Chapter 32 - An Unexpected Encounter in the Park

It had been several days since Gilbert had given Christine his first private lesson, afterwards, the behaviour of his friend Jack had changed a little, which did not escape the attention of the dark-haired boy.

The two students were still in class, seated side by side in the amphitheatre, it was the subject that fascinated Gilbert the most, the initiation to the knowledge of medicine.

Jack seemed totally out of place, he hadn't stopped blowing and sighing during the whole class, at times you would have thought he had fallen asleep.

Once the professor declared his lecture finished, the students immediately left the auditorium, they were now in the university corridors, Gilbert couldn't help but intervene, presumably worried, "You know, these are our first exams in a couple of weeks..."

"How could I forget it...", Jack replied nonchalantly.

"So, are you all right these days?", he asked, still worried.

"Why wouldn't it be okay?"

"I don't know... you seem more distracted than usual. Don't tell me you're just thinking about a certain... brunette...", says his comrade with a sly little smile.

"Don't get me started on this, especially you.", His tone was firm.

"Did I do something?", Gilbert was totally confused.

"You've done nothing wrong, you never do anything wrong, and that's actually what's most annoying..."

The ambitious student laughed nervously, "What?".

"Oh Gilbert... Do you have a fiancée?", said the redhead imitating a female voice.

The young brown disapproved, "I really don't know why she asked me those questions."

"You don't know uh? Are you so ignorant of yourself?", He looked up to heaven.

Gilbert had absolutely no answer to give, so he remained silent and frowned, thinking about what his friend was implying.

"Tell me, in the small village you come from, you've always managed to get girls to like you, right?"

"What... why?"

"You like to seduce girls and you don't even know it yourself, I saw it with Christine, how she looked at you... You must have done the same thing with these girls from Avonlea, you smiled at them, you said a few kind words to them, and it was good, they all fell under your charm. You don't even realise it, but you like it.", said his friend, laughing nervously.

"How do you suppose this?"

The two young men were now outside, still on campus. Gilbert couldn't believe it, how could Jack have such an image of him, was it a kind of jealousy that made the young man acerbic?

"I don't understand you, you don't have to feel jealous, especially for such a ridiculous reason. I'm not interested in Christine, and I would never allow myself to-"

He interrupted his friend, "Well, I'd be curious to see how you would react if the girl you love made eyes at someone else. Oh believe me, I would pay to see that."

The dark-haired boy sighed, "I stand by what I said, it's completely ridiculous."

"Oh yes, that's right ... how could I think anyone could surpass Gilbert Blythe?", Jack says sarcastically.

Gilbert again deplored the sudden lack of consideration that his comrade might feel for him. Especially as he had really done nothing to be in such a position, apart from applying for a job, he was not responsible for Christine's behaviour after all.

Meanwhile, in Charlottetown, Anne was over the moon, the last few days had been pretty decent since she had spent her weekend in Avonlea. The girls hadn't had any indiscreet remarks, although she suspected often there were a few low masses and they were giggling, without her ever knowing what it was all about.

Miss Blackmore was quite equal to herself, but she never spoke again about the incident had taken place last week, when the young redhead had decided to rebel against her unfair rules.

Anne was in Queens College library this afternoon, which of course was her favourite place in the college, sometimes staying for hours, even if it meant going home at curfew. For although she had rebelled against Miss Blackmore, she had made a promise to Marilla, she had to behave herself until the Christmas break, she had to show she could be trustworthy, even if these rules were totally unfair.

She was wandering between the shelves, looking for a novel, a romance novel to be precise, as she had been in need of inspiration ever since she had answered Gilbert's letter. She thought she hadn't been able to write what she wanted. Concerning Gilbert it was often easier for her to act than to find the words, sometimes a miracle happened, but this was quite rare. When she had posted her reply letter a few days ago she was anxious that the brown boy would finally think she was ridiculous. She didn't want to stupidly copy the most romantic passages from the novels she was reading, she just wanted to be inspired by them. So for her future letter, she should do even better.

Once she had chosen her book, she left the library and the establishment, it wasn't very late yet, so she decided to go to the park which was close to Miss Blackmore's boarding house, she wanted to enjoy the day again, the sun setting in less than an hour. Then, she settled on a bench, under a weeping willow tree which ran along the small pond in the park.

She began to read her book, with a smile on her lips, she was relishing this moment, in spite of the cold that was gradually settling in, nothing could disturb her during her reading session.

Suddenly, a melodious male voice was heard.

"The sky so pale the trees so slender

Seem to smile at our bright dress

That floats lightly, with an excess

Of nonchalance, a wing-like tremor.

And the gentle wind wrinkles the pool,

And the light of the sun that softens too

The shade of the limes on the avenue

Renders us, as it will, mordant, blue.

Exquisite deceivers, charming coquettes

Tender hearts, but devoid of vows,

Speak with us delightfully and bow,

And lovers flirt with their little pets,"

At this last mention, the young redhead turned around and saw a charming young man with dark hair, leaning against the weeping willow, like an enchanting apparition. He was talking about lovers? Charming coquettes? She wasn't dreaming? He looked at her, while continuing to recite his verses.

A hand imperceptibly will enlist

Now and then a tap, exchanged

For a kiss on the little finger ranged

At the very tip, and since the thing is

Immensely excessive and quite fierce,

One is punished by a withering glance,

Which contrasts with, as it may chance,

The forgiving pout that the lips rehearse.

Anne was totally subjugated, it was the first time in her life she had ever heard a man use such words.

Suddenly the young man in question said, "Oh... But don't think these words are mine, they are from the French poet, Paul Verlaine, although they fit the context very well, don't they?"

She looked at him and gave him a courteous smile and awkwardly said, "Thak-thanks, I didn't know.", And then somehow she tried to concentrate on her reading again.

The mysterious poetry-lover approached her anyway, "May I?", he asked the young redhead, pointing to the bench on which she was sitting.

Out of sheer politeness, Anne simply nodded her head as she looked at him, her eyes immediately redirected to her book. She couldn't help thinking, that perhaps it was a inappropriate situation, an unknown man talking to her, then wishing to sit next to her, if the other girls saw her, they would certainly make a fuss about it.

As if that wasn't enough, the young man was quite elegant, he must have been from a fairly well-to-do family, he had deep black hair, a very pleasant face to see, and he apparently had a sure taste for poetry, he even held a poetry book in his hands. Once on the bench, he opened his book, then he took a quick look at Anne's reading.

"Romeo and Juliet, really?", he asked her with a small smile.

"Do you have a problem with Shakespeare? And you are holding a collection of poetry in your hands, I imagine that the poem you have just recited comes from there.", She retorted in a abrupt tone, sensing the young man's arrogance.

"I have nothing against Shakespeare, it's just... it's really not his work that I prefer, too dramatic, I've never been fascinated by dramatic and cursed love stories."

Anne smiled slightly, "I think a short while ago I would have been completely at odds with you, but today I no longer consider that these are necessarily the most beautiful love stories."

The brown man smiles when he hears this, "So, I narrowly escaped from the other you, that reassures me."

The young redhead's eyes went back to her book, she seemed a little embarrassed by the situation, she wasn't dreaming, he was flirting with her? No, that couldn't be possible.

The man standing next to her wanted to find out about her, "Could I know your name?"

The girl felt it was time for her to go home, this young man wouldn't let her read in peace anyway, so she got up and answered embarrassed, "Anne, and I have to go, so... have a good day."

"You are already leaving me?", he seemed really disappointed.

"I...I have a curfew to obey, sorry...", she then started walking towards the park exit.

From a distance, he called out to her again, "Even though you didn't ask me, my name is Roy. Could I see you around here again?"

She turned around and awkwardly replied, "I-I can't answer you, Roy, goodbye then."

The poetry lover got up from the bench, quite confused by the young redhead's sudden departure, had he frightened her?

On the way to the Blackmore house, Anne still couldn't believe what had just happened. But perhaps he was just being courteous? He didn't have any other ulterior motives, did he?

The girl really had a hard time understanding social rules sometimes, was behaviour like this inappropriate? She had to ask Diana, she would know how to answer this kind of question. But she hadn't been dreaming, he had asked her if he would see her again in the same park? It broke her heart, but she would probably have to avoid this park for a while, although she cherished it so much.

Sorry, it took me longer than usual to update, I was writing a short fanfic about Anne and Gilbert, "A glance means more than a word", I rewrote episode 8 of season 3, so go read it if you want to know more (angst, love, cute moments)
I hope this chapter 32 will not disappoint you too much! I'm curious to know what you think about Roy?

Someone had asked me for my username on Wattpad, it's mlleritournelle

Also thank you for your comments! It motivates me to continue, even if I am already motivated ^^