circles 𖧷 gilbert blythe

13. chapter „the truth"

From the inside we heard some voices, when the door suddenly got opened by Timothée. His shirt was slightly open and his hair fell into his face.

„Oh Jules and Mr. Rae River, I'm sorry that I'm not ready yet. I had lost track of time a little bit", he said, stressed, as he suddenly looked at me from top to bottom and turned red. He coughed nervously and then said: „You look beautiful.. very beautiful Jules". I started giggling and then replied with: „You don't look bad either" and he grinned. „You two can come in for a moment. My father has to do my hair and help me with my vest", Timothée said and stepped aside. Grandfather and I entered the house, when Timothées father came to greet us. „Hello Mr. Rae River and Jules. Timmy will be ready in a moment", he said pulling Timothée a few steps further. „Alors, c'est la fille que tu chéris si souvent, Jules? („So this is the girl you always rave about, Jules?")", Timothées father said something to Timothée in french. And it sounded like it was about me.

„Papa, arrête pour qu'elle nous comprenne peut-être si tu dis son nom et pour répondre á ta question, oui elle I'est („Dad, stop she could understand us if you say her name and to answer your question, yes she is")", Timothée replied to his fathers french comment. I really like his french accent and I love to hear him speaking french, it sounds really beautiful. „Tu vas lui demander aujourd'hui au bal de Noël? („So will you ask her today at the Christmas dance?")", his father asked him something in French, whereupon Timothée turned red again. His father was doing his hair with some wax, when Timothée replied to his fathers question in french again: „Que voulez-vous dire? („What do you mean?")". „Demandez-lui d'être votre petite amie ou si elle ressent la même chose („ask her to be your girlfriend or if she feels the same")", his father said and I was really thinking about what they were talking about.

„Non je ne le ferai pas („No I will not")", Timothée replied and looked at me for a second.

„Je ne veux pas ruiner I'amitié que j'ai avec elle, elle est trop important pour moi („I do not want to ruin the friendship I have with her, she is too important to me")", he add. His father was done with his hair and turned Timothée around, so he was looking at him.

„Je comprends ton fils, mais parfois tu devrais risquer les choses pour espérer que les choses s'améliorent. Je comprends si tu ne confesses pas tes sentiments, mais je te dis que tu devrais confesser parce que si tu ne le fais pas tu le regretteras un jour, crois-moi"

(„ I understand you son, but sometimes you should risk things because of hope for better things to happen. I understand, if you won't confess your feelings, but I'm telling you , you should confess because if you won't, you will regret it some day, believe me")

His father said and Timothée nodded. I was so confused about their talking, but decided to not think more into it because it's their privacy and I don't want to interrupt it. „So we can go now", Timothée said to me, smiling and putted on his black vest. „That's great", I replied and we three went out to the carriage and drove to the event building of Avonlea, where all the big events like the Christmas dance take place in. When we finally arrived , Timothée helped me out of the carriage and took my hand. „You two can already go inside. I will bring this carriage to the other and wait for Blayke and your grandmother", grandfather said and continued to drive. Timothée and I walked towards the entrance, where Miss Lynde came to greet us. „Good evening Mrs. Rae River and Mr. LaRue, I'm so glad you came. You can go inside and join the others, but later Jules, you will perform your Song, right?", she asked me.

I nodded and replied with: „Yes I will, thank you Miss Lynde". Then Timothée and I entered the building. You could already hear music playing. I looked around mainly to see , if Gilbert was already here, but I couldn't see him anywhere. I was hoping he would come. Everyone from our class was already there and danced together to the music. Some parents were there drinking and talking. Suddenly Timothée turned to me and grabbed my hand. „Do you want to dance, my love?", he asked me and I nodded, giggling. Then he pulled me to the others and placed his hands on my hips while I put mine on his shoulders. We were moving to the music , when Timothée asked me: „And how do you like it here so far?". „It's pretty crowded, I didn't expect that, but so far everything is organized very well. I like it and you, Timmy?", I asked back and when I said his name he began to grin. „I really like it here too, especially with you..", he replied, looking me in the eyes as I turned red and looked away.

What did he just say? „Oh sorry that may have come a little unexpected or weird, I will take it back", he said immediately as I interrupted him with: „No it's fine. I'm happy to be here with you too..".

Timothée began to smile, when I suddenly saw Gilbert entering the room. I stopped dancing and waved at Gilbert, who then saw me and smiled at me. He was about to walk up to me when Timothée turned my head to himself and said: „Come let's dance". I smiled confusedly, but went with Timothée, while Gilbert was looking at me confused. I danced with Timothée closely and even put my head on his shoulder, when after a while, the music was changed again and suddenly someone tapped Timothée on the shoulder. I shuddered up when I saw it was Gilbert. „Gilbert?", I asked, as he looked back and forth between me and Timothée with a serious glance. „Can I have a word with you, Jules? Alone?", he asked me and I looked at Timothée, who didn't look very pleased. „Yes of course", I answered and was about go with him, when Timothée suddenly hold my arm back.

I turned to him, when he asked: „What about me?I thought we would come here together to spend time together".

I lowered my head and said: „It won't take us long, I promise, okay?". Timothée continued to look me in the eye, when he let go of my arm and let me go with Gilbert. I went a few steps away with Gilbert, when he suddenly stopped and pulled me close. He put his hands on my hip and I looked at him confused. „What are you doing?", I asked him. „Dance with you?", he answered smiling, placing my hands on his shoulder. We moved to the music, when he said:
„I'm going to tell her today, for sure. I'm sure. Do you think she will say yes?". I didn't even look at him and thought about what to answer. „Yes, of course she will", I replied. Suddenly he turned my head to himself and asked me, looking deeply into my eyes: „Do you really think that? Or are you just saying it because we are friends?". I looked desperately into his eyes and shook my head.

„To be honest.. I think she will say no. I'm sorry Gilbert, really, but I think it's too soon to admit your feelings to her. I don't want you to get hurt", I once told him the truth, when he let go of me immediately. „So that's what you think? Why are you lying to me before that?", he asked me angrily. „I'm sorry, but I didn't mean to offend you with my answer, as you are so convinced to tell her your feelings today", I replied. „You wouldn't have hurt me, if you had just been honest with me the whole time and tell me what you think about all of this, but now you did.. you hurt me, thank you very much..", he said and left. „Gilbert?!", I shouted after him, but he ignored me completely. Did I screw everything up between Gilbert and me? Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder and when I turned around Timothée stood in front of me.

„Are you alright?", he asked me anxiously as I just dropped into his arms and hid my head in his shoulder. „No..", I answered quietly. He patted my head, when suddenly Miss Lynde announced: „So ladies and gentlemen I Welcome you to our Christmas dance this year. I'm glad so many people came and it's going to be a great evening , I promise you that. But before we go dancing all night, let's hear a song by Jules Loralei Rae River, which she wrote herself. Please give her some applause and Jules please come to the stage" and everyone around me gave me a applause.

Perfect timing. Now I had to perform, after I had screwed my friendship with Gilbert, perfect..