Knock knock knock.
The door rattled as he knocked! He just had to tell Anne! It was she who opened the door and smiled at seeing it was him invited him into the parlour.
As soon as the door shut he swept her in his arms " we did it! We did it! Anne you're looking at the newest member of the lambs!" He told her with excitement.
"Oh I knew they would!" Anne told him. "how could they refuse you!?" she laughed as he let her slip out of his arms "oh did they find out about the corset?" she asked him.
"no, I don't know how you did it but I thank the heavens you did! And you'll find I have a new appreciation for corset wearers!" he laughed
"well isn t THAT something." Anne laughed in return.
"they asked about you, apparently their agents noticed you a lot."
" yes a couple of people asked me about you, asked if I knew what you were doing." She commented
" what did you tell them?" he asked
"I told them it was a desperate cry for attention." She says giggling.
He laughed along " thanks." He said with a hint of sarcasm.
Anne laughed without malice at his discomfort " don't worry it's not changed my opinion of you at least. It reminds me what good fun you are,"
" well we can be a bit more ourselves here don't you think away the island and the watchful eye of Mrs Lynde," he joked.
Anne laughed gently "I wonder what she would have made of your behaviour? Especially the bonnet!"
" you didn't write it in your letters home did you?" he said with sudden concern.
" of course I didn't , she told me 'You'd better not have anything to say to any young man who isn't from the Island' Mrs Lynde told me I her last letter. If she knew how the ones who came from the island behaved she might not have such a hard time accepting those NOT from the island. I don't understand her concern, I've never shown the slightest bit of interest in boys."
Gilbert looked at her " I'm trying not to get hurt." He teased
Anne laughed "I didn't mean you..." She trailed "I mean you're a boy... and we were together... but..." She looked away shyly.
" it's alright Anne, come here." He said with arms outstretched. She went back into them. "I was only teasing." He told her. He took and breath holding her close to him. They pulled back quietly looking shyly at each other. "I... ermmm..." He struggled to find something to tell her away from the topic. " I'm going to try out for the freshmans football team." He told her.
Anne thought for a moment " you were always decent at it when you boys threw the ball around back home... in fact mostly better... than even Charlie."
"I think they'll be bigger fish to tackle here at Redmond, but I think I would make a decent player." He looked to her. " the tryouts are on Saturday, I was wondering if you would mind... would you like to come along? And watch? I'd feel better if you were there."
Anne smiled " want to show me you're all man?" she said reaching up his chest over his shirt. " there doesn't seem to be a corset under there!" She said playfully
He blushed at the memory " Anne please... are you going to tease me forever over this?"
Anne looked to him with out the playfulness she'd just expressed. " Gilbert? You're hurt? Oh Gilbert I'm sorry, I thought we could tease. It was insensitive, I'm sorry I won't mention it again and your secrets are safe Gil, honest, remember you're my best friend. The things you've done for me..."
" it's alright Anne I'm reassured." He said with a light smile.
Anne looked up looking guilty " I'll come." She whispered.
His eyes lit up and his lips turned to a smile. " really?!"
" really." She said.
Anne sat in the indoor benches. She couldn't work out why Gilbert wanted her there, he saw her sit and he waved. She waved back and smiled at him, he was all dressed up properly as a football player, she's forgotten he'd played at queens. At that moment a few other girls entered and sat immediately behind her.
" look at them!" they whispered,
" do you think there are any beau worthy?"
"just look or we'll never find out!" they said with a giggle.
Anne rolled her eyes. It's that sort of girls she wanted to avoid. Giggley little girls not interested in anything but boys, how did they even get into college?
The tryouts started and several young men were appreciated by the girls behind her then suddenly the conversation started Anne had expected from the start.
"ohhh, who's that gem?" one of the girls said.
" Oh I know who that is, that's our class president Gilbert Blythe, not only class president I heard he got in the Lambs."
" you're kidding? My my, he's ALL man isn't he?"
" he's awfully handsome, just look at that chin."
" and those eyes."
" those lips are so kissable."
" have you seen his other ASSets!" one proclaimed
"I bet I could win him!"
Anne tried to shrug the comments off, why were they talking about Gilbert like he was a trophy? Gilbert wasn't! Gilbert was more then something to be looked at and prized! Yes he was all those things they described him as, he had a very handsome chin it was strong and determined like he was. He did have lovely eyes, the exact colour of a hazel nut which when looked into showed his mood... everything could be read in his eyes, especially when he was playful they got that cheeky glint in them which made everyone laugh. She knew from experience just how kissable his lips were when out and about his lips were just the tiniest but darker then his natural skin, but when kissed the colour really came to them making them a dusty pink colour, as for his other ASSets as they put it, she couldn't say she never noticed the perfectly formed roundness, THEY had been together for a long time, SHE had noticed everything about Gilbert Blythe. Including his kind nature, his willingness to forgive, his patience, his positive nature, his gentleness, his intellect! The way he could talk and listen, all at once be able to comfort and strengthen everyone around him, he always knew what to say and what to do. How dare they talk about him like he was an object to possess! Gilbert deserved better then any of THEM.
Half time came upon them and Gilbert came running over and opened the stall gate coming to Anne.
" hi Gilbert!" one of them fluttered as he got closer. He nodded in acknowledgement but sat as planned next to Anne.
" how am I doing?" he asked her.
Anne could FEEL the girls eyes penetrating the back of her head. It part made her nervous but a larger part of her really wanted to RUB it in.
"I think you were wrong the other day when you said you would be a decent player, I think you're the best out there." She told him honestly.
He smiled and looked at her. " really?" he asked breathing deeply still. " thank you, that means a lot. I would give you a hug but you don't want hot and sweaty Gil."
" I'll risk it." She said to get the girls backs up behind them.
He smiled and put one arm around bringing her in. Anne could smell his familiar scent but had far more pressing things to focus on. The girls behind them couldn't hear their whispers which they did not like! Who was this girl? It was unclear if they were together or not by what had been said.
" the girls behind noticed you, you pretty boy!" Anne told him.
His brow furrowed as he shook his head. " no, no no." He said. "I don't WANT to be noticed like that!"
" you may not have a choice." Anne giggled "I can help." She said with a cheeky smile. She kissed him on the cheek then brought their heads together noses touching for a minute.
Gilbert's eyes laughed with hers. He didn't WANT attention from girls like them, he'd seen their giggling glances towards the floor, he really wasn't interested
" hey Blythe!" they heard a voice they turned their heads towards the sound " enough snuggling with the Mrs! Stop slacking off!"
They looked at each other again, laughed and Anne kissed his forehead " go show them what you've got." She said loud enough to be heard.
" for you, anything my queen!" He jumped up and ran back down to the floor. Once on the floor he jogged backwards looked at Anne and gave a cheeky wink before turning toward the crowd of boys.
Anne heard whispers behind her the rest of the session as they watched the boys tryouts.
" HE'S with HER?"
" who is she?"
"I think her name is Anne something, she's always with Philippa Gordon."
" Oh they are in that circle, I wonder where she is from?"
" she must be from the island like Gilbert to be as familiar with him as that"
"all the good ones are taken!"
Anne smirked to herself. There was quite a crowd forming around them now watching the tryouts,
Tryouts completed the boys names called one by one each time the crowd clapping and cheering.
" finally your captain and quarterback, making a name for himself wherever he goes. Gilbert Blythe!" the one announcing had been last years freshman captain he turned to Gilbert " good luck, you're going to need it."
Anne jumped up and cheered loudly and clapped. He looked over and smiled at her winking. She laughed out loud sweetly.
" alright practice is every Tuesday, So clear your calendars. Good luck freshmans and I'll hand you over to your captain." He smiled at Gilbert.
" alright thank you." He days his hand going behind his neck as it often did when he was nervous. "I think we've had enough for today, but I intend on this team being the fastest and best freshman team Redmond has seen in a long time, I want us all to come next week refreshed with the spirit of team work, strategy and unity! See you Tuesday." There was a round of applause as Gilbert ran to the stalls. " wait for me Anne, I'll walk you home." He said to her, she smiled and agreed.
" isn't it ironic" she mused on their way home "we spent all that time hiding we were together in Avonlea and NOW I'm pretending to be your girlfriend to keep the other girls at bay.?" She mused.
" yes I suppose it is." He said to her. " thank you." He said rolling his eyes that he had to say thank you. "I really don't know what I would do without you."
" be in the claws of some harlot from off the island." Anne laughed. She felt his hand in hers, and not for the first time, although they were only " best friends" she didn't mind his hand in hers. After all , it was only Gilbert.