Rules for Anne and Billy
1. Supervised visits, never alone
2. Hand holding and side hugs, only
3. Walking home from school allowed only with another friend present
4. Show each other proper respect
5. If any of these rules are broken, you will no longer be permitted to see each other in any way other than friends and schoolmates.
Anne and Billy agreed to the rules, begrudgingly. Mrs. Andrews and Billy left Green Gables shortly after the rules were laid out to them. Anne sighed as they pulled away.
"Anne, one more thing before we start dinner." Marilla spoke in a softer voice than Anne was used to, "I know what it is like, you know? I haven't always been single. I courted. I actually was engaged years ago." Anne gasped.
"Were you? What happened? Was it very tragical?" Anne sat down at the table and waited for Marilla to continue.
"Well, I don't know about 'tragical', but I broke off the engagement after our brother passed away suddenly. My family needed me. My mother started suffering from horrid migraines and hysterics. You may be more surprised at who I was engaged to marry." It was actually John Blythe, Gilbert's father. He met Gilbert's mother shortly after and they married." Marilla looked over at Anne who had tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Marilla! That is, an oh so tragical romance! And now he's so ill!" Anne sobbed into her apron, and Marilla just shook her head at the silly girl.
"Yes, I have heard. Well, let's dry your tears, shall we? Matthew will be coming in soon so we need to get the chicken roasting." Marilla handed Anne a wet tea towel to wash her face up and began dinner preparation.
Billy Andrews was pouting. His mother smirked as she eyed him on their drive back home. "What seems to be the matter, Billy? Missing your love already?" she asked with humor in her voice.
"I just don't understand why we need all these rules. I'm fifteen years old for crying out loud." he said with a huff.
"Yes, you are, but Anne is only thirteen, young man. It would be improper." Mrs. Andrews was beginning to regret allowing the relationship but didn't say anything to save herself from a Billy Andrews tempertantrum.
"Fine." he said, still pouting. He closed his eyes thinking of the stolen kiss before Gilbert Blythe showed up. 'He'll need to stay out of our way. Anne likes him too, I know.' The buggy pulled up to the Andrews farm. He helped his mother down then took the horses to the stables.
When he came back in from the stables his sisters stopped him at the top of the stairs. "So? You and Anne Shirley-Cuthbert? Really, Billy?" Jane said with excitement. Prissy smiled brightly at her younger brother.
"Yes, she is my girl, but we have rules to follow. Stupid rules if you ask me, but I want to be with her, so I guess I have no other choice, huh?" He shrugged and smiled wanly.
"What kind of rules?" Prissy asked as she sat at her vanity. She wondered if she'd ever have rules with Mr. Phillips if she ever had the nerve to admit their relationship.
"Well, no kissing, for one. Only hand holding and side hugs. I really just wanted to scream that we've already kissed so I don't see the big deal, but that would have probably ended everything right then and there." he admitted.
His sisters stared at him, mouths open in shock. "You've kissed!?!?" Jane shouted, so loud he hoped his parents didn't hear.
"Jane! Lower your voice. What if mother and father heard?" Billy said in a hushed voice as he made his way to the hall listening for his parents. "I don't think they heard you, Loud Mouth." he said with a laugh. Seeing his sisters still waiting, he told them about the stolen kiss in the woods, his apologizing for stealing her first kiss, then the other kisses they shared.
"Well, she's easier than I expected." Jane said with a sneer. Billy narrowed his eyes at his little sister.
"Watch it. That's the girl I am in love with your talking about." Billy said, anger lacing his words.
"In love? Really, Billy? She's Jane's age. And you're only fifteen." Prissy said, not believing her ears.
"Our age has nothing to do with it. Anne, ugh, she's just nothing like any other girl out there. She's smart, funny, pretty, and she makes my heart beat faster with just a smile. I have never had a girl make me feel as happy as she does. I could be have the worst day ever and just seeing her smiling face takes all my worries away." He said it with such passion and conviction they his sisters actually teared up.
"Wow, I take it back. You really do love that girl." Prissy said with a smile and hugged her brother.
"Diana! Oh, my! I have huge news!" Anne said as she ran to meet Diana on their walk to school. She told her all about Billy and her being allowed to see each other, the kiss, the rules they now had to follow, and waited for her friend's reaction.
Diana couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Billy Andrews? And you? I thought you liked Gilbert." Anne sighed.
"Well, I do like Gilbert as well, but Billy asked me first. I like them both. Gil actually knows about us. He, well, he came up to Green Gables Saturday and saw us together. He was so upset, Diana. My heart hurts just thinking about the hurt I saw in his eyes. We agreed to be friends though." Anne sighed.
"If I'm being honest with myself, I think Gil is just lovely. If he had asked me first, I would have never said yes to Billy. Though, I do like Billy as well. He's passionate and already says he's in love with me. I'm not in love with him yet, though." Diana looked shocked at Anne's words.
"In love? He actually said that? Wow, Anne, that's unbelievable. Billy Andrews, a hapless romantic? Who knew!" the girls giggled and held hands as they came to the pathway that led to Avonlea School. Billy was standing there waiting.
"There's my girl!" he said with a bright smile jogging towards Anne. He greeted Diana then held out his hand. "May I walk you the rest of the way, Anne?" There was a slight blush upon his cheeks.
"Of course. Diana? Will you walk as well. we need a chaperone as is the silly rule." Anne huffed a bit. She didn't like the rules either which gave Billy an idea.
"Say, Diana? Could you walk ahead a bit? We'll still technically have a chaperone." He asked and Diana nodded then said, "Sure, Billy."
As soon as Diana turned to walk ahead, Billy pulled Anne into his arms and kissed her soundly on the mouth! Anne pushed him off. "Billy! The rules! What if someone sees?" Anne's face was flushed and Billy's ears reddened.
"I hate these rules. I just want to kiss you. Is that so wrong?" Billy lashed out causing Diana to turn and stalk over to her friend.
"Billy Andrews! If you raise your voice at Anne ever again, you'll be sorry!" a voice came out of nowhere. Turning the trio saw Gilbert Blythe. "Anne? Are you okay?" Billy pulled Anne into his side.
"She's fine, Blythe. Stay away from my girl or you'll be sorry!" Anne could sense the fight coming, so she stepped away.
"Billy, if you have any feelings for me at all, you will stop this childishness at once!" she chastised. Billy looked away from Gilbert to Anne.
"Anne, you know how I feel. He is just trying to come between us. Please, Anne. Don't be cross with me." He walked over taking her hand. He looked into her eyes, silently pleading with her to forgive his anger.
Anne's eyes softened, "Let's just get to school please. No more rule breaking either, even if we both want to." she said in a low voice. Billy took her hand in his, ignoring the scoff of one Gilbert Blythe.
Anne could feel Gilbert's eyes on her. She wouldn't look at him. She couldn't see the hurt in his eyes. She knew he was sweet on her, but so was Billy. She liked them both and didn't know how to handle it.
Lunch came and Billy wanted her to sit with him by the stream. She had Diana and Moody sit with them so they were chaperoned. She saw Gilbert watching them, but he turned away when their eyes met briefly. After school, Billy walked part way with her and Diana before setting off in the direction of his farm. He hugged her and told her he loved her before he left.
"What am I going to do with him?" she said with a smile. Diana smiled and shook her head.
"I don't know, but I do know he'd be wise to not break those rules again. He's not as sly as he thinks, Anne. I know he had me walk ahead so he could sneak a kiss." Anne blushed.
The girls parted by the path to the Berry's. Anne continued her short walk towards Green Gables. Suddenly, she heard the clearing of someone's throat. "Oh!" she shrieked.
Gilbert stepped out from behind a tree. "I'm sorry for startling you, Anne. Could we talk for a moment?" he looked sheepishly at her then put his hands in his pockets. Anne nodded then stepped a little closer to the boy. "About earlier this morning, I wanted to apologize. It's just, whenever I see him near you, touching you, it drives me mad. Just knowing how he treated you that day in the woods, and knowing how easily you forgave him and his indecent behavior toward you, I can't help it. Are you very sure you want to be with him or is he forcing you?"
Anne sighed, "Gil, you don't know him the way I do. He's not this big brutish bully with me. He's sweet and gentle and loving. I'm sorry you cannot accept it, really I am, and if you had come to me first, who knows." she said with a shrug causing him to look defeated. He nodded his head and went to turn then stopped.
"I won't give up, Anne Shirley-Cuthbert. Never. He'll mess up, I know him, and when he does, I'll be there to pick up the pieces of your broken heart. In the meantime, I will just admire you from afar."