Molly-Jane Walter

Chapter Four

Weeks went by, and the friendship between Gilbert and I evolved. We went from being great friends to being best friends. We had no secrets between us. We told each other everything. Almost everything. In truth, Gilbert told me everything about him, his family, and where he lived. I shared almost all the same information, only leaving out how I was treated by my aunt and cousins. I didn't want to upset or anger him. He was very protective of me, and if he reacted in anger, the teachers would punish him. If Gilbert were punished because I had told him about my aunt and cousins, I would feel guilty, and Gilbert hated it when I felt guilty, which would only make things worse. He often told me that I blamed myself too much for things that were beyond my control. But how could I help it? I felt that I was responsible for the way my aunt and cousins treated me, for the way I was left without anything to my advantage... Such things would upset me so much, that Gilbert would quite often plead with me to leave the past in the past, even though he knew nothing about how I was treated at StoneHill Manor. Almost all of the time, I was happy to completely forget about the past.

We were sitting outside in the fresh autumn breeze underneath the old oak tree that we had sat under on my second day at the school, enjoying each other's comfort. Wrapped up in our warmest cloaks, we were supposed to be studying our French, but instead were daydreaming about what we wanted to do with our lives, should we ever have that liberty. "I want to travel. To see the world, for I know very little of it." I say to Gilbert. He nodded, and smiled. "I like that very much. And should you travel, where would you go? Would I be allowed to accompany you on these travels?" "Indeed, you must! You are my very best friend! I simply could not ever consider leaving you behind!" I gasp, shocked that he had honestly thought I wouldn't want his company. Gilbert threw his head back, and laughed so loudly that I thought the teachers would surely hear us. "Hush! We will get into trouble!" I whisper-shout, playfully slapping him, which only made him laugh more. "And as for where I would go, I should like to travel to France, and perhaps Ireland and even Scotland!" I exclaim, forgetting to lower my voice. "Hush! We will get into trouble!" Gilbert mimicked me, which only made us giggle more. "What about you?" I ask him. "What do you want in life?" Gilbert stopped laughing and looked into my eyes. "I want to be with you, forever. As you said, you are my best friend, and I never want to be separated from you. You are too dear to me to go one way in the world while I go another." I snuggle up close to him. "I would never dare to dream of leaving you, Gilbert. It would break my heart and you know it!" I whisper to him. In truth, our behaviour was frowned upon at such young an age. It was not the done thing to act like this with someone at such a young age in times as these. "I know it would. And that is why I am vowing to you right now, that I will NEVER leave you. I will never be apart from you for as long as I live." His expression was serious as he spoke. "I vow the same. No matter what, we'll always be together." I promise him. "But answer me honestly. Do you want to travel? Peruse a particular career?" I ask, wishing to truly know what he wanted out of life. Gilbert nodded, saying, "Yes, I'd like to travel as well. Somewhere just like the places in the books we've read." I smiled, knowing just which places he meant, for we read the same books. "I like that very much," I whisper, shivering as a gust of cold air blew around us. Gilbert felt my shiver and frowned. "Are you cold?" He asked, worry clear in his voice. "Just a little. But please, do not worry. I am quite well." I assure him. His frown deepened. "I promise, Gilbert, I am only a little cold, nothing that will cause me any harm." His frown disappeared, replaced with a twinkle in his eyes. "If you say so." He said and grinned.

Shortly after the sun began to set, the dinner bell rang. Gilbert and I make our way inside towards the dining room, French books in hand. French and geography were by far my favourite subjects; of course, we studied history, music, and art, but no subject captured my interest so much as French and geography did. Sitting down beside Gilbert on the long wooden benches underneath the long wooden tables, Miss Braxton stood up; the entire dining hall hushed, and she began by saying prayer. I look over at Gilbert while Miss Braxton was saying prayer; (We were supposed to be saying it also, along with the rest of the school, but we were being a little bit naughty. I must mention, reader, that I am not a particularly disobedient girl, but occasionally, I liked to have a little bit of fun with Gilbert. Even though it is not proper to focus on something else while prayer is being said,) and giggle quietly at his facial expression. Unfortunately, I giggled a little bit too loudly, despite the pupils' voices saying prayer, and Miss Levouge looked over at me, paused in her prayer as she did so. It wasn't just her that had noticed; the whole school had. "Now you've done it." Gilbert muttered smugly. I gulp; Gilbert was right. I really had gotten myself into trouble now. "Miss Walter!" Miss Levouge yelled. "Up front NOW to say prayer by yourself to the whole school!" Gilbert was about to stand up and tell her what had really happened, but if he spoke out to a teacher like that, he would be in trouble too. I stayed him with my hand and a slight shake of my head. True he was six years older than me, but even for a ten-year-old, I could stand up for myself. "Yes Miss Levouge, right away ma'am." I stand and make my way down the aisle towards the teachers' table, my hands shaking violently as I walked. Facing the school, I spot Gilbert. He gave me a big smile, which if I hadn't known him well, meant 'You're okay. You can do it. I'm right here with you.' I smile gratefully back at him and begin saying the prayer from the start. Once I had finished, Miss Levogue bid me in a sharp tone to return to my seat. Sitting down again, Gilbert leaned over and whispered in my ear, "You did very well. Although you shook so badly that everyone surely noticed, but I'm very proud of you for getting up in front of the whole school." Gilbert's words made my heart melt. No one had ever been so kind to me in my life. Indeed, not even Laura herself. I beamed at his words. His words gave me so much comfort. I don't think he knew just how much comfort he as a person gave me. He was the friend I'd never had; he was the brother I'd never had; he was the teacher that I never had. He was so many things to me, that special didn't seem to cover it. There had to be a bigger word. Although right then and there, I couldn't think of one. Gilbert looked over at me and winked. He was so cheeky! But he was also so wonderful. So many emotions, yet a lack of words stopped me from expressing how I truly felt. I'm sure he knew though. I mean, he's my best friend. Best friends pick up on these sorts of things. That's part of the reason why they're called a 'Best Friend.' I grin at Gilbert's cheeky smile, making sure to smother my giggle this time. No way was I getting caught again, or even worse: Getting Gilbert into trouble. Still, though, the fact that HE had to try not to laugh because I was laughing made it even funnier. It was SO hard not to burst out laughing right then and there. Miss Braxton DID look over at us a couple of times, but since we were making no noise, she just raised an eyebrow and smiled with a small shake of her head. I loved Miss Braxton simply for the fact that she was kind and beautiful, and she wasn't as strict as some of the other teachers were. She was quite calm, she never yelled, and if she was cross with you, she would smile tightly, and ask you to reconsider your actions or your words. She was always so calm and kind. And that is what truly made me love Miss Braxton: Her kindness towards others. She often made me think of my mother. What would she have been like? I bet she would have been as kind and caring as dear Miss Braxton. I bet she would have hugged me when I was sad, and say 'Chin up, Molly, dear! Everything will be alright.' She would kiss me on my forehead and sing me a lullaby as I drifted off to sleep. She would NEVER have treated me as my aunt and cousins had so done. Never in a million years. I look over at Gilbert again, as he calmly picked up his knife and fork, and right then and there, I swore to myself that I would NEVER let anything bad happen to him. Ever. He was too dear to me to lose; I just knew in my heart, that I could not bear to go through life without him by my side.