Newly Enamoured

„Hi Anne!"

Gilbert was just on his way through Green Gables' front yard, when the white door swung open and her slender form appeared behind it.

Surprised she looked up and a beam appeared on her face as soon as her eyes met his. A beam Anne herself wasn't even aware of, but of which everybody else knew exactly it would only always appear for him.

"Gil!" she called out and ran towards him.

They were now together since almost a week and everyday Gilbert would find at least one reason to visit her.

"I was just going to ask if you'd care for a stroll to Hester Grey's garden", he smiled at her. Was it only him or did she look even more beautiful than yesterday?

Disappointment started to spread on her face: "I wish I could go…", Anne looked down at the brown envelope she held in her hand, "I just promised Marilla I would bring this to the post office…"

She racked her brain just what reason she could have to postpone this assignment, but Anne knew she'd already neglected her scores way too much these past days…

"Well then I'll just walk you there!" Gilbert interrupted her thoughts and she looked surprised at him.

"Really?"

"Of course!" He loved to see how much it meant to her spending time with him. This is one of the many things he'd waited for all these years. And it was definitely worth the wait. "After all, I have to make sure no other man in town is going to steal you away, don't I?"

He winked at her and Anne felt how a blush crept to her cheeks.

He quickly glanced around to make sure no one was around, before bending down to give her a small but ever so sweet kiss on the lips.

Unfortunately he had to contain himself in public.

Then – being the gentleman as always – he took the letter from her and with his free hand he took Anne's smaller one in his as they started walking.

When they arrived in town, their fingers were still entwined. They shouldn't hold hands where everybody could see them, but the truth was that neither of them was aware of that fact. During the past few days it became so natural to them, that it felt weirder not to have anyone to hold.
The lovers were also oblivious to the fact that most of the people stared at them and whispered something to one another. Some of them of shared joy because the dream-couple of Avonlea had finally found together at last and some of them of envy because the most handsome boy in town had to pick that redheaded orphan-girl of all things.

As they stood in front of the post office, Anne took the letter from him and smiled at Gil: "I'll be right back."

But before she was able to leave anywhere, he drew her close to him – after all, her hand was still in his – and whispered: "I'm gonna miss you", so close to her ear that his warm breathe felt just like a kiss on her skin, and the heat rose to her cheeks.

A rather impolite „Ahem" gave both of them a start.

"Josie…" Anne muttered seeing the blond girl.

"Hello Josie."

Said person took her time to look at them from top to bottom with a rather disgusted expression before she replied anything.

As per instinct, Gilbert laid his arm around Anne's waist – although he wasn't really sure himself if he felt the urge to protect the girl he loved or Josie from Anne's temper.

"So the rumours are true…" Josie spoke finally.

"Depends on what the rumours are", Anne countered icily.

"That you two are courting."

"More like engaged", Gilbert Blythe replied with a proud smile on his lips and drew Anne even closer to him.

"Well… I guess congratulations are in order." The tone of Josie's voice let no doubt that she meant the complete opposite of what she'd just said.

"Thank you, Josie", Gilbert answered politely.

"Thank you…" Anne grumbled and looked after her, as Josie swaggered away.

Gil watched the expression on her face. "Never mind her, Anne. She's always been jealous of you and me."

She spun her head around: "She? I was the one being jealous! The whole time she clung on your arm!"

Startled he looked at her: "But I didn't cling on hers. Besides, I thought you hated me anyway?"

"No. I thought I hated you. It was the feeling you caused inside of me I hated."

"And just what feeling are we talking about?" Gil smirked at her.

Anne blushed and dropped her gaze immediately. Then she acted as if she wouldn't have heard his question. "I was so angry when Diana told me how you said to her that being smart was better than being pretty!" she confessed to the button on his shirt.

"Angry about a compliment?" he furrowed his brow.

"Compliment?! It was a nice way to say I'm ugly!"

"That's why you were so angry with me?" After all those years he finally understood. "Anne, you ninny!" Gently he raised her chin with his finger, "You sure have the gift to understand everything I say the wrong way. To me you were the prettiest girl in whole Avonlea! But you can't expect a sixteen year old boy to say that in front of all his chums, can you?"

"You… you really thought I was pretty?"

"No", he smiled at her, "Not 'thought'. I still do."

And then he bent down to kiss her on the cheek, even if he'd rather done something else…

"Come on, I'll walk you home."

It wasn't until halfway they realized Anne still held the envelope in her hand…