Anne dressed for Convocation and was thrilled to have accomplished so much. She had taken high honors in English and she had a prestigious job offer as a Principal in Summerside. Although it was likely Anne would not take the position, she was proud of herself for having at least the chance to accept or reject the offer. Of course nothing could be decided until Roy spoke, which she was certain would be soon, perhaps even as soon as today. As Anne thought about Roy's proposal she found the anticipation she expected to feel rather lacking, replaced by a degree of uncertainty. Anne loved Roy. That was not to be doubted. But she couldn't help but think some spice might be left out of life if she married him. Anne would never want for anything that was certain, expect perhaps for a bit more passion. Roy was indeed romantic. His flowers and poetry had set her back on her heels at first. There was little doubt that he was the tall, dark, melancholy suitor of her childhood dreams. The problem was that Anne was no longer a child and while Roy fit her dreams, there was a nagging part of her that thought he might not fit her reality.
Anne summed up all her doubts to nerves and stress. The past few weeks had been a mix of hard work and relief. With finals behind her and Convocation stretching before her, she was very much aware how much her life was likely to change in the coming weeks. And as much as Anne always looked upon every new opportunity with a bright attitude, she almost wished that she could stop time for awhile and keep everything the same. The change that lay before her was not something she wanted to rush to, a rather queer notion for a woman on the verge of a proposal from her perfect suitor.
Anne sighed as she put such thoughts out of her mind. When she was finished dressing she look down at Roy's flowers. He had sent them over that morning with a beautifully hand written note. Anne had intended to carry them at Convocation, as she knew was Roy's intent in sending them. But as she went to pick them up she couldn't help but look over at another box of flowers sent over that morning as well. They were Lilies of the Valley, her favorite. And beside the box lay the card from Gilbert Blythe. "Congratulations, Carrots! From your old Chum, Gilbert." Long ago, when Gilbert had called her Carrots she punished him for five years. And now she laughed, with a twinge of sadness. She had seen little of Gilbert in the past two years. Since she rejected his proposal they had done much to avoid each other. Gilbert, to his credit, was so busy with his studies he did not make many social functions in his senior year at Redmond. He took the prestigious Cooper Prize, which Anne was aware had not been taken in some years.
Despite their estrangement, Gilbert's lilies reminded her of Green Gables at that moment. They had grown there in the summer and Anne all of a sudden longed for home. Somehow she felt Gilbert's flowers belonged with her at Convocation. Not just because they reminded her of home, but because Gilbert did too. He was a large part of the reason Anne was even at Redmond. Their intense rivalry over the years had pushed her in so many ways to do so many amazing things. In some small way she felt her accomplishments partly belonged to him. She missed him dearly and thought that if she carried his flowers a part of him would be with her when she graduated. Some part of Green Gables and Avonlea would be there. This day belonged to Anne and to Marilla and Matthew, and to Avonlea and to the wonderful dear folks she called friends and neighbors. Roy's flowers had no place in it. She set them down and picked up Gilbert's lilies.
As Anne made her way downstairs, the house was a flutter of activity. Phil, Stella, and Priscilla were running about, waiting for Anne.
"Beautiful flowers, Anne! That Roy is so romantic, isn't he?" said Priscilla as Anne walked down the stairs. Anne blushed. She didn't want to tell the girls that she was carrying Gilbert's flowers; somehow she wanted it to be her secret. Or perhaps she didn't want to admit it.
Phil, who knew full well those flowers hadn't come from Roy, for she had seen Anne open Roy's flowers, gave Anne a knowing look. She knew a package had arrived from Gilbert and those flowers must have been what he sent. Knowing her friend the way she did, Phil changed the subject. "Girls, are we all ready? We better start walking over if we want to see some friends before the ceremony."
The friends left Patty's Place in high spirits and chatted excitedly on the walk to Redmond.
There was much activity at the hall as everyone readied for the Convocation to begin. Anne was in high spirits and all smiles as she bid farewell to her friends. The class was split by alphabet and Anne would be sitting on the opposite side of the stage
"Oh Anne, I wish we could all sit together," said Stella.
"It would be nice to sit together but don't worry about me, dear Stella. I have some friends over that way. Charlie Sloane will be near me I think."
Stella frowned, "Anne, that's hardly a consolation!"
"It hardly matters where we sit. In another hour we will be B.A.'s! I will see you dears afterwards."
As the ceremony was about to begin Anne walked over to her seat. She didn't have time to find Roy, and as he was set to sit on the other side of the stage, she doubted she would see him until after the ceremony. As the graduates filed in, Anne found herself looking for familiar faces. Several Redmond friends stopped to say hello and to offer their congratulations.
When Anne saw Gilbert he had walked in with Charlie Sloane. He saw Anne immediately and gave her a wave. Anne acknowledged him and noted the curious look in his eyes as he looked at her. It was as if he was trying to figure out the answer to a riddle.
When Gilbert first saw Anne he immediately thought how beautiful she looked. This was no surprise, as Anne was always fashionable and he had always thought her very pretty. He waved to her and it was a second before he noticed the flowers that lay in her lap. Gilbert's heart raced. There was no denying they were the flowers he had sent her that morning. He never had any thought she might carry them at Convocation. He had assumed Roy sent flowers. Perhaps Roy had forgotten. That sounded unlikely given what he knew about Roy Gardner, but he supposed it possible. The only other alternative was that they had both sent flowers and Anne had chosen his. But that seemed even more unlikely. However, he knew Lilies of the Valley were her favorites. But still, Roy would surely be there to see his flowers went unused. Anne would surely have realized. Was there any significance?
Gilbert had been fighting a battle with himself ever since the day Anne refused his marriage proposal in the orchard at Patty's Place. One side told him he had to give up on Anne and move on with his life. She refused him, broke his heart, and a beautiful friendship was ruined. For a man to persist in the face of such rejection was madness. But the other part of Gilbert urged him not to give up on her. There was a part of him that believed deep down that she loved him. While he would not have staked his life on that belief, it was there all the same and Anne was the reason. In the past two years, Gilbert thought Anne had done more to encourage him than she had ever done previous to his proposal. Oh, the signs were not overly noticeable, and the only clear evidence he had was intangible and he could not even be sure his mind was not making things up. No, he thought, the look was unmistakable. Yes, Gilbert was basing this belief on the way Anne looked at him. But, it was not just any look. The way Anne looked at him meant something. Whenever their eyes locked there was an intensity and feeling that Gilbert felt in his soul and his heart began to race. Anne would look at him like he was the only person in the room, color slightly and look away. If Roy happened to be with her he noticed how tightly she clung to him in Gilbert's presence. It was certainly not enough to be sure, but it was enough to keep the part of him that told him not to give up on Anne from losing what seemed to be a battle already lost. He also couldn't shake the belief that Roy bored Anne. She never seemed her radiant self when she was around him. Although had he confided in a friend about it, which he hadn't, any decent one would have told him he was thinking rather wishfully.
Knowing the truth of that in the back of his mind, his desire to give up on Anne ruled his actions. He had barely spoken to her since the proposal. He neither sought nor avoided her. They hadn't had a real conversation since they walked home from Diana's wedding some months ago. He had been spending time with Christine Stuart and even though she was engaged to someone else, at least Gilbert was not pining away for Anne and wasting his college days. And just when he thought to himself it was time, Anne would give him that look. Today at Convocation, however it wasn't a look that made Gilbert's heart race, it was his flowers. Anne was carrying his flowers, not Roy's and that had to mean something.
Gilbert saw Phil, Stella, and Priscilla enter his side of the building. They saw him and immediately came over to say hello.
"Hello, Gilbert! Can you believe we are almost full fledged B.A.s?" Phil smiled from ear to ear.
"Good afternoon, ladies" Gilbert replied. "Congratulations. It's hard to believe Redmond days are almost over."
"Gilbert we heard you one the Cooper Prize. That's an amazing accomplishment," said Stella.
Gilbert smiled.
"I heard it has not been awarded in several years. You must have worked very hard the past few terms" Phil noted.
Gilbert shrugged, his modesty getting the better of him. He had won the Cooper prize and it was indeed an amazing accomplishment. But somehow it paled in comparison to competing with Anne for the Avery scholarship. Gilbert was, however, proud of himself.
"Thank you, ladies. I didn't think I was up to the challenge and was in the running before I even realized it. I guess knowing it hadn't been taken in awhile was good motivation for me."
"Well you will make a splendid Doctor someday" Phil said. And then in an abrupt change of subject she said, "You missed Anne. She's already seated. She took High Honors in English you know."
"Yes, I heard. Anne has done very well for herself it seems" Gilbert said, attempting to sound indifferent. Gilbert saw the Dean and the President of the Redmond take their seats. "Looks like we are about to get started."
"Yes," said Stella. "We all really should find our seats." The ladies dispersed and Gilbert took another look in Anne's direction. She was waving at someone in the crowd and smiling. Gilbert was tempted to look to see who it was but he was sure it was Roy so he decided against it.
Gilbert sighed and shook his head to himself. He had spent the last eleven years trying to find meaning in things Anne did and said. Anne spent the last two years courting Royal Gardner, who if rumors were true, was set to propose to Anne any day now. Gilbert could hardly believe it. He had nothing against Roy, not in the least. But Roy and Anne, he just couldn't make sense of it. He had watched her with him and other than a friendship, he saw nothing beyond, at least on Anne's part. Or was he merely seeing what he wanted to see?
As Gilbert settled into his seat he continued to look at Anne, who dared not look back at him. He could not shake the feeling that if Anne married Roy it would be a terrible mistake. What Gilbert did not know was whether it was because Anne and Roy were just wrong for each other or because Anne was in love with someone else. It seemed too much to hope.
The ceremony passed off splendidly. Anne received her diploma and felt an amazing sense of accomplishment. Her heart swelled with pride. As she walked across the stage she looked at Roy, who was all smiles, until a rather puzzled look came across his face. Anne realized he was wondering about the flowers. Where she thought she should feel a measure of guilt - she didn't. All she could do was smile brightly at him and move on. Her eyes then wandered over to Gilbert who was looking at her intently, smiling. Her heart began to race a little and she looked back him and smiled warmly. Before tearing her glance away she saw him mouth the words, "Congratulations, Carrots!" as his hand made a tugging motion in the air. Anne blushed slightly, made a small wave and continued down the stage.
(That's all for Chapter One. Next we head to the dance where the real fun begins!)
