𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 (𝐆.𝐁.) (𝐁.𝐀.)

Thirty-four.

-

Lavinia took a deep breath, gathering the courage to knock on the door as the snow fell on top of her hair.

She waited anxiously as the time passed by slowly, and once she figured no one was home, Lavinia turned around to leave.

With her back facing the house, she heard the door finally open, "Lavinia?"

The girl quickly turned around, a small smile on her face as she answered, "Hello, Gilbert."

"Uh, come in." He mumbled while his hand rubbed his neck awkwardly.

Once Lavinia settled into the house, after greeting Bash of course, she hesitated as she spoke, "Mr. Phillips told Prissy, who told Jane, who told me that he refused to tutor you."

Gilbert's face contorted to an annoyed expression at the reminder, still confused about Lavinia's visit, "Yeah..."

"Well, I've asked father and we've managed to find you a doctor who's willing to tutor you. Don't worry about the fees, it's been settled. It's only-"

He cut her off, his tone cold as he spoke, "I don't need charity. I can take care of myself."

"I know you can, Gilbert." Lavinia stuttered, shocked by his response. "But it'll be good for you."

"Why are you doing this?" Gilbert scoffed as he stood up, "To make yourself feel better?"

Lavinia rolled her eyes at his outburst, "I'm just trying to help!"

"Well, I don't need your help." He let out bitterly.

She stood up and headed towards the hanger to retrieve her coat. "I don't know why I even came here." Lavinia mumbled quietly.

Once she took all her stuff, Lavinia looked back at Gilbert, rolled her eyes once again and left the house.

-

"He is the rudest person I know!" Lavinia complained to Jane and Diana while pacing around the formers room.

"Look at it from his point of view?" Diana struggled to calm her down, "Jane! A little help please?"

"Hm?" The brunette faced them with a biscuit shoved in her mouth, "Sorry, I'm busy."

Lavinia chuckled at her friends antics before going back to her angered state, "I am never talking to Gilbert Blythe ever again."

"You've said that before." Diana deadpanned.

"I'm serious this time." The younger girl fought back before sighing, "It's quite late. I should head home before father gets worried."

Jane and Diana said their goodbyes as Lavinia headed for the door, "Bye Lav!"

Heading towards the stairs, Lavinia was stopped by none other than Billy.

"You can't keep doing this."

Lavinia held herself back from glaring any harder at the boy in front of her.

How foolish of her to think a visit to Jane would be peaceful.

There he stood, blocking her way in the middle of the hall. His face was full of emotion, yet void at the same time.

Lavinia couldn't figure out Billy and it was killing her.

"Doing what exactly?" She crossed her arms, voice filled with venom at the sight of him.

"Ignoring me."

"Oh, really? And who are you to tell me what to do and not to do?"

He faltered for a second, "I didn't mean it like that. Why can't you-" Billy took a deep breath, searching for the right words to not anger her even more, "Can't you just forget about what happened?"

"What precisely are you talking about? Bullying Anne or hurting Cole?" Anger filled every inch of her body.

How could he just march up to her and act like he had the right to be forgiven by her? She wasn't the one that needed his apology. It was Anne, who sat on her bed wondering what she did wrong to get bullied at school. It was Cole, who looked at his arm in disdain. Hating that he couldn't sculpt his art anymore.

Not her.

But he was here. Talking to her like she could fix all his wrongdoings.

And to him; she could.

"I don't know!" He stuttered at her comeback, "Both!"

"Asking me to forget about your mistakes is just another mistake you made," She replied coldly, staring at him directly, "Once you've apologized to the right people and learned how to behave appropriately, then you can ask me to forget about all of this."

She continued walking past him, brushing past his shoulders. But before she could get any further, he spoke up once again, "I don't know how."

His voice was quiet and vulnerable. Almost like he felt ashamed to say it out loud.

She turned around to face him, looking at the emotions evident on his face. Confusion, frustration, sadness.

It was the first time she witnessed so many emotions on the boy's face. It hurt her deeply. Lavinia shook her head and reminded herself that he had done much worse to others.

"Tuesday afternoon."

Billy gave her a confused look, "Tuesday afternoon?"

"Anne and I are having lunch together Tuesday afternoon. If you ever feel like making amends, I'll be there." She looked him in the eyes, watching as relief overcame him.

He nodded his head quickly, not wanting her to get the wrong idea of him not wanting to fix his mistakes.

She waited for him to say something, uncrossing her arms to seem less mad.

"What should I say?"

Lavinia frowned at the question. How bad was he at apologizing to ask her what he needed to say?

"Anne is a very forgiving person. Towards people who deserve and don't deserve it," She noticed his slumped shoulders at the claim, "Tell her that you're learning and trying to change, that you're making amends. Then, apologize for everything you've done. Everything."

"Everything?" His stomach churned at the thought of apologizing for every single thing he's done to Anne.

"Yes, everything. Or it'll just seem like you're not sincere about it." She paused and looked at him, trying to read him better. She squinted her eyes in suspicion, "You are sincere about this, aren't you?"

"Yes." He quickly nodded his head, "I am. I promise you."

Lavinia raised her eyebrows, still not fully trusting him.

Billy has been nothing but horrible to Anne and Cole. For him to agree to apologize to Anne for everything he's done is not just weird, it's almost unbelievable.

But she wasn't one to judge. She was horrible to others on many occasions, and she was fixing herself just like Billy.

She shook her head, stopping herself from thinking anymore, "Father is waiting for me."

And with that, she took off. Bursting through her houses' front door and closing it harshly. Earning a weird glance from her father.

But she ignored him as her mind was focused on one thought.

Lavinia and Billy were so alike. In so many ways.

-