"You don't have to be nice to me," Ruthie is shaking her head as she turns around, "I wasn't."
"Please." He insists, and he is relieved when she doesn't take another step.
Still, Ruthie looks conflicted, deciding what her next move is. Her gaze turns to the house across the street and back to his.
"I have to go."
"I don't get it." He leaves the door and walks her direction, "One day you hate me and then you show up here. Why?" He watches her, but her expression is unreadable this time.
"You know why." She says, tiredly.
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"I do?"
Martin Brewer may have thought he knew everything about life, baseball, and school, but one thing he clearly had no clue about was love. Ruthie was convinced, but hey who was she to judge.
" Martin Brewer you are so dumb." She cant' help but rolls her eyes at him, "really."
All politeness set aside now, what would it take for him to see?
He grins at her and crosses his arms.
"There you are." He says, "Thought maybe you'd been brainwashed or something…well more I mean."
"What?"
"Like those cults. You know? Tom Cruise? Come one." He suddenly gets serious, and puts a hand on one side of his mouth as he leans in like he's going to tell her as secret, and in a stage whisper he says," No girl…out of their own free would ever date that thing you call boyfriend."
Martin fervently nods as he pulls away.
She scoffs and can't help the laugh that escapes. Even though, she should find the comment offensive.
He's distracting her. Ruthie knows this.
"I guess." She concedes.
Ruthie also knows that they are not made for angst and she is relieved by the turn of mood in the conversation.
He raises an eyebrow at her, and she as his grin grows wider at her lack of objection.
"So you and T-bone." he observes her, "finally done?"
"Done for good!" Ruthie exclaims, a little dramatically, which makes him laugh.
Thought, she thinks he wouldn't be laughing if he knew the reasons why.
"Does this mean I can kick is ass?"
"Totally."
His eyes flicker with laughter.
There wasn't really any right words to start the conversation she was about to begin, but the middle sounds good because to understand the beginning they would really have to start with the last time they spoke with each other, which was when she slammed the door in his face and told him she hated him...for the second time.
"He told me you were with Jane." She starts. It's simple and to the point and she watches his smile quickly disappear.
Wha-"
But she stops him before he can finish whatever he's about to say.
"I believed him." she takes a deep breath, and points to the steps.
He is reluctant but follows her as they sit on the cool concrete steps.
"He was sleeping with her."
From the corner of her eye she sees that he is trying hard not to say anything. His jaw is strained, the muscle prominent, as his brow pull together in mixture of anger and disbelief.
Ruthie knows that he is waiting to hear more, as well a processing what he is hearing.
"I found out through a text and then I confronted him and he didn't deny it." Her voice is bitter, she hears it, but not for the reasons anyone would think. "Then he asked me if I loved you, and-" she stops.
When she doesn't continue he turns to meet her eyes, which are already on him.
"And?" Marin asks. His face is clears of any anger. He keeps his eyes on hers as he leans in.
The way he looks at her makes her think maybe she was wrong, maybe he knew how much she loved him before she even did.
"And I told him I might have feelings for you, but I don't know." She responds, honestly.
She searches his eyes for a reaction.
His mouth parts about the say something, but then the door creaks loud from behind they turn to see Mr. Brewer adjusting the collar of his jacket as his keys dangle from his free hand.
"Ruthie." He greets her as he steps out from the door.
"Hi Mr. Brewer." She greets back weakly and stands up.
Martin does the same but looks irritated by the interruption.
"Dad." He says flatly.
"What are you kids up to?" Mr. Brewer said conversationally, glancing between them.
"Talking, dad." Martin answers, annoyed. "Do you mind?"
"Good." Mr. Brewer says, clearly not getting it. "You two use to hang out a lot. Ruthie, I miss having you around. This one has been such a grouch lately" He points at Martin. "Just today-"
Martin's eyes look like they are about to pop out of their sockets, and he quickly steps in. "Dad." He hisses. "No one wants to hear the stories. Weren't you going somewhere?
Ruthie is amused by the exchange, as she stands silent.
"Oh right." Mr. Brewer does a not so subtle wink his way. "I was going to do some…Umm landscaping."
Martin seems to relax, "Well, don't be late on our account."
He quickly clears the way so his father can leave.
"Ruthie, you tell me if this one gets out of line." He smiles Ruthie's way this time. "I'll set him straight."
Ruthie nods with a little chuckle. Apparently over protectiveness ran in the family.
Mr. Brewer pats Martin on the shoulder and motions to his wristwatch with a finger as he moves pass him.
"Crap." Martin whispered, looking at his own watch.
"I know landscaping on a Sunday? I told you he was in the CIA."
"No, not that."
Then Ruthie remembers that bags and knows that he has to leave soon.
"You should go. "She tells him, "Don't be late, and don't forget to say hi for me."
"I'm sorry." He sighs, "Sandy and Jonathan have to be at some benefit for the Hospital and-"
"It's fine."
He leaves her for a second as he disappears into the house. When he comes back he doesn't have anything but some keys when he walks over to her.
Ruthie is puzzled, but he quickly clarifies.
"I was taking the bags up there today because I was only planning on brining Aaron for the day to visit dad, but I think we'll stay the weekend."
"We'll finish the conversation when you come back." she promises. "Now go or you'll get traffic!"
"Would you come with me?" He asks quickly, looking expectedly at her now.
She is surprised by the invitation, and just then she hears the honk of a car. Both their heads turn across the street.
Her dad is standing outside his car, while Robbie stands outside the passengers' side, waves at her.
It seems like today would be a day of interruptions as well.
She lets out an incredulous laugh at the timing.
"I can't."
"I understand" he looks at her dad across the street and waves.
"I kinda have to go."
It's kind of awkward because neither really knows they stand now. Are they friends? Maybe. So does she hug him? Does she shake his hand? Ruthie doesn't do either. She does a little hand wave and leaves.
While going down the path, Ruthie feels a little unhappy that she couldn't tell him everything she had meant to tell him, but it would have to be enough for now. Martin knew at least part of it, and they were talking again. God, she missed seeing him. This had been the first time in a while since they had been in the same space. She still had the most important part to tell him, though—the late night snacks.
"He's not CIA." She hears him call after her.
"Sure, whatever you say." She turns around half way and smiles.