(A/N Hello again! Sorry for the late update. I've been super busy with work and family stuff. Also, I was involved in a minor accident, but everything is fine...except for my car. I'm about 15 weeks along now and we don't get to find out the sex of baby #2 until I'm 20 weeks along, but we're all very excited. Hopefully I can update a little faster for you guys, I'm really not happy with how much I've been putting off writing and updating, but I really am trying to get better at that.)

HeCalledMeCarrots: Thank you so much for reading and the well wishes. I'm so glad you've started watching GGF. I was iffy too about starting it at first because I love Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie, but Mandy and Tanner are a dream together!

KimBlythe: Thanks for the review and the well wishes and I apologize for the shortness of the chapter. I'm trying to make them longer but sometimes my brain runs out of steam and stops me. Definitely keep an eye out for Green Gables Fables. It's simply amazing and definitely takes a realistic approach to modern day Anne and Gilbert!

RebeccatheHistorian: Thanks for the review! They think they're being so slick and sly and in the beginning they are, but that'll obviously fade as time goes by.

OldMovieWatcher: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you're enjoying it so far!

Anne woke up Tuesday morning with a sense of dread. It was back to reality today, and although she knew she could handle keeping a friendly distance and demeanor from Gilbert, she still had the same underlying doubt.

Still, she got ready as she always did.

Bzzz

Her phone buzzed, signaling a text message from Gilbert.

'Morning. Can't wait to see you, we'll do fine, I promise.'

'Morning to you too. Could you sense my nerves all the way from your house?'

'lol no. I'm feeling nervous too, so I figured you'd probably be feeling the same. Do you want me to pick you up this morning?'

'Not yet. I think I'll have Marilla drop me off for the next few weeks until we've built a believable friendship.'

'Yeah, you're probably right. See you in school then.'

When she arrived at school, she found Gilbert sitting in with their group of friends.

"It sucks being back in school..." Josie whined to Charlie.

"Yeah, it was nice sleeping in all those days." He replied. "What did you get up to Gilbert?"

"I was snowed in with Anne..."

"How are you still alive?!" Charlie teased.

"We've called a truce, if you're interested to know." Anne jumped in after catching the sly smile on Josie's face.

"Although she did nearly kill me the first two nights." Gilbert added.

"So does that means you're friends now?" Jane asked.

"Friends is a strong word Jane, I guess you could say we're acquaintances..." Anne informed.

"Well at least we won't have to deal with your petty arguments..." Jane sighed in relief.

Anne rolled her eyes and smiled.

The first bell rang signaling the beginning of their first class. Anne gathered her belongings and was on her way to her class when she felt herself being pulled under the staircase.

"Gilbert, what the heck are you do..." She began but was quickly interrupted by his lips.

"I haven't kissed you in 4 days." He replied between kisses.

"Someone is going to catch us," She warned.

"Okay, okay. Hands are to myself again. I'll see you next period then..."

"See ya next period." She gave his hand one last squeeze before resuming her way to class.

The day went on without any other surprises. Gilbert had kept his promise and kept his hands to himself and they stuck by the rules. At lunch, they sat at the same table, but at the opposite ends. They spoke civilly to each other and tried to remain a little distant from each other as to not alert anyone of their relationship change.

The first month of their relationship passed by with no problems. They gradually grew closer in their friendship making it believable to their friends that they were only friends.

It was now February, the snow had yet to melt, but in Saskatchewan it was typical to have snow far into March. Graduation would soon arrive, causing the 12th graders of Avonlea to panic at their impending future.

Anne and Gilbert were seated in the library, spending their free period together as they often did. Jane had calculus, Ruby and Josie were stuck in Economics, and Charlie and Moody had P.E. making their free period their time together.

"I'm staying after school to work on the chemistry assignment, do you want to too?" He whispered.

"Sure. I was having trouble with it anyways. I guess I can go the resource center and they can help out."

"Or I can help you..."

"That too...I mean it wouldn't look suspicious at all. We're easily two of the more studious kids in our year."

"And now that we're acquaintances, it would look as if we're taking the high road." He added.

"Then yes, I will stay after with you."

When the final bell rang, Anne headed straight to the library to meet Gilbert. She quickly found a table where she could set her stuff down while she waited for Gilbert. She wandered around the books and browsed the titles she had yet to read. As her hands grazed the titles, she felt a tap to her shoulder; turning around she saw Gilbert.

"Are you ready to start studying?" She asked.

"One minute." He replied before leaning in and kissing her.

She responded right away and pulled him closer to her. They didn't get much time alone; occasionally, he would drive her to school and they would sneak in a few kisses, they would also steal some time during free period if they were truly alone; but for the most part, they remained separated.

They finally separated when they need to catch their breaths.

"I feel like I haven't kissed you in weeks." He sighed.

"I know, it's hard hiding this..."

"Then maybe we shouldn't."

"Gil, we agreed that when we were both ready and agreed on a time..."

"I know, I know. I just want to be with you, take you out on a date, hold your hand in public..."

"Soon, I promise."

He tried not looking disappointed, the girl of his dreams was so hesitant and her walls were built high. Still, he would wait as long as possible for her. "My parents are going to be out tomorrow night...do you want to come over?"

She nodded. "It'll be nice to have some time together. And, I promise to make the effort to spend more time with you...I know I've been keeping my distance, it's just that I'm not used to this...I've never really been in a relationship before." She admitted. It was impossible with her past. She never stayed in one place for too long, so if making friends was difficult, then finding a boyfriend was impossible.

"I know, I just want you to let me in a little bit. You don't need to tell me everything, but you can talk to me you know?"

"I know, it's just I've never really had someone who I could share things with...believe me, not even Diana knows things about my past. I'm not used to it yet."

"That's okay."

They worked on the chemistry assignment without too many interruptions. The library was fairly empty, leaving them to have enough privacy to let their masks fall.

Gilbert sat close to her and freely brushed the bangs out of her eyes and looked at her as if she was the only one in the world.

The next day they drove to his house directly after school. Anne told Matthew and Marilla that they would be working on a project, and while that part was true, she never mentioned that his house would be free from adult supervision and that they had entered into a relationship during the storm. Either truth would make it difficult for them to see each other.

When they arrived, they went straight to his room, eager to spend time alone together. After a few kisses, they were snuggled on his bed together.

"We should start working soon." Anne sighed.

"You're killing the vibe Shirley." He teased.

"Shut up." She replied.

"How you wound me with your words!" He smiled before kissing her once more. "I want to take you out on a date." He said after breaking the kiss.

"Why?"

"Because, I want to spend with you without having to hide."

"Everyone in Avonlea knows us…"

"There are towns that are only a half hour drive away, we could always go there…"

"That actually sounds nice. When would we go?"

"Next week maybe. We can always say we're going to Ruby's house to watch movies or Janes…"

"Have you been planning this all along?"

"A little bit. I don't want us sneaking off just to see each other."

"But wouldn't we be sneaking off to see each other in a different town?"

He rolled his eyes. "I just think that if we were to try our relationship in public somewhere else, it would make it easier when we become public about it."

"Hmmm." She responded giving it a quick thought. "When did you become the smart one." She teased.

"Have to be smart to keep up with you." He replied.

They worked on their project for an hour before deciding to order a pizza and returning to their previous activities. The TV was on and they were once more in his bed, their arms around each other. Kisses were exchanged every once in awhile, but for the moment, they just enjoyed their time alone.

"What time do your parents get home?"

"8:30, so that gives us a few more hours."

"Still, I should probably get home soon. I don't know if Marilla would be too happy with me if I stayed here too late."

"Are you getting sick of me already." He teased.

"Well, I can only handle you in short spurts of time." She teased in return.

"I didn't hear any complaints during the storm...in fact you're the one who attacked me."

"You didn't complain either, did you?"

"The girl of my dreams kissing me. Yeah, there's nothing to complain about there."

"I'm the girl of your dreams?" She replied shyly.

"Of course you are Shirley. Why do you think I tried getting your attention so much?"

"No one has ever said that to me...ever."

"Yesterday you said you'd never really been in a relationship before, is that true?" He asked, her statement reminding him of their conversation.

"I never had the chance before. Being a foster kid makes it impossible to make friends, so having a boyfriend is basically unthinkable." She explained. "Being here in Avonlea has changed me so much. I was always so lonely before; don't laugh, but I had an imaginary friend until I was 12."

"I wouldn't laugh at that Anne. I'm glad you came to Avonlea, I really don't think it would be the same without you here."

"Thank you Gil, that really means a lot to me."

By 7:30, they decided it was time to end their night together. Gilbert dropped her off, but promised that he would have the best first date planned for them by next week. She gave him a quick kiss before exiting his car and dreamily walked to the front door.

She couldn't believe that Gilbert Blythe, the one she called 'the most infuriating boy', was the one who was sweeping her off her feet. But people changed, didn't they? She sure had and he was really trying to show his real side to her.

That night, they texted non-stop until they fell asleep. Their conversations ranged from their friends and school, to university, even their future plans. Both prayed that their future included one another.