Direction Chapter 4: 4, an anne with an e fanfic

Authors note: Jumping ahead in time to the next place in the story I felt needed a deeper look into the unsaid. Thanks!

The school newspaper was indeed an enriching project started by the dear school teacher Ms Stacy for those senior students of the Avonlea school. Some of those students were taking their roles as reporters more serious than others, evident as Gilbert looked over to the group of girls who where watching the hockey game on the sidelines only to see none other but Anne Shirley-Cuthbert vigorously taking notes into a notebook, meanwhile the young mind assigned to take those notes on the game, Ruby Gillis, was in a daze.

Gilbert slid along the ice in Anne's direction, stating that he was under the impression Ruby was meant to be covering the game. Anne gestured irritatedly as she continued to take notes at a furious pace while the surrounding girls filled him in that Ruby was quite distracted by a certain someone. That much was obvious as she stood staring at Gilbert like a Cheshire Cat. Finding it irritating that Ruby was demonstrating such a lack of focus Gilbert when on his way.

Once back at school the following day Gilbert was glancing through his book in the classroom as the other student filed in, not taking much notice until suddenly Anne approached.

"I am not sure if you are aware but the old take notice board is active again" she began. Gilbert was unfamiliar with the concept, although it sounded vaguely like what everyone had been whispering about as they arrived at the schoolhouse. "Take notice?" He promoted.

"Yes, of someone. As in you post on the board when you want to let someone know you've taken notice. It's a way to make a casual declaration. A quiet attention" as she continued it appeared to be quite self explanatory. He wondered why Anne would be approaching him about it. "To... someone you like" Gilbert clarified in order to show his understanding. To have this girl standing before him breaching this kind of subject with him was turning the cogs of possibility in his mind.

"Yes. Not so pointed as to be alarming but not so vague as to not be understood" she went on explaining the validity of such an action. "A post in advance of a proper advance" Gilbert stated, seeing why this method would be a useful platform for young people their age to express themselves to each other, while removing the risk of being rejected coldly to their face. That after all was a painful thing to bare, and a feeling Gilbert was no stranger to after repeatedly reaching out for any kind of connection with Anne and literally having it slap him in the face.

"Exactly. Because all these little notices matter when you want someone to know you're thinking ahead." Thinking ahead? Gilbert couldn't stop it once she said those words. The tiny crack that appeared in the box full of his feelings for this fiery young woman, locked away tight and held together with the nails driven in by years of misunderstandings, mishaps, and confusion between the two. This box was ever present in his mind, lurking in the shadows of their friendship of mutual competition. Ever since returning home from the steamer with Bash at his side Gilbert had been acutely aware of the effects she had on his mind and heart. But going through the motions of maturing and growing into young adults had kept those feelings from taking charge of Gilbert's actions. With Anne's words now, was it possible she was finally in a place where they could be open about their feelings and intentions for their future?

"To their future together?" Gilbert asked eagerly, looking into Anne's eyes imploring her to continue.

"Yes" Anne said quietly, looking intently into Gilbert's eyes.

"So... you're suggesting I post?" Gilbert asked, assuming this was her purpose for mentioning it to him. Looking into her eyes, he knew that he was more than prepared to follow through on this without a second thought if this was what she wanted of him. Only her entire body language shifted and the next words that came out of her mouth put another nail in the box of his feelings, and it felt like a splinter in his heart. Precedent should not have let his hopes begin to bloom, he should have known it was too good to be true.

"If you're interested in Ruby you should let her know before someone else stakes their claim" Anne could scarcely look Gilbert in the eyes as she all but told him to declare intentions toward her friend. It made her feel ill in her stomach. His response only made her feel worse. He seemed really bothered by the idea. Poor Ruby. "Thank you for the suggestion, but I'm not exactly a 'take notice' kind of guy, and when the right person comes along, some day, whenever that is... I'll know." Anne then proceeds to walk away without another word. Gilbert takes a deep breath and sighs. So close but... nothing.

Meanwhile Anne was breaking the news to Ruby, who was swept up in hope due to the romantic look in Gilbert's eyes as he spoke with Anne. But little did she know it was not until Ruby's name was mentioned that he seemed put off by the topic as a whole. Anne couldn't help the thought as it slipped into her mind. Gilbert's eyes were full of romance as he was speaking with her about... well, romance. She had felt as though she could scarcely breath when his gaze held her own. But the look in his eyes had not been unfamiliar to her. On the many occasions she and Gilbert were transfixed in each other's eyes, that was simply how he appeared. Could it be... when he looked at her, was he experiencing... romantic feelings? Cole has said it at the Charlottetown train station. Anne had quickly shut down such an impossible notion at the time, but perhaps Cole had observed the same look on Gilbert that Ruby had just now.

She couldn't help herself. She approached him after the queens study group finished for the day. Tapping his shoulder and he turned around. She looked into his eyes searching for any traces of the romance. Nothing. He looked confused, but not romantic. She was at a loss.