Heart Attack • Shirbert

• 53 • mischief, moonshine, and moonlight

'Is it time for this to stop?

I don't know'

--

Gilbert arrived promptly at Green Gables to collect Anne at dawn.

Admittedly, he was excited to celebrate tonight. He typically wasn't one for parties or drinking.

But Anne will be there.

Anne decided to wear her hair down for once. If she was truly going to let go for a night, she might as well feel entirely free.

The moment Anne walked out the door and greeted him, Gilbert felt his breath leave him, "Anne you look-"

Both of them froze in time, just staring. Gilbert held a silly enamored smile on his face and Anne an expression that was almost unreadable.

Hope? Fear? Excitement? It wasn't clear.

"You look ready for a fantastic night."

Anne wanted to ignore that his comment disappointed her.

Did I want him to call me beautiful? Ravishing? A compliment as opposed to a fact.

"Well we should be on our way then." She walked past him, her hair bouncing behind her.

He jogged to catch up.

Should I have told her what I wanted to?

Instead he asked, "Are you excited?"

Anne beamed. Though she had started seeing people in her home and theirs again, she hadn't truly let loose since their visit to Toronto. This was about to be a real adventure, and she was elated.

"I'm marveled for what's bound to be the most auspicious night." Anne glanced over, just in time to see him light up with unabashed excitement.

"I want this to be a true adventure." She finished.

Gilbert wasn't sure where he found the bravery to do so, but he took her hand as he had plenty of times before, "I'll make sure of it."

--

It wasn't long before they could hear the excited, definitely alcohol-fueled, shrieks of their classmates.

Gilbert squeezed her hand one last time, "Ready?"

"Ready."

And he reluctantly let go.

Their classmates were gathered around a sizable bonfire, with not one, but two, bottles of moonshine making their way around the crowd.

Once they were in sight, they heard a chorus of "Anne!" and "Gilbert!" calls from the circle.

The girls immediately surrounded Anne and yanked her away into their group. She couldn't help but glance back at Gilbert, who shook his head amusedly before turning his attention to the boys who approached him.

Moody approached Gilbert with a bottle of moonshine expectantly, which Gilbert first examined before taking any action.

Moody, evidently drunk already, lightly nudged Gilbert's shoulder, "Come on Gilbert, it's time to let loose. That's what our final party is all about!"

Gilbert took a deep breath.

Is this wise?

But he took a swig anyway.

The girls gave Anne a similar treatment, but Anne drank more easily than Gilbert.

Ruby ran up to her with supplies for a flower crown, "We must make crowns so we can perform a ritual!"