Frozen Memories
Not one tiny little cloud kept the sun from shining upon the faces of Avonlea's inhabitants on this lovely afternoon one Saturday in January.
After weeks of waiting and disappointed children's eyes, the ice was finally thick and safe enough to skate on, the pleasant news spreading in no time at all from house to house. Soon all the boys, chasing after a small ball on the icy surface, the girls, gliding over it while holding each other's hands just like a living necklace, and all the youths of this little town, who seized the opportunity to meet their friends - or even hoped to make some conquests - could be found with skates on the frozen Lake of Shining Waters.
Laughter, shrieks, and giggles resounded from everywhere as Anne breathed in this cold fresh wintery air and let it fill her lungs as if she would be an old dusted house where finally someone had opened the windows after years. She smiled at the sun that kissed the tip of her nose and felt just like a girl all over again - despite her age of seventeen or the fact that the children racing and dashing around her were her pupils.
"Minnie May!" Diana tried to grasp the tip of her little sister's coat who laughed and skated away from her and Anne.
Anne chuckled and was rewarded by an impatient glance from her best friend, "I promised mother not to let her run around without her cap." She twirled the red woollen garment with her fingers. "Ever since Minnie May had the croup…"
"Yes, I know", Anne gave her an understanding smile and rubbed her arm. "Come, we will still get her."
As the little girl spun her head around and realized she was being chased by them, Minnie May squealed and increased her speed, not watching out where it was she was heading.
A startled shriek left her mouth and she almost tumbled to the ground as her body crashed forcefully into two legs.
"Oops", a male voice above her laughed and grabbed her arms just in time.
Wondering she lifted her head and a friendly grin greeted her.
"Hold her, Gilbert!" Diana called, making haste to reach her little sister.
"Minnie May Barry", she scolded, "you really have to keep your eyes forward on the ice! You could hurt people! And you know very well that mother wants you to wear your cap."
The girl didn't reply anything but just kept on staring with her mouth open at the boy with those twinkling eyes, not paying attention to her bossy sister at all.
Anne bit her bottom lip to keep the chuckles inside as she witnessed what was happening right before her nose. Looked like 'baby' Minnie May had her first crush.
"It's alright, Diana, nothing happened. I caught her in time, didn't I, young lady?" Gilbert winked at her. One could actually hear Minnie May's gasp and see her cheeks turning crimson the very same second.
"Here", Diana - oblivious of this little interaction – pulled the wool cap over her sister's head, ripping her rather abruptly out of her daze.
Minnie May was fuming. How could she dare, just because she was her big sister! She didn't want to seem like some baby who had to wear things other people wanted her to. How embarrassing! Especially in front of Gilbert Blythe. Yes, she actually knew the boy's name because he was with Anne – Miss Shirley - all the time. Minnie May loved bragging about that fact in front of her friends.
"I'm old enough!" she yelled as he had let go of her and ripped the garment off her head, throwing it quite a few yards away.
Diana angrily put her hands on her hips, while Gilbert and Anne shared a brief glance, "Now look what you've done, Minnie May! It's well past the safe line! Now you can explain mother how your new cap disappeared!"
Anne could see tears rising in the little girl's eyes. She knew Diana was right, but she felt pity for Minnie May. She knew how small and humiliated a child could feel.
"Maybe I could get it, Diana? It certainly will carry one single person."
"No Anne, it's…" Diana rubbed her forehead with her palm and let out an irritated sigh, "it's alright."
"But-"
"My, my, if that isn't Anne Shirley – or should I call you Jeanne d'Arc? Saviour of all the innocent children on this world." Josie Pye came to a – very graceful, Anne had to admit – halt beside them, with her shining white and of course brand new skates.
The red-haired girl snorted and crossed her arms, "Josie, do you really have no life of your own that you have to interfere with everybody else's?"
She gasped, "Excuse me! I'm not the one who has to force my help upon everybody, just so I can show off how brave and courageous I am."
Anne shook her head and decided to turn her attention back to Diana. It was so pointless to argue with a Pye.
"What? No reply to that?" Josie smirked mockingly, "You didn't even intend to go actually out there, did you? You always just say such things and then wait for others to stop you."
Anne's eyes flashed with anger as she clenched her fists to her sides, "That is not true."
"Pshaw," Josie tossed her ponytail back over her shoulder, "Then why don't you just go over there and do it, if you're so eager to?"
"Josie-" Gilbert hissed.
"No, it's alright," Anne cut him off. "I never had problems to stand by my words." Then she looked at the blonde girl, "Unlike others."
With that she turned around without even waiting for any kind of reaction and skated towards the branches Mister Barry had placed around the unsafe area, where the ice was not yet thick enough to walk upon.
"Anne!" Diana called as all the other children and adolescents stopped whatever they have been doing and gathered to watch this spectacle.
Anne didn't even bother to look back. She clenched her teeth. Why did this stupid Josie Pye always have to bring her into situations like this! She couldn't deny that she was indeed a bit afraid of what would happen once she would set foot on that untrustworthy frozen surface. She had heard quite a few stories of how painful icy water was. It would numb her limbs in only a few seconds. And then she wouldn't be able to swim, or even hold herself somewhere, and then-
Her racing thoughts were brought to an abrupt halt as two arms got hold of her waist and legs and lifted her off the ground in the blink of an eye.
Anne barely managed to keep a startled shriek inside as her wide opened eyes searched who it was who had whisked her away so boldly.
Gilbert didn't even bother to return her glance or explain himself in any way, as he skated off, towards the shore it seemed.
"Have you gone out of your mind!" Anne finally exclaimed, looking back to all their whistling and cheering spectators, her heart still faster than his feet.
"Have I gone out of my mind!" Finally his hazel eyes met hers and she didn't like this furious sparkle in them at all. She had only seen it once in all those years - when she refused his friendship after he had saved her life. But what could she have probably done now to him! "I'm only taking care of myself as every reasonable person would!"
"Taking care of yourself?" She asked completely bewildered. If she wouldn't have been so taken aback, she certainly would have fought against his hold by then.
"Do you think I intend to get a heart attack with twenty, just because you can't ignore those Pyes just for once!" Anne swallowed hard. For a few seconds the vexed sound of his voice intimated her so much, that she didn't know what to say anymore. It was such a strange thing to see someone as calm as Gilbert Blythe that enraged.
But as another bold scream reached her ears and embarrassment crept to her cheeks, Anne started rebelling against his hold. "What are you talking about!" She kicked with her legs and tried to push herself out of his grip, "What does any of this have to do with you!"
"What does any of this have to do with me?" Gilbert slowed down as he focused on giving her a piece of his mind. "Who do you think would jump after you when you break into that ice! Josie? I highly doubt!" He snorted snidely. "Who do you think would blame himself for not reacting sooner? Josie?" By now his feet had stopped their movements completely.
"Anne Shirley, there may be many times I simply stay quiet and let you have your way, but I won't let you fall a second time!"
Anne furrowed her brow, trying not to think about that it was even more dizzying to be in his arms when he wasn't just bringing her somewhere. "A second time? What in heaven's…" Her expression changed immediately as she finally understood, feeling more childish and small than she had in a long time. "But, but we were enemies back then, Gil…"
"No, you were enemies, Anne. Not me." Gilbert took a deep breath before his eyes returned to hers.
"Listen, I'm sorry I was so harsh. I didn't mean to. And I didn't mean to make you feel humiliated, I only…" He gulped. Now that his first annoyance had worn off, he suddenly wasn't so sure of him and his doings anymore, his cheeks and ears suddenly feeling a bit too warm. "Don't you see that there are people who worry about you, Anne? How would… Just imagine if something would happen to Diana. How would you-"
"I would be worried about you too, Gil", she whispered more than she spoke, and didn't know if so because it was bold of her to presume that it was that what Gilbert had intended to say, or because it was so hard to say some truths out loud she preferred to keep safe within herself.
Gilbert's hazel eyes softened as he watched her sheepishness, Anne's eyes glued to the black buttons of his winter coat.
"No risky things then?" He raised one eyebrow, trying to light up the mood a bit.
"No. You can, um, set me down now."
"Alright," he shifted her in his arms and carefully let her down again, not able to deny a feeling of reluctance.
Anne adjusted her clothes, not knowing where else to look. She was still very aware of their audience – wondering why nobody followed them – and didn't know what to do now.
"Are we good then?" He asked.
Anne finally lifted her head, rubbing her arms self-consciously and nodding, "Yes." A relieved smile lightened up Gilbert's features immediately.
Soon another shout resounded over the frozen lake – even more impertinent than the first one – finally ringing the bell inside Anne's head why it was that nobody intended to 'disturb' them.
Before Gilbert knew what hit him, Anne had knocked him over with a forceful push against his chest.
Flabbergasted he looked up at her, "Wha-!"
"Doesn't mean the others need to know", she grinned and dashed towards land before he could pick himself up and race after her.
AN: Yes, even a crazy nut like me can suffer writer blues. Are you still following our turtledoves? (´ヮ`) I'm happy about every Hello I get! (But don't tell Anne I called them turtledoves! I'm not too fond of slates on my head (⌒_⌒;))
TLWtlw: Yes, I know. Mine took place in Anne of Avonlea. Maybe Gil got used to looking like a girl thanks to Anne ;)
darkchocolatecupcake: Thank you *blush* Do you know Anne and Gil through the movies then? :)
JennWithAPenn: Thank you for all your kind feedback! :) For that on 'Remembering You' as well (and I didn't think that at all when I read your story)!
katherine-with-a-k: Anne certainly knows how to drive him crazy without even realizing what effects she has on him...
Amybf19: She iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis. I could say poor Gil, but… nah ^^
Random Cat: After reading the first part of your review that's exactly what I would have told you! :D Everybody's always saying they hope for their Gilbert Blythe and tend to forget that Anne herself was always hoping for some ideal of her own and Gil was only 'plain Gil'. So you're absolutely right! *thumbs - uh, paws - up*
RHrGreatness: It took me long to finally finish a new one, but I was determined to make a birthday chapter. I mean - what would be more fitting than your idea and my execution? ;)
