Snow

Jumping out of her seat, Ruth began walking quickly out of the sanctuary, because there was certainly no running in the church at First Community. She opened the heavy door leading down the chair ramp to the side street facing their Sunday school building when she saw him.
Luke was walking with a girl who was his age named Eliza. She was tall, with olive skin and very pretty. Eliza was friendly, but she and Ruth were never really friends nor would they plan to become friends. Ruth watched Luke put his hand on the small of Eliza’s back as they walked across the street.
Ruth made a face, frustrated that she had let herself become vulnerable to him. How could she be so dumb? He was just like any other guy out there.
Luke was staring into Eliza’s eyes while he talked to her. She was clearly flirting and giggling while lightly brushing against him. Ruth was about to walk back into the building, slighted by what she saw, when he looked up, called her name, and ran to her.
She turned around anyway and tried to walk inside, but didn’t manage to grab the door quickly enough. He reached out and grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him. She stumbled as she turned, but he caught hold of her other arm to steady her.
“Hey. What’s wrong?” he questioned, looking concerned and innocent, still holding both her arms.
Ruth dropped her glare to the cement. Maybe she was overreacting. After all, it’s not like they were dating.  She almost apologized for turning away, but decided to stay angry. She shrugged his hands off her arms and crossed them over her chest.
“I just came out here to meet you, but it looks like you’ve got yourself all tied up with Miss Legs over there. So I’ll get back to my seat and you can have her all to yourself.”
“Ruth, what’s gotten into you? I was looking for you all over the place, and when I saw that your class was already dismissed, I just walked over here with a group of people. Why would I want to be with her when I could be sitting with you?” He looked genuinely hurt and disappointed that Ruth would doubt his integrity.
She just rolled her eyes. She’d been hurt and lied to before and she didn’t want to go there again.
“Well, you certainly had your hands all over her until you saw me.” She huffed and uncrossed her arms. “Look, I know we’re not dating or anything, but if you’re going to be interested in me, then you need to be interested in me. Not me and other girls at the same time. You can’t have it all, Luke.”
She turned to walk away again. He followed her into the building and stopped her by the Sanctuary door. Softly, but firmly, he grabbed her chin with his hand and tilted her head up toward his.
“I only want my hands on you. And I always get what I want. So, show me where you’re sitting and let’s go have a seat.”     
His normal cool demeanor turned to an icy glare as he leaned closer to her, making sure only she heard his quiet demand. He dropped his hand, placing it on the small of her back, as he opened the door. Obediently, Ruth showed him to her seat. He sat beside her, and they began the first day of the next seven months.