Anne showed up for school like normal on a beautiful Spring morning. She saw everyone gathered round the take notice board and ran over to see what all the fuss was about. A big new notice right in the middle of the board read:

Class parlour games in the cloakroom today after school. Everyone must attend and everyone must be with a partner. No exceptions. Has to be boy girl. Sign your name below with the person you choose to attend with:

Josie Billy

Moody Ruby

Tillie Paul

Jane can't come she has to go to Charlottetown

Margret Frank

Anne was horrified at this. The only people left shat she thought would be forced to attend was herself, Charlie, Diana and Gilbert. She would be stuck with Charlie Sloane. She felt bad for Diana being forced to go with Gilbert when she knew that she would rather have gone with Moody. The notice was anonymous but it was clear Josie had something to do with it. Probably just another excuse for her to kiss Billy. She sighed and entered the school house. Gilbert was the only one inside and he got up when she came in.

"Anne, can I speak with you?" Gilbert asked her. Anne nodded thinking nothing of it and walked with him to somewhere private.

"Have you seen the notice?" He asked her.

"The one about the couple thing? I have yes! I just know I'll be stuck with Charlie I'm dreading the thought. Anyway what did you want to say?" She answered.

Gilbert looked nervous, he spoke again,"Anne would you mind attending with me. Not in a romantic way, of course, but I don't want to go with someone I am not friends with. You can say no, I just want to go with someone who I know already and not practically a stranger."

Anne looked shocked, Gilbert wanted to go with her?"Uh, I..."

Gilbert's face fell, he smiled fakely," That's fine I get it! Let's go back now, forget I ever said anything it was stupid."

"No Gilbert! I would like to go with you, I really don't want to go with Charlie and would prefer to go with a friend. Not in a romantic way, of course." Anne said quickly.

Gilbert smiled, "Thanks, Diana is nice I just don't want to..."

Anne interrupted," I get it, yeah."

Her eyes fell into his, trapped in his glare. They held the eye contact for a minute, both unable to say a word. Gilbert fell back to reality, he shook his head. "Great, I'll see you then!"

They both walked back to the main room. Neither Anne nor Gilbert wrote their names on the board, so Charlie took it upon himself to write himself with Anne. Anne noticed and crossed their names out, mentioning to Charlie the change in plan. Charlie seemed fine about it. He, in fact, seemed happy to go with Diana. Still, no one wrote anymore couple lists so there was a buz round the class too see who would go with who. Anne and gilbert remained silent, doing schoolwork. In Anne's head though, she was mentally dying. What would require couples? What would she have to do with Gilbert? Would their friendship be ruined? Try as she might, she couldn't focus. The end of the school day came all too quickly. Everyone was crammed into the room. When they were all sat,people looked around to acknowledge all the couples.

Everyone had anticipated Charlie and Anne so when Anne and Gilbert were sat together there was a lot of fuss. Anne and Gilbert remained silent, dreading anything that would happen next. Josie finally spoke aloud.

"We are playing couple truth and dare," she said, putting a bottle in the middle of the circle,"Whoever the bottle lands on, you have to give a truth or dare. Make it fun."

Anne relaxed a bit, truth and dare wasn't so bad.

"Who is going first?" Josie said, "let's seeee, Diana and Charlie. Spin."

Diana gulped as she placed her hand on the bottle. Charlie did the same. It spun round. It began to slow down. It drew to a close on Ruby and moody.

"Truth or dare?" Asked Diana, pondering what she could do for each option.

Ruby looked at Moody and nodded," truth."

Diana and Charlie talked for a moment, discussing options. Charlie spoke finally, "Do you want to court?"

Diana winced a little at his question, although they had both come up with it she seemed it improper. Ruby looked knowingly at Moody. He nodded at her and smiled. "Yes? At some point... maybe." Ruby said nervously.

The class gasped and laughed with shock and delight. Ruby let herself smile as she grabbed the bottle and spun it round. Anne looked at it choosing it's prey carefully. It landed on Josie and billy. Josie smirked.

"Truth or dare?" Ruby asked.

Billy smirked at the circle before saying, "dare."

"Oooooh" echoed round the class.

"Okkkkkk." Ruby began, she talked with Moody for a minute before continuing, "We dare you to tell the hole class one thing you hate and love about each other!"

That was a simple dare, Anne thought. People were taking it easy.

"I hate Billy's sisters attitude," Josie began, making a dig at Jane who luckily was not there." And... I love his lips"

The class laughed in surprise. Gilbert looked startled and Anne looked in the dread.

"I hate Josie's friends and I love her face." Billy smirked, glaring stupidly at Anne.

Everyone was shocked at Billy's remark but their attentions turned to the bottle spinning round once more. It began to slow. Anne sucked in her breath. Oh no. It was her and Gilbert. Josie smiled to herself, hatching a plan.

"Truth..." Josie began.

"Or Dare." Billy finished.

Anne didn't consult Gilbert before speaking."Dare" she said bravely, yet without thinking. Gilbert was silently shocked at Anne's answer.

"Great!" Josie said, "kiss, on the mouth."

Anne's eyes widened in horror. Gilbert jumped. Was Josie really doing this? The class began to chant excitedly, "kiss, kiss, kiss." Before they knew it, Anne and Gilbert were face to face in the centre of the circle. "I'm so sorry." Anne whispered. Neither of them were getting any closer but the chant grew louder. Anne looked scared as did Gilbert, but he wouldn't show it. The class didn't get bored at the wait, it was the opposite. Gilbert stared into Anne's eyes. She nodded. Gilbert swept forward and kissed her. Anne jumped but relaxed after a moment. After around 5seconds, they pulled away.

Everyone's mouths dropped open, pure shock. The game carried on afterwards, but Gilbert and Anne left, they had a great deal on their minds.

"Mind if I walk you home?" Gilbert asked Anne.

Anne nodded but stayed silent. She couldn't help but wonder into her mind. Did she like Gilbert? Did Gilbert like her? Was that kiss just because of the game or was their feelings involved. When they were quite far say the path, Gilbert spoke to Anne.

"I had no idea the game would..."

"I know" Anne interrupted.

" Are we still friends? That didn't wreck anything did it?" Gilbert asked a little worriedly.

"We are, that was just the game, right?" Anne asked, inside she knew she had a crush on Gilbert. Her love would be unrequited though. She was shocked to see Gilbert shake his head.

"Anne, I wanted to kiss you. I have for ever. I don't except your favour, but I had to..." Gilbert started, deep in her gaze.

He was interrupted again, not by words this time but by her lips on his. Electricity struck them as the kiss grew in passion. Gilbert pulled Anne in closer, wrapping his arm round her waist. They stayed for a few seconds, not wanting to let go. When the kiss broke, it was replaced by smiling and talking. Anne wondered out loud, "If it hadn't been for Josie pye, we probably wouldn't be together!" She remarked.

Gilbert laughed." Some things are like that. A situation is deemed bad without life living through it, but the outcome is new and only anticipated."

Anne smiled at him. He spoke truth. They walked all the way back hand in hand. Required love was far better than unrequited love, Anne thought. She would have disagreed a year ago, but she knew much more now. She knew love.