I'm Your Enemy (Gilbert Blythe X OC)

A Place To Stay

Flora's POV.

I have been walking for about 40 minutes. It's raining and I've decided to take off my high shoes and just walk barefoot in the rain. I have no coat, no umbrella and no directions. I have no idea where I'm heading. For all I know I could be walking into a murderous village.

My dress is soaked and dirty. I'm cold and lost. What have I done. I shouldn't have ran away like that. Mrs. Barry must be loosing her head. It might be anger, guilt or even worry but all of those are bad. I moved on my own without thinking if I was harming anyone else and that's wrong. Diana must be devastated and I didn't even think about her when I lost my temper and ran away.

I hear a carriage approaching the road that I'm currently walking on and I move to the side, giving the carriage a passage. I keep my head down and walk on the dirt. My toes harshly step on stone and mud and I don't have energy to complain about it. I keep telling myself that I'm fine even though I know I'm not.

"Florence?" I look into the carriage that is passing by and there sit Sebastian and Gilbert peeking through the window. "I thought you went home with the Barrys."

"So they really went home without me then..." I thought that maybe they would have a little search. At least look around aunt Josephine's house, but no. They preferred to go home and sleep the worry out of their heads.

"What are you doing in the cold? Come inside." I hear Sebastian say. He openes the door to the carriage even though it's moving. My pace is just as fast as the carriage which makes us side by side.

"I'm fine. I don't need your help. Thanks nonetheless."

"Just get in here, Florence. I don't want to get out there and get you myself." Says Gilbert with his arms crossed over his chest. He stares down at me and I stare up at him. "I assume you need a place to stay."

"Oh no no no. I'll find a way to survive, don't worry." I tell him

"You are a stubborn little thing, aren't you?" He says quietly, but loud enough for me to make my own comment on it.

"No. I'm just really self reliant."

"It's time to stop being self reliant and let us help you, because you desperately need it." He says. He seems annoyed but he still has a smirk plastered on his face. "Now, get in the carriage, Florence."

"Gilbert..." I look at him, about to deny, but when he looks back at me, the words seem to get caught in my throat. "I just..." and again I seem unable to speak. His stare is intimidating, but caring all at the same time. I don't answer but I still hop into the carriage and take a seat by Gilbert. I stay quiet and look out the window. I feel a tap on my knee and I look down.

"Hello, Delphine." I pick her up and place her on my lap. She starts playing with my hair, smiling and speaking in her own gibberish baby language.

"She recently started crawling." I hear Sebastian say. "She's been a hurricane since. The girl can't sit for a minute without moving." He chuckles.

Gilbert's POV.

I look at Florence as Delly plays with her hair. Flora smiles at the little creature on her lap and giggles when Delly kisses her cheek. I spot a mark on Flora's neck. It stirs something in my chest, I almost feel pity for her. I look away, trying to avoid looking at the mark my professor has stampled on Florence.

Bash is signaling to me, pointing his finger to his neck. I shake my head, telling him that I'm not the cause of the mark.

"You know I can see you both." Both mine and Bash's heads snap towards Flora. My heart pounds as I'm worried that she's mad about us talking about her... situation. "You two need to learn how to be more discreet."

"Pardon us." I say. And I don't know what else is supposed to be said after that. I stay quiet as we arrive at the train station.

"Come on. The train is almost leaving." She tells us. She gets out of the carriage, still with the baby in her arms and pays for all of our tickets.

"Hey, you don't need to do that." I tell her.

"It's the least I can do to pay for the carrige ride." She gives us our tickets and walks inside the train with Delphine.

I look at Bash and he just smiles at me.

"She's a keeper." He tells me as he walks inside the train. I sigh and do the same. We find Flora and Delly smiling to each other in a compartment in the back. "Delly really likes you." Says Bash as he takes a seat opposite from Flora.

Flora's POV.

***
The train ride was long but we've finally arrived. Delphine had slept on her father's lap when we were about half way through the ride so I'm helping Gilbert load the carrige with the luggage.

Once we are done, we load ourselves onto our seats in the carriage and head to Avonlea. I close my eyes but never fall asleep. The ride is short and takes us about 20 minutes to arrive.

"We're here." Says Bash. Delphine starts waking up and rubbing her eyes but she keeps her head in the crook of her father' neck. She's adorable.

I hop off the carriage. "I thank both of you for your kindness. I appreciate it." I start walking away but my hand is cought.

"No." I hear his smooth voice. "You're staying."

"I can't-"

"I'm not asking." He says. "I'm ordering. I can't leave you in the cold."