ANNALS OF THE LILY MAID
Chapter 1: Gaze
By aircompass
R+R Please?
DISCLAIMER: Many thanks to LM Montgomery.
I wrote this story, but she owns everything else.
I remember seeing her for the first time.
It was an awkward stage, being thirteen years old and struggling to
be a man for my father, but still very much a child. I was immature
to begin with, and fully equipped with raging teenage hormones and
horror for responsibitlity beyond my years.
She sat across the aisle, a tender eleven years, overwhelmed by
the luck of finding a home with people who would love her. As it
would turn out, we had a lot in common.
Growing up before your years was rather terrible thing, but it
was something we both had to deal with considering the circumstances
fate had sent for us. But of course, I had not known that at the
time. All I was told was that the new girl would prove to be stiff
competition, and her name was Anne Shirley.
She sat, wholly absorbed in doing her sums, but every so often
pausing to whisper to Diana Barry. They would giggle and resume their
arithmetic.
Anne Shirley seemed a pale fragile thing. But for all the warmth she
held in the mass of red hair braided down her back, I believed that
Anne was much, much more. Her eyes spoke of whispered fancies and
fantastic dreams. Of course, at the time, all I had seen were the
extraordinary eyes that I had never encountered before in my life,
that I was sure I would never meet again. Unless they were hers.
They were large and subdued silver-green, very much like pale
green stars.
She was...cute, in actuality. I decided that she was of acquired
taste, but very cute, nonetheless. Very much ignoring him, indeed.
She wouldn't look at him and no other girl had ever pointedly
ignored me and all my ploys to gain her attention. I never
actually had to employ a way to catch that attention, because no
girl had been able to resist my charms. Not that I had actually
wanted the attention of anyone at school. At least, not until this
new girl. Some girls were actually very nice, Diana, Jane Andrews
or Katie Boulter were generally sweet girls. They wouldn't throw
themselves, or fawn over me and the other boys in an absolute show
of foolishness. But some others, Josie Pye or Julia Bell made me
cringe repeatedly. Who on earth had started the "TAKE NOTICE" signs
anyway?
Ugh, I think as I am reminded of it. Josie specifically, would stare
attempting to look beguiling as it would seem, and bat her lashes.
She only made me nauseous. I hated being stared at, and I hated
especially for Josie to stare. Hadn't the Pyes taught their offspring
that it's bad manners to stare?
But then, a little voice piped up. You wouldn't mind very much if
those bright inquisitive stars would look at you... it taunted.
Indeed, there was no protest to be made. If I could just find a way
to catch her eye...
EUREKA! Attempts at diversion earned me a look of disapproval.
I had pinned Ruby Gillis' hair to the seat and winked at Anne
hoping she'd share in the mischief. But, I had not thought of
teasing her...
Pull a long red braid...
CARROTS!!! CARROTS!!!...
And CRAAAAACK!!!! We have contact...
Her eyes had flashed a furious green briefly, then ebbed into rather
wounded grey clouds. I had not felt so evil in my whole life.
At least, until Mr. Philips called her attention. I felt downright
wormy and I had to do something...
"I-It was my fault, sir. I teased her." I declared. I felt the need
to be severely punished for destroying my own chance and being
incredibly insensitive...not that I had thought so, but that's what
she seemed to think...
After school, I waited for her outside. I worried as soon as she
walked out the door onto the porch. Her head was held high and she
marched stiffly and briskly, attempting to get away from
me as soon as possible. I could tell.
Dearest Lord, I prayed. Let my skull stay strong for another slate
if it isn't in your plan to forgive me...
I wanted nothing better than to be friends with Anne Shirley. She
had proven herself a worthy opponent, and I was looking forward to
her company. She seemed quite interesting.
Of course, that was if she'd forgive me.
"I'm awful sorry I made fun of your hair, Anne. Honest I am. Don't
be mad for keeps now..." I held my breath a little.
She would not even grace me with a glance.
At least she dropped the slate-smashing, skull-breaking method, I
thought in rather bitter humor. Extremely troubled, I made way for
her to walk away. A sinking feeling sat at the pit of my stomach.
But, being the lad I was turning into, I kept a mask of serenity
and nonchalance.
----------
Charlie Sloane watched the short exchange. He had, himself, been
rather enamored with Anne Shirley and was glad there was obvious
dislike for Gilbert Blythe behind her. Not that he hated Gil, they
were friends. It was just that he had always felt rather small beside
the Blythe boy.
He was the one who always got the attention. It was obvious that he
had certainly inherited a massive amount of physical blessedness. The
combination of his hazel eyes, dark hair and extremely infectious
personality won him serious points with the girls. Gilbert was an
extremely kind person as well. Nobody had ever seemed to dislike him.
He was, besides being handsome and kind, reliable, responsible and intelligent. Well, all liked him except Anne.
And this seemed to Charlie, a small victory that he would be
able to cherish. After all, at least Anne Shirley conversed with him
every so often.
"You shouldn't have done that, Gil." Charlie told his friend
reproachfully. "You hurt her feelings. She's a bit sensitive about
her hair you know..."
----------
I nearly smacked Charlie Sloane. Did he think I was stupid? Obviously
her hair was an intense subject, and it was clear I had hurt her
feelings. I knew that. Anne Shirley wasn't like the other girls,
she seemed more fragile, yet stronger at the same time. But to admit
this, to Charlie Sloane? I would rather eat a fly.
"Naw...since when did you care Charlie? Do you LIKE her?" I teased,
proud of the brilliant solution I had come up with. Play like I
didn't care at all.
"She's nice, Gil! And she isn't like a lot of people..."
DUH, Charlie. If she was, the slate she broke on my head would still
be okay. And so would my skull. And my guilt. I said nothing, and
raised an eyebrow.
"Oh alright. But did you have to use her hair?" he reprimanded.
"Maybe Carrots WAS too much..." I decided. Charlie nodded, as if he
was glad I saw the light through his 'goggle-eyes'. He turned away,
and ran down the schoolhouse steps. My face broke out into a grin.
"You're right Charlie!" I called.
"I should've gone with the freckles instead!!"
END :)
Chapter 1: Gaze
By aircompass
R+R Please?
DISCLAIMER: Many thanks to LM Montgomery.
I wrote this story, but she owns everything else.
I remember seeing her for the first time.
It was an awkward stage, being thirteen years old and struggling to
be a man for my father, but still very much a child. I was immature
to begin with, and fully equipped with raging teenage hormones and
horror for responsibitlity beyond my years.
She sat across the aisle, a tender eleven years, overwhelmed by
the luck of finding a home with people who would love her. As it
would turn out, we had a lot in common.
Growing up before your years was rather terrible thing, but it
was something we both had to deal with considering the circumstances
fate had sent for us. But of course, I had not known that at the
time. All I was told was that the new girl would prove to be stiff
competition, and her name was Anne Shirley.
She sat, wholly absorbed in doing her sums, but every so often
pausing to whisper to Diana Barry. They would giggle and resume their
arithmetic.
Anne Shirley seemed a pale fragile thing. But for all the warmth she
held in the mass of red hair braided down her back, I believed that
Anne was much, much more. Her eyes spoke of whispered fancies and
fantastic dreams. Of course, at the time, all I had seen were the
extraordinary eyes that I had never encountered before in my life,
that I was sure I would never meet again. Unless they were hers.
They were large and subdued silver-green, very much like pale
green stars.
She was...cute, in actuality. I decided that she was of acquired
taste, but very cute, nonetheless. Very much ignoring him, indeed.
She wouldn't look at him and no other girl had ever pointedly
ignored me and all my ploys to gain her attention. I never
actually had to employ a way to catch that attention, because no
girl had been able to resist my charms. Not that I had actually
wanted the attention of anyone at school. At least, not until this
new girl. Some girls were actually very nice, Diana, Jane Andrews
or Katie Boulter were generally sweet girls. They wouldn't throw
themselves, or fawn over me and the other boys in an absolute show
of foolishness. But some others, Josie Pye or Julia Bell made me
cringe repeatedly. Who on earth had started the "TAKE NOTICE" signs
anyway?
Ugh, I think as I am reminded of it. Josie specifically, would stare
attempting to look beguiling as it would seem, and bat her lashes.
She only made me nauseous. I hated being stared at, and I hated
especially for Josie to stare. Hadn't the Pyes taught their offspring
that it's bad manners to stare?
But then, a little voice piped up. You wouldn't mind very much if
those bright inquisitive stars would look at you... it taunted.
Indeed, there was no protest to be made. If I could just find a way
to catch her eye...
EUREKA! Attempts at diversion earned me a look of disapproval.
I had pinned Ruby Gillis' hair to the seat and winked at Anne
hoping she'd share in the mischief. But, I had not thought of
teasing her...
Pull a long red braid...
CARROTS!!! CARROTS!!!...
And CRAAAAACK!!!! We have contact...
Her eyes had flashed a furious green briefly, then ebbed into rather
wounded grey clouds. I had not felt so evil in my whole life.
At least, until Mr. Philips called her attention. I felt downright
wormy and I had to do something...
"I-It was my fault, sir. I teased her." I declared. I felt the need
to be severely punished for destroying my own chance and being
incredibly insensitive...not that I had thought so, but that's what
she seemed to think...
After school, I waited for her outside. I worried as soon as she
walked out the door onto the porch. Her head was held high and she
marched stiffly and briskly, attempting to get away from
me as soon as possible. I could tell.
Dearest Lord, I prayed. Let my skull stay strong for another slate
if it isn't in your plan to forgive me...
I wanted nothing better than to be friends with Anne Shirley. She
had proven herself a worthy opponent, and I was looking forward to
her company. She seemed quite interesting.
Of course, that was if she'd forgive me.
"I'm awful sorry I made fun of your hair, Anne. Honest I am. Don't
be mad for keeps now..." I held my breath a little.
She would not even grace me with a glance.
At least she dropped the slate-smashing, skull-breaking method, I
thought in rather bitter humor. Extremely troubled, I made way for
her to walk away. A sinking feeling sat at the pit of my stomach.
But, being the lad I was turning into, I kept a mask of serenity
and nonchalance.
----------
Charlie Sloane watched the short exchange. He had, himself, been
rather enamored with Anne Shirley and was glad there was obvious
dislike for Gilbert Blythe behind her. Not that he hated Gil, they
were friends. It was just that he had always felt rather small beside
the Blythe boy.
He was the one who always got the attention. It was obvious that he
had certainly inherited a massive amount of physical blessedness. The
combination of his hazel eyes, dark hair and extremely infectious
personality won him serious points with the girls. Gilbert was an
extremely kind person as well. Nobody had ever seemed to dislike him.
He was, besides being handsome and kind, reliable, responsible and intelligent. Well, all liked him except Anne.
And this seemed to Charlie, a small victory that he would be
able to cherish. After all, at least Anne Shirley conversed with him
every so often.
"You shouldn't have done that, Gil." Charlie told his friend
reproachfully. "You hurt her feelings. She's a bit sensitive about
her hair you know..."
----------
I nearly smacked Charlie Sloane. Did he think I was stupid? Obviously
her hair was an intense subject, and it was clear I had hurt her
feelings. I knew that. Anne Shirley wasn't like the other girls,
she seemed more fragile, yet stronger at the same time. But to admit
this, to Charlie Sloane? I would rather eat a fly.
"Naw...since when did you care Charlie? Do you LIKE her?" I teased,
proud of the brilliant solution I had come up with. Play like I
didn't care at all.
"She's nice, Gil! And she isn't like a lot of people..."
DUH, Charlie. If she was, the slate she broke on my head would still
be okay. And so would my skull. And my guilt. I said nothing, and
raised an eyebrow.
"Oh alright. But did you have to use her hair?" he reprimanded.
"Maybe Carrots WAS too much..." I decided. Charlie nodded, as if he
was glad I saw the light through his 'goggle-eyes'. He turned away,
and ran down the schoolhouse steps. My face broke out into a grin.
"You're right Charlie!" I called.
"I should've gone with the freckles instead!!"
END :)