Disclaimer: Same as all chapters.

Chapter 12- Martin

It was great to be back in Glen Oak after 7 years. When he left he'd been so hurt and angry that he didn't even say goodbye to Ruthie or any of the other Camdens. He was back now for a reason. He'd been injured last year during baseball season and was told that he wouldn't be able to play in the majors again. It had crushed him, his dream was over after only 3 seasons. He'd been recruited right out of college. He'd loved playing for the Sacramento Stars, but for some reason, he'd always known he'd end up back here.

He spotted his dad immediately and ran over to him. He hadn't seen him since Christmas and frankly he didn't care how old you got, seeing your parents again after a long time apart always wanted to make you cry, although he never would.

"Martin boy! How've ya been?"

"I've been doing good Dad. I'm just a little upset that I won't be able to play again." He decided he'd answer honestly and try not to lie, his father would have known.

"Well, at least baseball isn't going to be totally out of your life. You're going to be the baseball coach for the high school and you're gonna be a gym teacher. Don't sweat too much."

"Thanks for trying to make me feel better Dad. It'll take a bit to get used to."

Beau wasn't sure whether he should tell Martin that Ruthie was coming over tomorrow. He knew his son still loved her. Nothing escaped Beau Brewer, he'd known his son was in love before he did. But for some reason Martin stopped talking to her after prom night. Something, he didn't know what, had happened that night. He'd always known they'd end up together. He knew that Martin and Ruthie would be together when the time was right. He'd liked Ruthie, she reminded him a lot of Martin's mom, she was exactly what his son needed and deserved. Beau had never considered himself a romantic, but those two were soul mates. So, he was going to keep it secret from the other, and let them deal with it like adults, besides, they'd be working together anyway. Why not make it good before the school year started?

When they finally got home that night, Martin asked his father a question.

"Hey Dad, do you happen to know if Ruthie still lives with her parents?"

"No son she doesn't. She's a 23 year old woman, she's got a place of her own, but I see her come over every Sunday. She was a pretty girl when she was young, but now she's turned into a beautiful young lady. Any guy'd be lucky to have her."

He giggled to himself. He said that hoping to see Martin's reaction.

"Why do you ask anyway? I thought you two were friends."

"Dad, you know very well I haven't talked to her in 7 years. I just want to see the Camdens and I just am not really ready to see Ruthie yet."

"Oh, I see. Well, why don't you go on over. It's only 5:00, visit with them."

Martin made the walk across the street to the Camdens house and rang the doorbell. There was a time he'd just walk on in, but that was 7 years ago. He heard footsteps and then the door opened.

Annie Camden couldn't believe what she was looking at. Martin Brewer left without a goodbye 7 years ago, while she was happy to see him, she was also still a little angry, she knew he'd broken her daughter's heart, but she was willing to forgive him.

"Martin! What are you doing here?"

"Well, I'm going to be working at the high school as the boys gym teacher and the baseball coach. I got injured during the last season, and now I can't play anymore. I studied physical education as a backup during college, and I'm glad I did. How've you been?"

"Oh, I've been just fine Martin. We all have. Why don't you come on in?"

Martin stepped inside into the familiar foyer, and followed Annie through to the kitchen where she poured him a glass of milk and offered him a plate of cookies, his favorite in fact, peanut butter and chocolate chip.

"We did hear about your injury. How are you healing?"

"Oh, I'm doing just fine. I'll have to take it easy and I won't be able to run for awhile, but they have high hopes that I can someday."

"Oh, I can't believe I didn't think of this earlier. This is quite a coincidence. Stay right there."

She disappeared upstairs and came down a couple of minutes later with a box with "Martin" written on it.

"I was cleaning the attic out today and found this in there. I figured it was things you forgot when you lived here, but I'm not sure what's in there. I didn't open it. I was just gonna give it to your father tomorrow, but since you are here you might as well take it."

Thinking back he was sure he'd gotten everything out of there when he moved back into the home across the street.

"Thanks. I'll check it out tonight."

He took a cookie and bit into it. It's still warm. It tasted so good, but it reminded him of the time that Ruthie made them for him.

Flashback

The radio was on when he walked in. He was struck with the sight of Ruthie in an apron and dancing and singing along to the music. Nobody else was home, and she probably thought she was gonna have some privacy. He stood there watching her for a couple of minutes, but couldn't contain himself any longer. He burst out laughing, and Ruthie turned around completely embarrassed.

"Martin what are you doing here?"

"I came over to see if you wanted to go to a movie with me and Mac, but it looks like your busy." Bursting out into fits of laughter during the sentence.

"Well you just ruined your surprise."

"What surprise?" He asked, suddenly curious.

"Your birthday surprise. I'm making your favorite cookies, peanut butter and chocolate chip. I just got started."

"Well, I'll sit here and keep you company." No girl had ever baked for him before, let alone his favorite kind of cookies.

"Are you sure Mac won't mind?"

"No, he'll be fine."

She was making them from scratch so it would take her awhile to make them and put them all in the oven. They talked for the longest time, and the conversation was going good. Suddenly Martin saw some of the flour and decided to have even more fun. He got some flour in his hand and threw it at Ruthie.

"Urh! Martin! The kitchen is dirty enough."

But even she couldn't contain herself, so she threw some back. Soon they were engaged in a flour fight. In one moment he grabbed her to keep her from getting away and their faces were inches apart. Martin backed away, and told her he had to go, but he'd be back later to help her clean up since he started the fight. He'd practically ran out of the house and had to take a walk to clear his head. He returned 10 minutes later and without a word grabbed a broom and started sweeping it up while Ruthie finished the cookies.

That had been the best birthday, it would have been better if he'd had the guts to kiss her when he wanted to, now it was too late. Mrs. Camden interrupted his thoughts by telling him something he wasn't expecting

"Ruthie brought them over today. She spends a lot of time baking and cooking, she says it's relaxing. I just want to tell her, 'Wait 'til you're a mother of 7 children and cooking for 9 or more. It won't be so relaxing then.' But I just want her to be happy, so I leave it alone."

He gulped down the rest of the cookies and took some for the road (Annie insisted he take some home). He grabbed the box and told her he'd see her later.

Once he got home and went up to his old room where he was going to stay until he could find his own place. Sure he had plenty of money, but he didn't want to find anything too huge and showy, just something simple. He got a knife and opened up the box. He didn't recognize any of the things in there, but he looked through them anyway. It looked like most of it belonged to Ruthie. He found some pictures of them together, it seemed like they'd been taken just yesterday. Some of them included the time they'd gone to a baseball game together, the time they'd dressed up for Halloween and other ones, but there were the ones of one of the most memorable moments in his life, the night of prom. She looked so beautiful in that dress, I could barely take my eyes off of her. He'd found the version of Romeo and Juliet that she'd had to write that year. He wanted to read it so he opened it up and started reading.

Twenty minutes later he was sitting on his bed, she'd written a story about them, at least that's what it appeared to be. He wanted to see what else was in there, there was a baseball he'd given her, the one he'd caught to win the nationals. He also found a teddy bear he'd won her at the county fair, and then at the very bottom was a journal. He knew it was wrong to read, but Mrs. Camden thought the box was his, so he opened it to read it. He opened it to just a random page and this is what he read.

"Martin, you know nobody else is here. I want you so badly. I'm not like Matt, Mary and Lucy. I want you to be my first and I want it to be now."

"Ruthie are you sure?"

"More than sure."

"If you insist."

"Wait you have condom right?"

"Yes, I don't want to be in a compromising situation."

He continued to look through the book, and he was shocked to find that it was full of dreams of him. Even more surprising was the fact that most of them involved them having sex. He then found another journal filled with entries of him and he realized that he was completely stupid, Ruthie had been in love with him too, and then read the entry from prom night. She only kissed Tim because she was upset and thought I decided I wanted to be with Shelby instead and that's how she dealt with the pain. He realized that he had to find out where Ruthie lived and do something about it, he looked at the clock which read 12:55 a.m. Guess I'll have to wait 'til tomorrow. I just can't wait to tell her that I still love her and that to keep myself from hurting I only dated girls that looked like her and reminded me of her, except that I finally accepted that none of them could hold a candle to her.