"David, I ran you a bath, you need to get in the bath, you're a sight to be seen and I want it fixed." There was again no response. "David?!"
"Yes!" he called looking down again at the video game in his hand.
Marilla shook her head before she turned to Anne. "What were you saying?" she asked her.
"Irving, do you recognise the name?" she asked Marilla.
"If memory serves me correct the Irvings used to live just on the outskirts of Avonlea. Some called them proud but their son Stephen was always polite, opening doors for the ladies even as folk a good twenty years older than him." Marilla sighed. "David!" she tried again.
"And he dated a cheerleader in high school?" Anne asked.
"I don't know the ins and outs of a boy twenty-five years younger than me, do I?" she commented to Anne.
"No, I don't suppose you do." Anne sighed.
"He didn't stay around after his class graduated, he disappeared." Mrs Lynde commented.
"And his girlfriend?" she questioned. "Angela Thompson?".
"I don't know Anne, I think if I'm right she dropped out of college Freshman year came back and lived with her parents for a couple of years, they all moved away years ago." Marilla shrugged. "David!" Marilla called.
"I'm going!" he called.
"And the Irvings?" Anne asked.
"They owned the big house on Pontop Hill, they rented it for years, I know they moved back over the summer, their son I think has a small flat on Westside Street." Mrs Lynde said knowingly. "So that must be his brother he lets sleep over in the flat with him." Mrs Lynde said with a satisfactory nod.
Anne controlled her face all she could. Mr Irving did say it was delicate and not everyone knew Paul was his son, many (logically) concluded the boy was his brother not his son.
"David!" Marilla said finally exasperated. "Get off that computer game now!" She commanded. "March up those stairs and get in that bath!"
This time Davy did as he was commanded. Coming through the kitchen and marching up the stairs. "I'll be up to wash behind your ears in a moment." She told David as he walked past.
"Why are you so interested?" Mrs Lynde asked her.
"Mr Irving is our English teacher that's all." Anne admitted.
"Well he was a smart lad from what our Michael told me from school." Mrs Lynde informed her as Marilla left the kitchen and went upstairs after David "You ought to be well educated if that's your concern."
Anne sighed. It really wasn't her concern but she was happy to let Mrs Lynde think that.
For some reason, she was particularly protective over Paul Mr Irving and Miss Lewis.
Her thoughts were interrupted with a screech from the direction of the bathroom then an up roaring of laughter from Marilla. So, confused were both Anne and Mrs Lynde that they went to the upstairs family bathroom to find out what the cause was of such a rumpus.
Anne was right behind Mrs Lynde when she arrived at the door and wondered what would cause Mrs Lynde to gasp as she did followed by a "David Keith!"
Anne looked in the bathroom to find David stood as directed in the bath tub head to toe in the exact clothes he wore downstairs, Anne covered her mouth trying to refrain from the giggle which was gurgling in her throat.
"You told me Marilla you said!" David exclaimed looking innocently at the three women.
"David Keith use your common-sense boy you must know Marilla meant to take your clothes off first!"
"But that's not what she said!" David tried.
"Its true," Anne said with a smile to Marilla "you said 'March up those stairs and get in that bath!'" to which Marilla was finally back on the edge of laughing "he didn't defer from his instructions one bit." Anne said with a laugh at the end.
"I suppose there's that."
Mrs Lynde rolled her eyes "The both of you there's something wrong with you!"
"Do you think Gilbert will see us Anne?" David asked Anne in excitement as they lined for the snacks for the football game.
"I rather hoped he would be paying attention to the football game David." Anne said with a smile.
"And Gilbert is a Quarterback right?" Davy said "and don't call me David it makes you sound like my mother. Its Davy."
"Gil is a quarterback." Anne said with a shake of the head. "Davy."
"Ah, quarterbacks are the best, they keep the ball Paul you know. And Anne wears Gilbert jacket, even though they aren't girlfriend and boyfriend, I can't imagine why she keeps wearing it if they aren't" Davy continued making Anne blush slightly. "Anyway the quarterbacks they get to call the snap count for the ball to enter play. Once the ball is in play, they get to have the ball off the running backs, and they scout the field for someone to throw the ball to! They zig and zag! I'm too late to get on the team this year but coach has been on reserve, and then next year I'm going to be on the team like Gilbert." Paul looked at Davy a little sceptically "Do you like football?" he asked him.
"This is my first game." Paul said. "Dad and I sometimes watch games on TV, but not very often, I don't understand it all." He opening admitted.
"Oh frack! No way!" Davy said. He shook his head and his arm around Paul's shoulder in a manly hug "Its just as well you got me then isn't it?" he said to Paul.
"Large popcorn three drinks and hot dogs please?" Anne asked at the counter.
When snacks were bought the three headed for the door into the stalls Paul while still listening to Davy talking about football walked in front of Anne and held the door open for her. Anne smiled and said "well thank you Paul, how very gentlemanly of you." She said.
There was an audible sigh from behind them Anne turned and looked at Davy. "Is being a gentleman important?" He asked her.
"Well yes!" Anne laughed. "Of course, it is Davy." She said honestly. "You wouldn't want to be a mean man, would you?" she asked him.
"Not mean!" he exclaimed. "Just I want to be a man's man." He said. "Like Gilbert." He said as they found their seats.
"Gilbert's a man's man." Anne observed "And he's a gentleman."
"And he plays football!" Davy exclaimed watching as the football team came on field.
The players lined up for the national anthem then as soon as it played the cheering started.
"Ay-Ay-Av-on-lea!" The cheerleaders started. "Ay-Ay-Av-on-lea!" the crowd followed. "Aaaaaayyyyyeeee!"
Anne looked over at Gilbert as the band played 'Shake it off' the cheerleaders danced along warming up the crowd, Gilbert looked to Anne and gave her a quick wink with a grin of his own and a playful eyebrow, he looked at the very loosely boned Davy on one side of Anne literally shaking it off and on the other side of Anne the complete opposite Paul who stood almost stiffly.
Gilbert's furrowed eyebrow while looking at Paul made Anne look his way. "Paul?" she asked him.
"Is it okay?" Paul asked her. "to dance?" he continued. "here?"
Anne nodded and took him by his hands dancing with him in the isle.
After the game the four of them got into Gilbert's Mini and went for fast food. Gilbert and Davy had gone for the food Anne and Paul found the seats.
"Anne?" he asked.
"Yeah?" Anne asked as they sat down.
"Is this what it would be like to have a mom and a dad?" he asked her.
"Um…" Anne trailed. "Actually…" she said quietly "I don't remember much about having a mom or a dad." She admitted.
"Oh." Paul said his shoulders going down in disappointment.
"You could ask Gilbert, he has both his mom and dad still." Anne suggested.
"Oh Anne!" Davy bounced to them. "I was just telling Gilbert the game was awesome!"
"It was." Paul agreed.
"Did you enjoy it?" Gilbert asked Paul directly.
"I don't get to go to football games very much, dad works hard and we didn't always have the mon- I mean they chance to go."
"Well football in middle school and high school are just perfect that that sort of thing." Gilbert said with a smile.
"Maybe I could ask your dad if you could come with us to every game?" Anne offered. "And you too Davy."
"Awww that'd be so cool!" Davy said his hand flying out beside him.
"Do you think he'll say yes?" Paul asked Anne.
"I think there's every chance he might even come to some of the games." Anne smiled.
Gilbert dropped off first Paul then stopped the car outside of Green Gables. "Thanks for tonight Gilbert." Davy said as he bounced out the car and ran into the house to avoid the rain.
"Here." Anne said attempting to take off the jacket. "This belongs to you." She said to him.
"Oh no, keep it, its pouring rain out there!" Gilbert objected.
"People think it makes me your girl." Anne counterargued.
"Really? I thought it was the fact we did everything together." Gilbert said with a grin.
"I'm being serious!" Anne objected.
"So am I." Gilbert said. "and people always find a way of gossiping, personally I'm just glad people don't expect me to be with Josie Pye anymore."
"So you'd rather be expected to be with me then her."
"Hey when it comes to expected girlfriends I'd rather you any day then Josie Pye!" he said with a chuckle.
"Me too." Anne laughed.
"You'd rather me then Josie?" he said with a confused look. "Not your type?" he asked.
"Not my gender." She said to him with a shake of the head. "and that would actually be the last of the problems I would have with her."
"See she is my kind of gender and that's where my problems start." He laughed. At this they both burst into laughter before Gilbert took a breath and said to her "You see, we're kindred spirits remember? It doesn't matter what other people think." He said.
Her smile faded on her lips and she whispered "Are you sure?"
He nodded before she put the jacket back on and put the hood over her head. "Thanks." She whispered. She got out the car and shut the door behind her before she ran for the veranda.
"One-day Anne." He whispered to himself. "Would it be so bad if we ended up together?" he asked the empty space, when she got to the veranda she turned and waved at him to which he waved back and started the engine. He took a deep sigh and looked over his shoulder to reverse "Well done Blythe," he reprimanded himself "aim for the impossible again!"
"So as you all know the time for the Christmas dance is now approaching and the student council and the dance committee have agreed on Hardwick House for the dance." Josie said addressing the student council. "The room there is amazing and they even have their own in-house decorations." Josie continued with a smile "which they've agreed to throw in for free." She took a sigh "some are a little, old to say the least…" she trailed.
"How about vintage?" Gilbert said with a smile to her.
"Right… vintage." She nodded. "but Anne came with me to check it out and she said it was totally workable with the theme." She said proudly. "We were thinking like a 'Frozen' theme but way more grown up, like icicles and such like." She said with a smile.
"We called it Freeze Out." Anne said.
"Tickets are ten dollars and proceeds go towards either Prom or some music for the school band." Josie informed the group.
"How's is fundraising for the band going Josie?" Charlie chirped up.
"Actually not half bad, and Gilbert was right when he said the crowds really respond well to the live music, more support more banners, and most importantly when we're standing in our uniforms and the buckets for the sheet music for the band people are donating we're coming away with heavy buckets." She smiled as she said "Did you know they already had the sheet music for James Bond!" she said with a smile.
"You like James Bond?" Anne asked her.
"I mean who wouldn't, Tall rugged handsome," she said seemingly gazing opposite her in Charlie's direction "and hello Daniel Craig, is a total babe."
Really?" Anne asked. "I prefer Roger Moore." She commented.
"Who?" Josie asked.
Anne giggled slightly shaking her head.
"Anyway," Gilbert said with the smile. "Josie and the dance committee have really work tirelessly on planning this dance, I look forward to seeing the final outcome." He said with a smile. "Is there any other business?" Gilbert asked when no one responded. "Alright, meeting adjourned until next week, I'll expect to see those tickets printed and ready to go." He said.
The student council dispersed into smaller groups and Gilbert turned to Anne. "That went well." He admitted. "Looking forward to the dance?" he asked Anne.
"Oh sure, a third wheel to Diana and Fred really is my scene." She said rolling her eyes.
"Maybe you'll get lucky…" Gilbert joked "maybe Charlie will ask you again." He said with a chuckle.
"Nooo, not Charlie." Anne said looking at him seriously.
"Oh?" Gilbert asked her.
"You don't know?" Anne asked him.
"Know what?" Gilbert asked.
"Charlie is going with Josie, he asked her weeks ago."
Gilbert's jaw dropped and looked at her amazed "No!" he said in shock. "You can't be serious."
"I am!" Anne said. "Haven't you noticed?" she asked him. "They've been flirting all year."
Gilbert was silent for a moment as he gathered his thought before he said to Anne "Well come with me?" he asked Anne.
"Sorry?" Anne said looking at him.
"Yes come with me, perfect solution, we'll have someone else to hang out with we'll have fun?" he offered.
"As friends?" She asked again as if it weren't clear in his asking.
"Partner in crime." He said with a smile.
"Okay." She agreed.
"Okay then." Gilbert agreed. "Oh and your wrong." He said to her.
"Oh?" she questioned.
"Sean Connery is a way better Bond then Dalton." He said with a smile.
"No way!" Anne disagreed.
"Yes!" he proclaimed. "Bond marathon?" he challenged her "state your argument." He said.
"That's over fifty hours!" Anne exclaimed.
"Oh fine then," he said "be wrong." He said with a cheeky smile.
She shook her head in fake outrage "You know which buttons to press!" she exclaimed poking him in the ribs.
"Me, you a TV and a chill out week."
"You're on!" she said "But we better get some studying done then too. Unless you aren't serious about the Avery?" she challenged him.
"Count me in Shirley!"