"Anne! Anne Shirley!" came the slightly shrill voice of her coworker, Brianna. Anne was in the storeroom unboxing a new shipment of books when her coworker starting calling for her. She placed the final book on the shelf before dusting her hands on her skirt and walked down the hall toward the reception area.
Before she could turn the corner into the reception area, Brianna's bright face was waiting for her expectantly.
"You have been holding out on me Anne! I thought we were friends!" Brianna said excitedly, thoroughly confusing Anne.
"Bri, I am not sure what you are referring to."
"Your beau! He is so handsome!"
Anne's eyes bulged. What on earth could Brianna be referring to. She peered around Briannas blonde head and caught sight of chocolate colored curls. Laughing, Anne turned back to Brianna.
"That's just Gilbert. We're old school chums. We both grew up in Avonlea."
"What?! They hide men like that in your little town? Can I come visit?!" Brianna said with bright eyes and a slight blush.
Anne laughed again,
"I assure you the city holds better male specimens than little old Avonlea."
Unperturbed, Brianna continued,
"So you two are just friends? Is he seeing anyone else?"
"Gil is focused completely on winning the cooper and going to medical school. He doesn't generally waste time with girls," Anne replied, surprised by the harshness of her own words and the edge of venom in her tone.
Briannas face fell slightly and Anne patted her shoulder.
"Trust me, you'll find someone with better manners than him. I once had to whack him over the head with a slate!"
Brianna looked at her incredulous. Anne laughed at the look and started to make her way past Brianna.
"I'll tell you the story sometime. But my shift is over so I will see you tomorrow," she called over her shoulder as she collected her reticule and then made her way to a smirking Gilbert.
"Gilbert Blythe. I hope there is an explanation for you showing up at my place of work and giving my coworkers the wrong idea about us," she said in a scolding tone despite the smile that creeped onto her face.
"Wrong idea? I did no such thing. I just happened to be coming this way and thought it would be chivalrous to accompany my old friend home through the perilous streets," came him teasing reply as he offered her his arm. She rolled her eyes but looped her hand through his arm anyway and they made their way outside. Anne didn't bother to look back- she knew Brianna was likely watching like a hawk and by tomorrow, everyone at the library would hear about this.
"Well at first my coworker assumed you were my beau and then when I clarified, she was ready to drag you into the stacks and stake her claim. I had to defend your honor," Anne huffed.
"What honor?" Came the smooth reply accompanied by a wink and the ever present smirk. The smirk was promptly erased when her reticule whacked right into his stomach from a well timed swing of her wrist.
"Oh Anne you know I am just joking. I am sorry if I embarrassed you and gave the wrong idea. I merely finished up early at the hospital and thought it would be nice to surprise you for your walk home and spend some time with my best friend."
She tried to keep her face passive but the smile fought its way out regardless.
"I'll forgive you this once on one condition," she said seriously.
"Anything Queen Anne."
"You owe me 3 peppermint sticks." Gilbert smiled, knowing her fondness for the candy.
"Consider it done," came his warm reply. She looked up at him then, realizing how tall and strong her old friend had become. He was well over 6 foot now, towering nearly a whole foot over her petite height. College football had driven away any lingering boyish roundness and in its place were the hard, chiseled edges of a man. Even the arm she clutched was stronger than she ever remembered... or maybe she had just never noticed. Despite these newly hardened edges, his hazel eyes still sparkled with the kindness, intelligence and dash of mischief she had had known for so long. His dark curls were shorter now than when they were younger but not even pomade could fully tame the front few that so often fell adorably down over his forehead. Realizing she was staring, she shook herself away from her thoughts as they made their way through the crowded streets towards Patty's Palce.
Though their debates could be spirited and their arguments legendary, Anne had always loved the easy silence she could share with Gilbert. They had long ago learned how to simply coexist and share a moment quietly. The many hours spent hunched over textbooks had fed this over the years. Now was not one if those times. Despite her silence and outward calm appearance, inside Anne felt disjointed and fluttering for reasons she did not understand. She also noticed that Gilbert's arm was more rigid than usual; like he was physically holding himself back from something.
In an effort to ease the underlying tension she did not underhand, Anne reverted to an old tactic and starting talking as fast as she could. As words began to spill from her mouth about the book she read the night before, Gilbert glanced down and met her eyes, smiling instead of his usual smirk and, as always, giving her his full attention. She rambled for the remainder of their walk.
As Patty's Place came into view, Anne was not looking forward to parting with Gilbert. She knew her loneliness of being in the house alone must be the cause. They reached the door and unlinked their arms to face each other. Before she could think more in it, Anne blurred out,
"Do you want to stay for dinner again? I can make something easy. I went to the market yesterday and have lots of food. You could tell me more about the hospital..." her voice drifted off as she looked up at him, slight blush in her cheeks from her mild outburst. Gilbert softly smiled down at her, eyes kind and warm as always.
"I genuinely appreciate that offer but I have a meeting with professor spolly tomorrow and I have a paper to finish tonight. I should be getting home to work on it," he replied, disappointment clear in his voice.
Anne smiled to hide her own disappointment.
"I understand. The cooper is important and you must give it your all," she said as brightly as she could.
"Rain check for another time? Along with the peppermint sticks?" Gilbert said, looking hopefully at her.
"Of course, Gil. Now hurry home and get to work!"
Gilbert laughed heartily before his smirk settled back into his face.
"Now I know how it feels to be a pupil of Miss Shirley. And I know better than to disregard that."
"Right you are Mr. Blythe. Off you go," she replied, channeling her best school mark voice.
Laughing Gilbert turned to start down the path before glancing back,
"I'm serious about that rain check."
"I promise! Now get out of here," she huffed back.
"As you wish. Goodbye Anne."
Gilbert sauntered away down the path and Anne watched him go, heart aching just a bit. She turned back to unlock the door and made her way into the still house. Shutting the door behind her and hanging her reticule next to it, she puzzled over her returning loneliness and the lingering images of Gilbert's hazel eyes in her mind.