A/N: Sorry this took so long. I sort of forgot about this story. Won't happen again (hopefully). Hope you enjoy. XD

Disclaimer: I mailed them about a year ago asking if I could have the rights ... I haven't received a reply yet ... maybe my letter got lost?

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She didn't want to go to church the next day.

She knew she'd see him there, if she went. She was worried that he was going to try to talk to her. She couldn't stand to talk to him. It would be too painful – much too painful. It would bring back too many memories. She was afraid that if she was around him too much, she would break – crack open like an egg, make a mess all over the floor.

It had been weird, when he'd came over yesterday. Surreal, almost, but it was too awkward and uncomfortable to be surreal. So just weird. It had hurt, talking to him, looking at him, seeing him again after all that time.

It hadn't been that long, had it?

No, it hadn't. But it felt like it had – she'd been settling into a routine with Brian. Even though she knew she didn't really like Brian, certainly not the way Brian liked her. Even if his kisses were somewhat forceful. Even if going out with him felt like a chore. It didn't matter, because Brian was a distraction, Brian was predictable.

Martin was not a distraction – he was a full-on in-your-face hurt. He was not predictable, rather, he was unexpected and unreliable.

But that was what made him exciting.

"Ruthie? Ruthie! Come on, we're going to be late!" Her mom's voice echoed up the stairs and Ruthie reluctantly stood up from her bed and headed down to meet the rest of the family.

Going to church was starting to feel like a chore.

She climbed into the car – next to the twins – and stared out the window as they drove the short ride to the church.

The ride felt too short today.

Usually, she liked how short it is – it meant that she got home sooner, it meant that she didn't have to spend so long in the car with Sam and David. But this time, it was too short; it wasn't long enough. She needed it to be long so that she wouldn't have to see him again.

"Ruthie, get a move on. Why are you so slow this morning?" Annie ushered her out of the car and towards the church.

She didn't even bother dressing up much today – just plain black dress slacks (she would've worn jeans, but she knew her mother would never had let her) and a simple navy blue top and white cardigan. Her hair hung curly down her back, not straightened, not much of anything done to it.

She was afraid to look around the church as they slid into their usual pew at the front of the church. Still, she could tell the moment he walked in – she could feel his eyes on her, watching her, studying her.

She hated it.

She hated a lot of things. She hated herself for not breaking up with Brian, for letting him kiss her the way he did. She hated that Martin was at church while Brian had never came before. She hated that she still got butterflies around Martin, that he still had such an effect on her.

The service went by quickly, not a word of the sermon registering in her brain. She knew that it wouldn't be long until everything was over. She just had to get to the car, get home, and then she would be free until tomorrow.

"Ruthie!" she heard him call out as she walked past.

Shit.

"Martin, hey," she said, awkwardly, walking up to him. She'd been so close. He was wearing a dress shirt and a tie.

Brian never wore dress shirts or ties.

"We never got to finish talking yesterday," he started.

"Oh," she said, tucking her hands under her armpits to keep them warm, "Right. Sorry about, you know, running out like that. But we were going to be late, so I had to jet." She stared up at him – God, she missed looking into his eyes. Focus, Ruthie. "So, um, what did you want to talk about exactly?"

"Um," he ran a hand through his hair, "I don't know. I figured we could just catch up or something. You wanna, um, grab some pizza at Pete's?"

Should she say yes? Should she say no? It wasn't like he was asking her out – he just wanted to catch up. And that was totally logical and rational. But could she deal with that, with talking to him at Pete's for a half-an-hour, an hour, however long it would end up being?

"Yea, sure." She wasn't sure. Not at all, but she answered yes anyways because she couldn't say no.

--

"So," he said.

"So," she repeated.

The pizza sat between them, untouched. A silence sat between them, as well, no words having been spoken for the last few minutes other than "so." Neither knew what to say, where to start. It was awkward at its finest hour.

Finally, Martin spoke. "How have you been?"

Great, Martin, I've been great, fucking great. I cried myself to sleep for at least a week after you left. I was broken – you broke me. And I did a lot of stupid things, just to forget every damn hurt you ever unleashed on me. She didn't say this. She wanted to, but she didn't.

She couldn't.

"I've been fine," she lied, "You?"

"Um, well, you know – the whole baby-isn't-mine thing. Other than that things have been ... alright, I guess, but I wouldn't say that these have been the best few months of my life."

Me neither.

"Um," she reached for a slice of pizza, "Anything new?"

"Not that you don't already know," he answered, "And you?"

"Not that you don't already know," she threw his answer back at him, waiting to see what he would say. She knew it was going to come up, the topic of Brian. She wasn't quite sure when, but she knew it would be soon.

"I see," he said. There was a slight pause, a slight awkwardness, and then he plowed on, digging into the dirt. "Brian?"

The way he said it twisted her heart. She'd known it was going to come up.

"What about him?" She would play dumb. He didn't like it, she knew, but really, what else was there she could do?

Martin rolled his eyes. "Ruthie, you know what I'm talking about. You. Him. Going out."

"Ohhhh," she drew the syllable out as long as she could, "That. Him. Well – we're going out." She took a bite of her pizza.

"I don't know if I like him," he finally decided.

"What are you, my dad?" she shot back snidely, "I already have one of those, thank you very much."

Martin ignored her. "Ruthie, I'm serious. I think – I think he's too old for you."

Was he for real?

"He's only two years older than me, Martin. He's eighteen, like you, and I'm sixteen. My parents let me date him, so I really don't see how this should be any concern or business of yours." She was angry at him – he didn't have a right, just now walking back into her life, judging her like this. It wasn't fair. Angrily, she pushed her chair away from the table and stood up.

"Ruthie," he started, standing up as well and following her as she hurried down the sidewalk, away from him, "Wait. Please – I'm sorry."

He reached out and grabbed her shoulder, gently turning her around to face him. "Look, I – I'm sorry. I overacted. I guess I just got worried. It's just – guys like Brian, well, they want something from girls and I don't think that – "

Ruthie cut him off. "I know what he wants – what he wanted," she corrected herself.

Martin stared at her, confused. "Ruthie, what do –"

"Look, let's just start over," she interuptted him again. She put on the biggest smile she could muster, "Hi Martin," she said brightly, holding out her hand for him to shake, "How have you been?"

Martin laughed. "Good, Ruthie," he answered, playing along, shaking the hand she'd extended, "I've been good. It's been a long time, huh?"

"Yea, it has. Wanna grab a bite to eat?"

"Sure." They walked back over to Pete's, where their half-eaten pizza lay. Ruthie picked up her piece, taking another bite. Conversation – light conversation, about school, the weather – washed over them. Neither one brought up Sandy and the baby, neither one brought up Brian.

For the first time in a long time, Ruthie felt happy.

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A/N: So, I know, it's a bit short, but I felt that it ended at a good place. Thanks for all the reviews on the last chappie, guys. I'm glad you all like Marthie as much as I do! XD Also, since I love that everyone is taking the time to review, if you review this chapter (chapter two), I will send you a preview of chapter three, sometime within the next few days. So review if you'd like a preview! I plan to get chapter three up in a week or two, also, so look for that. And ... that's it. You all are so nice! XD

See you later, alligators,

The Queen of Pecans

P.S. I also made a banner for this story, look on my profile page under 'Stories' if you want to see it!