"I can't believe you were in a tree!" Laughed Gilbert. He was strolling down the path along with Diana, laughing and gesturing enthusiastically. She snickered, cheeks turning bright pink as she tucked a strand of hair behind her cheek and stuffed her hands into her pockets. As the laughter died down, Diana turned towards Gilbert, and stopped walking. "Where have you been?" She sighed, tilting her head slightly and making eye contact with him. "It's been forever since I saw you."
He smiled sadly, but shook his head. "Nowhere in particular," he said. Diana frowned, but didn't pry. She knew something had happened between him and Anne, but had no idea what. At last, spotting her house in the distance, she turned, and, ignoring what others may think of it, hugged him. "I'll see you around." She said. With that, she continued along the path alone, towards her house, and walked inside.
Cole
Cole shuffled slowly down the small hallway that led to the kitchen, wiping his eyes and yawning. As he entered, he saw Anne, humming softly to herself as she danced around the bright kitchen, making enough food to feed an army. She slid a pile of scrambled eggs onto a plate, and, buttering a piece of toast, tossed it alongside them. She pulled a small cluster of grapes off of the bunch, and, cutting a total of eight strawberries, deposited those onto the plate as well. She turned to see Cole, snickering and walking towards one of the seats at the table. She rolled her eyes, but smiled, and said, "Making breakfast is fun." She picked up the two plates, both covered with an ample amount of breakfast foods, and set them on opposite sides of the table.
"Did you sleep well?" She asked, pausing to dab the corners of her mouth with a napkin. He nodded, mouth full of eggs and toast. "Very," he said finally once he'd swallowed. "That's good," said Anne.
"Could I stay here for a while?" Cole asked, a serious look spreading across his face. Anne stopped eating for a moment, and without hesitation, said, "Of course."
Cole didn't offer an explanation and Anne didn't ask for one. Their friendship often worked that way, since the two trusted each other and never questioned their choices. Anne was grateful to Cole, although she didn't outwardly say it, for coming. The house had seemed empty and sad ever since Matthew and Marilla had passed.
The three had been involved in a train accident, immediately souring Anne's opinion of trains. Matthew and Marilla had both survived the crash itself, but passed later due to injuries caused by the crash. Anne had sustained a few major injuries, but none of the nurses could keep her in her own room. Each night she'd sit in an armchair provided by one of the nurses and read aloud to Marilla and Matthew. Neither had awoken, but every now and then Anne would get a feeling like they could hear her.
She shook away the memory and turned to Cole, who had been relatively quiet that morning. She didn't speak, nor make eye contact, but took his right hand in hers and squeezed it gently. He smiled, but didn't speak either. At last, once they'd finished, Anne stood from the table. She then said something that Cole would remember for years in the future as the first time he'd really felt happy in quite a few months.
"How about a walk to the clubhouse?"