Chapter 16: Coming Home

The year was wrapping up for Anne as she was making out her final exam. It had been quite a year, one that should would like to both relive and forget. She had just been offered a five year extension on her contract from the Board of Governors, and while she was thrilled to receive such an offer, she wasn't sure if she could take five more years of KLC. Anne loved teaching her students, but at the same time she was homesick. She missed Marilla and Green Gables, the comforts of home, and the people of Avonlea itself. Never in a million years would Anne dream of being glad to face Josie Pye's insulting comments, and that spoke wonders about how much she wanted to go back home.

After completing the final exam, Anne filed her resignation to the board that would be effective after school was over. She felt sad yet relieved at handing in that piece of paper, but it was something she had to do. Her students heard of her resignation and were saddened by the news. Immediately, Jen Pringle and Emmeline Harris collaborated in throwing Anne a goodbye party, marking the first time they ever did something together without arguing and insulting one another. The rest of the class chipped in for the efforts, and the party was thrown the day before Anne's final exam was to be given. She was touched at the gesture and started to get a bit teary eyed. She was sure to hug every girl and to wish her luck on the exam the next day. While she was happy to have had that party, she was even happier when every girl in her class passed her exam with flying colors. It couldn't have been a better way to leave Kingsport.

Before leaving for good, Anne stopped by Katherine Brooke's office to say goodbye.

"What are you doing here?" asked Katherine.

"I've come to say goodbye," Anne replied.

"Goodbye then. I'll see you next term."

"I'm not coming back next term; I've given my resignation to the board."

Katherine was shocked and even a bit sad to see her go. Even though they had never really gotten along largely in part to Katherine's shunning of people in general, she liked Anne. She was highly intelligent and knew had to get along with people, two reasons why she had lasted in Kingsport for so long.

"Where will you spend your vacation?" asked Anne.

"Here," Katherine replied bitterly.

"If you don't like it, why do you stay then?"

"I have nowhere else to go. People don't accept me."

"That's only because you don't accept them. I've come here to ask you to spend your vacation at Green Gables with me."

"What? Why? I don't think I qualify for such kindness." She paused for a moment. "You're only asking because you feel sorry for me."

"I am sorry for you. You've rejected so many people in life that they're now turning the tables on you. Now are you coming or not?"

"What would you say if I said 'yes'?"

"It'd be the first decent thing I've ever seen you do."

Katherine laughed. "Okay, I say 'yes.' Now you can ramble on about how thrilled you are and how I'll have a good time."

"I am thrilled," Anne began, "but as for a good time...that depends on you, Katherine."

"Okay then."

"Why don't I pick you up around 8 tomorrow, so we can get an early start?"

"Sounds good."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Anne spent the night packing her things so she could return her apartment key to the woman at the front desk in the morning. She returned her key after eating a quick breakfast, put her things in the trunk of her car, and went to pick up Katherine. Katherine surprisingly looked cheerful and was glad to see Anne. The beginning conversation between Anne and Katherine when they first hit the road was made up of small talk, but as the day went on, they got into other things and soon realized that they had more in common than they actually thought. It was fun for Anne to have a conversation with someone that didn't involve guy drama.

They arrived at Green Gables late in the afternoon to Marilla's and Rachel's surprise. They weren't expecting Anne until tomorrow, but they didn't mind at all. When Anne's car appeared on the driveway, Marilla ran out of Green Gables so fast that Rachel was sure that she would kill herself doing so. She engulfed Anne in an enormous hug.

"Marilla!"

"Anne!"

Katherine stood back and watched the scene. So that's what it's like to have a loving family...

"I wasn't expecting you to get home so soon," said Marilla.

"If you want, I can go back," joked Anne.

"No, you're staying right here!" She laughed.

"Marilla, this is Katherine Brooke."

"How do you do, Katherine?"

"I'm very well. Thank you," Katherine said. "Thank you for having me."

"You're very welcome. Welcome to Green Gables." Marilla spotted Rachel coming out. "Oh dear. Here comes Rachel; she'll want to tell you everything that's been going on in Avonlea."

"Anne!" She hugged her. "I have so much to tell you about the news in Avonlea!"

"I have so much to tell you! Rachel, this is Katherine Brooke," Anne said. "Katherine, this is Rachel Lynde."

"Pleased to meet you." The women shook hands.

I think I'm going to like it here, thought Katherine.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Gilbert was done with his final exams and was anxiously waiting at his desk to get home. He studied as hard as he could to ace every one of his exams and succeeded. All he wanted to do now was to come home, say hello to his parents, and rush over to Green Gables to wait for Anne. After that he could pour his heart out. Gilbert had packed the night before his last final exam so he could leave for Avonlea directly after taking the grueling test. Roy had noticed his roommate packing and spoke up.

"It was fun rooming with ya, Gil."

"You too, Roy."

"You're gonna have another roommate next semester because I won't be coming back."

Gilbert was shocked. "Why?"

"I'm moving to Montreal. I figure that I'll do some soul searching before I go back to school."

And it's all because Anne rejected you. "Good luck with that."

"Thanks."

Roy shook hands with Gilbert before going to sleep.

Gilbert smiled. I'm going home to Anne. I'm going home to Anne...

As soon as he was allowed to leave from the exam, Gilbert made a mad dash to his car. He immediately got in and sped out of the parking like a mad man but did slow down once he hit the road. He was free now, and all he focused on was the road, the way home, and the redhead that he desperately wanted to see.

Gilbert was almost in Avonlea when he noticed a speeding vehicle in his rear view mirror. A red Corvette was breezing by and was coming up towards him. "What does this idiot think he's doing?" As soon as he got near enough, Gil took a quick look over to see who it was. It was none other than Jack Garrison. "Why you little son of a gun!"

Jack looked over and noticed Gilbert driving. He had remembered him from that night at Redmond and took this as his chance to show him "who's the man." Jack carefully got near Gilbert, and since they both had their windows down, he shouted, "Wanna race?"

"No!" Gilbert shouted back.

Jack got a bit closer. "You sure?"

Gilbert backed off. "Yeah!"

Jack weaved in and out his lane, and since he was going at such a high speed, it was awfully dangerous. The two men were approaching a curve when all of a sudden Jack lost control of his Corvette and started spinning. Gilbert tried to swerve to avoid the on coming vehicle, but it was too late. Jack had already run into him into his driver side door, leaving both men unconscious and trapped in a web of scrap metal. Witnesses of the accident were left to call the authorities and report what they saw. One man was taken to the hospital while the other man was pronounced dead on the scene.