Hey all! Sorry that this chapter is a little late. My parents were visiting this weekend so I was distracted.

In this chapter, we finally get rid of T Bone, at least for the moment, and we finally get some Marthie action! Enjoy!

Chapter Four: Confrontations

Examining herself in the full length mirror once more, Ruthie fastened the gold cross necklace, which her Grandmother had given her for graduation, around her neck. She smoothed the lines of her ice blue, eyelet sun dress and tucked a few loose hairs back into her curly pony tail.

Tonight, the Camden's were hosting a party that was serving to say goodbye to T Bone and welcome the Bennetts into the neighborhood and she wanted to look perfect. Why she was fussing so much was beyond her but subconsciously she knew it was because Martin was going to be there.

The doorbell rang downstairs and a few moments later, Reverend Bennett's booming voice could be heard in the foyer. Checking herself in the mirror one more time and then hurrying downstairs, Ruthie wanted to make sure she was with Felicity at all times. Camden gatherings tended to get dramatic and since she was the source of T Bone's departure, she knew she could easily get caught in the middle of that drama.

As she descended the front stairwell, she heard the voices fade into the kitchen and realized that she probably should have taken the other stairwell. It didn't seem like a problem at all until the front door opened just as she reached the landing and in walked Martin.

Doing some quick thinking, Ruthie thought she may be able to get up the stairs before Martin even saw her but it was too late.

"Hey, Ruthie." Martin smiled walking toward her.

"Hey." She said weakly taking the last few steps off the landing. She felt light-headed with nervousness and it didn't help that Martin looked so hot. He was wearing a blue striped, button-down shirt and jeans. His dark brown hair was spiked up a little just the way Ruthie always liked.

After a few moments of silence, Martin finally spoke, "So, I heard you and T Bone broke up."

Ruthie had expected this but not so gently. She had expected him to be smug. She almost wanted him to be smug just because that should indicate he feels something for her. Maybe Mac was wrong. "Yeah, we did."

That was the end of the dialogue. Instead, they just stood there staring at each other; almost willing each other to say something that could change their relationship. But neither one of them wanted to put themselves out on that limb again just to be rejected.

Their stare fest was interrupted when Mr. Brewer came walking in the door. "Hi, Ruthie. My don't you look pretty tonight." He gave Ruthie a little hug. "Don't you think so, Martin?" He put his hand on his son's shoulder.

Martin seemed stunned by that questioned. "Yeah, yeah. She looks great." He stuttered.

Ruthie blushed. "Thanks." She said meekly.

"Well, let's go find that great food I'm sure your mother's prepared." Mr. Brewer suggested taking Ruthie's arm and steering her toward the kitchen. "I haven't talk to you in ages, Ruthie. We really should catch up." His voice faded into the hallway as Martin trailed behind. His father loved Ruthie, which was great, but he never quite understood why he loved them more than all the other girls who've been in Martin's life.

Ruthie sat quietly at the picnic table listening to the occasional words that came out of Felicity's mouth. So far the party had gone along swimmingly. T Bone was preoccupied, probably purposely, playing with Sam and David. Her parents hadn't made her feel guilty or embarrassed and Jane had maintained her composure. The only one who had been somewhat of a problem was Mac who had kept going in between Ruthie and Martin trying to get them to talk to each other. Margaret finally got him to stop by suggesting they go off somewhere to make out.

Ruthie watched Martin, who was off in a corner of the yard playing with Aaron. She felt bad from him. Three years ago, he would have been right in the middle of the action but now he was confined to a corner. It sucked. Martin had gone from being treated like a loved member of the family by the Camdens to being treated like one of those relatives you only invite to be polite.

It was so different from the way Sandy was treated. When everyone found out Sandy was pregnant, she became embraced into the Camden family but Martin was pushed out. In her heart, Ruthie knew it had more to do with the fact Martin hurt her than Martin getting Sandy pregnant. Her parents wanted to protect her from any further hurt.

"Ruthie, we haven't really gotten to talk. Tell us. Do you have any idea where you want to go after community college?" Mrs. Bennett asked as she and her husband took a seat across the table from Ruthie and their daughter.

"Mom. Do know how sick people my age hate get hearing that question?" Felicity complained rolling her eyes.

"Felicity." Rev. Bennett said sternly giving Felicity that look that meant don't disrespect your mother. He was tall man that could be quite intimidating if he wanted. Mrs. Bennett, on the other hand, was very short and looked like she couldn't hurt a fly.

"It's okay." Ruthie assured her friend before returning to Mrs. Bennett's question. "I'm not sure what college I want to go to. Probably somewhere in state but I have thought about returning to Scotland for college. I spent six months there when I was 16." Ruthie noticed Martin had moved over to the food table which was close enough to over hear her conversation. She wondered if he did it on purpose.

"Really? I spent a year of college in Scotland. I enjoyed it immensely but it does depend on what you want to study on whether it is helpful. I was a history major so it helped me a lot. What are you thinking about majoring in?"

"Psychology." Ruthie surprised herself when she said that. She didn't know what had possessed her to say that. As far as she knew she had no idea what she wanted to study. She looked over at Martin who was staring at her. Obviously, he heard what she said. As their eyes met, she realized why she said that. "I grew up loving listening in on everyone's conversations so why not convert that over to listening to people's problems." She turned back to Mrs. Bennett. It felt good to finally know exactly what she wanted to do with her life. It was weird way to figure it out but Ruthie found herself certain that it was right.

"Excuse me." Eric stood up on the back porch interrupting everyone's conversations. "I like to make a toast to a young man who's grown very close to my heart and to the heart of my family. Even though he will be leaving our family tomorrow, I'd like him to know that he will always have a place here." Staring directly at T Bone, who was sitting on the grass in front of the porch with the twins, Eric continued, "T Bone, I'd like to thank you for helping us as we went through my diagnosis, which by the way said I should have been dead by now. A lot doctors know." The crowd laughed lightly. "And I know Lucy thanks you for helping her through the aftermath of her miscarriage." Lucy nodded with tears in her eyes from the lawn chair. "And we thank you for everything else you've done for this family. And I'm sure we haven't seen the end of you." Eric ended his speech glancing meaningfully at Ruthie hoping she got his message.

Ruthie just looked down at her hands. Why can't they understand? I don't love him.

Eric got off the porch and gave T Bone a bear a hug and soon a line formed with the members of the party saying goodbye to T Bone. Ruthie remained at her seat at the table and Martin went back to his corner with Aaron.

It was around one a.m. that Ruthie awoke realizing she was hungry since she had eaten hardly anything at the party. Sneaking quietly downstairs, she hoped there were still some of those chocolate chip cookies her Mom had made left in the kitchen.

She was startled to find T Bone sitting at the counter munching on those same cookies when she came down the stairs. Once again, she felt like running back up the stairs before he saw her but it was too late.

"Hungry too?" T Bone asked looking up from his plate.

We'll have to have the post break up talk sometime. Why not now? She thought as she took a seat on the other bench at the counter. "Yeah. I guess I wasn't too hungry earlier."

T Bone nodded his head. "Ruthie, I'm sorry about reacting the way I did about the break up and I'm sorry about not calling you this summer. Basically, I'm sorry for being an idiot."

Ruthie sighed and turned her lips up a little. "It's okay. I'm sorry that I hurt you but I just felt like it was the right thing to do."

T Bone perked up. "Felt?"

Ruthie scrunched her face up. "I mean feel. I still feel like it was the right thing to do."

T Bone lowered his shoulders. "Yeah, I thought so. I glad you're honest. It's better than being with someone who's lying to me."

Ruthie just nodded.

"Here, you can have these. I've had enough." T Bone pushed the plate of cookies over to his former girlfriend. "Good night." He got up and started heading up the stairs.

"Hey, T Bone." Ruthie called after him.

"Yeah?" He turned around.

"Just because I don't love you, doesn't mean I won't miss you because I will. I really will."

He smiled a little. "Thanks. That's good to know."

Ruthie sighed a breath of relief once he was gone. I hope that is the end of it. She thought before clamping her teeth down on one of the cookies.

Next on Far Away: While visiting Sequoia College, Ruthie has a bitter confrontation with Martin. (Coming October 27)