"So how are things going with you and Mac? You guys seem pretty happy." Ruthie asked Gretchen, as the two girls sat in Ruthie's room that weekend doing homework.
"They're good. Really good. He can be a pain sometimes, but he always makes me laugh so I can never stay mad at him for that long." Gretchen said smiling happily as she thought of Mac and his sometimes childish antics.
"Have you talked to your mom any this week?" Ruthie asked, wondering how Gretchen's mom was doing, since she'd had so many problems with her previous pregnancies.
"Yeah a couple times. She's doing okay. My dad's driving her insane though, constantly hovering, but I can kinda understand why. I just hope for her sake and his that everything goes right. Besides I can't wait to be a big sister. I never thought I'd ever have the chance to have any brothers or sisters." Gretchen answered, her excitement about the future evident in her expression.
"It's definitely an experience, believe me. Sam and David were a handful when they were younger. They were constantly getting into trouble and pestering me." Ruthie said, laughing as she recalled how devious the two twins could be, "But I loved being the older one for once. There was this time when they first started talking and I used to give them cookies if they'd call me 'mom'. I remember I ended up feeling so bad because my mom was so upset about it."
"Who knew you could be such a brat?" Gretchen teased, "That is funny though. Your poor mom."
"Yeah, all of us kids put her and my dad through a lot when we were younger. I'm surprised they never gave any of us away. But they didn't. In fact, our family always seemed to be expanding." Ruthie shared, shaking her head at the irony.
"Well you were lucky. It sounds like you were never bored or lonely." Gretchen said, as she put the top on the fingernail polish she had been using as she painted her nails instead of reading her psychology assignment.
"So true." Ruthie agreed, closing the book she had been reading before they started talking, "Well I think I've done enough reading for one night. What do you say we talk Martin and Mac into going to a movie?"
"Do you really think we can tear them away from the game?" Gretchen complained, stretching as she stood up.
"Well I think you might be able to persuade Mac." Ruthie said suggestively, laughing immediately at Gretchen's innocent look.
"I don't have any idea what you mean, Ruthie." Gretchen joked, before turning and walking out of the room with Ruthie not far behind.
"Come on Mac, please. We're bored. And we haven't been out to the movies since…gosh I can't even remember." Gretchen cajoled, sitting on Mac's lap as she played with the hair at the nape of his neck.
"Gretch, can't we just go another night? I'm tired. We had to get up for practice at the crack of dawn. Besides the game is no where near over." Mac pouted, as he struggled to see the TV that she was blocking.
"No. We can't. I'm going and I guess if you want you can just sit here with Martin and watch TV all night because me and Ruthie aren't gonna be here." Gretchen shot back, as she stood up from his lap abruptly.
"Where are you two gonna be then?" Martin questioned, a smirk on his face at Gretchen's obvious irritation.
"That's not really your concern now is it?" Gretchen bit out, as she walked around the couch to stand at Ruthie's side who had been a silent witness to the whole exchange.
"Fine." Martin grumbled, all of a sudden not happy or comfortable with the idea of the two girls going out on their own.
"Come on Ruthie. Let's go get ready." Gretchen called out as she stalked out of the living room.