Ruthie hadn't cried that hard in a long time, but she had to admit that it felt kind of good. This calm numbing sensation had washed over her by now and she felt better now that the tears were out.
That had been about fifteen minutes ago and she wonders how she hadn't manage to wake up the whole house with the commotion, and is thankful with the apparent fact that her family sleep like rocks. T-bone sat with her, held her for as long as she needed to be held, and let her cry. He didn't ask. Ruthie assumed the reason why T-bone didn't ask was because he was sure he would not get an answer. He was right. Also, when he kept saying that he was 'here now,' Ruthie was sure that he thought the reason for her crying was because she missed him.
Ruthie sat in the Kitchen now, watching as T-bone moves around the room searching through the cabinets and humming, lips pressed tightly shut, to something she doesn't quickly recognize. The sounds come out nicely and he seems real into it that she doesn't have the heart to interrupt. She wonders if this is what he expected things to be when he came home. No, T-bone probably thought of hugs and tears of joy, lots kisses, and, well, she doesn't know what else, but it sure wasn't her, with some old pajamas, blotchy face with zero trace make up on, and wild curls, sticking out from all sorts of places, in a pulled up messy bun. Well this is what he got, and T-bone seems quite accepting and happy with this reality.
It is pass two in the morning and here they are, two day earlier than she expected him, but here he was. He'd always had a key to the house from the days when he lived with them, so Ruthie didn't ask how he got in. And how she didn't notice him come in through the driveway, she doesn't know. Well, she wasn't exactly waiting for anyone to come in at that time.
T-bone moves around the kitchen, making the rounds before making his way to the refrigerator.
"I've missed you." He gives her a light squeeze on the shoulder and smiles at her.
"Me too"
And he bends down slightly to give her a peck on the lips as he passes her way.
"I'm starving!" he says a bit dramatically and rubs a hand over his stomach before his head disappears into the refrigerator door.
Ruthie smiles at him.
"You want me to make you something?" He asks, as he peeks out from the refrigerator and gives her a wink along with a toothy grin.
She wants to say no. Ruthie wants to say that late night snacks are not their thing.
"Sure" she says softy.
There is silence for the longest time. Ruthie watches T-bone as he takes out some contents out of the refrigerator. Watches as he sets the cheese, the ham, bread, mayonnaise and lettuce down. He resumes the humming and she watches him.
He looks up once in a while and gives her a smile when he does.
"How was it with your dad?" she pipes in through the humming, hoping to start a conversation.
"Good." He shrugs. "Boring. Dad had me help him out at the office. So the only highlight I got around there was when a kid kicked me in the face when dad tried to put the needle in him mouth no numb it." He rubs his cheek remembering.
T-bone hadn't told her of that over the phone.
"Here's the kick." He says, picking up the knife and spreading the mayonnaise all over the slice of bread. "The kids name was Martin." He scoffs, and looks up at her. "My luck right?'
Ruthie's eyes budge out for a second.
"What have you been up to?" he asks casually, and resumes what he was doing.
Ruthie should tell him. He has opened up the perfect window for this conversation. She should say, 'Well T-bone, if you must know, I've been hanging out with Martin for the past couple of weeks, not in the day, but at night, you know here in the kitchen, sometimes in my dad's office. We do it, in the chair, in the carpet…Oh Why you may ask? Well I can't sleep. You see I have these dreadful thoughts at night. What kind of thoughts? Martin's declaration of love… You know that night, when I told you I wanted to be with you, well Martin and me had this chat. You have nothing to worry about though. I mean, we talk and its nice, most of the time at least, that is until Martin declares his 'love' for me in between snacks and banter…but In my defense, when he does I kick him out!"
"Nothing" Ruthie says instead. "You know, same old same old. Babysitting, helping mom, sleeping in late"
"Hmm" T-bone says and nods. He stops what he is doing, looks up and smiles. "That's nice."
T-bone had moved to chopping the lettuce, and the way he chopped it, like if he is trying to kill it makes her think that something is up. Ruthie can't put her finger on it.
"Jane called me two days ago." He remarks, in what Ruthie thinks as an attempt to change the subject.
"Oh" she says equably, no sure why he thought she would care. "What did she want?"
Ruthie hadn't seen Jane or heard from her since she declared war on her back in the day when Martin was being a two-timing jerk. Jane never did let that go. She even tried to get with T-bone for those two seconds him and Ruthie were broken up. Ruthie suspected that all those times her mom would invite Jane over was in an attempt to mend things between the two. Her mom was queen of obvious. She would excuse her self all the time, for some reason, something always came up. "Oh honey, forgot about the load of wash, but you two talk. I'll be back before you know it!" Or, "Oh honey, I forgot about the meatloaf. Whoops! But you are here, keep Jane company!" The list went on and on. Ruthie's knew her mom had good intentions, wanting to get them together in hopes that they would open up, have a heart to heart, maybe cry a little in the process and become Besties for life. He mom probably thought of two girls, overcoming their problems, growing from the experience, and rising above their problems, becoming better people in the process. Saturday slumber parties, makeovers, best friends braiding each other's hair, while telling each other their deepest darkest secret. Things like that. Sure, Jane wanted to get a hold of Ruthie's hair…probably tear it out from the root with her bony hands. As for telling secrets? Really?
"She called to catch up, I guess. She mentioned Martin." He says sourly, and makes a face when he says Martin's name. "Seems they are getting along now."
"Umm…That's Good?" Ruthie staggered the words, her answer coming out more like a question than a response. Why all this talk about Martin anyway?
"For her I guess." He shrugged, looking disgusted by the thought. "He called her. Apparently he wants another 'chance'." He air quoted this.
"Oh here." he pushes the sandwich to her, and takes a bite from his.
She stares at the sandwich, but there is nothing there.
Ruthie knows these moments too well. The moments were something hits you unexpectedly, so fast, almost knocks the wind right out. She feels fiery emotions all over while her heart begin works over time, pumping so fast and hard it creates this ache in the middle of her chest. It's happening again. The scenario is happening. She remembers punches, humiliation, and arms encircling her to stop her. "I hate you" she says, "I hate me too." Is all he can say. She shouldn't feel like this.
"Are you ok?" T-bone is standing next to her know. His voice sounds like an echo out in the distance.
Ruthie nods, and sits still. She's doesn't trust herself to move or to speak. One more minute her mind is telling her.
"Let me get you water." The echo says.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The door. Ruthie's mind is telling her.
She sees T-bone checking his watch and say something like 'who could it be?'
Ruthie knows who it is. She gets up from the seat and walks to the door and opens it.
Sure enough.
Martin is standing outside. Hands in his pockets, with a huge grin.
"You opened the door." He says a bit surprised, and clearly glad that she did.
He is doesn't see T-bone.
"You liar" she intends to scream this at him, but it comes out more like a harsh whisper.
Martin's face falls and finally takes note of at the person sanding in back of her.
"Ruthie are you ok?" he asks concerned and tries to step in a bit closer.
Ruthie tastes something salty. Tears? Maybe. Her eyes are becoming blurry.
"Did he do something to you?" Martin's voice changes to anger in a second and he looks at T-bone like if he's about go hurt him.
"I hate you" her eyes sparkle with anger, as they are now connected with Martin's. There is no mistake that she was directing this at him.
Martin looks startled and confused by this.
"What?" he asks quickly.
T-bone is already by Ruthie's side when she looks back. He is blocking Martin from coming in.
"What are you doing here?" T-bone demands to know.
Martin rolls his eyes and almost pushes him out of the way, but its Ruthie who does the pushing in this case.
With two hands, just like she had done nearly a year ago, she pushes Martin out.
She slams the door.
Mr. Camden is the first to come down a minute later.
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Ok. Sorry. It seems like most of the time Martin is getting kicked out of the Camden house without getting to tell his side of the story. Sorry! I love Martin but this was necessary. Next chapter he will get to tell you his side of the story! I'm thinking of making it a Martin-centric chapter, cause he has a load of explaining to do~!