Hi everyone!
Thank you so much for your reviews they do mean so much!
One of the things I really looked forward to doing when I knew I was going onto Anne and Gilbert being together sort of time in my modern day tale was bringing some of the characters which are normally ignored into the 21st century. Its part of the reason I had Roy in but as well, Leslie, Miss Cornelia, Davy and Dora (Although they aren't in a lot in this telling they are there and I find that true to the books anyway!) but as well, some of the characters we meet here! Because we don't have Anne in the ladies college in my modern day, well I've had to mix and match the characters across the later stories but I've done my best to keep them true to their own characters. And I like this chapter because we introduce two more!
The upload today is because if I didn't upload today right now, it wouldn't get done! I have a busy few days coming up!
love
Carrots x
Katherine Brooke sat in the desk she thought would be best. She was relatively near the front, she organised her pen, and papers in front of her, and took out her book to read her newly purchased book which was recommended in the university bookstore "Avonlea Vignettes" by Anne Shirley. She hadn't looked at the about the author section but had started it immediately, imagining her to be an older lady then herself (being almost 30) maybe a PHD in literature, Katherine smiled, she wanted to be published one day and hoped reading new authors would be insightful as to how get published. The book lay flat in front of her, her head down reading it.
She jumped in her seat as a redhead girl came into the room, the girls book clattering on the floor as she entered her feet apparently had tripped over the slight lip in the floor as she entered, but didn't half create a clattered. Katherine frowned at the girl, she barely looked old enough to be out of high school never mind on a masters program, no wonder she was so clumsily, probably some airhead thinking she knew everything.
"Sorry." The girl blushed at the other silent girl, the girl found a seat and with another clatter sat down. Katherine sighed heavily rolling her eyes at the interruption her head going back down into her book, within seconds the rest of the class started piling in and finally the Professor.
"Greetings everyone." The professor started "for those of you who don't know me I'm Professor Cooper," he said to his class "and this is Module 562: Creative Writing." He said as he walked around the room handing out papers "If you are in the wrong classroom leave now, if not then you will be graded from now on, your attendance, your attitude, your participation and of course your exam results." He said with a grin. "Although I think we already have one person at least who doesn't need to take this course." He said stopping at the redhead girls desk smiling at her.
Katherine was confused, 'how can she hold favour so well with a professor already?' she wondered before she thought cynically 'she's probably sleeping with him.'
"You can always learn more professor, inspiration comes from the most unlikely of places at times." The red head replied.
Katherine's heart dropped. 'she's right' she thought bitterly 'does she have to be right as well as well liked?' she wondered.
"Class, this is young lady..." the professor said making her stand "is an example to you all, recently published author..." he said with a smile which made Katherine's already disappointed heart turn bitter "Miss Anne Shirley." Katherine's eyes squinted at the girl hatefully, then at the book she had just purchased. She opened it to the last page to the about the author flap and there she was, it was her alright. She looked back at the author who had turned a shade of pink as the professor had continued t compliment her. Katherine looked again down at the book, Anne Shirley, 24, it read.
'Twenty four!' Katherine thought her heart racing with her inside storm. Angrily she swiped the book back into her bag, her arms crossed in front of her, she had a feeling she would hate this lecture.
Forty five minutes later Katherine swiped up her bag and left the room stormily. So angry was she that she bumped straight into a man. The contents of her bag scattering across the floor.
"Oh excuse me." He said to her politely going immediately to the floor with her to help her retrieve the contents of her bag. "I didn't see you." He told her.
She looked up to see a rather handsome man in front of her. He was over six foot in height, with a strong jawline, perfect chin and high cheekbones. She looked into his hazel eyes which told her he was genuine in his actions and words "no, it's okay." She said quietly "I wasn't looking where I was going." She admitted watching as a lock of his brown curly hair flopped onto his forehead, clearly used to it he swept it back.
"You have creative writing." He observed, "its a tough class, Professor Cooper doesn't make it easy."
"Oh you take creative writing?" she asked him.
"Well I took a module in my undergraduate days," he said with a grin which lit his face "first year actually, good times." He added, "though don't believe he made it easy on us just because we were freshman."
"I can well believe it." Katherine admitted.
He picked up Anne's book in his hands they stood up slowly with the same smile on his face "You have good taste." He remarked.
"What?" she questioned, to which they were interrupted by Anne herself.
"Hey." Anne smiled at him "Gil." They kissed briefly before Anne looked to Katherine. "Hey you were just in my class right?" she asked her, "I'm Anne."
Katherine's tried to stop her face from screwing as the scene in front of her unfolded. 'Typical' she thought, 'the tall dark handsome stranger had to be her boyfriend.' She knew she was being spiteful, but she didn't care, this Anne, seemed to have it all, 'is there a more loathsome person in the world to have all she ever desired?'
"I was just telling her she had excellent taste," Gilbert told Anne, as he handed Katherine back Anne's book "The same class as you and your book." Gilbert said with a smile.
"Its overrated." Anne said. "Sorry I didn't catch your name?" she questioned Katherine.
"Katherine." She said quietly.
Anne looked to the girl's folder and smiled "I like that you spell Katherine with a K." She said breezily. "I always thought Anne with a 'C' looked so smug." Anne told her.
"I knew C's we smug." Another voice interjected. This time it belonged to another male, a man with dark brown hair and dark grey eyes. As Gilbert saw him he reminded him of Royal Gardner, As Anne saw him she smiled lightly. "You must be Anne." The lad said, "another author in the midst of the class."
"Oh you've been published?" Anne asked him.
"I have." He admitted, "Sorry, this is no introduction. My name is Owen, Owen Ford." His arm going out for a handshake he started with Anne then moved to Gilbert who introduced himself then he turned to Katherine who likewise shook his hand. "So are we are literacy geeks here?" he asked.
"All but me." Gilbert admitted.
"He's at medical school, he's going to be a doctor." Anne gushed which made Katherine's eyes roll internally.
"A Doctor?" Owen asked "No kidding!"
"Speaking of which you're here?" Anne questioned him.
"I am, I'm meant to be in a study session for the next two hours with my study group but I took the test early and aced it so I thought I might come and see how your first lecture back was like." Gilbert smiled at her.
Owen smiled and said "Now that's romantic." Owen remarked. "Not unlike..." he trialed.
"Contemporary or classical?" Anne asked.
"Oh need you even ask?" Owen asked.
"Well I must admit a good Jane Austen has a bigger pull on me then a 50 Shades of Grey." Anne said with a smile.
"Have you read 50 shades of Grey?" Gilbert asked her with a chuckle.
"No!" Anne laughed rolling her eyes.
"Yeah," Owen smiled "I mean what is it with modern literature and having to make everything seem dirty." He said with a smile to her.
"I know." Anne said with a grin.
"But then they say sex sells." Gilbert added.
"Prostitution always has." Owen grinned.
"A guilty conscious Mr Ford?" Anne teased.
At this Katherine cut in "Excuse me." She said as she turned on her heel and left.
Unknown to her she left three bewildered people behind her.
"You know for a medical man you aren't half good at your literature." Owen said sitting back on their sofa.
"Well I'm a scholar more then anything else, people think because I want to be a doctor my only interest is in the sciences." Gilbert remarked as his arm went around Anne as they sat on the cuddle chair over from Owen.
"So your interests are? Literature..."
"Science, Hockey, the others slip while I'm at school." He admitted.
"And you obviously keep in shape." Owen remarked.
"I go running on a morning, most mornings and I love swimming, but that's about it now." Gilbert admitted.
"Oh is that all." Owen said sarcastically with a grin on his face.
With that there was a knock on the door. Anne looked around to it confused and she asked Gilbert "are you expecting someone?" she asked him, to which he shook his head as she crossed the floor opening the door. "Leslie!" she exclaimed surprised.
"I um, I just came to return your book." Leslie told her.
"Oh you finished already?" Anne asked. "Come in." She told her. "I'll get you another." Anne told her.
When Owen's eyes fell upon Leslie he leaped to his feet, his jaw dropped and his eyes widened. Gilbert looked first to Owen and then over to Leslie who had realised the attention she was drawing her cheeks flushed her head down biting her lip her hair partly hiding her face. He looked back to Owen who smiled shyly. Under any other circumstances he would be happy to see two people so instantly attracted to each other.
"Owen this is our friend Leslie Moore." Gilbert introduced them, "she lives in the building..." he said carefully watching as Owen crossed the room his hand out to meet her she took his hand and Gilbert's heart dropped as he could practically see the sparks. "...with her husband." He added regretfully.
"H-husband?" Owen asked.
Leslie swallowed and admitted quietly a yes.
"Now I know you're not into romantic novels, but I really think this one isn't really romantic." Anne said coming into the room completely unaware of the tension Owen's hand pulling back suddenly from Leslie's hand. Anne held the book in her hand then looked at Leslie then at Owen, then at Gilbert in confusion.
Leslie's eyes looked to Anne then to Owen then at Gilbert before she muttered something about not wanting the book after all, a mix of hurt and sadness on her face turning and leaving the door slamming behind her.
"Who was that beautiful creature?" Owen asked.
"That's Leslie," said Anne. "I can't believe you didn't introduce them Gil." She said looking at Gilbert confused.
"I did." Gilbert told her, "I introduced Owen to Mrs Moore." Gilbert retorted giving a sharp look to Owen then at the door, Anne was confused only for a moment before she realised what Gilbert was getting at.
"Oh." Anne said swallowing. "She is very lovely, isn't she?" Anne said sympathically to Owen.
"I—I never saw anything like her," he answered, rather dazedly. "I wasn't prepared—I didn't expect—good heavens, one DOESN'T expect a goddess to just walk in the door! Why, if she were clothed in a gown of sea-purple, with a rope of amethysts in her hair, she would be a veritable sea-queen!"
Anne look at Gilbert with an equally sad expression to Gilbert's earlier she turned to Owen and told him "You did hear the 'Mrs' part didn't you?" Anne asked him, where Owen blushed sadly.
Gilbert looked to Owen and swallowed the lump in his throat "Come now we were mocking my extensive hobbies list," Gilbert remembered "come," he said pointing towards the chair "we'll have a drink and I'll tell you the many talents of Anne Shirley." He said lightly as Owen returned to the sofa.
"Tea anyone?" Anne questioned them to which they both gave a nod.
"Oh Boy Gil!" Davy exclaimed upon the doors opening to the apartment. "This is your place?!" he exclaimed "no wonder you never want to come home!" he exclaimed.
"Davy!" Gilbert said with a smile "One day you'll learn home is where the heart is." Gilbert told him trying to sound wise.
"But I thought you're heart was always with Anne." He said with a grin to her which made Anne smile.
"Well it is..." Gilbert started.
"He's got you in a snare now...!" Anne said with a chuckle.
"And Anne is here?" Davy said smartly.
"well yes..." Gilbert continued "but..."
"So home is here." Davy finished.
Gilbert looked at the lad now sixteen "when did you get so wise?" he asked Davy.
"I'm almost as old as you were when we first came to Avonlea." He said to Gilbert "Didn't you grow at all from eleven to sixteen?" he teased Gilbert, which made Anne snort in amusement, Gilbert opened the spare room door and motioned him in
"Get settled in." Gilbert instructed him.
Davy walked past Gilbert and turned in a whisper to him as if he didn't want Anne to hear but completely missed the mark "say Gil, you and Anne won't be having sex while I'm here will you?" he asked seriously "The walls are a little thin."
Gilbert rolled his eyes at the lad "the walls are fine Davy." He sad closing the door his eyes amused. "Lets have Davy over you said, it'll be fun you said." He said with a grin to Anne.
Anne giggled with him before she said "You know lads that age, sex is everything and nothing at all."
Gilbert rolled his eyes as they sat on the sofa together "forgive me Anne but I was never such a boy it would have meant the world to me, it would have meant you." He said with a grin to her.
"You didn't know me yet." Anne said softly putting her arms around him.
He grinned and whispered to her "would make it even more special." He whispered "A glance at my future." He said his lips playing a smile more "Grey eyes, red hair, super smart, sweet and kind, my soulmate." He whispered to her.
"You wouldn't have known it." She scoffed.
"Sure I would." He said with a grin "I knew at 'Carrots'." He told her softly which made them both giggle.
Anne finally came up her cheeks flushed crimson she played with his hair lightly before she said practically "As Marilla would say 'stuff and nonsense'." She said with a giggle. "We have not be all lovey in front of Davy." Anne said with a whisper to him "I heard he's having a hard time with Millie."
Gilbert mouthed a 'o' before he asked "to do with...?" Gilbert trailed.
"He's ready for sex she isn't." Anne whispered. "He's not forcing or anything just frustrated."
His lips played another grin before he said "Well, I do know something of that." He said leaning back into the sofa his arm around her his eyes closed. "He's barely sixteen," Gilbert said with a grin "wait another year or so." He whispered
"So!" Davy said by way of announcing himself opening the bedroom door "What are we going to do tonight?" he asked Gilbert.
"I thought..." Gilbert said to him standing up "You and I could go down to the football stadium, its twice the size of the one we played in high school, as an ex captain I know all the old tricks."
He looked to Gilbert then to Anne "Just us?" he asked Gilbert.
"Yeah bud," Gilbert said with a smile "like old times." He said.
"You don't mind Anne?" he asked.
"Not I." Anne admitted. "I have a half page speech I need to learn for my modern drama class on Monday, this might be my last chance to memorise it." Anne admitted.
Davy grinned at Gilbert in affirmation.
"How's my team?" Gilbert asked Davy about his old high school football team, "still the best in the county?" he asked.
They were art the stadium, now empty and walking around the edge of the field, it was empty and big.
"It is now I'm on the team." Davy said with a smile "and Anne helped me get my grades up, Coach Rennie is a real stickler for grades." He said with a huff.
"Coach Rennie knows that you need a fall back if your plans fail, and he appreciates that if someone is willing to work hard in something they don't like, then they'll continue to work hard at what they like." Gilbert said with a grin.
Davy rolled his eyes then his forehead wrinkled in thought "Did you always want to be a doctor Gil?"
Gilbert played a smile for a few moments before he talked "I didn't think about what I wanted when I was younger, my friends assumed because I was good at football all the way through school that I would go into football, my parents I suppose assumed I would want the farm." He said with a shrug "we never really talked about it." He acknowledged, "then my dad got sick and we were in hospital a lot of the time, I was still quite young, I was only thirteen." He remembered "I was around doctors all the time, I listened I picked up on things, I got interested." He said with a shrug "I guess that's where it came from."
"Did you want to help your dad?" Davy questioned.
His bottom lip protruded and he acknowledged "I probably did yeah." Gilbert said "Though I know I hadn't really made up my mind until I went back to school." He said.
"Until you met Anne?" Davy asked.
"Yeah, until I met Anne." Gilbert said.
They were silent for a moment before Davy added "Millie makes me want to do better." Davy confided in him.
"Yeah?" Gilbert said with a grin.
"Yeah." Davy confirmed. "Like I want to show off to her."
Gilbert grinned and he said "Yep, they have that effect."
Davy smiled "You wanted to show off to Anne?" he asked.
"Hell yeah!" Gilbert said with a chuckle "though she did not make it easy, she kept on keeping up with me!"
Davy laughed "Well Anne's smart that way." He said then he paused , He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something then closed it. Gilbert waited for him to say something. "Say Gil, did you and Anne wait?" he asked.
"Wait?" Gilbert asked with a grin.
"For you know..." he said blushing slightly. "I mean you couldn't of right? You were both out of college."
"You mean sex?" Gilbert said with his grin growing.
"Aww Gilbert!" Davy said with a shove to him "don't mock me!" he exclaimed.
"Sorry, sorry." Gilbert said quickly "alright no mocking now, I'll be serious." He told the lad. Gilbert took a deep breath and said "we waited."
"Really?!" Davy exclaimed surprised.
"Really." Gilbert said with a grin "it was relatively speaking, a short amount of time to wait." He said plainly. "Though it must be strange to everyone else I suppose, we were close before we got together we were friends a long time," he said "but we needed the time."
"But why? You were close anyway!?" he asked.
"Closeness, and intimacy is two separate things." Gilbert said to him "and some people, men and women, they need the time before to really be ready for the kind of intimacy needed with sex." Gilbert admitted.
"Is it different?" he asked Gilbert.
"Yeah." Gilbert admitted "and please Davy, please be careful," he said "I know you aren't the type to force, but you can't be seen to pressurise her either, it needs to be her choice in her time, as well as your own." He said to him.
"But how do I know its the right time?" he asked.
Gilbert chuckled "you're asking the wrong man for that." He scoffed, "but, I think the best way, is to tell her to let you know when she's ready." Gilbert advised "remember, you're still both young, just because something is legal it doesn't necessarily make it right."
They were silent for a few seconds before Davy asked quietly "Is it good?"
Gilbert chuckled, 'yep' he thought to himself 'just what they want to know.' "I'll leave that for you to find out."
"He knows the basic stuff Anne, and he's not forcing himself on the girl, he'll be fine." Gilbert finished his narration to Anne that night. They had got back very late from their boys night out, however late it was Davy was in the living room watching something on Netflix and Anne and Gilbert had retired to the bedroom Gilbert already tucked into bed Anne was getting ready for bed herself.
"Well I'm glad of course." Anne said with a chuckle "Sorry, it seems you had a 'mans' job to do, but I really think he listens to you."
"It's alright I suppose." He said with a shrug. "Though I always supposed I would be telling my own son rather then..." he said with a smile his hand playing with his neck for a moment "what I mean is..." he tried.
"That when you had the talk with your dad, that you thought 'I could do better then this' and thought about how you'd present it to your son?" Anne asked.
"Well..." Gilbert said with a shrug. "Actually most of it was my mom." He said.
"Your mom?" Anne asked surprised.
"Well, yeah." Gilbert recalled, "well there was stuff you know dad told me about you know physical reactions." He said with a playful eyebrow "but emotional stuff, it was all mom." He admitted.
"Yes, you said before your mom told you about intimacy stuff." Anne remembered.
"It was quite soon after that, they both approached me, I mean we'd gone over the difference between sex and rape and love and everything, just we talked about ..." he said "then of course there was 'the talk' at school."
"Well he's sixteen, he must have picked up something!" Anne exclaimed "Which is just the thing, I mean school doesn't really cover it really, I mean they claim to but..."
"Yeah, tis not something taught properly in a gym hall, PE teacher and a pack of condoms." Gilbert said with a grin as Anne slipped in the bed beside him.
"So hum, you didn't tell Davy what sex was like?" she asked.
"I don't; think I could do it justice," he said with a flirty grin to her, "plus you know not everyone has our chemistry to go off." He said looking into her eyes adoringly.
She looked back into his eyes for a moment before she leaned over and kissed him gently, then again a little harder and then a bit more as they lay back in the bed.
"I thought we said not while Davy was here?" Gilbert whispered to her.
"What Davy doesn't know won't hurt him." She replied.