Three months had gone by. Three months of dropping off and picking up Gilbert Blythe's schoolwork with Billy tagging along. A quiet hello and thank you were the only words he ever spoke. The dark circles under his tired eyes plaguing Anne's dreams. Then came the day she knew was coming.
Billy held her hand as they walked toward the Blythe farm. The cool, Spring breeze felt good on her face as she listened to Billy talk about his plans for them that coming weekend. As they came upon the house, a carriage was out front that caused them to stop.
"Oh, damn! That's the undertaker! Blythe! Come on, Anne!" Billy shouted as he ran toward the house. When Anne got there, she saw Billy comforting Gilbert. She came to the other side of him and hugged his side while she silently cried. "So sorry, Blythe. Your dad was the best." she heard Billy say in a soft tone.
Gilbert sniffed then wiped his tears off his face while Anne handed him her handkerchief from her coat pocket. "It's clean, I swear." she said with a bit of a giggle causing him to smile a little.
"Thanks." Gilbert shook hands with Billy then they stepped into the house and waited while Gilbert spoke with Mr. Henry, the undertaker. After the carriage carrying John Blythe's body rode off, Gilbert sighed. "I found him this afternoon. I came in from chores and got lunch together. I brought it in and thought he was sleeping. At least he passed peacefully."
Gilbert shrugged then looked around finally realizing who exactly comforted him. "Thanks, Billy. Anne. I'm going to clean up. You can just leave my work on the table." He turned and went into his father's room leaving them staring after him.
"Let's go." Billy said quietly then turned to leave. Anne grabbed his hand.
"Come on. Let's clean up the kitchen and I can whip up something for dinner. It's the Christian thing to do." Anne waited until Billy nodded then began collecting the discarded tray of lunch Gilbert had left on the hall table as Anne started making up the small roast that was in the icebox, surrounding it with carrots and potatoes.
By the time the roast was almost finished, Billy and her had cleaned the kitchen and set the table to Gilbert's great surprise. "Oh, you guys really didn't need to do all of this." He cried out, a blush forming on his cheeks.
"It was nothing, Blythe. Come on. Gave a seat, and we can enjoy this delicious dinner Anne prepared." His smile was sincere and it caused Anne's heart to race. This. This is why she loves him. Billy may try to act tough, but inside is a heart of gold. He just needs to show it to more than just her, she thought.
Gilbert and Billy told stories about Mr. Blythe and the three friends found solace in that. Friends. Maybe they could really all be friends. Gilbert was thinking the same thing at that moment, but then he locked eyes with Anne and his heart started to beat faster. How could he be friends with the guy that has her heart when Gilbert wants Anne to be his?
Anne was ready for the scolding of her life from Marilla, but once she heard why Anne had stayed out late, her anger subsided into her own sobs. John Blythe, the only man Marilla had ever loved, was gone from this Earth. Marilla bid Anne and Matthew goodnight then retired to her room.
She opened up her hope chest at the foot of her bed. She found a box of old letters they'd exchanged during their time courting. She found his old hat, her lace she'd bought for the wedding that never happened. She smiled to herself then carefully put everything back inside, kissing the batch of love letters first. "Goodbye, John Blythe. I will always love you." she whispered into the night, just as she closed her eyes and fell into dreams of "could have beens" and yesteryear.
Last day of school
"After school lets out, let's meet up at our spot." Billy whispered to Anne at lunch with a mischievous glint in his eye. Anne simply smiled and nodded her head then turned back to Diana as he sauntered away.
"Anne, I really hope you know what you're doing. I will not cover for you any longer. He's truly a bad influence on you." Diana's admonishing tone caused Anne to huff.
"He is not. Billy loves me and I love him." Anne said adamantly. "And anyway, I'm 14 years old and Billy's almost 16. We're not children. We know what we are doing. You're my best friend, Diana. I thought you'd at least be happy for me."
Diana sighed, "Yes, but can you just wait until then to do what you're planning on doing today? I mean, this is just...too adult, Anne." Anne thought about what Diana was saying. She knew she should wait, but the kissing was leading to them both wanting more. "But," she began again, "if you really know, without a doubt, that Billy Andrews is the man you want to tie yourself to for the rest of your life. No other boy out there?"
Anne knew who Diana was hinting about. There was only one other boy she thought of like that. "You know there is, Diana Berry, but I cannot think of him. I am with Billy. I love Billy. Any other flights of fancy I had before are just mere memories now. I am committed to Billy." Anne smiled at Diana but it didn't reach her eyes.
Diana took her hand. "And that is why you are not ready for this, Anne. I love you, Anne. You're my best friend, and as such I must implore you to rethink this. Wait a bit longer. You don't want any regrets." She pulled her into a hug and the lunch bell rang, so they headed back inside.
Diana gave Anne one last look before she headed down the path towards her house. Billy rushed over and picked Anne up in a bear hug. "Ahh! My beautiful girlfriend! Alone at last! One more year of school down, one more to go. You ready?" The smile he gave her melted all of her nerves away.
"I'm ready." Anne took his hand and they walked to their shack in the woods. Billy spoke of the summer. He spoke of his plans after graduation next year.
"My dad says he will be teaching me the business end of running our farm so that one day when I marry, we'll take over. I know you want to write or teach, and if you decide on becoming a wife and mother, please do not think I would ever keep you from pursuing your dreams."
Anne was overwhelmed with affection for the boy, no, the man in front of her. "When you say things like that, it only makes me love you more, you know?" She smiled and he gathered her in his arms, kissing her languidly. When they broke apart, they were both panting. Anne pulled him inside and lay down on the blankets and pillows they'd accumulated over the last nine months.
"Come here, Red." he said with a smirk. Anne laid down next to him, and he pulled her closer as he began to kiss her again. Anne had her hand wrapped around Billy's shirt and let out a soft moan.
At the sound of her moan, Billy became more confident. He removed his shirt and cupped her breast, causing her to gasp his name and become brave herself by touching the erection pressed against her leg. "Oh, Anne!" Billy moaned against her neck. She giggled when his breath tickled her skin. She continued her ministrations, and when Billy's hand made its way down to touch her under her skirt, her moans grew louder.
Suddenly, they heard people talking and a young girl's voice, "It's in through here! Hurry!" Diana! Anne quickly tried to fix her clothes as Billy searched for his discarded shirt.
"Billy Andrews! Anne Shirley-Cuthbert! You get out of there right this instant!" Anne would know that voice anywhere. An angry Marilla Cuthbert was a voice you don't hear often, so when you did, it was unsettling. Anne found Billy's shirt when she stood up and tossed it over to him. Her hair was disheveled and her face flushed crimson as she exited the shack. Billy followed shortly after, attempting to comb through his hair.
"Explain yourselves!"
Anne and Billy walked in silence, apart, and not touching. Diana kept sneaking glances at her best friend, but Anne refused to look at her. The moment they arrived at Green Gables, Anne began to panic. The Andrews carriage was out front and a very upset Mrs. Andrews and an outraged Mr. Andrews waited on the porch with an anxious Matthew Cuthbert.
"Billy, come here right now!" Anne had never heard Mr. Andrews yell, and it caused her to visibly shake. Diana tried to take her hand, but Anne pulled away from her. "I'll, uh, see you tomorrow then." Diana said as she walked away dejected and sad. She was only doing what was right. She was saving Anne from herself.
"What were you thinking? She's only fourteen years old, Billy. Fourteen! Now, I allowed your mother her rules and let you continue to see Anne against my better judgement, but to learn that you have been constantly breaking said rules and planned on...on...oh, God! I can't even say it out loud!" Billy looked up at his father then.
"Sex, dad. It's called sex. Yes. I have been seeing Anne since late September and we kiss and hold hands. And look! Still alive! I'm sorry that we got caught, but I will not be sorry for wanting to make love to the girl I love." A loud slap was heard and Anne looked up at a shaking Mrs. Andrews.
"Don't you dare speak like that ever again! Who do you think you are? And you!" She faced Anne now, "What kind of young lady has pre-marital relations? You should be ashamed of yourself!" Anne began to sob and Billy moved towards her, but was stopped by his father.
"Let me go! Anne!" Mr. Andrews dragged him to their carriage.
"No! No more! This ends now! You and Anne will no longer see each other. I'm sorry, but you brought this on yourself!" Marilla and Matthew watched as the Andrews rode away, still hearing Billy's cries of outrage and Anne's quiet sobs.
"Now, Anne. I think you've been through enough for the night. Go on inside and get your bath. Straight to bed." Matthew said in his gentle voice. She gave him a hug then turned to Marilla. The older woman looked away, not speaking to Anne. And as she trudged up the staircase to her room, Anne felt as though her whole world had just ended.
Thanks! I'll be back in a few weeks!