Josie's Dues

"Are you sure, Diana?" I asked, not wanting to believe what she had just told me. I stared at Diana in disbelief waiting for her reply. I couldn't think of how such close friend could give me this news.

"I thought it better that I tell you, Anne. That way you wouldn't have to hear it from someone else. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I had known and didn't tell you." Diana wrapped her arm around me for comfort, although I barely felt it due to the raging feeling bubbling up inside of me.

"Sh… she k…kiss…kissed him?" I asked meekly, not sure I really wanted to hear the answer.

"Yes, Anne, she did." I could sense the pain in her voice. Diana knew it was killing me inside knowing that Josie Pye had staged her final attack on the relationship that Gilbert and I held so dear; the only thing in Avonlea that she knew she would never have. She finally outdid herself and removed that which was so sacred and precious to the bond I had with Gil. My heart tore into a million pieces and I couldn't help but picture her perfectly rouged lips reaching up and pressing against his; her hands running over the defined muscles in his arms to rest on his shoulders. The thought revolted me and I knew that nothing would keep me from retaliation. Josie was in for it this time.

"I need to get some air," I said, almost jumping off of Diana's couch and weaving my way out of the house. I ran faster than I ever remembered running before, through the woods that separated the Wright estate from the Barry estate. I ran over the bridge covering the Lake of Shining Waters and through the trees and fields to the main road. Everything was a blur as I passed them and the beauty of the day barely even registered in my clouded mind. I thought that after such exertion I would be able to reflect more clearly on the situation; however when I saw a blonde figure heading in my direction the anger once again seethed through my entire being.

"Josie…" I muttered angrily under my breath. "There is no escaping me now. There is no where for you to run, nowhere for you to go." I resumed running and slowed down to walk once I was within several feet of her. She stopped walking when she realized I was coming toward her and looked frightened but somehow unable to move.

"Anne… listen…" she began. I gave her no time to explain anything, and without even slowing my pace, I walked right up to her. In slow motion, or so it seemed, I pulled my arm back and released a punch with such force and passion that I startled myself. She flew to the ground and shrieked, holding her nose. I stepped back, appalled at what I'd done, but I surprisingly felt better. I knew, however, with me being a woman of words, that there was no way Josie was going to get off that easily.

"Josie Pye!" I began, watching her sit up and cower under me. "You are the most wretched, spiteful, jealous girl I've ever known. You treated Gilbert like an object and I hope you finally realized that Gilbert and I have no plans on breaking off our engagement! There is precious little you could ever do to even hope for my forgiveness. This is a wound that I shall bear on my heart and soul forever, and if you had any care or concern for anyone other than yourself you might know how much this would hurt me! This goes far beyond anything you have ever done towards me. You KNOW that Gilbert and I engaged and you…you… your vile, repulsive attack on our relationship is something I shall never forgive."

I knew that even if my words meant nothing to Josie Pye, that at least I felt a little better. Knowing that I needed to cry, but knowing even more that I couldn't do it in front of Josie, I turned toward the direction of Green Gables and began to run through the woods. After making it about halfway home, I was so overcome with angst that I sat down on a tree stump and covered my face with my hands. I sat there for several minutes and cried, still not being able to get the image of those two out of my mind. My sobs calmed some, to the point that I was just breathing erratically. My ears perked slightly at the sound of someone in the woods with me; the person were walking towards me and whistling. I could hear them coming up behind me and I smoothed my hair and wiped away my tears, trying my hardest to look presentable for whoever it was. They stopped whistling suddenly and I'm sure they must have seen me. Half expecting it to be Diana coming after me, I stood up and turned around slowly to face them. I knew though, that if it were Diana, she wouldn't have been whistling, she would have been running.

I turned around to see Gilbert, and although I should have expected it to be him, the one who always knows when something is wrong with me, and usually the only one who can make me smile when I'm upset, he was one of the last people I wanted to see at that point in time. I knew in an instant that he would be able to see the hurt and pain in my eyes, and I therefore knew that he couldn't see me; not like that. I turned back around quickly and sat again on the tree stump, hoping that despite the fact that everything was against him doing so, that he would pass me without a conversation.

"Anne, what in heck are you doing out here?" He said as soon as I had finished my prayer that God would have pity on me and make Gilbert disappear.

"Gil, please," I began to plead, "You don't want to see me like this, and I don't want you to."

"Anne, see you like what?" His voice was soft and soothing. He was the one man I had ever met, besides Matthew, that always sounded sincere whenever talking to me. "Anne please talk to me."

"Gilbert, I punched Josie Pye in the face today," I admitted covering my face with my hands again. I almost started crying but felt no tears once his arms wrapped me in a hug. I felt safe there; I felt like no matter what happened, or what I did, that he would always love and care for me.

"Oh Anne, you do rush into things in such headlong fashion don't you?" he asked.

"Well, after I heard about last night, and I saw her walking down the lane, well I suppose I let my temper get the better of me."

"News does travel fast in this town, doesn't it?" he asked. "Anne, listen. I was going to tell you about it; in fact I was on my way to Green Gables when I saw you here in the woods. I'm just sorry you had to hear about it from someone else."

"Diana told me what she had heard, which was precious little I'm sure. This was one thing that not even my imagination could have fathomed. Please Gilbert, tell me what really happened." I knew I was asking for trouble, but not knowing was tearing me apart inside.

"Anne, are you sure you…"

"I'm sure. Please. If you don't tell me, my imagination will make it up so many different scenarios. Please, just tell me."

"Alright Anne." He sat down beside me and put his arm around my shoulder. With his other hand he took one of my hands and began the story. "I was on my way home after dropping you off last night when I came upon Josie, whose buggy had lost a wheel. Apparently she was planning on tying up the horse and walking home. I asked her if she needed a ride and she climbed in. She sat awfully close and I didn't feel right about the situation so I started talking to her about you and your newest adventure, coming out to Halifax to teach Literature. She moved away and was quiet for the rest of the ride. When we got to her house, she said my name, so I looked at her and she kissed me. I told her that she was being inappropriate and too forward for a lady and she stormed off into the house. Anne, really, I am terribly sorry."

"Gilbert, dear, I know that you wouldn't do anything to jeopardize our engagement. I believe that you had nothing to do with that kiss, I'm just sorry that you were involved in it at all."

Gilbert leaned over and kissed my forehead, sending a jolt of electricity through my being. "How about I walk you home?" he asked politely.

"Thank you, darling. I would love that."

"Anne, were you being serious when you said that you punched Josie Pye?" he inquired, almost gleefully.

"Yes, love. I punched her right in the face. Speaking of which, my hand..."

"Let me look at it," he said taking my hand and raising it to inspect it. It was red and beginning to swell. "Oh, that must hurt terribly…" He looked at me, realized that I winced at his touch. Then he added, "but just imagine how Josie's face will look in a couple days."

A/N: I know, I know, I'm terribly sorry. I said I wouldn't make you wait and yet I have. I've been meaning to finish this chapter for at least a month but haven't had the time. I got mono over Christmas break. But anyway… let me know what you think please! And if anyone has suggestions, I am always open to side plots or twists, just let me know. -