I think technology has something against me... my tablet is playing hard to charge... it currently is but I'm hoping this will post okay off my phone... I will check and amend when I can but it's hard to do on my phone...

I like this chapter... we see a insecure Anne, a one very close to 'real' Anne because I think she's in there... next chapter will be the summer and Kim dearest yes I think I shall write more about Anne and Diana's friendship now it's definitely established in this story. Maybe see them go on some double dates! That would be fun!


Easter fast approached for Anne, or it seemed to, she couldn't believe she was going to Redmond next school year! She received several communications from the college inviting her to ' open days' where she would get to go along for a couple of days stay in lodging arranged by the college and attend a couple of lecturers! She arranged for this excitingly could barely contain herself as she decided to keep it a surprise for Gilbert. She would surprise him. She knew he had a football game the same evening she would go and watch the game and watch him, surprise him.

Anne loved the atmosphere of the game! It was so much fun with the cheering and scores being kept and she had to admire her boyfriend. She could see why he was captain of the football team, the familiar look of competitiveness shone on his face she knew him well enough to know he was determined to win. She... admired it! The game won in his favour his team tussled round him various hits on the back and man hugs were given Anne found her way to the front of the stalls, she watched confused for a moment as several girls fluttered round the players some reaching for specific boys others for any giving congratulatory hugs and kisses. She was surprised by the public displays of their forwardness and even more surprised when one reached for Gilbert first hugging him then trying to reach her lips to his. Anne saw he didn't let their lips meet trying to pull back from the hug he was shaking his head... She couldn't lip read but she was sure she saw the word " girlfriend" coming from his lips. She smiled at his display of loyalty to her even though she knew he hadn't spotted her yet. She bit her bottom lip a little trying her best not to let jealousy take her over... He was rejecting a very pretty girl for her! For her mere memory! Not just her presence. Because that's what she was when they were apart, memories of each other. He was... trustworthy. It was at that moment Gilbert looked up to the stalls and spotted her in the ever emptying stadium. She could see despite their distance her name play on his lips he finally untangled himself and ran to the pitch side looking at her in amazement.

" congratulations Mr Blythe." She played with him trying to make him nervous which she could see she was doing. " that was some game." She told him.

" Anne..." He started nervously.

" quite the way to be congratulated too." She said looking over to the pretty little blond who had thrown herself at him.

" it's not what you're thinking..." He started.

"I take it she's not the first to try?" She asked him.

Gilbert looked even more nervous " no but Anne I swear nothing happens, I reject them all, I... i... I have you, I couldn't, I wouldn't..." He sputtered.

Anne's face finally broke from the serious school teacher to the playful girlfriend as she giggled at him. "I saw you reject her Gil." She looked into his eyes and reached over the side for him stroking gently at his face. " you didn't know I was here, if you were a cheater you would of had your way with her." She smiled.

Gilbert took a sigh of relief. " Anne Shirley you tease!" He said finally smiling then started to laugh he reached across the barrier picked her up and swept her into his arms putting her gently on the pitch he kissed her capturing her lips in his for a long sweet kiss. Anne inhaled smelling him so easily from the game he just played. She really believed the stronger scent of Gilbert was the best scent she had ever smelt in her life!

Their lips parted and she looked up into his eyes. " hello to you too." She said with a smile.

He looked into her eyes relived at her reassuring presence. " what are you doing here? How? I mean you have school!?"

"I applied to the board for a cover teacher to take my classes a few days explaining I was wanting to attend the open house for the college. They accepted, so I came along." She smiled at him. "I wanted to surprise you." She told him.

" hey Blythe!" They heard from the group one of the other players shouting over to him. " is that her?"

Anne looked to Gilbert who grinned the cockiest smile she had ever seen from him lips as he nodded.

" bring her over, let her join in the celebrations, we want to meet her." He demanded.

Gilbert smirked put his arm around Anne's shoulders and walked over to the rest of the team with her.


"he barely shuts up about you. Every time we speak he's just got a new letter from you."

"shut it Jones." Gilbert said with a blush.

" or what I'm off the team? Next to you I'm the best player." Jones laughed.

Anne smiled "to be fair to him I do write often and often long letters." She admitted. "it's probably me that over does it."

"Naw, we always know he had this smile on his face which is plastered on there all day!" He teased his captain. "do you really have six brothers and sisters?" he asked her.

Anne laughed. "yes 3 boys and 3 girls, myself excluded.

"you'd think the way Gil talks about them they were his brothers and sisters."

Anne laughed. " well I'm glad it's always nice to have another set of eyes on them." Anne admitted.

" must take a lot!" Jones admitted. " there's me and my two sisters. I'm the only boy."

" so let's see if I have this right?" Anne questioned. " Andrew Jones." She said looking at Jones. " William Clark" she said looking at another player "Edwin Campbell..." She trailed through the boss names.

Gilbert smiled when she recited their names and the look of amazement from the members of the team when she recited their names so fast.

"... you all make quite the team." Anne smiled. "I knew Gil was good with football but you guys out there..."

" not too bad are we?" Will laughed.

"let me get you something to drink." He offered Anne as he stood up and went to order in their food and drinks.

"the girls throw themselves at him you know." Will said to Anne. "I'm not saying it to make you jealous or anything but to let you know, he's faithful to you. No matter how pretty the girl."

Anne looked down quietly. She wasn't sure how to respond. The idea others girls might be interested in Gilbert did hurt a little bit but at the same time he was desirable. She couldn't blame them really. Did Gilbert only remain faithful because he felt he had to?

Gilbert came back unaware of Anne's feelings and wrapped his arm around her holding her close. "Are you okay sweetheart?" he whispered to her.

She partly snapped out of her own daydream. "yeah." She tried to look at him without wondering to herself "yeah I'm fine."


The next morning Gilbert woke in a bliss! Waking knowing she was staying in the boarding house opposite again in the same room... thrilled him through. Anne was here with him, how it should be!

He came to greet her and kissed her softly. "morning beautiful." He whispered softly.

"morning" she whispered but something sad was in her voice.

"where are we off to then?" he asked her.

" Oh, it says I need to be at Pringle building." She said reading the paperwork she had.

"Oh that's right next to the administrators building. Come on I'll take you there. I don't have any classes until 3 this afternoon you can have me all day!" he smiled.

Anne nodded her head in acknowledgement. "Anne did I spook you last night... in meeting the team?" he asked her.

"No." She replied truthfully.

"Then are you tired?" he asked.

"No." She answered again.

He took a sigh "then have I done something wrong?" he asked her.

"nothing like that." She whispered thoughtfully.

He nodded and put his arm around her. "okay." He answered quietly. "I don't know what's wrong sweetheart but whenever you're ready know I'm willing to listen, maybe I'll be able to say something to put your mind at ease."

She looked up at him and watched for a moment. How could she tell him? How could she even ask him!

'oh by the way Gilbert I think you're only being faithful to me because you feel like you have to be.' He could be free to be a college boy if it weren't for her. He could date girls his own age, he could be kissed and hugged in victory in every game. She trapped him. She trapped him and she hadn't even noticed because she was too involved in her own life! Maybe coming to college next year... well this one at least was a bad idea. He would be dating someone else by then after all.

"Did you not enjoy the lectures Anne?" he asked her later in the day after his lesson had completed and he had the rest of the day with her.

"Yes I suppose I did." She replied flatly

He nodded and worryingly tried to put his arm around her but she for the first time shrugged him off. He bit at his bottom lip concerned about her. Thinking... wondering if there was anything he could do to make it better. He got an idea. "Tell you what I have something which will cheer you up." He told her as they arrived outside the lodgings

"Oh?" Anne wondered.

" meet me out here at 9 pm." He said to her.

"nine? So late?" she asked.

"yep." He grinned not giving anything away. He turned and said quite seriously "promise me?"

She looked to him and nodded. "alright" She agreed "I promise."


She did as she promised and met him outside. "so what are we doing?" she asked him.

"I thought we'd go down to the shore and have a picnic, do some stargazing." He whispered to her holding her close. They walked quietly hand in hand. Gilbert carried the picnic basket in his other hand and they set up the picnic on the edge of the shore. At the end of the picnic they lay on the blanket together snuggling in close.

"Its still getting cold on a night." Anne commented.

He reached over and brought another blanket on top of them. "Come snuggle in more. I'll keep you warm." He whispered.

Anne only half laughed. "Are you sure?" she asked him.

He her confused for a moment "of course Anne, you're my girlfriend."

She sat up and looked out to the water. "is that the only reason Gil?" she asked him.

He sat up beside her. "i don't understand." He said to her confused. "of course because you're my girlfriend... its a little on the edge of proprietary doing this with you now, if you weren't my girlfriend it would be positively indecent of me to sneak out with you this time at night."

"then maybe you shouldn't." She said seriously.

"Come on Anne, its not that bad to..." he started.

"No I mean maybe I shouldn't be your girlfriend." She whispered not looking at him.

"alright Anne, what's going on, this isn't like you. If you don't love me or you don't want to be with me then that's fine we'll break up but I don't think it's the case so tell me what's going on."

She sighed and remained silent for a minute looking out to the waves. She eventually quietly said "you could be the college boy, having fun with girls and dating lots of girls, them throwing themselves at you for even a hug or a kiss." She sighed as a tear ran down her cheek "and I'm standing in your way."

They sat silent for a moment before Gilbert chuckled for a second. She looked amazed at him where he took her by the hand then swept his fingers through her long red hair."Anne Shirley." He said quietly. She looked up and into his hazel eyes. "I don't envy that world." He said quietly. "I don't want idolising because I play football, I don't want judged based on what people think they see. You know why, you know there has never been anyone else." He dropped his voice to a whisper "I want to be loved by someone, someone I know who knows me in return. Someone who understands me and challenges me, who has some passion and personality. Someone with red hair and grey green eyes and someone who is even more beautiful then normal...when she's being insecure."

"don't you wish.." She started.

"I wish for the day we have graduated and finished our education so we can finally be each other's... fully." He told her.

She looked at him and gave a weak smile. He leaned over and kissed her slowly and firmly on her lips. " I love you Anne."

She opened her eyes and snapped out of the trance which had taken over her for the last 24 hours. "that's why you're faithful? Because you love me... not because you feel like you have to?"

"Anne." He laughed. "What a thing to think!" he exclaimed. "I'm faithful because I'm in love with you." He told her. "even when we weren't together last year. I was faithful. I want to be perfect... For you." She smiled at his responses. " is that what has been bothering you? Did you think I'd prefer... to play the field?" he asked her.

"just last night... seeing that girl around you and your friends telling me you were faithful. ...made me wonder if I was holding you back."

Gilbert grinned and nodded. "you've only ever made me reach for the stars." He whispered. "and you my love..." he whispered "are the brightest star in the sky." He sighed "and I want it so much Anne, holding me back?" he questioned then whispered in her ear "you set me free." He shook as he kissed into her neck something he never dared do before, he heard a sharp intake of breath from his companion. He pulled away and chuckled. "now are you sure you want to break this off?" he asked with a grin.

"No!" she objected loudly going red in the face. "I want to... I..." She took a sigh then she burst into giggles. "Gilbert I'm sorry it's just I..." She took a breath then looked into his eyes. "I love you Gil." She whispered.

"I love you too." He replied. He wrapped his arm around her, he finally lay them on the picnic blanket the other blanket laying across them keeping them warm. "so that constellation up there can you see it? The seven sisters..."