Chapter 31 - See you soon, dear Snow Queen

Note: As a quick reminder before you start reading this chapter, I have added a small summary of the plots from chapters 1 to 30, following chapter 30. Feel free to read it to refresh your memory, some people following the story for months or reading several Awae fanfics at the same time may lose the thread of the story.

In short, enjoy your reading!

Meanwhile, at Green Gables, Diana was in Anne's bedroom, lying on her bed, staring desperately at the ceiling. Whereas the young redhead was standing and pacing, "How can they still ask you that? I can't believe it!", she protested.

"Not only do they keep me away from you for months, but I find out the only purpose in all this was to introduce you to this... boy! We have to go and see Aunt Josephine when we get back to Charlottetown, maybe she could-"

Suddenly she was interrupted by the young brunette, "It's useless.", Her voice was filled with such disillusionment that it seemed impossible to reason with her.

However, this didn't stop the red-haired girl to insist, "Oh Diana! I will fight for you! I'm even ready to go to your parents to dissuade them, I could even ask Marilla to come with me, I know she had been to speak to your mother before you came to Queens. She was able to change her mind."

"Not this time.", says Diana, resigned.

"But why?!"

"You don't understand at all, right? If I don't find a suitor in the next few years, my parents will keep introducing me to nice boys coming from good families. But don't worry, I will see these boys but I won't give in, I don't want to give them such satisfaction. As charming as they could be, which I doubt they would be anyway.", She concludes in a decided tone.

Anne looked at her friend in admiration, "You are so brave Diana. And to be honest, the idea that you might enter the Paris Conservatory saddens me greatly, selfishly I wish you could stay on Prince Edward Island. Oh, but don't get me wrong, I want you to have the career you want, if you want to get into a conservatory, I'm sure there's one in Canada that will open its doors to you."

"Yes, on condition I'm dating one of the sons of the conservatory directors.", the young brunette bitterly declared.

"I refuse to hear you say that! You are so talented! I wish I could play the piano like you!"

"And I would like to be you, Anne, just to see me as you see me."

The two friends hugged each other, the dramatic moment demanded a warm embrace.

An hour had passed, when Diana decided it was time to go home, as they used to do in the old days, Anne got up to take her home.

Then, they went down the corridor to the ground floor, they were about to take the stairs, when they heard someone coming up the stairs, it was Jerry.

Diana's eyes instantly turned away when she saw him, Jerry just looked down when he saw the girl. As for Anne, she watched the two young people with a sad look on her face. Seeing the two people she loved so much, simply ignoring each other, tore her heart out. It couldn't stay that way, because it was going to happen again many times.

Finally, the two friends got out of Green Gables, the young redhead decided to walk her friend halfway back, this would also allow for a little discussion.

They were walking along the lovers' lane, when Anne decided it was time to tackle a certain subject, which had been ignored for too long.

With some caution, the redhead said, "You know, Jerry has moved to Green Gables."

"I see..." Diana replied, looking away.

"So now... When you come, you will have a much better chance of seeing him. I was wondering if- "

The young brunette didn't let her finish her sentence, "I can't even look him in the eye anymore, Anne. After what's happened between us, how could I?"

Anne couldn't help but reply, "I feel a bit responsible for this situation. It wouldn't have ended like this if-"

"No, it would have ended badly no matter what. It's all my fault, and Jerry is right to blame me.", said her friend, looking down in disbelief.

"Do you think he's still mad at you?", asked the redhead naively.

"It seems obvious, doesn't it?"

"Maybe ... if you manage to talk to each other again, you'll find that it's no longer the case?", she insisted.

"Anne... You saw it well, didn't you? He didn't even lay eyes on me. So I doubt he wants to talk to me."

Anne had a melancholy look on her face, "I just wish it could be like it was before."

"It can never be.", her friend says firmly.

"That you can at least tolerate being in the same room, would be my only wish.", The redhead took a deep breath and said, "Jerry is part of my family now."

Diana didn't know what to say to this, so she just smiled a little and nodded, this gave Anne hope, maybe her friend would make the effort to talk to Jerry again after all.

Once back at Green Gables, Anne hurried to help Marilla prepare dinner, she had taken on the difficult task of making a pie, partly garnished with meat and potatoes.

Even Matthew had done his best to finish his farm chores as soon as possible, to participate in the cooking as well, only to spend more time with the family, at the risk of making his sister grumble several times, annoyed by his few clumsiness behind the stove.

The little family radiated happiness, they were enjoying the moment.

A little later they were at the table, Jerry was also present, they knew that Anne was already due to take the train back tomorrow morning, they were sad that she was already leaving so early, but after all this visit wasn't even planned, so it was like an unexpected gift.

They were already discussing Anne's next visit, which would undoubtedly be during the Christmas holidays. The young redhead already had tons of ideas for the Christmas Eve meal.

She stammered, "Oh I can't wait for us to spend time in the kitchen for the holidays! Besides, you are planning to invite Sebastian and his family, aren't you? I want to have a big table for Christmas Eve so badly. And then... It will be Delphine's first Christmas, she deserves to be surrounded by warmth and love."

Marilla said with great sadness in her voice, "Oh well... That is, I haven't yet had the opportunity to discuss this with Sebastian. It will certainly be a terrible period for him, last Christmas was so different."

"Yes, I know that. That's why he will probably need us.", Affirmed the young girl.

"We will ask him.", said Matthew with a kind smile, who had been very quiet during dinner as usual.

Marilla suddenly addressed Jerry, "By the way Jerry, I imagine you'll be with your family during the Christmas festivities?"

Jerry had been disturbed in his thoughts, he had not been particularly talkative, which wasn't really like him, "Uh... Yes. Miss Cuthbert."

Anne looked at him out of the corner of her eye, she could see that the young man's lack of talkativeness had something to do with the incident with Diana earlier.

The next morning, the young redhead was already on the platform waiting for her train with her friend Diana, this time it was the Cuthberts who had accompanied them to Bright River station.

This weekend had passed quickly, it had some disturbances, but at least they had been able to recharge their batteries in Avonlea.

Marilla looked at Anne with stern eyes, "Try not to break too many rules until Christmas if possible..."

Anne gasped, "I-I won't do it!"

Diana held back a laugh at her friend's statement.

"Yes, we might as well stop the wind from blowing.", Marilla replied sarcastically.

This made Matthew smile, giving one of his loving glances to the girl, as if it was for this reason that he loved her so much, because she did nothing like the others. After all, if she became too reasonable, it would no longer be Anne, the real Anne acts out of passion.

The train whistle was heard, it entered into the station, the young girl embraced the brother and sister before boarding her wagon. Behind her, Diana was waiting for her friend, she knew she often had to say a long farewell, she smiled as she looked at the little family.

A few hours later, the two friends had returned to Blackmore manor, they had hardly passed the door threshold that Ruby had rushed on Anne.

"Oh Anne! I was waiting for your return!", She hid an envelope behind her back, suddenly she waved it in front of the young redhead's eyes.

Then she exclaimed, "I took it for you! I swear I didn't read it! I just asked Miss Blackmore if I could give it to you in person."

Anne was caught off guard, "Er... Thank you..." She took the envelope from the young blonde's hands.

Diana looked over her friend's shoulder mischievously, "Gilbert... he didn't waste any time."

Ruby returned immediately to the living room and cheerfully declared to the girls, "She said thank you!"

A little later, Anne retired to her room, after politely greeting the girls, Lily and Miss Blackmore.

She opened her envelope, curious and anxious at the same time, was Gilbert going to talk about what she had pretended not to have heard? She stopped wondering and began to read:

"My Anne,

At the time of writing this letter, I arrived on campus only a few hours ago, I have just had dinner. I know you will receive this letter in a week or more. I hope you didn't have too much trouble on your way home, although I have a feeling that you will, from what you told me about Miss Blackmore, and I think this is totally unfair.

Thanks to you, I am ready to start my week of classes, it was good to be away from Toronto, but it was especially good to see you.

I know you were reluctant, but I would really like to read your short story, plus if you win, which I'm sure you will, I'm afraid I won't be able to be there in time for your reading in front of the audience during the Queens Ball.

A very recent fact, I don't know if it will lead to anything, but I have decided to apply for a teaching job for private lessons, the money I have put aside being not enough to pay my board and especially to make some trips to visit a certain redheaded girl...

But Jack seems to know this family well, so I might have a good chance, you should know in my next letter!

I already miss you terribly, I may have lied this Sunday morning on the quay, if I miss you, it's not for lack of an opponent worthy of you (yes, I know you guessed it, but I wanted to make it clear). It's especially because I don't know where I should put my eyes if you're not around, I'd love to hear you laugh, to see you smile at me.

Anne, your charms constantly inflame my heart with an ardent and luminous flame. The memories of your kisses still haunt me, I dare to hope this simply means that you have feelings for me. I only wish I could still kiss you and caress you, I've desired this for so long.

You'd think I'm used to saying goodbye to you, but it was a real pain as always, as long as I can remember. However, at least now I know for sure I will see you again.

I look forward to your letters, don't forget me...

Your humble servant."

After Anne finished reading the letter, her cheeks had turned pink, she had never before dared to imagine receiving such a passionate declaration. What had happened in Gilbert's mind? Had he gone mad? The thought made her giggle.

Last weekend spent together and the closeness which followed had undoubtedly awakened Gilbert's passionate soul, would their exchange be as scandalous now? Having to reply to this kind of letter was a first for her, and she didn't dislike this idea.

She thought about Ruby's face reading this letter, she wouldn't have recovered, so it was clear she was telling the truth, she hadn't read it.

Then she took opportunity, being alone for a while, to reply to Gilbert's fiery letter, which had to be done while all her emotions were still bubbling in her head. She sat down at her desk, took her pen, and smiled at the response she could give.