Baker - G. BLYTHE

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-ˋˏ *.·:·. [TWO YEARS LATER] .·:·.* ˎˊ-

TWO YEARS AND CHARLOTTE TURNED SIXTEEN. She grew immensely over the years, not only in height and proportions but as a person. The eleven-year-old girl who was too nervous to even think about going to school became a small part of her life. Though her days were spent doing the things she had done since then, days at Gilbert's, painting, baking and lounging around the flower field on the warm summer's days. School had also never been better, Miss Stacy was an excellent teacher and the lessons were brilliant yet sometimes difficult. They had begun to write a school newspaper and a study group had been created after school. Charlotte went even though she hadn't a clue what she wanted to do in the future, she could work in the bakery with her Mother, attend queens then figure out the rest or become an artist. Speaking of Artists, Charlotte often visited Cole in Charlottetown while her Mother shopped. He had begun to attend an art school and took her there a few times, it was a beautiful building full of old art pieces that really struck inspiration. Charlotte had never been happier, especially since her Brother had been back home for just over a month.

Snow meant the lake froze over and the lake freezing over meant that the boys became obsessed with ice hockey. Everyone watched the matches, it was a great source of entertainment for most and for Charlotte it was a great place to paint. By now she had the perfect system, she created a travel-sized set of paints using little glass jars and carried them pretty much wherever she went in a basket. She was in the middle of capturing how the snow ice had flicked up in the air when Moody skated across the surface when the cheery voice of Anne greeting the other girls caught her attention.

"Hello Anne," Charlotte smiled, looking up from the place where she sat on the floor (painting stood up without an easel was a very difficult thing so she chose to sit on a blanket on the snow, Tille joined her and they made conversation as she worked.)

"Hello Char, That's an exquisite painting," Anne complimented as she caught a glimpse of the half coloured paper. Charlotte expressed her thanks and then got back to work, beginning to paint the red and black jacket that Gilbert wore."Ruby, you're supposed to be covering the game," Anne sighed flicking through the long-discarded notebook, Ruby had dropped it when Gilbert became a captain so she could keep her full attention on him at all times. Ruby's crush on Gilbert hadn't changed in the two years, she still felt so much love for him. "Where are the highlights? Do you even know the score?"

"It's just a school newspaper, Anne," Josie added causing Charlotte to roll her eyes. The newspaper was one of Anne's many passions and she greatly enjoyed writing articles, so Josie Pye being so rude about that had her greatly annoyed. Josie certainly hadn't changed, she still had the power to vex Charlotte every time something came out of her mouth.

"We don't even need an article about the game, we are all here!" Ruby exclaimed not taking her eyes off Gilbert for even a second. Charlotte honestly felt bad for him, having the knowledge that someone liked him and not being able to return the strong feelings that they so clearly felt had to have been difficult. Not to mention the constant staring or odd conversations.

Charlotte chose to tune out of that conversation after Billy came over and sprayed ice all over the girls (mainly Josie) with his skates. It was no secret that the two had some sort of pairing, neither were very good at hiding their feelings and the flirting was constant. Constantly disturbing and often slight concerning for all those who happened to witness it.

"Isn't Ruby covering the game?" Gilbert asked, bringing Charlotte out of her focus. She looked up to see him standing in front of Anne and Ruby with a slightly confused expression.

"Ruby's a little preoccupied, with a certain someone," Tillie called from where she had chosen to move to stand, with Jane a few paces away from Anne, Ruby and Diana. The girls broke into quiet giggles. Charlotte could feel the discomfort that Gilbert was feeling, she could see it on his face as clear as day but Ruby was clearly blinded by her love for him. Gilbert looked to Charlotte with a desperate for help expression, she only laughed quietly and watched him awkwardly skate away.