As Anne and Gilbert continued to gaze lovingly into each other's eyes, Clara, unbeknownst to the couple, walked up to the table to take orders for dessert. "Ahem," Clara cleared her throat obviously, trying to make her presence known. "AHEM!" she repeated, loudly enough so that Gilbert and Anne would take notice.
Anne was the first to pull back from the moment. "S...sorry..." she stammered, slightly embarrassed for being so taken with Gilbert in public.
"Will you just order your dessert already?" Clara stated bluntly. "I cannot wait all night for you two to finish staring at each other for hours on end."
"Well, I honestly have no idea what I want yet. What about you, Gil?" Anne chuckled and winked at Gilbert, intending to make Clara wait for an exceptionally long time.
Gilbert, who knew the game that Anne was playing, chimed in. "Me neither, Anne. We will have to go through the menu and decide what we both like. Let's start with lemon pie. Do you like lemon pie, Anne?"
"I do love lemons, though I am afraid that I'm not very fond of them in pie. What about you, Gil?" Anne snorted with delight from teasing Clara.
"I agree with you. Lemonade is amazing; lemon pie is not. Well, how about apple cake? I, for one, love it."
"I, for one, do not love it," Anne replied. "I'm not in the fruit mood tonight, Gilbert."
"Well, I guess we shall skip discussing the strawberry ice cream or blueberry muffins."
"How about chocolate cake, Gil? Doesn't that sound absolutely delicious tonight?" Anne asked.
"That wouldn't be my first choice. Plum pudding, however, sounds very delectable."
"Now that you mention it, I think it does. Isn't that what Ms. Stacey recommended that we order in the first place?"
"Yes, it was."
"Well, we have decided on ordering plum pudding, miss," Gilbert told Clara.
"Your dessert will be out shortly," Clara mumbled under her breath.
After Clara left, Gilbert decided to comment on Anne's rather flirtatious gestures, which had pleasantly surprised him. "During dinner, Ms. Stacey sure picked up on the way that you were looking at me!" he said, addressing the frequent glances that he received from Anne that made his heart melt.
"I haven't a clue what you are talking about!" Anne said, scrunching up her nose.
"I saw you gazing at me, Anne."
"Well, if you insist that I did, I assure you that it was not intended. And how could you tell that Ms. Stacey picked up on it?" Anne snapped back.
"I saw her wink at you and then look at me."
"Was it really that obvious?" Anne asked as she frowned with disappointment.
"I'm afraid it was."
"Oh. Well, you were looking at me a lot, too, now that I think of it. I guess we are both to blame."
Gilbert laughed and added, "I have enjoyed dinner so far. You know, I forgot how much fun it is to...spend time with you." He stared at Anne intimately as he slowly reached out for her hand, which was conveniently resting on the table. He took it into his grasp softly and squeezed it.
Anne blushed at the gesture. She did not let go of Gilbert's hand, much to Gilbert's surprise, and to her own as well. She liked the way Gilbert's large and callused hand felt in contrast to her small and soft one and the way his presence jolted her inside. Stop thinking of Gilbert in such romantic ways. You definitely do not like him in any way but a friend, Anne attempted to convince herself.
Meanwhile, Gilbert was thrilled at holding Anne's hand. How stunning she looks this evening, he thought. How I just want to run my fingers through her air and kiss her freckled cheeks.
"You know, you look beautiful tonight," Gilbert said in a whisper while he still clutched Anne's hand, his voice suddenly becoming soft. "Your emerald green dress...it brings out the exquisite color of your hair."
Anne looked up from her gaze downward and into Gilbert's eyes. He was staring at her intently, his eyes twinkling with desire. She unconsciously returned Gilbert's gaze with a similar expression on her face.
"I want you to know that I'm...sorry for not responding to any of your letters that you wrote me. And how I blew you off all last summer," Anne admitted.
"I was beginning to think that you didn't care, Anne," Gilbert murmured, his expression suddenly becoming sorrowful.
"I do care, Gil. I care about you right now more than ever before. I mean that," Anne said sincerely as she squeezed his hand.
Gilbert shuddered at the words. Anne cared about him. He could tell by the look on her face that she was being heartfelt and truthful.
Just as Gilbert was about to reply, Clara came and interrupted their intimate moment.
"Your dessert is ready," she stated monotonously, sliding the plum pudding carelessly across the table as she turned around and left with fury.
"I remember the first time you had ice cream. It was at that Sunday school picnic at the Barry's house." Gilbert recalled.
"Yes. But the memory of that day that sticks out even more in my mind is when I beat you in that three-legged race."
"I would have beaten you if it weren't for Moody!" Gilbert insisted.
"I don't believe it! And, I managed to win with Diana on my team!" Anne reminded him.
"I never forgave myself for that moment. But even though I lost the race, that day was the best day of my life," Gilbert declared.
"Why?" Anne inquired.
"Because it changed my life."
"Was it your first time eating ice cream, too?" Anne giggled.
"No. It was something even more luscious than ice cream."
"Was it Mrs. Allen's cake? If I remember correctly, her cake was undeniably delicious."
"It wasn't food." Gilbert stated.
"Then what on Earth would it be?" Though Anne had her suspicions about what Gilbert was talking about, she wanted to hear him say it himself.
"It was meeting you," Gilbert admitted. Anne's heart fluttered at his comment. "It was your competitiveness and your intelligence and your beauty and even your red hair that made me..."
"That made you...that made you what?" Anne's voice was shaking out of anxiousness to hear his next words.
Gilbert dropped his voice to a husky, nearly inaudible whisper. "That made me..."
Clara interrupted Gilbert mid-sentence as she marched back over to the table. "Again, I am so sorry to interrupt, but I forgot to bring you forks," Clara said as she dropped them on the table. "Not that either of you would have noticed, considering you are so involved with one another."
When Gilbert and Anne didn't reply to her comment, Clara snorted and walked away. It is so ridiculous that a handsome man is courting such a homely-looking girl, she thought. He is so dashing and good-looking that he must be from Halifax. I will do whatever is in my power to snatch him from that redheaded girl and make him mine.
Gilbert, meanwhile, was in the middle of trying to decide how to tell Anne how he felt. He wanted to tell Anne that he loved her, but he had only reunited with her for two days! He could not risk losing her again over his strong feelings.
"Gil...say it. Say the words..." Anne pleaded, as she was growing impatient from the waiting.
"...that made me want to...get to know you," Gilbert understated his feelings drastically, attempting to show little emotion so that Anne would not know of his true feelings...yet.
"Get to know me?" Anne echoed, feeling a surge of disappointment rush through her.
Gilbert, seeing Anne's look of disappointment, assumed that he had said too much. "Anne...did I say something wrong? I am really sorry, Anne...Anne...please say something..."
"Did you say something wrong?" Anne repeated angrily. "You only wanted to get to know me? That's it? Well, you really do know how to hurt one's feelings unendurably."
"Anne...that's not what I meant at all..." Gilbert said, trying to calm her down.
"Then why would you say it? It obviously was what you meant. Don't you dare try to take it back now, Mr. Blythe. Now you must bear the guilt of having hurt me undeniably from your bitter words." Anne stood up and began walking away, when Gilbert placed his hand on her shoulder, causing her to stop in her tracks. She turned around abruptly to see a disheartened Gilbert staring at her lovingly, his eyes demonstrating his desperateness.
"Anne...please..." Gilbert whispered. Anne felt herself jolt at the words and for a split second wanted to lean into Gilbert and...
But Anne cut her thoughts off suddenly and forced herself to readdress what Gilbert had just said.
"You hurt my feelings, Gilbert," Anne said, increasing her volume, "and I hate you!" She was screaming now, her face red with fury and her hair to match. In the midst of her emotions, she picked up the plate of plum pudding and a fork, scooped up the pudding with the fork, and catapulted the dessert straight at Gilbert. Anne's perfect aim allowed it landed with a splat on Gilbert's face, splattering onto his clothes and in his hair.
Anne immediately turned around and stormed out of the Pringle Hotel, somewhat embarrassed for her actions, but at the same time, angry at Gilbert for leading her on. He really doesn't care about me. He only cares in a friendship way. And now he must despise me for ruining his clothing! I have ruined everything, Anne thought to herself as she flounced back to the boardinghouse.
At the same time, Gilbert was contemplating his actions. He did not care one bit about his outfit or appearance at the moment; he was concerned about the fact that he caused Anne, yet again, to hate him. In fact, he had been mild with his words so that she would not be upset with him, but it turned out to be quite the contrary. Did she want him to say he loved her? But that wasn't like Anne! Gilbert could not decide what to think at the moment. As his anger continued to build, he left the Pringle Hotel without even bothering to wipe up the pudding on his face. Gilbert didn't care about anything in the world accept Anne in that moment. What if his plan wouldn't work after all? What if his friendship with her was done...forever?
Meanwhile, Clara had stood nearby the table, quietly watching the scene unfold. Not only is that girl plain-looking, but she also has quite an irritating temper, Clara concluded from the situation. Now that the young, handsome man is obviously done with her, it is my turn to intervene. Yes. The next day, Clara decided to set out and try to learn more about the new man in town and take him from the redhead once and for all.
At this point, if you are following along to the story, please review! Reviews give me the momentum and encouragement to keep writing. It would mean a lot to me! In the meantime, the next chapter should be up by Sunday!