"Are you ready Anne?" Called Diana from the other room. "Almost! Give me a few more minutes!" She called back. "Hurry! The party starts in 10 minutes and it takes almost that long to get to Gilbert's! We don't want to be late!" It was December 1st and Gilbert Blythe was holding a Christmas party at his place. Since Bash, Hazel, and Dellie were in Charlottetown Christmas shopping, it was just the kids from school. Anne was only going because Diana had told her that she was going to a Christmas party and she should come too. She never specified who's Christmas party it was.
They took Diana's car because Anne's was in the shop for an oil change. "You look nice for all its worth Anne. I know you didn't really want to go, but thank you for going anyway." Said Diana, after a few minutes of unbearable silence. "Thanks. You look nice too." Anne said, rather begrudgingly. "Oh come on Anne. You can't hate me for all eternity for making you go to one party in high school." She added, trying to lighten up the mood. After another failed attempt Diana sighed and put on Riptide by Vance Joy. "She really does know me." Thought Anne. This was her favorite song from when they were kids. Anne started humming and Diana let out a quick smile of relief. By the time they pulled into the Blythe driveway, they were both singing at the top of their lungs and laughing the way only best friends could. "You ready?" Asked Diana. "As I'll ever be." Replied Anne with a sharp exhale. "Come on I see Ruby practically flailing her arms at us." She added with a giggle.
Once inside they were greeted by everyone with some hugs and "let's get this party started!" Someone turned up the music and everyone started dancing and laughing. Anne, a little ashamed to be here, left Diana to party with Ruby and the rest of the school girls about ten minutes in. She found the punch bowl, grabbed herself a cup, and headed to the least crowded spot she could find, which was the hallway steps. "Hello Anne. Enjoying the party I take it?" Asked a familiar sweet voice coming from the doorway. "Hey Gilbert." She replied. "You could say such." Gilbert gave one of his halfhearted laughs. "So, how are Marilla and Matthew?" He asked. "Their fine. Jerry is the one I'm worried most about. He's out in there all day and it's so cold. I just hope he doesn't get frostbite." "Does he wear hat, gloves, all the such?" "Oh yes. Marilla wouldn't let him out of the house if he didn't." She said with a small giggle. "He should be fine then. Just make sure he comes in for a break every hour or so. Doctors orders." He added with a grin.
"Do you want to go with the rest of the party?" He went up and held his hand out to her. Just like at dance practice. It made her heart flutter. "Coming, Carrots?" She took his hand and walked into the living room, where everyone else was. She dropped his hand before they walked in. Gilbert felt his heart sink.
They stepped in the door at the same time. All of the sudden they hear, "Anne and Gilbert are under the mistletoe!" They both look up and sure enough, there is a mistletoe hanging on the doorframe. They locked eyes. She stared at him, eyes wide, mouth open. Everyone around them was chanting "Kiss. Kiss. Kiss. Kiss." Over and over again. Anne didn't know what to do. Everyone was chanting and Gilbert didn't even look worried. He looked kind of shocked. Like he didn't know what to do. Those words were echoing in her brain. Mistletoe. Should she kiss him or should she wait for him to kiss her? Before she could get a word out, she was staring into his hazel eyes. He looked longingly at her, and that's all it took.
She kissed him right then and there. It was just a little kiss. Everyone looked in awe at what just happened. Drunk or not, every single person in the Blythe-Lacroix house in that moment, knew Anne Shirley-Cuthbert had just kissed Gilbert Blythe. Even Gilbert himself looked stunned. "Twenty loonies says he does it back." Whispered Charlie to Moody.
Anne and Gilbert walked out onto the back steps of his home. Anne Shirley-Cuthbert had just kissed him! He was elated, a little embarrassed from something he didn't know, but mostly elated. "Here." She awkwardly handed him a piece of folded paper. "It can't be." He thought. "I've asked for years and finally gave up on it." He opened the slip and saw a 10- digit number. He looked at her. She blushed. He felt like he could explode from happiness. He got out his phone and quickly punched in the number. As he was tucking it back into his pocket she said something. "Gilbert, if I startled you I'm sorry." "Carrots don't be sorry for anything." Was his reply.
"It's getting late, I better drive you two home. I saw Billy spike the punch." He said after some silence. "Oh no Gilbert you don't have to. We can just walk it's not that far. Diana is staying with me tonight anyway." "No Anne. It's December and really cold and I'm not letting you two walk all the way to Green Gables and honestly we shouldn't even be out here." He added the last bit with a huff. He didn't want to say it because he loved spending time with Anne. But it was late and quite cold.
"It's nearly eleven and I promised Marilla we would be back by then. I'll go get Diana." She went inside and saw everyone quickly backing away from the window and pretending like nothing happened. She rolled her eyes. "Everyone in this town is turning into Rachel Lynde." She muttered under her breath. She found Diana by the Christmas tree, told her that they were leaving and bid goodbye to Ruby. They met Gilbert in his car. Diana hopped in the backseat so she took passenger.
When they got to Green Gables, Anne and Diana got out of the car and headed inside. Before Anne could get inside though, Gilbert had caught up to her. They weren't quite to the porch, but you could clearly see them if you looked outside. "You look nice Anne. I don't think I told you that at the party." He told her in a soft tone of voice. She was glad it was nighttime because she thought her face must have been as red as her hair. "Th-thank you." She finally managed to stammer. "Carrots, did you really like me in that way?"
A drunken Diana made her way up to Anne's room. She threw her heels on the bed and looked out the window. "What is taking her so long?" She thought. She gasped, frantically grabbing her phone, and quickly snapped a picture before the moment was over. There was just enough light from the porch that you could just see it.
Diana Barry (11:15): *one image*
Diana Barry (11:15): Looks like you owe Charlie twenty loonies Mr. Spurgueon!