Moody stared at his reflection in shock. Charlie Sloane had dragged him to a men's clothing shop in Charlottetown, where they had completely transformed him. He adjusted the sleeves of his stiff, brown coat, complete with brass buttons.

Charlie looked on proudly. "You look like a true city boy," he sighed.

The shopkeeper admired his work as well, before frowning. "There's just something missing…" he muttered.

Moody turned around, eyes wide. "What more can we possibly add?" he cried.

Disappearing into the back, the shopkeeper reappeared holding a brown homburg hat. Charlie snatched it excitedly and plopped it onto Moody's head before he could protest. Suddenly, the look was complete and Moody Spurgeon had been transformed into a full-fledged, dashing city boy, ready for college. "I don't know – I can't..." Moody faltered, squinting at himself in the mirror. "I look…so different."

"But do you like it?" the shopkeeper asked.

Moody hesitated, before grinning at him, "I love it! Thank you." As they walked out of the shop, bags in hand, he had an idea.

Back at the boarding house, Moody dropped his bags in his room, and once he saw that Charlie was distracted by trying on the hat, he snuck downstairs into the parlor. After a few moments of scanning the bookshelves, he found what he was looking for: A Complete Guide to Courting for the Canadian Youth. Why the patron had this on his bookshelf, he'll never know, but it was definitely going to prove helpful. Slipping it into his surprisingly large pants pocket, he slipped back upstairs before Charlie even noticed he was gone.

That night, while everyone else was sleeping, Moody was burning the midnight oil poring over the book, reading the endless list of instructions. He sighed tiredly as he flipped a page.

"Morning, girls!" Anne sang, swinging open the door to Ruby and Jane's room. "Guess what day today is!"

"Thursday," Jane grunted, throwing a pillow at her.

Anne gracefully ducked the flying the pillow, the smile never once leaving her face. "And you know what Thursday means?"

Jane groaned loudly, the realization dawning on her. "No, Anne, why!? It's seven in the morning!"

"Seven or not," Anne countered, pulling the blankets off of her colleagues. Ruby shrieked and grabbed for the blanket in vain. "I promised the matron you would all help me with breakfast. It's pancake day!"

"Make her stop!" Tillie yelled from across the hall.

"She's a menace!" Josie added.

But there was no arguing with Anne. When Anne Shirley-Cuthbert sets her mind to something, she does it. Anne twirled out of the room, whistling a tune, oblivious to the daggers Ruby and Jane were throwing at her with their eyes.

"Ever since Gilbert kissed her, she's been a bubbly nightmare!" Ruby complained, clambering out of bed.

But despite their endless – and I mean, endless – complaints, they were eventually in the kitchen, elbow deep in pancake batter. Anne swung open the kitchen window. "Isn't this the most beautiful morning you ever did see?!" she cried, happily. Lily sat in the corner, sipping tea and laughing at them.

"Yes, Anne, we know, Anne," the girls replied, miserably.

Ruby frowned, deeply. "Why don't I have a beau?" Just then the doorbell rang, and the matron herself came down the stairs to answer it.

"Huh, wonder who that might be," Josie commented, passively.

Mrs. Blackmore opened the door and smiled tersely at the young man standing there. "May I help you?" she asked him.

The young man took off his hat and held it gingerly. "Yes, actually, I, uh – "

"Visiting hours aren't until Saturday," the matron said, irritation in her voice.

"I am aware," he said, his friendly demeanor not swayed by the hostility. "I'm not here to visit. However," He handed her a folded-up letter. "If you could please make sure this gets to Miss Gillis, it would be greatly appreciated."

The matron squinted suspiciously. "Of course."

"Thank you, ma'am." He tipped his hat. "Good day to you."

The matron nodded and closed the door, taking the letter to the kitchen. "Apparently, Miss Gillis, this is for you," she said, coldly.

Ruby looked around. "For me?" she said, quietly. She gently took the letter from Mrs. Blackmore, who immediately took her leave the moment the task was done. The rest of the girls excitedly crowded around her, looking over her shoulder.

"Who's it from!?" cried Tillie.

"Give her some air!" added Diana.

"She's shaking!" also cried Jane.

Ruby shakily peeled open the letter, read two words, and instantly fainted. Tillie snatched the letter from her unconscious body and continued to read it, while Diana waved smelling salts under Ruby's nose. "'Dear Ms. Gillis,'" Tillie read to the other girls, in between excited squeals. "'I am writing to request a meeting with you in the parlor on Saturday, from 2 to 4. I am sure we have much to discuss after the graduation. I miss you and hope to see you soon.'" Ruby slowly came to, just in time to hear Tillie read, "'Yours affectionately, Moody Spurgeon.'" Ruby let out a whimper and fainted again.

Ruby opened her eyes blearily, her head throbbing. Diana and Lily looked down at her, foreheads wrinkled with worry. "Whh…what happened?" Ruby mumbled, sitting upright with some help from Diana.

"You fainted," Anne answered unhelpfully, prompting glares from the other girls.

"More specifically," Jane cut in. "You read a letter and then fainted." She snatched the letter from Tillie and handed it to Ruby, who read it with wide eyes.

"Moody wants to see me," she gasped, clutching the letter to her heart. "This Saturday!" She started to hyperventilate. "But what – what do I do? What do I wear? Saturday is in two days!"

Josie put an arm around her friend's shoulder. "Relax, that's more than enough time for you prepare," she said, comfortingly.

- TO BE CONTINUED IN ANNE WITH AN E SEASON 4: A FANFIC SERIES, COMING IN 2020 -