₁.₀ SUPERCUT; gilbert blythe ✔

031.

With the wedding of Prissy and Mr. Phillips approaching, said event is all the town's been talking about for weeks now.

It's not Marianne's place to judge (although that has never stopped anyone), but she truly cannot imagine why should a girl like Prissy want to have such a husband. She doesn't really have a close relationship with the older girl, yet she believes her to be intelligent and rather pragmatic. Ambitious, too, since it's no secret among the pupils that Prissy means to continue her education at college (something that can still be considered a rarity when it comes to the Avonlea girls).

She cannot speak for Mr. Phillips either, however it's hard to imagine him being a different man in private than he is at school. Marianne has never witnessed him being kind or supportive of anyone; being a teacher by profession, he should be able to appreciate the value of education, but there's no telling whether he won't be one of those husbands who don't wish for their wives to stay at home rather than attend classes. Especially considering the fact that, despite his long and obvious interest in Prissy, Mr. Phillips doesn't really seem like a man about to marry a woman he adores. He doesn't really seem happy.

Actually, he doesn't even seem content at all.

"You know, when you proposed to quiz me on this, I kind of thought that you would actually ask me questions."

Marianne averts her gaze from the girls giggling happily on the other side of the room and looks back to Gilbert, the boy watching her over one of his books. "Sorry."

"Nevermind that now, you've already done a great deal to help me catch up what I had missed last year." Not having a bookmark around, he puts another book in between the pages of this one, scarcely paying any attention to it. "What interests me more at the moment is what's on your mind."

The girl shifts in her seat, somewhat uncomfortable. She's managed to get quite used to talking with Gilbert in public, yet, for some reason, she still minds not to speak to loud, not wanting the other kids to hear everything being said. Besides, even after all those months, Marianne can feel Josie's prying stare on the side of her face.

Honestly, despite Ruby being the one having a crush on Gilbert, somehow the Pye girl seems way more occupied with their friendship.

"It's just a little weird, don't you think? I mean, I'm happy for Prissy and all that, but-" Marianne reminds herself to keep her voice down. "Mr. Phillips is a teacher. It's hard for me to imagine him suddenly deciding that he wishes to pursue a romantic relationship with one of his students. He's always been in a position of power, and he's known Prissy since she was a little girl. She's still very young, like- is there even a year long age difference between you two? I suppose it's a little different for girls, but can you imagine yourself saying your vows and starting a family of your own now?"

"Well, as you've said, it would have been different for me than it is for Prissy. But, considering that I'm still a student, with nothing more to my name and absolutely no means to support a family- no, it certainly is beyond my imagination to see myself in a similar situation just now. Not for another few years, I think." Gilbert looks her in the eyes; mutual eye contact being something they are becoming better and better at. It's a sincere gaze, with a shadow of a smile playing over his lips. "But I would like to get married someday."

His words, along with the memory of her own mouth pressed gently into his cheek (which, by the way, neither of them have mentioned ever since, not knowing what to say), make Marianne blush. It's not exactly direction she wished for this conversation to take.

Still, she mumbles, "So would I."

Shy smiles are exchanged. Gilbert's knee grazes her own under the desk and both of them pay considerably more attention to the accidental touch than they should.