During lunch, two schoolgirls discreetly followed Anne and Gilbert as they walked to Kingsport Lake. They kept themselves at a safe distance- close enough to see their teachers' interactions, but far enough back so that they wouldn't be caught.
"Are you sure we're allowed to do this?" Myra asked. "We really aren't supposed to leave school grounds during lunchtime."
"Our fathers are two of the richest people in the Maritimes," Jen reminded Myra. "And Kingsport Ladies College wouldn't survive a day without their monetary contributions. Do you think the school would really be able to expel us for taking a walk?"
"I guess you're right," Myra admitted. "But Mr. Blythe and Ms. Shirley are both very strict."
"Yes, but they do not have any control over the school. Now, here's the plan," Jen began as they neared the lake. "We'll hide behind that pine tree right there. It has a large enough trunk so that both of us can easily fit behind it without being seen."
"They'll both be too preoccupied by one another to even notice us anyway," Myra determined.
The two friends made themselves comfortable behind the tree as they took turns peeking at their teachers.
"Can you make out what they're saying?" Myra whispered.
"I think that Ms. Shirley just said something about the cherry tree. She said that she's always dreamed of sleeping in one," Jen sneered.
"Of course she'd say that. She is quite unusual," Myra commented.
"Now they're going on about princes and princesses," Jen snorted. "Oh! Myra, look at what they're doing now!"
Myra poked her head out from behind the tree to see Anne and Gilbert passionately kissing.
"I don't know whether to be disappointed that he doesn't seem to like either of us or happy that our spying mission has been successful!" Myra said.
"It's not like he's proposed, Myra. And we can easily win him back."
The girls continued to watch their teachers' picnic together until it was time for their next class.
"We have English with Ms. Shirley next, don't we?" Myra asked.
"We do. And we only have a few minutes to get there before the bell rings."
"It looks like they are to engrossed in their picnic to realize how much time has gone by..." Myra giggled. "We should hurry back to school before they notice!"
"Yes, we should," Jen agreed. "And I have quite a brilliant plan to play on Ms. Shirley when we get back."
"Do you want any cake, Gil?" Anne asked as she cut herself a piece. "It would be a shame for it to go to waste!"
"I would love one, but what time does lunch end?" Gilbert asked apprehensively as he looked at his watch.
"One o'clock," Anne replied.
"Well, then I don't think we can eat any cake. It's 1:45!" Gilbert declared.
Anne dropped her fork in shock. "You can't be serious!"
"I'm quite serious, I'm afraid," Gilbert said, showing her his watch.
"Class has been going on for forty-five minutes!" Anne shouted. "Gilbert, we must hurry back before Katherine truly punishes us!"
Gilbert quickly shoved the rest of the food and the blanket into the picnic basket. He and Anne then ran as quickly as they could back to the school, giggling and laughing at their lateness.
Just as Anne entered her classroom, the bell rang, signaling the end of class.
"I'm sorry I didn't show up for class today," Anne said as her students began exiting the room. But truly, Anne didn't care. Spending such a wonderful afternoon was worth whatever punishment would come of it, anyway.
After everyone had exited the room, Jen and Myra approached their teacher, ready to begin their evil plan.
"Hello, Ms. Shirley," Jen and Myra said simultaneously.
"Why, hello Jen and Myra," Anne said with a smile. "Is there something you'd like to ask me about?"
"Yes, there is," Jen said. "Were you with Mr. Blythe during lunch, Ms. Shirley?"
"Yes, I was. But may I ask how you know, Jen?" Anne asked defensively. She did not like that her personal life was an open book to her students.
"Mr. Blythe told us that he was going on a picnic today with someone, and we thought it would be you," Myra chimed in.
"Well, it was me," Anne said. "But...why would he tell you about our picnic?" she continued, slightly displeased.
"Well, this will be troubling for you to hear, but I think we must tell you." Jen paused.
"Go on," Anne said vigilantly.
"You see, Myra and I were invited by Mr. Blythe to spend an entire week of lunches with him," Jen said, though she didn't mention that it was as a punishment. "Mr. Blythe was complaining that he could not spend time with us today, because he had a bothersome lunch appointment already scheduled- a picnic of some sort, apparently- with an irritating woman leftover from his childhood days. He seemed to regret arranging a picnic with her after he met us, or so he said."
"Did he...did he really say that?" Anne seethed, her voice shaking. Her eyes began filling up with tears, though she tried desperately to hold them back.
"He did," Myra lied. "Mr. Blythe told us his entire plan, in fact. He said that he would set up the picnic along the shores of Kingsport Lake near a certain cherry tree, and that he would kiss you a few times over the course of the picnic to keep you distracted from his relationship with me and Jen. That way, you wouldn't suspect anything."
"So you're trying to tell me that he invited me on a picnic to distract me from the fact that he is pursuing you girls?"
"I'm afraid so," Jen said. "He started to eye us in class when he learned how rich our families were."
"How do I...how do I know that this is really true?" Anne asked as she wiped away her tears with her pointer finger.
"How else would we know that you were on a picnic with Mr. Blythe and that you shared a few kisses under a cherry tree?" Jen smirked. Her plan was working just as she had hoped.
"We're terribly sorry to inform you of this, Ms. Shirley," Myra added when Anne didn't reply. "We really shouldn't have told you about Gilbert's romantic relationship with us. But it is important that you know about our fling, since you thought that you were courting him and all."
Anne darted out the door of the classroom before the two girls could say more. She ran toward Ms. Stacey's office, the tears now streaming down her face at a steady rate. Of course, she thought, it didn't seem like Gilbert's nature to do such a thing, but maybe he had changed. Maybe he had seen all of the money and the beautiful women in Kingsport and been too tempted by all of it to stand his ground. If she had been able to change her feelings about Gilbert so quickly, than maybe he was able to do the same as well.
But there was one thing that Anne now knew for sure: she truly had loved Gilbert. It hadn't just been something that came and went. It had been something that she craved and cherished, something that seemed to complete her life. And this sudden realization had only come because of Gilbert's interest in other girls. But now, it was all gone. And as the plummeted into the 'depths of despair', Anne doubted that she would ever be able to truly love someone again.
A/N: Sorry to do such a cruel thing, but unfortunately, I can't make Anne and Gilbert's relationship go as smoothly as we all wish it would. Please review! The next chapter should be posted by tomorrow!