different. Maybe it was the fact that she had not expected him to come on his own.

"Sit…sit down." She finally said, and walked to the table.

"Thanks" He took a seat and looked around. " So, no snacks tonight?"

Ruthie was staring she was sure. He turned to her waiting for a response, but she just stared.

" What?" he finally asked, looking himself over, not sure at what she was staring.

She managed to look away this time. She felt angry at herself. "No…nothing. Umm let me see what I can find."

Mrs. Camden had made chocolate cake the night before, and Ruthie knew that there was some left.

She took out the cake from the refrigerator, got a knife, and started to cut the slices. She must have been concentrating on not looking his way, that by the time she turned around to get the plates from the cabinet there he was, holding two plates in front of her.

She froze.

"Here" Martin set the plates on the counter. His forearm lightly gracing her shoulder in the process. Ruthie, not meeting his eyes, quickly turned around.

What was happening? She tried to tell herself that the reason she felt awkward was because he had caught her of guard. The only reason he'd come in the first place was because she had guilt tripped him so many times before, he felt an obligation to come every time she called. This time was no different.

Either way, Ruthie knew that he was going to catch on, and so she went on definitive mode. Defensive mode in Ruthie's terms meant that she had to start acting annoyed and bitchy.

"Thanks" she said in sardonic voice, "I could have managed you know." She didn't know why she had to act this way, but she felt it was like it was a point she had to make.

Martin just sighed and took a step back watching Ruthie serve that slices of cake onto the plates, as they both remained silent.

Working progress he reminded himself.

----

They both walk into the Mr. Camden's office, turning on the light as they made their way in.

Ruthie propped herself in one of the chairs and set the plate down. Martin on the other hand made his way around Mr. Camden's desk and took a seat there. He got one of the frames from the desk. Ruthie didn't know why all of a sudden a smile appeared on his lips. She looked at the desk and scanned to see what photo was missing.

"This." He said as he turned to picture so she could see, "was actually the first time I ever saw you."

It was the picture of Annie holding a younger Ruthie, both sporting huge smiles for the camera.

Ruthie took a closer look.

She was trying to remember ever being that age. She was sure she had been happy; she laughed a lot more that was for sure. Ruthie couldn't remember the exact point in time when she detached herself from that good girl image very one expected of a preacher's kid. She could look back and say that it was when she began her sophomore year in high school and the world of boys like Jack started to enter her life. Maybe it had started when she began dating T-bone and she felt herself becoming more liberated. The thought of Tattoos and Sex hadn't entered her world until she had met him. Yet, when she really thought about it, no events had changed her more than the ones she'd experienced with Martin. Sandy, losing him, then him coming back, only to lose him again only this time by choice. She felt like a cynic now, and sometimes she wished she could go back to being that little girl. The little girl that Martin saw in the picture he was holding. She almost let out a bitter laugh, because she knew that no matter how much she tried, she had grown up

He stared at her for a while, as if trying to figure out what she was thinking. "You haven't changed a bit you know." Seeing the confusion in her face, he clarified. " Since I've met you. I cant remember a time when your eyes haven't sparkled when something gets you all excited, or when you smile at…" he looked at her and stopped himself from continuing, "well lets just say you haven't changed."

He set the picture back down, and rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably, letting out a light laugh in the process. "I on the other hand, well lets just say I'm glad puberty kicked in when it did."

"Heh" she said in fake indifference, "You were an OK looking kid back then. Except for that hair" she made a face, pointing to his head.

"Whats wrong with my hair?"

----

They ate their cake in silence for a while.

Ruthie, having had enough of the silence, finally spoke. " Have you seen Jane lately?" she had no idea why that's the first thing that popped in her head, or why she considered that the topic to be the icebreaker, but there it was.

"No not really" he said honestly, " I saw her a while back at the Promenade with Margaret. Mostly her just ignoring me. I can't really blame her after what happened."

"She'll get over it…in time."

"I was a real jerk you know." His voice seemed to soften. "I get why someone wouldn't be able to find it in their heart to forgive me. But, just want them to know that I got nothing but time if that what it takes to prove that I've changed."

"Well I'll make sure to pass the message along."

He just nodded, and she swore she saw a smirk playing on the corner of his mouth.

---

They were playing cards. They found a deck in her father's desk. They were on their forth game, and Martin was loosing so bad, Ruthie cringed at how bad he was. She felt like being nice. Next game, he would win.

"How's is T-bone by the way? Haven't seen him hanging all over you for a while" He said, smiling pleasantly, watching as Ruthie shuffled the cards.

"That's because he's been with his dad for the past three months Martin. And he doesn't hang all over me." She focused her attention at the cards.

"Oh yeah, I forgot. I guess I should have known since I haven't felt the urge to punch someone." He smirked harder.

"That's cute" She rolled her eyes, and he just laughed this time.

"He's a joke"

"Martin…" she warned.

He turned away. "I guess I have to live with that for now."

"You don't have to live with anything Martin. This is how it is. I'm with him. Me and you." She said he pointed between herself and Martin, "this…this is what its always has been." She set the cards down and got up.

"You can go home now." She said on her way out the door.

She never did remember what that nightmare was about.

------

I would like to send a special thanks to, Harleyzgirl, Ansleyrocks,roselilypotter, runningtowrite, and most of all Sophia-Chad who reminded me to update the story!! Thank you, thank you for taking your time to read my story and reviewing, and also to those who took your time to check it out and read it, thanks!!!!