A/N: I procrastinated on homework (as usual) to continue writing this story. So here is an early, surprise chapter for you to enjoy! (At this moment, I am *supposed* to be doing an English story on the Arabian Nights that is due tomorrow, but writing this type of story is so much more enjoyable than writing something for an actual class- though the Arabian Nights is still an interesting read.) Additionally, thanks to AOGGismylife for informing me of a slight mistake I made in the last few chapters. I accidentally switched a scene from being in Anne's room to being in Gilbert's room. Today, I edited Chapter 7 to fix this mistake. If you notice any other mistakes, please notify me for the betterment of my story! Anyway, enough of my pointless ramble. Here is the chapter!
The next day, Anne and Gilbert found themselves in the office of Katherine Brooke, along with the presence of their former beloved school teacher, Ms. Stacey.
"So, Anne and Gilbert," Katherine Brooke began, "would you two like to explain to Ms. Stacey what I witnessed last night?" Ms. Brooke sat back in her chair and crossed her arms smugly.
Ms. Stacey had no idea what had happened, but already found the situation somewhat amusing, between Anne and Gilbert's expressions of mortification and Katherine's air of superiority. She couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, Anne and Gilbert were becoming more than just friends. Could that be the reason for the impromptu meeting?
"Well..." Anne began, trailing off immediately. She looked up at Ms. Stacey momentarily, but could not maintain eye contact with her. "After dinner, Gilbert came to tell me goodnight..."
"And Gilbert, how about you tell Ms. Stacey what you did while telling Anne goodnight."
"I did nothing," Gilbert stated bluntly. It was the honest truth, he assured himself. He never had actually kissed Anne.
"Fine, then. What did you almost do while telling Anne goodnight?" Ms. Brooke questioned deviously.
Ms. Stacey raised her eyebrows expectantly.
"I..." Gilbert started blushing immensely. "I, I was going to..."
Everyone's eyes patiently remained on Gilbert.
"I was going to kiss her," Gilbert blurted out.
Katherine smirked cunningly at the response. She would finally get her arch rival, Anne Shirley, and her no-good beau out of the institution once and for all! Meanwhile, Anne Shirley was blushing to the point in which her cheeks were nearly as red as her hair.
Ms. Stacey, however, smiled profusely at statement. In fact, she had to bite her lip in order to keep from bursting out laughing. She had known all along that Anne and Gilbert were going to get together, and now, they finally had!
After regaining her composure, Ms. Stacey spoke her opinion of the matter. "I don't think that Anne and Gilbert should be punished."
"Really?" Anne and Gilbert said simultaneously as they let out a sigh of relief.
"Wh...what?" Katherine Brooke spoke with a tone of shock.
"I know you asked for my opinion, so I am giving it to you. As long as Anne and Gilbert weren't doing anything that could be deemed as vulgarly inappropriate, then I think that they should be let off the hook."
"Why, you can't be serious!" Katherine exclaimed, her mouth hanging open. "But I consider kissing vulgarity!"
"We were not kissing, however, Ms. Brooke!" Anne ensured.
"But you were in your nightgowns!" Katherine pointed out as a last attempt.
"But we were not kissing, or doing anything...else..." Anne began feeling increasingly uncomfortable and hated how Ms. Brooke had purposefully set her up for that very reason.
"I think that we have heard all of the evidence necessary to come to a conclusion," Ms. Stacey proclaimed. "Anne and Gilbert, you will not be punished for this happening, however, I strongly recommend that you take your personal affairs elsewhere in the future. Does that sound like a fair compromise?"
Anne and Gilbert nodded their heads in agreement.
"Ms. Brooke, do you agree?"
"I suppose," she declared reluctantly.
"Well, then it's all settled. I must be going now. Ms. Cordelia Pringle has invited me to a Lady's Aid Society meeting to prepare for the Kingsport Springtime Ball next weekend. We are in the process of knitting the tablecloths, as well as other decorations. I hope to see you at the ball, Anne and Gilbert. And even you, Ms. Brooke," Ms. Stacey said with a smile as she stood up and walked toward the door.
Anne and Gilbert both blushed for the umpteenth time at Ms. Stacey's rather obvious suggestion. Katherine, on the other hand, let out an audible "humph" in total disapproval.
"Good day," Ms. Stacey said cheerfully as she departed.
"Good day," Ms. Brooke mumbled rather mockingly under her breath. "Ms. Shirley, Mr. Blythe- you are dismissed."
"Thank you," Anne said as she waltzed toward the door, grateful for finally being excused to leave the awkward situation. Gilbert followed her footsteps.
Once the pair was out of Ms. Brooke's classroom, Anne let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. "I thought Ms. Brooke was going to punish us for sure! Thank goodness that Ms. Stacey intervened."
"She's known all along," Gilbert mused as he walked out the door of Kingsport Ladies College and walked with Anne down the street.
"What?" Anne asked in confusion. "She's known about what all along?"
"About us, Anne."
"Why, that's impossible! I have never had strong feelings for you until you came to Kingsport," Anne rambled. Then, she suddenly realized what she had said aloud.
"You have...strong feelings for...me?" Gilbert repeated with disbelief. Things were finally progressing the way he wanted them to. He had only dreamed of the moment in which Anne would say such a thing and rehearsed in his head over and over the words that he would say after Anne made such a declaration. But now that the moment had finally occurred, Gilbert was speechless.
"I..." Anne paused and looked into Gilbert's eyes, which were twinkling with anticipation. She did want to confirm the words that she had priorly uttered, but as she stared at Gilbert deeply, she noticed the passion and desire in his eyes. He gazed at her so intensely that she began shaking with fear of what he was thinking about her. Somewhere inside of her, Anne wanted Gilbert right then and there. However, she became suddenly overwhelmed with powerful and unfamiliar emotions that were arising out of the moment. "...I have to go..." Anne stated randomly as the turned around abruptly and ran down the road, her hair blowing in the early morning breeze.
"Anne!" Gilbert called, running after her in his desperateness. But she was already quite far in front of him, and all he could do was stare at her silhouette as it vanished into the horizon along with his unfulfilled desires and buried hopes.
A/N: I just have a small request for all of you out there who are reading my story: please just write a review! Even if it is something as plain as "I like it". And, if all of you who have "favorited" (yes, I realize that is not a word) this story write a review, my review count will increase drastically! Expect the next chapter on Friday (tomorrow!) or Saturday, as long as I find several reviews in my inbox! Thanks to everyone who is following along.