Hi Folks,

So I know I'm being rubbish at updating loving you forever, Its just I've had a busy few weeks and not been able to concentrate on it at all!

Well here it is, another chapter another heartache!

love

Carrots x


"Gil!" Ron called him as he arrived on the field. "Good man you came!" he said with a smile to him.

"Yeah." He said. "Can't let down my frat, can I?"

"There's the spirit. Now we can go easy on you if you like." He said honestly, "You don't have to jump."

"Of course, he does!" A small girl replied. She looked at him as if to dare him which irritated Gilbert a little. The girl had a smooth voice, with big dark blue eyes and twirling brown hair.

"Sis knock it off." Ron said. "Gilbert meet my daredevil sister Christine."

"Pleased to meet you." Gilbert tried with his hand to shake hers and she looked at it curiously.

"You're the Canadian, right?" she nodded "You wouldn't meet an American being polite." She said flashing her perfectly white and straight teeth.

"Daredevil?" Gilbert asked her.

"I like the kicks, I come on all of these, there's a group at NYC which do extreme sports if you'd be interested?"

"I um…" he stuttered. "See if I can handle the sky dive first." He said with a smile and a nervous laugh.

"Gil, this is Mark, Andrew, John and Rich." Ron rolled off as he introduced them. Gilbert smiled in hello and before he knew it he was being kitted out to go up, selfies of the group was being taken and he was being taken up in the helicopter.


Anne lay on her bed exhausted from the day she had. Professor Chambers had decided to add another three books to the reading list. As if the workload she had wasn't heavy enough, now she had to add more to it. Her brain numb, she was missing Gilbert terribly she played with the pearl bracelet on her arm then she flicked her phone and went onto facebook. Her heart raced as she sat up on her bed.

Gil had posted on facebook. He very rarely did!

She looked again reading the post as she went.

Sponsored Skydive for the kids #thelambsfrat #adrenalinerush #geniunelythoughtweweregoingtodie

There he stood.

He didn't look heartbroken at all.

In fact far from it.

He was standing there right by another women.

And she was beautiful.

Everything she had wanted to be. Anne opened the picture and looked at it closer inspecting the tags. She knew the lambs were an all male frat, so what on earth was this girl doing in the picture? She pressed on the face to see if the tag "Lady Cordelia FitzGerald" would come up. She was even a little surprised when 'Christine Stuart' came up.

She was beautiful, deep dark blue eyes and twirly brown hair with plenty of sweet curves to her.

Anne looked down deflated at herself. She barely had a curve to her. She was practically straight up and down.

She looked back at the picture. Was… were they standing close? Anne sighed.

'Well,' she forced herself to think 'he couldn't have been all that 'in love' if less than a month later he's flirting with someone else!' she thought feeling betrayed.

Anne suddenly didn't care how bad she felt, she jumped up and walked straight out the house. SO busy was she with her proud determination to show Gilbert Blythe just who could live with or without him she didn't notice the rainclouds gathering above her on what had been a very clear early February morning and when it started to rain Anne realised she had only came out in her hoodie.

"Pardon me—may I offer you the shelter of my umbrella?"

Anne looked up. Tall and handsome and distinguished-looking—dark, melancholy, inscrutable eyes—melting, musical, sympathetic voice. Anne had thought men like this only existed in books.

"Thank you," she said confusedly.

"We'd better hurry over to that little pavillion on the point," suggested the unknown. "We can wait there until this shower is over. It is not likely to rain so heavily very long."

Together they scurried to the pavilion and sat breathlessly down under its friendly roof.

"Oh who would believe the day could turn so quickly!" Anne exclaimed to him. "Thank you all the same."

"We are schoolmates, I see," he said, smiling at Anne's hoody. "That ought to be sufficient introduction. My name is Royal Gardner. And you are Anne Shirley, aren't you?"

"Yes; but I cannot place you at all," said Anne, frankly. "Please, where DO you belong?"

"I feel as if I didn't belong anywhere yet. I'm a transfer student from Kings College. I've only exchanged at the beginning of this semester, I've seen you in some of my classes have I not?"

"This is my Sophomore year, and I am an English major" replied Anne. "But forgive me won't you, I can't say I noticed you."

"Well it's a big class and you always seem so quiet and solemn, what the month I've been here?"

"Just the case of the winter blues." She said quietly.

"I got that when I lived in Europe, well England for two years, the last two years of high school…"

The rain came steadily down for the best part of an hour where he talked of England. Anne sat feeling quite mute and uncultured. She'd never been out of Canada, so the faraway places of Europe, Britain, France, Spain, it all sounded very interesting, Anne barely noticed she hadn't muttered a word to him by the time they arrived back at Patty's place.

That evening a parcel was left at Patty's Place for Miss Shirley. It was a box containing a dozen magnificent roses. Phil pounced impertinently on the card that fell from it, read the name and the poetical quotation written on the back.

"Royal Gardner!" she exclaimed. "Why, Anne, I didn't know you knew Roy!"

"I met him in the park this afternoon in the rain," explained Anne hurriedly. "I didn't see the rain clouds and only had on my hoodie he came to my rescue with his umbrella."

"Oh!" Phil peered curiously at Anne. "And is that exceedingly commonplace incident any reason why he should send you roses."

"Don't talk nonsense, Phil." She said swallowing, a feeling of guilt had entered her stomach though she knew not why "Do you know Roy?"

"I know of the The Gardners. They are among the richest, bluest, of Bluenoses. Roy is adorably handsome and clever and rich did I mention that? I almost envy you, but not quite. After all, Roy Gardner isn't Jonas."

Aunt Jimsie shook her head and opined that divinity students were not what they used to be.

"He's VERY nice, my dear," she told Phil, "but a man of God ought to be graver and more dignified."

"Can't a man laugh and laugh and be a Christian still?" demanded Phil.

"Oh, men—yes. But I was speaking of ministers, my dear," said Aunt Jimsie rebukingly. "And you shouldn't flirt so with Mr. Blake—you really shouldn't."

"I'm not flirting with him," protested Phil.

"You are flirting Phil." Anne laughed softly. "But Jo isn't of the Alec-and-Alonzo type, Phil," said Anne kindly. "He takes things seriously. You may break his heart."

"Do you really think I could?" asked Phil. "I'd love to think so."

"Philippa Gordon! I never thought you were utterly unfeeling. The idea of you saying you'd love to break a man's heart!" Aunt Jimsie reprimanded her.

"I didn't say so, honey. Quote me correctly. I said I'd like to think I could break it. I would like to know I had the power to do it."

"I don't understand you, Phil. You are leading that man on deliberately—and you know you don't mean anything by it." Aunt Jimsie tried.

"I'm not." said Phil calmly. "I've been seeing him a month and he's simply divine." She said with a twist of her smile "forgive the pun." She sighed "You think I don't like him, I think he's the deepest most beautiful man I ever met."

"He's not all that handsome Phil and you know he's not rich."

"I know that." Phil protested again. "It's like Gilbert said to me his inner beauty and qualities out way the outward appearance and the fact his is poor has no bearing on my feelings for him. If I could have him and nothing else in the world it would make me happy." She said honestly. She then looked at Anne and saw she was almost white to the face. "Oh, Anne I didn't mean to bring…"

"It's okay." Anne said quietly, playing with the bracelet on her arm. "Gilbert was always very wise." She said quietly before she tried her best to smile.

Once in the safety of her room she took out her phone and looked at Facebook again. There he still was looking happy, without her and now she felt deflated all over again. It was then the icon popped up to say she had a friend request. She clicked on it to see "Royal Gardner." Anne smiled softly and accepted it.

She then posted on his wall "The flowers were unnecessary, but appreciated. Thank you for rescuing me today."

It was a matter of seconds later he replied "Anytime, milady. See you in class."


Gilbert finally made it back to his bed. Although he wasn't tired, he was still on the natural high of the skydive, that adrenaline had shot through him as he fell through the air. He felt… well he felt! He was terrified! But it wasn't numb! It was the first time in weeks he had felt anything towards anything. Adrenaline was powerful he had always known that but right now that high was still evident in him because when he picked up his phone and looked on Facebook to see the pictures and that's when the pit of pain hit him.

Anne Shirley is now friends with Royal Gardner.

Anne Shirley: The flowers were unnecessary, but appreciated. Thank you for rescuing me today.

Royal Gardner: Anytime, milady. See you in class.

Anne had met someone.

Someone who bought her flowers and rescued her.

He knew the name, he'd heard of the Gardners. Several of the Lambs envied their wealth and that was saying something. Their son, obviously this Roy fella had wanted to run away from the stereo type Gardner so had run to a different university, his father died and so had been looking at transferring back to Kingsport, to Redmond. He had felt sorry for the boy initially, now he was burning with jealousy.

The pit quickly changed to the numbness which had became his constant companion lately.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He wanted to feel again.

That's when Christine's dare came to mind.

"I dare you, if you liked that you'll love our daredevil group." She had said.

They had all exchanged friend requests that afternoon so he went to her wall and left the message

"Count me in."


"How do I look?!" Diana exclaimed turning for Anne in her wedding dress.

"Simply divine!" Anne exclaimed. "The Bride of my dreams." Anne smiled. "Which is just as well since I doubt I'll be marrying anytime soon."

Diana looked to her friend in worry for a moment then brightened "what about Roy?" she asked with a smile.

Anne blushed slightly before she said "I don't think we're there quite yet Diana." Anne said honestly. "Though I can imagine I may fall in love with him. He's a good person and veryattentive."

"And sooo good looking!" Diana squealed, to which Anne laughed.

"This says nothing about Fred, Diana but you never went for just 'looks'." Anne said to her.

"I never had the option!" Diana exclaimed. "You seem to attract the handsome on…" Diana started the stopped suddenly. "I'm sorry Anne I didn't mean that."

Anne shook her head and smiled at her friend. "No its okay." Anne insisted though it did nothing to heal the pity in her stomach.

Diana looked to her friend in earnest "You know Gilbert didn't bring Christine with him, I'm sure it can't be all that serious if he didn't."

"I didn't bring Roy." Anne observed.

"Is it serious between you two?" Diana asked her.

Anne looked to her feet then stood up. "Today, is not about me or my very complicated life. Today is about you and Fred!" she exclaimed.

Diana laughed gently. "Its okay isn't it?" she asked Anne "Gilbert being best man."

"its too late to go changing your mind now!" Anne said sweetly. "Come now, best not leave him waiting too long, he'll think you changed your mind!"

Diana laughed and turned out of the room. Anne followed behind. It was when they left the room that Anne saw Gilbert for the first time since that night.

Gilbert's cheeks were a little flushed but he didn't give her eye contact instead offered his arm as they walked down the steps together. Anne couldn't take her eyes off him and tried her best to catch his eye but he refused to give it.

"Gil." She whispered at him as they stood at the top of the isle waiting to walk down.

"Not here." He whispered back and thought coldly to her still not looking at her "This is about Fred and Diana."

The wedding went off as planned, Gilbert attended like a best man should Anne like a Maid of honour should. It came to the evening and they had barely spent five minutes together.

This was unavoidable in the end. Anne saw the reluctance in his body language but he brought his hand out to her offering it for the dance. He turned her on the floor then held her in his arms. His head over her shoulder they swayed back and forth. Anne felt a few tears fall to his jacket, she knew then, she was never going to feel him close to her ever again. She slipped her arms around his middle and cuddled in there. He did nothing to encourage her, nothing to discourage her but Anne could feel him slipping through her fingers. He wasn't there, he was somewhere else in his mind. Maybe with Christine when the dance ended she slipped back pink in face, he wouldn't look instead his eyes were to the sky then to the ground before their eyes finally met, he saw the remaining tears and wiped them from her.

"Don't cry Anne." He whispered, then before she could respond he slipped away.

Anne felt like dropping to the floor in pain. It was then from nowhere Stephen Irving appeared, Anne didn't know if he had seen the way Gilbert leaving had effected her, but it was as if he were her knight in shining armour in that moment. "Hello Anne, I was wondering if I might have a dance with my favourite student?" He said with a smile to her. She nodded and wiped her eyes.

"Thank you Mr Irv… Stephen." She said with a smile "I haven't been your student for quite some time though." She said taking his hand. He took her in dancing pose.

"Doesn't mean you aren't my favourite student." He said with a smile to her. "How's college treating you? We haven't seen you since last summer. Is it how you expected it to be?" he said.

Anne managed a laugh "I am enjoying it but its nothing like I thought it would be, but that's okay, its better actually."

"Good, it should be that way." He said to her. "I heard Gilbert went on a student exchange programme last semester?"

"Yes, only the top applicate got to go in the science department, they had to take into consideration people on other programmes but Gil came out on top."

"He always does." Stephen said.

"Yeah." Anne whispered.

"So you've not seen him all semester then?" Stephen asked.

"No." Anne said quietly. "No I haven't."

By the time Anne finished dancing she looked for Gilbert for a few minutes where Fred said he went home early after having a headache. She went to Blythe farm the next day only to be told by Mr Blythe that Gilbert had left on the early plane. Anne handed Mr Blythe Gilbert's letterman's jacket and asked him to be sure it got back to Gilbert. She left feeling deflated, her stomach ached more. Anne knew after the day before she had to let go.