It was the first day of school and all the boys and girls of Avenlea and everyone were buzzing.
Most of the kids haven't seen each other since the end of last year.
Anne Shurley- Cuthbert, a little redheaded fire cracker, was undoubtedly exhilarated. She was excited to learn the most that she could and be top of her class. But she knew it wouldn't come easily. Gilbert Blythe, A curly haired young man, was also competitive about his studies. Gilbert and Anne are always looking for some way to outdo the other. Rather it be school or picking apples from gilberts orchard. Although they were competitive they were close friends, almost family. They both thought of the other as a friend.
Just a friend
Gilbert had been away visiting a second cousin. You see Gilbert didn't have much family. He wanted to meet some more of his family. He left when Anne and him were on good terms. They wrote to each other often. But nothing was the same as seeing someone in person.
Anne Gazed in the mirror. My hair is getting quite long. And it was. It had grown a little past her shoulders. She distinctly remembered when her hair was short.
She remembered how everyone laughed when Mr. Philips called her "the new boy". Well… almost everyone.
For the first time, she actually felt proud of her red hair. So Anne wore it down today.She decided to put a little extra effort into looking good today. Definitely not to impress anyone...
"Oh Marilla isn't it just a splendid day?" Anne said as she hops down the stairs.
"For goodness sake child, how many times have i told you not to come down the stairs like that?" Marilla scolded.
"Im sorry Marilla i'm just too excited to go back to school and see Gil…. everyone again!"
Anne said hoping she didn't hear her little slip up.
"Well let's not dally. Come on hurry up." Marilla said handing Anne her coat and hat
Anne stepped out the door and waved goodbye to merila. She passed Matthew and Jerry working out in the field. She waved and they waved back. Anne smiled as she headed to school
Gilbert's POV
I awoke to the birds chirping outside my window. I groggily get out of bed and head to the window to close it. I noticed the color of the leaves were now an auburn color. I looked alot like the color of Anne's hair. I can't help it but lots of things reminded me of Anne lately. It's probably just me excited to have competition in class that's all.
"Good Morning Blythe." I hear a voice say. I turn to see Sebastian, my closest friend and partner standing at my doorway.
"Oh well good morning Bash." Isay as I stop thinking about Anne.
I come out of my room all dressed and ready for the first day of school.
"Oh look at Mr. handsome! Ready to impress a certain red haired girl?"
Bash said to his newborn daughter Delphine in a baby voice.
I rolled my eyes and chuckled. "No, I just want to look presentable for the first day of school."
"Yeah presentable to Anne." Marry, Bash's wife, jokes, with a smile on her face
"Haha you are funny guys." i say sarcastically "Anne is just my friend"
--
Children gather into the school house. Flurys of excitement scattered around the school.
Anne walked in and saw her closest friend Diana.
"Diana!" Anne said running towards her
"Anne! Oh you look divine! Your hair is
absolutely magnificent!"
"Oh Diana you are an amazing friend!" Anne said, pulling Diana in for a hug.
As Anne turned to talk to Ruby, another one of her friends, Ruby got distracted by something, someone.
Gilbert
Anne's POV
As I walked over to him I noticed that he had gotten taller. Dreamy-er.
All of a sudden my heart did a flip and my knees when wobbly.
Whaaaaat is going on. I thought.
"H-hi Gilbert."I managed to say to him in spite of the lump in my throat.
He turned at the sound of his name, he seemed a little startled. Once he saw me had stopped talking to his friends and just stared at me.
After a little bit he stuttered, "H-hello Anne." He quickly walked away.
Anne was a bit taken back by his remark
She walked back to her desk next to Diana and tried to ignore what just happened.
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Gilbert POV
As I walked into the school house my friends came over and said hello to me. They told me tales of their summers. I wish I could have stayed but at least I got some schoolwork done so that I can apply for early admission.
I wonder if Anne is here yet I thought as I started to look. Hmm I can't find her
I hear someone say "hi Gilbert" so I turn to see who was calling me. I turned to see Anne,
Wow
Anne looked beautiful, I couldn't help but stare. She made me feel all melty, my heart was beating so loudly I was sure that she could hear it.
Was this how just friends felt? I wondered
"H-hello Anne." I say quickly walking away fully knowing that if I said there I might have just melted into a puddle.
Really!? You haven't seen her in months and all you say is hello?!
I thought as I put my hands on my face in despair
I managed to go throughout the day without talking to her, just steal a few, sad gazes every now and then
I had the idea to invite Anne to dinner to make it up to her so that I could hear about her summer.
During lunch I tried to talk to her but every time I tried she just pretended she didn't hear me.
Ok that's fair
I needed to talk to her some other way. I got out a piece of paper and started writing
Once class was over, I passed her and stuffed the note into her pocket and left before I could see what she had to say.
——————————————-
Anne's POV
As I was walking out of the classroom, I felt someone's hand into my pocket. I looked backwards to see who it was but no one was in site. I reached into my pocket and read.
To Anne (please don't rip this up)
I let out a small laugh before unfolding the note.
Anne,
Sorry that we didn't talk more, I need to tell you something. Dinner?
-G
I blushed at the thought that he invited me over for dinner.
No. It's not like that. He just wants to talk. I thought. I need to talk to him anyways.
When I got home I asked Merrilla if I could go to dinner and she said yes but only if Gilbert walked me home. I'm sure he wouldn't mind. As friends of course
—————————————————-
Anne walked to the Blythe house, her stomach turning a bit as she walked up the steps. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
Gilbert answered almost immediately, which shocked Anne, who stepped back and lost her footing. Gilbert reacted quickly by grabbing her hand. He pulled her back up. They have never been this close before. They stared into each other's eyes
Ahem Bash said smiling, enjoying the show.
They both snap out of their trance and blush as they make their way inside.
"Anne!" Mary said as she walked through the door.
"Mary! It is such a scrumptious pleasure to be here!" Anne said with delight.
Mary laughed at Anne's use of words.
"Sit down, would you?"Mary said gesturing to the table
Anne sat down next to Gilbert, they shared a quick gaze. They began to dig into Mary's beef stew. Anne had never had such an amazing meal before. She practically inhaled to stew.
"Anne, slow down before you choke!" Bash chuckled
"I'm sorry but this is so absolutely scrumdiddly-umpshus." She said once she finished her food.
"Well i want to thank you for such an amazing meal, but i should be getting home before marilla starts to worry." Anne said, starting to get up.
"I'll walk you home. "Gilbert said, a little too excited.
Calm down. Gilbert thought to himself
Mary and bash share a playful glance
"Ok Blythe don't do anything I would do!" Bash yelled out the door and Gilbert gave him a "Please stop'' look, which made Mary laugh out loud.
After a while of just walking in silence Anne felt uncomfortable with the silence
"So how was your summer? I heard you visited a medical school in Toronto? Are you gonna go? Oh, I've always wanted to visit Toronto. I've seen pictures and it sure looks delightful. Don't you think?"
Gilbert Chuckled
"I'm not sure where i want to go to school. On one hand I have U of T that has an amazing medical field. And on the other hand there is Queens College that has you."
Gilberts eyes widen as he realises what he just said
Anne stares at him in disbelief. She feels her cheeks getting hotter. Her heart did the flip thing again
"I-" Gilbert starts to say but just then Anne grabs his hand.
She smiles at him while they walk hand in hand for a little ways
"So, what did you need to talk about?" Anne said
"Oh um i just wanted to tell you that…." Gilbert stopped "y-your hair looks nice."
Seriously?! he thought to himself
"Oh.." Anne thought that he was going to say something else, She deflated a little bit,
Once they reached Green Gables, Anne turned to Gilbert. They stared into each other's eyes. Anne saw deep brown pools, and Gilbert saw a bright blue ocean.
Are we about to kiss? They both thought
They leaned in closer. Anne took a small breath and..-
"ANNE!!!!! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!!???" Marilla called out running towards them. Breaking them apart.
"T-thanks." Anne said as she walked to the door
Anytime.
TWO MONTHS LATER.
It was the month of December and the first snow had arrived.
"Come on hurry!" Ruby shouted as she ran out of the school as the rest of the kids followed with excitement on their faces.
"I simply cannot wait to go sledding!" Diana told Anne as they ran towards the small hill by their school.
All the children had their coats and hats and gloves. They used old wooden sleds.
Anne absolutely loved snow, it was very romantical. She had brought one of the Cuthberts sleds. Gilbert had simply watched and observed his school mates.
Anne's laughter rang out above everything.
He had smiled to himself and began to read his book while sitting on a snowbank.On the other side of the hill was a slight more dangerous path.
Josie scoffed at Anne for sledding down the easy side. "What a baby!" Josie said to Anne. "If you want to act grown up, side down the other side
Anne looked determined . "OK".
"Anne,No." Diana and Gilbert said at the same time. Diana ran up the hill and Gilbert stood up from the snow, with a serious face.
"Yes. I have to!" She said taking Gilbert's hand in hers."I'll be fine"Gilbert knew that he couldn't stop her. She sat on the sled."I promise." Everyone had gathered around. Anne inhaled and pushed herself forward.
"No!" Gilbert yelled but she was already sliding. About halfway down the hill someone yelled "There is a rock!! There is a rock in her way!"
Everyone tried to get her attention but it was too late.
The sled hit the rock so hard it launched her forward sending her rolling all the way to the bottom of the hill.
Gilbert ran as fast as he possibly could, tears streaming down his face when he got to the bottom. Her body was limp, her leg was split open, and her braids were all undone.
"Anne!!!!" He said dropping to his knees. He checked her pulse.
"She's Alive." Gilbert said as Diana came down
"Oh Anne!" Diana said sobbing.
"Go grab a doctor, grab marilla and matthew, and get me some honey.
Gilbert yelled at his classmates in between sobs.
They all ran up the hill. Gilbert and Diana staying with Anne.
"Don't leave me Anne." Gilbert whispered. A few of his tears dripped down onto Anne's clothes.
Ruby came back with honey and Miss. Stacey. Ruby was crying hysterically. Miss. Stacey comforted her. Soon, Gilbert was dripping some honey in Anne's leg. This was a little trick he learned. Once that was done, Gilbert wrapped her leg and cradled her in his arms. "Please wake up. Please. Please." Gilbert said rocking her.
"There she is!" Mathew said with Marilla running behind her.
"My dear Anne!"Marilla dropped to her knees like Gilbert did before.
Marilla sobbed and sobbed. Mathew picked her out of Gilbert's arms and loaded her into the buggie.
"Thank you Gilbert." Marilla said with a tear stained face.
Gilbert stayed silent looking at the ground.
"I don't know what i would do without Anne." He whispered to himself. Gilbert didn't even want to think about that. Anne had been his rock. She knew his pain when he lost his father. She had supported him no matter what.
I love Anne. I love her with my whole heart and now I might never be able to tell her.
Gilbert went home to tell Bash and Mary.
"Gilbert? What's wrong? "Reading Gilbert's face "Things didn't go well with confessing your love for Anne." Bash joked.
"Sh- She is unconscious." Bash's face turned from funny to serious in a matter of seconds"and her leg is split open. She's at Green Gables right now with the doctor. I-I don't know what to do." Gilbert's voice cracking. Mary gave him a tight hug making Gilbert sob once again.
"I'll load the buggy." Bash said already out the door.
Once they arrived at green gables the practically flew into the house and up the stairs to Anne's room.
Anne was in her bed with Marilla and Mathew sitting at the foot of the bed. Marilla sat with Anne's hand in hers.
"Oh Mary, Bash I'm so glad you came." Marilla said as she saw them walk through the door.
"We came as soon as we heard." Mary said "Anne is family." Mary walked over to Anne and stroked her head.
"So what did the doctor say?" Bash said as he walked over to Mathew.
"Uh he said that her leg will be ok and that the honey,"
He motioned to Gilbert,
" Might have saved that leg from infection. As for her head, she might have a concussion, she might have some memory loss and some vision impairment. But we can't be sure until she wakes up."
Gilbert seemed like his heart stopped when Mathew said memory loss.
Would she not remember me?
A single tear fell down his face.
"Can I- Can I say something to her?" Gilbert said quietly.
"Of course"Marilla said, getting up from her bed. Everyone else walked out behind her. Gilbert walked over to Anne's bed.
"Anne,"Gilbert said tucking a hair behind her earI'm not sure if you can hear me or if you will even remember me when you wake up," he said "but you need to know that I love you Anne with and E. I have loved you since you cracked that slate over my head. You are my everything. Anne. You-" he started sobbing.
He's heart was broken. Anne wouldn't remember him. He knew he couldn't relive those little moments together. He sobbed until his heart couldn't stand to see her. He forced himself to get up. As he almost walked out the door he turned back and whispered,
"My Anne with an E." He said as he turned to leave again.
"Gilbert? Have you been chopping Onions?"
He quickly turned back to see Anne sitting upright in her bed. Rubbing her head.
"Anne!!" He rushed back to Anne
"I thought you would forget all about me and I- "
Anne grabbed him for a kiss. He was suprized but quickly relaxed and sank into her arms wrapping one are around her back and one cradling her head.They kissed for what seemed like forever.
"Took you long enough." Bash said from the doorway of Anne's room.
They stopped and turned towards Bash
They smiled at each other. Gilbert kissed Anne on the cheek and Anne took his hand.
"Now I'm guessing that we are not just friends anymore?"Gilbert said with a sly smile.
"Obviously."