AN/
Hey there! This is the second episode of I dare you. TW, light description of abuse and violence.
Let me know what you think, don't forget to review!
No one has ever called Anne beautiful. When she was little, she used to cry herself to sleep, wishing to wake up in a different body. As she became older, she realized that while she might never be considered gorgeous, she will always be smart, and that was one of the most useful things when you have a rough childhood. While she hid in the closet, trying to hide from yet another drunk stepfather, she would recite the periodic table to calm herself. When she found out she was going to be sent to a new house after only a week, she distracted herself in the world of 'Kaytek the Wizard'. She would prove her worth by helping different households balancing a checkbook, showing then they did have the money needed to keep her. (Though they would usually keep the money and give her away eventually)
Yet here, in this strange school, Anne knew from the moment she stepped into the class that this time, she did not have the upper hand. The math was complicated, way beyond what was expected of her in her old school. The history lesson was dictated to reciting dates and locations. Did she mention the math?
Even though it has been only a few hours, Anne felt exhausted after the school day ended. As she packed her belongings, Diana sat next to her on the table.
"So. Where do you live now?" Diana said.
"Um, Green Gables? It kinda far, I am not sure…"
"Oh, I know where it is." Diana smiled mysteriously. Anne waited for her to explain further, yet Diana remained silent.
"Yeah, it's actually pretty nice there. The name doesn't do it justice." Anne wanted to ask Diana to visit, but she wasn't sure if she was allowed to.
"Then I will have to go there one day and see for myself." Diana's smile widened. She glanced towards the clock, tilting her head.
"Hey, how long until you have to take the bus?" Diana asked.
"About an hour and half? I was going to finish my homework until then." Anne's heart began beating fast. Diana has been one of the nicest people she has ever met. In the few hours she had known her, Diana showed her more kindness then she has known for ages.
"Well, if you want to, you can come to my house. It's not far at all, I swear. We can drink tea. Do you like tea?"
"Well, even if I didn't, the pleasure of your company would be sweet enough." Anne smiled. Damn, that was so corny. Why did she even say th…
"Wow, that was bad." Diana laughed. "I loved it."
Diana's house was even more impressive than the school building. It was almost three stories high, made of white marvel, and big windows that allowed a peak of riches and glory.
"We can sit on the balcony. I'll ask my maid to bring it to the house." She escorted Anne to the backside of the house. Anne sat there, on the wooden deck, with a beautiful view of a modern pool, waiting for Diana to return. It seemed surreal. Anne has lived in houses that were smaller than the balcony. It was rude to think so, but Anne couldn't help but wonder, how many weeks' worth of food she could get if she took one of the many statues.
"I'm here with the tea and the beverages!" Diana laughed, carrying a small trey that contained two cups of tea and a few macrons.
"Wow! I have always wanted to try one!" Anne's eye lit up. Diana placed the try and clapped her hands.
"Go ahead! Try!" She grabbed one of the pink macrons gave to Anne. Anne picked it up gently. She had read about these in past. She has seen them in the ricer parts of the towns she had stayed in. She had never tried that before. Anne wanted to savor the moment. Remains of sweet memories could be at some point crucial, for she has learned that the hard way that life is fickle. Oh the other hand, Diana seemed confused why she was taking so long. Anne quickly took a bite.
"Oh. This is amazing." Anne mumbled.
"I know. I love those too." Diana seemed content. They both sat in silence while sipping tea for a while.
"Hey. Can I ask you something?" Anne said after a few moments.
"Sure. Go."
Anne took a few seconds to put words into her thoughts.
"While I am very appreciative of your kindness, I gotta know. Why are you so nice to me?"
"Anne, you are sweet."
"Thank you. But I am also right." Anne looked at Diana, trying to sound as soft as possible. "You have been so welcoming, even though we have never met. You've acted like a true friend in those mere hours that we know each other, and I'd like to be a friend to you as well. I would like you to trust me."
Diana sighed as she played with the spoon, mixing her perfectly blended tea.
"I love they you talk, it's like, straight out of a book or something." Diana smiled. "And… I don't know. I guess… Okay here is the thing. I have known the people in our class all of my life. Josie is basically the epiphany of Regina George, Jane is hey lackey and Tilly… Well, she is alright I guess but is not very interesting in the whole."
Diana looked at Anne. "I guess when I saw you, I felt you were just as lonely as me."
Anne and Diana sat and talked for hours, yet it felt like minutes. Diana quickly filled her in on all the gossip: Which girls can be mean, which boys should be avoided and so on. She even volunteered to give her a ride home, even though it was an hour and half away.
Anne returned to her foster home, waving Diana goodbye. Before she could open the door, Marilla appeared, red-faced and angry.
"You are late. I was worried about you." She muttered.
"I am terribly sorry for disappointing you, ma'am." Anne apologized. "Diana, she is one of the girls that go to my school offered my tea and then a ride, and I wasn't thinking, I should have let you know sooner…"
"Enough, enough, dramatic girl." Marilla cut her off, before taking her bags and hanging them. "Now, dinner is on the table. Hurry up and eat." Anne nodded and paced quickly to the dinner table. The whole dinner, Marilla looked at Anne strangely.
"Is there something you wish to talk about?" Anne said gently. Marilla narrowed her eyes, almost as if she was trying to decipher Anne, before sighing.
"Just… be careful when it comes to the rich. That is all. Now finish your vegetables."
It has been a week since Anne came to the school, and already she and Diana were inseparable. They sat together at the before, during, and after school.
"God, you are like conjoined twins or whatever." Josie complained during lunchtime.
Diana bumped her head to Anne's. "I wish. That way I could be as creative at her." Anne blushed a little.
"Diana, you are too kind." Anne smiled.
"Yeah, you are." Josie tucked her long blonde hair behind her ears. "Ruby, why is your face so twisted?" She raised her eyebrow. Ruby's lower lip began to quiver.
"It. Has. Been. Two. Weeks." She sobbed.
"Since… what?" Tilly asked.
"Since. G-G…Gilbert…" Ruby mumbled.
"I honestly don't see what you see in him. He is all flirt no game." Jane shrugged.
"Well, I heard things," Josie smirked. "He was supposed to be here today, but I heard that he was caught in a dorm room with…"
"Stop it! You are making Ruby upset!" Anne called. Josie giggled. "Alright, I'll be nice."
Diana rolled her eyes when suddenly, her face became white.
"Oh damn. I thought that Billy was with Gilbert on that college tour." She mumbled, looking away.
"I told you. They are coming back yesterday." Jane seemed insincere for some reason. The tall, blonde guy approached them, quickly/
"What is he even doing here? I thought he was expelled." Tilly asked.
"Looks like he can't be away for you, Diana." Josie chuckled.
"I have been texting you." Billy appeared to be flustered.
Diana remained quiet, looking away.
"Why are you ignoring me?" He got closer to her.
"Diana!" he yelled.
"Billy…" Diana mumbled. "We have been talking about this. Please leave me alone."
"Diana, you are forgetting what I have on you…" his voice was dangerously low.
"Okay. I think this will have to do." Anne moved between the two of them.
"Who the fuck are you?" He growled.
"Think of me as Diana's new body gourd. And I think she has made it perfectly clear that she does not wish to speak with you." Anne said quietly. She turned to Diana.
"And I honestly don't blame her. Leave her alone."
"Or what?" Billy chuckled.
"Or you'll have to go through me," Anne muttered as the bell rang.
"Oh. Saved by the bell." Tilly laughed nervously. Diana did not.
Before school has ended, Diana excused herself and left early. Anne felt strange, like a part of her was missing. As she left the school building, she could feel someone staring at her. She took a deep breath, trying to move as fast as possible when she noticed from the corner of her eyes the rude boy from earlier. Anne did not look back.
"Hey. I know who you are." Billy called. Anne quickened her steps, yet she could hear him close behind her. "You are the girl the picked up from the trash."
Anne has been called worse, this was honestly nothing. "Yeah, I took me a while, but I know white trash when I see one."
"Hey. I am talking to you, you bitch." He called again. Anne turned angrily.
"What do you want?" She muttered angrily. He managed to catch up, walking in strange confidence next to her.
"Don't get between me and Diana again." He warned. "You don't know anything about this girl."
"Yeah. Well, I know she does not want to talk to you." Anne smiled calmy, which seemed to upset Billy.
"The only reason they took you was to improve their image. No one gives a fuck about you."
"Even if that's the case, I am grateful for the opportunity." Anne said.
"Are you? Grateful?" Billy grabbed her shoulder. "You should be. Someone like you has no place here."
Anne glanced quickly to the gate. In just a few steps, they would be outside of school, meaning, she could defend herself without getting into trouble. After all, you don't spend years in the system without learning a few things. Even so… if she attempts anything here… Billy was right. They will be looking at her with a magnifying glass, looking for any excuse to take her scholarship and dreams away.
Anne looked down, fighting back the tears. This wasn't fair. That his guy can go on a college tour even though he was thrown out of school, and she couldn't risk even laying a finger on him on the school ground. "You know, if you weren't so mouthy, you could be way less ugly. You should try that." He whispered in her ear. His voice sent shivers down her spine.
Well, maybe she was ugly. But she was also smart.
Anne had no time to waste. She had an idea that could save her. She looked up, smiled, and spat on his shoes. He quickly pulled away, disgusted, and shoved her, just outside the gate.
"You bitch! These are suede!" He called, before quickly approaching Anne. Before he could do anything, Anne gagged his eyes, kicked his stomach and kneed his crotch. Billy fell down, aching with pain. Anne grabbed his arm, placing her leg on his back.
"Now. I would appreciate it if you would leave me and my friend alone. Okay?" She pleaded. Billy turned his head, nodding. Anne smiled.
"Well, then. I guess we reached an agreement." Anne stepped off Billy's back, reaching her hand to him. He got up and looked at her with hateful eyes.
"You will pay for this, you bitch." He muttered. "I will make you pa…"
"Hey! Billy! Is that you?" Anne heard a voice behind her. She didn't move her eyes from Billy. Yet, something in his gaze changed. He wasn't as driven as before, he seemed… almost ashamed. Billy slowly backed down as he faced the young man.
"Hey! I thought the girl in the dorm would never let go of you." Billy tried to joke, but his voice was shaking.
"Yeah, yeah, just got back. Man, it is good to see you." Anne turned around slowly, trying to remain vigilant. The voice belonged to a fellow student. He was tall, with messy hair and a playful look. He didn't seem vicious, which calmed Anne.
"So…" The student moved toward Billy, almost smirking. "You know, I think I saw Jane somewhere? She sounds pissed like she is going to blame you for being late for tennis practice." Billy's face went white. "Damn. Are you sure? God, she would do anything to make me look bad." The student gestured toward Anne in a knowing look.
"Yeah. So you should probably hurry up." The student said. Billy nodded and quickly ran. The student, for the first time, looked at Anne. "Hey. Are you okay?" He asked. The way he sounded, was so concerned that it almost confused her for a second.
"I'm fine. I was fine. I could've handled it myself." Anne looked away.
"Yes, actually. I saw the whole thing." The student chuckled. "I was going to intervene earlier, but… you seemed very cable."
"So… why did you interfere now?" Anne avoided his gaze. "Well, let's just say I have been dying to do what you just did a long time ago. So I wanted to congratulate you." He looked at Anne from head to toe. "Also, it seemed like a great excuse to talk to you." He leaned next to her. He smelled like apples.
"What do you mean?" Anne asked, a little uncomfortable with how close he was to her. He smiled to himself and leaned a little further.
"We sometimes encounter people who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken."
Anne chuckled, rolling her eyes.
"What?" He asked.
"I have never heard someone misquote Dostoevsky in such nonchalant." She tucked her hair behind her ears, enjoying his surprise.
"Misquote?" for the first time, he sounded less confident.
"It should have been ' We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers". You forgot the perfect stranger." Anne said teasingly.
"Hmm, that's unusual, for me to make such a petty mistake. Perhaps I was distracted by the perfect stranger in front of me." He turned to her, reaching his arm for her to shake.
"I am Gil…"
"Gilbert Blyth." Anne continued, pretending not to notice his hand. She wasn't quite sure at first since the picture that Ruby showed her was a little blurry.
"I see my name has preceded me." Gilbert gave Anne a crooked smile while raising his hand and running it through his hair. It made Anne uncomfortable like he had some sort of secret he was not willing to share. "I hope you heard good things only."
"No, actually."
"Wow. That's very blunt." He somehow didn't seem offended. "You are incredibly forward."
"Nothing in this world is harder than speaking the truth, nothing easier than flattery." She returned, before glancing towards the clock. "I have to go. I will be late for the bus."
"The bus?" He narrowed his eyes with a sudden realization. "You are the scholarship kid, aren't you?"
"Most people just call me Anne."
"Well then, Anne…" he lingered on her name."Do you need me to walk you to the station?" He asked teasingly.
"No." Anne muttered.
"Well, I didn't think you would accept, but it was worth the try." He grabbed an apple from his bag and took a bite. "See you around, carrots."
