Part 6 - We found each other

At the music signal they began to turn in a circle, Anne was trying to focus on her friend Diana, thank God she was there to support her, what would she do without her?

"Turn left. Turn right, it's not over yet." the dance master began.

Gilbert tried to look discreetly to his left, he had the impression that the young redhead was avoiding his gaze again. He started to feel remorse, perhaps he had chosen the worst dance. Being between two young women was not really a ideal situation for him.

"Turn with one of the partners."

As Gilbert and Winifred faced each other, Anne stared at Diana, she was still looking for support towards her friend.

"We dance on three."

The dancers were getting ready to turn around each other, Anne was consciously preparing herself to have to meet the young dark-haired man's eyes.

"One, two, left shoulder, left shoulder."

When the young man brushed her shoulder, she tried as hard as she could not to look him in the eyes, but she felt his gaze pierce her.

"And the lines are forming again."

Gilbert was still confused, why was the redhead avoiding his gaze? Why was she always looking away?

"Everyone in the middle."

Again, holding hands as they took steps towards the center, Anne still had that feeling that Gilbert was caressing her wrist with his thumb, she was definitely lost, and now she was having some sort of hallucination.

"Let's back up."

But just as they were moving away from the center again, inadvertently she met the teen's beautiful hazel eyes. Why was he still staring at her? Her hallucinations were becoming more and more real.

"Go under the raised arms and form another set."

As she continued to follow the instructions, which were to walk forward to form a line in front, Anne could no longer take her eyes off Gilbert. She didn't want to fight anymore, what was the point, she told herself? Why bother? She might as well enjoy one of her last privileged moments with the young man. Who knows when she could feel his hand again? Who knows when she could exchange glances with him again?

"In the center, then let's turn left."

The young girl felt like she was losing her mind, not going crazy no, but losing her mind like when you're on a carousel and it makes you lose your mind.

"One, two, three, four, five, six and that's it."

That's what Gilbert was, a carousel. And she would certainly never want to get off that ride. He made her head turn, and he literally did when he took her hand again and pulled her toward him.

"Walk with your partner. And spin her around."

As he spun her around, Gilbert had forgotten that Winifred was still around and that she too was his dance partner, he could only hear Anne's laughter, above the din or the music itself, it was the melodious sound of the young redhead that had his full attention. He felt as if he was alone with her at that very moment. They were smiling at each other, and looking at each other with such fascination, that no one else seemed to exist around.

"Let's face each other."

They faced each other and as if in a moment of clarity, their minds crossed, they knew as they looked at each other, they knew they had to do something and it didn't matter if it would ruin everything.

They took each other by the hand again, but not for the dance, but to get out of the line they had formed with Winifred.

In front of the amazed eyes of Diana, Winifred, Jerry and Charlie, the two friends simply ran out of the barn hand in hand. And so they called two new dancers to the rescue to replace them. Diana couldn't believe it, they just left like that? She couldn't hide a smile.

Outside, the two teenagers continued to run without even thinking about where they wanted to go and why they did it. But they were running, trying to get away from the hustle and bustle of the dance, they really needed to be alone.

Anne suddenly thought of all the memories she had accumulated with Gilbert, and it was as if they were resurfacing, as if they were real again, as if she had not been dreaming.

"Gilbert?! Where are we going to run like this?!" the young redhead asked with a laugh.

"I think you know!" exclaimed Gilbert playfully.

Luckily, it was a very clear night, with a full moon shining over their heads, so they could see clearly. They continued on their way to a grove that was not far from the barn.

Here they stopped dead in their tracks, only their breath could be heard, and as their breathing calmed down, they gradually realized the full extent of what they had done. What were they going to do now?

The moon was shining brightly enough for them to see the contours of their faces, but more importantly, their shining eyes. They were walking on lily of the valley fields, their steps were audible, crushing some flowers on their way, they were getting closer to each other.

They could barely meet each other's gaze, but they could feel each other's eyes pierce the other. Then slowly they found themselves so close that their toes touched, they stopped, their breath so palpable, they could feel everything about each other.

Slowly they closed their eyelids, as their faces got closer. For long seconds their noses brushed against each other, they felt each other, they just wanted to savor this moment. This moment before crossing the line, this moment where it was already impossible to go back. Then it was the turn of their lips to brush against each other, for a long time. Again they took their time, because the moment seemed suspended.

Their breath was still as fast as ever, but it was no longer because of the rush, it was the longing for each other, so long ignored, that had this effect on them. They knew that if they started kissing now that they would have a hard time stopping.

But it didn't really matter, since no one here would stop them. Gilbert's jaw clenched as he caught Anne's face, in a blink of an eye he had placed his lips on hers. The slowness was now replaced with the ardour, the young man had such a burning desire that he almost devoured the lips of the young redhead.

For Anne, this kiss was like a rain of lilies of the valley, all her sorrows were erased in an instant. Who would have believed that Gilbert Blythe's kisses had such an effect?

Long minutes had passed after their first kiss, and suddenly they heard people calling them in the distance, but they really didn't want to be disturbed now. No matter the consequences, this was their moment.

So the redhead pulled the young man towards her, and invited him to lie down in the flowerbed with her. No one could see them that way, it was the perfect place to continue kissing, surrounded by white bells bringing luck.

THE END.

Note: Sorry for the long wait for such a short chapter! I hope you're quite satisfied with this ending, actually this chapter was written for months, but I couldn't decide to post it. Well, it's done! Despite the time it took me, I'm pretty happy with this fic, thanks for reading!