Chapter 1 - A lovely box, a lovely boy

Summary:

All you needed to play this game was a pretty box, and a pretty boy, nothing more, nothing less... They never imagined that they would be playing it for years, and when they became adults, the consequences would take a whole new turn.

Eight-year-old Anne is the orphan girl that everyone teases. Gilbert is the little boy that comes to her rescue. He, too, is an outcast of sorts, struggling to cope with the loss of his dying father. Together, they invent an outrageous game of "Dare" to keep their spirits alive. Their game becomes a glorious mutual addiction. It binds them together as it tears them apart. As their feelings for each other grow through childhood into adulthood, each must decide if they are willing to finally acknowledge their love for each other. But can they ever stop playing the game?

On this winter day of 1899, Anne was turning 16 years old, and she knew that she had only a few months before leaving the village of Avonlea to study at Queens College in Charlottetown. A new chapter in her life was opening up. But that wasn't what she was most concerned about.

She was sitting on the bed in her room, anxious. She was waiting for something to happen, it should have occurred already, what was he doing?

The thing, or rather the object of her concern, was a box, yes, a simple metal box, cylindrical in the shape of a carousel, it was also painted in beautiful bright colors.

She had earned this box many years ago, when she was still a child of 8 years old, and had just arrived in this village one summer. She was then seen as a simple orphan by everyone, except her friend Diana who had become her kindred spirit quite quickly.

The Cuthberts, her adoptive family, of course had accepted her, Matthew was the most gentle and kind of adoptive father, and Marilla, his sister, was strict at first, but she had turned out to be caring and the most affectionate of women.

The first few weeks after arriving in Avonlea, the new family went to the fair that took place on the coast facing the ocean. Anne had no idea that this day she would make a decisive encounter that would change her life forever. She was far from suspecting that this other child she was going to meet would incite her to break a lot of rules, and would scandalize the crowds.

This afternoon, the young redhead stood near a Tin Can Alley Game, she looked at the prizes to be won with envy, but Matthew had been kind enough to offer her a coin to buy what she wanted. So now she was about to get what she wished for, she hoped with all her heart to knock over all the cans to win one of the prizes. In fact, she had already chosen it, it was this lovely metal box in the shape of a carousel.

As she threw the ball, she closed her eyes and prayed with all her heart that she would make it.

Unfortunately, praying wasn't enough, and even after the third time, she failed. Anne was in the depths of despair, how could she win her box? It was over, she had no more change, and she had used up all her chances.

When, suddenly a voice called out, "Hey, could you use some help?"

Anne turned around, and saw a young boy with small brown curls, he had a smirk on his face and looked quite confident, he was also a bit older, he was about 10 years old.

"I don't need anyone's help.", retorted the young redhead in a terse tone.

"Fine.", made the young man while approaching the Tin Can Alley Game. He then hastened to give a coin to the showman.

The girl couldn't believe it, he was going to win one of those prizes, even worse, what if he chose the prize she was after?

He threw his ball, and with the first shot, all the cans had fallen. As soon as he did, he turned to Anne and gave her a big smile.

The redhead was beside herself, how dare he make fun of her?

"I'll take that box there, the one that looks like a carousel.", said the young boy to the showman.

This time it was enough, he had done it on purpose. She had only one desire at this very moment, it was that the young man was the target of the Tin Can Alley Game. And for sure, she would have won her prize thus.

"Oh, you wanted this prize, didn't you?", here I give it to you, he handed the box to Anne, then he hesitated for a moment and took back his box, " well, it's yours if you dare to drop all these boxes. "

This young boy was obviously not scared of anything, he didn't know her, yet he was so familiar with her, and on top of that he thought she couldn't succeed.

But if she had known that day, if she had known that this first challenge would be the easiest of all, and if she had known all the complications involved in accepting it.

"I dare.", She concentrated as much as she could, she imagined the face of this boy, although she had just met him, she had already memorized him very well. She focused on the cans at the bottom of the pyramid, she had noticed the trick of this one. She succeeded, all the cans fell.

It was her turn to look back at him, she gave him the biggest smile, "So, I think I've won this box now?"

The dark-haired boy handed her the famous box, "You've earned it.", he smiled at her, "But, I could get it back if you challenge me to do something, anything."

Anne frowned, confused, "Why would I want to do that?"

"I told you, you can ask me for any challenge. And if I succeed, it's my turn to give you a new one."

The girl put her hand on her chin, then thought, "I have absolutely nothing to ask you. I'd rather keep my box.", then she turned on her heels and walked away proudly with her box under her arms.

But that didn't stop the young man from exclaiming even after she had turned her back, "By the way, I'm Gilbert! And you?"

Anne, who was too proud, didn't answer anything, but she did remember the boy's name. And weeks later, when she had to start school, she was surprised to meet Gilbert.

After weeks of ignoring the young boy at school, what was supposed to happen, did happen. Just as the redhead was leaving school, and on her way to Green Gables, she saw Gilbert leaning against a fence talking to Josie Pye, or the biggest pest in Avonlea.

She pretended to ignore them, and walked past them with her head raised high. However, Josie had no intention of losing this opportunity, "So monsters have the right to feel superior to others? ", she asked laughing while looking at Gilbert.

The dark-haired boy didn't know what to say at the moment, he just looked disapprovingly.

"Oh, I'm talking to you, the trash that nobody wants. ", this time she looked at Anne.

The young redhead stopped in her walk then slowly turned around, "I've got better things to do than talk to you. "

"And like what? Seeing your old folks who serve as your family? "

Again Anne answered, her tone was more confident than ever, she didn't want to show Josie that what she was saying affect her, and she also wanted to show Gilbert that she didn't let it, "I'm sure watching the void for the rest of my life, would be more interesting than talking to you."

Gilbert couldn't hold back a smile.

"In the meantime, you're the one walking alone, but who would want to walk with a piece of trash?" Josie retorted with a sneer.

"You see, I was going to ask Gilbert to accompany me. Dare you, Gilbert?", She asked him, with a slight inner anguish, she was afraid that he would finally decline her request, and that he had forgotten this dare thing.

"I dare.", he smiled and stepped down from the fence to join the young redhead.

Josie swallowed, she could not believe it. How could Gilbert Blythe agree to accompany her, this orphan...? He was probably the cutest boy in the school, or even in Avonlea, so it was unacceptable to her that this kind of thing was happening. No, the most charming boy couldn't walk with the most insignificant girl in Avonlea.

When Anne happily went back to Gilbert's side, she didn't know that this game, this simple child's game she had just accepted, would keep her hooked for years. She had no idea that it would take a different turn on her 16th birthday.