CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER NINE
Gilbert had been planning their day together all day yesterday. He was excited to be able to surprise her with what he had planned.Anne had the wildest imagination of anyone he knew, so he was sure she'd be able to guess what they would be doing if she tried, so he decided the best way to surprise her was to do more than one thing. That way she'd have a harder time guessing AND he'd get to spend more time with her.
Gilbert ran into the kitchen where Bash was feeding his baby. "What do you think about this shirt?" He asked him, holding his arms out so that Bash could get a good look at it.
"why does this feel so familiar?" Bash laughed, "oh yes, I recall the last time you were this nervous. When you were on your way to meet Winifreds parents." Bash laughed for a good minute while Gilbert rolled his eyes at him. He remembered that day all too well.
"This is different." He told him, " With Winifred I was only nervous because I felt I had to make an impression on her parents. but even then I wasn't thinking about marriage. But with Anne…" he paused, trying to find the right words to express what he felt with her. "Well I think about marriage every time I look...or even think about her."
Bash stared at Gilbert for a good while. "Wow, Blythe." He said, " You've got it bad."
"Will you just help me out, Bash?" He begged. Just then Hazel walked in.
"Looking good, Mr Blythe." She told him as she walked in, Then stopped halfway in. "I mean Gilbert," She corrected herself, "You look good, Gilbert."
"Thank you." Gilbert said, smiling at her, "At least someone is able to offer up a compliment in this house."
"That's not fair." Bash complained, "My mother would tell you you looked good if you were covered in filth and wearing a corset over your clothes."
Hazel glared at him as she took the baby away from him to have her cleaned. "He didn't mean that, sir." She told him, "I mean Gilbert. You wouldn't…I mean, I truly do think that... I would never-"
"It's alright, Hazel." He assured her. "I know he was only jesting." He was glad Hazel was trying harder to remember that she didn't need to call him sir or address him by his last name, But he could tell she still seemed a little uncomfortable around him. But he figured it would probably take time for her to fully let her guard down around him. "Baby steps," He thought.
Hazel took a breath to steady herself, "Would you like me to have your shirt pressed before you leave?" She offered him.
"Oh that's alright, I should probably go before I'm late." He told her, even though he was actually quite early. He was just overly excited to meet Anne.
Hazel nodded and left the room with the baby. Gilbert felt Sebashtian's eyes on him as he put on his coat and hat.
"Is there something you need to say before I leave?" He asked him, raising his eyebrows.
Sebastian sighed loudly as he got up and put a hand on Gilbert's shoulder, "Just don't go feeling the need to propose too soon," He told him, "Give her some time. She doesn't need a fiancee right now, she needs you to be there for her. "
Gilbert would be lying if he said he hadn't thought of proposing to her during the break. But he knew Bash was right. Anne needed Gilbert to be there for her right now, so he'd have to wait. Which he honestly didn't mind doing, He'd been waiting for Anne for the longest time, what's a few more months?
"Ok." Gilbert said, "I will."
.
.
.
Anne woke up later than usual that morning. She didn't feel that usual thrill she had when she first opened her eyes. The usual feeling of gladness just to be alive. Now that she thought about it, She didn't get it yesterday either. She was starting to feel less like Anne with an E, and more like just plain Anne.
Anne decided not to spend all her time on it and pulled herself out of bed. She left her hair in the messy braids she had on from the night before and pulled on her green dress, leaving her corset behind as she walked down the stairs.
"Good Morning, Anne." Marilla greeted her. "I'm afraid breakfast has gotten cold, but I've made your favorite."
Anne looked at the already set table. She noticed the spot where Matthew used to sit also had a plate and utensils there, as if Matthew was just working in the barn, and would walk through the back door at any moment. She also noticed that Marilla had made more than enough food for the both of them. In fact, it was enough food to feed three, not two.
Anne sat down without a word. Marilla was busy loading up her own plate to notice that ANne just stared at hers, lost in thought.
"I'm not hungry." Anne said, finally.
Marilla looked at her with pity. She knew Anne must be devastated, and it would probably take her longer than most for her to move on, so she decided not to push it.
"At least eat a little bread." She told her, " Didn't you say you were meeting Gilbert soon?"
Anne had completely forgotten about seeing Gilbert that day. Although she longed to spend time with him, she just wasn't feeling it today. She wondered if Gilbert might stop liking her, if he saw the way she was right now. She knew she wasn't her usual, happy, joyful, imaginative self, So if he saw the way she was right now, in this dreadful state, How could she be sure that he would still feel the same way? Even though she felt bad that he would be coming all this way, she concluded that the best thing to do was to apologize, and to tell him she's just not feeling well enough to go.
Anne decided to go back upstairs and at least redo her braids before Gilbert arrived. She sat next to the window as she did them, admiring the way the snow glittered in the light of the sun. She wondered how soon spring would come this year, since the sun already seemed to be shining brighter than it had been all winter. She couldn't wait to see the beautiful spring flowers again.
She was finishing her braids when she saw Gilbert approach the house on his horse. Gilbert saw her at the window, and waved at her. Anne smiled, recalling how she once described him as how he looked like he had 'galloped out of the pages of a novel.' And he really did have a splendid chin. He truly was the man of her dreams.
Anne raced down the stairs, forgetting all about sending him back. She stepped outside of her house, and watched as Gilbert stepped off his horse. Anne wondered how Gilbert managed to make something as little as dismounting a horse look so mind-blowingly attractive.
After tying his horse, Gilbert noticed Anne standing there watching him. They stared at each other for a moment, then both took off running towards each other at the same time. They pulled each other into a tight hug, both of them tightening their grip with every breath they took. Finally, Anne pulled her head off of his shoulders, with her arms still wrapped around his neck, and looked into his eyes. Something about looking into them made her lose all her thoughts. She stared at his lips, and felt her heart beat faster, the way it always did when she was with Gilbert.
Suddenly, Anne pulled her arms back to her side, and pulled her eyes away from his. She awkwardly took two steps away from him and forced a smile on her face.
"Thank you," She said,breaking the silence, "For coming. It's really good to see you."
Gilbert chuckled nervously, "Likewise," He replied, "But Anne, aren't you cold?"
Anne then realized that she hadn't grabbed her coat before she came outside. She also realized that she was, in fact, very cold. She wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed, in an attempt to retain some heat. "If you'll excuse me, I'll just head inside and grab my coat." She replied nervously before turning around to head back into Green Gables.
"Wait," He called after her, causing her to turn around slowly. She then realized he had been holding a brown paper bag with a beautiful red bow on it. He held it out to her saying, "Maybe these will help."
Anne smiled and fished out a long, fuzzy, black and red scarf and two matching mittens out of the bag. "I didn't really have time to buy anything," He explained, "But Bash had been teaching me how to knit. I'm sorry if I did it wrong since it was my first attempt."
Anne's smile grew. She loved how Gilbert had spent time to do something like this for her. Even with her wild imagination, she never would've imagined someone would be so thoughtful to her before. Before, she would've kept her distance from Gilbert, not wanting to be attached to something if it was all going to just go away, But now something felt different. Something told her that this was here to stay. It made her want to kiss him senseless. It made her want to show him how much she appreciated his gift AND him. But she just...couldn't.
"Thank you, Gilbert." She said, still staring at her gifts, "They're lovely."
"You're welcome." He replied, "While I hope they do actually keep you warm, as a doctor-in-training, I must advise you to get a coat before we leave. I can't have you getting sick on my watch."
Anne laughed a little at his joke, then stared at him a little more before turning around to head towards the house. She stopped suddenly, and turned around and went on the very tips of her toes, in order to lay a small kiss on his cheek.
"I'll be right back." She told him.
.
.
.
Josie Pye did not expect to see Billy there, leaning on a tree, waiting for her to appear on her evening walk. She considered turning right around and heading home before he saw her, But decided that she wasn't going to change her life just because of one boy. Even if it was an extremely annoying one. No. She was going to enjoy her walk no matter what.
Josie walked briskly ahead of him, with her eyes fixed forward, without giving him so much as a small glance. Billy quickly stood up at the sight of her and took his place walking by her side.
"Thought I'd escort you on your walk," Billy said, "For old times sake."
Josie cringed. She had been trying to forget how she shamelessly pretended to trip,just so that he would touch her arm. She still refused to look at him, and picked up her pace. Billy did the same.
"You look lovely today." He told her. "And you smell divine as always."
Josie thought about ignoring him, in fact, she almost did just that. But if there was ANY way to win Josie's heart, it was compliments. She worked very hard on her appearance, and liked it when people actually acknowledged it. Besides, just because Billy was a sick, rude, and twisted man, didn't mean she had to stoop to his level. It was only proper to return the compliment.
"Thank you, You don't look nearly as horrifying as you did yesterday," was the best she could come up with.
Billy laughed. " Close enough." He said, shrugging, "I assume it is still too soon to hold your arm as we walk?"
Billy noticed Josie subconsciously tightened her grip around her own hand and distanced herself away from him as he said that.
"That's all right." He assured her, "Baby steps."
Josie smiled at him, but then quickly replaced it with a frown and a hard stare. "Are you ever going to leave me alone?" She asked him.
Billy thought for a moment, and took advantage of her finally giving him some eye contact. He stared at her eyes intently, making Josie somewhat afraid. "Not a chance." He replied, giving her a soft smile.
.
.
.
Anne was running around Green Gables, in search of her coat.
"Marilla!" She called from upstairs, "Have you seen my coat? Gilbert is waiting for me outside!"
Marilla walked into her room, carrying her coat in her arms. Anne sighed in relief and quickly snatched it from her hands.
"Oh Anne, How could you leave Gilbert out there waiting for you?" Marilla sighed, " He must be rightly near frozen out there! The least you could've done is invite him in."
Anne's eyes widened. How could she forget to invite him in?! It was those darn eyes! They were so brilliantly skilled at making her lose all common sense. But then again, If she had invited him in, she would have had to offer him tea, and they'd have to stay there and start some small talk, and was too excited to do all of that anyway. All she wanted to do was go out and spend the day with Gilbert.
"I didn't forget, Marilla." She said as she put on her jacket, "We're just…. in a hurry is all." which was only half true. She was the one in a hurry.
Marilla smiled at her, "Nevertheless," She began, "I must admit it does bring me joy to see you excited for something."
Anne slowed down significantly after hearing those words. Something just felt wrong to her, But she didn't understand what.
"I'll be off then." Marilla said heading out of the room, "Be sure to say hello to Gilbert for me!"
"Bye…" She said, still lost in thought
Authors note: so I was going to include how Gilbert and Anne's date went in this chapter, but since the chapter was already pretty long, I cut it short... sorry
:((
But make sure to follow the story to see what happens next!! And pls leave a review!!