That Part|Gilbert Blythe

Chapter 3| Birds of a Feather

'birds of a feather, we should stick together'

I and Ruby walked through the garden outside her house. She smiled at me as we started our walk only moments ago."I don't believe you said two words during tea." she said in a tiny voice. I smiled down at her." you didn't even remark on the cake." she mentioned and I smiled even more." Mother let me help her bake it special." her face went low noticing I wasn't answering." you enjoyed it, didn't you?" she asked in a slightly panicked voice.

the thing was I was scared to talk since she wasn't from Britain so she didn't understand our accent but I didn't want to be rude so I looked at her and smiled.

"the cake was scrumptious," I said and she smiled at me.

"I love your accent, and I could say the same about your cookies they were amazing." she gushed and I smiled at her."scrumptious." she chuckled after."have you always been shy?" she asked me and I nodded slowly.

"yeah, I have especially after my father went to war."I sighed and looked down at my shoes.

"oh I'm sorry," she said putting a hand on my shoulder and a sentimental look on her face.

"It's just..."I paused and she looked at me.

"yes?" she asked.

"I like to read. when I can. other than that I love to bake and cook and I love school."I rambled and she smiled seeing me get more comfortable.

"I have to warn you, some of the boys at our school can be ridiculous but Gilbert Blythe he's dreamy I already have dibs since I've liked him for three years now." she said and I understood that she didn't want anyone else taking her chances on being with him."I'm not that smart but I do like to bake and cook." she said and I smiled."you should meet my friend Diana Barry, she loves to read and she is very beautiful too she looks like you but darker hair and darker eyes and a bit taller." she said and I let out a huff of laughter." I don't think school is my strong suit though." she sighed and I looked at her shocked.

"Really?"I asked."I don't know what I'd do without school. I was one of the top students in my class back in England."I said and she smiled up at me.

"Gilbert is the top student in our class, he's so smart," she answered I nudged her side and we broke out into a fit of giggles.

I paused looking at her and stopping as she stopped to look at me confused." Ruby... do you think you could like me just a little?"I asked her and she smiled at me.

"I already do!" she exclaimed taking my hands and I smiled at her, she reminded me a lot of my cousin.

"shall we swear to be best friends forever and ever?"I asked her and she turned away not knowing what it meant.

"it's dreadfully wicked to swear," she said and my eyes widened I didn't mean it like that she let go of my hands walking away and I followed after her slowly.

"no! it's not my kind of swearing."I told her."there are two kinds. I know because I have a worldly outlook. this kind isn't wicked at all."I stopped her by grabbing her arm as she was ignoring me." it means vowing and promising solemnly. I swear it does. see?"I told her and she looked at me hesitantly.

"how do you do it?" she asked me and I remembered the time I and my cousin swore we would be best friends forever and ever.

"Well..."I paused looking around and saw a dandelion and ran over and grabbed it." well, this ought to be done by moonlight or overrunning water..."I said remembering that solemn night did my cousin ever forget we snuck out and went to the river and over the bridge where we swore to be best friends forever and ever underneath the moonlight." but well just imagine that it was nighttime, and this path is a stream."I said setting the scene in her head and she looked like she was getting it."hold this."I put the dandelion in between us as we both held onto the stem of it with one hand." and twist your pinky finger around mine."I told her and she did so with her other hand so they fit perfectly together since both of our hands were small and delicate." I'll repeat the oath first."I told her as she nodded and I started looking down at the flower and our hands."I solemnly swear..."

"to be faithful to my bosom friend, Ruby Gillis, for as long as the sun and moon shall endure."I repeated what I said to Ruby on our walk to my mother as we walked into the house" and then she said it and put my name in. and then we sent our oath into the world."I said and my mother smiled at me as she put the basket on the counter." it was a wonderful afternoon. I'm so relieved."I said and my mother sighed.

"I'm glad you are I had a good talk with Ruby's parents about the church service and the school you will be going to in a few days once we get settled in," she said and I gasped.

"yes, Ruby told me about her school and this boy named Gilbert Blythe, she said he was the top student there but titles don't last forever," I told my mom helping her clean up around the house and she smirked at me.

"Never let them know you are hurt, never let them see you cry, never let them get you down, and never let them know you like them," she repeated the words her mother told her when she was younger and came home crying one day because of a boy who happens to be Lexis father.

"For we are Hopes, and we never give up on our Hopes and never let anyone especially a boy get in the way of them."I finished the family staying with her and she smiled at me and kissed my forehead.

"I'm so proud of you, you are becoming a very fine young lady, and very beautiful I might add." she said tapping my noise and I scrunched my face together." would you help me with dinner, Lex?" my mother asked walking into the kitchen and I hummed and nodded.

"I would love to mother," I said and she stopped me from going in the kitchen for a second.

"Actually how about you go spend some time trying to figure out how to ride Wish. we can go and get you a saddle from town tomorrow," she said and I smiled and ran out of the house.

I watched as Wish ran around a tiny pasture we had for her and I smiled at her as she trotted up to me."You're mine, Wish, and no one will ever take you away from me."I whispered putting my head on hers and scratching her head in between her ears I hopped over the fence, my father taught me how to ride but I had to catch up on some things so I just brushed Wish for now so she could get comfortable with me.

I talked with Wish just rambling on how excited I was for Father to come and see the new house on my birthday which was coming up and Mother told me he was going to be here." oh, and he will get to meet you, maybe we could learn some tricks to show him."I said rubbing her neck and taking out the brush to brush her main." Ruby said she doesn't think she is very smart. but I don't think it matters, since I have enough brains for the both of us."

"Lexi, put Wish up please, and make your way inside." my mother yelled from the door and I sighed and smiled at Wish.

"I guess we will continue this later maybe I can sneak out to come see you tonight," I said and led her to her stable where I refilled her hay and pumped her some water for dinner.

I skipped into the house and sat down as my mother snapped her fingers pointing to the sink and I nodded.

I walked over to the sink and tried my best to get the dirt out of my fingernails but I got it out pretty well then joined my mother at the table across from her." Ruby said her friend, Diana Barry's parents are hosting a church picnic next week at the lake."I said and my mother nodded.

"yes Ruby's parents told me about that also maybe we could go." my mother said and I got excited.

"I haven't been to a picnic in a long time, the last time it was with Olive and Aunt Clementine and Uncle Trevor, oh, how I miss them, Mother." I sighed and she looked at me and smiled.

"well I think they agreed to come here for a week for your birthday maybe olive could go to your school with you during their stay," she said. I was excited almost getting out of my seat and hugging my mother

"oh, thank you, Mother, it will be a great birthday indeed, especially together around,"i said and she smiled at me.

"Indeed it will be. now finish your food so you can go to bed we have unpacking to do tomorrow," she said and I tried to eat as quickly as I could.

I got undressed and put on my nightgown and got on my knees next to my bed to pray.

after I finished my mother came in." just checking on you, you ready for me to burn out the candle?" she asked and I nodded getting into my bed just across from the window

she went and kissed my forehead."sweet dreams, love you." she said burning out the candle.

"Love you too, Mum," I said and she clicked the door closed my eyes quickly fluttered to sleep.