hello folks,
So this one has been in the works for a while and I've not published it because I want it to be John and Marilla and not Anne and Gilbert, but I did want it to be similar, I had to get the characters right. For John not quite be Gilbert and Marilla not quite be Anne but for people to think 'yes, no wonder Marilla (Possible John but it was never said) could see Gilbert loved Anne, no wonder she hoped...' This is going to be a slow published one just because its slow in writing, so don't expect too much of a regular update on it. But know its there being worked on... slowly.
Okay, John thought sitting back on the tree waiting for school to be called inside, in the brief satisfaction of teasing another girl... teasing her had sent the girl some where else but it had made her blush. That was what was important. He was sixteen and quite bored of school, oh he never caused any trouble, not really, he just entertained himself, and everyone else with teasing was all he was doing. Girls he thought they are way too easy. Ah here comes Marilla Cuthbert he thought to himself the smartest girl in school, a quality himself admired but he had to tease her, even a little, how could he turn it to his favour?
"John Blythe!" She shouted at him. "How dare you make Martha cry so! And for what?!"
"Aww Marilla come on I was only teasing." He said casually. "Don't you want me to tease you?" He said with a wink.
Normally there would be some kind of blush to a girls face, but he saw no such reaction from Marilla.
"No, I do not!" Marilla said firmly. "And I think you should apologise to Martha."
John stood up from under his tree. "Oh do you now?" He flirted with a twinkle in his brown eyes.
Marilla knew what he was doing. Just typical! Thinks because he is handsome he can get away with anything well not with me Mr! she thought stubbornly. He WILL go over and apologise to Martha and mean it the horrible boy!
"Yes, and I will not accept anything other, you spiteful boy!" She told him crossing her arms.
"Now hold on a minute, you don't even know me properly, you can't make a fair assessment." he told her.
"Oh can't I?" she stood her ground. "How about I tell you that none of the girls like to be teased, that it hurts, they don't like you for it, they only like you because you are handsome, well looks fade and one day you'll be a very loney old man if you don't learn to control yourself!"
She started to walk away furious at him but he grabbed her arm. What she had said had hurt him. he didn't want to end up like that. "Marilla, look I didn't mean to upset anyone and I'm willing to go over and say so... if..." he continued.
"If?" Marilla asked him.
"You let me prove to you I'm not really like that. can I walk you home?" he asked her gently.
Marilla was torn between intrigue and horror! "How dare you negotiate an apology!"
"Well alright then, I'll go over and say sorry anyway. Then can I walk you home?" he asked her quietly still holding her arm.
A smile wriggled on her mouth. Her eyes said yes and he read it right, but then suddenly her eyes changed she move her arm away from him and stuck her nose in the air walking into the school room.
John's mouth dropped in amazement! Oh he liked this girl! That Marilla Cuthbert wasn't going to be won over so easily.
John waited outside the door then saw Marilla come out. He quick footed behind her. She looked just behind her to see him.
"I didn't say you could walk me home."
"I'm not walking you home." John smiled.
"Then why are you following me?" she asked her teeth grinding.
"I'm not following you." He said. "I just happen to be walking in the same direction." He didn't talk for about a minute long enough for Marilla to turn and look a couple of times. "Don't you think since we are going in the same direction and all, a little conversation would make the walk home more interesting?" he asked.
"No I don't." Marilla replied.
"Fair enough." He said with a smile. They walked all the way back to green gables where Marilla took a few steps onto the porch she looked around and John carried on with a tip of his hat.
This aloof behaviour by Marilla continued for a week but John continued to walk just behind her tipping his hat as she turned into green gables. Marilla didn't quite understand why the Blythe boy was following her, he had to double back on himself to go home. And she eventually after the week couldn't handle the silence anymore.
"Are you going to be walking my way every afternoon Mr Blythe?" she asked him.
"As matter of fact yes I am, I've come to enjoy scenery, you really have some of the prettiest spots in the island all the way back there."
"Yes I like to think so." Marilla said to him. "Well if you will insist on walking this way..." She started.
"Oh I do." He said.
"Then I suppose there is little harm in a little conversation." She said eyeing up John.
"If you say so." He said quietly. He quick marched so he was walking beside her. " so what's your favourite lesson at school?" he asked her.
"What?" she asked.
"I'm making conversation, isn't that how you do it?" he asked her.
"Oh... yes... well I like geometry it logical and orderly. What about you?" she asked him.
"Well I dunno, I'm not as smart as you are you're on your fifth reader aren't you?" he asked.
"Yes." Marilla said happily.
"See I've only just started mine and I'm a year older than you." He sighed. "I guess I'm just not that smart, but I do like to help papa on the farm."
"Oh really?" Marilla was interested "My papa works the fields, what kind of farming do you do?"
"Mostly stocks of animals, although we do have a few fields as you know. That's not my favourite part." He admitted.
"Oh?" she asked him.
"When I was about 5 we planted some strawberry apples. Papa said one day they would make an orchard of apples we must have planted about 20 trees, we've had nothing from them yet, it's not unusual for them to take time to fruit, we're hoping this year..."
"I'm sure they will." Marilla said.
"So what are you going to do when you leave school? Are you going to enter for the queens exam?" he asked her.
"I don't think papa would allow it." Marilla said quietly.
"Well that would be a shame." He admitted. "Smart girl like you..." he trailed. They reached green gables. "Well nice talking to you." He said with a tip of his hat, she turned and watched him walk away, but today he did something different he turned his head looked at her and winked. Marilla was sure her cheeks were burning.
