Hey guys! I hope that 7th Heaven has some good Ruthin tonight but if not I wanted to do my part to cheer everyone up so this chapter is full of Martin and Ruthie!
"Ian! Ian. Come back here." Ruthie called out, already exhausted from just one hour of chasing the little boy around.
"It's Martin." Ian called out as he stood on his tiptoes, attempting but failing to reach up and unlock the door.
"Here, I've got it." Ruthie said, as she unlocked the door. "Hey Martin, what are you doing here?"
"Martin! I got this new video game. Will you come play with me? Ruthie says she doesn't know how." Ian said, all smiles as Martin came inside and tousled his hair.
"Sure buddy. Why don't you go set it up?" Martin said, "Do I need a reason? Aren't you happy to see me?" He teased Ruthie.
"Well…" Ruthie said over her shoulder as she turned to follow Ian to his bedroom.
"Still think you're funny?" Martin questioned as he came up behind Ruthie and began tickling her sides, causing her to laugh and try to escape his grip.
"Truce. Please, Martin." Ruthie begged out of breath, after having fallen on the floor and being pinned by Martin.
"Truce." Martin conceded, letting her up and entering Ian's room where he sat down next to the little boy and accepted the controller he was handed.
"I came by because I was bored out of my mind at home. Plus I figured when you got done we could go by and grab dinner so we don't have to cook." Martin answered Ruthie's earlier question as he focused intently on the screen in front of him.
"Sounds good. And actually I was happy to see you. Ian's got so much energy today, don't you bud?" Ruthie said as she squeezed the little boy's side, causing him to squirm and move away from her.
"Nu-uh. You're going to make me mess up." Ian retorted.
"Ruth, you shouldn't mess with a guy when he's playing his game. Right, Ian?" Martin joked, smiling at the exasperated look on her face when Ian simply nodded, never taking his attention away from the screen.
"And you shouldn't teach the kid bad habits." Ruthie reprimanded, motioning towards Ian, "Especially when he looks up to you."
"Yah, Martin is tall." Ian agreed, not catching the meaning of Ruthie's comment which caused Martin and Ruthie to burst out laughing.
After playing video games for about a half hour Ian, Ruthie and Martin all went outside and played soccer for a while in the backyard. Then when Ruthie started to feel a little winded and worn out, Ian announced that he wanted to ride his bike. So they all made their way to the front of the house, where Ruthie and Martin sat on the edge of the drive while Ian rode his bike around in the circle.
"Feeling bad again?" Martin asked, glancing over at Ruthie, whose cheeks were flushed and eyes slightly glassy.
"Just a little tired. I'm really happy you came over. I don't think I could've kept up with him all day on my own." Ruthie shared, as she leaned over and knocked Martin's shoulder playfully with her own.
"It's always nice to be wanted." Martin joked, putting his arm around Ruthie's shoulders and pulling her to him in a hug, "Oh I forgot to tell you. Gretchen stopped by and left you some notes she photocopied and a paper telling you what to read."
"Great. Homework. Kill me now." Ruthie whined, acting as though she was stabbing herself in chest.
"That could be arranged." Martin said evilly, laughing as her eyes narrowed and she smacked his arm.
"You couldn't live without me and you know it." Ruthie told him, watching as he began smirking, "You'd be lost in this world."
"Lost? Me? Never. Besides it's not like I'd ever be so lucky. I'm cursed to be permanently stuck with you, my dear." Martin drawled, as he moved out of her reach so she couldn't hit him again.
"Cursed, huh?" Ruthie fake-pondered, "Gosh, I never knew I was such a burden."
"Well at least now you know. It's for the best." Martin said, the smile he'd been hiding finally escaping as Ruthie began laughing, "What's so funny?"
"I was just thinking…" Ruthie managed to get out in between giggles.
"Which I know is an accomplishment itself." Martin teased.
"Not funny…" Ruthie shot back, as she tried to compose herself.
"I know and believe me I'm not laughing about it." Martin said, attempting to remain serious, "You should really seek help for this problem you have."
"And what problem is that?" Ruthie questioned, her laughter finally subsiding.
"Well first there are thoughts of suicide. And then random fits of laughter. Sudden mood changes. And then you're talking about thinking? These have to be signs of some illness." Martin answered, watching as Ruthie's expression went from one of interest to one of mock irritation and finally she simply looked contemplative.
"You know I think I know what's wrong with me." Ruthie shared, leaning closer to Martin and whispering conspiratorially, "I'm friends with you."
"Ha ha." Martin joked, shaking his head at her comment, "So, really what were you laughing at?"
"Nothing really." Ruthie answered, but at Martin's disbelieving look, "Fine I was just
thinking about that time in high school when I told you I didn't want to be a burden. Remember you were dating Becca. And you two were on a date and I was out with that guy, Blake, and he ended up meeting up with his ex-girlfriend so I didn't have a ride home."
"Yeah and I saw you sitting on a bench at the Promenade all by yourself." Martin said, remembering how sad and alone Ruthie had looked.
"And you said you would take me home." Ruthie continued, as she recalled how sweet Martin had been as he had sat next to her on the bench, his date clearly forgotten.
"But you said you didn't want to be a burden." Martin said, shaking his head at how foolish the idea was.
"And you told me that was ridiculous. And then out of nowhere Becca just said I was and walked off, mad that I had ruined your date." Ruthie said, watching as Martin began to look irritated all over again, "Then the next day at school when she came up and told me I wouldn't be friends with you anymore if I knew what was good for me, you came up and told her she was the burden."
"And she slapped me so you punched her." Martin finished, beginning to laugh aloud as he pictured the scene all over again.
"Then I got detention again for a week. And you thought it was hilarious." Ruthie added, shaking her head at the memory, "Do you realize that both times I got in trouble at school it was because of you?"
"Hey it wasn't my fault you pulled my pants down." Martin argued, laughing harder as he remembered how mad he had been at her when it happened.
"You were being mean to me." Ruthie complained, "You wouldn't even give me a ride."
"Poor Ruthie." Martin placated her, reaching out to rub her back sympathetically.
"Whatever." She grumbled, standing up as he let his hand fall back to his side, "Ian, are you ready to go inside? I need to start dinner for you and your dad."
"Just a couple more minutes." Ian begged, flashing her his megawatt smile.
"Just a couple." Ruthie agreed, giving in easily as she sat back down next to Martin, both of them now content to sit in silence.