Summary: Anne Shirley is in her senior year at Redmond College with her chums Phil, Pris, Stella, and Gilbert. She is in love with Roy Gardner (she's almost positive she is) and the fall semester is only starting! But, as rumors spread by the end of semester, Anne seeks advice from Diana only to find the answer she needs is in her heart.

AN: This story started with a reoccurring vision of the last two chapters in this fanfic. After writing and hammering them out, the idea for a back story came to mind. So, this is my take on a modern day Anne/Gilbert romance. It is set in present time at Redmond College during senior year and is loosely based on Anne of the Island. All things L.M. Montgomery are hers. All things that I created (i.e. Gil's cousin Kelly Blythe) are mine. My love for all things "Anne" inspired me to write this fanfic, so I hope you all will enjoy it. Now, for the story. . .

Modern Day Romance

Chapter One—The Computer Lab

Roy Gardner was tall, dark, and handsome and the luckiest guy in the world. Or so he thought, as did Gilbert Blythe. Roy was dating the object of both their affections—Anne Shirley. Because their friendship meant more to her, Anne had refused a relationship with Gilbert when he asked her over a year and a half ago. A few months later, she ran into Roy, literally, and they have been dating ever since. Roy was very happy with Anne, and as he sat in his Economics and Finance class, he found himself thinking heavily on their relationship. He was awoken from his "Anne dream," as he called it, when his fellow classmates started chatting and gathered their things to leave class. Slightly shaking his head to remove his revelry, he quickly gathered his things and left class. He started walking towards Crawford Hall, where three computer labs were located, so he could start working on an assignment while he waited for Anne to get out of class.

Passing a few people on the sidewalk to Crawford, he opened the door to the lower level computer lab. Finding it empty, he grabbed the closest computer just to the left of the door. After working for about twenty minutes, the door opened and two people, busy chatting, entered the lab. Lowering their voices so not to disturb Roy, they continued chatting as they walked through the lab to find a place to work. Roy turned around in his chair to see the pair's backs disappear into the corridor. Cocking his head, thinking he knew or at least recognized them, Roy turned back around and started working again. Ten minutes later, the pair was back. They grabbed two computers next to each other by the doorway they walked in through, their backs to Roy.

"Oy, I hate writing research papers!" exclaimed the girl as she sat down in front of one of the computers while getting out a notebook.

"Well, why take the history classes if you dislike writing the papers?" teasingly questioned the guy.

"Because I am passionate about history, Gilbert Blythe!" exclaimed the girl.

"Well, then don't complain," responded Gilbert matter-of-factly.

"Fine, but don't you complain about writing your thesis for your science major."

"Pre-med, thank you, and don't remind me, Kelly," Gilbert corrected his cousin.

"Then why are we here?"

"To check our emails, Kel. Why else would we be here?"

"Oh, I don't know. . .research for our respective papers, perhaps?"

Gilbert smiled. "Well, that too."

So, Roy thought as he paused from his typing, the Blythe cousins are here. I knew I recognized them earlier. Then, he gave a small sigh and resumed his typing. After a moment's silence, Kelly asked, "Hey, are we still suppose to help the Lambs at tomorrow's game?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, one of the girls can't make it, and I wanted to double check."

"Having our sister sorority help us is a great help to us. The Lambs always need the Sigmas. How else could we get half the crowd to buy 50/50 tickets?"

"True. So, how many pledges do you have this term?"

"Eight, how about you?"

"Seven and things are going well so far."

"Same here, although initiation week could be interesting."

"How so?"

"Well, I'm not sure how well the guys will take to wearing bonnets and aprons as their last part of pledging. Especially at a soccer game selling 50/50 tickets."

Kelly giggled. "And don't they have to wear those all day long?"

"Yep," Gilbert chuckled, "to classes, meals, everywhere. Things will be interesting."

From the other side of the room, they heard a cough, which made them quiet down. Roy merely coughed to clear his throat, not to signal them to quiet down; however, Kelly had turned around to look at Roy. She knew he was sitting there when they entered the lab earlier. Her eyes narrowed and her brow furrowed before slowly turning back to finish checking her email. Out of loyalty to Gil, who was her dearest and closest cousin, she disliked Roy. Oh, she thought he was a good guy and all, but when Roy slipped into Gilbert's place alongside Anne. . .well, she just didn't like it. Then again, Roy could say the feelings were mutual, even though they were pleasant towards one another in Anne's presence.

Gilbert had noticed Kelly's movements; good old, loyal Kel, he thought, she was always there for him—like a sister he never had. Roy aggravated him in a sense too, but Gil could let it go and ignore it. After all, Roy was only dating his heart's desire. No big deal, right? No, until Anne was seen with him, then that nagging, heart-rending feeling returned. He sighed. He had to get his mind off that darn red-head with the starry grey-green eyes. Starting a google search for his thesis, Gilbert lost himself in all the medical mumbo jumbo, which he found fascinating. Printing an article, he saw Kelly get up to collect hers. Putting on a sincere smile, he asked politely, "Could you bring my article back, too, please?"

"I suppose so," answered Kelly as she headed over to the printer, which sat next to Roy's computer, rolling her eyes along the way. Two minutes later she returned with their printed articles.

"Thanks," said Gilbert as he took the papers with one hand as the other one rested on the mouse while he scrolled through another article.

"De nada," responded Kelly, who liked to use the few Spanish phrases she learned from her two years in high school Spanish classes. Just as she started reading another article, the outside computer lab door swung open, letting in a cool autumnal breeze as someone walked in.

"I thought I might find you here!" cried a familiar female voice. All occupants of the lab knew where the voice came from—the infamous Anne Shirley. She immediately sat down next to Roy and started chatting quietly to him, not realizing who the other occupants in the lab were.

Kelly's back stiffened as she recognized her house-mate's voice. How she hated being caught in the middle of this! She was loyal to Gilbert because they were family, but she was also loyal to Anne because they were dear friends, kindreds Anne would say. Blood was thicker than water, after all, but oh, how she detested Roy and Anne's sweet talk towards each other. It always made her weak in the stomach. And here she was, stuck in the middle of something she wanted to get out of! To make matters worse, she saw Gil look at her through the corner of her eye. "What?" she mouthed to him. He nodded his head towards the printer and smiled. Great, she thought. Sighing and rolling her eyes, she agreed to go fetch his article.

Standing by the printer, hoping it wouldn't take too long, Kelly stood with her arms crossed across her chest, her backside leaning against the table, staring back at her spot across the room. Hearing that it was done printing, Kelly quickly turned around to collect the papers. Just as she grabbed them, Anne stood up and turned to gather her things when she saw Kelly.

"Hey roomie!" Anne called cheerfully.

Kelly cringed. Blast! I've been caught, she thought before turning to face Anne. "Hey Anne!" she returned just as cheerful.

"Will you be around later? I'd like for you to proofread a paper I wrote."

"Sure, I'll probably be home sometime after two. My last class gets over around then."

"Good. I'll have it all ready for you then."

"Anne, we're going to be late for lunch," Roy interjected quietly from the door.

"Sounds good. Well, I better let you go. I'll see you then. Have a nice lunch, Anne. . .Roy."

"You too! Bye!"

"Bye," answered Kelly as the couple left the computer lab.

Sitting down in her chair and shoving Gilbert's papers to him, she cried, "Argh! You two drive me nuts, you know that?"

"Really? I hadn't notice," he replied calmly as he continued to read his article.

"Well, at least she drives me nuts when she's hanging around Roy."

"Join the club."

Kelly nodded her head in agreement. After a moment of trying to read her article, she asked, "So, have you and Anne mended some fences?"

Gilbert sighed as he turned to face his cousin. "Let's just say enough to hold civil conversations before things get awkward."

"Oh," Kelly replied vaguely. "Well, I can't search anymore. Let's go grab some lunch from the Dugout," she suggested as she logged off the computer.

"Sounds good to me," Gilbert replied as he closed his article and logged off the computer. Then they both packed up their things and headed for lunch.