*BIG thanks to SakuraCherryBlossem for correcting my description of Rilla! I hope I set everything right.

*Just a quick note, this is my first fanfic and I'm really nervous about it! I really appreciate all the constructive criticism I can get. Thanks all!

Rilla's POV

"Spider! Nice of you to join us!"

Why did Ken have call me by that name? Why?! I had seen a lot of other 11 year old girls with legs longer than mine. It wasn't fair. He didn't go making fun of any of them. Why was he even here?

I straightened up and tried my best to brush off the leaves and dirt that I seemed to be covered in. I'm not even going to bother answering him. He's too mean. Wait, maybe I should…and with that I stuck my tongue out at him and walked on by. He laughed. Oh I hate that laugh.

Ken turned to my brother. "Hey Jem, it seems like little ol' Spider here doesn't really like me."

Jem shrugged his shoulders and focused on tying his string to a fallen tree branch.

"Ken you really should just stop calling her Spider." Di always stuck up for me. She pulled me to her so she could put her arm around me.

Ken's dark eyes shone with mischief. "Seeing as how I invited the lot of you here, I think I'll call her Spider as long as I want Di. But thanks for worrying. I'm sure Spider and I will be great friends." He winked at me.

Di leaned in and confidentially whispered in my ear. "Sorry he teases you so. He really doesn't dislike you at all. Think of it as his way of trying to make friends with you. It will stop…eventually." I sniffed. There was no way that Kenneth Ford was ever going to grow up and be nice to me. EVER.

After a while, the boys decided they wanted to head further up the lakeshore to deeper water. I decided to stay where I was. No point going with them just to be teased. Di chose to stay with me. She said she liked the spot we had picked out for ourselves and wasn't in any hurry to get into a scrape. Di was always so nice to me. She would have been my favorite if it weren't for the fact that she treats me like a baby. Walter is the only one who talks to me like I'm his age. I feel so grown up when I'm around him. Maybe I should have stayed in the glen with him…

"Well come on Rilla! Let's see if we can't make the boys sorry for leaving this spot!" And with that Di had jumped up and grabbed both our fishing poles. I walked/hopped over to her (Father was going to be so angry about my shoe!) and took mine. We fished for about an hour with not a single bite! This was not turning out to be a very fun adventure. I sighed in disappointment. Di heard me.

"Well Rilla, I suppose you're right. It's time we go find the boys and head back home for dinner. Susan will kill us if we're late!" I nodded and was about to turn around…

"GRRRR!" I screamed as someone surprised me from behind! My surprise turned to terror as my balance shifted (no doubt the evil person pushed me!) and I began to topple headfirst into the lake! "HELP ME!" was all I could get out before I hit the water with a huge splash. I bobbed to the surface sputtering and gasping for air. I opened my eyes to see Jem up to his knees in water as he waded out to me. I was in no danger and we all knew it. But I was not happy.

"Spider I'm so so sorry! I didn't mean to push you in like that!!!!" Ken's smile was gone. Good. He SHOULD feel bad! "Ken, I'm never talking to you AGAIN!"

I paddled over to Jem and let him help me up the bank. I looked like a wet dog. "Hey Rilla don't be so upset! You don't look so bad." Jem said this with an encouraging smile. I glared in response. EVERYTHING was ruined! My white dress clung in layers to my body and my hair was plastered across my face. In anger I shook my head in a useless attempt to get the hair out of my face and let out a piercing scream. Di stood nearby and tried to hush me. I stopped and furrowed my brow. I had done what they wanted to do and look what had happened! With a huff I stomped/hobbled home.

I barely made it into the clearing when I heard two voices simultaneously. "Oh Rilla-my-Rilla, what have you done to yourself?" was Walter's heartfelt cry. I ignored his question…Father's tone demanded my immediate attention. "Rilla Blythe you come here this instant! What have you done?!" I knew he wasn't going to be happy. I got ready to cry as I hobbled over to him. Three figures rushed past me on their way to Father. "It was my fault Dr. Blythe. I surprised Spi—Rilla from behind at the lake! I didn't mean to make her fall in! I'm ever so sorry." Understanding crossed Father's face and he clapped Ken on the shoulder. "I see. As everyone is alive and well, then there's been no harm done. Go on in with the others and wash up for dinner." NO! Father was supposed to be angry with him!

"Rilla, why were you wearing your best dress? Look! You're nice shoe is gone! You must stop wearing pretty things when you plan on playing with the others." I hung my head.

"Yes Father. I'm sorry. It's just that this dress was so pretty and I wanted to wear it…but then they decided to go and I didn't want to stay…" I ended with a sniffle.

Father chuckled as he picked me up, wet and all. "Well darling, how about we save the formal dress for nice occasions from now on? We can't very well replace every dress you have!" He carried me inside and sent me up to my room to change. That hadn't gone badly at all. I still wished he would've given Ken a good spanking though! Oh and Father just HAD to invite him to dinner! I desperately hoped that Jem's taste in friends would improve. I stopped and grimaced. Well, it didn't hurt to hope.