A/N (This story takes place a few months before season 3. Also, Billy is in school in this story although in season 3 I know he isn't, but we'll just pretend he is.)
Wintertime in Avonlea. White glistening snow sparkled in the afternoon sun that blanketed the ground. Inside the small white schoolhouse, the room buzzed with excited chatter. It was the last day of school before Christmas break, and Miss Stacey had said that she had an important announcement to make before she dismissed the class. Anne squirmed excitedly in her seat next to Diana. The room was overlapping with the chatter of all of the students anxiously awaiting for Miss Stacey to return from the back room, and trying to guess what the announcement might be. "I bet Miss Stacey's giving us the rest of the year off!" Moody exclaimed excitedly from the boys side of the room. "That wouldn't be relevant, Moody," Said Gilbert shaking his head. "We've started studying and preparing for the Queens entrance exams later this year, and it would be essential for us to continue doing so in that manner, if we are to have any hope of passing." "Yeah, yeah, leave it all to Doctor Boy to give you all a very logical, very lengthy answer." Billy said with a smirk, a few rows behind Gilbert. "Yes, and leave it all to Billy Andrews to make all of our lives miserable." Anne retorted back at him with a glare. Billy only scoffed and rolled his eyes, looking away from Anne. Anne caught Gilbert's eye, and she gave him a knowing smile. They kept looking at each other from across the aisle. A few long moments passed and with a start Anne blinked and realized how long they had been staring at one another. She quickly turned away and straightened in her seat. "What?" Anne asked wrinkling her eyebrows when she saw Diana giving her a sly smile. "Oh, nothing..." Diana replied, still giving her the same smile. Anne's eyes widened in alarm as she realized what her bosom friend was implying. "All I did was stick up for him. It's what I would have done for anyone who was being picked one by the dreaded Billy Andrews." "Uh-huh." Diana's smile not leaving her face. Anne opened her mouth once more to protest, but quickly shut it when the back room door opened and Miss Stacey stepped out, walking toward the class with a grin on her face. "Alright, everyone. She said beaming. "I have an announcement. I have a special event planned to take place during this Christmas break." She paused, watching the students reactions carefully. "This year, the school of Avonlea, is going it have its very first Winter games!" She cried passionately. The class stared at her blankly. "A series of friendly competitions." Miss Stacey clarified. Realization and excitement dawned in everyone's eyes, and once again the room was filled with excited overlapping chatter. "When does it start?" Almost everyone asked in unison. Miss Stacey laughed at their eagerness and excitement and said "Tomorrow at noon is the first event." "What are we going to do?" Inquired Diana, quickly raising her hand. "Well, as I said, It is a winter series of events, so every challenge is something that you can only do at this wonderful time of year. Or, of course, if the Lord chooses to send snow in July!" The class chuckled, and Miss Stacey continued. "You are going to be interacting with snow for the majority of these challenges. And the first one, that is tomorrow, is going to be a snowmen building contest! But not in the way that you expect." Miss Stacey said, her eyes twinkling playfully. Anne and Diana squealed in delight. But Josie however, was not having it. "Miss Stacey. Most of us here are fifteen already, going on sixteen! Doesn't this seem a bit... childish and immature?" Josie said with a scoff. "What's so childish about having fun?" Anne asked, turning in her seat to look behind at Josie. "I think it's a wonderful idea. And with Queens College coming up next year, who knows when we'll be able to have fun like this again!" She turned in her seat again to look back at Miss Stacey. "Will there be teams?" Anne asked eagerly, already reaching for Diana's hand. "There will be two teams- girls verses boys." Answered Miss Stacey. The schoolhouse erupted into cheers and whoops. "For the competition tomorrow, each team will select three contestants to compete. And not to worry, each person will get a chance to compete if not chosen tomorrow. All right everyone, class is dismissed, and I'll see you all here at noon tomorrow!" Miss Stacey said clapping her hands together. All the girls immediately bolted up from their seats and dashed to the cloakroom to gather. "Oh, Anne! Can you believe it? This is going to be such fun!" Ruby squealed, wrapping her pink scarf around her neck. "I'm so excited." Tillie giggled. "How do we decide who's going to be competing tomorrow?" Diana asked, putting on her hat and looking from one girl to another. Anne bit her lip thoughtfully for a second, then her face lit up. "I have an idea." She said hopping up and down slightly in excitement. "Does anyone have a spare piece of paper?" "I do." Jane replied, opening up the book she had in hand and pulling out an blank piece of notepaper. She handed it to Anne and watched, curious to see what Anne was up to. Anne reached into her book bag and pulled out her fountain pen. 'The pen of possibles' she always called it. "Pardon me everyone." Said a voice from behind. The girls quickly moved out of the doorway to let Charlie past them. "Let's do this outdoors where we're not in anyone's way." Anne decided. The girls nodded their agreement and finished putting on their hats and scarfs, coats and gloves. After they were all bundled up and warm, all the girls stepped outside into the soft ankle deep snow and walked over to a long log in the schoolyard to sit on. "So, everyone must write their name," Anne said as she ripped the paper into six pieces and distributed them among the girls. "And then hand them all back to me." She instructed. "Here you are, Ruby." Said Anne, handing her pen to her. Ruby took it and daintily wrote her name, then handed the pen to Tillie who sat on the right hand side of her. Tillie then passed the pen to Jane, who passed it to Diana, and then finally to Josie. The girls all handed their papers back to Anne and watched as Anne took the hat from her own head and dropped all the papers in. She then gave it a brief but hard shake or two. "Oh! I nearly forgot mine!" Anne cried, and quickly write her own name on the remaining paper, dropping it in with the rest. She shook the hat again and then offered the hat to Ruby. "Now Ruby, you'll select one paper and read aloud the name." Ruby reached her slender gloved hand into the hat and unfolded a paper. "Josie!" She proclaimed. "Of course." Josie groaned. "And now Tillie. If you'll please select one." Anne said walking over to Tillie and offering her the hat, excitement already building up inside of her. "Ruby!" Tillie cried joyfully, waving the paper in the air and taking Ruby's hand excitedly. Ruby let out a little happy shriek and clapped her hands together in delight. "Last one..." Anne breathed, giving the hat to Jane to select the final name. Jane closed her eyes tight and reached her hand in. "Anne!" She read aloud when she unfolded the paper. "Oh, Anne! I just know that you're going to win it for us tomorrow!" Ruby exclaimed. Anne grinned and took the remaining papers, stuffing them into her coat pocket. She put her hat back on her head, and took a deep breath. "Well, that settles that." "Oh, Jane... can't you take my place?" Josie moaned. "No, no, I'm eager to see how this'll go." Jane said with amusement in her voice and a little laugh. Josie scoffed and stood up, dusting off her dress and walking away with a huff and her hair swishing behind her. Anne smiled excitedly at her friends, the next day just bursting with possibility...