CHAPTER 8

The next day

Rose got to school early, well, usually she did but this time she was determined to get there before Thomas could talk to the girls - she had to warn the girls about this Yankee, who knows what his smile could do to their susceptible hearts, especially Ruby's. Of course she admitted his smile was gorgeous and that his face looked a lot like the handsome Prince of her imaginings, but he was just so…so, well infuriating and annoying and he had insulted her. But, she still didn't have an answer to why his face stuck around in her head all night. He must be stopped!

She saw Ruby's fair head bobbing up and down at the end of the road and ran as if Thomas himself was chasing after her, to meet up with her, Ruby swung around startled,

"Rose! Well, howdy to you. Why do you always run around so, it makes your face flush red and that doesn't go so well with your hair…"

"Ruby, there's something I desperately got to talk to you about"

"…Anyway, why are you coming down this road, I was only taking a detour to see…"

"Ruby listen to me, a fiend's about to invade our…"

Who else but Thomas whistled around the corner and stood face to face with the two, Ruby's jaw dropped while Rose's lips pressed into a tight line. Thomas's eyes widened and smile grew impish,

"Greeting's ladies, on this fine morning you just made more beautiful" Ruby flashed him her most dazzling smile, I think Jacob Guthrie's eyes flew right out of her head. But Thomas didn't see that, instead, his eyes were fixed on Rose, waiting for her to respond, but all he got was a toss of the head, which made him more determined, she'll see what a guy he was if it killed him! Rose tried not to look at him, but that was impossible, a glance at Ruby showed her that she had to get him away fast! Before that creature ensnared Ruby, she just knew that would happen.

"Unfortunately I cant say the same, but of course today might get better once we get to school, away from certain people who might spoil the view." Rose thought, now if that wasn't a hint…But Ruby looked at her shocked, and worried that Thomas would do as Rose said, hurriedly said to him,

"Oh! You must be Gil's cousin, we've heard so much about you, but will you prove it?" Thomas finally looked at Ruby and smiled,

"If I get a chance to, but then who can live up to rumours?" Him and Ruby laughed, Rose glowered, this meeting was becoming too friendly, and it would give him the wrong idea,

"Just like Mark Twain's report of death in the newspapers, but as I hear is still living as healthily as ever, which unfortunately is not what I can hope for with certain other people" Thomas laughed at the first bit, missing the sting completely, 'what a fascinating girl she was' he thought, never ever had he met someone mixed with so much spice yet funny and dreamy and talented, he couldn't let her get away,

"What do we have first up today?" He asked, though he knew quite well it was the infamous Mr. Matchet, Rose quickly replied as Ruby opened her mouth,

"English, which if we are to make it on time, then we better be off now, very sorry of course but we have to so adieu" May we never meet again she silently added, Thomas couldn't do anything but grin wider and say, "Adios! Can't wait to meet again"

"Well!" Ruby drawled, her eyes wide, following Thomas figure as he bounded away down the road

"Rose! I was right wasn't I, he is such…and Rose! I'm jealous! His eyes were on you" Ruby looked to Rose who glared at her,

"Him! What next, marry me off to a savage in Africa, he insulted me, and always looks at me in that way…oooh I could hit him over the head" Ruby recognised the look on Rose,

"Now Rose, don't do an Anne, you see the way she treats Gilbert and what a honey he is, your eyes are simply being blinded by your anger, the way he looks at you is…"

"Is the way you would look at a kitten, or look at something that made you laugh, he humiliates me with that look, and treats my art with scorn, art is my ambition, okay, maybe it isn't genius yet but what gives him the right to laugh at it when it's still just blossoming, even Mr. Matchet agreed it was worth something, and that was a sketch I made of him, which he still hasn't given back yet" Ruby waited until the torrent of words was over and put her arm around Rose,

"I think you two together will be just fine"

Thomas poked Gil in the back at school,

"You know that red head girl you've told me so much about" Gil's face flushed and his eyes looked far away,

"You mean Anne, oh yes, I know she's…but Thomas she's mine, well, if it's the last thing I do she will be, I saw her first! You keep your…"

Thomas never had seen Gil in a state like that over a girl, he laughed at it,

"No ol' chap, I don't mean her, she's safe from me no worries, I mean the other fascinating red head maiden, the one with all the ink blotches over her hands, the one who's constantly scribbling, the one with those adorable freckles, the one who wont give me the time of day!"

Gil was astounded at Thomas, he had never looked that entranced by a female before, of course he loves girls and girls loved him but this wasn't the usual flippant flirting, this was, well, he looked like that way Gil looked about Anne!

They looked at each other, Thomas laughed,

"Trust us to fall for the…"

"Elusive" Gil suggested

"Elusive cold hearted queens who hate our guts, but seriously Gil, I've got to get her to like me", Gil sighed,

"Just don't try calling her 'carrots' to get her attention"