This is a round robin fan-fic written by many of the members of the Anne3.com web forum. It's a story of Anne and Gil in the year 2000. This story is now completed! Enjoy!
***LAST UPDATED AUGUST 28, 2001***
Liz23
September 8, 2000
Anne Shirley was working the drive-thru shift at Wendy's again. She hated the drive-thru shift because almost all customers commented on the fact she looked like the Wendy's girl. She usually responded, "My name is Anne, not Wendy." Sometimes she added, "That's Anne with an E."
"Welcome to Wendy's, may I take your order?"
"Uh, yeah, I'll take a junior bacon cheeseburger, large fries, a coke, and a date with you."
Anne sighed. Gilbert again. He came through the drive-thru almost every time she was there, mostly to ask her out. She had hoped to escape from him during the summer but no such luck.
"That'll be $3.25," she said, ignoring his last comment.
Gilbert pulled his car around to the window.
Forever_Anne
Gilbert's dark green Ford Explorer pulled up to the pick-up window.
"$3.25, please," Anne repeated.
"Oh come on Anne, please say yes," Gilbert pleaded.
Anne thought to herself. Well, Gilbert is looking very good today. Her stomach did get all butterfly-ish when he flashed that smile of his. He was nice to her, except that time when he first called her Wendy. But she straightened him out when she poured that frosty on his head. Anne smiled to herself.
"Ok Gilbert, I'll go on a date with you," she agreed.
Valancy
After Anne's shift finished, she walked across the street, absentmindedly walking through traffic. She imagined walking under a wild cherry tree, while in fact there was only one scrawny tree in sight.
*HONK HONK HONK*
"Hey you?! Daydreaming AGAIN. Get out of my way; I'm off to meet Gilbert," a loud, blond, cheerleader yelled from her Jeep as Anne crossed her path.
Rolling her eyes, Anne retorted , "Josie, how many english papers have you failed this term?" Anne left to meet Diana, as Josie's jaw dropped.
beck543
As Anne walks into the Gap she feels her stomach drop. "What could I have been thinking a moment ago? Oh what can I do now?" she thought.
Diana is staring off in the distance, taping her fingernails on the cash register when she hears another customer enter the store. She's relieved to see that it's only her best friend.
Anne quickly walks over to the register tell Diana her plight and trips over a discount rack, scattering size 0 jeans all over the floor.
After helping Anne up, Diana exclaimed, "Oh, why what's the matter Anne? You don't look well today?"
"Gil just asked me on a date today....And I accepted."
"You what? I'm so happy for you Anne! I just knew you two were meant for each other."
"No, I'm not going to do it. I can't go. It was just sorta like dare. You're going to have to help me Diana..."
avonleadotnet
"I wish he'd ask me on a date sometime," Diana sighed dreamily.
Anne temporarily forgot her troubles. "But what about Fred? Aren't you going to the next semi-formal with him?"
Diana walked over to the display of khakis and started picking lint off them. "Oh, he's so...so...roly-poly sometimes. And he's always playing football." She quickly changed the subject. "Anne, have you seen these new hair scrunchies? Myra Gillis came in here today and she bought 36 of them! I can't wait until payday, then I'm going to buy 37. That'll show her."
"Diana, hair scrunchies are the least of my problems! I can't go on a date with Gil. Please, help me think of a way to get out of it." Anne wailed.
They stop and think for a moment, and then Diana's eyes nearly pop out as she sees Gil go in the store across from them. Foot Locker.
"Anne, go over there and tell Gil you can't go out. Say you have to work. He knows you take your job very seriously." Diana began to giggle.
"You're no help! But I will go see him. I cannot bear this a moment longer!"
Anne determinedly crosses the mall over to the Foot Locker store, where Gilbert is busy admiring a new pair of Air Jordans.
"Gilbert. I have something to say to you."
Gil looks up and his face breaks into a smile. "Why Anne, what are you doing here?"
Kimberly
Anne slowly looks into Gil's Hazel eyes and her heart skipped a beat. She suddenly felt a knot in her stomach and was unable to remember what is was that she wanted to say. "Um, I was just looking around at shoes" she replied.
"Oh," Gil managed to say, swallowing the lump in his throat. Anne looked simply ravishing with her hair flowing over her Wendy's uniform! "I've heard these New Balance shoes are very comfortable, have you tried them?" He says, pointing to the table beside them.
Anne suddenly regained composure and blurted out, "Gilbert, I just CAN'T go out with you...Oh, Gil, I'm so desperately sorry!" Anne turned suddenly and ran away from him, with out waiting for a reply. Gil stood, motionless, in frot of the Foot Locker.
Suddenly, Josie appeared before him. "What was little miss book worm running from?" She said, stroking his arm gently....
Sunburst
Gilbert stood there motionless, his mind full of confusion as he watch Anne disappear around the corner.
"Gilbert are you listening to me!" whined Josie. She then tug his arm forcefully that Gilbert turn and glare down at her till she stopped. Then with shrug of his shoulders he walk away from her in silence.
Anne ran to Diana as fast as her legs can carry her. She crash into Diana who was next to the display of headless mannequines sending it flying drew the air. They both crash to the ground as Anne looked at the horrified Diana and said, "Sorry."
"What's going on here Diana Barry." exclaim Diana's manager Josephine.
"I'm sorry Jo. I'll fix it up right away!" Diana and Anne immediately started to pick up the heavy arms and legs. When her manager walk away, the two girls broke out into laughter.
"Did you see her face Anne?" Diana said and then started to laugh as Anne mimic Josephine's shock face. Then Anne stop laughing and turn quiet.
"What's the matter Anne?"
"Oh Diana I feel like I have cut off his right arm. Can you please talk to him and maybe you can make him understand?"
"I don't know Anne?"
"Please I know he'll listen to you." Diana looked at Anne's desperate face and nod her head. Anne sigh with great relief.
The next day at school, Anne notice that all the girls were whispering as she walked past them through the hallway. She became nervous that everyone must have found out what happen between her and Gilbert. Anne kept her head down that she didn't see Josie bump into her.
"Watch where your going freckles."
"Why Josie I kept my head down so I wouldn't have to see your sour expression." said Anne with her chin up in the air.
"Like don't think you and Diana beated me okay."
"Whatever do you mean Josie?"
"You always were suck a fake Anne Shirley! I don't care that Gilbert taking Diana to the dance. There's far more dashing guys in this school anyway!" Josie then shove past Anne, not even noticing the color draining from her face.
"Gilbert and Diana?" Anne whispered.
Forever_Anne
Anne stormed into her and Diana's first period class room. Mr. Phillips their teacher wasn't there yet. Anne marched to the far side of the class room to Diana's desk, where she sat talking to Ruby Gillis who sat behind her.
"Diana Barry, what is the meaning of this!!!" Anne yelled.
"Anne! What are you talking about??" Diana asked.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about! I can't believe you went around my back, and did such a thing. To agree to go with Gilbert Blythe to the semi-formal!!!"
"But Anne-"
"And I thought we were friend's Diana!"
"Anne Shirley! What is going on here?" Mr. Phillips walked in the room. "The bell has gone, why aren't you in your seat?? And what's all this sreaming about? Sit down, I would like to start my class."
Anne turn around and sat in her desk, right in front of Diana.
Mr. Phillips started class. But Anne didn't pay attention at all. How could her best friend betray her like that?
***
The bell rang. First period was over. Anne got out of the classroom as soon as she could. She didn't want to talk to anyone.
"Anne!!" Diana. What was she going to do? Gloat? Anne kept walking.
"Anne would you wait and let me explain!" Diana pleaded. Anne stopped, she would like to hear her explanation.
"Alright, Diana, explain."
"Ok, well, you see Fred had to cancel. He had a football game. I was talking to Gil when he told me. And since you broke off your date with him, he figured you'd never agree to do to the Semi-formal. Plus, he already bought the tickets cause he was planning to ask you. Oh, Anne, please forgive me?"
princessjess_17
Anne sighed. Her thoughts were in turmoil. She certainly couldn't disagree with what Diana said.
"But why couldn't you have been the one to tell me about you and Gil yourself?" Anne said.
"You were so busy and it just happened. Look Anne, I can break it off right now if you want me to..." Diana trailed off.
Anne felt a stab of guilt. Diana would be just what Gil would want; someone that would be happy just to hang off his arm. But why did she then feel so uneasy about it...
Her thoughts were interupted by approaching footsteps and a swoon- which meant only one thing- Jane Andrews had just discovered that she is in love for about the tenth time this sememster. Jane approached Anne and the now much anxious Diana.
"Oh I can't believe it," Jane started, "Have you both feasted your eyes on the new australian exchange student?" she swooned.
Anne and Diana smiled to each other. Jane always have a thing for new students, especially the male ones. Anne and Diana both confesed that they had not.
Jane looked alarmingly suprised.
"Oh but surely YOU have Anne, from what they tell me he's just been appointed honorary school editor for the rest of the semester. Apparently he's this fantastic writer and has come here for a year to further his literary contacts, or something like that. Whats more important though is that hes remarkably charming and good looking.."
Anne felt the anger rise in her. Honorary school editor?!?!? Who does he think he is, waltzing in, stealing her well deserved positon!
Diana, who wasn't sure whether to be relieved that the subject of the dance was now foreshadowed or alarmed at the obvious fury in Anne, said quietly, "What's his name Jane?"
Jane replied, "Jack Garrison" Totally oblivious as to what she had started.
Before Anne could utter a word of reply, a husky accent said from behind, "That's right ladies, Jack Garrison.."
All three of them whirled around, and there he was.
"Would any of you know who Anne Shirley is? I have some business to discuss with her. Apparently she is the head columnist at the paper, and I have to discuss this weeks layout; its all wrong"
Diana and Jane both looked at Anne, who was by this time very angry, one might say red all over. They both knew that critism did not go down well with anne and in great trepidation awaited her response...
Kimberly
I am Anne." Anne said coldly.
"Oh, well, it's nice to meet you Anne! If you are not busy, would you mind accopanying me to the journalism room? We have a great deal to discuss before the next addition of the paper comes out."
Oh, the nerve!! He did have a boyish twinkle in eyes that was somewhat appealing--No, Anne shook the thought away.
"Yes, I have time Mr. Garrison, follow me." Anne walked briskly to the Journalism room with Jack just behind her, he tried to walk beside her but Anne made sure he couldn't--she was the superior one here!
Gil was standing with Josie at the lockers just outside the room. The sight of him made Anne slow her pace and walk calmly beside Jack.
She smiled and said, "So, how do you like it here in Avonlea so far?" Jack reambled of a respose, but Anne had her eyes on Gil, whose jaw had dropped at the sight of her with the handsome foreign exchange student. Anne and Gil's eyes met, and Gil's face suddenly looked pale. He closed his locker, and walked toward the exit--leaving Josie to huff and puff.
Something inside Anne felt sick at the sight of this. "Excuse me Mr. Garrison. I have something very important to do!" Anne said as she ran out the door, after Gil...
Forever_Anne
"Gil!" Anne called to him. Gil kept walking out the door to the stairs. Anne finally caught up to him.
"Oh, hi Anne, I didn't notice you," Gil lied.
"Gil, I wanted to talk to you..." Anne began.
"Oh did you want to tell me why you broke off our date? Just more excuses I expect. Why can't you just come out and say it? There's someone else isn't there?" Gil asked remebering Anne's face as she looked into that exchange student's eyes.
"What? No, Gil I-" Anne stammered.
"Just forget about it Anne," Gil walked off into the saftey of his next class.
Just then the bell rang. "Oh!!" I'm late again!" Anne replied running off to her second period class...
beck543
"Ugh!" Anne thought when she saw the geometry tests being passed around the room. With all of the excitment going on yesterday she forgot to study. But it was more important that she made things right with Gil. She would meet him in the cafeteria after the test and talk over lunch.
***
Anne was so relieved when the bell signaled the end of 2nd period and the beginning of lunch. She rushed to the cafeteria to beat the long lines and save a table for her and Gil.
Unfortunately she was stuck in the hot food line next to Josie where she was forced to listen to her nonstop chatter about the new Australian exchange student, Jack Garrison.
"Isn't he a dream? I think he has the most adorable accent. He's certainly tastier than the menu today," Josie said as her expression soured at the mystery casserole that was dished onto her plate.
"Ugh! What is in this?" Josie said.
Anne, who was also skeptical of the strange brown glob which looked like it came out of a bad '50s Sci-Fi movie, tried not to think about it.
Just as Anne found a free table and set her tray down, she spotted Gil walking out of the line with a huge bowl of orange jello on his tray. Just when she was about to welcome him to her table she heard a deep Australian voice behind her.
"Is this seat taken?"
Without waiting for Anne's response, Jack boldly seated himself across the table. Anne watched as Gil and his orange jello took a seat next to Josie Pye at a table across the room.
Liz23
"Miss Shirley, please," said this Jack Garrison. "I hope I didn't offend you this morning. The truth is I wanted to work with you. I admire you."
"Oh?" said Anne coldly, watching Josie talk a mile a minute while Gilbert dug into the orange jello.
"In fact..." Jack's bravado failed him. "Anne, I don't know very many people here, and they were telling me about this semi formal dance, and I was wondering if you'd like to go with me."
Anne dropped her fork.
"Why yes, Mr. Garrison," she said loudly. "I will go to the dance with you."
Gilbert looked up swiftly. He stared at Jack and Anne, abruptly picked up his tray and walked away from Josie, who was still in mid sentence.
Annegirl129
On his way over to the trash can to dispose of the orange jello, Gilbert looked directly at Anne and said, "I hope he breaks your heart, whoever he is."
That one comment struck Anne deeply in her heart. She saw the pain in Gilbert's hazel eyes and she immediately knew that she had hurt him more than she had ever meant to.
"But, Gil, wait!" cried Anne. "I didn't mean to--to hurt you." But it was too late. He had already left the cafeteria.
anne'simagination
Anne felt she had to get out of there. She turned back to Jack.
"I'm sorry Mr. Garrison, we will have to continue this discussion at a later time. I have to go to the library on a matter of important business."
"But Anne, wait a minute-"
But Anne didn't hear him. She threw her lunch away and ran out of the cafeteria.
Anne went to her usual corner in the library and buried her head in her arms on the desk. She wouldn't let herself cry. Then she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She looked up to see Diana sitting next to her.
"Josie told me what happened. I'm sorry Anne. But why did you say you'd go with that Jack Garrison?"
"I don't know. I couldn't help it. Honestly Diana I didn't meant to say yes. It just sort of happened. I'm sure Gil despises me and I despise myself. Oh I'm so humiliated over this whole stupid thing."
"Things are never as clear in real life as they are in romantic novels Anne."
"I don't know how I'm going to work this one out."
The bell rang and Diana stood up.
"Come on. We don't want to be late for class Anne. How about after school, we'll go get some plum puffs at the bakery."
"Plum puffs won't minister to a mind diseased and a world that has crumbled into pieces" Anne moaned as she and Diana gathered up their books.
Forever_Anne
Friday, September 15, 2000 6:00pm
The Semi Formal
"Oh Anne stop figiting," Marilla said, trying to do the finishing touches on Anne's hair.
"I'm sorry Marilla, but I just love dressing up and going to dances...it's so dreamy, and romantic don't you think?" Anne replied.
"No, I do not. And if you don't sit still, you won't be going, cause I'm never going to get this hair done!" Marilla smiled to herself.
Anne forced herself to sit still. She and Gil hadn't talked since that day in the cafeteria. She was going to the dance with Jack Garrison. She wasn't she how she felt about him. Sure he was good looking and had a great accent but... there was something about him. Like he thought he was God's gift to women or something. Oh well, we'll see how things go tonight. She was still a bit jealous that Diana was going with Gil. But why? she asked herself, she had no interest in Gilbert Blythe, or did she?
The door bell rang. Anne looked at the clock. Six thirty already?!
"Anne, Jack is here," Matthew called up the stairs.
"Coming!" Anne replied as she put the finishing touches on her make-up.
Elizabeth
"Now take this sweater Anne, 'cause you know how it can get cool in those gymnasiums, and mind you don't spill any punch on your dress, and do please make sure you..."
"Oh Marilla, I'll be fine! Don't worry about a thing, I promise I won't be late either"
Anne grabbed the sweater from Marilla and ran downstairs to meet Jack.
Jack Garrison was waiting on the porch, "Why Miss Shirley, may I say you look quite ravishing tonight."
"Why, thank you Mr. Garrison, You are looking well yourself". As much as Anne thought Jack to be arrogant and selfish, she had to admit that he was a handsome fellow.
"I have brought you this", Jack present Anne with a corsage which he had been hiding behind his back.
"I hope you like it," said Jack as he placed the pretty yellow rose on Anne's wrist.
"Why...thank you Jack", responded Anne as she smelled the sweet rose. "That was a very thoughtful gesture".
Anne suddenly realised that Perhaps Jack was more of a gentleman then she had originally given him credit for.
When Anne and Jack entered the gym, Anne noticed Diana and Gil standing by the punch table.
"uh...will you please excuse me for a minute Jack, I would like to have a word with Diana."
"Not at all", answered Jack.
Anne walked over to the Punch table where Gil and Diana were standing.
"Hello Diana...hello Gil"
"Hello Anne, oh you look wonderful tonight!! Where did you get that dress?" Diana was excited to have her best friend there at last. Although Diana and Gil made a striking looking couple, they really didn't have much in common, therefore lacking in exciting or stimulating conversation.
Gil had not responded to Anne's presence.
"Will you please excuse me Diana, I see someone I would like to talk to".
Averil
Diana stared amazed but relieved at the retreating Gilbert. She pinched Anne's arm. "Anne, what's going on? Where is Jack?"
"Diana, I'm more humiliated than even I can imagine at this present moment," replied the red and getting redder Anne.
However, the rejection she felt deep down in her heart did not affect her outside appearance for long. She tilted her red locks back and jutted out her chin, forcing her finely shaped nose into the air. She spun wordlessly on her heel away from the bewildered Diana and headed toward Jack.
Anne decided she would have a fun time this evening with that arrogant but very handsome Jack Garrison even if it killed her. Returning to Jack (who was talking a little too intimately with Ruby Gillis for Anne's liking), she asked Jack to start dancing. Conveniently, they found an empty space on the dance floor near Diana and Gilbert.
After "Gettin' Jiggy With It" on the dance floor for a while, a breathless Anne asked Jack to get her some punch while she stood feet away from Gil and Diana, pretending not to watch their every twirl and kick.
Little did Anne (or Jack) know that Charlie Sloane and Moody Spurgeon had spiked the punch with currant wine...
anne-girl87
Anne tasted the punch and decided that it was extremely delicious.
"Good punch," said Jack absently. He sounded as if he was not impressed with the dance, and wanted to go home.
"Yeah, it's good," shrugged Anne, not knowing what else to say. She couldn't help noticing Jack's eyes, and how they kept wandering over to Ruby Gillis' pale and beautiful face, as she sat vainly in the corner of the room, making eyes at every boy that passed.
Anne got herself another glass of punch and began to sip it slowly. At least if she was drinking something she wouldn't have to talk to Jack, who was now making so obvious that he was mesmerized by Ruby Gillis, Anne thought she would scream. Of course this didn't bother her as much as seeing Gil and Diana having a rip roaring time on the dance floor. Maybe he had wanted to go with Diana after all. He seemed unconcious of the fact that she had turned him down. But little did Anne know that Gil was thinking about her the whole time, and wondering if he could keep acting happy any longer. Inside he was devastated, but on the outside it didn't show. This made Anne more upset than ever.
Anne got herself a third glass of punch and sat down on the bleachers. She was a bit dizzy, and her stomach was doing summersaults. She put her head and her hands to stop the dizziness. Jack didn't notice this though, because he had left Anne to talk to Ruby. Now Anne didn't care. She felt sick and her head was spinning. She didn't even notice Moody and Charlie snickering at her. They knew what had made her sick, and both thought it a great joke.
After a few songs Anne felt better, but still a little weird. She stood up, as a slow song came on. She sighed. Where was Jack, anyway. Oh great, just Great. He was dancing with Ruby Gillis!!!!! What a low life, piece of scum. Wasn't she, Anne his date! What on earth was he thinking?
"Very well," thought Anne "he can dance with that girl if he wants." She started to walk across the floor, and found it quite a difficult task. She felt like she was walking on air, and she was still a tad dizzy. But suddenly, she wasn't afraid of anything anymore. She just felt like speaking her mind, and didn't care what anyone thought. And that was just what she was going to do. She made her way across the floor, staggering a bit, toward Gil and Diana. They were dancing pretty close. Gil was doing this to make Anne jealous, but Anne did not know this. She walked straight (well, not that straight) up to them and tapped Gil. She would tell him just what she thought of him...
annefanusa
Forever_Anne
Kimberly
fan_of_anne
avonleadotnet
Forever_Anne
Blythe_by_name_and_nature
Kimberly
Forever_Anne
Liz23
Eairkyn
Meanwhile, Jack Garrison stood on the bridge reflecting to himself. Not wanting to fall out of Anne's favour, he plotted and schemed a way to win Anne's heart. Jack, being the kid genius of Australia and having worked for the RCIA (Rubber Chicken Investigators of Australia), he knew a thing or two about modern day disguises...
Anne meandered lazily through the shopping mall, thinking maybe she was a bit harsh with Gil. But he was her friend and how dare he threaten to get her in trouble!
Elizabeth
avonleadotnet
princessjess_17
anne-girl87
A.G.G.fan
Audrey
anne-girl87
The next day at school made Anne's heart break even more than it had already been broken. It was quite obvious that Gilbert had gotten over her pretty quickly, because the first thing she saw when she walked into school that day was Gil and Christine, holding hands, and whispering to each other.
Annegirl129
A.G.G.fan
Anne's friend Katie
Liz23
Kimberly
A.G.G.fan
Gog&Magog
anne-girl87
AnneGirl129
mrhammondlookingforlunch
Gog&Magog
One day, shortly after the winning of the Avery, Anne decided to take some lunch to Matthew at his moving company. Anne knew that he had driven a load of potatoes to White Sands that morning and had probably missed lunch break. Matthew really worked much to hard for his age, she thought. She walked into the Cuthbert Moving Company and found Matthew just about ready to load up another truck.
Blythe_by_name_and_nature
anne'simagination
Liz23
Forever_Anne
avonleadotnet
annefanusa
Forever_Anne
Anne,
Anne just stared at the email. She didn't know what to do. Just then there was a knock at the door. She got up to answer it.
Elizabeth
Gog&Magog
Forever_Anne
Anne and Gil sat in Gil's explorer that night, and talked. "I'm worried about Diana, Gil. She's seems so sad, but she tries to act happy around us."
Kimberly
beck543
princessjess_17
A.G.G.fan
Blythe_by_name_and_nature
Gog&Magog
kitiara1304
Later on after Anne had finished talk with Gil, she telephoned Diana.
Rose_Afton
anne-girl87
annefanusa
Blythe_by_name_and_nature
Sunburst
Annegirl129
avonleadotnet
MaestroShelly98
Forever_Anne
The days went by and soon everyone in Avonlea knew about Ruby's pregnancy. Since she was already 4 mos. pregnant it was starting to get quite obvious. Especially since she stopped wearing those baggy clothes trying to hide it.
Liz23
Gog&Magog
Blythe_by_name_and_nature
A.G.G.fan
bsb_butterfly
Anne's friend Katie
Liz23
annefanusa
Anne's friend Katie
bsb_butterfly
annekind
As Gil walks into the dance, Christine...who was accompanied to the dance by Charlie Sloane, rushes up to Gil hysterical.
"Oh Gilbert!! I'm so upset!! I can't believe that Jack....getting Ruby pregnant!! He told me that he loved me!! [Christine sobs] I only came here with Charlie because I hoped that I could make Jack jealous.[lies] I can't believe he would tell me that...and then to go and...poor Ruby!! What a vicious rat!!! Oh Gilbert!!! I'm afraid I can never love again!!!"
Valancy
Liz23
A few minutes later, Anne approached Gilbert, waiting at their usual meeting place. She was seething with rage.
Gog&Magog
Katie
Kimberly
One horridly rainy afternoon, Gil sat in his room in quite a compromising state. All shades were pulled down discretely, and the door to Gil�s bedroom was tightly shut and locked. Gil sat on his bed, trembling, and in his hand; he clenched an unopened envelope whose return address read:
dancecardstealer
Jack Garrison had been avoiding talking to Anne, or was it she was avoiding him? ever since he danced with her and she slapped him. He tried making it up to Ruby, convincing her that he "still loved her" but she was starting to wise up.
Gog&Magog
Anne's friend Katie
mistiaggie
Annest-of-Annes
Meanwhile...
Back in Avonlea, Gilbert was driving home, wondering how he would adjust to life without Anne.
Anne's friend Katie
dancecardstealer
Anne's friend Katie
KathrynK
Dear Gil,
After recieving the letter Gilbert immediately called Christine in order to cancel their dinner date. From the phone call he managed to conclude all that Christine had said at their prior meeting had been a lie. She was a terrible liar. He now was waiting for Anne to call, but as of yet he had heard nothing. All he could do was wait to hear from her, as he did not yet have her new phone number and was a little leary of calling Marilla. Marilla didn't really trust him after the prom incident, even though Anne tried to explain to her that nothing had happened between him and Christine.
A few days later his mom popped her head in to his room while Gilbert was at his computer. "Here Gilbert, this just arrived in the mail for you. It's from Anne."
Dear Gilbert,
Gilbert's mouth dropped open in shock as he read this. He was speechless. He had been prepared to tell her what happened when she called, to explain, and beg forgiveness, but he had not been prepared for this. He could handle Anne's wrath, but the sadness conveyed in this letter just pierced his heart. "How could I have done this to her?" Gilbert grabbed a sheet of paper and pen, and began furiously writing.
Liz23
Meanwhile, Anne had settled in at school -- with a bang. She was trying to put high school and Gil behind her and she thought she was succeeding. Summer classes were starting up and she found her English work very easy. She was having a little more trouble with chemistry and Latin, but still doing quite well. Socially, the summer session was a little more dead than the school year. There were a lot fewer students. Anne even had a single room. She would have a roommate in the fall, but for now she was enjoying the privacy.
Anne's friend Katie
mistiaggie
dancecardstealer
Forever_Anne
Annest-of-Annes
mistiaggie
anne_fan_17
annefanusa
Anne woke up again in the morning. Her head hurt a little less this morning. She could feel the warm autumn sun coming through the window and striking her bed. She turned her head to her left and saw a huge bouquet of wildflowers. Sitting next to the flowers was Roy.
dancecardstealer
bsb_butterfly
The next day, Gilbert dropped by to see Anne. He brought a huge bouqet of Lily-of-the-Vallies and she immediately burried her face in them. "Oh, thank's, Gil. It's so nice of you to bring me flowers!" Anne said happily.
Liz23
At that moment Gilbert was getting ready to leave for college. He had firmly resolved to put Anne out of his mind... at least for now. That was what she wanted, or so she said.
anne-girl87
Forever_Anne
annefanusa
Audrey
Kimberly
Valancy
mistiaggie
Katie
annekind
AnneGilfan
mistiaggie
Forever_Anne
Michelle
annefanusa
Liz23
dancecardstealer
Meanwhile, Anne sat and thought. "Fishing for lake trout? Fishing for lake trout?! Why didn't I say what I meant to say..."
Michelle
annefanusa
Anne emailed both Marilla and Diana the next day to tell them how things were going at school and to tell Diana all about Roy.
Forever_Anne
Suddenly, Anne got homesick. She missed everyone in Avonlea, Marilla, Diana and even Gil.
Laura of Mornington
bsb_butterfly
Later that day, all four of them were sitting at the Green Gables Condo, in the living room. Anne was just placing a vaseful of Marilla�s famous June-lilies on an end table, when she heard Diana mention something about Gilbert and a girl named Jen...
Laura of Mornington
Kimberly
Christmas morning came and along with it a fresh blanket of snow. Anne sat at the window of her little white room and admired the beauty of it all.
Forever_Anne
dancecardstealer
Just as she was about to speak, she was briskly turned around by a tap on the shoulder. She turned to encounter Mr. Phillips, who was chaperoning the dance.
"Ms. Shirley, what is the meaning of this? You show up drunk to the school dance! You constantly disrupt my classes by coming late! You show no respect for me as a teacher! If this were 30 years ago I would take a strap to you, but as it is, corporal punishment is not allowed."
"But, but Mr. Philips..the punch was..."
"I'll have no more of this nonsense from you. Therefore I'm giving you detention for the next week and suspending you as the Editor of the paper. Please leave at once."
Anne staggered through the gym with a look of disbelief and embarassment on her face, along with a sense of nausea. She made it out the door, before she heard a voice "Anne, Anne!"
She turned to see Mr. Garrison. "Its unfortunate what happened in there. Can I give you a lift home? You are in no shape to walk in that condition."
"I'm
She started staggering toward home with dread. What would Marilla say now? This was much worse than the time she tried to give herself blond high-lites at home and they turned green. And her dream had been to be editor of the paper. All of this in front of her friends and because of those stupid boys.
Suddenly, she heard someone else call her name, "Anne! Anne!"
Anne turned around to see Gilbert Blythe running towards her. She turned swift on her heel and walked as fast as she could away from him.
"Anne wait up!" Gilbert called.
Anne turned her head to see Gilbert gaining on her. She walked faster still feeling dizzy. Her vision had blurred a bit too, and she didn't see the bush in front of her until she fell right into it.
"Anne!" Gil ran to help her up. "Anne let me take you home."
Anne pulled her arm away from Gilbert's grap. "Thank you Mr. Blythe, but I don't need your help, or anyone else's." Anne turned around and continued to stagger home.
Gilbert followed. "Anne, please let me help you," he pleaded.
Gilbert persisted, "Anne, please you need help! And you CAN'T go home in this condition!"
Anne stopped, knowing he was right. "I'll get my car, come on" Gil said.
"But what about Diana?"
"Oh, she'll understand! She is having a great time."
A few minutes later, Anne and Gil were riding quietly along in Gil's Explorer. Gil slowly eased into the parking space of near-by Tim Horton's.
"Oh, Gil, it is so crowded, I don't want to go inside." Anne said.
"You just sit tight" Gil said, patting Anne's leg. "I'll be right back," He hopped out of the car and hurried back with a cup of black coffee for Anne.
"Thank you Gil," Anne whispered as she sipped her coffee.
"How are you feeling?" He asked as he genlty pushed a soft curl from her face.
"I'm okay. Gil, I want to thank you for helping me through this. It is very good of you. I don't know what Marilla would have said if I had gone home." Anne said softly, looking deeply into Gil's eyes.
Gil leaned closer to her, so close that his forehead brushed against her's. "No problem, Carrots."
His lips touched hers in a sweet, gentle kiss. Anne was stunned, but couldn't pull away--she didn't want to!
Gil suddenly pulled back despite Anne's obvious interest to continue. "I better get you home."
Anne was said confused! As they pulled away from the parking lot in silence, Anne couldn't wait to snuggle under the covers in her little white room and forget about this night!
After consuming three tumblerfulls of spiked punch and a large coffee, Anne's felt an enormous headache developing.
"Oh Gil, I can hardly keep my eyes open," Anne yawned. "Why don't you let me out here. I'll walk the last block. I must drink in some fresh air to wake up before facing Marilla.
"Hold on Anne, I'll help you out." Gil parked his car and sprinted around to the passenger side. As Anne stepped out of the Explorer, Gil reached out to touch her hand. "Don't worry Anne, you'll feel better in the morning."
Anne slowly let go of Gil's hand and smiled up at him as she walked away down the sidewalk.
At that same moment Mrs. Lynde, president of the Neighborhood Watch, happened to be looking out her front window. In a flash, she was on her cell phone with Marilla, describing the scene she had just witnessed.
Several minutes later, as Anne entered Green Gables, Marilla was waiting for her. "Anne Shirley, what is the meaning of this?"
Marilla stood in the foyer of Green Gables, arms akimbo.
"It's 20 minutes past your curfew. And Rachel Lynde just phoned and said she saw you getting out of Gilbert Blythe's Explorer," she said.
"Oh, Marilla," Anne said. "I had such a dreadful time at the dance. Gilbert only drove me home...Jack turned out to be a real loser. He's a complete womanizer," Anne sighed.
"But you were in his car. At midnight. Rachel saw you," Marilla stated.
"What is Rachel Lynde doing spying on me? And at this time of night? Isn't she usually watching Survivor or something? Honestly, Marilla, Gilbert was only being friendly!" Anne exclaimed.
Matthew looked up from the dining room, where he had been busy downloading mp3's on his laptop. "She hasn't done nothing wrong, Marilla."
"Matthew, I told you not to put your oar in." Marilla said harsly. "Ridiculous man, wasting all his time on the internet."
Matthew ducked down behind the computer monitor and took a puff on his cigar. Anne, distraught, ran up the spiral staircase and into her room. She sat on her futon, looking out at the twinkling lights of Avonlea and wondering how everything had turned into such a mess.
Marilla walked in the room and sniffed the air. "Anne. Have you been drinking? I hope you weren't socializing with those two American actress girls. I said they were a bad influence on you and you should stay away from them."
"No, Marilla. Someone spiked the punch. I truly didn't know it was currant wine." Anne said sadly.
"Currant wine? Well, I suppose that's all right. It will wear off soon enough. Now Anne, there's something I must tell you." Marilla said, sitting down next to Anne on the futon.
"What is it Marilla?" Anne asked.
"Well, Anne you getting to that age where you are not a little girl anymore but not yet a woman," Marilla paused as if not knowing what to say next.
"It's about Gilbert," Marilla paused, "well, I think he's in love with you."
"Gil? But he's just a chum, no wonder he's been asking me out so often." Anne didn't know why she didn't realize that before.
"Anne, I just want you to tell you, that even though we still think of you as our little girl, Matthew and I have decided that you are old enough to start dating boys."
Anne didn't know what to say. "Thank you Marilla, but.."
"We just want you to be careful," Marilla continued. "Now, off to bed." Marilla said as she gave Anne a kiss on her forehead.
Anne got up, gave Marilla a hug. Then Matthew, the went upstairs to bed. She was still confused That's why did Gil kiss her so gently, and yet so urgently. But then why did he pull away? Maybe he didn't love her like Marilla said? Anne went to sleep with mixed feelings.
It was eight-thirty when Anne's radio suddenly started blasting "Promise Me," the newest hit single from M.W. Anne groaned and rolled over in bed.
"What on earth?" she mumbled. Then last night's events came rushing back--along with a killer headache.
Gilbert....Jack...the punch...Gilbert...Anne sat bolt upright in bed, her face turning red as she remembered everything in agonizingly perfect detail. "When am I going to stop rushing into things! I thought I was done with getting into scrapes, and here I am, in the biggest mess of my life!" It never once occured to her that maybe she hadn't done anything wrong. Anne sighed, cheeks still scarlet with mortification, and got up.
"At least tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it," she thought glumly as she rubbed her freckle lotion on her nose.
"Anne! Breakfast!" Marilla called from downstairs. Anne bolted downstairs, hoping to lose her sorrows in a plate of plum puffs, she didn't bother to look at the mirror on her way down...
Anne reached the bottom of the stairs just as there was a knock at the door. "I'll get it Marilla," Anne called into the kitchen. Marilla didn't bother to turn around.
"Thanks Anne!"
Anne slowly opened the heavy, wooden door. The sunlight poured in and Anne's eyes clinched shut--her headache could not handle this! It took a few moments before she could figure out who this figure was standing on her door step.
"Um, Anne? Good morning." It was Jack Garrison. He stood, looking down upon her with a bewildered expression. Why was he looking at her so peculiarly? "I just came by to apologize for last night..Um...I brought these for you." He handed her a small boquet of june lillies. "Well, I better go. See ya Anne." Jack rushed off quickly, with an embarrassed look on his face.
"Thank you Mr. Garrison!" Anne caled after him.
Anne closed the door and Marilla was behind her. "Who was that?" She asked.
"It was the strangest thing, Marilla.."
Marilla looked at Anne with the same bewildered expression as Jack had, "Anne..."
*Knock, Knock, Knock*
"Sheesh!" Exclaimed Anne, "Who is it now?" Anne opened the door quickly this time.
It was Gil, standing before her in his green scrubs. Gil volunteered at Avolnea hospital on Saturdays. He handed her a bottle of asprin.
"I was on my way to the hospital and I thought you might need these." Gil said sympathetically. Leaning into the doorway, Gil examined Anne's face and replied... "Anne Shirley! What in the heck is all over your nose??"
"Oh it's just freckle cream... nevermind," Anne smiled.
"Anne, can we go out tonight after I'm done at the hospital?" Gil paused. "Please."
Anne thought about it, she was still confused about Gil pulling away last night, and about Marilla telling her that he was in love with her. "Ok," Anne agreed reluctantly. "What time?"
"5:30??" Gil asked.
"Ok, I'll be ready," Anne replied.
***
"So what did you want to talk about Gil?" She asked as they drove.
"Well, it's about last night, I'm sorry," Gil looked away from her ashamed. "I shouldn't have kissed you." He drove up to the parking lot by the bridge, they both got out of the car and walked to the bridge.
"Why did you kiss me, Gil?"
"Well," Gil paused, "I really like you Anne and, I think I'm in love with you." He grabbed her hand, "and I thought you might like it."
"I did like it Gil," Anne replied, surprizing herself.
"I shouldn't have kissed you, I mean you were drunk and not in your right min-" Gil stopped when he realized what she had said. "You what?"
"I said I liked it," Anne repeated looking into his eyes. "And I would like you to do it again."
Gil was in shock. Was he really hearing this?? Anne was looking at him and smiling. He leaned over and lifted her chin up to his and kissed her softly and deeply. Anne put her arms around Gil and kissed him back with the same gentleness.
Monday
Anne was at her locker Monday morning. She idly wondered if anyone noticed the change in her since Friday. Diana knew her news, of course, even though she'd had to call her 4 different times to find her on Sunday. She had spent the day with Fred. Anne was getting suspicious that Diana didn't mind Fred's roly-polyness so much.
"Anne." Anne jumped and turned. Gilbert was there, holding a small, wrapped box.
"Anne, I know it's not your birthday but I bought this for your birthday and was too chicken to give it to you then. Open it."
Anne opened the box. It was a small, pink, enamel heart.
"Gilbert, I love it."
Gilbert took it out of the box and put it around her neck, fastening the chain. While his arms were around her neck, he snuck a quick kiss, after checking for teachers. Avonlea High School teachers were sticklers for public displays of affection.
They held hands as they walked to class.
***
During Anne's third period class, a messenger brought a message for Anne. It asked her to come to her guidance counselor's office after class.
When she got to Miss Stacey's office, she was surprised to see Gilbert there. He was surprised to see her too.
"Anne, sit down," said Miss Stacey. "As you might know, there is a presigious scholarship given to the top student each year from Prince Edward Island. It's called the Avery Scholarship. Each school can nominate 2 students to be considered. And since you two are the top students in grade 12, we are recommending you two for consideration."
"So, not only will you be competing against others on PEI, you will be competing against each other." Miss Stacey laughed. "But I think you are used to that."
Anne and Gilbert looked at each other in horror.
"I wish you the best of luck Anne," Gilbert said blushing deeply as they walked out of the office and down the hall together.
"I .. uhh .. I wish you luck too G-Gilbert."
Anne was a little overwhelmed at the prospect of competing against Gilbert. But her competitive spirit got the better of her. 'I must get that scholarship!', she thought to herself.
Anne suddenly felt she needed to get away.
"Gilbert," said Anne, with a devilish slant in her voice. "You go on ahead to fourth period, I am going to skip class and go for a walk."
"What?!" Exclaimed Gilbert, "You can't do that!"
"Sure I can! Watch me!" Said Anne with her chin held high.
"If you do I'll tell! Anne you can't skip class!" cried a frantic Gil.
"WHY GILBERT! Don't you dare tell!" Anne reached into her leather backpack and pulled out the rubber chicken she always carried. With fury she whacked him hard over the head. "And if you so much as breathe one word of it, Ohhhh it's the chicken cannon for you!!!"
On that note, Anne turned and walked out the exit, leaving a baffled Gil behind.
Suddenly she noticed someone approaching. He had on a long coat, a dark mustache, bright blue eyes (why they almost looked like coloured contacts!) and small specs.
"Bonjour mademoiselle!" he said in an accent that charmed Anne to her soul.
"Hello, have we met? You look .. vaguely familiar .." said a slightly confused Anne.
"Ahhh No. That iz not possible. I am just come from Mor�al, Quebec. And I am .. how you say .. a journalist? I work for the Montreal Gazette! I iz covering the Cirque De Soleil that will be in town soon!"
"Ohhhh I can't WAIT for the Cirque de Soleil!" Cried Anne, "What is your name?"
The dashing Quebecker seemed a little taken aback, "My name? .. ahh .. ahh .. My name iz .. Jacque Gagnon!"
"Jacque Gagnon!" Anne burst out laughing.
"Nice try JACK, do you honestly expect me to fall for that disguise?!"
Jack took off his wig and hat, "well, you don't have to laugh that hard!" said Jack, a little upset that his disguise had failed so miserably.
"what on earth were you trying to accomplish with that disguise?"
Jack was too embarrassed to remember his original plan, but being a quick thinker came up with an excuse.
"I wanted to make you laugh!", Jack smiled at Anne, making her blush.
"You seemed a little down at school today."
School? Anne thought, but I didn't see jack at school today? How does he know I have been having a bad day?
"How did you know I was having a bad day?"
inquired Anne. I haven't seen you at all since the dance....or the morning after. Anne's thoughts from that night were still a little hazy.
"ok...ok...I'll come clean. I have been following you." A puzzled look came over Anne's face. "Now here me out before you get mad. I admire you Anne. I have been reading some of your pieces for the Avonlea Chronicle, and I must tell you, I think it is wonderful. You really have a talent for writing Anne Shirley." Jack gave Anne another one of his trade mark smiles.
"Well thank you, but I still don't understand why you have been following me, and why you are wearing that ridiculous disguise!?"
"I am following you because I like you, but after the way I acted the other night I wasn't sure if you wanted to talk to me ever again, plus I saw you with that Gilbert fellow and..." Anne quickly interrupted him. "Please do not mention that name to me again!" snapped Anne.
Anne was still furious at Gilbert for that afternoon's events. How could he do something like that to her? Anne wanted revenge and she knew just how to get it.
"I am deeply flattered Mr. Garrison. I hear you are somewhat of a writer yourself. I would love to read some of your stories some time."
"Would you care to join me for dinner tonight Anne? I could show you some stories from back home."
"I would love to" replied Anne. She knew this would get back to Gil and then he would apologise to her. Anne knew it was wrong to use jack like this, but there was also something about jack that appealed to her. Was it his charm? His looks? His smile? She didn't know, and in some way, she didn't care.
***
That night Jack was getting the apartment ready. He shared a place with a young man named Gus Pike. Gus had been living alone since he was 16 and agreed to take in jack for extra rent money. They lived above a small cafe in which Gus worked. It was called "The Lighthouse".
"So will you be out late tonight Gus?" Inquired jack hoping his roommate would give him an Anne some privacy.
"yeah yeah, I tol'ya I would be! I'm taking F'licity out."
"don'tcha be worrin bout a thing. I won' disturb ya two." Gus left just before Anne arrived at the door.
Anne felt somewhat nervous going to Jack's apartment. She knew that Marilla would never approve of her going over to the seedy side of Avonlea. But she wanted to make Gil mad, and she knew no better way to do that than to have dinner with Jack.
She approached apartment number 3 and knocked on the door. She could hear The Cure playing inside, and she knew it would be a long evening.
The door opened. There stood Jack, dashing as ever, in a red blazer. Anne looked startled for a moment...even more startled when--her eyes popped out! Jack's blazer was unbuttoned and...he was wearing a hideous plaid cumberbund!
"Oh, sorry about that," Jack said. "I spilled teriyaki sauce all over my suit and had to borrow some of Gus' clothes."
"That's, um, all right," Anne said as she stepped into the apartment. She noticed that there were candles lit on a table in the living room, which was all set for dinner.
"Sorry about that burnt smell, too. I don't think you're supposed to bake steaks for three hours on 450 degrees," Jack said sheepishly.
"No, you aren't. I know, why don't we go out? There's a nice pizza place across town, Diana and I go there all the time," Anne babbled on brightly. She knew that Gil hung out at the Pringle Pizza Parlour all the time, and she hoped that he would come by for one of his usual anchovie deep dishes and see her with Jack.
Jack looked slightly crestfallen. "Okay, if that's what you want. Let me just douse the candles, and turn off the music, and throw out the mousse I made just for you."
Anne, in her nervousness, didn't even pay attention to what he was saying. "All right, I'll go wait in my car. Don't be long!" Anne ran outside to Marilla's granite green Honda Odyssey. A few minutes later Jack stepped out. Anne nervously hit the power locks, and he was locked out.
"Anne, what are you doing? Let me in!" Jack's muffled voice came in through the closed window.
"Oh! Sorry! I'm afraid I'm not very used to this car." Anne let him in and then eased into the bustling traffic. Neither one said much during the ride over to the Pringle Pizza Parlour, but Anne's cheeks burned every time she felt Jack gaze at her, which was often. After a few minutes, they reached the pizza joint and Anne crookedly parallel parked. He quickly hopped out of the van and hurried over to her side to open her door. Somehow, Anne regained her composure. Perhaps because she saw Gil's Ford Explorer parked further down the street. He was there. It was time to make him madder than a wet hen.
Anne's stomach plumeted. Gil and Jack in the same room spelt trouble. She had to think quick.
"oh, you know I forgot this place is so busy this time of night, perhaps the Lawson's Cafe down the road would be more peaceful," Anne said, with a little too much enthusiasm.
Jack was a little taken back with this sudden change in Anne's countance, but he decided to think nothing of it. Taking a closer look, and seeing that Anne's estimation was very off, he replied.
"Come on, I've been dying to try some pizza-northen hemisphere style!. Besides there are plenty of tables left."
Anne tryed to argue but before she knew it Jack was off and she had no choice but to face the music.
They walked in and it wasn't hard to spot Gil and a strickingly beautiful brunette snuggled up beside him.
Anne's eyes met with Gils, not for long though, because the spell was broken by Jack saying...
"Anne, I think I'm in love with you," said Jack meaningly.
"W-What?" said Anne, shaken.
Jack looked Anne deep in the eyes and repeated what he had said.
Anne was very frightened now. She didn't know what to do or say. She knew she didn't love Jack. It was Gil she was in love with, but she knew she didn't stand a chance now, because of that beautiful girl beside him. She thought she remembered her name. It was... Christine Stuart. Well, now she would get Gil back for sure.
"I love you too," said Anne, snuggling closer to Jack. She knew Gil was watching them, and thought herself very brilliant.
But....if she was so brilliant, why did she feel so terrible?
***
Jack drove her home that night, and you could tell that he was happy. He was too overjoyed to notice that Anne was extremely quiet.
When they arrived at her door, Jack leaned over to kiss her. His kiss was gentle enough, but it didn't feel right, and she knew why. It wasn't Gil.
After the kiss, Anne stepped out of the car, and told Jack that she had had a wonderful time.
"So did I," he said with a sweet smile.
Anne watched him as he drove away, tears welling up in her gray green eyes. Why had she just done that. And why had she tried to make Gil jealous. He would never forgive her now. He would just stay with Christine, and forget all about her.
Anne hurried into Green Gables and up to her room. Marilla noticed, but decided to leave her alone for a while. She thought it would be best. She would go up after she finished watching Ally Macbeal.
After Marilla was done watching her show, she decided she better go talk to Anne. She went quietly up to her room, to find Anne sobbing on her pillow.
"What's the matter?" she asked stroking Anne's glossy red curls.
"E-Everything," she said chokingly.
"What do you mean by everything," said Marilla.
Anne told Marilla the whole, heartbreaking story, as more tears streamed down her cheeks.
"What should I do?" asked Anne wiping her eyes.
"Well," said Marilla, "I think you should-"
She was interrupted by a knock on the door, so she got up to answer it thankful that she would have time to think about what she would tell Anne.
She opened the door and to her surprise, there stood...
"Gil! What are you doing here?" Anne gasped.
"Anne I saw you at the pizza parlor, and I heard what you said to Jack Garrison. What was that all about? You told me you loved me?!?!"
Anne's heart thumped so loud that she was scared the Gil would hear her heartbeat.
"I do love you Gil," Anne replied.
But I thought you said you loved me!" a voice said behind Gil.
"Oh man..." Anne threw herself down on the bed. "Why don't I just go throw myself off the kitchen ridgepole?"
"How'd either of you get up here?" asked Anne.
"Matthew..." Gil and Jack said in sync.
Anne sighed. How would she ever escape from this one? Her mind flooded with thoughts, her heart with emotions, and her stomach tingled with nervousness.
Marilla, wise with many years, decided to leave Anne to figure this dispute out for herself. "Anne, I must attend to the laundry downstairs. Would you mind helping me afterwards?"
"Yes Marilla."
"Thank you. Good-day boys."
Anne cringed at the fact she was now alone with two boys who couldn't stand the sight of each other. Perhaps if I speak to Gil now, and tell Jack to call me later..., thought Anne.
Jack's anger began to get the better of him. "Well, Anne? What's it going to be? You don't tell someone you love them if you're not sincere."
Anne froze. Not this. She was dizzy with stress, and as she glanced at Gil, she noticed he had suddenly turned very pale. So he hadn't heard her declare her "imaginary" love for Jack. What would she do? What could she do? Gil would now despise her, and Jack would no longer speak to her... and she despised herself.
Flustered, Anne could no longer contain herself and she blurted "Jack. Gil... I'm so desperately sorry..." and hence fled her own room...
Anne rushed down the stairs, and outside into the darkness of the night. She flopped onto the back step and cried uncontrollably for a long time. What had she done? She couldn't take this. Why did everything have to be so mixed up. She couldn't do anything now, but stick to her word. She told Jack she loved him, and she couldn't take it back.
Gil and Jack had both left the house. Jack was triumphant and smiling, and Gil was going out of his mind. It couldn't be possible that anne loved Jack. He knew it couldn't, but what could he do. He jsut wanted to die. Why would life be worth living, if he wasn't with Anne. He would have to see Anne and Jack together every day. It was more than he could bear. Of course, he could keep dating Christine. Maybe then anne would come to her senses.
Anne after about an hour, went back upstairs, and to bed. She cried herself to sleep, wondering how much longer it would be until she ran out of tears.
"I hope no one tells me they love me again," she thought to herself as she drifted off to sleep.
Anne blinked back tears of anger as Jack approached her.
"Good morning Anne," he said brightly.
"Good morning," said Anne making an effort to smile.
"How is my sweetie-pie doing today," said Jack gently.
"Fine," mumbled Anne, her eyes downcast. "Well, I better get to class." She hurried down the hallway, and left Jack wondering why Anne had to get to class 20 minutes before it started.
Anne didn't go to class however. She hurried into the girls' bathroom, and into a stall, where she cried silently for 5 minutes.
She came out of the stall, and stayed in the bathroom until it was impossible to notice any traces of tears or red eyes.
Anne walked out of the bathroom to find something that she was not expecting at all.
Jack and Ruby were talking quietly to each other.
"I'll pick you up at seven," Jack was saying.
He kissed Ruby lightly on the cheek. Anne burned with rage. Her eyes flashed with anger.
Jack turned around and saw Anne looking at him, and knew what she had seen. Their eyes met, as Anne marched over to him. The whole school would certainly have something to gossip about now...
"Anne, wait, I'll explain. It's all a big mistake," said Jack, with a nervous tone.
"The only mistake I made was seeing stars in my eyes when I agreed to go out with you!" raged Anne in a tone that no Avonlea student had heard since that fateful day when Gilbert called her Wendy right in the middle of second period.
Before Anne could think rationally, she struck Jack smooth across his face with her small hand. Although the blow didn't affect Anne much, Jack's face was already showing a crimson handprint.
Immediately Anne knew she shouldn't have done it -- at least not at school anyway. Mr. Phillips might have seen and she didn't have time stay after school to write, "Anne Shirley has a very bad temper" one hundred times. She hurridely turned and started to walk. She kept her head down so that no one would be able to see the embarrasment that was already beginning to creep onto her face. She had taken about two steps when she bumped into someone. When she looked up, she saw Gilbert staring into her face.
"Excuse me Anne, I have to go to class." Gil said coldly as he passed Anne.
"I meant what I said Gil, I'm in..."Anne said before Gil interrupted.
"Look Anne. You don't have to pretend anymore. Jack told me that you loved him. Not me."
"I love you Gil. I mean it. Who are you going to believe me or him?"
"Look Anne, I don't want to talk about it right now."
While Gil walked to his classroom Diana went by Anne's side.
"Don't worry, Anne. I'll talk to him."Diana said as a tear ran down Anne's cheek.
"Look Anne. I'm sorry."said Jack as he put his arm around her shoulder, "I'm in love with you Anne. What can you I do to make it up to you."
Anne then slapped Jack across the cheek and said, "Go back to Australia or where ever you came from!"
After Anne slapped Jack, she ran down the hall to get to class. She could not be late these days, because of the scholarship. It would be announced tomorrow. Anne had to hold off her emotions for the day. She felt like she could not go on, but she had to. It would be so embarassing if Gil had gotten it only because she was thinking about what Diana had said to him about her...
When Anne got to class, she suddenly noticed that Gil was not in his usual seat. She looked around wildly. He wasn't there anywhere. That was weird.
"Anne!" It was Jane Andrews. "Did you hear what happened?"
"No... what?" Anne said confusedly.
"Gilbert Blythe fell down the stairs! He was unconscious! They had to take him to the hospital!"
"Hospital?" Anne said again. "Is he ok?"
"I don't know, they said it's pretty serious."
Gilbert in the hospital? Anne was worried. Anne ran out of the classroom, leaving Jane to wonder what it was she had said to make Anne Shirley look like that.
Anne had driven Marilla's van to school that day, so it didn't take long to get to the hospital. She burst through the doors and rushed to the front desk. "Gilbert Blythe!" She practically yelled to the nurse. "He was brought in earlier."
"He is in room 238," the nurse replied. Check with the staff up there for more information. Anne hurried up to the second floor. "That's not intensive care..." she thought to herself, "...so he must be okay."
Anne inquired with the nurses and was allowed to go in Gil's room. She slowly pushed the heavy door open. The room was empty, except for figure, curled up in the bed. Gil turned over slowly as he heard the door open.
"Oh, Gil" Anne managed to say through a heavy stream of tears. Gil had bruises covering his face and a broken arm. She sat down in a chair beside the bed and clasped her fingers around his good hand.
"How did this happen darling," Anne said with her eyes fixed on Gil's. "How on earth did you fall?"
"Oh, we shouldn't discuss this now, You are already upset." Gil said in a weak, husky voice.
Suddenly Diana burst through the door. "Oh, Anne! I had to come right away! Can you believe Jack would do something like this!" Diana said gesturing towards Gil.
"What do you mean Jack would do something like this! "Anne said angrily.
"When Jack found out that you like Gil and not him he got really mad. It was said that Jack and Gil where in the hall and Jack threatened Gil and punched him. Then pushed Gil down the stairs and Gil banged his head on the the hard stairs. I heard all of this from Josie Pye and Christine is about to faint because she thinks it's all her fault because she is going out with Charlie Sloan."
Diana said, without taking a breath between words.
Just then the Nurse came in and told them visiting hours were over.
Diana and Anne drove home, Anne silently seething with fury. After a while, Diana began to get worried about her unnaturally taciturn friend.
"Anne, say something. Don't just sit there holding it all in. I'm afraid you might blow up - or something," said Diana, thinking of chicken cannons.
"All I can say is this. Tomorrow, in school, Mr. Jack Garrison is going to be sorry he ever crossed paths with me."
Oh no, thought Diana, here we go again. She made a mental note to find some extra chalk for all the after school writing Anne would go through tomorrow.
***
The next day, a good night's rest and a phone call to the hospital found Anne calmer and relatively composed. Relatively, because she had suddenly remembered in the shower that today was the announcing of the Avery winner. Sitting in the living room munching her Lucky Charms, Anne looked into the turned off T.V. screen.
"Katie, are you there? It's been a long while since I've talked to you, but I know you'll understand. I've wanted to be a B.A. for so long, I will be simply disconsolate if I don't win."
Anne abruptly checked herself for the thought. How could she be so selfish with Gilbert in the hospital? Yet, she just had to win! She hated the idea of Marilla's good money being spent on her. In a mess of confusion and nerves, Anne thus adjourned to school. She met Jane Andrews outside the front entrance.
"Anne!", exclaimed Jane, "Are you excited to find out who the winners of the Avery are?"
"No, I'm perfectly terrified. Jane, I can't look at that list. You must go look for me and come tell me in Homeroom. No, don't be sympathetic, just tell frankly and briefly the bad news."
With that the two girls sallied forth into what Anne imagined as cold and heartless hallways. Suffice to say, she was much surprised when she was enveloped in hugs and congratulations.
"Anne, Anne!! You've won!" cried Diana ecstatically.
"Oh, I can't believe it!" said Anne, who was walking on air. "I felt sure, up until the last moment, I would lose. They said Emily Clay in Charlottetown had a very good chance. But, me?"
Just then Anne espied Gilbert running to greet her.
"What's Gil doing in school to day?" asked Anne.
"Oh really, Anne! You'd think he was dying! It was just a bad bruise and a broken arm. They wouldn't keep him overnight for that." said Diana exasperatedly.
Suddenly, Gil stood before her...
"Oh Gil," she said. "I'm so sorry this happened. It's all my fault."
"No it isn't," he said kindly. "It was Jack's sour attidude that did this. I didn't think he would turn to violence." He smiled, and looked deeply into Anne's eyes. Diana left, knowing that shouldn't be there during such a moment.
"I never meant it when I said I loved Jack," said Anne. "I just said it to make you jealous. It's you that I love." She smiled sweetly at him.
"It was you I loved all along," said Gil "I never cared for Christine. I love you too."
He leaned foward, and gave Anne a long and gentle kiss. They both didn't care what the teachers would think, but there were not teachers there to see it anyhow.
They embraced warmly. Both of them were very happy. Everything had turned out all right, or so they thought.
Because when they looked up they saw something that made them sick with fear. Someone was there that they had forgotten in their moment of happiness and love.
There stood Christine, arms folded crossly across her chest.
"So, you have "no feelings whatsoever for Anne Shirley", right?" she said angrily. "Well, you are certainly going to have to explain this!"
Gil just stood there cold as stone, not knowing what do say or do...
Gilbert finally found his tongue and said with an element of surprise in his voice, "What in heck are you talking about Christine? I never said anything like that to you."
"Why, y-yes you d-did," stammered Christine, who was finding that lying wasn't quite as easy as she had thought it would be. "You said that--that...." her voice trailed off into silence.
"I didn't say anything of the sort to you and you know that perfectly well. The only reason that I befriended you in the first place is because your brother asked me to, you being a freshman and all."
Christine walked away and Gilbert turned back to Anne. "I know that some of the things I have done may have made you think that I liked Christine, but I don't. For a while I wanted you to believe that I did like her, but only because I thought that I didn't have any hope with you. There will never be anyone for me but you."
"Gil, when I heard you were in the hospital, my heart just sunk," Anne said, without breathing, as though she were afraid she'd never get it all out. "My first thought was that you were dying and I'd never get to tell you how I felt..."
"But Anne, you know I've got the Blythe constitution in me, and that I'd be alright," interrupted Gilbert.
"Well, anyway, I think at that moment I realized how much I love you. We've got to stop hurting each other like this. I feel as though I'm in the depths of despair when I see you with someone else."
Christine, meanwhile, had slipped away to cry in a corner without either Anne or Gilbert noticing her departure. Jack, seeing a female in need, crept up behind her...
"Hey there cutie!"
Anne and Gilbert left quickly. They were not prepared to see that sickly scene, though Anne felt a pang of pity for poor Christine.
"Here Matthew, let me help you with that. I brought you some lunch." Anne picked up a cow-spotted box. It read Gateway Computers. "You just sit down and eat. I know you were working through lunch again, weren't you?"
Anne herded the cow boxes into the truck while Matthew ate behind her, when quite suddenly, Matthew gripped his arm and fell to the floor. Anne whipped around and cried out.
"Matthew!" She rushed to his side and caressed his head in her lap. "Matthew, I must get you some help!"
"No, no. Just stay here with me. There ain't much you can do, Anne."
"Oh, if only I had been the boy you wanted!" wailed Anne.
"There now," comforted Matthew,"I guess it weren't no boy who took the Avery. It was my girl, my girl that I love." Matthew slowly closed his eyes and Anne felt his head droop in her arms. There, she beheld the prescence of the Great Seal. Tearfully, Anne got up to notify Marilla.
A few days later, at Matthew's funeral, Anne felt a strange numbness come over her. It didn't seem possible that Matthew could be dead--not Matthew. Marilla, who sat next to her, intuitively understood what she was feeling. She said nothing, but just held tightly on to Anne's hand. As the funeral ended, Anne looked over to Gilbert. Marilla, knowing what Anne needed to do, let go of her hand. Anne walked over to Gil and held onto him tightly, her face pressed into his shirt. Slowly they walked off together...
"Gil just get me out of here. I don't think that I can take anymore well meaning condolences from anyone."
"Come on. We'll go to the bridge."
Gil put his arm a little tighter around her shoulder. It hurt him as much as Anne was hurting to see her in such pain.
When they reached the bridge, Anne leaned back against the railing.
"If I had been the boy they had sent for, I could have spared Matthew and Marilla in so many ways."
"Don't talk like that Anne."
"I mean it. And what are Marilla and I going to do? We can't possibly keep the farm going without Matthew. I can't go off to college and leave her here alone. I can't except the Avery. So you have to take it."
"Anne that is your scholarship. I can't take it."
"But--"
"Look. I love you. And whatever you think you need to do, you go ahead and do. But we are going to do this together. You said that we were going to stop hurting each other. Well, nothing would hurt me more than leaving you."
Anne sighed and put her arms around his neck. He held her close.
"Thank you. I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here."
She pulled away and slipped her hands into his.
"Want me to walk you home?" Gil asked.
"No. I've got to think a few things over."
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him goodbye and started her walk home.
Fortunately, Anne's decisions were postponed several months. Not long after the funeral, Marilla decided to sell the farm (the last farm in Avonlea, after all) to a subdivision developer and move into Avonlea Grove Condominiums. Anne liked that. Less housework.
The months wore on. Fall turned to winter turned to spring. Gil convinced Anne she should keep the Avery and told her he was searching on the internet for other scholarships to apply for.
Gil and Anne were quite the noted couple at Avonlea High School. They were always together, except in class, and were together a lot outside of school. Sometimes they went out with Diana and Fred.
Jack was only in PEI for one semester so he returned to Australia in February. Christine Stuart was said to be quite despondent, and had a going away party for him. Gilbert and Anne were not invited.
One day in early March, Anne and Gil were in their private yahoo club (gilandannesclub) when Anne got a strange PM.
"Hello beautiful," the PM said. RoyalTreatment was the ID name. Royaltreatment?? What kind of name is that? Anne thought to herself. She thought her name was better Carrots. The name made Anne curious. So she replied.
"How do you know if I'm beautiful?" She typed.
"I can just tell," was his reply.
"Anne what's taking you so long to reply," Slater's message came up. Oh! She forgot about Gil.
"Sorry Gil," Anne typed. "Yes, I would like to go to for the boat ride with you tomorrow."
Anne went back to the stanger. "So tell me about your name." She typed.
"Well, I know how to give a lady the royal treatment." He replied.
"Oh really?" Anne tried not to laugh.
"Well, that and my real name is Royal, but my friends call me Roy."
Anne made a face at her Ruby iMac as she typed furiously.
Carrots: Aren't you the fast mover? Why don't you quit PM-ing me and go sell your ego on eBay!
RoyalTreatment: Don't you know me, Anne?
Carrots: No, I don't think I do. How on earth do you know my name is Anne? If that is indeed my name, which it might not be.
RoyalTreatment: We met when you came to tour U. of Carmody last fall. I overheard your e-mail address and found out your screen name.
Suddenly Anne blushed in remembrance. The handsome, rich guy in second year at U. Carmody, had led a group of students from Avonlea High on a tour of the campus. She had been too busy with Gilbert to really pay much attention to him.
Carrots: Oh yes, I remember you now.
RoyalTreatment: Are you going to come to Carmody, Anne? We really must hook up.
Carrots: I'm afraid I don't "hook up", sir, and I must bid you farewell for the evening, as I have a feeling Netscape is going to crash on me.
With that Anne logged off and shut down her computer for good measure, forgetting all about Gilbert, who was still waiting patiently in their club.
Suddenly the phone rang, and Anne remembered Gil! Oops! She rushed to answer it.
"Oh Gil, I'm so sorry, I forgot you were still online, this wack-o guy pm'ed me and..."
Anne was cut off in mid-sentence by a very famililar voice.
"Is that my girl?"
Anne's face turned white as she clutched her phone. "Matthew?" she whispered. "Is that you? How can that be you?"
"It's me, Anne. I'm fine. I'm in Vancouver, and have been her for the past few months. I didn't die, Anne." Matthew said urgently.
"Oh my goodness. I cannot believe this. What happened? Oh Matthew, I'm so glad you're all right!" Anne began sobbing.
"It was the moving company, Anne. I accidentally got two shipments mixed up. Something to do with chicken cannons and computers. The stock fell and we were about to go belly-up. I had to sell, and I couldn't bear to leave you and Marilla with the embarassment, so I decided to fake my own death and head west to start over." Matthew explained.
Anne listened in amazement. "But we wouldn't have been embarassed, Matthew. Businesses fail. It's just a part of life. We would've helped you start over. Please come home. Marilla will be so overjoyed."
"Yes, Anne, I will be coming home soon. I've made a good business in the logging industry and am ready to come back to Avonlea to start my own consulting firm. Everything's going to be fine." Matthew said.
"Oh Matthew, how wonderful. I must go tell Marilla! Will you please hold?" Anne punched a button and Matthew cringed as "Let Me Call You Sleazebag", Anne's favourite song for dealing with unwanted telemarketers, filled the receiver.
Anne dropped the phone and ran to tell Marilla. She was startled by a buzzing sound.
Then she woke up...
"That dream again...the one with Mathew..." Ever since his death, Anne had several dreams in different forms where Matthew was alive. One time he had ran away to the States and made a fortune opening Tim Hortons to compete with that awful mud sold at Starbuck�s. Each time she woke up just as she was about to tell Marilla.
Awakened by her screams, Marilla came running into her room.
"Anne what�s wrong? I heard you scream."
"I�m fine Marilla, I just had that dream again about Matthew."
"I know that Matthew�s death is hard to accept. There, there, child it will be all right. You�ll see, it will get easier with time. It�s hard for me too. Every now and then I look over at the computer half expecting to see him downloading that MP3 nonsense."
Anne tried to go back to sleep but she was flooded with memories, not only of Matthew but also of last night when she received that strange message from Roy. She remembered she had talked with Gil and hadn�t mentioned the phone call from Roy. She didn�t want to burden Gil when he was trying so hard to find the money for school. The last he needed to worry about was this Roy person.
She went back to sleep and awoke to go check her email. She had several new messages and was startled by the topic line of...
The first one: "Anne where are you?" Gil. She still hadn't called him back. The next one "Anne please don't ignore me," the subject itself wasn't strange, but it was the sender who startled her. Royal Gardiner. She opened the email.
Please don't ignore me. I really want to get to know you better. When you came to Carmody, I knew I wanted to get to know you. You were so different from all the other girls. So much braver, you spoke your mind, and didn't care what anyone else thought. Please respond to this email. I'm not as weird as I may seem.
Roy
"Gil!" Anne smiled, forgetting about Roy. "I'm so sorry, I was going to call you back, but then I was so tired I fell asleep at the computer." Anne paused, "I had another dream about Matthew."
"Oh Anne, I wish there was something I could do to," Gil put his arms around Anne, giving a reasurring hug. "We don't have to go for the boat ride today, if you don't want to."
"Yes, I still want to go!!" She replied. "I just got to get changed and grab my sweater." Anne ran up the stairs to her room.
Gil smiled and when to sit down on the couch. He noticed Anne had left the computer on. He got up to turn it off for her. Gil didn't mean to read the email but his eyes came upon the words "I want to get to know you better." Who the heck is Roy? Gil looked down at the name.
Gil heard Anne coming down the stairs, she saw Gil at the computer.
"Gilbert Blythe! Why are you reading my email!!" She yelled.
"Anne!" Gil didn't hear her come down. "I'm sorry, I was just going to turn it off, cause you left it on," he defended.
"Well, that doesn't mean you can read-"
"I didn't mean to read it Anne," Gil continued, "I swear I didn't, I only saw a bit...so who is this Roy?"
Anne bit her lip. "Actually, I'm kind of glad you saw it. I didn't want to bring it up..you've had so much on your mind lately. But I wanted to talk to you about it."
"Gil, I've been chatting with this guy I met during the Carmody tour....and well, now he wants to get to know me more, and well, he just send me this email and..." Anne was feeling guilty about her recent connections with Roy.
Gil gave a chuckle and gave Anne a hug. "Oh Anne! You are so sensitive! you think I care if you are chatting with some guy you just met? I trust you completely Anne, we have been through too much to get here. I know you Anne Shirley! You love me and I love you. Anne gave a sigh of relief and kissed Gil on the cheek.
"Oh Gil, I was silly to think you wouldn't understand. Right now I feel like the luckiest girl in the whole world. Let's go for that boat ride, it's a glorious day."
***
The next few weeks were some of the happiest Anne had ever lived. She had won the scholarship, she had her love, the Prom was approaching and all was well with the world.
Until one day, Diana came running over, her face beet red from crying.
"Oh Anne! The most tragical thing has happened!"
"Diana, please calm down, what on earth has happened?"
"It's F...F...Fred!!" Diana had difficulty speaking through her tears, "he...he...he's..."
"He's what Diana?" Anne was getting slightly impatient with her best friends blubbering.
"He's cheating on me!!" with that final sentence Diana collapsed onto Anne's shoulder and began wailing uncontrollably. Diana and Fred had been dating for 3 months now, and Anne had to admit that for those three months hearing Diana ramble on and on about her "Rolly polly sweetums" every minute was a bit tiresome. However, Anne was heart broken to see her Bosom friend in this sobbing mess, and found it hard to believe that Fred would do anything like that to his "little plum puff" as he called her.
"Are you sure Diana? Do you have proof? It just doesn't seem a Fred thing to do?"
"Of course I have proof Anne! I saw it with my own two eyes. I was passing by the Pringles Pizza Parlour when I saw Fred and Ruby were sitting together at OUR table!"
"Well...Diana, did you speak to Fred? Did he explain?"
"Speak to him?! I never want to speak to him again!" Diana had now stopped crying and had turned a new shade of red in anger.
"I'm sure if you just speak with him Diana..." Anne was quickly cut off by Diana.
"Anne I don't want to speak of him anymore! As far as I'm concerned, that football playing jerk can go fall down an old well!"
The day went by without another mention of Fred Wright in Diana's presence. Anne met up with Gil at lunch and informed him of the situation.
"It just doesn't seem like a thing Fred would do?"
"I know" said Anne "but as awful as it is to say, it makes me feel even more lucky to have someone like you Gil." Gil reached over and held Anne's hand.
"what are you doing tonight?"
Anne smiled at Gil, "Nothing, why?"
"How about I come pick you up around 6:00ish and take you out for a nice dinner and a movie?"
"That sounds lovely", replied Anne as Gil gave her hand a kiss.
Diana, in a much improved condition then before, came over and sat down with them.
"Hey you two! You don't mind if I hang out with you tonight do you?" Anne and Gil looked at each other...
"Um..sure you can Diana," said Anne feelingly for her solo friend. "We were just going to see a movie..."
"Sounds wonderful! Let's see that new Ben Hur movie. I heard it was really good, with cool special effects!" added Diana enthusiastically.
Anne and Gil again looked at each other with a glance that said a thousand words. They had had more of a "date" movie in mind, but if Diana was coming, well, perhaps this would be better after all. They agreed.
That night at the movie, Diana had a wonderful time. She hardly even thought of Fred and the movie was just as good as the commercials said. Especially that Harrison Ford as Ben Hur!
"He is such a non-roly polly hunk," said Diana five minutes into the film. "But he does look like he could be a football player doesn't he?"
Anne wanly smiled. For a girl who wasn't thinking about Fred she sure was making a lot of refrences to him. Anne felt Gil squeeze her hand in sympathy as Diana rambled on about rolly polly subjects.
"Maybe tomorrow..." whispered Gil in her ear.
But tomorrow was not to be. Nor the next day or the next. Diana stuck to Gil and Anne like glue, helpless without her Fred. Anne really was sympathetic to her bosom friend's plight, but this was pushing the limit. Gil and Anne hardly had one moment alone all week, except for chats late at night. Anne decided she must confront Diana with this issue immediately...
"Diana..." Anne began, when her bosom buddy called her to see what time they were going out that night.
"What is it, Anne?" Diana asked over the phone.
"Diana you are my bosom friend, and I love you dearly," Anne began, "but Gil and I were hoping to be alone tonight. I hope you don't mind..."
"Oh Anne, I'm sorry I didn't, realize I was taking up all your time together!" Diana cried. "I'm soo sorry will you, please forgive me?"
"Of course I forgive you Diana," Anne smiled to herself, "how about we do something tomorrow, just the two of us."
"Alright Anne," Diana said feeling much better. "I'll call you around 11am, okay?"
"Sounds good," Anne replied. "Talk to you then, bye."
"Bye, Anne. Diana hung up the phone and smiled.
"Yeah, and do you notice how she always mentions Fred?" Gil agreed. "Maybe I should talk to Fred. See if it's really what she says it is. Cause from what you've told me, she really doesn't have much proof."
"Oh Gil! That's a good idea!" Anne reached over and gave Gil a big hug. "I love you so much!"
"Well, maybe I should come up with good ideas more often," Gil said with a smirk. "Now that we've got that out of the way, let's enjoy our time alone. We haven't been alone in a while," Gil smiled as he leaned in. He pulled Anne into a delicious kiss...
Bright and early the next morning, Gil headed out to Fred's. When he pulled into the drive way of the Wright's small, yellow house, Fred was sitting very still in the porch swing, with his head down. Gil hopped out of the car and up the 3 small steps to the porch.
"Long time no see, bud! How are you?" Gil said extending his hand. Fred shook Gil's hand and simply said, "Just fine," with a nod. Fred had never been a man of many words. "How is Anne?" He inquired quickly.
"Oh, she and I are just fine. We are a little worried about you and Diana though." Gil said uncomfortably with his eyes fixed on the ground.
"She hates me, dosen't she?" Was Fred's response.
"We are all hoping, maybe, she has just misunderstood." Gil said, impatiently waiting for an explaination.
"I care a great deal for Diana. But I simply cannot explain to her what I was doing with Ruby that day." Fred managed to say as he got up to lean against the railing of the porch.
"So, you are seeing Ruby?" Gil said solemnly.
"No. I am not. Gilbert, she is in a lot of trouble, more that you and I could ever comprehend." Fred said this very carefully, as to not reveal too much. "I can say no more on the subject. I know I can trust you not to mention this conversation to anyone." And with this, Fred turned and went inside.
Anne turned on her ruby iMac with a heavy heart that evening. Diana's troubles were taking their toll on her. For the past week Diana talked about Fred nonstop. Anne felt in her heart that Fred was not capable of cheating on Diana. Ruby was a very beautiful girl, but Fred didn't seem like the type to be fooled by her charms. Or was he?
After waiting for 30 minutes for Gil to come online, Anne was slightly annoyed and decided it was time to log off and go to bed. She was extremely tired and could talk to Gil tomorrow. Just when she was about to hit the disconnect button she received a PM from an unfamiliar handle. "No, I don't want to look at your pictures or learn how to consolidate my debts,"she thought as she quickly closed the window without reading the message.
Then she received another message. "Geesh, these spammers are really persistant."
Before she could close the window her own name caught her eye. "Anne, I've got to talk to you. It's urgent."
Her heart suddenly dropped. This person wasn't a spammer, it was someone she knew. Then she took a closer look at the handle, Aussie_Boy_2000. If this person was from Australia, as he (or she) claimed, it could only be one person. There was only one person she knew from that far off continent-- Jack Garrison.
"Jack???" Anne wrote. "How are you doing? How did you get my screenname?"
"Yes, it's me! I'm sorry I don't have much time to chat right now, but I wanted to tell you that I'm moving back to PEI next week. Permanently."
All of a sudden Anne felt butterflies in her stomach. She almost forgot she was supposed to hate Jack. She knew in her heart she had long forgiven him for everything he had done last semester. She really did treat him awfully the last few months before he left. Anne suddenly cringed as she remembered e-mailing him the carrots virus last semester. The virus tinted everything on his computer screen orange for several months. It took Charlie Sloane, the class computer nerd, nearly a month to figure out how to fix it. No matter how ungentelmanly Jack acted, her behavior towards him had been unacceptable. Maybe she would have a chance to make things right with him again.
"Wow!! I can't believe you're returning. How did this happen? Where are you staying? Will you be going to school?"
"I don't have time for details Anne, but I will explain everything when I get here next week. It's a long story. Do you think you would mind picking me up from the Charlottetown Airport Wednesday at 5:00?"
"Sure," Anne wrote, completely forgetting about her plans to have dinner with the Blythe's that evening.
Just then Gil came online.
Slight pains of guilt came over Anne as she realized she was actually looking forward to seeing Jack again.
"Anne, you wouldn't believe what I found out today when I talked to Fred."
"Hold on a sec Gil."
Anne had not yet mastered the art of mutli-tasking.
Jack sent her another PM saying he'd see her soon and quickly logged out without further explanation.
"Gil, *ou wou?dn't beli?ve th?s? but I just ta^ed to JaGk GarGQon a? he's m?vi?g b^ck to PEI n&xt w??k."
"What???"
"JaGk GarGQon i? m?vi?g b^ck to PEI n&xt w??k."
Anne hated when Yahoo turned her messages into a puzzle. It was one of the life-long sorrows of owning a Mac. There always seemed to be conflicts with software. Sometimes she wished she had bought a plain and sensible PC as Marilla recommended.
"Uh oh," Gil wrote. "And not because you're having problems with your computer."
Since his abrupt departure from PEI Jack hadn't been able to get Anne out of his thoughts. When he returned home, he had intended to start the school year afresh, the school year starting in Feburary in Australia. His parents were as restless as Jack for new places and when Jack raved about the wintery christmas and beauty of PEI his parents, being both a free lance writer and professor of english literature of the University of Queensland, decided to make with a change and move to PEI.
So it was that Jack was on the plane on his way back to PEI. But Jack left a past behind him and it wasn't at all clean. He wasn't sure of whether coming back to PEI would provide him with a fresh slate but what he did know however was, that he wasn't about to give up on Anne as easily as Gilbert Blythe would wish him too. He also knew who to enlist for help...a Miss Christine Stewert.
Later that day Jack Garrison talked to Christine, "Hi Christine, I was wondering if you could help me. See, I...
"...have a proposition for you," Jack finished, turning on all of his Aussie charm full blast. Christine threw him a skeptical look.
"Like what? The last time I went along with one of your plans, NOTHING happened, despite all your assurances, that oh, of course Gil would be jealous. Now he and Anne are practically glued together!" Jack just smiled and slid an arm around Christine.
"But, Chrissie," he said in an excellent imitation of actual embarrasment. "I totally screwed things up, I know. Now I know how to crack the shell of Blythe, I just need a little bit of help on your end." Christine made no response. Jack exhaled slowly and mentally crossed his fingers. "Listening?" Christine hesistated a moment before answering.
"Tell me more."
Jack elaborated to Christine his plan to get Anne back. Little did Christine know, it was a ruse. There was a secret in Avonlea, a secret that no one could know about just yet, concerning him and someone else. Jack sighed, and for once wished he didn't have to lie to Christine. However, he had to keep her gossiping sensiblilities busy somehow. She might get ideas, otherwise, and he just couldn't risk it.
***
Later the same day, Anne was once more on her ruby imac, chatting with Gil.
"Hey. I just got back from the Airport with Jack. He said he had some things to take care of, so I have some time to talk before I drive him to his hotel. What was so fearfully important the other day? What did Fred tell you?" Carrots wrote most curiously.
Slater replied, "I don't know if I should tell you this. Fred said it was okay...but, this is rather shocking." Here Slater took a dramatic pause. Actually, he just had to let the dog out."Sorry about that Anne. Dog had to go. Anyways, the reason Fred was with Ruby that night wasn't because they were cheating. Ruby had something urgent to tell someone, someone she could trust. You know, Fred has lived next door to the Gillis' all his life. Ruby had to confide in him."
"For goodness' sake, Gil, tell me already!" Anne began to grow fidgety in her nervousness."What's happened to Ruby?"
The response came sharp and succinct. "She's pregnant."
Anne gasped and quickly typed out,"What is she going to do? Who's baby is it?"
Again the reply promptly appeared, blaring out like fire from the monitor. It was as if Gil could hardly stand to write the troubles of his longtime schoolmate, and it was all he could do to get those eight letters on the screen.
"It's Jack's."
Anne let out a wail, and Marilla in the next room rolled her eyes. Anne was always so blessed melodramatic. Little did that good woman know what a kettle of fish the Avonlea adolescents had gotten into now...
"WHAT?" Anne typed.
"It's Jack's" Replied Slate.
"Why would Ruby do such a thing?" Anne typed.
"I don't know."
"Hello?" replied someone.
"Hello, may I please speak to Diana?" asked Anne.
"Speaking," replied Diana.
"Diana," said Anne, "There is something I want to tell you..."
"Diana, Fred's been true to you this whole time, truely he has. He was just listening to Ruby. She's in a lot of trouble and needs all of our help and support. Diana she's pregnant." With this there was a pause on the other end, neither of them knew what to say. Diana tentatively replied, "has she tried talking to Mrs. Stacey?" Anne subconscously shrugged her shoulders "Im not sure what she's done. However you need to call Fred, right away, talk things over with him. You've been miserable long enough..."
"I'm so sorry, Fred," said Diana almost in tears. "I shouldn't have believed that you would cheat on me. I should have trusted you."
"That's okay," said Fred. "I know it's easy to confuse things."
"Thank you for being so understanding," said Diana sweetly. She was glad that everything had worked out between her and Fred...but there was Ruby. What would happen to her?
"Diana," said Fred. "Could you do me a favor?"
"Anything," said Diana.
"You see," said Fred hesitating a little. "I don't know Jack Garrison very well, and well...he doesn't know that Ruby is pregnant."
"What?" said diana, astonished.
"He doesn't know about Ruby yet," continued Jack. "So, could you tell him about her. You know him mcuh better than I do."
Diana was a bit frightened, but she would do anything for Fred.
"Y-Yes," she said, trying not to sound nervous. "I'll tell him."
Diana and Fred continued to talk late into the night. They had a lot of catching up to do after such a long silence. Promising to make honesty the foundation of their relationship, they promised to meet tomorrow at their favorite table for Pizza.
It was past Diana's normal bed time after they finished, but she couldn't go to sleep. She wanted to call or email Anne but knew that Anne wasn�t allowed phone calls past 10pm or to be on the computer that late either. She now had the heavy burden on her of confronting Jack.
As she got ready for bed and brushed her long, raven colored hair she wondered to herself, "Is Ruby really pregnant?" To the outside observer this would seem to be an absurd question, but to Diana, a life long chum of Ruby's, it did seem too unusual.
After all, Ruby was the one who thought she'd killed Anne after they'd recreated "The Lady of Shalot" in the Lazy River at the Lake of Shining Waters Water Park. Anne had simply floated around the loop, to be rescued by Gil. Ruby also had thought she had some incurable disease just last year and it turned out she had Mono. She would have to know the truth, before she confronted Mr. Garrison. All of these thoughts were in Diana�s head as she went to bed.
Diana decided to wait a few days before confronting Jack. She�d tell Anne in the morning because Anne would know what to do.
As tomorrow was Saturday, she awoke to the new day a little later than usual. Her first phone call was to her bosom friend, Anne.
"Anne, I need to talk to you about last night..."
"What is it?" Anne asked sleepily. She'd been up until late last night, pacing the floor until Marilla had invaded her room and told her: 'For goodness sakes, child, go to bed!' Anne had meekly obeyed, but she still was suffering from lack of sleep. Diana hesitated for a moment.
"I don't know how to say this...but Anne, is Ruby positive she's pregnant?" Anne paused, rapidly waking up.
"What do you mean, Diana?"
"Well..." Diana outlined all of Ruby's previous encounters with hysteria. Anne exhaled sharply and bit her lip.
"You know...I don't know...but how can we find out? It's not like we can go up to Ruby and say 'Gee, Ruby, sorry for doubting you, but you have kind of flipped out before, so we think you're delusional.'"
"I think we should go talk to Ruby...without hinting she's delusional."
"All right," Anne sighed. "I'll meet you at the Gillis at one, okay?"
Anne met Diana at the Gillis' front porch. She walked up to Diana who appeared racked with nervousness.
"Ready Diana?" inquired Anne joining at the porch.
"Ready Anne. Wouldn't Ruby be angry at Fred for telling us. I mean I hate to get Fred in trouble."
"Don't worry Diana! Knowing Ruby, I think she'll be happy that her good friends know and can be there for her in her time of need...now Diana can you kindly remove your fingers from my arm. Because I believe thier piercing through my flesh."
Diana was unaware that she was gripping onto Anne's arm the whole time and immediately release her fingers from it. Anne whinced with a slight pain as she started tomassage her left arm. She looked at Diana who resorted to biting her nails.
"I think you broke skin Diana."
"Ha-ha Anne. Just because I'm not thinking straight right now doesn't mean I can't whack you with a rubber chicken. Let's go Anne before I have to start wearing Lee's press on nails."
With a deep breath Anne knock on the door. They heard Ruby voice, "I'm coming! Just a moment.
Ruby opened the door and greeted her two friends with a smile. "Oh, Diana! Anne! I am so happy to see the both of you! I'm so glad that you decided to come by. We haven't been together in since that time that I thought we'd killed you Anne. Oh, I just knew that you had drowned and that we were murderers. Please come in."
Diana would not budge off the porch, so Anne calmly pushed her into the Gillis' front door and through their entry hall. By this time, Diana was regaining her composure and was able to walk on her own. Ruby led them into the living room, where the three of them sat down.
Diana cleared her throat. She really wished that Anne would talk to Ruby, but she knew that it was her duty. She had promised Fred that she would talk to Jack, but she wanted to make absolutely sure that Ruby really was in this predicament before she spoke to Jack.
"Umm... Ruby... it has come to our attention that you--you're--I mean..." Diana's voice trailed off. She turned to look at Anne for support, but she found that Anne wasn't going to be any help. Anne was lost in her own thoughts, wondering how Ruby could be so calm in her present condition.
"That I'm what, Diana?" Ruby asked innocently. Her eyes shifted from Diana to Anne and then back to Diana. "What is it?"
Diana and Anne looked at each other nervously, and then back to Ruby, who was still gazing at them with wide-eyed curiosity.
"Ruby," Diana began again. "We know. We heard from..."
Diana was cut off in mid-sentence by a knock on the door.
"Oh dear, who could that be?" Ruby said impatiently. "Excuse me, girls," she said as she stepped over them and to the front hall.
Diana and Anne shot each other a quick look of relief. At least they would have a few more moments before they had to speak to Ruby. But their peace was shortlived as they recognized the loud voice in the hall.
"And I just couldn't believe how many dandelions were in Mr. Harrison's yard, after all those Chemlawn treatments he had last summer. It's a sheer waste, that's what."
Anne and Diana looked at each other in horror. "Mrs. Lynde!" Diana croaked in a whisper.
A moment later, that fearful personage strode into the Gillis living room. Rachel Lynde, the president of the Neighborhood Watch and a slew of other organizations devoted to the rightness of things, plunked herself down on the couch across from Anne and Diana. She smoothed the creases in her pale blue pantsuit and set a stack of Chatelaine magazines on the coffee table.
"Why, good afternoon, Anne, Diana," she said, beaming. "I just came over to return Mrs. Gillis' magazines and I was so terribly thirsty, that Ruby was kind enough to offer me to stay and have an iced tea with you girls. I hope you're both doing well in school, and aren't flirting too much, that's what."
"No, Mrs. Lynde," Diana said meekly. Anne smiled weakly. A minute later Ruby came in with a tray of iced tea, dishes of ice cream, and a jar of pickles.
"What's that for?" Anne said, feeling shocked. Diana poked her in the ribs. Anne felt that if she spent any more time with Diana this afternoon, she was going to be completely black and blue.
"Oh, silly me!" Ruby exclaimed. "I thought some ice cream would be nice...I'm simply starving! And my mother just bought these new pickles at the store. For some reason I thought they might go well with the ice cream!"
They watched in horror as Ruby proceeded to spoon pickles all over her dish of vanilla ice cream.
"I've never heard of such a concoction, that's what," Mrs. Lynde said with a sniff. "Have you been reading them Yankee cookbooks again?"
Ruby giggled and took a huge bite of ice cream. "Now what was it you girls came to ask me about? I'm simply dying of curiosity."
Anne and Diana knew they would never be able to bring up the question of Ruby being pregnant, with Mrs. Lynde, the matriarch of propriety sitting right across from them. But they felt they already knew the answer, as they watched Ruby slather those pickles. Just then there was another knock on the door.
"Dear me, it's like Grand Central Station today, isn't it!" Ruby said with more giggles as she got up and went over to the door.
Another familiar voice was heard, this one male and with a decided accent.
"Hello, Ruby." They heard the voice say.
"It's Jack Garrison!" Diana gasped.
"Jack Garrison?!" Rachel Lynde was completely baffled. Wait until I tell the women at Bingo tonight! It's an ill wind that blows no good! She thought. She shook her head out of view.
Ruby showed Jack into the living room. "Ah, Anne! Diana! And who is this?" he asked.
"Oh. This is Mrs. Rachel Lynde. And this is my boyfriend Jack Garrison," replied Ruby.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Lynde." Jack and Rachel shook hands as he sat down. "I just came to see how Ruby is faring."
"Oh, I'm doing alright," Ruby returned.
"She keeps having these weird cravings. Who in their right mind would eat pickles with ice cream?" Rachel mused. "Mark my words, if this kind of thing goes on Lawson's dessert menu, the place will be shut down faster than Napster, that's what!"
"I think Lawson's is safe from pickle-flavoured ice cream, Mrs. Lynde," Anne said. "It was nice seeing you, Jack, but Diana and I must be going."
"We must?" This time Anne poked Diana in the ribs. "Oh, right! Yes! Well, we'll talk to you all later." She grabbed Diana's arm and jutted out the front door.
As they made their way outside toward Diana's house, they could hear Rachel and Ruby's mother exclaim, "You're what?!?!" Anne and Diana turned around.
Anne and Diana ran back and put their ears against the door.
"I'm pregnant mother," Rudy said in a muffled voice, well it sounded that way through the door. "And Jack is the father."
*THWAK*
"I think Mrs. Gillis fainted," Anne suggested. Her and Diana turned around and started home.
"Well, my job is done," Diana said with a smile.
The days turned into weeks until the prom was just a day a way.
Anne was able to forget for a time the troubles of Ruby and Jack. Prom was coming! Ever since that day last fall, when a bruised and battered Gil had kissed her in front of the entire school, she had been looking forward to the culminating dance of her high school career.
The morning of prom, Anne got up early. She quickly flipped on her computer to check her email and her favorite website, www.Sarah3.com. This was a web site devoted to her favorite book, Sarah of Yellow Hills. A third movie based on the book had recently been made, and Anne was a frequent poster on the website's forum. They were even writing a fanfic putting Sarah in modern times, and prom or no prom, Anne had to check the site before she got ready.
After lunch, Diana came over to pick her up. They were going to get their hair done at Avonlea Beauty Parlor. Anne was so excited about her great green dress that Marilla of course disapproved of. But Anne knew Gil would love it.
Diana went home to get ready and wait for Fred to pick her up. Gil arrived at the condo promptly at 6:30, looking resplendent in his tux. Anne came down the stairs and Gil's eyes goggled. He helped her put on her corsage while Marilla rummaged for the video camera.
Gil could barely drive without keeping his eyes off his girlfriend. Once they got to the Avonlea Hall, which someone had painted blue a few years back, they sat down with Diana and Fred and a few other couples for a delicious dinner.
The dancing began with the Macarena. Gil wasn't thrilled about it, but Anne dragged him off to the floor. After a few more fast ones, like the Grease mix, the first slow song came on. Gil and Anne barely moved as they held each other close and looked into each other's eyes. Both were happier than they ever thought possible.
"Gil," Anne whispered, "I don't want anything to interrupt this moment."
The slow dance stopped and Anne wanted something to drink. They walked over to the punch bowl where Diana and Fred were standing, once more the happy couple.
"Careful, I don't think it's spiked, Anne! We don't want you drunk again!" teased Diana.
"Oh, ha ha! You are merciless, Diana!" said Anne before she took a mighty swig. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head at the first taste. "I think it is spiked!!"
"Better go for the water, Anne." said Gil trying not to laugh.
Anne and Gil then left their two friends to go out into the moonlight. The hall was getting rather hot, and a breath of air would do them good. Gil followed Anne outside, admiring the graceful sway of her walk, the way her dress clung like gossamer. She turned around and a beam of moonlight caught her face and the soft curve of her neck.
"Anne you are beautiful."
It wasn't much, but the way Gil said those words, his very intonation, made Anne tremble. She modestly smoothed a wrinkle in her dress. And, oh, how the dress was perfect for her. It was of pale green voile, soft and delicate as the girl herself, layered over a form-fitting bodice and a skirt which cascaded to the ground. All over tiny starflowers were embroidered, to match the blooms in her dusky red hair.
"Thank you, Gil."
They were lost in the moment, until Jack and Ruby drove past and into the parking-lot. Jack hopped out and took the hand of his child's mother. Anne and Gil, who had never thought they would come, stood watching speechlessly. Anne thought she saw something glitter on Ruby's slender hand.
"Why, Gil! Does Ruby have a ring on?"
They quickly followed Jack and Ruby into the bright blue hall. They couldn't miss this...
Ruby was wearing a midnight blue velvet maternity dress that was covered in silver sparkles. However, the glimmer that everyone's eyes were drawn to was the diamond ring on her finger. Jack threw a glare around the room and the most people turned back to their conversations and dances. Anne and Gil entered the room and came up to Diana and Fred. Diana was looking wonderful in a satin dress of rose-pink, and even Fred was looking less rolly-polly than usual.
"Are Ruby and Jack really engaged?" Anne asked. Diana shrugged.
"Looks like it...."
"But, Jack is a playboy," said Fred.
"Fred! It's not nice to say things like that. But, you are kind of right."said Diana.
"Look, we'll deal with it later. Let's just have a good time at the prom."
"How can you have a good time if you are wearing a cummerbund," said Fred as he tucked on his shirt.
"Fred!"snapped Diana.
The next slow song came on, and Gilbert asked Anne if she would like to dance again. She looked up at his handsome face and said yes.
Gilbert couldn't stop looking at Anne. He couldn't help it... she was so beautiful. That dress she was wearing made her look like a princess. He couldn't wait until Graduation. Gil wanted to ask her a question, and he was pretty sure what her answer would be.
Next to them, was Diana and Fred, swaying back and forth to the music. Diana took a quick look over at Anne. She was smiling from ear to ear. Diana thought they made such a cute couple.
Jack and Ruby were a few feet away, also dancing. Jack was hardly even paying attention to Ruby, he was looking at Anne. Then every once in a while, he would remember that Ruby was his girlfriend, and she might figure out that he loved Anne, not her. Well, Jack thought he loved Anne.
After the song was over, they started playing a few fast songs again. Anne asked Gilbert if he wanted to sit out a few songs. He agreed and they went over to a deserted corner. "Anne, you are so amazingly beautiful. I love you so much. I want to be with you forever." Gilbert said, in dark languid tones.
"I love you too, Gilbert. More then you could ever know," replied Anne.
A voice behind them almost shouted, "Hey!" It was Jack Garrison. He walked over towards Gilbert and Anne...
Well, the romantic moment was unfortunately over as Jack came up to Anne and Gil.
"Anne, would you do me the honour of dancing with me?" asked Jack.
Anne looked at Gilbert and replied...
"I'd love to dance with you," she told Jack while squeezing Gil's hand and smiling at him. Words went unspoken between them as Gil went off to dance with Diana.
Jack and Anne danced the way people dance with someone they don't know very well, rather than the close way she and Gil had been dancing. Jack did not like this. As they were dancing, they made small talk. Suddenly, Jack leaned close to whisper into Anne's ear.
"Anne, there's something I want to say to you. You may not believe this, but I'm still in love with you."
Anne pulled away in horror. She looked at Jack and slapped him soundly across the face. Then she burst into tears and angrily stomed out of the hall.
Jack stood frozen and embarrassed. Gil broke away from Diana, and both he and Diana ran out to follow Anne.
"Anne, what happened?"
Anne told them. Gilbert was angry but he stayed by Anne's side, kissing her tears away. Her anger faded. He gave Diana a pointed look and she reentered the hall to see what was sure to be an exciting scene between Jack and Ruby.
"Anne," said Gilbert, "There's something I want to ask you."
Anne looked up swiftly.
"I was waiting to say this at graduation...but I can't wait any longer," Gilbert was so nervous he was stammering. "Anne, I love you. More than I can say. I can't imagine life without you. I know we are going to college and I am on to medical school eventually....Anne, what I am trying to say is, will you promise me that someday you will be my wife?"
Anne looked up, shocked. She couldn't speak at first. Then she knew what answer she had to give.
"Gil, I love you too. But I can't make that promise. Not now."
Gilbert�s face went to a look that had both confusion and pain in it. He had a thousand thoughts racing through his head when all of sudden he heard a scream.
"Anne, was that Ruby?"
"I�m afraid so," She said as she dashed toward the open door of the hall.
Upon entering hall she saw a crowd of people standing around a figure on the ground. As she cautiously approached she was grabbed on the arm.
"Oh my goodness!! Oh my goodness!!"
Anne spun around to see that Diana was attached to hand that had grabbed her.
Diana was very excited as she continued, "Ruby confronted Jack, saying how he�d lied to her, and she started ranting and no one could understand. Something about a ring and broken promises. Then all of a sudden she fainted in the middle of the floor. Fred ran to call the hospital. Anne can you believe what happened?"
"Oh, no! I feel like it�s all my fault!" Anne�s face went instantly pale as the moon. "When will I ever learn to control that temper of mine. If anything should happen to Ruby, I will feel completely responsible...
Just then Gilbert walked up with a strange look on his face. Diana knew something was wrong with him, but she�d wait until she had Anne alone to ask her.
"Have any of you seen Jack?" Gilbert asked.
Diana replied, "No, that�s odd, I wonder where..."
Gilbert did not wait for a reply, he dashed out of the room quickly. Anne, seeing that Ruby was fine, ran after Gilbert to talk to him and try to explain why she rejeced his proposal...
"Gilbert, wait!" cried Anne. Something in her voice made Gilbert stop and turn around.
"Gilbert, I have to talk to you. Now. I love you so much, but I can't marry you. Not right now. I am only 18! I have ambitions, I at least want to get through college. And you have medical school. That'll be a long time." Anne said it so regretfully that Gilbert tried to get her to change her mind.
"I know, we both have college, and we both have ambitions, but we still have love. An eternal, undying love and devotion to eachother. Will you please promise me that someday, someday in the future, that you will be my wife?" he said in that sweet, manly, romatic way he always told Anne he loved her.
"I will. I will be your wife. I don't know when, or how long it will be until we can be together, but I will. I promise, because I could never live without you."
Gilbert brought Anne towards him, for a long delicious kiss. Anne finally pulled herself away, just long enough to tell him how much she loved him. Hand in hand, they walked back towards the dance...
Gil turnes to Anne..."Hey, let's forget this place...What do you say we go and get something to eat?"
"That would be great Gil!! I think I've had enough excitement for one night!
On the way to his Explorer, he realizes that he left his jacket at the dance...
He unlocks the car door for Anne, "I'll be back in a moment... you wait here I forgot my jacket."
Anne nods her head in agreement and watches as Gil makes his way back to the dance.
Christine wrapped her arms around Gil, burying her head in his chest as she continues to sob.
By this time, the attention around the scene with Ruby and Jack has died down. Now, the entire dance was observing Gil and Christine...in an embrace, with Anne nowhere to be seen...
Sleepily, Anne got went downstairs for breakfast. She yawned, looking around for her math homework in the kitchen to stuff in her backpack.
Eating her cinnamon toast, she heard the voice of Mrs. Lynde in the living room. I wonder what she's doing here so early, Anne though curiously.
"Good morning Marilla and Mrs. Lynde," Anne said as she walked into the living room.
Mrs. Lynde's jaw dropped as she spotted Anne and the conversation stopped. "Did I ever tell you Anne that I knew a girl once with hair every bit as red as yours, and as she grew up, it darkened into a real handsome auburn?" questioned Mrs. Lynde, sincerely trying to cheer Anne's spirits.
"Of course, you mentioned that to me years ago," Anne said with a smile, wondering how Mrs. Lynde could have ever forgotten.
"You should be off to school. Be sure to concentrate on your studies," Marilla advised.
Anne glanced at her watch and made her hasty goodbyes as she noticed how late she was. Anne was entirely oblivious to the fact that both Marilla and Rachel marvelling at her bravery in the wake of the circulating rumors of Gilbert and Christine.
As the door slammed, Marilla turned to Rachel. "Anne's such a young brave thing. She doesn't even want to let on that she's crushed."
"Gilbert Blythe is such a fool. How could he ever treat Anne this way. And with Christine Stuart! How could he ever be interested in her. Well I heard her Grandmother, forgot her own husband's name. He had only died three months ago..."
Marilla put her hand to her face and slyly covered her rolling eyes. "I hope Anne will continue to hold her temper," Marilla thought to herself.
Anne pulled Marilla's van into the high school parking lot, parking next to Josie Pye. Anne noticed all the students were dragging the first Monday after prom, just two weeks before graduation.
"Well, well, well," said Josie in that nasty-nice way of hers. "I'm surprised that you are in school today, Anne. I thought your life would be over."
"Huh?" said Anne confusedly.
"Don't act like you didn't know about Gilbert being all over Christine during the last song. Where were you anyway?"
"What are you talking about, Josie? I was with Gil the whole time..." Anne trailed off. Why should she defend herself to Josie?
"All right," said Josie in a singsong voice. "There's Diana. Ask her about Gil and Christine."
Josie flounced off leaving a thoroughly irritated Anne staring after her.
"Anne," called Diana, "how are you doing?"
"I'm... fine, Diana," Anne said slowly, "how should I be?"
"Anne, it's all over school."
"What's all over school?" Anne was so frustrated she was almost shrieking.
"Oh, Anne," said Diana, "I am going to support you through this. You were such a good friend when I thought Fred was cheating on me. I never thought Gilbert could be a slime ball."
"Diana!" screamed Anne. "If you don't tell me what's going on I will strangle you.
In a few short sentences, Diana told Anne what the entire school had seen and the entire town had talked about all weekend. Anne's face went pale.
"Hi, Anne-girl," said Gilbert leaning in for a kiss.
Anne backed away. Her face was white. Gilbert was alarmed.
"How dare you," she hissed at him, "how dare you ask me to be your wife and then go chasing after that tramp!" Anne's voice was raising, not caring who heard her. "I never want to speak to you again."
Anne turned on her heel and stormed off. She stopped, ripped off the pink enamel heart around her neck and threw it at him. Gilbert, like everyone around them, looked after her in shock.
"How could he? How could he? That.. that.." Anne struggled to find a word in her raging thoughts. None of the ones she thought of were strong enough. "That sh*thead!"
Storming into first period, Anne slammed her books down and sat oozing scorn. Soon Gil came meekly in and tried to talk to her.
"Anne-"
But he got no further.
"I have nothing to say to you, Mr.Blythe!" she interrupted severely. Turning her head, Anne clenched her teeth. The coldest shoulder could not have been as frosted as Anne's.
So went the rest of the day. Whenever Anne encountered Gil in the hall, she stormed fiercely by with a soul searing glare in his direction. And if Gil ventured to speak, the tempestuous red head would unleash her tameless tongue on him. Gil soon began to grow resentful of this unceasing snub.
At lunch, Diana got Anne to talk to her. Anne had not been speaking to anyone since she found out, and her answers in class were as brief as possible. How unlike Anne.
"Are you going to let him explain? Or will you keep up this cruel behaviour?" inquired Diana carefully. Even she was beginning to feel sorry for Anne's torturous behaviour towards Gil.
"Are you kidding?" scoffed Anne. "I have never been so humiliated, and so hurt in my LIFE!"
"Anne, shh, your practically screaming."
"Diana, I don't care who hears me. I am in the fiery depths of despair!" retorted Anne. "You won't catch me forgiving him anytime soon!"
Anne's temper was not at all lulled, throughout the day. At one point she was walking past Gil when he was talking with Charlie Sloan (horrid boy) and Moody Spurgon.
"Juggling two at one time...eh,Gil?..you LUCKY DOG!"
"Yeah! So, who's better in the sack?" remarked Moody.
Anne didn't wait to hear Gil's reply. Somehow she made it through the day and went to all of her classes without major sparks flying. Soon, they would have to break out...
"Anne, wait!" Gilbert replied.
"How could you do this to me Gilbert? I thought that you loved me?" anne said sadly.
"Just let me explain. Please?" said Gilbert.
"Fine." said Anne with her arms crossed.
"Christine came up to me and was so upset about Jack and she Hugged me for comfort. You know how everything is always so embellished here in Avonlea. I do not have any feelings for her Anne. Just as I know that you have none for Jack. You don't do you?" Anne paused for a moment, maybe a moment too long.
"Oh Gil, how could have any feelings for Jack. He not even one my "kindred spirits" I only have my eyes for you Gil, I guess that my jealously and my temper always gets the better of me. I love you very much I can not imagine my life without you. Will you forgive me Gil?"
"Of course I will Carrots. I can never stay angry with you, (he lays his hand on the side of her face being mesmerized by looking in her beautiful eyes, I have loved you ever since that day in middle school when you broke the slate over my head durng algebra class. You are so unlike the other girls Anne, that is what makes you so special yo me, promise you'll never change." he kisses her softly and gently.
"Gil I can't promise you that I won't change. Pretty soon we'll both be off to college going our seperate ways meeting new people and trying new things. But I can promise you that there is nothing that will make me stop loving you Gil." He falls into her arms.
The next few weeks the halls were buzzing. All seniors were hard at work, studying for finals, applying for last minute scholarships, trying on their caps and gowns, sending out graduation announcements... All the while, that much anticipated day loomed on the horizon. No one could ever know what it held for each and every one of them, nor what emotions it would bring fourth.
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Gil had applied there in January. He had always wanted to experience life in other parts of Canada, and Ontario was his ideal. The Medical program at McMaster was great and every since he was a boy, Gil knew that he would one day become a doctor. And he had always longed to attend McMaster. He had dreamed of this moment all of his life, and here it was, staring him in the face�and he could hardly breathe.
Gil slowly slid his finger under the flap of the envelope, opening it carefully. He took out the letter and read it quietly to himself...
Dear Mr. Gilbert Blythe,
We have received you application and after careful consideration, are pleased to announce that you have been accepted to McMaster University.
Gil did not read further, he had been accepted! He felt a small, short inclination to race downstairs to tell his family, run around and jump for joy. But Ontario was quite far from Prince Edward Island, and a certain, redhead crept into this overjoyed vision and Gil's heart sank.
"What am I to do about Anne? I'll be so far away!" Gil thought. He sat in his locked room contemplating what he should do. His life and his love depended on this decision. Of course there was the medical school not nearly as far away as Ontario that he had already been accepted to. But he didn't know what to do. He stared at the rain pouring off his windows in sheets.
Even though Jack didn't want to confront Anne, he still followed her and watched what she did, and where she went, but he didn't like who she was going with...) The next day during dreary old fourth period biology, Anne realized that she needed to see her counselor about a scholarship she had applied for. She was excused to leave for the last 5 minutes of class and went to her locker on the floor abover her class. Unfortunatly for Anne, Jack's class was two doors down form her locker, and he watched her pass his class. As she whistled down the hall, Jack begged an excuse from his teacher, and waited until Anne had opened her locker to speak to her. Anne was digging through her book bag for the application copy to bring to her counselor when she heard footsteps next to her.
"Jack, how wonderful to see you. and how are you?" she asked quite sarcastically.
"Anne, I'm sorry about the way that I've acted this year, I've been a complete idiot. but..." He paused while the bell rang. People were filing out of their classrooms when he continued, "Forget everything I've done, please. I'm still in love with you. Please give me a chance."
"Jack Garrison, I am sick and tired of hearing all of this from you. Kindly leave me alone!" With this Anne slammed her locker shut and began to walk away. Jack grabber her arm as people started to watch what was going on.
"Anne..."
"MR. GARRISON! LEAVE ME ALONE!" She had a sudden urge to slap him again, but instead she balled up her fist and socked him in the stomach. As Jack doubled over and the crowd began to cheer her on, she walked away to the counselors office and hoped that he got the message.
Anne composed herself outside the door to the counseler's office. Stepping in, Mrs. Allan rose to greet her.
"Hello Anne! And how are you?"
"Oh, fine." said Anne promptly before she confided what she'd just done. "What is the news on the scholarship?"
"Well, the trustees at Carmody U have decided to give you a supplement scholarship to the Avery, which will cover all tuition expenses at their school. I think you should accept, Anne."
Anne glowed at the news. Carmody University was the top school for liberal arts! Gil would be so excited.
***
"Gil, Gil! I have something to tell you!" Anne shouted across the mall parking lot. It was that same afternoon and she had come from Wendy's to meet Diana at the mall. It was just pure chance that Gil was walking in ahead of her. Running across the pavement, Anne caught up with her chum.
"Gil, you'll never guess the good news!" said Anne excitedly.
"I have some good news as well." Gil said. "But you go first."
"Well..I have just recieved..A SCHOLARSHIP TO CARMODY! Isn't that splendid? All of my tuition is covered!"
"Why, that's..great, Anne." faltered Gil.
"You don't seem pleased at all!" Anne chided. "Is there something wrong?"
"Well, Anne, I have just been accepted to McMaster in Ontario. It's just..we'll be so far away."
"Oh. Well, I'm glad you were accepted. I suppose you're going?" Anne felt a bit hurt. Gil hadn't even told her he applied to McMaster.
"Yes. I've always wanted to go."
"Well, I really never knew that Gil." said Anne in even tones. "However, I think I should let you know that I have also decided to take summer semester at Carmody. I'll be leaving a week after graduation."
"Anne, we'll have no time together!" As soon as the word's popped out of his mouth, Gil knew it was the wrong thing to say.
"Well, Gil. If I had known you were going so far away..." Anne was not mad this time. At least she didn't admit it to herself. No, this was more of a strained politeness, worse than all the cruel words in the world. They went about together as usual in the week leading up to graduation, but Gil was not satisfied. Anne no longer flashed that smile at him, she no longer confided in him. It was as if she was preparing for...preparing to..break up. Long distance relationships never work, thought Anne.
***
Today was the day of Graduation! At last! Everyone was busy with speeches, family, and planning for the summer ahead. Gil didn't see Anne the whole day until just before the ceremony began.
"Anne, I really can't live like this. You are treating me so coldly. It must stop before you leave." Gil commanded. He wouldn't let Anne act the fool any longer.
Anne turned and flashed him a look with blazing eyes. "Mr. Blythe, don't tell me what to do!"
She proceeded onstage to give her speech as Head Editor of the paper. So much for making up...
When Anne was saying her speech, her thoughts dwelled on other things. Next week she would leave Avonlea, but she would visit as often as possible. She would miss her friends, Marilla, even Rachael Lynde. As she finished her speech, she had tears in her eyes. It would take all of her courage to leave Avonlea, but she had to go...
Soon enough, Marilla, Mrs. Lynde, Diana and Gil, were seeing Anne off at the train station. They had arrived early so there would be time for last minute hugs and goodbyes.
"Oh, Anne, you are truly my best friend! What am I going to do without you?!" proclamimed Diana.
"Dearest Diana, you will be perfect here! I'll write every day, I promise!"
Anne looked over at Marilla and Rachel and saw tears slowly rolling down their cheeks. Despite all they had been through with Anne, they loved their girl and knew she had grown up right. Anne hugged them and said she would behave properly at univeristy. The next part she was dreading was saying good bye to Gil. She has been wretched to him on Graduation, but in her heart she had to apologize to him.
"Gilbert, I'm so sorry for the way I've acted. You are a wonderful friend, promise to keep in touch?"
He then suprised her by holding her hand and kissing the top of her forehead ever so gently. "I'll always keep in touch with you, carrots! Don't ever forget that." His eyes had that starry far away look in them, and when Anne looked in at him she knew she felt something deep within her for him. But being so tough inside, she just couldn't let it show quite yet...
Gil and the others watched as Anne got on the trian to Carmody. He watched, with tears in his eyes. What am I going to do now? He was still very hopeful that Anne and he would be able to have a future together, but he wasn't sure how Anne felt about him now.
Gil said to himself, "I was so stupid! I should have told Anne about my intentions to go to McMaster University."
Anne was on the train looking for her seat. When she finally got to it, she saw that a young man around her age was sitting in it.
"Um, excuse me? I think you're sitting in my seat," she said.
The young man looked up at Anne and smiled. To her horror and disbelief, the smiling young man was Royal Gardiner!
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
annefanusa
"Anne, I'm going back to do some summer school. I'm doubling majoring and I won't be able to graduate on time if I don't. Also, I'm working on Campus during the summer leading orientation for new students. You�d better sit down, we�re getting ready to leave. What are you doing here?"
Anne grabbed the seat next to Roy and fastened her seatbelt. Roy sat back in the seat waiting for a reply. Anne noticed that he had cutest smile right then. He leaned over close to her in anticipation of her answer.
Anne thought for a moment, "Well, I decided I needed to start University early, so that I can graduate as soon as possible. I�m on scholarship and I�m hoping to graduate early and therefore be a burden on Marilla the least amount of time.�
Satisfied with her answer, Anne sat back in her chair. Her and Roy continued their conservation, a shallow one of who�s and where�s and what�s the entire way to the University.
He parked his Explorer in the driveway and walked inside the house. His mom stopped him on his way to his room.
�Gil, how was the airport dear? Did you see Anne off? By the way, someone called for you while you were gone. I have a message for you right here.� She sorted through a stack of paper and handed the message to Gil.
"Gil, we need to talk..."
Gilbert was intrigued by the note.
"Hmm... I wonder what Christine wants..." he thought.
Later that day, Gilbert went to meet Christine at the pizza parlor, little did he know what Christine Stuart had up her sleeve...
Gilbert hopped in his Explorer that afternoon. He turned on the radio to take his mind off the constant reminder of Anne not sharing her secrets.
"Oh well", he thought. "It was partially my fault. I had closed myself off some too. I only hope that she doesn't forget about me, and if she finds someone at college then we can still be good friends."
He dreaded that particular thought, even though it was continuously passing through his mind. He wondered if maybe there wasn't a new person for him at medical school with that same fervor of imagination and a vocabulary that never stopped. Because, he had decided, that was definatly his type.
He reached the pizza parlor. He drove around the block at least three times, half looking for a place to park, and half hoping that he wouldn't need to go in. He dreaded Christine Stuart. She had lied so many times. He wasn't stupid and could tell that she had a crush on him. But she lied, and was continually making Anne mad at him for something that he didn't do. He definatly dreaded this meeting.
Finally he saw a parking spot at the front of the pizza parlor. He saw Christine waiting inside. He sat in his car listening to the end of the song collecting his thoughts. The song ended and he got out of his car, being sure to lock the door remembering what happened the last time he left it unlocked. Someone had gotten in and stolen his favorite cd and the heart shaped locket he was going to give Anne for her birthday. But as it was he had to work overtime to get her a "pink enamel heart" which he didn't even give her for her birthday, he waited until later... and why on earth did he keep thinking about Anne? All he wanted was to push her out of his memory until they talked again because it was hurting his heart to remember her after their goodbye at the airport.
"Hi Christine" Gilbert said glumly, as he walked into the pizza place. "What did you need to talk to me about?"
"Gilbert,I don't know how to say this to you. I don't know how to say alot of things right now. My head has been full of...um... stuff recently." At this Gilbert could tell that Christine was definatly not someone that he even wanted to talk to. No imagination whatsoever.
"Stuff?"
"Yeah. My, um, great aunt died last week. that's why I missed the graduation dinner with my family. and..."
"Christine," Gil interrupted suspiciously, "You were at dinner with your brother and your family, I saw you, I was at the same restaurant."
"Oh yeah, well..." Christine wanted to hit her head for being so stupid and definatly didn't want to tell Jack how bad she was messing up. "I missed the dinner my family went to the next day...I went to be with my relatives early and my folks came up the next day."
She made up the first story that came into her head, and Gilbert Blythe seemed to believe it. She hated lying to him, he was so handsome, and she would be so happy if she could be his girlfriend without lying to and depressing him.
"Anyways. I've been having such a trying time. And I really just need someone to talk to. You've always been so supportive and kind to me, Gil, and couldn't we be friends again. Or more than friends. I know that you miss Anne, but I hate to break it to you, I heard her telling Jack Garrison that she was so angry at you that she would love to go out with him and wasn't it lucky that he was going be working in Carmody for a year and that they wouldn't be far away. I'm sorry Gil." She said this all without taking a breath. As she paused to breathe Gil piped in.
"What? When did this happen? Are you lying to me, again?"
"It happened the day before she went to the airport to leave and, no, I'm not lying to you." She crossed her fingers under the table. "I'm sorry."
She reached over the table with her other hand and stroked his hands that were clenched together on the table. Gil looked at this and decided that he would go out with Christine Stuart. If only for a litte while. He didn't realize that he was playing into the game of Jack Garrison, and of Anne and he. He was doing this to spite her, as he had, and she also, so many times before.
"All right Christine, How about dinner tomorrow night. I'll pick you up."
"Gil, I can't thank you enough." With that she leaned over the table and gave him a kiss Gil realized what she was doing and turned his head fast enough that she was only kissing his cheek. But, unbeknowst to either of them, Diana Berry had just walked into the pizza place to meet Fred. She looked over at her table to see none other than that wretched Christine Stuart kissing Gilbert Blythe.
She hurried out the door, not wanting to let either of them know she had seen what just happened. Christine came out the door jubilantly a second later, and ran down the street. Fred pulled up just then, and Diana decided not to tell him just yet, but wait to see what Anne had to say. Knowing it was safe, Diana led Fred into get a pizza. They bumped into a very glum looking Gilbert. He acknowledged both of them and shuffled out the door to his car.
"I wonder what is the matter with him?" asked Fred. Diana kept her mouth shut.
That night, Diana decided to call Anne about her and Gilbert, otherwise she wouldn't get any sleep.
"Anne, it's me Diana. How's school so far?"
"Diana, I just got here. Although, I miss everyone so much."
"Anne, I miss you too. I was wondering, are you and Gil still together?"
"What a question? I still love him Diana, so I guess so. Please tell him that I am sorry for the way I treated him."
"I can't... oh Anne." Out came the whole story. After Diana had finished there was a long pause.
"Umm... it's ok Diana, I guess he broke up with me instead."
Diana knew that Anne was getting ready to cry. Gilbert was to hear about this, Diana was sure of that...
It was three days after Gilbert had gone to meet Christine about her note, and Gilbert was feeling horribly guilty about that meeting. The day after their meeting he had recieved a letter from Anne that read:
I really am sorry for the way I acted towards you these past few weeks. I guess I was just hurt that you hadn't confided all your hopes and dreams in me. Kindred spirits are suppossed to confide in each other. However, I must admit that I had been holding back also. Let's make a new beginning. Remember my old saying, tommorrow is fresh with no mistakes in it! I really must go, we are about to land in Carmody and I want to mail this at the airport so it gets to you as soon as possible. (Sorry this isn't longer, but that Roy person I met while visiting the university, by some horrible chance, was seated beside me. He keeps talking incessantly. Am I ever that annoying when I talk?) I will call you as soon as I am settled in, so that we can talk, and really settle things.
Love, Anne
After shutting the door again, Gilbert eagerly ripped open the letter it read:
I knew I promised I'd call but after Diana's phone call last night I didn't think I could manage it. Gil, I know I was horrible to you, but I did apologize, even before I left. How could you just turn around and start dating Christine? Kissing her? Do I mean that little? I can't keep doing this, going around in this circle, it hurts too much. I am not interested in excuses or explanations; I don't really think there could be any. Honestly Gil, I am not angry, I am too sad to be angry. I will treasure the good memories that I have of us, but I don't see any future for us. Maybe someday in the future we will be able to be friends again, but not now. Good-bye Gil.
Sincerely, Anne
Suddenly Gilbert looked at what he had written and ripped it into shreds. This was something that couldn't be settled over a letter, email, or even a phone call. He knew what he had to do.
Roy called her every couple of days and they even met for lunch. He was nothing but friendly to her, answering her questions about life at the university. He promised to introduce her to lots of people in the fall.
One Wednesday evening, about two weeks into summer session, Anne was frowning over an English paper at her ruby iMac when there was a knock at her dorm room door.
When she opened it, she was flabbergasted to see Gilbert standing there.
"Gil..." she said confusedly.
Gilbert didn't say anything. He reached over to Anne and kissed her passionately. A million thoughts went through Anne's head. Memories of her last year of high school. The good times... and then the pain of graduation and Christine. She pulled away.
"Gilbert, what are you doing here?"
"Anne, listen to me. We have got to settle this. It's all been a mis-understanding. Christine is nothing to me -- nothing! I can't take this any more. Can we please talk this through?"
Anne looked at Gilbert. In his eyes she thought she saw the love she craved. But she hardened her heart.
"Gil, I don't think there's really anything to say...." She moved so he could come and sit down.
"Gil, I don't know why you came here or what you thought this would accomplish, but I want to say what I have to say and then you should leave. Gil, I love you and I probably always will. But I can't have a long distance relationship with you right now. There is too much potential for one of us to get hurt. There's been so much turmoil right now I can't take much more. Maybe someday... but not now." Gil looked at her. He saw she meant what she said.
"All right, Anne," he said coldly. "If that's what you want."
"Gil..." she started to say holding back her tears, "make me proud when you go to school, I will see you at Christmas."
Gilbert smiled. He knew deep down that she still loved him and he still loved her. "I will Anne. Stay calm and don't let your temper get the better of you." With that said Gilbert walked out of her dorm and out of her life, for now.
After he closed the door, Anne bursted into tears. Why did this hurt so much? She knew that this was for the best though. She stopped crying. She now hoped that she and Gil could still be friends and speak to each other at least once before Christmas...
Anne couldn't help it, she turned and flung herself on her bed, crying hopelessly. She knew it would do no good to shed tears now, they were no help. All she could think of was how horribly saddened Gil looked at her when he had left.
She had to get past it though. She was at college and nothing could change that. Anne wanted to do her best and start her writing career. She looked out the window onto the lawn of her campus. There were some pretty hot looking men out there playing baseball. Nice defintion on their pec's, really nice faces. Maybe she would run into one of them someday.
She took our her homework for the next day so she could get ahead, and indeed, finished earlier than she had expected. It was only half past eight, Anne decided to pick up some pen and paper to start a letter home to Marilla. Instead, she ended up starting a short story, that wasn't going to get finished until late that night.
Boy was she hungry when she finished, so she headed off to the late night drive through of Wendy's and ordered herself a junior bacon cheeseburger and a small lemonade. She sat down on a bench outside and started eating, and proof-reading her manuscript. In her mind, it was a perfect story...
Yes, it was a perfect story, all about romance and friendship--the kind of story that her imagination was able to cook up in a flash. But it was missing something...
Anne was falling asleep on the bench. She woke up with a start and realized how late and unsafe she was. She hurried to get into her car and beck to her apartment. As she walked across the parking lot, who should appear than that stupey-head Jack Garrison.
"Hello, Anne, can I accompany you home?" He said with a smile.
"No you may not," Anne replied abruptly. "What are you doing her anyhow, Jack Garrison? Didn't I tell you to leave me alone? Don't you get it? I don't like you, and I NEVER WILL!" Anne said raising her voice. She hoped in her car and drove away before Jack Garrison could say another word.
Jack hopped into his car. He wasn't going to let Anne get away from him. Anne looked over her shoulder and realized that Jack's car was right behind hers and that it was starting to speed up.
"Oh my gosh, what is he doing?" Anne thought outloud.
Jack was very determined. The only thing that was going through his mind was that he had to make Anne realize that they were meant to be together. That they were kindred spirits. He would do anything to get Anne to realize it, even if it meant scareing her.
As Jack chased Anne through the streets of Carmody, Roy Gardiner was sitting in his dorm room, trying to get his English paper done. But he could think of nothing except Anne. Her beautiful red hair, sparkling grey eyes, her cute nose. He was head over heels in love with her. "ARGH! Why do I keep thinking about her? I have to get my paper done! Maybe if I go for a drive, it will clear my mind," he said. Roy fetched his car keys and started for the parking lot.
Meanwhile, Anne was scared out of her mind! Jack had a crazed look on his face and she didn't know what to do! "Well, if I drive the car into the parking lot then get out and run for my dorm room, I can alert the campus security. So Anne slammed on the gas, totally unaware of the other cars on the road, but completely aware of Jack Garrison's speeding car that kept trying to run her car off the road. As Jack tailed Anne's car he was wondering where she was going. She suddenly made a left turn and drove into the university parking lot. Anne jumped out of the car and started running like mad. As she was running, she kept looking over her shoulder to see where Jack was. Jack had just jumped out of his car when he saw Anne trip, fall, and hit her head on the sidewalk. "Perfect. Now I'll be able to kidnap Anne," Jack said to himself sinisterly. He rushed over to Anne's limp body to check if she was still alive. She was, but she was unconcious. He gathered her up in his arms and started to run towards his car.
Just as Jack was about to place Anne into the trunk, Roy Gardiner came out of the dorm. He saw a guy carrying something, then he saw a flash of red hair. "ANNE!" he cried and ran towards Jack with his hands balled into fists. He grabbed Anne out from Jack and placed her nearby on the ground. "THUMP" went Jack's entire body as it flew through the air and hit the concrete as a result of Roy's attack. "ANNE! ANNE! Are you ok!? Answer me!" he pleaded, but Anne didn't answer him...
With one swoop up, Roy picked Anne up and layed her in the backseat of her SUV. She had left the door open and the car keys in it. He looked back at Jack and decided he shouldn't leave him here, for fear he might get loose again and continue stalking Anne.
Roy picked up Anne's cell phone that was sitting in her purse on the front seat and dialed the police. Within five minutes the red and blue swirling lights came around the bend and into the parking lot. An officer approached the unconcious Anne and Roy and asked what had happend.
"Sir, I'm not quite sure," Roy responded, "but I happened to be coming out of the dorm, when I saw Jack ready to kidnap Anne Shirley. She was already unconcious when I got here."
The EMT's soon followed after the cops had radioed for them to come, and looked her over as she was being placed into the ambulance. There was nothing major done, and she had probabably just had a concussion. But things needed to be checked out for sure.
As for Jack, he awoke soon after the police arrived and they soon brought him into custody for questioning. He had a look of psychoticness that Roy saw as they were driving away. Roy climbed into the back of the ambulance to ride to Carmody General with Anne.
After a few moments, Anne awoke, with a look of uncertainty about her. "Roy," she sputtered out, "what am I doing here?"
No sooner than he started to tell her what he had seen, did she remember. She shot up and demanded to know where Jack had gone. "He's in jail, it's ok Anne. But please, tell us what happened," Roy stated...
"Oh Roy! It's all a blur now. I wouldn't let Jack give me a ride so I got in my car and drove away from him. He flipped out and started chasing me all over town in his car determined to run me off the road! When I got to the college I got out and ran as fast as I could. I must have fallen. I don't remember any more."
Roy knew this was the time to ask her. "Anne, I love you very much. I can't live without you. Can you please give me a chance?"
Anne looked at him. "No. I'm sorry Roy, but I just realized I'm in love with someone else." Roy, devastated, turned and left the room.
Anne had to talk to Gilbert right away. She picked up the phone next to her hospital bed and dialed Gil's number back in Avonlea.
"Hello?" answered Gilbert in his Canadian accent. "Oh Gil! I am so sorry! I know iIve hurt you so bad and I love you too! So very much! I've known it the whole time. Oh Gil, please forgive me. I could never live without you!"
"Anne! I am soo happy to hear that. You don't know how miserable I've been, not knowing exactly how you feel. I'm going to go down there and see you as soon as possible. I love you too, Anne."
Anne replied, "Oh I can't wait to see you! I feel so much better now knowing you don't hate me for how I've been to you!"
"Bye Anne. I'll be there no later than tomorrow morning"...
Then Anne slowly woke up.
Her head hurt as if someone had hit it with a hammer. She was in a haze and had a hard time adjusting to light in the room. Slowly it came into focus. The concussion had caused her to dream about Gil again, or was it her sub-conscious telling her the true heart's desire?
The last thing she remembered was talking to Roy in her room about the accident. She realized she hadn't called Gil. She decided that she would not call him right now. No need to worry him as he was starting school and had a new life. She needed to keep her promise to not speak with him. It would only bring up those feeling that she didn't want to deal with.
The nurse came by and told Anne that she was going to stay the night for observation.
Anne slowly drifted off to sleep.
"Anne, how are you doing? I brought you by these to cheer you up! I also wanted to let you know the latest news about Jack. Are you okay? I was talking to you last night and then you fell asleep."
Anne quickly pulled the pink covers of the hospital bed up to her neck. She gathered all of her courage together.
�Roy, I�m doing much better. Thank you again for saving me last night. I�m ever so grateful. You have news of Mr. Garrison?�
�It turns out that the police brought him in and they contacted the authorities in Australia. He had quite an interesting history there, which he hid well. He had a stay in some hospitals there, well I guess you would call it a hospital. He thinks he is some spy living an exciting and dangerous life. Delusions of grandeur or something to that effect.�
Roy paused to let the effects of his words settle in Anne�s head. She nodded for him to continue.
�If our Government had known, they never would have let him in the country. He�s going to be deported by the end of the week and not allowed back in Canada, EVER, EVER, EVER.�
"Roy, how can I thank you? There is something else I need to tell you..."
Just then the phone rang in Anne�s room...
"Hello? MARILLA!! Oh, I'm so glad to hear from you!"
"Anne...are you okay, your friend roy called me last night to tell me what happened. I knew I never liked that Jack Garrison fellow! Are you okay? Do I need to come up, or will you be out of the hospital tomorrow?"
"Marilla, calm down! Don't come up. I'll be okay in a few days. Don't worry about telling anyone in Avonlea what happened. I don't want people worrying about me! And I don't want poor Ruby Gillis to find out anything about Jack from you or me. I don't think I could bear telling her..."
"All right, Anne. Come back down to see us before fall semester starts all right? Bye Anne."
"Goodbye Marilla, Thank you." Anne hung up the phone and once again turned her attention to Roy. "as I was saying, I have something that I need to tell you. Roy, I can't thank you eno...." Just then the Nurse came back in to Anne's room bringing a tray of food and to check up on her patient.
"Thank you." The nurse left, and Anne continued. "Mmmm, hospital food. As I was saying..."
"Roy, I have to thank you. You saved my life! I want to repay you. I must," Anne said.
"Anne I think I know how you could repay me. Anne... I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" Roy blurted the words out, he was so anxious to say them.
At that moment, a nurse came in and asked Roy to leave, she said visiting hours were over. Anne was left alone to think this over. Was he crazy! They barely knew eachother, and he believed he loved her. Anne thought to herself, "And I thought Jack was the one that was mentally imbalanced!"
"Anne, I've been thinking over all of the things that have happened in the past few months. We've been so distant, and not just where we are located. We don't talk much anymore, but I know I still care for you. And I hope you care for me. A long time ago, we promised eachother we would never hurt one another again. Can't we keep that promise? I don't want to hurt you. I want you to be perfectly happy... all the time." Gilbert practically begged her.
Anne lifted her face towards Gilbert, her eyes shining like the bright stars at night. Then she said, "Oh, Gilbert! I'm so sorry! I know I have been horrid these last few months, and I don't know why. I don't want to be cruel to you ever again."
Then Gilbert bent down to Anne, and gave her a long, passionate kiss, and finally pulled himself away. He took her hand in his, then kissed it, and walked away from the room. Anne, alone again, was left to think to herself...
The nurse stopped in to check on Anne, saw her mumbling in her sleep about somebody named Gilbert and realized that Anne must be hallucinating in response to the medications. She made a note for the doctor.
He heard, through Diana, about some weird accident that Anne had at college. The night before he left for college he stood for five minutes with his hand on the phone, trying to decide whether to call Anne. He walked away.
Gilbert left for college and was soon swept up in life at McMaster. He found the pre-med program rigorous but enjoyable. He was well liked and quickly made many friends. However, one lonely night, he visited U of Carmody's web site and clicked on "Phone Directory." He looked up "Shirley, Anne" and found Anne's phone number and email address. He wrote them on a post it and stuck it in his desk drawer.
In October, students returned home to Avonlea for Thanksgiving. Gilbert knew that he might see Anne, even if she didn't want to talk to him. Little did he know she was bringing a guest with her.
mistiaggie
Before Anne left Carmody for Thanksgiving, she had given it some thought on who she was going to bring home to meet Marilla. She knew there were several people on campus that just couldn't make the long trip home to see their families. But Anne had made one bosom friend during her stay in the dorms. Her roommate was a girl named Philippa. At first she truly didn't think they were going to get along well, but after awhile, she did know they were truly kindred spirits.
Phil was a trendy gal, with a lava lamp on her desk, and posters of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise on her wall. Anne of course preferred her pictures of Avonlea and her friends. During their short few months they had been there, Anne and Phil had made a bond between themselves.
One morning shortly before classes were to be over for Thanksgiving, Anne asked Phil to come to Avonlea with her for the holiday.
"Oh, Phil, do come with me to Avonela! It will be a grand time! You can meet everyone! Plus you won't have to worry about deciding which guy at home still lusts over you. You can stay away from that until Christmas!" Anne proclaimed.
Phil looked up from her homework, startled, but then she laughed and said, "Sure Anne, I'll come. But you have to promise to me to make up and be friends with that Gil of yours. You don't have to go steady with him, but at least tell him you want to keep him touch. You don't even have to tell him of all the movie and dinner dates you've been on with the boys from the baseball team!"
So the plans were set, and Anne emailed Marilla that night. While she was emailing, Diana happend to be on AOL intstant messanger. Her name was LakeofShiningWaters. The two old friends conversed for awhile and Anne let Di know of her plans to bring a friend home with her. She didn't say whom, but Di of course thought Anne was going to bring home a boy.
After chatting with Di on the computer, Anne walked down the hall to the Coke machine and grabbed herself some bottled Raspberry Cordial. She sat down on the couch in the student center and looked out the windows of the dorms. She loved life here, but she loved life in Avonlea. Anne wasn't really looking forward to making up with Gil, but she knew Phil would make her.
Anne glanced down at her watch, and realized it was almost ten o'clock, and time for her literature class to start. She dashed upstairs to grab her book bag and finally made it to the English building...
She rushed through the hallway, and to class, arriving there out of breath, but just in time.
Throughout the whole class Anne thought about returning to Avonlea, and being with her friends again. She felt as if she couldn't wait any longer. She was aching to hear all the Avonlea gossip, and visit all her old haunts.
But, no matter what Anne did, she couldn't put Gil out of her mind. She tried to, but realized that the task was impossible. She didn't want to admit to him that she was still in love with him, because she was having a hard time admitting it to herself. She knew, deep down, that she did, but didn't know why she didn't want to show it. What was the matter with her? She knew how much Gil loved her, and yet, she felt uneasy about making up with him.
After class, she met Phil in the hallway, so they could walk to class together. She chatted non-stop about some new boy she had met, while Anne day dreamed, and tryed to make it appear that she was actually listening to her friend.
It wouldn't be long now bfore she was in Avonlea. She smiled to herself, thinking about her little white room, that was waiting for her at home...
Thanksgiving weekend came, faster than Anne thought it would. She was so excited to go home and see all her old friends. Ruby would have had her baby already. She wondered what she had? Anne especially couldn't wait to see Marilla, and Diana. She couldn't wait for Phil to meet them. Anne knew she would like them.
"Come on Phil, are you ready?!" Anne asked impatiently.
"Almost Anne," Phil smiled, "You sure are excited."
"Oh Phil, if you ever seen or lived in a place like Avonlea, and knew the people I know, you'd be excited too!!"
"Does that include Gilbert Bylthe?" Phil laughed.
"Yes," Anne said happily, "Gil is one of my nearest and dearest friends. And even though I have no intention of getting back together with him, I think your right I do need to apoligize for the way I've been acting. I hope he will accept my apology, and maybe we can keep in touch like the friends we are."
"I'm glad," Phil replied, "and I'm also ready." She smiled as Anne's face lit up.
"Great let's go!!" Anne ran out the door.
"Wait up Anne!" Phil said locking their room behind her. "Are you going to run all the way to the train station??" Phil called to Anne.
Anne and Phil caught the train to Avonlea. Anne has jittery and excited at the prospect of once again seeing home and Marilla. The trip seemed to take forever. Finally they arrived in Avonlea.
Marilla and Diana were at the station to meet Anne and her guest. In her email, Anne had mentioned a friend named Phil. Marilla assumed this must be a new "beau" of hers. Diana was excited to meet this new "friend" of Anne's.
Diana had spent the semester at a local college working on her basic classes. Her mother told her she needed a sensible degree, she'd thought about it and decided to work on a degree in Nutrition. It was nice because Fred was attending the same school working on his classes. He wanted to eventually transfer to larger college and work on a degree in Finance or Banking.
Anne rushed off the train into the waiting arms of Marilla and Diana.
"Oh, I missed you two so much. It seems like I've been away forever. Just a second, Phil is grabbing some bags."
Marilla and Diana searched up and down the train for this "Phil" person; all they saw a stunningly beautiful blond girl dressed in the trendiest of outfits. The girl got off the train with her numerous bags in tow.
"Marilla, I'd like you to meet Phil, she's one of my new chums from school."
At that moment both Marilla and Diana had looks of surprise on their faces as if someone had told them the sky was really green. They looked at each other and started laughing at their mutual misunderstanding.
�Anne, you will never cease to amaze me. Phil, its nice to meet you. Now let�s get you home for a good home-cooked meal. You both look like you could some meet on your bones.�
At the same time, by a strange coincidence that must be fate, Gilbert was getting off of the train on the other tracks...
Phil saw him first.
"Anne, I'll meet you by the entrance..." And with that, she was off...
"Hmmmm.... break me off a piece of that," Phil thought to herself. "And what a TOOSH". Phil was a go-getter. Nothing stood between her and any Romeo.
She approached the smiling, handsome, robust Gil, who was waiting patiently for his luggage. And then the swoop for the kill...
"Excuse me, sir. Are you from this part of town? I'm visiting. Would you be willing to show me all of the happenin' spots?" Phil didn't waste any time.
"Pardon me?" Gil stared in surprise.
"I'm sorry, that came out a little too strongly. I'd be happy if you'd simply accompany me to dinner."
"Much more subtle." grinned Gil.
"Fine. You GOT me. I never was a girl who could batt her eyes and pucker her lips to win her way into a guy's heart. But now I'm sincerely asking: Will you please have dinner with me?"
Gil couldn't help but chuckle at the cute, perky, funny girl who apparently, would not cease.
"Alright. I will. But only because you twisted my arm." Gil's eyes crinkled, and his lips slid into that smile that all the girls at McMaster had fallen helplessly for.
"WONDERFUL!" Cried Phil. "OH! You must come and meet my friend!" And with that, she dominantly took Gil by the hand, and dragged him over to where Anne and Diana stood.
"Anne! I'd like you to meet..."
Anne swerved around to face Phil.
"GIL!!!" Anne screamed...
Anne threw her arms around his neck in a tight, friendly hug. Gil�s eyes closed as her neck pushed against his and that long, beautiful hair brushed against his face. Oh, how he wanted to kiss her passionately in front of everybody, right then and there! These feelings were almost too strong to fight, but Gil mustered up all of his will power and pulled away from Anne.
Anne�s face was smiling radiantly! She was absolutely elated at seeing Gil again. She knew she would see him over the break, but she had no idea that she would feel this way...this excited! She felt so at home in his arms.
The two had completely forgotten about any need for apologies. They were just as old, "friends" should be!
�How are you Gil?� Anne asked, her eyes glowing looking into his. �It�s great to see you! I hope Pre-med has not been to rough on you so far!�
�Oh, quite the contrary, things are going very well! When this semester began...�
Anne and Gil continued to talk persistently while Phil stood dumbfounded with her mouth gaping wide open. �THIS IS GILBERT!?!?� Phil interrupted almost screaming.
�Oh, I�m so sorry! Where are my manners? Gil, this is my good friend Phil. She and I go to school together.� Anne said, a little confused at Phil�s rudeness.
Phil�s face was red hot! She was angry and embarrassed.
�Well, my folks are expecting me, so I guess I better go.� Gil said a little uncomfortably. �Wonderful to see you Anne! And nice meeting you Phil!�
�Are we still on for dinner?� Phil asked almost sarcastically as Gil was walking away.
�Um, of course.� Gil said quickly with his head down. His words were so quiet they were barely audible. �See you ladies later.�
�Dinner?� Anne said looking confusedly at Phil.
Phil looked down thoughtfully. She did have her hands full with Alec and Alonzo.
"Sorry Anne. Alec and Alonzo have been keeping me busy enough. I know that you're interested in Gilbert," said Phil remorsefully.
"Don't be a goose!" Anne said, trying to be flippant. "Go ahead, have dinner. He's all yours."
"Really Anne??" Phil said. She was starled at the turn of events. She was so sure that Anne liked Gil. Well, she was wrong. And Gil could give Alec and Alonzo a run for their money...
"Of course, he's just an old chum," Anne said. "I think you two would be well suited for each other."
"Maybe so. He is very striking, and he sure would make Alec and Alonzo jealous Anne," said Phil cheerfully.
"Well, then it's settled," Anne said with a final tone in her voice. This was obviously the way things were meant to be, planned matchmaker Anne. Phil was like a sister, and Gilbert, they were only suited to be chums.
"We better hurry. Marilla and Diana have been waiting for ages."
Anne and Phil hopped into Marilla's shiny new, cherry red 2000 Ford Mustang. It was sooo sleek and red, Anne's hair would have never compared to that as a child! Anne thought to herself that Marilla must be going through some sort of mid-life crisis getting this thing and was sure that Rachel Lynde would have had a heartattack. Mrs.Lynde would have told Marilla that a nice Cadillac would have done for a woman of Marilla's age, but Marilla of course told Mrs Lynde that was none of her business.
Boy was Anne glad to be home, as she felt the wind of Avonlea blow through her hair in that convertible. She had to shout when Marilla asked her how classes were going.
"Classes are WONDERFUL! I might take top honors this semester, with a little hope!" Anne shouted.
"That's wonderful Anne! I knew you could do it. Word in town says that Gilbert Blythe is doing quite well there too. He even has been spotted with some blonde girl at the movies," replied Marilla.
Blonde girl, Anne thought to herself? Who the heck was that? She shouldn't be thinking that, after all, she and Gil were just friends...right? Her heart was telling Anne some strange things, but Anne buried it deep inside.
Once they got to the Green Gables Condo, Anne and Phil settled into their rooms. Phil was still feeling quite guilty for picking Gil up. But he sure was a hottie, and when she saw a hottie, she was sure going to go talk to him.
"Anne, I'm awfully sorry about doing that with Gil. I didn't mean to go up to him, but when I spotted him, I thought surely that isn't him. He looked like just another guy," Phil said, unsure of how Anne would react.
"Phil, it's not a problem. Go out with him if you want, he's JUST a friend! I promise!"
Just then Diana burst through the door. "Anne! Phil! Marilla wants you two down stairs." They were headed downstairs when Diana told Anne the news around town about Gil. He was trying to date someone else, had been seen kissing this girl numerous occassions at the clubs in Avonlea and at McMaster. Diana just swore up and down that that girl had to be a tramp, and she had better words for her, but didn't say them.
After dinner that night, the phone rang. Phil grabbed it first and immediatly started talking. She knew who that handsome voice was on the other end, so she took her phone call to the bathroom. She came out 30 minutes later to find Anne fast asleep in her bed. Only Anne really wasn't asleep.
"Phil, who was that on the phone?", Anne asked.
"Oh, just that cutie I spotted today, Gil," replied Phil, chuckling to herself. She had a trick up her sleeve, but Anne nor Gil knew about it. But they were going to find out soon enough...
Phil got dressed for her date with Gilbert. Anne thought she was acting very suspicious. Anne wanted to tell her friend to not go on the date with Gilbert but she just couldn't.
Thirty minutes later there is a knock on the door. Marilla called Phil down. Once again Anne did not say anything, although her heart felt like it was breaking in two. She knew that she needed to give Gil his space, but it was hard.
Anne went back up to her room and watched Phil get in Gil's vehicle and drive off.
Anne had to do something, she could not just sit there at home, she decided to go for a drive.
She drove to the bridge got out of her car and stood there and just started thinking.
Meanwhile at the restaurant...
Gil kindly offers the chair for Phil. Good looking AND a gentleman, Phil thought to herself. It was a fancy Italian restaurant. It even had a live group going from table-to-table serenading many of the couples there. Their table was illuminated, only by candlelight and a soft breeze, from the open dining area, made the atmosphere absolutely romantic.
Or it would be, if Gil's thoughts weren't elsewhere. Any other man would die to be where he was. Dining with a beautiful woman, in a romantic setting. But it just wasn't the same. He couldn't help but think of how much Anne would enjoy the restaurant, but, alas, that could never be. She wanted to be nothing more than friends.
And he KNEW Anne's temper, he didn't want to push her into something that she didn't want. Regardless of how much he longed for her to be his, once more. He would give anything to hear her affectionately call him "Gil..."
..."Gil...Gil?", Phil asked. "Earth to Gil!"
"I'm sorry, what were you saying?" Gil asked.
Phil replied, "You were a million miles away. What were you thinking about?" ...
"Uhh", Gil stammered. "I was just thinking about how our names rhyme, Phil....Gil..." He laughed nervously.
"So, Anne says you're going to be a doctor!?" Phil smiled.
"Uh yes, I'm hoping to be. I tell you, that Anne, she was a hard one for keeping up to in High School, grade wise, I mean." Gil stared blankly at his spaghetti noodles, hoping that Phil wouldn't notice how uncomfortable he was feeling. This IS Anne's roommate, I really shouldn't be here! He thought, guiltily.
A long, awkward silence followed while Phil hoped desperately that she wasn't making any slurping noises with her spaghetti, oh the humiliation. Phil looked over into Gil's breath taking eyes and smiled her best seductress smile. But Gil didn't smile back, he sat as if in a daze. Phil waved one of the fancy cloth napkins up and down in front of Gil's eyes, still no response. With that she stood up, grabbed Gil by the arm and practically drug him through the doors of the restaurant.
"You can't fool me, Gilbert Blythe, I know what... or rather, who you've been thinking about since you picked me up today! And she told me you were only good friends, good friends don't make you go into comas while dining out with another breath takingly beautiful girl."
"What are you talking about, Phil, we didn't even pay the check!"
"Oh, so now I got your attention." Phil smiled teasingly and shoved Gil into the passenger side of his car.
"Where are we going or should I say, where are you taking me?"
"Oh, we're just going to go visit a girl I know, I think she might be quite fond of you."
"Oh, are we? This girl doesn't happen to have red hair, does she?", Gil smiled teasingly, his dimples even more noticeable in the pale moonlight. Anne is so lucky! Phil thought. Gil is certainly easy on the eyes.
"Oh, no not red hair, it's definitely a bit more in the auburn category!"
Gil laughed as Phil pulled the car into the Green Gables Condo. Hopefully Anne would still be awake. What was he saying it was merely 8 o'clock by his watch, the time did seem to drag on his date with Phil. Oh, but she was quite the understanding girl. Gil and Phil walked toward the Condo and rang the bell...
Anne had sat at the bridge for awhile just thinking. Why has my life gotten so out of hand? She thought to herself.
Her and Gil, always friends, but he always wanted something more. Why couldn't she just go on with her life, be an independent soul, and live? She sat there for about an hour, watching the sun go down, looking at the beautiful scenery around her. Thank goodness it hadn't grown into a massive city or houseing subdivisions like a lot of the country areas in North America.
Anne got in Marilla's car at seven thirty to drive back to the condo. When she pulled up into her parking space she found a familiar car sitting outside. It couldn't be could it? She walked inside, and found the door unlocked with Marilla entertaining a visitor.
"Hello Anne," replied a deep voice. Anne turned around to find Roy sitting on the loveseat and Marilla pouring him some raspberry cordial.
A suprised Anne replied, "Roy! What on earth are you doing here??"
"Oh, I happened to be visiting some friends here and I remembered you lived here. So I thought I'd pay you a visit. Didn't you bring Phil home with you, where is she?"
"Oh, she's out on a date, with some guy," Anne said coyly as she sat next to Roy. Getting Gil out of her mind was what she had planned to do, and if Roy was here to help her, so be it! They were talking for awhile, when Marilla suggested they start watching a movie. So they got Titanic and put it in the VCR. About ten minutes into the movie knock came on the door. Marilla answered it.
Phil and Gilbert had stumbled into the room and were shocked to see Roy and Anne semi-cuddling on the loveseat. Phillipa was astonished but happy to see Roy. "Hey there handsome, how's it going today," she said.
Gil said nothing, but was beat red. It was a mistake that he had come today. He turnd to leave, Phil followed him to his car. As she left she had some mixed thoughts about her plan. It was botched and Anne had ruined it... or wait, Roy had ruined it.
That evening after the movie had stopped, Anne saw Roy to his car. He kissed her, it wasn't the most romantic kiss, but it was still a kiss, and Anne wasn't very experienced at all. They didn't say anything, but her heart was crumbling to pieces in agony over everything that was happening. Why did she have to have TWO guys loving her? She sat down on the curb to think about it for awhile. But thinking wasn't going to get her anywhere.
Anne remembered she still had a guest, she got up and went inside.
Phil was sitting in her room reading a book. She looked up when Anne came in the room.
"So what was Roy doing here," Phil asked.
"I don't know, he said he knows some friends here and so dropped my to visit me," Anne replied. "You know its wierd, cause this is the first I've heard of him having friends here. So anyways," Anne contiuned, "how was your date with Gil?"
"Oh it was great!" Phil lied. "He's such a great guy, funny, charming..."
"Caring, affectionate," Anne added, before realizing what she just admitted. "I mean..."
"Well, since you swore that you and he are just friends," Phil paused as if waiting for Anne's approval, "I think I'm going to forget about Alec and Alonzo and concentrate more on Gil." She looked at Anne, who's eyes grew sad. I knew it! Phil said to herself, she still want's him! Her plan may work after all!
Anne forced a smile, she wanted to be happy for Phil. Gil was a great guy, but then why was the thought of the two of them eating her up inside. "Gil, is a great guy," she told Phil, "I know you'll be happy with him." Anne hugged her friend. "I think I'm going to hit the hay, I'm soo tierd." Anne lied. She went to her room and cried herself to sleep.
Anne awoke startled, "How long have I been a sleep she wondered." She looked over at the clock by her bedside and realized that she had not been asleep very long for it was only 12:00am. It was very late but it seemed impossible to get back to sleep so she got up out of bed and crept downstairs careful not wake anyone.
She quitely unlocked the door and walked outside and stood on the porch. Oh how beutiful the moon looks she thought as she started down the street. There was a slight breeze blowing againt her cheek. Oh how she loved it here she thought to herself.
Memories began to flood her mind of how her and Gil had walked down this very same road so many times before laughing and carrying on so. She dreamily walked along when suddenly she was startled back into reality by the sound of water splashing. She had not realized that she had walked so far. She looked around and noticed a dark figure down by the bank throwing rocks into the Lake of Shining Waters. It wasn't however to dark to notice who the dark figure was.
The moon was shining so brilliantly down on Gil's handsome face. She wondered what he was doing out so late. Before she realized what she was doing she turned off the road and on to the path that led to the bank. She new she could not let another moment go by before she told Gil how much she loved him. She had hoped that he had not gotten the wrong impression about her and Roy.
Before Anne got halfway down to the bank her foot caught on something and she went sailing through the air and landed right at Gilbert's feet. "Why Anne Shirley, what are you doing?" He grinned. "I certainly didnt expect to see you out here this late."
"Why Mr. Blythe!" Anne acted startled. "I, uh... I'm trying to catch some lake trout. If you could be such a gentleman and help me up."
Gilbert leaned over and helped Anne to her feet. Anne quickly brushed the sand off of her. She took a minute to regain her composure. She wanted to tell Gil right then how wrong she had been about both of them. She wanted to let him know how she had dated quite a number of guys at school, but each one only lasted one date because she compared them to Gil. She wanted to tell Gil that she had been a fool and they should get back together.
But she could not.
Anne gathered all her courage together and with forced sincerity, �I�m glad that you had a good time with Phil tonight. Phil is really a wonderful girl. Now if you'll excuse me, I must be heading back to Green Gables.�
Anne walked with a purpose away from Gilbert at the beach; not daring to turn around, afraid her heart would over rule her head.
She flew back to the safety of Green Gables and collapsed onto her bed.
�Why didn�t I tell Gil how I felt?� She knew that if she told him how she felt, that her life would be determined for her. She could see the long road ahead of her with her relationship with Gil. Anne somehow knew that she needed find out more about who she was and more about the world before she settled down. May be in a few years she would be ready for that type of relationship. But she was young and wanted to experience the world. She wanted to see places, meet people, and live.
Anne felt if she committed to Gilbert right now, a part of her, that part of her that he loved would die. She would become bitter in the future because of the lost dreams and opportunities. She thought of all the �what if's� that never were or would be if she committed to Gilbert. The world had so much to offer and there is so much more out there for her, or so she believed.
Anne told herself, �We can still be friends. I�m sure I�ll see more of him because of Phil.�
Anne decided right then to let go of Gilbert. Besides, Roy much more resembled her �ideal man� that she had so often mentioned to Diana.
Slowly she began to weep.
She climbed under the covers and went back to bed. Unfortunately, this meeting with Gil wasn�t a dream.
Anne slept soundly and woke-up late the next morning...
Fortunately for Anne, the rest of her short Thanksgiving break passed by in a whirlwind. She didn't see Gilbert any more, as he was busy with family doings. She barely saw Diana. However, she and Phil had a delightful time with Marilla.
Phil talked about Gil a lot, and Anne listened very carefully to everything she said. It suddenly occured to her that Phil didn't seem to know much about Gil beyond what she, Anne, had told her. Anne told herself that Gil was free to see who he wanted, whether it was Phil or some blond at the movies. Just like she could see Roy if she wanted to. Roy definitely wanted things that way.
Before she knew it, Marilla was dropping the two girls off at the station and they were headed back to Carmody. Anne gave Marilla a big hug. "I'll see you at Christmas! I'll be home for four long weeks then! It'll be great!"
"Be good, Anne, and study hard," was Marilla's practical reply.
Phil was disappointed that she hadn't maneuvered Gil and Anne back together over the weekend. She knew once she started talking to Gil she could never make him forget Anne (no one could). Besides, she would never do that to her buddy Anne. She also knew she couldn't keep up this plan at school with Gil hundreds of miles away at McMaster. But, she thought as the train rattled along, she might be able to throw out his name once in awhile to make Alec and Alonzo jealous.
The girls were back in their dorm unpacking when Roy stopped by to see Anne. She didn't have too much time to talk to him that night, but she promised to go out with him again later that week.
As she drifted off to sleep back in her dorm room bed, she thought a lot about how Roy looked like her ideal man -- talk, dark, and handsome.
As Anne was settling in back at Carmody, Gilbert Blythe was trying to re-arrange his life at McMaster after his, Thanksgiving weekend. He wished he had been able to talk to Anne a little bit more, but was glad that they were even speaking at all. And her friend Phil was nice, but definitely not Anne.
The friday after he got back, he went on another date with "that blond tramp", Jen Pringle. She wasn't really a blond, but her family and community was catching on to a dumb trend of dying their hair blond. And she definatly wasn't one to go against trends...
The two of them went to a french restaurant this week. Gil couldn't stand the thought of Italian...
"So, Gil, how was your week at home?" asked Jen.
"Uh, same-old, same-old... nothing really exciting. I got to catch up with all my old buddies, and um, it was great!" Jen then continued to go over all the details of her weekend, and Gil stared blankly into his Escargot.
Her thoughts were interupted by the sound of Phil's voice as she entered the room, "Anne what on earth are you thinking about? I have been calling and calling your name."
"Oh, I guess I was just day-dreaming again."
"How would you like to do something together tonight," Phil replied.
"Sure what did you have in mind, Anne asked."
"I thought maybe we could get a bite to eat, and you could tell me all about Gil. I haven't been able to stop thinking about him ever since we left Green Gables."
Anne remained silent and Phil knew that her friend had also not been able to stop thinking about him. "Anne, do you think that Gil might be interested in me, I know that I am defininetly interested in him. Maybe I will give him a call sometime, that is... if you don't mind?" replied Phil.
Right then the phone rang in the girls' room. Anne was closest so she grabbed.
"Hello Anne, this is Roy. How are you doing? I know its late notice, but I was wondering if you would like to accompany me to a movie tonight? Maybe afterwards we could go for some coffee at Tim Horton's? If you say no, I'll understand since it is so late."
Anne thought for a moment at the prospect of either describing and reliving her feeling about Gil... er Mr. Blythe with Phil, or an evening out with Roy.
"Roy, I'd love to go out with you tonight. Thank you so much for calling."
"I'll pick you up around 7:30pm, okay?"
"Okay, bye."
Phil had strained look on her face. How the heck was she supposed to get Anne and Gil back together if Roy kept interfering? Maybe this was a sign it was none of business to mettle. She'd done the best she could. Besides, Phil thought to herself, there were so many more boys at school to worry about.
Anne put on her emerald green sweater and went for her date with Roy. She had a better time than she had expected. For the first time in a long time she actually had fun on a date. Roy was quite interesting person and the movie wasn't that bad.
They drove home in Roy's car through the streets that were illuminated by the full moon. It cast shadows on the ground creating a romantic environment. Roy pulled his car up to drop Anne off. He slowly leaned over and kissed her good night, and this time Anne didn't mind one bit.
Diana emailed Anne back.
Dear Anne, ...
I'm glad your enjoying your time with Roy. I guess I was wrong about you and Gil. Fred and I are doing great! I love him so much, Anne. I've never been so happy in my life! I don't think I could be happier even if I had found my "ideal" man, that we had talked about so long ago.
School's okay, here. I have mid-terms coming up so I have to get back to studying. I miss you so much Anne, I can't wait to see you again at Christmas!
Kindredly,
Diana
Fortunately, the next month went by very quickly. Mid-terms came and went, as did finals. As usual, Anne did fantastic with her studies. Her and Phil became closer friends. Phil didn't talk about Gil as much, which was fine with Anne. Although, surprisingly, Anne was spending more time with Roy. She didn't mind being his girlfriend because she knew he would not want such a bold commitment from her in the near future.
As long as she would go on a date with him here and there he would leave her alone. She thought that dating Roy was the next best thing to being single. And, Roy wasn't bad to look at, either. Anne tried to convince herself that she was perfectly happy in the love department.
But, as Anne stood there by her suitcase, packing her clothes, in her dorm room, Roy was the last thing on her mind. Anne was excited to get back home to Marilla and Diana. Those were the people she wanted to see. She was also going through plum puff withdrawl. As she was folding clothes she stood there dreaming about the crisp winter air of Prince Edward Island; the way the sun hit the snow covering the trees. She could not wait to see her kindred spirits.
"Anne, let's go! The train won't wait for you," said Phil, calling into Anne's room. One of Phil's "boys" offered to take Anne to the train station.
"Coming, Phil," replied Anne, as she shut her suitcase and lifted it off her bed.
As Anne walked to her door, she turned around to take one last look at a room full of memories of the semester passed.
"I am ready," Anne whispered to herself.
And with that she walked, suitcases in hand, through the door, closing it behind her.
She was on her way home.
When they arrived in Avonlea, Anne and Phil hopped off the train. Anne ran into Marilla's arms, as tears appeared in both their eyes. "Anne! It's so great to see you!" Marilla said, rather emotionally for her.
"Diana!" screeched Anne. "Oh, how have you been? I�ve been aching to see you!"
"I�m so excited to see you, too! It seems like I haven�t seen you in a hundred years, when it was actually... what? A month ago?" Diana replied. Then Diana caught sight of Phillipa.
"Hey, Phil, its great to see you again," though truthfully, Diana didn�t really like Phil. Who was she to waltz in there, stealing her best friend like that? Anne and Diana had been best friends for years, and Diana could tell that Phil was becoming extremely close friends with Anne, and she didn�t like it one bit.
"I heard that Gil has a new... um.... 'friend'," said Diana.
"Oh, really?" asked Anne as she arranged the flowers.
"Yeah, a Jen Pringle... something or other."
There was an awkward silence in the room.
"What? What is it?" laughed Anne, sitting down.
"Well, aren't you upset?" said Diana.
"Yeah... I would be," exclaimed Phil.
"Gil is nothing more than a good friend," retorted Anne.
"Just a friend, eh?" asked Phil.
Another awkward pause.
"There is an old saying: 'If you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it's yours. If it doesn't, then it never was,'" quoted Anne, "and that is how I feel about Gil."
"I knew it!" shouted Phil.
"But why did you reject him?" inquired Diana.
"I wasn't ready to get married. I didn't even start college yet. I didn't want to lose my independence," said Anne.
"I think he asked you because he didn't want to lose you," said Diana.
"You're probably right, Diana. You're probably right."
"What about Roy?" asked Phil.
"Oh, goodness, Roy! I just checked my email after I unpacked, he sent me 6 emails already. Can you believe that?!" exclaimed Anne. "I think it's over between him and me. I refused Gil for independence, yet I still went to Roy. It was very stupid of me. I just wanted to make Gil jealous, and to make myself forget about him. It's about time I stayed on track with the independence thing."
"Or at least follow your heart instead of your stubborness," added Marilla.
Anne laughed. Oh, how good it felt to be home!
"So, what about Gil?" asked Diana.
"Yeah, what about Gil?" repeated Phil.
"Well... I guess I will leave that to time... and Fate," said Anne, smiling.
Christmas was quickly approaching and Anne, Diana, and Phil kept busy each day with trips to the mall, gift-wrapping sessions, lunch at various quaint restaurants, and rambles through the beautiful snow-covered wood. The three were having a wonderful time, and Diana even grew to like Phil, well, she tolerated her. No sign of Gil though.
Diana had found out that there had been quite a blizzard in Ontario, and the Blythe�s were worried that he mightn�t make it at all. This thought haunted Anne, each night when she tried to sleep; she could see him, sitting all alone on Christmas Day. But every once and awhile a vision of a certain Jen Pringle crept in with him and made her feel so much worse! Anne tried desperately to shake both visions and go along her merry way, but failed miserably of course.
Everything was perfect, Anne remarked as she and Phil were siting by the fire, admiring the beautifully decorated Christmas tree. It was Christmas Eve and Anne sat back and wondered how she could ever leave this wonderful place again. Her heart ached at the thought of it. She chuckled a little as Phil anxiously shook and examined every gift addressed to her.
Anne pulled her blanket around her shoulders and gazed into the crackling fire. She could feel the warmth on her face and gently closed her eyes. She imagined Gil sitting with his arms around her, several children running around, too excited to sleep at the prospect of Old St. Nick visiting in the morning. How could she have let him get away? She had lost him forever, he loved Jen now. Anne�s heart suddenly dropped and a tear slid down her face. She could never love anyone else! How could she live without him?
�Anne?� Anne opened her eyes and saw Marilla�s soft face looking sympathetically at her. �What is it?� Marilla asked. Anne looked around and saw that Phil had left the room and decided to tell all.
�Oh, Marilla! I�ve been so wrong! I simply cannot go on! My life is so empty without him!� Marilla held Anne tight, there were no need for words, she knew exactly what Anne was feeling, and had for quite awhile.
�ANNE!! ANNE!! HURRY UP!! IT�S TIME TO OPEN GIFTS!!� Phil yelled impatiently from downstairs. Phil�s affluent family had her gifts shipped to her and she was ready to dig in. Anne slipped her robe on and hurried downstairs.
The gifts were all opened in less than half and hour and Marilla, Phil and Anne sat on the couch and sipped hot cocoa and looked at the mess wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows they would soon have to clean up. Anne continued to gaze into the Christmas tree, she loved everything about Christmas trees�the way the lights wrapped around it and twinkled, all of the shiny ornaments, and beautiful little hand-made ornaments that Anne had worked so hard on as a child. As she admired the beautiful tree, a small, sparkly ornament caught her eye that she had not seen before. Anne got up to examine it more closely. Phil and Marilla smiled at each other knowingly as she approached the tree. It was a golden locket hanging on a beautiful chain. Anne opened it carefully, it revealed a picture of her, red pigtails and all on one side, and a small, dark headed boy with hazel eyes on the other.
�Gil?� Anne said confused. "Marilla, how did this get here?" But as Anne turned around, Marilla and Phil were nowhere to be found. And in her very living room, stood the love of her life. "Merry Christmas, darling!" Gil said softly.
As Anne saw him standing across the room, she gasped. Her eyes immediately filled with tears as they rean to each others' arms. �Oh, Gil! My love!� They held each other tight and cried shamelessly.
�Anne, I have something to say to you.� Gil said, pulling back, looking into her eyes. �I love you! This foolishness has gone on long enou...� Anne stopped his lips with a passionate kiss.
�I love you too, more than I can ever express in words! How did I ever survive those long years with out you?� She cried as he held her tight.
Gil was overwhelmed by the kiss that he had been dreaming of for so long, and had trouble catching his breath. �You won�t ever have to again. I�m not going back to McMaster in the spring. I want to be close to you! I couldn't bear the thought of another semester without you!"
Anne looked into his eyes, bursting with happiness! She raised her hand, gently touched his face and whispered, "God is in his Heaven and all is right with the world."
"But Gil, what about Medical School, what about-" Anne was silenced by Gil's soft lips against hers. He pulled away reluctantly.
"I've decide to go to Carmody for a few years, first. I can take the same classes here as I could there. Then after getting my degree, I will apply back for Medical school. Maybe by that time you will have finished school too, and you could start seeing the world by coming with me. See the country first." Gil smiled, "now I'm not asking you now, just letting you think about it. We have lots of time for that later. Gil pulled Anne into a tight embrace. "I love you so much Anne, I never want us to be apart again."
Anne smiled to herself, being together with Gil forever. It sounded wonderful. She wasn't worried anymore. She new now that she could be by Gil's side and still be her own independent person. Gil would never smother her, and she new it. Why couldn't she have realized it before? Anne bursted out laughing.
"What's so funny, Anne?" Gil asked.
"I'm just so happy that's what." Anne smiled and gave Gil big hug.
As Anne and Gil cat on the couch reminicing about their experiences over the last year, the phone rang. Anne jumped up to get it.
"Hello?"
"Anne? This is Roy. I'll be in Avonlea next week visiting my, um, friends, and I was wondering if you'd like to do something."
"Roy, I'm sorry, but I'm enga...Hang on just a second...." Anne put her hand over the phone and ran to talk to Gil...
"Are we engaged?" she whispered. Gil just looked at her with a "I-haven't-proposed-but-you-should-know-the-answer-look". Anne smiled and ran back to talk to Roy in another room.
"I'm sorry Roy, I can't I'm most definatly engaged. I'll talk to you at school in three weeks okay? Bye!" Roy sat stunned on the other end of the phone, but Anne hung up and ran back to enjoy this wonderful Christmas, with her family and friends and of course, with Gilbert Blythe.