"Now members of the debating club, we have a decision to make. We can raise some more funds for the school if we put on a Christmas Concert. I mention it now as we will need to organise and advertise such an event, if you were all willing to take part. perhaps afterwards we can organise a ball for some dancing. Who would be interested in taking part?"

Josie noticed both Anne and Gilbert's hands were up.

Yes, this is how she would drive a wedge between them, as the perfect plan formed in her head.

When the call for lunch had been called Josie was the first out of her seat, she stood by Gilbert waiting for him to finish packing his things. She saw him look to Anne who had a (in her opinion) a smug look on her face, though why Anne would look so she had no idea. As soon as Gilbert stood up she linked his arm and dragged him outside...

Gilbert eventually made it up to Green Gables having eventually convinced Josie he really needed to get home, he came to the porch where Anne was sitting at the table, books scattered across the table and Marilla was sitting in the rocking chair knitting.

Anne smirked as he as he sat down in the chair opposite let his head hit the table as he wallowed for a moment. Marilla noticed and was about to ask what the matter was when Anne gave laugh.

"why Gil you're acting as though you don't enjoy her company." Anne laughed.

His head popped up from its position on the table. "how could you leave me alone with her Anne Shirley you're suppose to be my friend?"

"it was too funny to watch!" she laughed so hard she was almost crying.

"who on earth are you talking about?" Marilla asked the pair.

"Josie Pye!" Anne exclaimed.

"fed him to the lions did you Anne?"

"you don't know that Marilla, why Josie could be a sweet girl for all you know, she's certainly sweet on Gil."

"if she's a Pye then I'm right." Marilla commented.

Marilla stood up leaving the two outside in the porch. She shook her head lightly as she started on dinner.

Shouldn't Anne be reacting differently to Josie spending time with Gilbert? No that was silly. They were just friends. They had been friends for years. Apart from that one time they had been caught in that hug... even that was... her fault. She should have listened to his pleas for forgiveness and let him explain, but she had been hot tempered. Played the Blame the Blythe game. She was frankly glad when Gilbert had come running back but something had changed and she knew it. But what it was she didn't know... no she did know, deep down she knew but dare not admit it, it was too close to her own past. It wasn't that she didn't like Gilbert. She did like him, very much. Those three months had almost been unbearable at times, Anne had moped while she worked, she sometime caught Anne looking up about to share an idea or thought which Gilbert had filled to find an empty chair her eyes would start to fill with tears but she would blink them back and continue her work. There was something missing from her personality. When she had allowed Gilbert to come back they had been sitting next to each other and she had looked down at them and despite herself had seen a couple. When she had listened to Gilbert convince Anne to go in and make up she had realised what a stable he was to her. She'd come to realise despite how alike her and Anne were, Anne wasn't her. And Gilbert despite his striking resemblances to John was in fact a separate person and he wasn't going to leave quite as easily as John did. Perhaps it was time for a old wound to be healed? If only Anne and Gilbert would fall in love, she had supposed they were on the precipice so many times in the past but they never seemed to jump. Well it was good in a way Anne was 15 still a little young (although thinking on it wasn't she Anne's age when she'd become a beau?) but Anne was growing fast and beautiful Marilla had hoped maybe now they could... maybe after all that worrying about romance between the two for no reason after all?

Meanwhile Anne and Gilbert talked quietly, but rapidly

"Anne no, I don't want to take her. I only want to take you."

"but people are going to suspect Gilbert, I'm sure Diana already does, its only natural we let people think you are interested in at least taking other people places."

"this isn't fair." He told her being quite bold in what they considered a public place he took her hand in his. "please Anne, can't we just face the wrath? I'll refuse to leave you this time. She can't keep us apart."

"then ask her. Go on if you're feeling it that much ask Marilla if you can take me." He stood up as if he was about to stood frozen for a few seconds then coward back to his seat.

"I know." She said reaching under the table and placing her hand on his knee. "I've ran down those stairs so many times so confident I could just tell her, I then see her and all my confidence just drains, and its not because I don't care for you enough, but its because of that empty feeling I had for those three months, it comes back and drains me because I know she could separate us again." She paused. "we have to make this convincing Gil. And if I had never came, alright you may not have had Josie as a beau but you would have taken her because she is interested in you and is always around."

Gilbert hated in that moment that Anne was right. The next day he let Josie assume they were going to the Christmas concert together. Once Josie told her cronies nothing disappointed him more then when Charlie asked Anne. Great to add insult to injury now he had to watch his best friend flirt with his beau.