Chapter 16

Henry lifted his cap to Josie Pye as she walked by clearly heading to the tea party Anne had been in alt about, a telling look on his face. Gilbert groaned and said, "Really? Joise Pye? Since when?"

"Just cause you find her annoying doesn't mean she isn't good looking," Henry said with a shrug.

"She's insufferable," Gilbert said flatly. "Trust me, you don't want Josie Pye to take an interest in you. Besides she's been dead gone on me forever."

"Well maybe she will decided its better to flirt with someone who is willing to flirt back," Henry said unrepentantly. "This could be your lucky break. You could ask her to walk home from that tea they have today at the manse and I'll arrange for Anne to walk with me instead of Diana and if we switch, " Henry said with a suggestive shrug.

"Yes, because Anne would willingly sacrifice you to Josie Pye to save me?" Gilbert asked sarcastically.

"Hmmm, I didn't think of that. Anne isn't to fond of Josie Pye."

"That's because with one notable exception, Anne has always shown herself to have superior taste in friends."

"I take it you consider yourself that noteable exception?" Henry asked smirking.

"But she's coming around," Gilbert said grinning.

"Bet you didn't think it would take this long when you proposed our little study group. How is that legendary charm? What was it you said, no female has ever stayed mad at me?" Henry said and then giving a terrible imitation of Gilbert, that for some reason included a high falsetto, Henry said, "I'm Gilbert Blythe, all the females in Avonlea, young and old, like me. They love me. The just looove me and are all dead gone on me. Carrots! Carrots! Carrots!" before collapsing laughing.

"Shut up," Gilbert said good naturedly to his friends's teasing.

A week later Henry no longer had a crush on Josie Pye. He knew Anne shouldn't have accepted the dare, but as Diana had said, "That horrid Josie Pye dared her too. She had to walk the Ridge Pole."

While Henry knew logically Anne didn't have to walk the Ridge Pole, he ressented Josie for daring her to. He could admit if he had been dared to he would have done it as well. Therefore even though he was mad at Anne for doing so, he placed a fair portion of the blame on Josie Pye. But she wasn't the only one he blamed.

When Gilbert showed up at Green Gables, white faced, the next morning having heard through the Avonlea grapevine that Anne had been hurt, Henry had growled, "Your girlfriend, Josie Pye, dared Anne to walk the stupid ridge pole," knowing part of the reason Josie always felt the need to try and show up Anne was, that she perceived Gilbert as being her property that Anne had usurped. He unfairly placed the fact that Josie was, as Gilbert had said the other week, dead gone on him and had been forever, on Gilbert's shoulders. Without waiting for Gilbert to repond, he charged him.

"She isn't my girlfriend. She's a right little snot," Gilbert snarled defending himself from the sudden attack. He had heard Josie brag about how she was sure Anne was exaggerating her injury and was more irritated with her than usual, so Henry's words hit a sore spot."How's Anne?" he demanded as he shoved Henry off him.

"Like you care," Henry had said angrily, needing to take his frustration out on somone and Josie, being a female, was out.

"You know I do! I haven't looked twice at Josie Pye. I can't be any more discouraging if I tried. I told you she was insufferable!" Gilbert defended himself growing angry at Henry's accusations.

"Go away Blythe!" Henry said angrily.

"No," Gilbert declared. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me how Anne is. I've told you I don't give a damn about Josie Pye-"

Gilbert was cut off as Henry charged him again and both boys fell to the ground.

As the two rolled around Gilbert gasped, "What's wrong with you, Mack?'

"You think your so charming," Henry gasped out. "Your stupid charm makes stupid girls like Josie-"

"You know I avoid her whenever I can," Gilbert gasped out as he tried to get Henry in a head lock.

"Well maybe if you would just leave my sister alone, Josie wouldn't have tried to kill her with that stupid dare!" Henry angrily declared as he gained the upper hand.

"Your sister won't even give me the time of day, unless its to argue with me," Gilbert grunted. "Your just being stupid! What's this really about?" he demanded getting Henry into a headlock and holding him in it.

"I can't believe I even for a second thought Josie wasn't a vindictive little snot. She's no better than those rats at the orphanage," Henry gasped exhausted, the fight going out of him.

Releasing him to lay back in the grass, Gilbert said stretching out as Henry did the same, "She is a little snot." After a beat Gilbert said, "Is Anne-"

"Hurt ankle, has to stay off it for about 6 weeks," Henry said.

"So she'll have to miss the first bit of school?" Gilbert asked dejected, knowing he wouldn't be able to see Anne for a while.

"Yea, but I doubt she'll tug your hair and call you string bean on her first day once she's back," Henry said wryly.

"Well keep studying this year with Anne, even though were all caught up?" Gilbert asked quietly.

"Anne would appreciate it if we did even before she can go back so she doesn't get behind," Henry commented. "Would probably be a a good idea to keep it up all year again."

"You'll let me know how she is doing?" Gilbert asked anxiously.

"Don't worry mate, in a few weeks she will be allowed downstairs and you can stop by for a chat. Or to rile her up. She'll be bored and might just be glad to see even your ugly mug."